History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 90

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 90
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 90

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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ROBINSON TOWNSHIP.

he bought land in Licking Township. He sold his farm in Licking Township and bought property in Robinson. and after traded it for land in Richmond County, III., and after traded it for 80 acres of land adjoining his farm of 100 acres, since purchased. It is all in cultivation, and he is successfully en- gaged in the raising of grain and stock. Pre- vious to his engaging in farming, in 1864 and 1865, he took a contract on the building of the P. & D., now the Wabash & Sontheast- ern Railroad. In 1866. November 1, he was married to Sarah E. Walters, a native of Crawford County, born November 28, 1848. They have three children, living, namely: Charles, John and Medford, and two dead, namely: William and Mand. Our subject, beginning in 1873, run a livery stable in Rob- inson until 1875, at which time sold out and removed to his farm, where he is now en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Honor, Robinson Lodge.

JOHN MAXWELL, SR., deceased, was born in Blonnt County, Tenn., on the 28th day of November, 1805, and was married to Eliza Love of same county in 1831. In 1848, he, together with several other families, moved to Crawford County, Ill., and settled in the southern part of the county. Like many of the early settlers, he chose the broken timber land instead of the prairie. The place of his residence, nine miles south of Robinson, had formerly been very heavily timbered, but had been the scene of a hurri- cane. about 1800, which destroyed all the timber, so that it was then almost like a prai- rie, the yearly burning of the grass having kept the young timber from growing up. He reached this county with abont $500 in mon- ey, which was mostly put into land, and he commenced life anew in a log cabin hastily erected in the woods. Year by year a few :

more acres were cleared, until about 100 acres

of the stool grubs had been dug out with the mattock by himself and older sons. He had seven sons and four daughters. When the civil war broke out, three of his sons, Archi- bald S., Joseph and William M., entered the Union army. The two former were in the battle of Stone River, and there Joseph was killed and Archibald was wounded and taken prisoner, but soon recaptured. On the morn - ing of the 2d of November, 1864, his house was the scene of the most unwarranted out- rage ever perpetrated in the county. Just at the break of day the house was surrounded by a mob of armed men of Crawford and Lawrence Counties. His sons Archibald and William M. were home on furlough until af- ter the election. They and a soldier by the name of Henry Beaman staid there overnight. All in the house were aroused just before day- break by the violent barking of the dogs, and the old gentleman went out to ascertain what was the cause. He was fired upon by some of the mob, when he hastened into the house and fastened the door. The mob fol- lowed him up on an open porch, when they were halted by William M. from a window up stairs. They paid no attention to his com- mand to stop, when he fired at them, but missed his aim. The mob immediately opened fire all around the house, firing in at the windows. One of his daughters, Elizabeth, who had just arose from bed, was mortally wounded, being hit by two rifle balls in the groin, while standing by the bed. William M., hearing her cry ont that she was shot, run down stairs and opened one of the doors and emptied his revolver at the crowd, wounding one of them in the thigh and receiving a wound in the leg. The mob then retreated and stationed themselves behind the outbuild- ings, and remained there until after daylight. When it was found that they were still around the house, Mrs. Eliza Maxwell determined to

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venture out and see what was wanted. They told her that they had come to arrest William M. Maxwell, and had the Sheriff of Lawrence County with a writ. She told them if they had the Sheriff he would not resist them. They then came in and took William M., Archibald and John C. Maxwell to Lawrenceville. But it was ascertained that they had no officer nor no writ, or any authority whatever for their action. They, however, swore a warrant for him after getting to Lawrenceville, on a charge of assault with intent to kill. He was tried on this charge and acquitted. The daughter suffered untold agony for about seven weeks, when she died from the effect of her wound. William M. never recovered from his wound. It continued to ulcerate, and could not be healed. The ulceration run up to the body, and he died from it after long suffering, on the 12th day of February, 1867. Some of the mob afterwards boasted that they had used poisoned bullets, and the doctors were of the same opinion. To the disgrace of Crawford County, it must be said, that no indictments were ever found against the murderers. Many of them, however, have gone forth with the mark of Cain upon them, and have been a curse to themselves. The mob was composed of rebel sympathizers and members of the order of the Knights of the Golden Circle, and was caused by the wild ex- citement that was rife in that section of the country. After the close of the war but lit- tle worthy of note occurred in his life. He died at his home on the 20th day of May, 1879, at a good, ripe old age.

