History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 94

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 94
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 94

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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nine children. The educational facilities of our subject's younger days granted him but a meager education in the old subscription schools. His early life was spent in farming pursuits, and as necessity required he also engaged at shoe-making and blacksmithing, and at the advanced age of eighty six years, he made two plows, upon which implement he claims to be the original inventor of many substantial improvements. He was first mar- ried in his native county, in 1815, to Nancy Boyd, born March 9, 1797, in Guilford County, N. C., a daughter of James Boyd. She died in 1825. leaving a family of five children-Sargent, Elizabeth, Rachel, Mary and Nancy. The second marriage of our subject occurred November 13. 1828, in this county. He wedded Cynthia Smith, born July 2, 1795, on the South Branch of the Po- tomac, Virginia, a daughter of Jacob B. and Hannah (Hand) Smith, he a native of Ger- many. and she of Virginia. Mrs. Hill died in January, 1872. When he first came to this county, our subject purchased 160 acres of land of the Government, but being unable to pay for the same, retained only one-fourth of it. an act of Congress compelling him to relinquish the balance. His present farm consists of about 402 acres, which is given to general farming. Our subject has served this county as a Commissioner, under the old system of county organization. In politics he adheres to the Democratic principles of Thomas Jefferson, and he has distinct recol- lections of the administration of that devoted espouser of the cause of Colonial liberty.

HENRY HOLADAY, farmer, P. O. West York, was born in the same house in which he is now residing, December 4, 1827, to Robert and Margaret (Willard) Holaday. His father was born in North Carolina in 1779; emigrated to Orange County, Ind., in 1816, and to Crawford County, Ill .. in 1818.

Here he remained engaged in farming until he died in 1837. He was of Scotch descent. His mother was born in South Carolina in 1775, and died in Crawford County 1843. They were the parents of four children, of whom Henry was the youngest child. He has always made his present residence his home, but has been to New Orleans several trips on a flat-boat with grain, and in 1850 went to California and followed mining for three years and six months. He is now engaged in tilling the soil of the home farm, and is the owner of 197 acres of good land. In 1855, he married Miss Abigail Prevo, who died March 4, 1835, leaving five children as the result of their union, of whom four are now living, viz .: William, Elizabeth, Usher and Abigail. In 1881, on the 13th June, he married Miss Nancy Willett, a native of Ten- nessee. Mrs. Holaday is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Holaday is a man of good principles and bears a name and reputa- tion which is beyond reproach. He is a Democrat.

· ANDREW J. HOLMES, farmer, P. O. Eaton, was born in Licking County, Ohio, August 30, 1841, to Reuben A. and Lucy (Fristo) Holmes. His father was born in Virginia in 1798, where he was raised, edu- cated and married. Soon after he married, he removed to Ohio, and there remained until 1848, when he immigrated to Illinois, and settled in Crawford County. Here he re. mained engaged in farming until he died in December, 1853. During his younger days, he worked at the carpenter's trade. He was Associate Judge of Crawford County, a very prominent and enterprising citizen and the owner of about two thousand acres of land. His wife, and mother of our sub- ject, was born in Shenandoah County, Va., July 11, 1812, and died in Crawford County, Ill., in November, 1878. She was the mother

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of nine children, of whom seven are now liv- ing, Andrew being the fourth child and youngest son. He was brought to Crawford County by his parents when he was seven years of age. He received the benefit of the common schools of the county, and ar- riving at his majority embarked on his career in life as a farmer upon the old homestead farm, where he now owns 320 acres of land. April 2. 1865, in Crawford County, he mar- ried Miss Melissa, a daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Hill) Newlin. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have four children-Orlin G., Evaline V., Augusta F. and an infant un- named. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Granger's Lodge, No. 825, of Eaton, and a Democrat in politics.

A. W. HORNING, Principal of Schools, Hutsonville, was born July 2, 1854, near New Lebanon, Ohio. At the age of eleven years, his father purchased a farm in Craw- ford County, to which he moved in 1865. Owing to a great amount of labor that was to be performed on the farm, the great dis- tance from the schoolhouse, and adverse cir- cumstances, he was deprived of the educa- tional advantages offered by the common schools. On attaining his majority, he en- tered the normal school at Valparaiso, which he attended one year. On returning hom he began teaching, which occupation he fol- lowed during the fall and winter months, and during the spring and summer months at- tended school. On his return from school in 1880, was elected President of the Crawford County Teachers' Association, which position he held until 1882. In the spring of 1882, was appointed Principal of the Hutsonville schools, which position he has since retained. Politically, he is a Republican, a firm be- liever in the principles of total abstinence from all that intoxicates, and an earnest ad-

vocate of all that has a tendency to elevate the morals of mankind.

