History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 60

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 60

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first organization of the county, and was also elected to the Legislature. He was a Demo- crat in politics, and an A., F. & A. M., and also a Royal Arch Mason.

DAVID K. LEITH. farmer, P. O. Mason, is a son of James Leith, and was born in Fair- field County, Ohio, January 27, 1837. He re- moved with his parents, at the age of five, to Effingham County, Ill. He was raised on a farm, and was thus engaged when he started for himself, about two miles east of Mason. Mr. Leith was married in this county October 2, 1859, to Miss Mary Wilson, daughter of William Wilson. He has a family of four chil- dren, as follows : Dallas O., born November 30, 1861 ; Mary B., born July 9, 1867 ; Oscar, was born November 9, 1869 ; Franklin A., was born April 27. 1871. Subject has an excellent little farm of fifty-three acres, and raises a fair amount of wheat, oats, corn, etc. He is polit- ically, a Democrat of the old school. Subject's father. James Leith, was born in Licking Coun- ty, Ohio. January 27, 1814. Ile was married in Fairfield County, Ohio, in February, 1836, to Miss Barbara Bank. Ile pursued the avoca- tion of farming in Fairfield County till 1842, when he removed with his family to Effingham Connty, Ill .. and located on a tract of land two miles east of Mason, which he afterward en- tered of Congress to the amount of 415 acres, to which he afterward added forty acres. Here he opened up a fine farm, and spent the re- mainder of his life in good circumstances. Subject had twelve children. six of whom are living, and are good citizens of this county- David K. Leith, Samuel, Mrs. Sarah Murphy, Taylor, Allen, and Mrs. Nora Hardin. Mr. Leith died at a good old age. His widow sur- vives him, and resides on the home farm.

J. C. LEITII, farmer, P. O. Mason, is a na- tive of this county, was born in August, 1843. He was raised on his father's farm, two miles east of Mason. He engaged in farming on the old home farm when he began business for

himself. He makes his occupation a decided success. Ile produces an immense amount of grain, grass, etc., and keeps on hand a fair amount of stock. Ile is an carnest and zealous supporter of the principles of Democracy. Subject's father, David Leith, a native of Fair- field County, Ohio, was born June 8, 1817. Ile was married in Fairfield County September 20. 1842, to Miss Amanda Wilson, daughter of William A. Wilson. Shortly after his marriage he removed to this county, and located on a traet of land two miles east of Mason. He purchased a tract of upward of 500 acres, and succeeded in putting 300 acres under a high state of cultivation. He was an active busi- ness man and an excellent farmer. He dealt largely in stock and stock raising, cattle and hogs principally. In 1867 (having previously burned a large kilu of brick for the purpose), he ereet- ed a commodious brick residence, at a proba- ble cost of $5,000. Mr. Leith moved into his new house in March, 1868. In 1870, he was elected Representative in the State Legislature from Shelby and Effingham Counties. He died before the expiration of his term of office. His death occurred at his home June 10, 1871. Ilis deceased widow, Mrs. Amanda R. Leith. who survived him a few years, was born in Frederick County, Va. She died at her old home November 18, 1876. They raised a family of nine children, all living, viz .: (Sub- ject of our sketch); Catherine R., wife of Dr. Isaac Baker ; Harriet E., widow of William B. Cooper, deceased ; George W .; Mrs. Sarah E. Holloway; David T .; Mrs. Laura A. Davis ; Mrs. Mary F. Martin ; Homer E.

JAMES G. LOUDER, farmer, P. O. Edge- wood, son of Gideon Louder, was born April 11, 1844, in Effingham County, Ill .; was raised on a farm. In 1862, he enlisted in the war, Company C. Ninety-eighth Illinois. This com- mand was assigned to the Army of the Cum- berland, and consequently was in the following battles : Hoover's Gap, Elk River, Chickamau-

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ga, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, battles around Atlanta, Selma, Ala., and was discharged June 7, 1865; returned home and engaged in farming. He was married October 26, 1865, in Edgewood, Ill., to Miss Annie Baker, daugh- ter of Robert Baker; engaged in the avocation of farming in the vicinity of Edgewood. He has a family of five children living, namely, Robert, Fannie, Barney, Flora, Emma ; and . three dead-Alwilda, Mary and Etta.

