History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 95

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 95
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 95

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).

WILLIAM MUSGRAVE, farmer, P. O. Hutsonville Among the old settlers of Craw- ford County, none are more worthy of men- tion in this history than William Musgrave, the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Wayne County, N. C., born February 8, 1816. His father, John Musgrave, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1758, and died in April, 1824. His mother, Charity Cox, was also a native of North Carolina, boru in 1774, and died in June, 1824. Of the seven chil- dren born to them, William was the youngest son and sixth child. He was left an orphan at eight years of age; was brought to Illinois

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by his brothers Josiah and John, who located in Union County. William made his home in Union County with his brother Caleb, who had come to the county about four years previous to his brothers. In 1833. William accompanied his brother John to Crawford County, and worked one year with him at carpentering. In 1834, he married, and com- menced farming on his present farm, which had been improved by John Snipes. Here he has since remained and succeeded in gain- ing a good property; and at one time owned about 500 acres of land, which he divided among his children, only reserving the old homestead and about fifty acres. In June, 1881, Mr. Musgrave met with a serious acci- dent, while reaping, which caused him to lose the use of one arm by having his elbow cut, by being thrown in contact with the knives of the machine. Mr. Musgrave was married, in 1834, to Miss Eliza Ann Cox, a native of Greene County, N. C., born January 17, 1816. She has borne him nine children, of whom five are now living, viz .: Sally Ann, Anna M., Jonathan K., George A. aud Harriet. He and wife are members of the Universalist Church. In politics, he is a Republican.

SARGENT NEWLIN, farmer, P. O. Hut- sonville, was born in Crawford County, Ill., February 5, 1823. His father, John New- lin, was born in North Carolina. where he was raised on a farm, educated, and married. In 1815, he, with his family and the Hill family, emigrated to Indiana and settled in Sullivan County, and in 1818 came to Craw- ford County. He entered 200 acres of land in Section 28, of Hntsonville Township. and afterward bought 120 acres. He was among the first settlers of Crawford County. He died. His wife, and the mother of our sub. ject, was Jane (Hill) Newlin, born in North Carolina, and died in Crawford County. She

was the mother of eight children, of whom the following are now living: Malinda, Will- iam H., Dinah, Sargent, Rachael and Charles. Sargent Newlin was raised on a farm and ed- ucated from the subscription schools. At twenty-one years of age, he married, and em- barked on his career in life as a farmer. He was given eighty acres of unimproved land by his father, and has since added to it until now his farm contains 317 acres. December 22, 1842, he married Miss Jane Lackey, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born in 1826. She has borne him the following children: Anna M., John T. and Rose E. Politically, Mr. Newlin is a Democrat, and has served the township as Supervisor.

CYRUS NEWLIN, farmer, P. O. Hutson- ville. was born one half mile from his pres- ent residence, in Crawford County. Ill., June 3, 1825, to James and Elizabeth (Simons) Newlin. His father was born in Orange County, N. C., December 4, 1781, where he was raised, educated and married. In 1818, he emigrated to Crawford County, Ill., en- tered 480 acres of land. where Cyrus now re- sides. His occupation was that of a farmer, and he continued the same until he died in 1852. He was a son of John Newlin. a na- tive of North Carolina. The mother of our subject was born in Orange County, N. (., and died in Crawford County. Ill., in 1850. They were the parents of ten children, of whom eight lived to be grown-all boys, Cyrus being the youngest. He was raised on the farm, and educated from the subscri; tion schools of his native county. At twenty-one years of age he married. and remained with his parents until four years later, in 1850, when he went to California and engaged in mining and merchandising for one year. In 1851, he returned to Crawford County, bought 160 acres of land, and began farming where he now resides. In 1862, he went to

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Chicago, and visited the Northern part of III- inois. In 1872, he went to Colorado, where he remained about two months, visiting Den- ver City, Central City, in the mountains, Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Mr. Newlin has made this trip and many others for the improvement of his health. Since 1850, Mr. Newlin has been extensively engaged in raising and trading in stock, finding market for the same at home. In his farming and business transactions, he has met with success, and is now the owner of 400 acres of land. In March, 1846, he married Miss Eliza Ann Hill, a native of Crawford County, born Sep- tember 12, 1825. She is a daughter of John A. and Sarah (Barbee) Hill. He was a na- tive of Orange County, N. C., born in 1801, emigrated to Crawford County in 1818, and engaged in farming to the time of his death which occurred in 1834. She was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1801, and died at Palestine, in Crawford County, in 1855. She was brought to the county by her parents in 1819, who settled near Palestine. Mr. and Mrs. Newlin have been blessed with three children, of whom two are now living: Olive, wife of Simpson Cox, and Lucetta, wife of Leroy Chambers.