JOHN R. HURST, retired merchant, Hut- sonville, Ill., whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Wayne County, N. C., August 7, 1811. When about twelve years old, he accompanied his uncle, with whom he was then living, from his home near Golds- boro to Union County, Ill., and three years later to Crawford County in the same State. After living here two years, anxious to try the world on his own account, he gladly ac- cepted his uncle's permission and aid to re- turn to Union County to engage for himself. He remained only about six months, when he returned to Crawford County and engaged with William Cox as a farm hand at the rate of $40 per year. He served at this work some ten months, when he went to Prairie- ton, Ind. Here he made a conditional con- tract with a carpenter to learn the trade, but after four weeks' trial concluded to resume his early occupation and work at farm labor. In the meantime, he arranged to attend school a part of the time until October 28, 1830, when he returned to Crawford County, Ill. On his return, he made his home with his uncle, and, in the meantime, taking a boat- load of pork to New Orleans for him. He returned from this trip, and on Christmas Day left his uncle for Union County, where he received the benefit of the subscription schools for some nine months. In the early winter or late fall of 1833, Mr. Hurst set out for Hutsonville, making the journey on horse back without incident. It may be noted that the famous meteoric shower of this year over- took him on his way, and while it created considerable alarm to many, he did not hesi- tate to pursue his journey, and with no more serious result than the close fall of meteoric stone. At Hutsonville, Mr. Hurst found work at various occupations until the spring of

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1835, when he got together a team of three yoke of oxen and a mammoth wagon to go on the National road ; other plans intervened, however, and he engaged in hauling goods, varying this business with " breaking prai- rie." A serious attack of illness in the fall put a stop to this heavy work, and, being elected Constable in August, 1835, he gave his attention entirely to his official duties, until the following March. Marrying at this time, he remained with his wife's parents until the fall of 1836, when he bought a lit- tle farm of 75} acres of land, erected a log cabin, and prepared to hew out a farm. Mr. Hurst stayed here only about a year, then farmed his father-in-law's property for about the same length of time, and then went to Hutsonville. Here the next ten years were passed in farming with varied success. The last two years, owing to sickness and the par- tial loss of crops, proved somewhat discour- aging, and in 1850 he engaged in the grocery business. This involved the sale of whisky to a considerable extent, and after four years of experience, he sold out in disgust. Mr. Hurst then bought the mail and stage line from Vincennes to Danville. This business taxed his energy and endurance to the utmost, and, while it proved fairly remunerative, was glad to relinquish the business in 1858 and return to his farming. In 1862, he began dealing in cattle exclusively, driving them to Terre Haute ; but in the following year he divided his attention between his farm and cattle business. In 1864, he began the mer- cantile business in a small way, and continued it with success until he retired in 1876, leaving the business in the hands of his sons and sons- in law. Mr. Hurst was married March 10, 1836, to Miss Nancy Owen Barlow, a native of Crawford County, where she was born May 5, 1818. Thirteen children have been born to them, four of whom only are living-Sarah

E., wife of John McNutt; Rebecca, wife of John Olwin; William B. and Lucius C. Mrs. Hurst is a daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Gordon) Barlow, who were natives of Kentucky, and came to Crawford County in 1816. They took up their residence in the yard made memorable by the massacre of the Hutson family by the Indians. Mr. Hurst is a member of the Universalist Church, a Demo- crat in politics, and a self-made man in busi- ness experiences. He started into the world for himself with $1.25 in money, and, with- out special advantages, has accumulated a com- petency, and earned an old age of ease and influence. His career has been one of activi- ty ; he is one of the founders of the Univer- salist Church of Hutsonville ; the eighth member in Hutsouville Lodge of Masons, No. 136, and a prominent worker in the order, and was Deputy Sheriff from 1839 to 1844.

