USA > Illinois > De Witt County > History of De Witt county, Illinois. With illustrations descriptive of the scenery, and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 43
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
The following are the officers of the association for 1880 :- President, James A. Wilson ; First Vice-President. Jacob Swi- gart ; Second Vice-President, H. P. Smith ; Treasurer, Edward Weld; Secretary, Lewis Campbell; Superintendent, John A. Phares; Marshal, Arthur Moore; Directors, George Weedman, George S Newman, John Taylor, John Vandevort, John Mc- Millan, William G Shaw, Daniel Fuller, Jacob Parlier, Smith Fuller, llenry Simpson, L B. Chenoweth, William Haberfield, and J. H. Randolph.
Executive Committee : Henry Ziglier, M. R. Colwell, F. M. Borroughs, Peter Sprague, and Arthur Moore.
We have thus summed up the history of Cliatonia township, from the first blow struck within its territory to the present time. It will not be difficuit for the reader, pioneer, or later citizen, to see the progress it has made. It has the soil, the wealth and the people to make greater development within the next half century than it has in the past. It is true that it has a railroad indebt- edness, but with its growing population and the natural resources of the township, it will not be a heavy burden when doe. This bonded debt is as follows :- $50,000 was voted to the Gilman, Clinton and Springfield road in 1871, and made payable in twenty years. The same amount was voted for the benefit of what is now the Wabash road, and made payable in two instal- ments, ten aud twenty years These bonds were issued in July, 1872. 810,000 of the latter will be paid in 1882, there being a sufficient amount already in the treasury to make it compara- tively light on the people.
The following is the census of the township and city within the last three decades-
1860.
1870.
1880
Township,
- 1,984
2 638
3,308
City,
- 1,362
1,800
2,702
Total,
- 3,346
4,438
6,010
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Ce de movie.
WAS the first born of a family of eight brothers and sisters, the Temple at Kirtland. During part of this time he was engaged children of Isaac and Philena Moore. Isaac Moore was born in in the labor of teaching. At the age of twenty-one he came to Illinois, locating in Pekin, with less than five dollars in his pocket, where he read law with Messrs. Bayley and Wilmot; was admitted to the bar at Springfield July, 1841. August of the same year found him the pioneer attorney in De Witt county. At the time he was without means, but pos- sessed of courage, ambition, a mind richly stored with knowledge, an energy resistless in its character. To work he went-no idle- moments for him, and snecess has crowned his efforts. In 1852 he became associated with the Hon. David Davis in the purchase of lands. They jointly own many farms, which are kept in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Moore was a member of the Con- stitutional convention in 1870, and contributed much to its deliberations. Politically he has been a Whig, and then Repub- lican. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Richmond, of Tremout, Tazewell county, Illinois, August 14, 1845. By this union there have been born four children, two of whom, Arthur Moore and Mrs. Winifred Warner, are now living. His wife died May 30, 1871 ; she was the daughter of Aronet Richmond, of Rhode Island, and was a most estimable lady. He was married to Rose Oustine July, 1873. Eminently publie- spirited, Mr. Moore is foremost in everything tending to the growth and prosperity of his adopted home. Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, January 31, 1794. tlis father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, serving the entire period of its duration ; he was a man of remarkable physical powers. At the age of ninety he could mount a horse ; at ninety-three he walked a distance of fourteen miles in a half day-was of English ancestry. Isaac Moore enjoyed the slen- derest possible opportunities for the acquirement of even a rudi- mentary education, the entire period of his attendance at school not exceeding four months. Nevertheless, possessing bright mental qualities and a will that brushed aside whatever obstacles confronted him, he obtained, by reading and observation, an education sufficient for the discharge in an efficient manner of the duties of an ordinary life. At the age of eighteen, accom- panied by his mother, two married sisters and their husbands, and one unmarried sister, he removed to Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, and now he is spending the evening of a busy life with his sons in this county. His wife, whose maiden name was Philena Blish, died May 14, 1832. Clifton H. Moore obtained a fair education in the country schools, in which he studied geometry, trigonometry and surveying, and which advancement was sup- plemented by reciting a few months to a Presbyterian clergyman, and attendance at Painesville Academy and Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary, which was taught in the old Mormon
159
PHOTO. BY F. O. PEASF.
John Jul Gran
11
JEMIMA MCGRAW.
