History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 98

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 98
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 98

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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her mother is living in Palestine. Mr. Kitchell is a Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a good busi- ness man.

R. H. KITCHELL, merchant, Palestine, was born September 21, 1854, in Palestine. His father, J. A. Kitchell, was born in Palestine, 1824, he died in January, 1860. He was a son of J. H. Kitchell, who was a pioneer in Crawford County, living at one time at Fort La Motte, and whose father was a soldier in the Revloutionary war. The mother of our subject was born May 30, 1832, in Palestine. Her father was Dr. R. H. Manzy, who was also an officer in the Black Hawk war. Mr. R. H. Kitchell went to school in Paestine, and in early life clerked for the Haskett Bros., till they dissolved parnership, when he commenced a grocery business in Palestine, and through his hon- esty and square dealing, he has built up a good business. He was married in La Motte Township, October 20, 1875, to Miss Amanda Lackey, born June 16, 1854, in La Motte Township. She is the mother of two chil- dren-Lena, born September 19, 1876, and Olna, born December 5, 1877. Her father is Thomas Lackey, a farmer by occupation, who was born January 3, 1822, in Kentucky. Her mother was Ann Eliza Boatright, who was born in Crawford County, Ill., where she died. She was the mother of three chil- dren. Mr. Kitchell is identified with the Re- publican party.

THOMAS LACKEY, farmer, P. O. Pales. tine, was born January 3, 1824, in Clark County. Ky. His father, John Lackey, was also born in Kentucky. His occupation was that of a farmer and wheelwright, manu- facturing spinning wheels. He was married in Kentucky to Nancy Wilson, born in Ken- tucky. She was the mother of nine children, and died in this county. Mr. Lackey came

to this county in 1828, with his father, and went to school here and was married, 1852, to Miss A. E. Boatright, who died in 1862. She was the mother of three children- Amanda, born June 16. 1854; Helen, born September 22, 1857; and Mary, born Decem- ber 20, 1859. Mr. Lackey was joined in matrimony a second time in 1863, to Mrs. Malissa Kibler. born October 12, 1824, in this county. She is a daughter of Hudson and Hannah (Higgins) McCorpin, and the mother of four children-John Kibler aud Ellen Kibler were from her first husband; Richard, born October 6, 1867; and Ann Eliza, bern February 9, 1865, are children of her present husband. His two oldest chil- dren are married, Amanda to R. H. Kitchell, and Helen to William Walters. Mr. Lackey's grandparents were of the Old Virginia stock, characterized for their known hospitality. honesty and straightforwardness. He had a brother in the late war. He is identified with the Republican party, but in local affairs he votes for the best man.

JOHN W. LEAVERTON, farmer, was born April 14, 1840, in Greensborough, Md. His father was John H. Leaverton, born March 20, 1813, in Maryland. He died March 17, 1852, in Ohio. He was a farmer, and was married December 25, 1834, to Miss Tamsey Irland, born April 5, 1815; she died January 19, 1870, and is the mother of eight children. Mr. Leaverton went to school in Marion County, Ohio. He enlisted, Novem- ber 7, 1861, in the Eighty-second Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. The first battle in which he took an active part was at Bull Run, and the last at Bentonville. He was in sixteen hard- fought battles; was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and was also a non- commissioned officer in the army. Mr. Leaverton was married December 5, 1867. in Marion County, Ohio, to Miss Delilah

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Andrew, born November 7, 1836. Mr. Lea- verton is respected by all who come in con- tact with him. He has been Township Assessor; is a Republican; is a Knight of Honor, having occupied the office of Dicta- tor. He is Commander of the "Alfred Harri- son Post," No. 152, in Palestine Depart. of Ill., G. A. R .; he is peculiarly fitted for this place on account of his military knowledge; he has organized three posts.

W. L. MAGILL, farmer, P. O. Palestine, was born October 23, 1823, in Lincoln County, Ky. He is a son of William Magill, who was born February 28, 1788, in Virginia; he died in 1839. He came to this county in 1826, and was married to Unity Gooch, who was the mother of nine children; three are now living. His oldest brother was in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of New Orleans. Our subject, Mr. W. L. Magill, went to school in Crawford County, where he has been a stock man and farmer all his life. He was joined in matrimony, January 11, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Mc- Colpin, born January 3, 1820, in this county. She is a daughter of Hudson and Hannah (Cheek) McColpin, and is the mother of eight children. Four of them are now liv- ing: their names are Emily J., born January 3, 1846, she married E. Goodwin; Stacey A., born October 3. 1847, she married D. Good- win; Martha F., born October 24,:1853, she married A. Fox; and Lida, born May 15, 1861. Mr. Magill lives on a good farm, a part of which his father bought from Alexan- der Houston, but which was formerly owned by George Smith, who was one of the first settlers in this county; the other part was entered as Government land. Mr. Magill has filled school offices, and has been iden- ; tified with the Republican party, but al- ways votes for whom he considers the best man.