J. C. MAXWELL, attorney at law, Robinson, was born September 26, 1847, in Blount Coun- ty, Tenn., and when one year of age his parents removed to Crawford County, Ill., and settled on a farm, where the subject grew to manhood. His opportunities for obtain- ing an education were such as the common

schools of the county afforded. Upon arriv - ing at manhood he attended Waveland Acad- emy one year, at Waveland, Ind., also at- tended the National Normal School, at Leb- anon, Ohio, where he graduated in the clas- sical course in 1872, having taught school at intervals to defray his expenses. In 1873, he began the study of the law in Robinson, un- der Callahan & Jones (W. C.), and was ad- mitted to the bar in January, 1875. He at once entered upon the practice of his profes- sion, and was for a time in partnership with his preceptors -- Callahan & Jones. At pres- ent he is a member of the firm of Wilson, Maxwell & Allen. He was married in Octo- ber, 1881, to Miss Gertie E. Jackson, of New Albany, Ind.

STEPHEN D. MESERVE, physician and surgeon, Robinson. The subject of this sketch is a native of New Hampshire, and his boy- hood was spent among its bleak hills. He was born August 9, 1818, and his early edu- cational facilities were such as are enjoyed by the favored youth of New England. When grown, he entered Fryeburg Academy, where he spent about four years iu study. After leaving school, he began reading medicine under Dr. Barrrows, of Fryeburg, continu- ing for one year. He then came West to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he continued his studies. After practicing some five years, he took a regular course of lectures, graduating from Miami Medical College in 1855. Afterwards he took the addendum degree in the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. In 1848, pre- vious to his graduation, he came to Clark County, Ill., and located in York, and in 1850 removed to Hutsonville, in this county. Here he remained until March, 1856, when he re- moved to Robinson, and has resided here ever since, in the practice of his profession. Oc- tober 23, 1850, Dr. Meserve was married to Miss Martha Barlow, daughter of E. Barlow,

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ROBINSON TOWNSHIP.

Esq. He has four children living-Ashbel, G., Mattie H. Shafer, Mand and Blanche.

A. G. MESERVE, M. D., Robinson, was born May 6, 1854, in Hutsonville, Crawford County, Ill. His opportunity for education was good. He attended an academy in Rob- inson about five years, studied medicine un- der his father, and attended lectures in the Miami Medical College, where he graduated, March 3, 1874, and at once engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in partnership with his father, in Robinson, Ill. He was married July 19, 1876, to Miss Theodosia E. Fitch. To them have been given two children, Ashbel F., born August 26, 1877, and Maud, July 20, 1880.

JOHN B. MEYER, tailor, Robinson, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born May 9, 1824. In 1849. he emigrated to Amer- ica, landing in New York, and soon he pushed out to Philadelphia, and there engaged in tailoring, a trade he had learned in the old country. He went to Madison, Ind., where he met some old acquaintances from Ger- many. From Madison he went to Edinburg, and in 1853 came to Robinson, where he went to work at his trade. In 1862, having sold out his business, he enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for three years. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and he was in many of the battles fought by that portion of the Army of the Union, among which were Hoover's Gap, Kingston, Atlanta, Chancellors- ville, Selma, etc., etc. He was discharged July 3, 1865, and the next year returned to Germany on a visit, but came back in due time to America, and returned to Robinson, and located among old friends. He owns con- siderable property in the town, and still continues working at his trade of tailoring, in which he has been very successful.

SAMUEL MIDKIFF, Robinson, of the firm of Midkiff & Carey, lumber dealers, also

a farmer, was born April 8, 1824, in Granger County, Tenn. Removed with his parents to Shelby County, Ind., when six years old. He was married February 14, 1848, to Miss Mary J. Keck and moved to Wisconsin in 1849, where he remained four years, and then re- moved to Illinois, locating within two miles of Robinson, and engaged in farming. He owns a farm of 300 acres, on which he has good buildings and an excellent orchard. He produces a great deal of grain and raises a large amount of stock. December 6, 1882, he purchased an interest in a lumber yard at Robinson, and embarked in that business. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Has a family of seven children, namely- Henrietta P., Alpheus J., William H., Dan- iel K., Benjamin F., Lucinda J. and Samuel P., all of whom are married. Previous to his marriage he enlisted in the Mexican war, Company H, Third Indiana, and served in Taylor's army, and was in the battle of Buena Vista. Returned home after one year's serv- ice.