PERHAPS no name is more familiar among the pioneers of De Witt Connty, than that of Judge McGraw. A teacher in early times ; an officer in some capacity almost constantly ; associated with every thing calculated to promote bis county's interests, his name figures prominently upon the pages of the county's history. He was born in Fairfield district, South Carolina, January 18th, 1807. His parents were Charles and Jane McGraw. Both parents were of Irish descent ; his mother was born in Ireland. When John was about ten years of age his parents moved to Alabama ; a few years after he went to Louisiana to take charge of a plantation as superintendent, which he did before attaining his majority. In 1827 he went to Monroe County, Kentneky, where on the 31st day of January, 1830, he was married to Jemima Lane. The same year in company with others they came to De Witt County, reaching here May 4th. Judge McGraw followed the pursuits of farming and teaching for many years. chosen Clerk of the County Commissioner's Court, a position he held for eighteen consecutive years. During the same time he 21
was Master of Chancery under appointment of Judge Treat; nor was this all, he was also School Commissioner. His fitness " to fill these positions received universal recognition. In addi- tion to these offices Mr. MeGraw was Police Magistrate of the City of Clinton six years, and Assistant Assessor under the Revenue Laws for four years. Was elected Judge of the County Court in 1877, which position he resigned April 12th, 18$1. In all the places of profit or trust the Judge has held, he has exer- cised commendable judgment and given eminent satisfaction. Politically he is a Republican. His wife died November 25th, 1877. She was a woman of worth, a helpmeet in pioneer times that did honor to the name. By her the Judge had five child- ren, two of whom, Leander S. and Nellie C. are living, and three are dead, as follows: Mary Elmira, who died in childhood : Jane, died May 8th, 1876, and Melvina, his eldest daughter, died September 12th, 1881. Judge MeGraw is spoken of so fre-
When De Witt County was organized in 1839, he was , quently in connection with the county's history and in chapter
on Pioneers as to render further account here nnnecessary.
161
Tobulwarner
In every community there are examples of what may be accom- plished in life by mapping out a thorough business course and living up to its requirements. Men who reduce every thing to system depending not upon luck, but npon energy and application to business which insure success. To this class belongs the subject of this sketch. John Warner was born in the valley of Virginia Rockingham county on the 24th day of July, 1819. His parents were David and Catharine ( nre Ketner) Warner. They were of German extraction. His father was a farmer; and here in the beautiful valley were the first sixteen years of John's life spent. In 1835 his father having sold the old homestead started for the West ; leaving the place of his birth and boyish fancies, on the 3d day of September, their effects stowed in two wagons, they wend- ed their way across the Alleghenies, and passed through Columbus, Ohio, on the 28th of the month, where they encountered a vio- lent snow storm, and reached Wayne county Indiana late in October, where they wintered. Here they found everything high in price; the poorest kind of wheat was 82.00 per bushel, and frost-bitten corn 75c. In March following they moved to Henry county where his father had purchased a farm. One year here, satisfied John with log rolling and plowing among the stumps in the beech woods, and as he had acquired a fair education in the common schools of his native state, he left the parental roof to teach, which he did in the rude cabins that at the time abounded in Indiana, receiving for his service $25 per month. At the same time he commenced the study of medicine under the guidance of Doctors Wyman and Carmine of Anderson, Madison co .. with whom he remained until 1840. On the 30th of October, he was married to Miss Cynthia A. Gardiner, of Henry county, and on the 2nd of June following started west-
ward with about one hundred dollars in money, two ponies and a very poor carriage, with no particular point in view, simply drift- ing with the tide-he found himself in the old town of Mt. Pleasant, (now Farmer C'ity ), about the 20th of the month. At the time there were five dwelling-houses and one hotel in the place. The hotel kept by John Smith furnished him shelter un- til he could procure a house, which he soon after did, a cabin 12 x12, all told. 1Iere he practiced medicine for two years, when he moved to Clinton, where he has since resided. When wars alarms aroused our country to the danger of dismemberment the doctor promptly enlisted, engaged to raise a company and was made major of the 41st Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was at the surrender of Fort Henry,-in the battle of Fort Donelson, of Shiloh, of Davis Bridge on the Hatchie river, at the evacuation of Corinth. At Shiloh he contracted that dread scourge of army life, the diarrhoea, by eating part of an old goose captured and cooked by his servant. The goose had by some means escaped being devonred by the Johnnies-a fate the doctor yet wishes, it had met, as from the effects of its eating he was compelled to resign his position, and from which he has scarce recovered. For twelve years the doctor followed his profession in this country,-a profession he disliked and which he exchanged for more congenial pursuits at the earliest opportunity. From 1848 to 1852 he was clerk of the circuit court, and in 1864-66. was a member of the 24th General Assembly, Illinois. His wife died February 15th, 1865. He was married to Isabella Robinson of Huron county, Ohio, May 28th, 1874. In 1867 he commenced banking operations, in which he has since most successfully con- tinued He is methodical in all things, temperate, industrious, and of that strict integrity which never wrongs a man.