JOHN F. MAIL, farmer, P. O. Robin- son, was born June 16, 1846, in La Motte Township. His father was Frederich Mail, born April 15, 1803, in Knox County, Ind. : he died February 8, 1873. He was married September 18, 1828, to Louisa H. McGahey, born February 2, 1806; she died December 9, 1865, and is the mother of four children. Her father, David McGahey, represented Lawrence and Crawford Counties in the Sen- ate of 1832-33, which sat at Vandalia, Ill. Frederick Mail's father was born in German- town, Penn., and his father, who came from Germany about 1754, and who spelled his name Mehl, got his naturalization papers in 1761, under King George, against whom he fought afterward in the Revolutionary war. Mr. J. F. Mail was educated in Palestine, and at the Union Christian College in Merom; he clerked two years in Palestine, farmed afterward, and was married, November 17, 1868, to Miss Ella M. Murrell, born Septem- ber 2, 1847, in Clinton County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Alexander and Amanda (Pen quite) Murrell; her grandmother's maiden name was Jane Cummings. Mrs. Mail is the mother of four children, Frederich M., born October 4. 1869; Elmer B., born April 28, 1871; Bessie Leota, born December 20, 1872, she died September 13, 1873; and Medford B., born January 2, 1874. Mr. Mail is an intelligent, wide-awake farmer; a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has been iden tified with the Democratic party.

M. MAIL, farmer, P. O. Palestine. first beheld the light of this world in the year 1857, in La Motte Township, Crawford County. His father, Isaac D. Mail, was born in 1832. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and his father, Frederick Mail, was born in 1803, a blacksmith by trade, and a pioneer of Crawford County. He was joined in matrimony to Louisa H. McGahey, born

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in 1806. Her father was one of the pioneers of Crawford County, and she is the mother of four children. Mr. Isaac D. Mail was married to Mary E. Boatright, who was born in Crawford County, and is the mother of seven children. Our subject went to school in Crawford County and Carbondale, Ill. He has been a farmer all his life, and was joined in matrimony, in Crawford County. Ill., October 3, 1877, to Miss Sarah J. Reavill, born January 9, 1857, in Crawford County. She is a daughter of Andrew J. and Martha A. (Seaney) Reavill, who were both born in Crawford County, Ill. Mrs. Mail is the mother of two children living, Avis Faith, born October 13, 1879, and Aubrey, born May 13, 1881. Mr. Mail can trace his an- cestors back to one of his great great-grand- fathers, who spelled his name Mehl, and who came from Germany. In politics, our subject is identified with the Democratic party.

Malone came to Palestine in 1850, where he has made his home ever since, keeping a general store and drugs, as well as following his profession. In politics, Mr. Malone is neutral; he has not voted since he helped to elect Abraham Lincoln. He has been mar- ried twice; the first time, December, 1842, near Albion, Ill., to Miss E. Fisher, born 1819, and died 1861, in Palestine. She was the mother of three children living-Alva C., now married; Rosaline, also married, and Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Malone married again, December 16, 1862, in Akron, Ohio, to Miss A. M. Bisbee, born in Union Mills, Ind. She has one son, Percy B., born July 13, 1870. Our subject is known as a gentle- man and a scholar. He is the author of " Bible Religion," and " The Age to Come;" both meritorious works; he has also been a contributor to the Cincinnati Gazette, and three other political papers. Is a contributor to the Medical Times, Chicago, the Medical Recorder, Cincinnati, and the American Journal of Medicine, Cincinnati. Has con- tributed to the following religious papers: Prophetic Walchman, Howard, Ill., the Gospel Banner, Geneva, Ill., the Herald of the Coming Kingdom, Chicago, and the Restitution, Plymouth, Ind. His present wife was educated by our late President, James A. Garfield, at Hiram College, Ohio.

