History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 87

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 87
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 87

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).

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the Casey Banner, which at once sprung into popular favor, and it now enjoys an enviable circulation. Our subject was married in June, 1868, in Clark County, to Sarah E. Cook, born in this county, a daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Gorell) Cook, he born in South Carolina, and she a native of Indi-

ana. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are the parents of two children, Fairy and Mary E. Mrs. Ward is a member of the Catholic Church. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., K. of H. and G. A. R., being Post Commander of the latter. In politics, he is Republi- can.

WESTFIELD TOWNSHIP.

REV. SAMUEL BROWN ALLEN, D. D., Casey. Eight or nine miles east of Harris- burg, the capital of Pennsylvania, may be found a venerable old homestead, at present owned and occupied by William Allen, a cousin of the subject of this sketch. There his ancestors settled more than a century and a half ago; and, what is rare in this land of change, that homestead farm has de scended from father to son for four or five generations. In that vicinity, Samuel B. Allen was born January 17, A. D. 1830. His ancestors, both paternal and maternal, were among the pioneers of that section of the new world, to which they had migrated from the North of Ireland. They were of the Scotch-Irish descent, than whom, as is well known, no more worthy race ever graced this land. His great-grandfathers were in the arena of conflict during the Revolution- ary war, and contributed to the achievements over both the British and the Indians. They also participated prominently in the states- manship of the day, one, at least, having been a member of the convention that framed the original constitution of the State of Pennsylvania. They and their descendants were zealous supporters of the Gospel of Christ, associated in those early days with the Covenanter Church ; but later years found among the oarnest and prominent in the Presbyterian Church. They were also

active in the field of education, according to the standard of their era ; and in due course of time they furnished two successive Presi- dents to Jefferson College, in Western Penn- sylvania, viz .: Rev. Matthew Brown (who was an uncle of the brother of President Allen) followed by his son, Rev. Matthew Brown, Jr. The father of President Allen was Samuel Allen, born A. D. 1790, died A. D. 1863. He was a man of vigorous and acute intellect, who failed, perhaps, of his greatest usefulness by devoting himself to business instead of letters. Though utterly opposed to the war, his patriotism led him to take up arms during the war of 1812, in which he served as an officer. His life was not spared quite long enough to see the extinction of slavery, of which his sense of justice made him an ardent opposer. He married Eleanor Brown, resident of Lycoming County, Penn., whither, in pursuit of increased prosperity, her parents had betaken themselves from the older settlement near Harrisburg. She was a woman of robust nature, amiable spirit, upright life, and fair education. The boy- hood of President Allen was spent, in part, in Harrisburg, Penn., where his education was begun. While yet young, his parents emigrated to Center County, Penn., where, in a district school, their children pursued their education. Their fourth child, the subject of this article, was quite successful

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in study, so much so that before he was six- teen he was solicited to try his hand at teach- ing a school, which he conducted prosper- ously for four months. He had previously maintained himself, for a time attending an academy in Bellefont, the picturesque and aristocratic county seat of Centre County, Penn. After busy years of mannal toil in summers, interspersed, in winter, with study and teaching, he at length entered Mount Pleasant College, an institution then doing good work in Westmoreland County, Penn. For financial reasons, in A. D. 1856, he took a situation as teacher in Vincennes Univer- sity, in Indiana. In A. D. 1858, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Smith, residing with her widowed mother near Vincennes, Ind. Her relatives, both Smith and McClure (her mother's maiden name), were among the vigorous and enterprising people of that community and elsewhere, some of them known in halls of legislation, others as pro- fessional men. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Allen re-entered college, and graduated with approval from Otterbein University, Ohio, in June, A. D. 1859. Presently he entered the Theological Seminary at Oberlin. Ohio, but retired, before finishing the course, to take charge of Michigan Collegiate Institute, at Leoni, Mich., where he labored with energy and success for three years. Then, in A. D. 1862, he was called to a chair of languages in his alma mater, Otterbein University. Af- ter five years of taxing toil, he resigned his position, doubtful whether his health would permit his ever undertaking further labor in teaching. But after two years of variegated employment and rest, he reluctantly con- senied to take the position of President of Westfield College, to which he had beeu ap- pointed. His reluctance arose principally from fears as to his health ; but his endur- ance far surpassed his expectations, so that