163
PHOTO BY F. O. PHASF.
Sammagive -
lage
One of the leading merchants of Clinton, has been a resident of De Witt county since October, 1854. He is a native of Ver- mont, where he was born July 14th, 1826. His parents were of Irish birth. His father, Hugh Magill, was a manufacturer of cotton goods, which business he prosecuted in Malone, New York, whither he moved when Samuel was a youth. In con- nection with this business he also opened a stock of general merchandise, where the subject of this sketch acquired his busi- ness tastes and habits.
The family consisted of fonr brothers and two sisters, namely : William, Samnel, Rebecca, Henry, Robert, who died January 15, 1874; and Mary Ann.
Mr. Magill is strictly a man of business. He first came to Illinois, stopping in Bloomington, in 1852; and two years there- after he located in Clinton. Possessed of keen perception and correct judgment, he has been eminently successful in life. He has established a reputation among his fellows for unquestioned integrity of character and high moral worth. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He is an esteemed member of the Masonic Order. As a merchant, he has been successful. Twenty-eight years in mercantile por- suits in Clinton have resulted in giving him an enviable trade.
165
Geo Graham
THE subject of this biographical sketch was born in Butler county, Ohio, October 15th, 1841. He came with his parents to De Witt county, Illinois, in 1849. Here he had fair advan- tages for the acquirement of an education, under the instruction of Professor Turner. In 1867 he commenced the study of law with E. H. Palmer, and in 1869 was admitted to the bar, becom- ing at once the partner of William Fuller. He was united in marriage to Nancy P. Hutchins, February 15th, 1865. By this union there are four children living and two dead. Mrs. Gra- ham was the daughter of John D Hutchins, a very popular aud
influential citizen, who lived in the western part of the county, and whose energy wis rewarded by the acquisition of large wealth The Hutchins were among the pioneers of the county, and contributed largely to the development of its resources.
Mr. Graham is studious, attentive to business, an excellent judge of law, and cares more for success in its practice than for the honors of office; although, since 1873, he has heen Master in Chancery, and in 1880 he was elected Mayor of Clinton, which position he now holds. A man of broad views, generous impulses, social qualities of a high order-success attends him. 167
Jam& brahans
Was born Angust 13th, 1806, in Warren county, Ohio. His parents were William and Phebe Graham. His father was a tailor by trade, although he exchanged that oeenpation for farming. He was born in county Down, Ireland in April, 1757. and died in Warren county, Ohio, in July, 1857-a centenarian, as his mother before him had been, having died at the good old age of one hundred and one years. He was brought by his parents to Laneaster county Pennsylvania, in 1759, thenee went to Ohio, becoming one of the early pioneers of that State.
Samuel Graham had but meagre opportunities for acquiring an education in youth, but made the most of his chances. He was married to Hannah Kirby, November 1st, 1829. By this
union there have been born thirteen children, of whom twelve are now living, eight boys and four girls. Two of his sons are attorneys, one a doctor; the others are following varions pur- suits. Samuel Graham came to De Witt eonnty in 1849, and was elected Associate Ju-tice of the County Court in 1853, in which capacity he served six years, when the adoption of town- ship organization disbanded the court. He next served as Jus- tice of the Peace until 1865, when he was elected County Judge, which office he held acceptably to the people for four years. He is a member of the Masonic Order. He is in the enjoyment of his own home, where he spends the evening of life in ease and comfort.