MATHIAS CORWIN MILLS, lawyer and police magistrate, Robinson, was born Feb- ruary 22, 1838, and is a native of Darke County, Ohio, and when nine years of age, his parents removed to Howard County, Ind. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood, and two years in the State Normal School, then located at Ko- komo. At the end of that time the war broke out, and he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Company D, Sixth Indiana Infantry, for three months. Upon the expiration of his term, he again enlisted in Company C, as Adjutant of the Thirty-ninth Indiana, and served until January 1, 1865, when he was discharged. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, and Stone River, in the latter of which he was captured, and lodged in Libby Prison. He returned to his command just in

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time to take part in the campaign in Tennes- see, which ended in the battle of Chickamauga. He was at Mission Ridge, and in most all the battles during "Sherman's March to the Sea." After leaving the army he returned to Kokomo and engaged in the grocery busi- ness, which he followed but a short time, when he went to Sullivan, Ind., where he en- gaged in the practice of law, having pre- viously studied for the profession. In 1870, he removed to Robinson and engaged in teaching, which he followed for nine years as principal of the public schools. In 1879, he again engaged in the practice of law; and held the position of City Attorney for three terms, 1877, 1878, 1879. He was elected Po- lice Magistrate in 1880, which office he still holds. He is a Republican in politics; is a member of Robinson Lodge, No. 250, A., F. & A. M., and Robinson Chapter, R. A. M., and also a member of the Odd Fellows. Mr. Mills was married May 13, 1863, in Kokomo, Ind., to Miss Hattie A. Welsh, a native of Lancaster County, Penn. They have a fam- ily of four children, viz .: Thomas G., Clif ford D., Emma K. and Gloria.

SOL. MOERS, watch maker and jeweler, Robinson, was born in Germany December 14, 1851. Came with his parents in 1859 to Cincinnati, where he was raised. He at- tended the schools of the city, also spent four years as an apprenticein his profession. In 1873, he located in Robinson in his pres- ent avocation. He carries a fine assortment of goods in his line, and sells over $6,000 worth annually. Subject was married in this town to Miss Sallie Hedden, in 1879. Has two children, Mamie and Selina. He is an A., F. & A. M., a R. A. M., and an Odd Fellow and Knight of Honor.

E. E. MURPHY, merchant, Robinson, was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 18, 1834, and when quite young removed with

his parents to Michigan, where he remained three years. In 1854, he came to Palestine, in this county, and commenced clerking in a store there-an employment he continued for some three years, when he commenced mer- chandising on his own account. He remained at Palestine until 1875, when he removed to Robinson, continning the merchantile busi- ness in his new quarters. He built a store house which he still occupies. He does an extensive business, selling annually about $20,000 worth of goods. Mr. Murphy was married June 11, 1857, to Miss Eliza Alexan- der, of Palestine, by whom he had two chil- dren -- Jeanetta and Mary B. His wife died in 1867, and in February, 1872, he was mar- ried a second time to Miss Sallie C. Swear- ingen, who died in October, 1875. He was married again, in July, 1878. to Frances Da- vis, of Greenville, Illinois.

H. MYERS, merchant, Robinson, was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1839, and when six- teen years of age emigrated to America, land- ing in New York. He went to Ohio, where he engaged in clerking in a clothing store. He remained there about a year and a half and then returned to Europe, but in three months came back to America, and located at Jacksonport, Ark., where he remained until the breaking out of the war, in 1861, when he enlisted in Hardee's Corps, Maj. Schoup's Battalion of Artillery, C. S. A., for a term of four years, or until the close of the war; he participated in the following battles; Shiloh, Corinth, Bowling Green, Nashville, Mur- freesboro, Franklin, Tenn., Meridian, Miss., Columbus, Miss., etc. He was discharged at Meridian, Miss., in 1865. He went to Mem- phis, Tenn., and engaged in steamboating. then to Hopkinsville, Ky., and back to Ten- nessee, and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, but in 1869, sold out and went to Evans. ville, Ind., where he remained about a year,

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when he made another trip to Europe, but shortly after returned to Evansville, thence to Columbus, Ky., where he went into mer- chandising. He next went to Sullivan, Ind., but soon after removed to Robinson, where he still resides, and is extensively engaged in the clothing business. He was married in 1870 to Miss Jeanetta Pettinger, of Evans- ville. They have four children living-Me- lanie, Jacob, Abraham and Isaac. Mr. Myers is a member of the Robinson Lodge, No. 250, A .. F. & A. M., and of the Knights of Honor.