with the college year ending June, 1883, he will end his fourteenth year in this service. His work has been done honorably and well. It is, with him, far more a work of conscience than is usual. His eye is constantly fixed upon the best interests of the nation and of the Christian religion, regarding it as quite possible that our national liberties might be lost, but being confident that this sad catas- trophe is certain to occur unless averted by the potency of enlightenment and divine truth, he has patiently toiled these years, not always understood or fairly treated by the public. He has confidence in truth. He dares to maintain his convictions on all sub- jects, expecting victory at last. He makes no pretension to unbounded erudition ; yet quite unsolicited and unexpected, his alma mater honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, her first gift of that kind to one of her own sons. As a public speaker, he is rather logical than eloquent ; rather strong and impressive than brilliant and enchanting. As a teacher, he laboriously endeavors to make the most of his pupils during their connection with him. This he does, not by hurrying them over much surface, but by conducting them, by methods of his that are not unsuccessful, to the principles that are fundamental in character. As a disciplin- arian, his ideas and his practice are expressed by the words, "Kind and parental, yet firm and effective." Trusting much to student's honor, nevertheless his eyes and ears are not dull. Offenders are not flattered ; yet no man ever sought more diligently than Presi- dent Allen to rescue the erring and establish them in right paths. Weak aud designing persons have sometimes branded him as ty- rannical ; but his associates in governing uni- formly, with scarcely an exception, declare that, though thorough and searching in bringing evil-doers to account, his voice al-

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ways favored all allowable forbearance and leniency. Many a hard case has, in later years, tenderly acknowledged his obligations

to the friendly remonstrances, together with the faithful firmness and counsel of this self- sacrificing teacher.

MELROSE TOWNSHIP.

THE COWDEN FAMILY. James Cow- den, who now resides with his son, A. G. Cowden, on Section 8, Melrose Township, Clark Co., Ill., was born in Loudoun County, Va., March 26, A. D. 1805 ; emigrated with his parents in his early boyhood days to Licking County, Ohio, where he received a liberal common school education. His par- ents were of English stock. He chose farm- ing and teaching as an occupation, and be- came inured to all the hardships of a pio- neer life. Was married in the year 1826 to Elizabeth Goff, who was, strictly speaking, of pure Yankee extraction, having been born and reared in Rutland County, Vt., her par- ents being of English extraction. She was born November 6, 1802. Died Angust 12, 1866. Was a good scholar ; early espoused the doctrines of Methodism, and was un- flinching in her religious belief. Her oldest brother, Abner Goff, was a noted pioneer Methodist preacher. Seven children were the result of this union-four sons and three daughters. Angeline, the oldest, was born September 9, 1827, married to A. J. Hower- ton in 1845, died March 29, 1865, leaving a large family of children, all of whom are now living save one. Caroline, the next in age, was born June 29, 1829, and is still liv- ing with her husband, William Cox, and fam- ily, in the city of Lockport, Will Co., Ill., their family consisting of one son, James A. Cox. Abner G., the third in age, was born December 30, 1831 ; died October 15, 1855 ; was single at the time. Benson L. was born September 17, 1836, died February 28, 1858,

was unmarried. James Orin was born Jan- uary 10, 1839, died September 10, 1843. Al- mira M. was born November 8, 1841, and is still living with her husband, John C. Elston, in Anderson Township, and is the mother of four children, namely, Frank G., James D., Leroy and Maud. All the children of James Cowden, with the exception of Almira, were born in the State of Ohio. In the fall of the year 1839, he removed to Clark County, Ill., and bought Government land near Mar- tinsville. At that time Clark County was al- most an unbroken wilderness. Four or five log houses constituted the village of Martins- ville, which was then the business center for the inhabitants of the surrounding forests ; wild deer would occasionally gallop through town chased by some hunter's hound. James Cowden has killed ninety-six deer with one gun ; they were so plentiful that it required but little effort to secure a buck. In the year 1848, he settled on Section 16, in Melrose Township, and made a farm in the timber, where he resided till the year 1866 ; since that time he has resided with his son, A. G. Cowden, and is at this time hale and strong, though in his seventy-ninth year ; was the first Supervisor of Melrose Town- ship, after the adoption of township organ- ization. His parents' history in brief : Da- vid Cowden was born September 7, 1785; died April 5, 1839, aged fifty-three years. Re- becca Cowden was born February 28, 1785; died July 16, 1855, aged seventy years ; they were born and resided in Loudoun County, Va.

