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 48
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MInch of the history of Nathan Clearwaters and his brother pioneers will be found in the Pioneer chapter of this work, and in the history of Santa Anna township; and it would be mere repetition to reproduce it here. We can but pay our tribute of respect to this venerable couple who have come down to ns from a former generation, and we echo the sentiment of the entire com- munity when we say that both carry with them the esteem, good- will, and kindly feeling of all who have the pleasure of know- ing them.
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MARY D. SMITH.
AMONG the old and prominent settlers of De Witt county was John Smith, lately deceased. He was born in Hardy couuty, Vir- ginia, February 23d, 1805. He came to De Witt county in the fall of 1835, and stopped in Mount Pleasaut, now Farmer city. When the town rose to the dignity of a village he was elected Justice of the Peace, aud decided the disputes arising among the early settlers with impartial justice. He opened a hotel, the first one in the village, and for many years kept the only house of entertainment there. His was the favorite stopping place for many years for the travelers going and coming from Bloom- ington, Peoria, and western points. In after years he gave his exclusive attention to farming, in which he continued until his death, which occurred June 8th, 1878. Ou the 8th of Janu- ary, 1828, he married Mary D. Mitchell, who was born in Fred- erick county, Virginia, July 10th, 1801. She died July 31st, 1878, leaving no offspring: In her earlier years, she tanght the first school in Mount Pleasaut. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the M. E. church. Iu life they had numerous friends, and were much esteemed and respected for their good qualities of both head and heart. In this life they were noted for their many acts of pure benevolence, and both were charitable to a fault. William W. Murphey was raised by them, and to a certain ex-
tent was adopted by Mrs. Smith, who was his aunt He was born in Frederick county, Virginia, October 15th, 1838, and is the son of Hiram and Grace (Mitchell) Murphey. His father was boru April 15th, 1797, and died August 20th, 1881. His mother (Mrs. Murphey), was born May 20th, 1806, and died December 17th, 1880. In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Smith, while on a visit to Virginia, brought W. W. Murphey with them. It was expected that Mr. Murphey's father would soon follow, but he did not come until 1853. Mr. Murphey remained with Mr. Smith until the breaking ont of the war, when he eulisted for three years in Company F, +1st Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was twice wounded, first at Fort Donelson, and then at the bat- tle of Jackson. At the siege of Vicksburg he was one of eighty men who were detailed to scale the out works and advance to the Horse-Shoe Beud, and establish and advance the line, which was a most difficult and hazardous undertaking, but it succeeded. On the 5th of October, 1865, he married Miss Nancie H., daughter of Cary and Auu Burford. There are three children by that union, named Edwin C., Grace A. and Mary V. Murphey. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. church. He is Repub- lican in politics.
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O
JOHN WEEDMAN, SR. (DECEASED.)
THE Weedman's were among the first settlers of Central Illinois, and of the few pioneers who settled in this connty a half century ago. They are of German ancestry on the paternal side, and English on the maternal. George Weedman, the grandfather of the present Weerman family, was a native of Pennsylvania. He emigrated to Ohio soon after that State was admitted into the Union, and there remained until 1830, when he brought his fam- ily to Illinois and settled in Randolph's Grove in McLean county, where he lived until his death, which occurred at an advanced age. John Weedman, his son, was born in Pennsylvania in 1790, and was yet a youth when his parents removed to Ohio. He there grew to mauhood, and married. When his father came west, he accompanied him and settled at the place above named in Mc- Lean county. In 1835 he removed to Hurley's Grove, in what is now known as Santa Anna township, and there lived until his death. In his life, Mr. Weedman belonged to the ambitions and progressive class of men, and was actuated by a laudable desire to excel in whatever he undertook. He was by occupation a farmer and stock-raiser, aud in that business accumulated con- siderable property, at least sufficient to render him comfortable in his declining years. Both he and his wife were members of
the M. E. church, and both took an active interest in that Chris- tian organization. He married Rachel Wilson, who was a na- tive of Maryland, but was a resident of Ohio at the time of her marriage. Her father, Asa Wilson, was one of the early settlers of that State.