JOHN T. MARTIN, Mason, was born Feb- ruary 13, 1841, in Effingham; spent his boy- hood days with his parents, in Jackson Town- ship. In 1861, he enlisted in the war, in Com- pany G, Eleventh Illinois Volunteers; was sta- tioned at Camp Dubois, and afterward at Bird's Point, Mo., where he was discharged. In 1862, he enlisted in the three years' service in Com- pany G, Sixty-seeond Illinois, and was for- warded to Cairo, Ill .; thence to Paducah, Tenn., and thence to Columbus; came home once on twenty days' furlough, and then joined his com- mand at Reterford Station. Was honorably dis- charged in 1865, and he returned home to Effingham County, Ill. Subjeet was married, March 8, 1866, to Miss Ann Bailey, daughter of Henry Bailey. Mr. Martin has a family of three children living-Alex, John and Kitty Bliss; and two dead-Harry, died at the age of pine years, in 1877, and Dellie, who died in 1872, age nine months.

WILLIAM M. MARTIN, livery, Mason, son of Moses Martin, was born August 30, 1844, in Effingham County, Ill. He engaged in the livery business in 1858, in Mason, Ill., which he has continued since that time with good sueeess. He was married, in February, 1873, in Marion County, Ill., to Miss Anna Blacka- more, daughter of Samuel Blackamore. His family consists of four children, as follows : Iva, Nellie, Corenia and Willie. He is a stanch Democrat, and a clever gentleman.

WILLIAM MATTHEWS, M. D. (deceased), was born in Montgomery County, Va., July 27,

1819. He belonged to a manly and vigorous race, his grandfather, John Haven, having been an inventor and man of great force of character and originality. In the autumn of 1827, the sub- ject of this memoir emigrated with his parents to Putnam County, Ind , where he was associa- ted with his father in agricultural pursuits, un- til his twentieth year, at which time he entered upon the study of medicine, under Dr. William Talbot, of Greencastle, Ind., a gentleman of rich learning and wonderful hospitality. After completing a full conrse of reading, he moved to Stilesville, Hendricks County, where, in 1843, he formed the acquaintance of, and was soon after married to, Miss Ruth Ann Jessup, a lady of brilliant attainments and of a most amiable disposition, by whom he had two children, one of whom, David W. Matthews, is still living. (See sketch). Shortly after his first marriage, he matriculated in Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he graduated with the highest honors. He then removed to Putnam County, where he remained till his second mar- riage, in 1848, to Miss Deborah S. Hopwood, of Bellville, Ind., a lady of great worth, and one who proved herself to be a most exeel- lent and helpful eompanion to him through all the trials and afflictions of his after life. By her he had three children, only one of whom, James N., survived, and will be made the sub- ject of a sketch in this volume. From 1848 until 1858 Dr. M. was engaged in the practice of medicine in Putnam County, Ind. At the end of this time, he removed with his family to Mason, Effingham Co., Ill., where he continued in the active work of his profession till the day of his death, January 13, 1874. Dr. Mat- thews was a most valuable and esteemed citizen an able and popular physician, a great phil- anthropist, and his loss was deeply deplored by the large circle of acquaintances among whom he moved and labored. He was a friend to the poor, and endeared himself to them by liis con- siderate attentions and humane treatment. He

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did an immense amount of work for little or no pay. He was a man of strong social and polit- ical instincts. As a politician he was always an anti-slavist ; having early allied himself with the Republican Party, he worked zealousły with it until the close of the war, and the later constitutional amendments were adopted. As a literary man, Dr. Matthews was a most persevering writer, with a diction like that of Hallam. His contributions to the press, on every conceivable topie, would, if collected, fill many volumes. He wrote with great force and accuracy, and from the fullness and freshness of a richly endowed intellect. For many months prior to his death, he was engaged in preparing an elaborate work on " Domestie Medieine," for popular use, but died before his manuscript reached the press. He loved na- ture, and was most sensitively alive to the in- fluence of the beautiful, whether in the tiny insect, the flower, the tree, or the human sub- ject. God's works were not voiceless and meaningless to him. In religion he was practi- cal and liberal-minded, hokling to the doctrine of Universalism, in its broadest and fullest sig- nifieance. He idolized his friends, and clung with tenacity to the memories of his youth, and this sketch of a good man, ean not be more appropriately concluded than by quoting an extract from his pen, touching one of the cher- ished impressions of his declining years. In his " Autobiography." he says : "On my own part, the nearer I approach the end of my mor- tal career, the stronger do I cling to the sincere friendships formed in the days of my youth, and my earnest prayer to Almighty God is, that they shall be the last things on earth to part from my memory and abandon my bosom, and among the first to hail and cheer me on my entrance upon the better life."

