History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 89

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 89
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 89

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).

JAMES GUINNIP, boot and shoe dealer, north side of the public square, was born in Clark County, Ill., February 3, 1859, where he grew to manhood with good facilities for education; also spent a term in the Terre Haute Commercial College. He then engaged in farming a short time. In 1882, he commenced his present business, in partnership with Griffith Brothers. His father, Joseph Guinnip, was born in Tomp- kins County, N. Y., December 14, 1814, where he remained till 1828, when his parents re- moved to Steuben County, N. Y. At the age of twenty-two he removed to Erie County, shortly after to Terre Haute, Ind. In 1840,

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he moved to Clark County, Ill .; bought a farm of eighty acres two miles north of Mar- shal and engaged in farming, which he has made a success, and owns a farm of 280 acres of choice improved lands, together with some valuable property in Marshal. He was mar- ried in Seneca County, N. Y., to Miss Sabina Smeed, who died in September, 1856. He was married in Clark County to Ellen Crane, by whom he has seven children.

GEORGE W. HARPER, editor and pro- prietor of the Argus, Robinson, whose por- trait appears in this volume, was born near Richmond, Wayne County, Ind. His father was a farmer, and young Harper was brought up on the farm until thirteen years of age, attending the district school during the win- ter months. He had early formed the desire to learn the art of printing, and declaring his intention to become a newspaper man be- fore he was ten years old, won for him the appellation of "editor" among his schoolfel- lows. When he was thirteen years of age, his father retired from farming, and removed to Centerville, then the county seat of Wayne County, to accept the position of Deputy Sheriff. George then desired to go into a printing office, but as his father strenuously opposed it, he went to work in a cabinet shop for the purpose of learning that trade. He was never pleased with the business, and in the spring of 1853, he quit the shop and went back to the farm, where he remained some months. In October, determining to put his cherished plans into execution, of becoming a printer, he went to Richmond unknown to his father, and apprenticed himself to Messrs. Holloway & Davis, in the Palladium office. He then went home and laid his plans before his father, and obtained his consent to learn the art he had so great a passion for. In 1854, while yet an apprentice, he commenced the publication of a little paper, which after-

ward was continued under the name of the "Broad Ax of Freedom and Grubbing Hoe of Truth." In 1856, he came to Illinois, and became connected with the Ruralist, at Pal- estine, as one of its editors. In 1857, he started the first paper ever published in Rob- inson, under the title of the Robinson Ga- zette. In 1859, he published the Crawford Banner, at Palestine, and in 1860 was con- nected with a paper at Pana, Ill., as editor and publisher. In 1862, he went back to Eastern Indiana, and there took charge of a paper at Centerville, his old home, but in 1863 returned to Robinson, and established the Robinson Argus on a very small founda- tion, gradually increasing the material and business of the establishment and paper, un- til he has made it second to none in Sonth- ern Illinois, or in the State. [For a Repub- lican, Brother Harper is a splendid, jolly, good fellow-he has no other fault .- Ed.] He has three times been appointed Postmas- ter at Robinson-the first time declining the appointment: the second time holding it a few years, and then resigning, and by virtue of the third appointment he is now Post- master General of the town. He has also served six years as Justice of the Peace. Al- though his position as editor of a political paper has brought him more or less among politicians and connected him with politics, he declares his love to be for the newspaper business, and that his ambition is to do bet- ter in it than he thinks any one else could have done similarly situated. For a sketch of his paper-the Argus-see history of the press in a preceding chapter. Mr. Harper was married, December 24, 1857, to Hannah Amanda, eldest daughter of Dr. Nelson Good- win, of Lamotte Township, who died in 1870, leaving four children, who still sur- vive. He was again married, in 1871, to Miss Lucy H. Gatton, of Martin Township.