By the nnion of John and Rachel Weedman there were ten children-seven sons and three daughters. Isaiah, the fifth son, with patriotic devotion to his country enlisted during the late war in the 2d Illinois Cavalry, and lost his life at the battle of Holly Springs, December 20th, 1862. The names of the other chil- dreu in the order of their birth are Asa, who died leaving a fam- ily, and who is mentioned in a separate biography ; Harriet, George, Amos, John, Isaiah 'deceased ), Lncinda (also deceased), Eliza Emma, Zadok Casey, and Thomas St. Clair. All of the sons who are living are active, business men, and among the lead- ing agricnlturists of the connty. It may be said of Mr. Weed- man, Sr., that in his life every act of his, whether in public or private, was actuated by a desire to do right. He was honorable in everything, and was never known to do that which brought the blush of shame to his cheek, or in the least reflected upon his character as an honest man and a Christian gentleman.
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ASA WEEDMAN (DECEASED).
ASA WEEDMAN was the eldest son of John and Rachel ( Wil- son) Weedman. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, October 15, 1817, and was in his boyhood when the family removed to Illinois, and settled in Randolph's Grove. He came with his parents to Hurley's Grove in 1835, and remained at home until his marriage, when he commenced farming for himself. In 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Delilah Hand, daughter of Rev. George and Barbara Hand, who were among the pioneers of Illinois, and the first settlers of Randolph's Girove in McLean county. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Weedman there were eleven children, seven of whom are yet living. Mr. Weedman lied June 21st. 1866, while yet comparatively a young man. In his life he was an active and useful citizen, and was esteemed by
all who knew him. In his personal appearance he was large and well formed slightly inclined to corpulency, but possessing con- siderable physical strength. Few men within the radius of his acquaintance were better know nor esteemed more for their virtues of both head and heart than Asa Weedman. His loss to the community was a serious one, as his enterprise and public spirit were of such an active character that he was foremost in promot- ing and aiding enterprises that had for their object the public good or the material advancement of his neighborhood or county. IIe and his wife were both devoted members of the M. E. church. One of his sons, Philip, lives on the old place. He married An- nie, daughter of H. K. Gillespie, February 6, 1873, by which union there were two children.
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John Weedman
AMONG the influential and leading business men, as well as , being solid, and of conducting its business upon sound business old settlers of De Witt county, is the subject of the following principles. As a banker, Mr. Weedman is well known through- out central Illinois, and his reputation and that of his bank has an enviable and honorable standing among business men. sketch. Although not a resident of the county, yet he has been for many years identified with its history and progress, and has contributed much to its material prosperity. He was born in On the 31st of March, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. McDonald, a native of Madison county, Ohio. She is the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca McDonald. By that union there are four children living. Their names, in the order of their births, are : Harriet Josephine, who is the wife of C. R. Brodix, a resident and publisher of Philadelphia ; Cassius M., clerk in his father's bank; Rachel Rosella, and John Sher- man Weedman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weedman are active mem- bers of the M. E. Church. He is a respected member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of A. F. and A. M. Politically, Mr. W. is a sound and thorough Republican, and has always voted that ticket since casting his first vote. He has been elected to several offices of local trust, and has represented his township in the Board of Supervisors for several terms. He was a member of the board when the present magnificent court-house which adorns the public square in Bloomington was built. By a series of circumstances he held the casting vote in that public enter- prise. In every office he has held he has earned the reputation of a faithful, capable and honest servant of the people. Mr. Weedman in personal appearance is an erect, well-formed man. His fifty and odd years hang lightly upon him, and he would readily pass for one who had not reached more than the meridian of life. His hardy constitution and temperate habits have done much to preserve and keep about him the evidences and appear- ances of youth, which seem loth to leave and in their stead place the stamp of declining years. In his manners he is a social and pleasant gentleman, of frank and unassuming manners, whose acquaintance and friendship it is a pleasure to make, and, when once made, rarely forgotten. This is the opinion and evidence of the writer of this sketch, who has known Mr. Weedman for many years. Perry county, Ohio, February 3d, 1828, and is the son of John and Rachel Weedman, whose histories are to be found on another page of this work. He was, in bis infancy, when his parents re- moved from Ohio to Illinois and settled in Randolph's Grove. IIis education in his youth was of a limited character, and was confined to the log school-house of nearly a half century ago, wherein he