DAVID WADE MATTHEWS, druggist, Sa- lem, Ore., the eldest son of William Matthews, M. D., of whom we publish elsewhere a condensed sketch, was born in the village of Stilesville, Hen-

dricks Co., Ind., September 18, 1844. When only a few weeks old his father removed to the vi- cinity of Fillmore, Putnam County, of the same State, at which place the subject of our notice passed the greater part of his childhood, having lost his mother when but two years of age. In 1858, his father having remarried, he emigrated with his household to Mason, Ill., where the son divided his time in attending school and in assisting in the cultivation of a large tract of new prairie-land. Though of a delieate organization, he yet was a most indus- trious lad, and applied himself with diligence to the discharge of his duties, both in school and out. At the outbreak of the rebellion, he was among the first in this section of the State to join the army of the Union. At the age of sixteen, he enlisted in the Eleventh Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Rose, a man, who, it is claimed, subsequently rendered himself ex- tremely odious to his company, through a career of intolerable misconduct and mistreat- ment. The regiment went into camp about the last of July, 1861, at Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, where it remained most of the time in- active, until the storming of Fort Donelson, at which time it was thrown into the thickest of the carnage, and barely escaped total destruc- tion. The men fought bravely and desperately against fearful odds, but the ranks of the regi- ment were frightfully thinned and mutilated. Young Matthews, having been selected to guard the colors, was one of several others who were shot down in the early part of the conflict. His wound, at first thought to be fatal, proved otherwise, the ball having penetrated and passed through the fleshiest part of his thigh, barely missing the femoral artery. For a few hours he was a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, but not being in a condition for removal to the rear, the doubtful tide of battle soon re- stored him to the Union lines. llis wound bled most profusely, and the toes of one foot were frozen so severely that the ends subse-

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quently ulcerated and sloughed off. It was a terrible night, and he was among the last car- ried off of the bloody field. For many long hours he lay weltering in his blood, pillowed upon the incarnated snow, with the dead and dying alone for companions, and the bleak, howling winds for his comforter. But a gra- cious providence directed some of his associates to the inhospitable spot where he lay, and he was removed to a temporary hospital, whence he was soon after taken aboard the steamer, Allen Collier, and conveyed to Cincinnati, where he was granted an unlimited furlough. Ilis wound having healed, however, he returned to his regiment at the end of sixty days, and served out his term of enlisment, participating in many of the severest struggles of the war. Returning home in 1864, he attended college for one term, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and from that time forward, until 1875, he was associated with his father and cousin, W. L. Wade, in the pursuit of horticulture and mixed farming. In October, 1867, he was married to Miss Fan- nie A. Leith, a young lady of great worth and prominence in the community, and in time they became blessed with a small circle of beautiful children. From 1875 until 1881, Mr. Mat- thews held many important positions of trust among his fellow-citizens, and for several years was in the Government Postal Service, a part of the time in the capacity of Postmaster at Mason, and a part as Mail Agent on the St. Louis & Vandalia road. In 1881, for the purpose of bettering his fortunes, he removed to Salem, Ore. En route thither his family contracted malignant small-pox, and two of the number, Nellie and Lowery, beautiful and in- telligent children, succumbed to the loathsome malady. The afflietion of the family was intol- erable during this awful period of isolation and lone suffering, but it finally ended as all trials must. Three children are living, Ruth, Mary and Oskie. Mr. M. now enjoys a well estab- lished drug trade in Salem, and is growing

popular as his acquaintance extends. He is a man of great practical ability, of generosity and high mindedness. He has always been a consistent advocate of Republican principles, and in his social relations there are few better men. He contributes some to the current prints, and is a scholarly and accurate writer.

J. N. MATTHEWS, physician, Mason, was born in Putnam County, near Greencas- tle, Ind., May 27, 1852. When two years old, his father's family came to Mason, Ill. When very young, he evinced a taste for reading and scribbling, partly from inheritance and partly from his own surroundings. Among his earli- est discoveries of himself was, no doubt, the amazing one that he could make his words jingle, and at a very early day he had that supremely happiest moment in all boy's lives that have the gift of writing, of seeing his rhymes in print. From the country school, when yet not over ten years of age, he stepped up into the exalted place of " imp" in the vil- lage printing office. and here, among the types, and the atmosphere of a printing office, was confirmed and improved the natural bent of the boy's genius, and his pen has never rested long at a time since that period. He has writ- ten much for various publications, and re- peatedly has given evidences of real poetic and literary merit. Ile entered the Industrial Uni- versity, Champaign, 1868, and graduated as the head of his class in 1872. For the next three years he devoted his time to literary work and reporting for different newspapers. In 1875, he entered the Medical College of St. Louis, and graduated, again with the first honors, and that, too, in a class of 120 candi- dates. In 1878, he married Miss Luella Brown, of Madison, Ind., and located in Mason, in the practice of his chosen profession. Our sub- ject is the son of Dr. William Matthews (de- ceased), of whom, and also of a brother of our subject, sketches will be found elsewhere.