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JOHN HILL, merchant, Robinson. Among the old and prominent citizens of Crawford County is John Hill, whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of the Hoosier State, and was born in Sullivan County November 10, 1816, but removed with his parents to this county in 1818, where his home has ever since been. His career has been tilling the soil until recently, and before he divided up his land among his children, he was one of the largest, if not the largest, land owners in Crawford County-being the owner of some 2,500 acres, among which was the original 160 acres entered and settled on by his father in 1818. To this he added until it comprised 620 acres, and on this he lived until his re- moval to Robinson, a few years ago. He was one of the most successful farmers in the county. and accumulated a handsome prop erty by his persevering energy and industry. Upon his removal to Robinson he engaged in the grocery business, and in this, as in farm- ing, his usual success has attended him. He erected a handsome brick storehouse on the east side of the public square, and has a large and complete stock of goods. He does a large and profitable business, his annual sales amounting to $20,000 to $30,000. Mr. Hill was married February 28, 1838, in this county, to Miss Morris, by whom he has four children, viz. - Charles M., Henry M., Diana Boofter and Mary McLean. His wife died in 1863, and he was married a se- cond time, in 1875, to Mrs. Sterrett. Polit- ically, Mr. Hill is a Democrat of the Jackson type.

CHARLES M. HILL, farmer and mer- chant, Robinson, is a son of John Hill, and was born in this county, December 5, 1839; he has always made his home in this county. In addition to the common schools of the neighborhood, he attended school for some time at Marshall, Clark County. He was

married, January 25, 1861, to Miss Mary Wolfe, a daughter of Henry Wolfe, Esq. He engaged in farming in Hntsonville Town- ship, on a farm of 200 acres. They have four children living and one dead; their names are as follows: Sarah L., Catharine V., John C., Mary C. and Henry E. Polit- ically, Mr. Hill is a Democrat.

ALVA G. HILL, farmer, P. O. Robin- son, was born August 17, 1845, and is a na- tive of this county; his early life was spent on a farm in Licking Township. He at- tended the common schools of the neighbor- hood and the colleges at Westfield and at Merom, Ind. He taught four winter terms and farmed during the summers. He was married, August 26, 1873, to Miss E. E. Wat- kins, a daughter of Jesse Watkins, Esq., of this county. He owns considerable land. Has resided with his father-in-law, Mr. Wat- kins, since 1874. He has three children- Henry K., Ray W. and Joseph A. Mr. Hill is a Republican.

HENRY O. HISER, County Superintend- ent of Schools, Robinson, was born in Licking Township. Crawford County, Ill., May 13, 1848, a son of Samuel and Susan E. (High) Hi- ser, who are both living. The father is a native of Licking County, Ohio, born October 24, 1818. He is a farmer by occupation. The mother of our subject was born in Clear- spring, Penn., April 16, 1819. The parents were blessed with ten children, four of whom are living-Perry N., E. W., Mrs. J. F. Bryan and our subject. He received a common school education and spent one term at the United Brethren College at Westfield, Ill., and also afterward attended for two years the State Normal, at Terre Haute, Ind. He started in life as a farmer, but soon turned his attention to teaching, which he has fol- lowed for fourteen years. He was married, November 2, 1875, in Crawford County, Ill.,

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to S. Olive Keenan, born in Perry County, Ohio, January 21, 1845, a daughter of An- drew and Mary J. Keenan, both of whom are living, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hiser died January 1, 1879. By her our subject had two children-John W. (died in infancy) and Bertram A. Mr. Hiser is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in pol- itice is a Democrat.