W. B. HURST, merchant, Hutsonville. Prominently identified among the leading, energetic business men of this county, is the gentleman whose name heads these notes. He was born April 3, 1850, in Crawford County, Ill., and is the son of John R. Hurst, who is elaborately mentioned elsewhere. He experienced the scenes of the farmer boy and attended the country schools, also at West- field, Clark County, and Terre Haute, Ind. He was married in April 11, 1875, to Clara E. Holderman, born October 16, 1852, in Montgomery County, Ohio. She is a daugh- ter of Jacob and Lydia (Repp) Holderman, who reside in Hutsonville. This union has resulted in one child-Lois B. born March 16, 1876. Mrs. Hurst's parents came to this county in 1864 or 1865; they were blessed with eight children, viz .: Lizzie, Iola, Clara E., Laura, David, Hamilton, Minnie and Chauncey; the father holds to the United Brethren faith, while the mother is a Meth- odist. In 1868, Mr. Hurst was employed as a

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clerk by Hurst & Olwin, which position he held until 1871, when he was given an in- terest in the same, receiving one-third of the profits of the firm as a compensation for his labors. He now possesses one-fourth interest in the firm of Hurst & Olwin, to which he gives his entire attention.

L. C. HURST, merchant, Hutsonville. This enterprising young business man is the son of John R. Hurst, whose portrait appears in this work, and was born March 16, 1854, in Hutsonville, Ill. His early days were spent on the farm and in the country school room. He had the advantage of one term at Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. Novem- ber 11, 1880, in Clark County, this State, he was married to Minnie E. Patterson, born in Kentucky September 19, 1860. She is a daughter of John and Susan (Gibbs) Pat- terson, natives of Maine and the parents of seven children, four of whom survive, viz .: George, Angie, Adelia and Minnie E. Her parents are residents of Terre Haute, where the father is engaged as a sub-railroad con- tractor. The mother is an energetic Method- ist. Mr. Hurst was employed as a clerk for a while and in January 1, 1881, he took an interest in the firm of Hurst & Olwin, general merchants at Hutsonville, and is giv- ing his entire attention to the same. He is pleasant and sociable with his customers, which treatment only binds his friends more closely to him. His union has resulted in one child, Roscoe P., born September 18, 1883. Mr. H. is a starch Democrat. He is a member of Osmer Lodge, K. of H., of Hutsonville.

C. W. KEYS, physician, Hutsonville, Ill. Among the large list of physicians of Craw- ford County, none are more worthy of a sketch in this work than Dr. Keys. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, December 13, 1844, to John and Elenor (Gappen) Keys. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was

raised and married. In 1824 emigrated to Knox County, Ohio, and in 1865 to Greene County, Ind., where he died in 1877, aged about sixty-nine. His occupation was that of a farmer. He was of German descent. The Doctor's mother was of English descent, born in Pennsylvania in 1810, and is now living with her children in Greene County, Ind. She is the mother of eight children; of the six now living the Doctor is the third child. His early life was spent at home assisting to till the soil of his father's farm. He was educated from the common schools and the Bloomington University. In 1867, he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. J. Axtell, of Bloomington. and in 1870 entered upon the practice of his profession at Salisbury, Ind. In 1872, he removed to Cincinnati, Ind., and in August, 1873, came to Hutson- ville, where he has since resided, engaged in practicing medicine, and has built up a good practice and is considered one of the best physicians of the town. He is a graduate from the Keokuk Medical College, at Keokuk, Iowa. In 1871, he married Emma M. Cook, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of T. R. and Harriet (Gibbins) Cook, natives of Ohio, who are now residing at Salisbury, Ind. The Doctor has been blessed with three children, of whom two are now living, viz., Pearl and Henry. He has been a member of the Town Board for several years. Is an active mem- ber of the K. of H., Osmer Lodge, No. 2330, and the State Medical Association, the Wabash Valley Association and the Crawford County Association. In politics, is united with the Republican party.