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A. McANDERSON, M. D., Mason, was born in October, 1830, in Pennsylvania. Ile re- moved with parents in his youth to Richland County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood with a fair opportunity for obtaining an education. He graduated in 1851, at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In 1861, he enlisted in the Union army, and was placed on special service as a surgeon at a hospital near Nash- ville, Tenn ; served three years. After the close of the war he located, for the practice of his profession, at Springfield Ill., where he re- mained a short time. He removed to Chicago, where he gained a first-class practice. In Oc- tober, 1871, he had everything, including his library, swept away by the great fire. In the spring of 1877, he located at Mason, Ill., and has a good practice. Dr. McAnderson was married in 1856, in Wyandot County, Ohio, to Miss Helen E. MeGill, who died in Springfield, Ill., in 1864.

ESQUIRE JOHN McDONALD, cooper, Edgewood, son of William McDonald, was born in 18IS, in Clermont County, Ohio. Here he remained till 1866. He learned the cooper trade during his boyhood, and located, in the pursuit of his trade, at New Richmond, Cler- mont Co., Ohio. He pursued this avoca- tion till 1852, when he engaged in clerking in a dry goods and grocery store, and served two terms as Justice of the Peace during the time. In 1861, he was appointed Postmaster at New Richmond, and was re-appointed in 1865. In ' 1866, hie resigned the position in behalf of a crippled soldier, whom he recommended and secured the appointment. He then removed to Ettingham County, Ill., and engaged in work- ing at his trade at Edgewood, which he still continues. Mr. McDonald has served one term as Justice of the Peace and two terms as Police Magistrate of the village of Edgewood. Is a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been Secretary of the Edgewood Lodge during the last fifteen

years of his residence here. Mr. McDonald was married in Clermont County, Ohio. No- vember 14, 1839, to Miss Rebecca Bradbury. She died in 1849, the mother of four children Marion, Theodore, Leroy, Mollie. Subject was married in New Richmond, Ohio, June, 185], to Miss Alice Swem. Her death occurred May 6, 1853. One child, Laura, survives her. In 1855, he was married to Esther Jackson, of New Richmond, with whom he now lives. He has three children by her-Charles, May and Hattie. Subject had four sons who faced the showers of leaden hail in the great rebellion- Thomas, who died of affections contracted in the war, Marion, Theodore and Leroy. Mr. McDonald is a man of generosity and first- class hospitality, and is a useful member of society.

BARNEY McKOUN, railroad section fore- man, Mason. Was born March 17, 1832, in County Tyrone, Ireland. In 1853, he came to New York and worked on a farm one year. then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and spent the winter there. The following summer, he en- gaged in the avocation of a sailor on Lake Erie. In 1857, he went to Chicago and secured a sit- uation in the employ of the Illinois Central Railway. In 1863, he was appointed section foreman, a position he has since filled. Mr. McKoun was married at Mattoon, January 12, 1863, to Miss Mary Cunningham, of Chi- cago. He has a family of seven sons and one daughter, as follows: Isabel, John, Daniel, Bar- ney, James, Patrick, Michael and Thomas F. Subject is a Democrat.

JUDGE ROBERT S. MILLS, druggist, Mason, was born February 28, 1813, in Hamilton County, Ohio. Came with his par- ents, when quite young, to Vevay, Ind .; after- ward removed by flat-boat to Charleston, Clarke County, Ind .; in 1835, located in Orange County. Ind. Here he was married, in June, 1836, to Miss Caroline Chapman, danghter of Thomas F. Chapman. In 1840, he removed

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to Charleston, Coles Co. Ill., where he was elected Justice of the Peace one term, and two terms to the office of County Judge, which position he filled with great eredit from 1845 to 1848 inclusive. During Fillmore's adminis- tration, he was Postmaster at Charleston, IIl .; he also ran a drug store, which he continued several years after his term as Postmaster ex- pired. He then went down on the Central Railroad south of Mattoon, and established the little town of Ætna. Was the first Postmaster of that place. He was one of the principal agi- tators for the building of the Masonic hall, which was erected at that place. He was pro- prietor of a grocery store; also built a grain house, and engaged in grain-buying rather ex- tensively. In 1863, he sold his interest at Ætna and removed to Mason, Effingham Co., Ill., and embarked in merchandising. In 1873, engaged in the drug business, his present avocation. Judge Mills is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has a family of seven children-Thomas C .; Ophelia S., wife of Henry Moore, of Clark County; Hattie, wife of Henry Hoxley, of Ne- braska; Clarence S .; George T., jeweler, of Ma- son; Alline, wife of George Wade, of Mason; May. Mr. Mills is a gentleman whose days are fast passing away, whose life is like a liv- ing stream, purified by upright and sincere motives. fair and honest dealings. He has won a host of friends, who shelter him in his old age with a true kindliness and a devoted friendship.