ALPHEUS B. HOUSTON, farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Robinson, was born in Rush County, Ind., November 16, 1844. In 1863, he enlisted in Company H, Ninth In- diana Cavalry, and served in Gen. Thomas' command and was in the following engage- ments: Pulaski, Nashville, Franklin, Little Harpeth, Lawrenceburg, Elk River, Grany White Pike, Hollow Tree Gap, Reynolds Hill and Sugar Creek, His brother, Casander T. Houston, was in the same command and was killed at Sulphur Trussel, Ala. December 25, 1866, he came to Robinson, and has made his home there. He clerked in a hotel two years, and for two years in a store, then pur- chased an interest in a hotel, and engaged in that business. In 1872, he was elected Sher- iff of Crawford County by the Republican party, notwithstanding the Democracy had a large majority usually. After his term of office expired, he engaged in the livery busi- ness in connection with buying and shipping horses. At present he is a farmer, and owns two good farms near Robinson, of 200 and 160 acres respectively. He owns a dwelling and one acre and several unoccupied lots in Robinson. Mr. Houston has been twice mar- ried, first, August 29, 1869, to Mary J. Ham. ilton, who died in 1873, leaving two chil- dren, one of whom, Ella W., is still living. He was again married, January 6, 1874, to Miss Lavona Myers, of Robinson, by whom he has two children-Maud H. and Alpheus

C. Mr. Houston's father, Joseph W. Hous- ton, was born in Maryland January 1, 1813, and died January 6, 1880. He was married in La Fayette, Ind., December 17. 1837, to Miss Sarah J. Brown, born in Ross County, Ohio, November 2, 1819. Of their family of nine children, three only are living-Alpheus B., Mrs. Anna M. Durst and Charlotte A. L. Henson.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, Deputy Sheriff, Robinson, was born in this county Septem- ber 19, 1822, and was brought up on a farm, receiving but a limited education. At the age of twenty-eight years, he commenced trading in stock, which he continued until 1862, when he was elected Sheriff of the county. He did an extensive business in stock; buy- ing and driving cattle and horses to Chicago, also bought and shipped cattle to New Or- leans. He is a stanch Democrat, and in 1862 was elected Sheriff; in 1864, Circuit Clerk, and in 1876 was again elected Sheriff. He has also served as Justice of the Peace. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1882, which position he now holds. In 1848, he was mar- ried to Miss Martha J. Ford, of this county. They have nine children living, viz .: Price, Lauretta, Frank P., Amelia, Carroll, Ludus- key, Martha, William D. and Maud. Sub- ject's father was born in Kentucky in 1775, and was married in 1803 to Miss Nancy Mc- Carty, born in 1784, on the banks of the Ohio, where Louisville now stands. They came to Crawford County, Ill., April 9, 1818, shortly before Illinois was admitted into the Union. He entered 234 acres of land in what is now Montgomery Township. A part of this (123 acres) is still owned by his descendants.

~ DUANE JOHNSON, merchant, Robin- son, a son of Hiram and Sarah A. (Melton) ~ Johnson, was born October 3, 1838, in Craw- ford County, Ill. In 1861, he engaged in farming in Montgomery Township, where he

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owned a farm of 239 acres. He moved to Robinson, and in 1882 engaged in the hard- ware business-a member of the firm of Wil- lis & Johnson. He was married in Robin- son, Ill., March 5, 1861, to Margaret E. Henderson. They have a family of six chil- dren living, viz .: Charles A., Willard, Alvin, Lucy J., Carrie E. and Everett. His wife died March 9, 1881. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat. Hiram Johnson, subject's father, was born in Kentucky December 15, 1807, emi- grated to Illinois with his father in April, 1818, and served in the Black Hawk war in 1832. December 15, 1837, he married Sarah A. Melton, who was born in 1815, and is still living in Robinson; her 'father was born in Warren County in 1792. Hiram Johnson was elected Justice of the Peace in 1843, elected Sheriff in 1852, Circuit Clerk in 1856, and re elected Clerk in 1860. He died Jan- uary 19, 1865. He was a son of James and Nancy A. (McCarty) Johnson; he was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1774, died in 1841; she born in Jefferson County, Ky., March 27, 1783, died in April, 1871.

HON. WILLIAM C. JONES, Circuit Judge, Robinson. (A sketch of Judge Jones will be found in the chapter on the Bench and Bar.)