JUDGE J. C. OLWIN, lawyer and County Judge, Robinson, was born December 6, 1838, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and was brought up on the farm. His facilities for an education were good, and he attended sev- eral of the leading institutions of learning of his native State, thus receiving a good, practical education. In 1860, he commenced the study of law in Dayton, and, in 1862, matriculated in the Ohio State and Union Law School of Cleveland, where he gradu- ated in 1863, and in the fall of the next year came to Crawford County, Ill. Upon his arrival here he taught one term of school near Palestine, and then located in Robinson and commenced the practice of his chosen profession-the law. He was elected to the Thirty-second General Assembly, which term expired in 1882, and in November of the same year, was elected County Judge, which position he now fills. He has also filled the office of master in chancery two terms (four years). Judge Olwin is a Republican in politics, and when it is taken into cosidera- tion that he has been elected to these posi- tions in a Democratic county, his popularity as a citizen and his integrity as a public offi- cer is at once apparent to the reader. Judge Olwin was married January 4, 1866, to Miss Amelia A. Tobey, of Montgomery County, Ohio. The result of this marriage is a fam-

ily of six children. five of whom are living, viz. : Harry, Claudia E., Ora M., Tobey and Beulah. Dead -- Jessie.

E. N. OTEY, Robinson, member of the firm of Otey & Son, was born in March, 1831, in Palestine, Ill. He learned his trade of house carpenter in Terre Haute; has worked mostly in this county. In 1881, he and his son built a planing mill in Robinson, and has been engaged in that business ever since. He owns a good residence in town and ten acres adjoining the corporation. He was married in Terre Haute, December 20, 1854, to Miss Mary C. Hebb. They have four children, namely: Harry E., Rose, Clifford F. and Helen.

WILLIAM PARKER, merchant, Robin- son, is a native of Illinois, and was born in Clark County, November 21, 1832. His early life was spent in York, in that county, with rather limited facilities for receiving an edu- cation. In 1852, he commenced clerking in Palestine, in this county, for Preston Bros., remaining in their employ about ten years. In 1862, he came to Robinson, then a sickly village of not more than 300 inhabitants, and engaged in general merchandising which he followed until 1872, when he closed out and opened a hardware store, first on the north side of the public square, but in 1875, he removed to the east side, when together with J. H. Weeds he [erected two elegant brick buildings. Nos. 4 and 5, in which he sold his interest in 1877, but continued the hardware business. He was married in May, 1860, to Miss Sarah E. Conditt, of Palestine, He has five children living, viz .: Charles C., Frederick A., Harry H., Maggie and Fannie. Mr. Parker is a Republican in politics, and during a part of President Grant's term, President Hayes' and President Garfield's, he was Postmaster at Robinson, a position in which he gave universal satisfaction.

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GEORGE N. PARKER, attorney at law, Robinson, a native of this county, was born April 9, 1843, and was brought up on the farm. He attended the common schools of the. neighborhood, finishing his education at Union Christian College at Merom, Ind. After his return to this county, he was elected Superintendent of Schools in 1865. He read law one year and then en- tered Ann Arbor law school, where he re- mained one year. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, in Illinois, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Robinson, where he has ever since remained. Mr. Par- ker is a Democrat in politics, and has been chairman of the County Democratic Commit- tee for several years. He was married May 5, 1870, to Miss Julia A. Crowley, a daughter of Samuel B. Crowley, of Jasper County, Ill. Samnel Parker, father of our subject, was born in Butler County, Ohio, and when very young came to Illinois (in 1818), while it was still a territory, and located in Craw- ford County. He has followed farming most of his life and accumulated a considerable amount of property He was married, Decem- ber 31, 1835, to Miss Emeline Lanham, and has three children living-one son (subject) and two daughters, viz .: Mary J., wife of Peter C. Barick, and Sabina Ann, wife of John P. Deam, all residents of this county. In the fall of 1866, Mr. Parker purchased property in Robinson and moved into town, where he still resides.