169
Thomas Jane 22
SOCIETY has its born leaders as well as its defendants ; its bold aggressive spirits as well as its following masses ; its mien, fitted by nature to take hold of, and push forward public enterprises a> well as its muscular working men. To that class, able to plan an enterprise requiring skill, and nerve, and carry it forward to a happy realization, belongs Col. Thomas Snell. His whole life has been filled with surprises to his friends. The story of that life may not be without its good effect. He was born in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, December 26th, 1818. His parents were Thomas and Eliza Snell. llis father was a contractor and com- mission merchant ; he was born in New Jersey and died in Pekin, Illinois. ITis mother died in Iowa. The subject of this sketch was the fourth of a family of five brothers. All are dead except himself and Joseph, the youngest of the family, who lives in Iowa. His early advantages for acquiring an education were meagre indeed, being only such as were offered in central Illinois in the days of log school-houses, as his father moved to Pekin, then called Townsite, in the year 1829. Until 1845 he lived in Pekin and Washington, Tazewell county, when he came to Clinton, where he has since resided, and where he has achieved that suc- cess in life which has attended his great energy and tireless indus- try. While in Washington he followed mercantile pursuits, which business he prosecuted in Clinton until 1852, when the Illinois Central Railroad was being built. At once he took an active and leading part in railway construction, and one after the other took contracts for building miles of the Illinois Central, the Chicago and Southwestern, 150 miles ; Joliet and Chicago, 40 miles; Racine and Mississippi, 30 miles ; Ohio and Dayton, 40 miles ; 80 miles of the Bloomington, Lafayette and Mississippi ;
Lafayette and Muncie, SO miles; graded and bridged the road from Champaign to Havana, a distance of 101 miles, of which road he was made Pre-ident, the first in its history. Apparently he studied less respecting taking a railway construction contract, than many men do in making a horse trade. His quickness of perception, and keen in-ight into business stood him well in hand in all these contracts. His restless energy was not satisfied even with all this business, so we find him carrying on an extensive wagon factory in Aurora, which he in company with S. L. Keith erected in 1859, and continued ontil 1865. At one time he had two hundred and fifty hands employed in the works. Politically he was for years a Democrat ; and in 1860 ran for Lieutenant Gover- nor on the Breckenridge ticket. At this time so valuable were his services rated politically, that General Mcclellan, at the time President of the Illinois Central Railway, and Stephen A. Douglas, came to Clinton in a special car and offered him any sum he might name, to give his influence for the Douglas demo- cracy. But no; money offered no temptation where principles were at stake, and the offer which he spurned only caused him to labor the more zealously in the cause he conceived to be right. Notwithstanding his affiliation with the democracy, as soon as the clouds of war appeared in our national skies, his patriotism found vent in expressions that sent a thrill of cheer to every loyal heart in his vicinity, and his voice was loud for the pre-ervation of the Union. In the spring of 1861 the firing on Fort Sumter moved him to words of desperation. "Out upon all rebels, hang them one and all," was his ery. In August, 1862, he raised the 107th regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which com- mand he remained as Colonel six months. Whilst in this posi-
171
173
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
tion he rebelled against what he considered the slow movements | he was nominated as the Republican candidate for county trea- of the Union Armies and the spirit of conciliation manifested. surer, and elected by a large majority ; and again in 1866 he was re-elected. After the expiration of his second term of service he devoted his entire attention to the study of medicine, and in the winter of 1865-9 he attended a course of medical lectures in Phila- delphia in the Homeopathic College of Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated with honor. On his return to Clinton he bought Dr. Mitchell's practice and almost immediately took first rank among physicians of De Witt county. He was a careful and conscientious physician, and devoted himself to the study of his profession. Dr. Porter was a man of great force of character and strong prejudices, yet the warm impulses of his nature made him a generous enemy while he was the truest of friends. Whatever he believed was right, he believed with his whole soul and gave his convictions the full strength of his man- hood. Iu politics an uncompromising Republican ; in religion an ardent believer in the teachings of Swedenborg; in medicine a most enthusiastic homeopath, he was a vigorous writer and could ably defend his professional and religous views. His mo- rality was of the highest type, and his voice and influence were always on the side of good government. On June 18th, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy E. Mills, who survives him. There were born to them nine children. Dr. Porter's memory will be kept green in the hearts of hosts of old patrons and warm friends. " Give the rebels no quarter," said he. During the year 1862 considerable grain was shipped south from Illinois. Col. Snell