ALFRED H. JONES, attorney at law, Robinson, is a native of Crawford County, and was born July 4, 1850. He was raised on the farm, and attended the common schools of the neighborhood, finishing in the West- field College, in Clark County, Ill., where he remained two years, 1867-68. He followed teaching for a time, and was Principal of the schools in St. Mary, Kan. In 1872,he com- menced reading law with Callahan & Jones (W. C.); was admitted to the bar in 1874, and at once entered into practice. He was appointed by the court to fill out the unex- pired term of G. S. Alexander (deceased), as

county prosecutor. He has also filled the position of City Attorney one term. In 1877. he entered into partnership with Hon. E. Callahan, and is now the junior partner of the law firm of Callahan & Jones. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow; is a Republican in politics, and Secretary of the Republican County Central Committee. Mr. Jones was married, in 1872, to Miss Ellen Thompson. One child was born of this marriage-Gusta- vus. His wife died shortly afterward. and in 1878 he was married a second time, to Miss Catherine Beals, of Robinson. They have one child-Roscoe.

GEORGE E. KESSLER, wagon and car- riage maker, Robinson, was born June 24, 1848, in Stark County, Ohio, son of William and Elizabeth (Harter) Kessler; he a native of Lancaster County, Penn., born in 1829 and dying in 1854; she born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1832, and still living. Our subject came to Crawford County and settled on a farm, and located at his trade in Robinson in 1873. He was married in Crawford County, Ill., October 14, 1877, to Rachael C. Clark, a native of Carroll County, Ind., born August 2, 1857, daughter of Willlam S. and Harriet (Parrish) Clark; three children have been born to them-Carrie Grace, Ger- tie and Arthur Edward.

JAMES S. KIRK, millwright, Robinson, was born December 18, 1838, in Licking County, Ohio. In 1851, his parents removed to ,Crawford County, Ill. Subject attended the Marshall College during the years of 1860-61. In May, of the latter year, he en- listed in Company H, Twenty-first Illinois Infantry. Was assigned at first to the armies of Missouri. Was in the battles of Fredericks- town, Stone River, Buzzard's Roost, Chicka- mauga, Resaca, at Kenesaw Mountain, etc. His time expired and he returned home in July, 1864. Engaged in farming in Sections

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29 and 32, Robinson Township. To his farm of 120 acres, which he started with, he has added 120 acres. In September, 1881, he engaged in milling business, as a member of the firm of Collins & Kirk. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Grangers Lodge. Subject was married, January 12, 1869, to Miss Emily Doty. Has seven chil- dren -- Annie F., Alma A., William O., Alice L., Martha A., Lola Acme and Otho J. D.

JOHN KIRK, son of William Kirk, a farmer, P. O. Robinson, was born in Licking County, Ohio, November 4,1840. At the age of eleven, came with his parents to Crawford County, Ill., and located in west part of Robinson Township. His education was obtained in the common schools of the county. He was married, March 28, 1865, in this county, to Miss Emeline V. Holmes, and engaged in farming. Purchased a farm of 260 acres in Sections 30 and 31, Robinson Township. He raises mostly corn and wheat, and a fair amount of grass, also stock. He is a member of the Grange society. Polit- ically, he is a Democrat. He has a family of four living and one dead-Victor Lee, Will- iam D., Elliot, Allen J. Palmer, Addie Anna, and one dead, Arthur E.

HENRY W. KING, farmer, P. O. Robin- son, is a son of Joel King, who was born on the 22d of January, 1774, in Massachusetts. He was married, May 4, 1797, to Miss Julia Loy. of New York. He entered upon the business of farming in Oneida County, N. Y., which he abandoned on account of phys- ical inability, and engaged in shoe-making at Mount Vernon, N. Y., where Henry W., the subject of this sketch, was born, Decem- ber 31, 1815. He was the youngest of a fam- ily of ten children, of whom but two are now living, the subject and Mrs. Welton, resid- ing in Hamilton County, N. Y. Mr. King was married in Lexington, Ky., to Miss

Utley, a daughter of John Utley, Esq. He then engaged in merchandising in Cincin- nati, as a member of the firm of King, Ship- ley & Co., and afterward, King, Corwin & Co. In 1860, he sold out his interest in the store and engaged in clerking in the same city until 1869, when he came to Robinson, Ill., where he has purchased considerable property. He owns 320 acres of land in Casey Township, Clark County, as well as a tract of 275 acres in Clark, not under cul- tivation; also owns a farm of 120 acres in Jasper County. Mr. King is a Democrat in politics.