THOMAS S. PRICE, clerk of County Court, Robinson, a native of Crawford County, Ill., and a son of James D. and Mary. E. (Smith) Price, was born May 1, 1850. He was brought up on the farm, at- tending the common school of the neighbor- hood until the age of twenty, when he went to Westfield College for seven months. After- ward he attended the Indiana State Normal

School at Terre Haute, for three years, 1871-73, graduating in the common course. Upon leaving school, he engaged in teach- ing, which he followed until 1878, when he received the appointment of Deputy County Clerk under Mr. Reavill, remaining one year, when he bought an interest in the Constitu- tion. In August following he sold out, and was appointed by the Board of Supervisors County Clerk, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Reavill, and in Novem- ber, was duly elected to fill out the unexpired term. In the fall of 1882, he was re-elected to a second term, which office he now fills. He was married in Palestine, Ill., December 17, 1879, to Miss Fannie B. Haskett, born in Crawford County, Ill., November 19, 1859, daughter of E. C. Haskett, of Palestine. They have two children-Ralph W., and Harry H. Mr. Price is a member of Robin . son Lodge, No. 250, A., F. & A. M., and of Crawford Lodge, I. O. O. F. Subject's father was born in Calloway County, Ky., in 1806, and came to Illinois in 1829, stopping first at Palestine, but afterward settled north- west of Robinson, where he died November 22, 1873. He was twice married, first to Miss Caldwell, she dying; he afterward mar- ried Mrs. Mary E. Smith, a widow, and daughter of Guy W. Smith, an early settler of Crawford County. She was born March 13, 1821, and is still living on the old home- stead. Mr. James D. Price had two children by his first, and eight by his second, mar- riage, seven of whom are living, viz .: Thomas S. (subject), Alice J., John Z., Min- nie, Austin G., Luella C. and Everett E.

PHILIP REINOHL, engineer and farm- er, was born on October 4, 1821, in Leba- non County, Penn., engaged in farming, and in 1853, he came to Crawford County and located near New Hebron. He owns a farm of 160 acres, all under cultivation. In June,

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1882, he engaged in his present avocation- engineering. He was married in 1843, to Miss Sarah Saul. Has a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter-Will- iam E., Reuben, Franklin P., Albert, Philip, U. S. Grant, Mrs. Emma C. Man. He is a member of the United Brethren Church.

JUDGE FRANKLIN ROBB, attorney at law. Robinson, is a native of Gibson County, Ind., where he was born February 15, 1817. When sixteen years of age, he removed with his parents to Laporte, Ind. After remain- ing there for a time, he entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, which he attended for five years, taking a classical course and graduating in 1840. He then engaged in the study of law at Princeton, Ind., under Judge Embree, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He practiced law for a short time at Princeton, and then abandoned it and began the study of medicine, which he fol- lowed for about three years, attending lectures at Louisville, Ky., and at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1845, he removed to Robinson, Ill., and engaged in the practice of medicine-except one year, 1847-48, which he spent in York, Ill., then returned to Robinson, where he has since resided. He finally abandoned medi- cine on account of his health, and resumed the practice of law, which he has since con- tinued to follow to the present time. Politi- cally, Judge Robb is a Republican. He has held the office of County Superintendent of Schools, Justice of the Peace, a member of the school board, etc. He was elected County Judge in 1879, and served one term ably and to the satisfaction of his constitu- ency, and declined a nomination for a second term. Judge Robb was married June 13, 1844, to Miss Martha J. E. Ing, a daughter of Thomas Ing, Esq.

RUDDELL BROTHERS, druggists, etc., Robinson. Had Dickens written his Nicholas

Nickleby in Robinson, it would have been evident that he took his characters of Cheery- ble Brothers from the subjects of this sketch, barring the facts that the Cheerybles were old men and twins. In other respects the characters are very similar. Zalmon and J. D. Kuddell (the subjects) are descended from that old pioneer stock of Ruddells, of Bourbon County, Ky., for whom Ruddell Station in that county was named, an early settlement several times attacked by Indians in the early days of the " Dark and Bloody Ground." The subjects are sons of George aud Martha (Neal) Ruddell, natives of Ken- tucky, who emigrated to Crawford County in 1853, locating in Lamotte Township. Mr. Ruddell purchased an excellent farm there of some 800 acres of land. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, an honorable man and a good citizen, and died September 25, 1855. Zalmon Ruddell was born February 9, 1847, and J. D. Ruddell was born March 11, 1849, both in Kentucky, emigrating with their parents to Illinois in 1853. as above. They were brought up on the farm, attending the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1868, both entered college, attending the same number of terms, and after leaving school engaging iu the drug business together, May 17, 1872, at Merom, Ind., and remaining there till 1877, when they removed to Robin- son, Ill., continuing in the drug business there till 1878, when they also engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and have since conducted the three branches of business with success, their annual receipts amounting to $15,000 or $20,000. They have indeed proved veritable Cheeryble Brothers. The only thing in which they have materially diverged from each other was, Zal- mon, in 1864, enlisted in Company C, of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, for one year, J. D. being too

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 90

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