A. MALONE, M. D., Palestine, was born March 20, 1819, in Gibson County, Ind. He is a son of James Malone, born 1792, in Woodford County, Ky. He was a farmer by occupation. He died, 1877, in Owens- ville, Ind. The maiden name of his wife was Christina Hunter, who died in Owens- ville, Ind. She was the mother of five chil- dren now living. Our subject went to school in Owensville, but is mainly self-educated. He finished his medical education at the WILLIAM MARTIN, miller and lumber- man, Palestine, was born March 19, 1841, grandson of John Martin, from Kentucky, who came here 1810, when the country was in a wild state, and the forest was filled with wild beasts and wilder men. His son, Hezekiah Martin, was joined in matrimony to Nancie McColpin, who was the mother of a large-family, of whom William, our subject, was the youngest. He was educated in this county, where he was also married December Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. Mr. Malone clerked in early life at Princeton and Owensville, Ind. About five years after that, he commenced to teach school; he taught one year in Gibson County, Ind., and almost three years in Hamilton and White Counties, Ill. After that, he took up the study of medicine, and continued it till he graduated in 1846, when he went to Albion, Ill., where he practiced almost two years, and a little longer than that in Lawrenceville, Ill. Mr. 28, 1871, to Miss Sarah Nethery, born 1844;

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she died October 28, 1882. She was a danghter of John and Margaret (Crawford) Nethery, who, with their daughter, were born in Ireland. Mrs. Martin was the mother of three children, of whom two are now living-John O., born March 10, 1873, and Rosalie, born April 24, 1878. Mr. Mar- tin's occupation in early life was that of an engineer in his father's mill, of which he took possession about 1870. He connected a woolen mill with it, which may be said to have been the only industry in the township, Mrs. Martin was a member of the Presbyte- rian Church. Mr. Martin was rocked in the Democratic cradle, and therefore has been identified with that party. He is now en- gaged in the lumber business in Palestine.

DR. J. A. MARTIN, physician, Pal- estine, was born Jannary 1, 1856, in Barren County, Ky. His father, F. M. Martin, is a carpenter by occupation; he was born Feb- ruary 26, 1831, in Kentucky. He was mar- ried, in Barren County, Ky., December 12, 1853, to Miss Mary Jane Newberry, born February, 1834, in Kentucky. She is the mother of four children-James A., Winfield Scott. Joseph T. and John W. Mr. J. A. Martin came to Palestine in 1864, with his father; went to school there, and at the age of fourteen he commenced to clerk in a general store, continued in that till he was seventeen; for the next three years, he attended the vil- lage school, and in the fall of 1876 he went to Cincinnati, where he attended lectures in the Medical College. In the spring of 1877, he came home and read medicine with Dr. Rafferty for eighteen months. In October, 1878, he again attended the Medical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, and gradnated Feb- ruary 28, 1879. Since then he has practiced most of his time in Palestine. Dr. Martin is a young man who deserves a great deal of credit in fitting himself for his present posi-

tion. He is a Knight of Honor, and a mem- ber of Crawford County Medical Association. Is a Democrat in politics.

JAMES A. MAXWELL, Pincipal of Schools in Palestine, Ill., was born Novem- ber 8, 1837, in Blount County, Tenn. His father, James N. Maxwell, was born in the same State and county, August 15, 1809. The father was a farmer, and supported himself and family by constant daily toil in the culti- vation of the soil, Being too poor to pur- chase a farm for himself in the old and well improved tate of his birth, where land was worth from $50 to $75 per acre, he concluded to emigrate Westward, where he, with a few hundred dollars, accumulated by industry and frugality, could buy land for himself and boys. Crawford County, Ill., was final- ly selected as his place of destination and future home, to which he, with his family, in the fall of 1849, in two two-horse wagons, journeyed. He entered a tract of land con- taining about three hundred acres, at Con- gress prices, lying two miles west of the village of Flat Rock, in Honey Creek Town- ship, which, after many years' hard toil, he cleared and improved as it now is, and where he finally died in the year 1865, January 28, at the age of fifty-six. The maiden name of his wife was Dickson. She was born Febru- ary 18, 1808, in the same State and county as her husband, and died June 25, 1863, at her home in Honey Creek Township. The parents lived to raise nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are dead at this writing except the second son, John G., and the third, James A., the subject of this biography. James A. Maxwell is, for the most part, a self-educated man. When fif- teen years of age, he was very desirous of a good education. The opportunities for edu- cating at that time in the West were few. A few log schoolhouses, surrounded with hazel