- SAMUEL LINDLEY, farmer, P. O. Hut- sonville, was born in Crawford County, Ill., May 28, 1832, to William and Mary (Prevo) Lindley. His father was a farmer, born in North Carolina, July 16, 1795, and removed to Peoria, Ind., with his parents, when sixteen

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years of age. In 1827, he removed to Craw- ford County, Ill., and there remained to the time of his death. which occurred March 26, 1853. He was a member of the Quaker Church. His mother was born in North Car- olina July 4, 1799, and is now living. She was brought to Clark County, Ill., by her parents. in the year 1817. She was married February 20. 1828, and is the mother of sev- en children. of whom Samuel was the third child born. He was raised on a farm and ed- ucated in the common schools. After the death of his father, he, with his brother Thomas, managed the home farm. At thirty years of age he married, and began farming on his own account upon a farm of 160 acres left him by his father. In March. 1865, he exchanged his farm for one containing 140 acres, where he is now residing. He is now the owner of 285 acres of good land. In Robinson, October 2, 1861, he married Miss Harriet Hollenbeck, a native of Clark Coun- ty, Ill .. and a daughter of John and Isabelle (Houts) Holenbeck. Mr. and Mrs. Lindley have sis children, viz .: Emma. Charles E., (Ollie and John W., twins), Viola and Sam- uel E. Mr. Lindley and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is an active mem- ber of the order of Knights of Honor; is a Democrat in politics, and served the county as Supervisor for two terms.

. CYRUS A. LINDLEY, farmer, P. O. Hut- sonville, is a native of Crawford County, Ill., where he was born December 8, 1847. His father, John H. Lindley, was born February 11, 1816. in Orange County, Ind., from whence he came when quite young, with his father, to Crawford County. Here he passed his youth, assisting in the work of a farm in a new country, picking up such education as the country schools afforded, and the work of the farm allowed. In 1840, he commenced life on his own account, marrying, and going

on to a farm of his own. He followed farm- ing to the day of his death, November 19, 1878, and with such success as to die pos- sessed of 360 acres of land. Mr. Lindley was a public-spirited man, a liberal contrib- utor to the support of churches, schools, and for charitable objects. He was also an active member of the Universalist Church, and a charter member of the Masonic Lodge. Mary Jane (Lacy) Lindley, wife of the above and mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Clark County, Ill., August 6, 1832. She is now residing on the homestead. Her parents, Eben and Abigail (Prevo) Lacy, were natives of North Carolina, and emigrated to Clark County about 1822. Her father died about 1829, but her mother, born October 4, 1800, is still living in Clark County. Mrs. Lind- ley was the oldest of four children born to her parents. Cyrus Lindley was the third in a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are still living. His youth was spent upon the farm, gaining the rudiments of an educa- tion at the common schools during the less busy seasons. In his twenty-eighth year, he left home and engaged in farming on his own account, locating two miles north of his pres- ent residence. In 1877, he removed to his pres- ent farm containing 100 acres. March 30, 1875, he married Miss Amanda Bishop, a native of Crawford County. She is a daughter of Ezekiel and Rebecca (Musgrave) Bishop, both natives of North Carolina. Her father was born in 1816, came to Crawford County about 1833, and is now residing in Robinson. Her mother was born in 1815, and died in Janu- ary, 1880. To Cyrus and Amanda (Bishop) Lindley have been born three children-Les- lie, Irma and Olla. Mrs. Lindley is a mem- ber of the Universalist Church. Mr. Lind- ley is an active member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 313, located at York, and a prominent Republican in politics.

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J. M. McNUTT, lumber dealer, Hutson- ville, Ill., is a native of Harrison County, Ohio, and a son of Joseph and Nancy (Yates) McNutt. Joseph McNutt was born in York County, Penn., July 13, 1798. He was brought to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1808, where he remained until 1846, when he removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, and there died July 21, 1870. He was a farmer. His father and grandfather of our subject was James McNutt, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America just after the close of the Revolu- tionary war. The mother of our subject was born in Berkeley County. Va., December 4, 1808, and died in Guernsey County, Ohio, November 24, 1851. She was the mother of eight children, of whom our subject was the fifth child. He was born January 18, 1844. At two years of age, he was removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, and there spent his early life assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm and receiving such an education as the common' schools afforded. In 1862, he en- tered the last rebellion, serving in Company A, of the Seventy-eighth, Ohio Volunteers. He served three years, was mustered out in June, 1865. From Stephenson's History we take the following: "The men of Company A, never came out second best in anything-in cool ness, courage, discipline, facility and rapidity of military movements and combinations, and every attainment, had few requests to make, no faults to find; as good soldiers they could not be excelled. For reliability, faithful- ness in every duty, quiet submission to all orders,integrity, and consistent Christian char- acter, the company could not be surpassed." After the war, Mr. McNutt engaged in raising sheep for two years. In the fall of 1866, bought an interest in a saw mill, and in the spring of 1867 removed it to Lawrence County, Ind., and subsequently to Owen County, Ind., in the fall of the same year,