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ALFRED G. COWDEN. The subject of this sketch is the second son of James and Elizabeth Cowden; was born in Knox Coun- ty, Ohio, June 8, 1834 ; removed with his parents to Clark County, Ill., in the year 1839, and lived on a farm the greater part of his life ; received a liberal common school education, and by close application to his studies was able to pass a successful examin- ation, and began teaching in the year 1856 in the Martinsville district, where he first learned his letters in the year 1840, sixteen years prior to the time he taught his first school. Since that time he has taught twen- ty- four terms of school in the county, fifteen of which he taught in Melrose Township ; has passed successful examinations under the supervision of all the County Superintend- ents of Schools since 1856, and has kept pace, and by dint of hard study has been able to hold an honorable place with the craft, and a first-grade certificate. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and early in life de- nounced human slavery in all its forms as a sin against God and man, and cast his first vote for the Pathfinder for President (1856). and since that time has espoused the cause

of Republicanism. Was married, April 3, 1859, to Margaret Wells, the youngest daughter of Nathan Wells, of the town of Melrose, she then being in her eighteenth year, having been born in the year 1841, in Melrose, six children being the result of this union-Emma F., born February 2, 1860, and in her sixteenth year was a teacher in the common schools ; was married July 14. 1878, to Charles Hodges, and resides in Mel- rose Township on a farm. Nora was born May 17, 1862, and is now a teacher in the common schools ; Minnie A. was born No- vember 15, 1866; Ola was born March 3, 1869 : May was born March 20, 1871 ; Net- tie C. was born August 31, 1874, there hav- ing been no deaths in the family of either parents or children. He has held all the of- fices in the township, and was never defeated; was elected Justice of the Peace in the year 1876, and re-elected in the year 1881. He resides on a farm on Section 8, in Melrose Township, is a successful farmer and stock- raiser, teaching in the winter months. Was representative to the Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F. for eight consecutive sessions.

PART IV.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP.

FRANCIS M. ADAMS, son of Thomas Adams, was born October 20, 1S60, in this county. He was raised on a farm; his facil- ities for education were the common schools of the county; he was married in this county January, ISSO, to Sarah A. Kirk, daughter of Jacob Kirk; has one child-William Jacob. He owns 109 acres. Politically, is Democratic.

JOSEPH ALEXANDER, farmer, P. O. Robinson, was born May 23, 1811, in Lick- ing County, Ohio, where he was brought up; he engaged in farming, when he started for himself. In 1847, he came to Crawford County, Ill., and located in the northwest part of Robinson Township. In 1853, he purchased 160 acres of land to which he added 120 acres, which he afterward sold. In 1858, he bought forty acres, to which he since added 240 acres. Mr Alexander was married May 2, 1854, in this county, to Miss Lydia King. Politically, he is a Republican. He is of Scotch and English nationality.

SING B. ALLEN, lawyer, real estate and abstract office, Robinson. The subject of this sketch was born in Rockville, Ind., Sep- tember 7, 1840. When six years of age his

father removed to Texas. In 1857, subject went to Washington, D. C., where for two years he was a clerk in the House of Repre- sentatives. He then went to Clarksville, Tenn., where he attended Stewart College for eighteen months, when he came to Palestine, Ill., and entered upon the study of law with his uncle, Judge Allen, of Pales- tine. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, and came to Robinson and commenced the practice of his profession, but did not con- tinne long, until he was elected to the office of Circuit Clerk, a position he held for ton years, when he retired. Since 1876, he has been in the business of abstracting, law and real estate, and is a member of the firm of Wilson, Maxwell & Allen. Mr. Al- len is a Democrat, and has been Master in Chancery, appointed by Judge Halley in 1877, also served as School Treasurer since 1868. He was married, in 1876, to Miss Lydia Whittaker, of this town. They have two children, a son and a daughter-Byrl and Belle.