ANDREW NEWLIN, farmer and stock- dealer, P. O. Hutsonville, was born in Craw- ford County, Ill., June 25, 1829, the young- est son of William and Rachel (Hill) New- lin. The father was a native of North Car- olina, and was a son of Thomas Newlin, of Irish descent. The mother of our subject was also a native of North Carolina, and died in August, 1833, her husband following her about five years later. The parents were blessed with six children-four sons and two daughters. The advantages of a good edu- cation were not accorded our subject, a lim- ited attendance in the old subscription schools of the county having to suffice in

this direction. His early life was given to farming pursuits, and he has since turned his attention to no other business. He was married, April 8, 1852, in this county. to Mary Holmes, born August 23. 1830, in Lick- ing County, Ohio. a daughter of Reuben A. and Barbara (Hockman) Holmes, natives of Shenandoah County, Va. The father died in this county in December, 1853, aged fifty- six years in the previous August. The moth- er died in Ohio, in April, 1832. They were the parents of six children. The father was married a second time, the union being blessed with nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Newlin are the parents of ten children- Albert, born February 14, 1853; Amanda, May 22, 1555; Laura, February 7, 1857; Allen, October 31, 1858; Adaline, April 9, 1860; Stephen D., May 4, 1862; Lawrence, June 28, 1964; Ira, June 29, 1868; an infant, died March 20, 1871, and Clinton, born September 27, 1872 Our subject's present farm property consists of 2.396 acres of land, all of which lies in Hutsonville Township, with the exception of sixty acres, which is in Clark County. He started in life with but $150, which his father left him, and the manner whereby was gained the vast differ- ence between these figures and the ones which represent his present fortune. is worthy of the studious emulation of all. The affairs of his place have been conducted under the immediate supervision of a master mind, and his present ownings are the direct result of his own tact, industry and perseverance. He has served his township as Supervisor for a period of three years, and has also filled many other minor offices. In politics, he ad- heres to the principles of Democracy.

C. V. NEWTON, merchant, Hutsonville, was born April 20, 1851, in Trumbull Coun- ty, Ohio. His father, Lemuel Newton, was a native of the same county, where he spent '

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his boyhood at the common schools and upon the farm. Arrived at his majority, he en- gaged in dairying and farming on his own account, until the close of the war. In 1865, he removed to Oberlin, Ohio, for the purpose of educating his children, where he died after a residence of three or four months. His wife, Josephine A. (Gager)Newton, and three children survived him. Mrs. Newton was born in 1830, at Norwich, Conn., of a family prominently identified with the early history of that State. On the death of her husband, she still remained at Oberlin to continue the plan of educating their three children-all sons. Thomas, the oldest, entered college and graduated with the class of 1871, subse- quently engaging in the sewing-machine bus- iness, in Cleveland, Ohio. Warren, the second son, is dead. Charles V., the young- est of the family, was fifteen years of age when he came to Oberlin with his parents. After studying two years, he engaged in teaching two terms, and in the following year entered the telegraph school at Oberlin. Completing his course some eight months later, he followed the business of telegraph- ing in the service of the Western Union and railroad companies, and in 1872 came to Danville, Ill., continuing in this business until 1875, when he came to Hutsonville and engaged with the Wabash Railroad and the Adams and Pacific Express Companies as agent, a position he still holds. In 1879, in company with Mr. Rackerby, he bought out the drug business of Dr. Golden, where he is now doing a large and increasing business. In 1873, Mr. Newton married Miss Irene How- ell, a resident of Danville, but a native of New Jersey. They have two children, Ber- nard and Josephine. Mr. Newton is an active member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Knights of Honor. He has served the village as Town Clerk, and is now President of the Town Board.