IRA KING, retired farmer, P. O. Robin- son, is a native of the State of New York, where he was born January 22, 1822. When quite young, his parents came to Illinois and settled in Edgar County. In 1829, with his mother-his father having died-he came to Crawford County, where he has since lived. They settled about seven miles west of Rob- inson. Mr. King now owns a farm of 120 acres, and another of 80 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. He also owns 100 acres in Oblong Township, about half of which is in cultivation, and 3,000 acres of uncultivated lands in the Embarras River bot- toms. In 1881, he built a handsome frame residence in Robinson, at a probable cost of $10,000. He was married, in June, 1846, to Miss Caroline Beckwith, of this county. They have three children living, viz .: Eliza, Mary and Horace F., the later a graduate of Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind. Sophia E. and Annis are dead.

JAMES LAMB, farm implement dealer and grain buyer, Robinson, was born October 5. 1817, in Shenandoah County, Va. His parents died when he was quite young, and he was taken to Licking County, Ohio, in 1824, by an uncle. Here he was married, August 18, 1842, to Miss Mary Randall, and

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engaged in farming. In 1847, he removed to Crawford County, Ill., and purchased a farm of 120 acres, in Licking Township, which he improved and sold and purchased another farm in the township, of 300 acres, mostly improved land, on which he had good buildings and an excellent orchard. In 1871, he removed to Robinson, and soon after en- gaged in the farm implement business, pur- chasing a residence in town. He has a fam- ily of six children-William J., Mrs. Caroline M. Newlin, Mary, Emma, Lillie and Stephen A. D.

G. W. LEWIS, manager Co- operative Com- pany's store, Robinson, was born April 5, 1835, in Montgomery County, Penn .; his father, who was a physician, removed to Car- roll County, Ohio, when subject was very small, and when he was four years old his father died. The family soon after removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he made his home until 1870, when he came to Craw- ford County, Ill., and engaged in farming, in Hutsonville Township, on a farm of 200 acres, which he still owns. Having had sev- eral years' experience in merchandising in Ohio, he, in 1877, took the position of mana - ger of the Co-operative Company's store in Robinson, and after one year returned to the farm, but was recalled by the stock-hold- ers of the store, and has held the position of manager ever since. He was married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth Calvin, a daughter of Robert Calvin They have six children liv- ing-Mrs. Jeanette J. Brown, Douglas A., Fernando W., Clement L., John V., and Loretto L.

SAMUEL T. LINDSAY, photographer, Robinson, was born in Crawford County, Ill., January 20, 1847, and is a son of John T. and Elizabeth (Clayton) Lindsay, both of whom are living, he born in Versailles, Rip- ley County, Ind., January 28, 1825; she

born in Crawford County, Ill., February 26, 1831. Subject was raised on a farm in MIont- gomery Township and engaged in teaching and farming alternately. In 1879, he was elected Sheriff by the Republican party, and served in that capacity two years. After his term of office had expired, he engaged in his pres- ent business. In September, 1882, he was burned out, but has rebuilt and restored his business. In Montgomery Township, Craw- ford County, Ill .. in 1867, he married Mary E. Harris, born in New Hebron, Crawford County, Ill., November 11, 1848, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Roar) Harris; he, a native of Virginia, born December 17, 1817, died April 14, 1855; she a native of North Carolina, born November 30, 1824, and is still living.