learned to read, write. and cipher, which em- braced the entire educational course. But Mr. Weedman did not rely so much upon the schools as he did upon self-culture. As a man and boy he contracted habits of close observation and cultivated a taste for reading, which improved the mind, and, in time, rendered him well-informed upon the current literature and topics of the day. Ile was raised to habits of industry upon his father's farm, and remained at home until 1850, when he and other members of the family were seized with the gold fever, which was produced by the discovery of gold in California. In company with four of his brothers, he started for California by the overland ronte, and landed in Sacramento July 24th, 1850. They engaged in mining and hauling provisions. John remained in California for eighteen months, by which time he was con- vinced that by the exercise of the same industry at home as there he would succeed equally well. In the fall of 1851 he returned home by way of New York. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which he has been more or less engaged ever since. In 1871 he, in connection with Thomas Brothers, estah- lished the first bank in Farmer City. The partnership con- tinued until 1876, when Mr. Weedman purchased the Thomas Bros.' interest, and from that time to the present has carried on the business of banking in his own name. From the first open- ing of the bank to the present, it has borne the reputation of
229
wy Melon
. ITis eminently fitting that in a history of De Witt county proper mention should he made of him whose name heads this sketch. Few men in the northern part of the county exercised more influence for good, or took a more active interest in promot- ing enterprises that had for their object the increase of the mate- rial wealth or prosperity of Santa Anna township, than W. Y. McCord. IIe was born in Tennessee, October 29, 1816. He came to Illinois with his parents, James and Mary McCord, in 1831, and settled in De Witt county, near Fullerton. In 1837 he moved to section thirty-two in Santa Anna township. He then entered a tract of land, which he improved, and afterwards added to it, and there he made his home until his death, which took place January 18th, 1880. On the 8th of February, 1838, he married Miss Harriet, daughter of John and Rachel Weed- man. She was born in Ohio, October 8th, 1819. By that union there was 'one son, named John Henry McCord, who was born Dec. 19, 1838. He married Sarah A., daughter of Thomas and Rachel Slick, February 4th, 1864, by which marriage there are two children, named Lora Nettie, and William H. McCord. In his life, William Young McCord was an earnest and consistent member of the M. E. Church. He joined that religious denomi-
nation in 1837, and ever afterwards remained true to his religions vows. To him, religion meant all that the word implied. He carried it to his home, in his business and into the world ; where- ever he went, he never forgot his obligations and duties to his Creator. In the church government he freely gave the benefit of his wise counsels, and he was for many years its chief director and advisor.
In the management of the affairs of the township he was for many years a prominent actor. He was supervisor for a long number of years, and was acting in that capacity when the In- dianapolis, Bloomington and Pekin railroad was built, and was elected a director of the road, a position he held until his death. Ife held the office of Assessor for seventeen years, and was Jns- tice of the Peace for a number of terms. In all these positions he so conducted the business of his offices, that there was never a word breathed against his good name. All acknowledge his sterling honesty and strict probity of character. When he died, De Witt county lost one of her best men and most active citi- zens. This is the universal verdict of all who knew W. Y. Me- Cord.
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L " Burford
THE Burford family, on the paternal side, is of Scotch ancestry and Scotch-Irish on the maternal. Milton Burford, the grand- father of Cary, was a native of Virginia. Soon after the Revo- lutionary War he moved his family to Kentucky, where his son, whose name was also Milton, married a Shields. In 1807, the family moved to the Territory of Indiana, and settled in Har- rison county. Cary Burford was the son of Milton. He was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, April 5, 1806. He grew to manhood in Indiana, and there, on the 29th of January, 1829, married Miss Anna Shields, daughter of Jesse and Katie Shields. She was born in East Tennessee, near Knoxville, Feb. 26, 1806. Her family as well as the Burfords were pioneers of three states, viz : Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. Mr. Burford, after his marriage, engaged in farming till 1831, when he turned his atten- tion to mercantile pursuits, and opened a general store in Mock- port, and the next year went to Amsterdam ; and, soon after, moved on a farm, tilled it, and sold goods, in which he continued fifteen years. He was there robbed, house burned, aud he left that part of the country and went to Missouri and other States ; and in 1854 settled in Marion county, Illinois, and engaged in farming until 1865, when he moved to McLean county. In 1869 moved to Leroy, and in 1870 came to Farmer City, and here went into business under firm name of C. Burford & Sons. In 1873 he practically retired from business, and until his death, which occurred August 23d 1879, lived a quiet life, calmly awaiting the dread summons that was to usher him into a brighter and better life.