JOHN OLWIN, merchant, Hutsonville, is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born December 5, 1838, to David and Nancy (Grabill) Olwin. His father was born in Pennsylvania about 1812, but was raised and educated in Montgomery County, Ohio, after he arrived at his majority, he taught school for sixteen years, and afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits until he died in 1875. He was of German descent and a son of Anthony Olwin, a native of Pennsylvania, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject was born in Virginia, and died in 1851, aged thirty-five years. Her ancestry was also of German descent. She was the mother of nine children, of whom John Olwin was the third child born. He was principally raised in Darke County, Ohio, and had but a limited common school educa- tion. At twenty-one years of age, he left his home and embarked on the rugged pathway of life as a farm hand, working for small wages. At twenty-three he enlisted in the Fourty-fourth Ohio Infantry, under com- mand of Col. Gilbert, and was in about twenty battles, among the largest was the charge of Greenville, Tenn. He was taken prisoner at the Cumberland Mount- ains, Tenn., while on a retreat, and con- fined in the Libby Prison for about a month, when he was exchanged. He entered the war April 23, 1862, and was mustered out June 4, 1865. After the war, he returned to his home, made his parents a short visit, and then located in Hutsonville and engaged in the furniture business in company with Fred Earnest. After six months, he sold out the business to J. A. Parker, and entered his employ as clerk for one year. The follow- ing year, he joined the partnership of J. R. Hurst & Co. He has been connected with this firm for fifteen years, and at the present time is at the head of the firm, and takes

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HUTSONVILLE TOWNSHIP.

upon himself the general management of the different stores and grain business. He was married October 6, 1866, to Miss Rebecca F. Hurst who has borne him the following chil- dren, viz .: Charley H., Lola M., Georgia E., Oceola, Fredie B. and Birdie Garfield. Mr. Hurst has removed his family to Paris, Ills., where his children can receive the benefit of its superior schools. Mr. Olwin is an active worker in the orders A., F. & A. M. and K. of H .; he is Senior Warden of the former and Treasurer of the latter. He has served the town as School Director. Trustee of the town for five years, and Township Treas- nrer for seven years. Politically, is a Repub- lican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Olwin is a member of the community whose loss would be deep- ly felt, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-established business, which is wholly the results of his own energy, industry and good financiering.

L. B. PEARCE, retired farmer, Hutson- ville, was born September 18, 1810, in Champaign County, Ohio; is the son of John and Elizabeth (Stewart) Pearce, natives, the former of the State of New York and the latter of Maryland, and the parents of eight children, four of whom are living, Joseph, L. B., Lewis and John. The parent are de- ceased, the father was in the war of 1812; he and consort were members of the Methodist Church. L. B. experienced the scenes that made up the life of the early country school boy, in the time of log cabins, slab seats, puncheon floors, greased paper for window lights. His father's avocation being that of a farmer, he of course was employed the greater portion of the time in rural pursuits. Before entering farm life for himself, he en- gaged in the construction of some saw and grist mills, at the present site of the city of Logansport, Ind. These mills were erect-

ed for the Pottawatomie Indians, under the supervision of Gen. Tipton. Our subject began farming for his own benefit on the Shawnee plains, Fountain County, Ind .. and two years later he bought land in War- ren County, the same State. Three years were spent here, after which he moved to the Kankakee " marshes," near Lake Michigan, in Indiana, where he remained but one year and returned to Warren County. He soon after sold out and bought, herded and sold cattle in Benton County, Ind., at which he was successful. He entered the dry goods business at Independence, the same State, for awhile, and then, in 1851, settled on the La. Motte Prairie, Crawford County, Ill., and subsequently engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Hutsonville, under the firm name of Pearce & Neely. In three years, the firm sold to John Merrick, and Mr. Pearce again entered farm life for a few years and then traded his farm to John Merrick and re- sumed the dry goods business for awhile at Hutsonville. In 1861, he sold his business and engaged in carrying soldiers to and from Sumner, a point on the O. & M. Railroad. At the close of the war, he bought a farm and owns the same yet. He settled in Hut- sonville in 1863. Was married, 1830, to Anna Hurley, a daughter of Zadock and Lillus (Campbell) Hurley, natives, the father of Maryland and the mother of South Car- olina. Her parents died in Warren County, Ind., and were blessed with eleven children, two of whom survive, Anna and Elizabeth. Her father was in the war of 1812. Her parents were Methodists. Mr. P. was blessed with eight children as the result of his . union; two of whom are living, Zadock and John. His wife is a Methodist, while he be- longs to the Universalist Church. He has served in some small offices. Has been a stanch Republican since the Dred Scott De-

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cision; has always been a temperance man. His son John was born January 13, 1835, in Fountain County, Ind. He was educated in the country schools. He was with his parents until reaching his majority. He en- gaged for awhile with his father in the mercantile business at Hutsonville. He was in the employ of Parker in the furniture factory some time. On June 14, 1863, he married Mary J. Willard, a native of Craw- ford County, being born here February 9, 1843; is a daughter of Charles and Lucy M. (Fulton) Willard, natives of this borough. He began farming soon after marriage, and in 1869 he settled on bis present farm of 220 acres, in which he makes a specialty of grain. He and wife are members of the La Motte Union Association. He is a Republican. His union resulted in several children, six of whom survive, viz .: Claudia, Mattie, Fred W., Edward, Charley, Lucy Ann and John B. Mr. P. has always contributed liberally to benevolent institutions.