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brush for shade, were scattered over the county. Subscription schools were main- tained for only two or three months during the year. The schools were what we call loud, and could be heard a mile or two read- ing and singing their spelling lessons, which were the principal branches taught then. Text-books were very scarce, inferior, and ob- tained from a distance only. But in the face of all these unfavorable opportunities, young Maxwell, without money and teacher, having nothing but his time, will, family fireside and a few books, commenced a course of study in the common branches of an Eng- lish education. This he continued for three consecutive years, during which time he ac- quired a general knowledge of English grammar, geography, arithmetic, history, philosophy and the rudiments of Latin, with but very little assistance, which he obtained occasionally from a clergyman living six iniles distant. When scarcely seventeen, he taught his first school. on the subscription plan, and according to the old flint-lock sys- tem, during the winter of which term the law was passed by the Illinois Legislature establishing our free system of public schools. By its provisions, it became necessary for teachers to pass an examination in seven branches, and thus secure a teacher's certifi- cate. which young Maxwell did, having been examined by Dr. (now Judge) Robb, of Rob- inson. When, in 1857, an academy of learn- ing was instituted at Palestine, young Max- well entered that school at its commencement, and completed an academical course there. Owing to bad health, he was unable to re- sume his studies at college. He then em- ployed his time in teaching, and has, for the most part, been following that profession for twenty-three years in Crawford County, principally at Robinson, Hutsonville and Palestine; at the latter of which places he

now resides, being Principal of the public schools there. Our subject was married, April 12, 1860, at Palestine, to Mary V. Harper, born August 5, 1842, at the place of her marriage, and is the daughter of John B. and Abigail Harper. Mr. and Mrs. Max- well have three children-two daughters, Alice C., aged twenty years, and Edna B., aged ten years, and one boy, Frank N., aged two years. He was in politics a Republican until the close of our civil war, since which time he has been neutral, but seldom exer- cising his right of suffrage. He is now identified with the temperance cause, and is a worker for the cause of prohibition. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and an active Sabbath school worker, seeking the moral, social and intellectual advancement of all with whom he comes in contact. Is a member of the Knights of Honor, and in good standing in that order.

MRS. DORCAS MCGAHEY, Palestine, born August 21, 1838, in La Motte Town- ship. She is a daughter of Ethan Walters, who was born in Ohio, and who died August 13, 1859. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Marguerette Brimberry, who was born November 19, 1819, in Kentucky, and who is the mother of nine children; four of them are now living. Mrs. McGahey went to school in Palestine, and was married March 21, 1854, to James A. McGahey, born March 15, 1830; he died December 21, 1871. His grandfather was a minister, and one of the first settlers in the county. Mr. J. A. McGahey went to school in Palestine; he has been a farmer all his life; has voted the Democratic ticket; has filled school offices, and is the father of five children. Their names are Charles A., born January 10, 1857; Frederick E., born October 30, 1859; Lucy E., born October 4, 1861; Maggie A., August 28, 1864 (she died July 30, 1870); and

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James O., born April 27, 1870. Mrs. Mc- Gahey and her daughter Lucy are intelligent, hospitable and respected by all with whom they come in contact. They are members of the Methodist Church. Mrs. McGahey owns a comfortable home and a farm of 360 acres; her prosperity is due chiefly to her own energy and wise management. The largest part of her farm was once owned by George Bathe, Sr., who sold it to Allen McGahey.

R. P. MCGAHEY, farmer, P. O. Robin- son, was born June 21, 1846, on the old homestead in La Motte Township. He is a son of Allen McGahey, born September 6, 1797; he died 1857; he was the first Coroner in this county, and was married to Miss Har- riet Newland. born February 27, 1810; she died October 2, 1851. David McGahey, who was the grandfather of our subject, married Elizabeth Donnell; he was one of the first settlers in this county, and died in Septem- ber, 1851. Our subject went to school in Palestine, and has been a farmer all his life. He answered the call of his country to de- fend the stars and stripes, and enlisted in the spring of 1865, in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Infantry Volunteers, Company H, and served till the close of the war. He was married, February 27, 1869, to Miss Maggie Van Horn, born June 2, 1848, in Ohio. She is the daughter of Joseph and Parthenia (Moor) Van Horn, and the mother of the following children: Allen, born No- vember 25, 1871; John W., born February 7, 1873 (he died September 16, 1873); and Ralph, born December 9, 1875. Mr. Mc- Gahey is a Knight of Honor; a Democrat in politics, and a member of the " Alfred Harri- son Post," No. 152, in Palestine Depart., Ill., G. A. R.