HUGH E. ALLEN, Deputy County Clerk, Robinson; is a son of Robert N. and Marga- ret A. (MeNntt) Allen, the former a native of

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Kentucky, and the latter of Virginia. They moved to Parke County, Ind., and from thence to Texas, where they both died. Hugh E., the subject, was born in Rockville, Parke Co., Ind., June 3, 1845. His facilities for an education were such as were afforded by the common schools. In September, 1861, though but sixteen years old, he en- listed in the Eighth Texas Cavalry-better known as Terry's Texas Rangers, Confeder- ate Army, for three years or during the war, at Bastrop, Texas, participating during his term of service in the battles of Shiloh, Per- ryville and over three hundred other battles and skirmishes, remaining faithful to the " stars and bars" until they went down for- ever on the field of Appomattox. In 1871, he came to Robinson, Crawford County, where he has resided ever since. He filled the office of Deputy Circuit Clerk from 1871 to 1877; was appointed Deputy County Clerk in December, 1878, which position he still holds; was Acting Justice of the Peace from May 1, 1877, to 1881. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. Mr. Allen was married, December 25. 1875, to Miss Louisa E. Miner, in Cum- berland County, Ill., and a daughter of Henry A. and Amanda (McConnaha) Miner, the former born in the State of New York and in the latter in Ohio. They (subjects) have three children, viz .: Cora L., Robert H. L. and Oscar W.

D. M. BALES, Sheriff of county, Robin- son. The subject of this sketch was born in Monroe County, Ind., December 1, 1825, and was brought up principally in Lawrence County, Ind., on a farm. His educational facilities were limited, and comprised the ordinary sehools of the neighborhood, which in that day were rather poor. He removed to Crawford County, Ill., and located about four miles southwest of Robinson. He pur-

chased a tract of wild land, comprising 160 acres of prairie and forty acres of timber. He built a cabin on it, into which he moved on the 31st day of December, and the first year put into cultivation sixty acres of ground-forty acres of it in corn, which ma- tured well and in good time. He improved his farm and put it in fine condition, and in 1864 sold it for $4,000. He bought another farm, and continued farming and milling, having purchased a steam saw mill, and bought and sold several farms, until the pres- ent time. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has the strongest faith in his politics and his religion. In 1882, he was elected Sheriff of the county, which office he now holds. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of his township (Martin); the latter he held for two terms. He was married in Lawrence County, Ind., to Miss Hannah Henderson, who died of spotted fever January 24, 1872, at which time he lost three members of his family within a month. Of a family of ten chil- dren, eight survive, viz .: Sarah J., Mary E., Andrew J., Martha, Ellen, Euphemia, Will- iam T., and David M. Dead-Charles N. and James L. He was married a second time m this county in 1875, to Sarah Winger, by whom he has one child-A. A. Bales.

L. H. BARLOW, lawyer, Robinson, was born November 1, 1854, and is a native of this county. His father is also a native of the county, and said to be the first white child born in it. Subject was raised on a farm, where he continued until 1880, farm- ing and teaching school occasionally; when tiring of these pursuits, he commeneed the study of law under Judge Robb, and in May, 1882, was admitted to the bar, and en- tered at once upon the practice of his profes- sion in the town of Robinson. He was mar-

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ried December 31, 1874, to Miss Melcena Morris, of this county. They have two children-J. Edgar and Cora M.

EZEKIEL BISHOP, retired farmer, P. O. Robinson. Among the pioneers of Crawford County, who are still living, is he whoso name heads this sketch, and whose portrait appears elsewhere in this volume. He has lived in the county for more than half a cen- tury, and has seen it a howling wilderness infested by wild beasts, transformed into a land (figuratively) flowing with milk and honey. Mr. Bishop was born in Wayne County, N. C., February 22, 1816, and came to Illinois in 1828, with his parents, locating in Crawford County. He has followed farming most of his life, and owns a farm of 200 acres near Hutsonville, also an excellent residence and other property in Robinson, where he has resided for the past few years. In 1837, he was married to Miss Rebecca Musgrave in Vigo County, Ind., who died in January, 1881, at the age of sixty-six years, leaving four children, viz. : Priscilla, George W., who lives in Washington Terri- tory. Lucy M. and Amanda E. Mr. Bishop was married a second time on the 9th of Angust, 1881, to Mary J. Musgrave, of this county.