WILLIAM PREVO, farmer and grain dealer, West York. This gentleman is a native of Clark County, Ill., born February 25, 1839, to William and Setha (Bell) Prevo. His father was a farmer, born in North Car- olina, in the year 1800, and brought to Clark County, III., by his parents in 1814. Here he was principally raised and educated. He died in January, 1867. His mother was born in Clark County, Ill., and died in the same county in 1867, aged forty-seven years. They were the parents of seven children. William was the second child born to them. His early life was spent at home assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm and re- ceiving such an education as the common schools afforded. When he was twenty-five years of age, he left his home and began farming for himself in his native county, and continued the same until 1866, when he

moved to Hutsonville, and engaged in a mill for about two years. In 1868, he returned to his native county, and again engaged in farming, and in 1877 he removed to his present residence at West York, and has since been engaged in buying and shipping grain in connection with the duties of his farm. Mr. Prevo was married September 24, 1862, to Miss Penina Willard, a native of Clark County, Ill., born October 4, 1835, to Exum and Lucinda (Claypool) Willard. Mr. Willard was born in North Carolina Oc- tober 4, 1808; came to Clark County, Ill., in 1814 and engaged in farming until he died in 1867. Mrs. Willard was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 9, 1812, and is now residing with our subject. She came to Clark County in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Prevo have two children-Katie and Anna L. Politically, Mr. Prevo is Democratic.

M. P. RACKERBY, Postmaster and drug- gist, Hutsonville. This gentleman is a native of Princeton, Caldwell County, Ky., born December 30, 1846. He was educated from the High Schools of Dubuque, Iowa, where he took a complete English course ; at twenty-one years of age, he left his home and embarked on his life's career, engaging in the drug business at Hutsonville, Ill .; in 1873, he sold his stock of goods and went to Lincoln County. Kan., where he engaged in a general merchandising business ; in 1875, he returned to Hutsonville and again en- gaged in the drug business ; in 1877. he re- moved to Ellsworth County, Kan., and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits; in 1879, he again returned to Hutsonville, where he has since remained engaged in the drug business with Mr. C. V. Newton ; they are also inter- ested in the "Hutson Mill." Mr. Racker- by was appointed Postmaster in 1878, which office he is now filling. He was married October 17, 1873, to Miss Anna L. Mc-

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Cutcheon, a native of Indiana, and a daugh- ter of Samuel and Pine Mccutcheon. Mr. and Mrs. R. have one child-Louisa Mand, who is attending school at Hutsonville. Mr. Rackerby enjoys the highest esteem of the community in which he lives ; is a member of the orders A., F. & A. M. and K. of H., and an active worker of the order. In politics, is a Republican. John H. Rackerby, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia Febru- ary 28, 1799, was brought to Kentucky by his mother and brother; here he married, and in 1856 removed to Grant County, Wis .; in 1859, to Dubuque, Iowa; in 1872, to Pearce City, Mo., where he is now living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his past labors. The mother of our subject was Georgiana Dudley, born near Bowling Green, Ky., in 1812; she is now living. They have ten children living, five boys and five girls. John H. Rackerby was a very prominent man of Kentucky, and in his younger days held many responsible positions and many of the county offices.

SIMPSON RAINS, farmer, P. O. Hutson- ville, born in Crawford County, Ill., Septem- ber 6, 1829. His father, Ambrose B. Rains, was born, raised and educated in Wayne Coun- ty, N. C. He emigrated to Illincis in a very early day, locating in Union County, and subsequently to Crawford County in 1827. He settled on the farm now owned by our subject. He died February 22, 1860, aged sixty years. His grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The mother of 'our subject was Charlotte Cox, a native of near Goldsboro, N. C. She was brought to Illinois by her parents in an early day, who settled in Union County. She died June 1, 1850, aged forty-five years one month and fourteen days. Of the eleven children born to them, four are now living, viz., Simpson, Nancy (John) Kaufman. Lafayette and