WILLIAM MUIR, saloon-keeper, Edgewood, son of Cyrus Muir, was born in Pickaway Coun- ty, Ohio, December 3, 1844. Moved to Douglas County, Ill., at the age of thirteen, where he engaged in farming for three years; purchased an interest in a saw-mill in Missouri, which he ran for some time. Among the big contraets was the sawing of the ties of Q., W. & P. R. R., from Quincy to Kirksville, a distance of seven- ty-five miles. He kept a saloon for six years

in Mansfield, Ill. In May, 1882, he engaged in same business in Edgewood, Ill. Subjeet was married to Miss Mollie Buoy, May 22, 1865, in Douglas County, Ill., who died February 23, 1877, and he married his second wife, Irena S. Buoy, in 1880. Subject has three children : by his first wife, Eva and Annie, and one by his second wife-Bertha. Mr. Muir is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge.

M. O'DONNELL, farmer, P. O. Mason, was born November 4, 1825, in Ireland. Came to America in 1847. Remained in New York and New Jersey about two years, then came to Effingham County, Ill. Worked on the railroad two years in Missouri. Came back to this see- tion, and engaged in farming near Mason. First, he had sixty-one acres of land; now has 253 in this county, and 140 in Iowa. He raises considerable grain-wheat, corn, ete .- and has dealt in live-stock largely in the past. Mr. O'Donnell was married to Miss Maria Brogan, in New Jersey, in June, 1858; have two chil- dren living-Michael and Catharine. He be- longs to the Masonie fraternity, and is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church. Mr. O'Donnell is an honorable citizen of Effingham County, and takes an active part in polities.

WILLIAM O'KEEFFE, farmer, P. O. Mason, son of John O'Keeffe, was born in January, 1830, County Cork, Ireland. Came to America at the age of sixteen. Remained in New York City about one year, and went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he remained about three years. From there he removed to Milwaukee, Wis .; was in Chicago a short time, and came to Effingham County, Ill., January, 1856, and set- tled on a farm in Mason Township. He at present owns a farm of 219 acres in Seetions 8 and 17, Mason Township, and Section 36, Jack- son Township, on which he has fine buildings and orchards. Politically, a Democrat. Mr. O'Keeffe was married in St. Mary, Abbott's Parish, London, England, October 6, 1850, to Miss Margaret MeCue, daughter of Patrick

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McCue. Mrs. O'Keeffe was born in London, March 10, 1833, and was raised in Ireland- Glinwoth, Cork County.

P. G. PAUGII, physician, Mason, was born December 27, 1814, in Bourbon County, Ky. His father died before his birth and his inother died soon after, and he was brought up by his sister, with whom he removed to Mon- roe County, Ind., at the age of seven years. Ilere he received a liberal education in the high schools of that county. He studied medi- eine under E. C. Moberly, a term of five years, whom he afterward bought out and engaged in the practice, in Bedford, Ind. Soon after, re- moved to Springville, of the same county, and engaged at his profession, where he remained a practitioner for thirty years. In 1867, he im- migrated to Mason, Ill., and again located in the practice of medicine; here he has a first-class practice; here, he has won many warm friends. Dr. Paugh was married in Lawrence County, Ind., August 11, 1831, to Miss Hannah Scog- gan, who died May 13, 1840. Mr. Pangh was mar- ried in the latter part of 1840, to Miss Eliza Cook, danghter of John Cook, of Lawrence County, Ind. Subject has two sons and five daughters living-Dr. William H. Paugh, re- sides in Mattoon, INI .; John C. Paugh, M. D., a resident of Mason, and the subject of another sketch in this volume; Sarah E., wife of Newton Young, of Altamont; Mary F., wife of Joseph Cook, and resides in Mattoon, Ill .; Amelia A., wife of Andrew Douglas, a well-known farmer near Mason ; Maria B .; Anna Laura; Joseph B. Paugh, died in 1867, aged sixteen years eight months. Subject of this sketch is a member of the M. E. Church and of the Masonic fraternity. He is an ardent supporter of the doctrines of the Republican party.

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 60

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 650

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650