At the age of twenty-seven he joined the M. E. Church, and from that time forth lived a true and devoted Christian. In later years he became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and was ever after a ruling elder in that Christian deno- mination. In 1873, at the organization of the First National
Bank of Farmer City, he became the first vice-president, which position he retained until his death. By the marriage of Cary and Anna (Shields) Burford, there were twelve children, ten of whom reached maturity-two died in infancy. Their names, in the order of their birth, are: Mary Jane, wife of Abraham Flesh- man, of Harrison county, Indiana; Catherine Isabel, wife of James Highfill, a resident of same county ; Margaret, wife of Thomas Highfill, died in 1864, leaving three children; Anna Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Briley, a resident of McLean county, Illinois; Jesse Hiltou, eldest son, is one of the firm of Burford Bros. He married Anna H., daughter of Elihu and Frances Gessford, by which union there are four children, named: Mattie Ielen, Cora May, Stella Frances, and Pearl. Cary S., of the same firm, married Miss Barbara L., daughter of Asa and Delilah (Hand) Weedman. They have two children named Nellie and Jessie, Nancy H., wife of W. W. Murphey William T. married Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Becket, by which nnion one daughter living, named Maud. Mrs. W. T. Burford died January 15, 1876. IIe afterwards married Miss Emma, dangh- ter of A. J. and Jane McWilliams. James C. married Miss Barbara L., daughter of Conrod and Katy Hottle. They have two sons named Guy and Ivan. John H. married Miss Mattie, daughter of Otho and Providence Merrefield. Jesse M., Cary S. and William T. carry on the mercantile business, and are recognized as among the most enterprising and substantial busi- ness men of Farmer City. They are all men of well-known honesty of character, and, in both business and private capacity, enjoy the confidence and esteem of the entire community. The sons, as well as their father before them, are republicans in poli- tics,-and advocates, in both theory and practice, of the cause of temperance. Jesse M. is a member of the I. O. O. F., and William T. of K. of Pythias.
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235
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
JAMES HIRST.
THE subject of the following sketch was born in Leeds, Eng- Jaud, January 8th, 1828. He came with his parents Edward and Hannah Hirst to America. in 1840, and settled in Edwards county, Illinois. James, in 1848, went to Clark county, Obio, where he engaged in farming, and continued there for seven years, then he come west to De Witt county and worked for the Weedmans until he got married. He then rented land in the township and commenced farming. On the breaking out of the late war he enlisted for three years in company " I," of the 39th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The regiment was organized in Chicago, and from there ordered to St. Louis, and then to the front at Williamsport, Maryland, where the regiment was placed under the command of Gen. Landers. From the latter place the command went to Hancock, then to Black Oak Bottoms, then up the Potomac to guard the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad At Bath, the command was attacked by "Stonewall " Jackson's. forces and driven ont and back to Martinsburg, from which point they went to Winchester, and were in the battle there, then up to White House Bridge, in the Shenandoah, then made a forced march of one hundred and five miles to Fredericksburg, and the next day were ordered back to keep Jackson from crossing the Shenandoah. From there, marched to Alexandria, then to Har- rison's Landing, on the James River. The regiment went into winter quarters at Suffolk, and in the spring of 1863, went to Newbern, North Carolina, and embarked at Buford for Port Royal, South Carolina. Mr. Hirst was discharged at Folly's Island, October 2211, 1863, on account of physical disability, and returned home and re-engaged in farming and stock raising, in which calling he has continued to the present time. On the Ist of Jannary, 1856, be married Ruby Dart; she died in 1863. Three children are the offspring of that marriage. On the 15th of October, 1866, he married Mary E. Kirby nee Page. She is a native of New Jersey. She had two children by her former marriage, named William Henry and Flora E. Kirby. Mr First's children by his first wife are named Frances, Mary, Isabel and James Louis Hirst. By his last wife there is one child liv- ing, named Jane Winnefred Hirst. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church. He is an active member of the order of I. O O. F. aod also of the Encampment, and has represented both orders in the Grand Lodge of the State. In politics he votes tbe Republican ticket. He has held varions local offices, and has been township collector and road commissioner for eight years. In his habits he is temperate, but liberal upon the question of temperance. Mr. Hirst is a good citizen and a reputable man, and has many friends in Santa Anna township.