AUSBY L. LOWE, Deputy Circuit Clerk, Robinsou, is a son of Isaac N. and Amanda (Hurst) Lowe, and was born in the town of Hutsonville, this county, November 18, 1857. He grew to manhood with such facilities for education as the town afforded, until in 1877, when he entered Earlham College, at Rich- mond, Ind., and there completed his educa- tion. Upon leaving school he became Dep- uty Circuit Clerk of Crawford County, which position he has satisfactorily filled ever since. From childhood, Ausby has practiced the strictest honor and integrity, and is to-day, what may be termed in the full sense of the term, an honest man. He was married November 20, 1879, to Miss Alice C. Hodge, of York, Ill. The result of this union is one child-A. Lyman, born August 18, 1880. Politically, Mr. Lowe is a Democrat of the old Jackson school.

HOWARD B. LUTES, clothing merchant, Robinson, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Jacksonboro, December 23, 1850, and at the age of fifteen he entered the State University at Bloomington, remaining there

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three years. He took a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's College at Louisville, Ky., from which he graduated. He then engaged in teaching school, and followed it in Indiana and Illinois. For one year he was engaged in the agricultural implement business, after which he opened a clothing house in Robinson, in which business he is still engaged. He has a large and lucrative trade and carries a heavy stock in his line, selling annually from $15,000 to $20,000 worth of goods. Mr. Lutes was married in 1874 to Miss Flora B. Harness. She died in 1876, leaving two children, one of whom, Maud, is still living. He was married a second time in 1881, to Miss Rosa Iddings.

I. D. MAIL, farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Robinson, was born March 26, 1831, and is a native of this county, and a sou of Fred- erick and Louisa H. (McGahey) Mail, the former, born April 15, 1803, in Knox Coun- ty, Ind., and the latter born February 2, 1806. Mr. Mail settled in Crawford County about the year 1828, and died here February 8, 1873; his wife died December 9, 1865. The subject (I. D. Mail) was brought up on the farm, receiving such education as was to be obtained in the common schools. He commenced farming for himself, in Lamotte Township on a farm of 94 acres; at present owns upward of 700 acres of land in this county, with the exception of 200 acres, which is in Lawrence County. Formerly he dealt largely in stock, and made stock-raising a specialty in connection with farming. Polit- ically, Mr. Mail is a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in political issues. He held the office of Associate Justice under the old county organization, and has served one term as County Treasurer. He was married, October 8, 1854, to Miss Mary Boatright, of this coun- ty. Seven children are the result of this marriage, viz .: Mrs. Julia St. Clergy, Mollie,

Albert T., Virginia, Louisa and I. D., Jr. His wife died March 8, 1872, and in Janu- ary, 1874, he was a second time married to Miss Mollie Poland.

LOUIS N. MARBRY, farmer, P. O. Robin- son, was born in Calloway County, Ky., April 11, 1838. His father, Alfred Marbry, was a native of Virginia. He was raised there and removed into Tennessee, and there married Martha Freeman, a native of Virginia. In a short time after marriage, they removed into Calloway County, Ky., at which place he died in March, 1849, leaving a wife and nine children to mourn his loss. Four of his children are now living, three are residents of this county, namely: Martha, wife of John MeGrue, deceased; Garret, farming; Louis N., our subject; Mary, wife of John Wagner, living in Union County, Ill. Their mother died here March 21, 1876. Our subject was brought by his . mother to this county in 1849, and here was raised on a farm, and his education was limited to the common schools of the country what time he attended. As early as 1851, when but thir- teen years of age, he commenced working out by the month, in order to help support himself, his mother and family. In 1854, when sixteen years of age, he engaged in farming for himself, in this county, and suc- cessfully continued in agricultural pursuits until 1861, at which time, April 13, he en- listed in Company I, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in several bat- tles, namely: Fredericktown, Mo., Perryville, Liberty Gap, Stone River, Chickamauga, Dal- las, Resaca and Kenesaw. He was mustered out at Chattanooga, July 5, 1864, at which time he came back to this county and engaged in farming. He made his first purchase of land in Hutsonville Township, south of Hutson- ville; on selling out there he bought land northwest of Palestine; on selling out there

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 89

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