promptly telegraphed the facts to Governor Yates, and said, "Stop the shipment of grain south, or I will." Watchful, vigilant, ever awake to the comfort of his " boys" he was popular with all. Early in the war he declared his prediction that negroes would be enlisted as soldiers-a prediction at the time sneered at by the masses of Union men. lle believed in doing everything calcu- lated to strengthen the Union cause and cripple that of the rebellion. In 1864 he almost decided not to vote for Abraham Lincoln, because he was not radical enough for him. Those who knew Tom during the war aud heard his sayings, speak of him as being most radically radical, bold, outspoken and defiant. He refused to guard rebel property-declaring it only de- served destruction, as did its owners. Whilst passing through the city of Louisville his regiment lustily sang, "John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave," greatly to the edification of the negro population and mortification of quasi Union men, whom the Colonel heartily despised. For this, coupled with his orders to his soldiers to burn fences where necessary to their comfort; forage where foraging would add to their happiness, in defiance of general orders he was arrested and put in jail by General Boyle, commander of the Post at Louisville. - This conquered not his spirit, but he still declared his soldiers had come to fight rebels, not to guard their property. J. HI. WAGGONER, Through the interposition of Lawrence Weldon and Leonard Switt he was liberated, and in 1863 returned to his active citizen life. In whatever he has engaged he has been successful, whether it be building a railroad, playing the politician, running a manu- facturing establishment, engaged in banking or farming, he is the same wide awake business man. He was united in marriage to a most estimable lady Miss Sarah E. Church, of Washington, Illinois, on the- By this union there have been born five children, three of whom are living, two are dead. His wife died October 11th, 1875. Of her it can be truly said, she was one of God's noble women. Her philanthropic heart beat in sympathy with distress wherever found. The poor never left her door " empty-handed, heavy-hearted ; " a word of cheer she always had, from the depths of her affection, for one and all, In woman's sphere of usefulness she acted well and willingly her part. Of Col. Snell it may be said, he combines more of the elements of success than are allotted the average of mortals. Reverses never daunt, nor do successes unman him.
DR. EDWARD PORTER, (DECEASED,)
Was born in Sinking Springs, Highland county, Ohio, Feb. 6th, 1833, died in Clinton, March 1st, 1879. His early life was spent on a farm. Being a great lover of books, he gave all his spare time to the study of solid literature ; and this intellectual train- ing fitted him for the sphere of usefulness he filled in life. At the age of seventeen he taught school, having a number of pupils older than himself. In 1851 he commenced the study of medi- cine. In 1852 came to De Witt county, where he first engaged in farming. For ten years he continued farming operations, all the while devoting much time to the study of medicine and gen- eral literature. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, Illinois Infantry, and served his country faithfully for two years, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. Returning to his home from the war in 1864
EDITOR and proprietor of the Clinton Register, was born in the present Whitley township, Moultrie county, then a part of Shelby county, September 1, 1832. His ancestors were of German origin, and resided in North Carolina. Ilis father, Amos Waggoner, and his mother, Narcissa Jay, were born, raised and married in Ruther- ford county, North Carolina. They came to Illinois and settled on Whitley creek in 1828. Mr. Waggoner was reared in that part of the county, In 1850, when he was eighteen, his father moved with the family to Sullivan, and died in 1854. Amos Waggoner was a man of good natural ability, though like most of the early pioneers, he was self-educated. He served two or three terms as justice of the peace, and at the time of his death was associate judge. When about twenty-two, Mr. Waggoner took charge of a school and taught three terms. In the spring of 1858, in partnership with his brothers, he purchased the Sul- livan Express, which had been established the preceding fall, and was the first newspaper published in Moultrie county ; he was connected with this paper till 1860. In 1861 he was elected assessor and treasurer of the county, and served two years. In 1864 he was elected circuit clerk, and was re-elected for three terms, thus filling the office for sixteen years in succession-a longer period than any other county officer has held position in Moultrie county. After the expiration of his term of service, he gave his attention to the abstract business, which he prosecuted until last October, when he moved to Clinton, and bought the office of the Clinton Register. He has inaugurated many im- provements in the office, and is giving his patrons an excellent county paper. He was married on the 12th of February, 1858, to Miss Laura E. Henry, daughter of Elder B. W. Henry, one of the early ministers of the Christian church. Mrs. Waggoner was born in Shelby county. There are seven children by this marriage. Mr. Waggoner has always been a Democrat. For more than twenty years he has been an active and consistent member of the Christian church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.