D. B. MILLS, blacksmith, Palestine, was born August 4, 1835, in Muskingum County, Ohio. His father was James Mills, a farmer

by occupation: he died in Ohio. He was joined in matrimony to Eliza Wright, born 1807, in Zanesville, Ohio. She died 1875, in Wells County, Ind., and was the mother of nine children. Mr. Mills went to school in Allen County, Ind. ; he served his apprentice- ship in Fort Wayne, Ind .; after that he rambled for some two years. April 26, 1858, he came to Palestine, and has called that place home ever since, following his trade. One season he ran a woolen factory. He enlisted, Angust 12, 1862, in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Infantry Volunteers, Company E; his regi- ment was mounted during the second year of service. He was mustered out June 27, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. After the war, he came back to Palestine, where he has followed his trade, and was married November 8, 1864, while home on a furlough, to Miss C. P. Griffith, a distant relative of ex-President Franklin Pierce. She was born April 30, 1841, and died October 31, 1868; she was the mother of one child, living, named Pierce, born October 21, 1868. Mr. Mills was married a second time, December 5, 1872, in Adams Couuty, Ohio, to Miss T. E. Mc- Colm, born February 18, 1842; she died De .. cember 14, 1878. She is a daughter of John and Hannah (Beech) McColm; her grand- parents came from Ireland in 1795; they were robbed on the high sea by pirates, sup- posed to have been French privateers, and were landed in the United States in a very destitute condition, even hatless and coatless. Mrs. McColm is the mother of one boy, named Orville, born January 7, 1875. Mr. Mills has traveled extensively in the United States, having been in twenty-four States.

MRS. E. A. PATTON, Palestine. This lady, who is respected by every one who en- joys her acquaintance, was born December 6, 1817, in Palestine. She is the daughter of William Wilson, one of the old pioneers,

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and first Postmaster in Palestine. He was born April 4, 1790, and died February 12, 1850; he was a magistrate for some years, and also served in the Legislature. He was joined in matrimony, January 15, 1817, in Harrison, Ohio, to Miss E. Kitchell, born November 19, 1799, in New Jersey. She died February 6, 1859, in'Palestine; she was the mother of fifteen children, of whom our sub- ject is the oldest. Mrs. Patton went to school in Palestine, where she was married, De cember 31, 1835, to Dr. E. L. Patton, born November 31, 1809, in Tennessee. He was educated in Washington College, Tenn .; followed his profession in Palestine till his death. December 30, 1862; filled several county offices, and is the father of twelve children, of whom W. R. Patton is the old- est. He was born October 14, 1836; was edu- cated in Palestine, Hanover and Chicago; at the latter place he graduated in the Medical Department; is now a physician in Charles- ton, Ill. The second son, Cullen M., is a merchant in Robinson. The third son, Allen M., was killed in the battle of Murfrees- boro, Tenn., on the same day that his father died in Palestine. The youngest daughter, Hannah May, is teaching in Charleston, Ill. The oldest daughter, Nancie A., has a millinery store in Olney. The other children-Martha, Mary, Emily J., John and Carroll, who is married-are living in or near Palestine. Mrs. E. A. Patton is a zealous worker in the Presbyterian Church, of which she is a member. A residence built by Dr. Patton is her present home. Her sister Jane is living with her.

FINDLEY PAULL, retired merchant, Pal- estine, was born in Fayette County, Penn., February 26, 1809. His father was James Paull, born 1781, in Fayette County, Penn. ; he died there in June, 1856. His occupation was that of a farmer and iron manufacturer,

running several furnaces; he was one of the most prominent men in his county. Mr. James Paull was married three times, and our subject is the oldest son of fourteen chil- dren. His mother's maiden name was Han- nah Jackson, born in Fayette County, Penn., where she died. Both grandfathers and great-grandfathers of our subject were in the Revolutionary army. His grandfather on his father's side was in Crawford's defeat in Ohio, where he had to flee for his life, being out in the wilderness eight days; he was made Colonel afterward. Slover, the noted scout, escaped with him. Mr. Paull went to school in Fayette County, Penn. At the age of fifteen, he commenced to clerk for his un- cle in Wheeling, W. Va. In 1835, he, in partnership with his uncle, whom he bought out after five years, opened a general store in Palestine, Ill. The same year, Mr. Paull went back to Wheeling, W. Va., where he was married, October 15, to Miss Ann M. Bay- less, born 1811, in Steubenville, Ohio; she died in Palestine, October, 1877. She was a daughter of John C. Bayless, a merchant. Mr. Paull has five children living; their names are Ellen, Fanny, Anna, James T. and William O .; two other boys are dead. His three daughters and youngest son are married. Mr. Paull was married a second time, June 15, 1880, in York, Clark Co., Ill., to Mrs. E. Gorham, the widow of Dr. C. Gor- ham. Mr. Paull is much respected by his fellow-men; has been an Elder in the Pres- byterian Church for forty-seven years; is identified with the Republican party, but believes the Prohibition party should be the party in power; he is a good temperance worker.

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 98

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