Henry. Simpson Rains was raised on the farm, and educated from the subscription schools, common in his day. When he was twenty-four years of age. he left bis home and embarked on his career in life as a farm- er. He then bought sixty acres of land, and though he was compelled to go in debt for it and pay ten per cent interest on the princi- pal, he managed to struggle through and prosper, and in a few years to make an addi- tion of forty acres to his farm, which was located in Section 16, Hutsonville Town- ship. In 1864, he sold his farm and re- moved to the old homestead farm, buying 302 acres of the other heirs. He continued to add to this until his farm contained 432 acres. He has deeded forty acres of this to his oldest son. In 1853, he married Miss Nancy Jane Lindley, a native of Crawford County, born June 22, 1834. She is a daughter of Owen and Hannah Lindley, na- tives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Rains have the following children: Edward, Morton, Clarissa, Mary, Emma, George, Louisa, Nancy and Fanny, twins, and Ellen. He and wife are religiously connected with the Universalist Church. Politically, he is a Republican. He has served the people as School Director for about twenty years.

LAFAYETTE RAINS, stock-raiser and farmer, P. O. Hutsonville, is one of the largest and most prosperous stock-raisers and farmers of Hutsonville Township. He is a son of Ambrose B. and Charlotte (Cox) Rains, whose history appears in another part of this work. He was born near his present residence in Crawford County, Sep- tember 26, 1833. He was raised on a farm, and educated from the common schools. At seventeen years of ago, he went to California, and there engaged in mining for about sixteen months. He then returned home, and engaged in farming on a rented

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farm. In 1854, he bought his first land, a farm of eighty acres, located three miles west of his present residence. In 1858, he sold his farm and bought eighty acres where he now resides. His industry and economy has gained him more than ordinary success, and he is now the owner of 546 acres of land, well stocked and improved, with a large com- modious residence, and a large stock barn. Since 1872, he has been making the raising of stock a specialty. He has now about sixty head on his place. In January, 1856, he married Miss Nancy Cox, a native of Craw- ford County. She is a daughter of Thomas and Deborah Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Rains have four children-John C., Martha, Mary A. and Emily. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., and a Republican.

HENRY RAINS, stock-raiser and farmer, P. O. Hutsonville; is a son of Ambrose B. and Charlotte (Cox) Rains, whose history appears in the biography of Simpson Rains. He was born in Crawford County, Ill., March 2, 1837; his early life was spent at home, assisting to till the soil of his father's farm, and receiving such an ed- ucation as could be obtained from the com- mon schools When he was twenty-one years of age. his father gave him 120 acres of land, and he immediately began farming for him- self, and remained upon this land until 1863, when he sold a part of it, and exchanged the remainder with his brothers ; the following summer, he bought 160 acres, known as the Southworth farm. In 1865, he traded this farm for 139 acres, where he now resides. Mr. Rains has made the raising of stock a specialty, and also deals largely in stock. He is now the owner of 281 acres of good land. In 1861-November 21-he married Miss Rebecca Lindley, who has borne him six children, viz .: William A., Alice I .. , Nestus

O., Nellie A., Thomas L. and Mary A. Mr. and Mrs. Rains are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, and a Republican in politics.

PETER RAUSCH, farmer, P. O. Hutson- ville, is a native of Grosherzochtum, Hesse- Darmstardt, Germany, born August 1, 1836. His father, Peter Rausch, was born in 1808, and is the owner of a small farm in Ger- many, where he is now residing, engaged in farming and weaving. His mother, Kati- rina (Steiger) Rausch, was born in 1811, and died in Germany, her native place, July 4, 1877. She was the mother of seven chil- dren, of whom six are now living, and four residents of America. Peter Rausch was raised on a farm, and at an early age learned the weaver's trade. His education was re- ceived from the Lutheran schools of his na- tive place. When he was eighteen years of age, he borrowed enough money to pay his passage to America, from Havre to New York, where he landed May 24, 1855, after twenty-one days in a sailing vessel. He lo- cated in Altoona. Penn., where he was em- ployed to work on a farm, for $10 per month, but by pleasing his employer was given $1 extra per month through harvest. After six months he gave up farming and engaged in a saw and grist mill, continuing in the same business until 1856, when he went to Johns- town, and there remained about one month, breaking iron in a foundry. He then went to Dayton, Ohio, and worked in a mill for three years. In 1839, he rented a saw-mill and six acres of land ; he ran the mill and tended the land, upon which he raised tobac- co, and in this business he was met with fair success, and in 1865 he had accumulated enough means to. buy him a farm of eighty acres of unimproved land in Crawford Coun- ty, Ill. He immediately removed his family to the farm, and by his hard work has suc-

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 95

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