P. G. BRADBURY, State's Attorney, Rob- inson, one of the most distinguished and snc- cessful young attorneys in this part of Illi- nois, is the gentleman whose name heads this biography. He is a native of Crawford County, Ill., being born October 6, 1847; is a son of John S. Bradbury, whose portrait and sketch appears elsewhere. He was the second of three children by his father's union with Jemima Buckner, who died when our subject was quite small. His father's busi- ness being that of a ruralist, from early boy- hood until he reached the age of twenty-one, P. G. worked on the farm with unceasing

industry, the only relaxation being his at- tendance at the York schools from five to six months during the winters, until he was twenty years old. He had the advantage of the Normal Schools of Bloomington and Car- bondale, Ill., a short time. At the age of fifteen, he formed a dislike for farming and decided upon a broader field of labor. His ambition did not slumber, and his zeal for his anticipated profession, that of law, did not abate; and, of course, prosperity crowned his efforts. So anxious was he to gain the knowledge requisite to his future prosperity, that he carried his history and algebra to the field with him, and while the horses were resting, ho applied himself vigorously to those two studies. Soon after attaining his majority, he passed an examination and was awarded a certificate to teach in the common schools of both Clark and Crawford Counties. He at once began teaching in the Mail neigh- borhood, in his native borough at $33} per month. He continued the labor of a peda- gogne for ten consecutive years, receiving for his last term a compensation of $110 per month. During his labor in the school- room, he saved $1, 700, a portion of which he loaned and the remainder was used to defray necessary expenses. His reputation soon be- came widespread, and every year increased the demand of his services and added laurels to his professional career, and accordingly, in 1873, he was elected Superintendent of schools of Crawford County, which position he resigned within about three years to ac- cept the office of State's Attorney, which was tendered him in 1876, which position he has held ever since. He began reading law with Judge Robb, of Robinson, in 1874, and was examined by the Supreme Court at Mt. Ver- non, Ill., and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He at once formed a partnership with his preceptor, which still exists. During his

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first term as State's Attorney, he turned over to the school funds $1,859 as fines. Before this time, the records don't show one cent ever having been reported by any previous prosecutor. He has been very earnest as an official, and has convicted nearly 300 persons for felonies and misdemeanors. It is not often we find in one man such a devotion to his profession and to science, and at the same time such an undaunted public spirit as we find in Mr. Bradbury. In his profes- sion he is possessed of a firmness, a calm, cool brain, a quick. unfailing eye, a steady nerve, a strength of will, and a physical en- durance, which give him so much distinction as a prosecutor. He performs a prodigious amount of professional labor-enough to bankrupt the physical system of any man of ordinary endurance-but yet he finds time to attend to scores of enterprises of a local but important character. Everything he undertakes bears the unmistakable impress of his energy, sound judgment and genius. In addition to all this, he is a thorough scholar, and a true gentleman, and enjoys the abid- ing confidence and respect of the people for his manly character and unimpeached integ- rity. He is an energetic Democrat, and labors ardently for the success of the party. He was married December 31, 1879, to Jen- nie Kelley, born December 5, 1855, in Sulli- van County, Ind. Her father, James Kelley, was a native of Ireland, and came to Sulli- van County, Ind., when a boy; started there with nothing, and at his decease in 1861, Was worth $50,000. Her mother, Melinda (Johnson) Kelley, was a native of Sullivan County, Ind., and blessed Mr. K. with three children, viz. : William, John and Jennie. The mother was married after the decease of Mr. Kelley to Dr. Van Vleck, of New York, who is also deceased. She survives on the old farm in her native county. Mrs. Brad-

bury was educated at the State Normal School, Terre Haute, Ind. ; is a very pleasant, affable lady, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. B. is a member of the A., F. & A. M. Lodge of Robinson.

THOMAS N. BROWNING, Justice of the Peace and insurance agent, Robinson, was born October 25, 1844, in Harrison County, Ind. ; came to Crawford County, Ill., with his parents at the age of five, and has made this his home since, with the exception of three years spent in Terre Haute. His father died when he was about seven years old, and he was put out among strangers. He gained his education principally in the school of experience. He was married, Sep- tember 26, 1866, to Miss Sarah A. Huls, daughter of Joseph Huls. a well and favorably known family of this county. After farming one year, removed to Terre Haute, and in the employ of the Terre Haute iron and nail works remained four years. He then removed to his farm, five miles north of town, and farmed two years. In 1874, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and moved to Robinson, and has served in that capacity continuously since. He does a good business in insurance. He represents the following reliable companies: Home, Phenix, German-American of New York, Royal, German, both of Freeport and Peoria, Ill. When civil war threatened our republic, Mr. Browning was one of that number to volun- teer in defense of the union and liberty. AJ- though too young for service as a common soldier, he enlisted as a drummer boy in Company F, Sixty-second Illinois, for a term ot three years, at the expiration of which he veteranized for another term of three years or during the war. He was placed on the staff of musicians as a drummer boy, in which position lie served till the " regimental band" was organized. He was made a pris-

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 87

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