where he engaged in the mill business until September, 1871, when he entered the employ of Samuel McKeen, at Terre Haute, acting as yard man in the lumber yard, and in 1875 his employer gave him exclusive control of a yard at Hutsonville. In 1880, he bought out the interest of McKeen and is now running a large and lucrative business under the firm name of J. M. McNutt & Co. In Owen County, Ind., in 1873 he married Miss Lucy A. Agee, who died February 24, 1877, leav- ing one child as the result of their union, viz., Willie T. In Hutsonville, March 21, 1878, he married a second time Miss Sarah Hurst, who has borne him one child, viz., Bruce O. Mr. McNutt is Junior Warden of the Masonic lodge of which he is a member. Politically, is a Republican.

H. MEGEATH, M. D., Postmaster of West York, is descended from a family of Scotch- Irish origin. His father, James Megeath, was born in Loudoun County, Va., November 14, 1809, and came to Clark County, Ill., with his parents when a lad. After serving his minority upon the farm and getting in the meanwhile such education as the schools of the period afforded, he engaged with his brother, John, in the mixed business of farming, flat-boating and merchandising. In 1854, he removed to Charleston, in this State, where he engaged in mercantile per- suits exclusively, continuing the business until his death on July 31, 1871. He was married November 1, 1836, in Coles County, Ill., to Cynthia Craig, who was born April 30, 1813, in Bracken County, Ky. She died March 30, 1875. Dr. Megeath is the young- est of three children born to his parents. He is a native of Clark County, where he was born January 1, 1845. He was little more than nine years old when the family moved to Charleston, and very soon began attending the academy at that town; at the age of six-

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teen, he began the study of medicine with Drs. Allen and Van Meter, of Charleston. After studying with them for some five years, he entered, in 1865, the Rush Medical Col. lege in Chicago, entering upon the practice of his profession a year later at Olney, Ill. Here he formed a partnership with Dr. Center, now a professor of the Evansville Medical College, until 1868, when he removed to St. Marie, Jasper County, Ill. From thence he went to Dundas, and later to Hardinsville, in Crawford County, Ill. At the latter place, he entered into partnership with F. K. Wal- ler, bu+ in 1877 he again removed to his present location at West York. At this place Dr. Megeath took an active part in the general business of the place, erecting several houses and subsequently disposing of them. In December, 1881, he erected a large two- story building, designed for a residence in the upper story, and a store room and office below. In the following spring he entered the mercantile business, at the same time receiving the appointment as Postmaster and Notary Public. Since then the business has rapidly increased, and he is now hitting up facilities for a large stock of goods, and con- siderable extension of his trade. Mr. Me- geath is a member of the Star Lodge, No. 419, of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at York.

JOHN L. MOUNT, farmer, P. O. West York, is a native of Clark County, Ill., born February 26, 1838, to John L. and Tamar (Megeath) Mount. His father was a farmer, born in Jefferson County. Ind., in 1807, and died in his native county in October, 1837. His mother was born in Loudoun County, Va., in September, 1812. She was brought to Clark County by her parents, in 1818, and is now residing in Marshall, Ill. Of the three children born to them John L. Mount was the youngest child. His early life was

spent at home, assisting in tilling the soil of the home farm, and receiving such an educa- tion as could be obtained from the common schools. Arriving at his majority he began farming for himself. In 1862, he bought his first land, a farm of 160 acres, located in York Township, Clark County. He remained on this farm for five years, and in 1867 mar- ried, and removed to Hutsonville Township. Crawford County, on a farm he had bought of his father-in-law In 1872, he sold this farm and bought the farm now owned by R. W. Kennedy, three miles northwest of Hutsonville. In November, 1881, he sold his farm, and removed to West York, where he has since been engaged in managing and im- proving a 500-acre farm for his nephew, John R. Fitch, Mr. Mount being his guardian. In Crawford County, July 16, 1867, Mr. Mount married Miss Percilla Bishop, a native of the same county. She is a daughter of Ezekiel and Rebecca (Musgrave) Bishop. Mr. and Mrs. Mount have the following children: Edward, Jonathan, Tamar and Martha. Mr. Mount is a practical farmer, and well worthy of the high esteem of the community in which he lives. Politically, he is a Repub- can, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln.

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 94

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