JOHN JONES.
THE subject of the following biographical sketch is one of the prominent and influential farmers of De Witt courty as well as an old settler. The family on the paternal side is of Welsh de- scent. Edward Jones the grandfather, was born in 175I. He came to America when quite a yonth. William, his son, and father of John Jones, on the breaking out of the revolutionary war, es- ponsed the canse of the patriots and enlisted under Washington. He remained in the service during the continnance of the war, and by his brave and gallant conduct earned the approbation of the great and good Washington. He was a carrier of dispatches, and was often entrusted with matters of great moment. He con- veyed the glad tidings of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
to the Continental Congress, and also to get aid for the sick and wounded. In 1809 or '10 he removed to Kentucky, and subse- quently went to Tennessee, and died in Overton connty in 1839. He married Ensan Clark, who was of French descent and a na- tive of Virginia. She survived her husband bnt a short time, and died in 1840. There were ten children born to the old patriot. The subject of this sketch is the only survivor. He was born in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, January 14th, 1801. He was a mere youth when his father removed the family to Kentucky. He grew to manhood in Tennessee, and learned habits of industry npon the farm. He remained in Kentucky until 1837, then he came west to Illinois and settled in Rutledge township, which was then a part of Macon county. One year later he moved to a tract of land known as the farm of the Rev. Paxton Cummings. He leased and farmed the land for two years, then moved to Ben- jamin Newberry's farm on section eighteen One year later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of William Jones. It was timbered land except abont forty acres, which was prairie. It was raw, without any improvements whatever. Here Mr. Jones and his family settled permanently and commenced clear- ing and breaking the land, getting it under cultivation, and in other ways making the place productive and habitable. Here the old pioneer still lives, enjoying his eighty odd years, and se- renely waiting for the dread summons to join that " innumerable caravan that is moving to the pale realms of shade." In 1825, while a resident of Tennessee, he was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Elizabeth Fulington, a native of Tennesses. She is the daughter of David and Sarah ( Belcher ) Fulington.
There have been three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, all sons. Their names in the order of their birth are Campbell, Preston and Albert. All are farmers and residents of Santa Anna township, in De Witt county.
The subject of our sketch has followed the occupation of farmer and stock raiser, and the family before him generally were tillers of the soil, and some few mechanics. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and has been a professing Christian for a number of years. In the erection of church buildings and in the furtherance and advancement of the canse of Christianity, he has always been liberal and has given freely of bis means for that purpose.
Politically he has always voted the Democratic ticket. He cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson in 1824, and from that time to the present bas not missed a general election. and always and unhesitatingly gave his vote for the nominees of the Democratic party. He is one of the few surviving Jack- sonian Democrats, and yet remembers with great pride his vote for "Old Hickory," the hero of New Orleans. Mr. Jones has been the architect of his own fortune. He started in life poor, and received no aid from rich relations nor did he gain a compe- tency by any sndden turn of fortune's wheel, but rather by slow, persistent toil ; gathering little by little, living economically and never venturing beyond his means, he at last reached a position of independence and beyond the want or danger of dependence npon others. And in all these years he has just as steadily built up a reputation for strict honesty and sterling worth as a man and a citizen. He is kind, sociable and hospitable in his nature, and all who come beneath his roof are made genuinely welcome. Campbell Jones, the eldest son, was born in Tennessee, Angust 1st, 1828. His education was confined to and received in the log school-honse of the pioneer era of the western country. It was exceedingly limited, and yet the stranger is slightly surprised at the varied and extensive knowledge possessed by Mr. Jones. The
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