History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 67

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 67

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HENRY BESING, deceased, Altamont, was born in Hanover, Germany, June, 1822; when quite young, went on a sailing vessel as cabin boy. and followed the same for some time. His education was principally received while on the ocean. In 1852, he married Miss Louise Votmer, a native of Hanover, Germany. She is the mother of five children-Charles, Frank, William, Rosa and Alvina. Mr. B. after arriv- ing in America, made his first settlement in Cook County, Ill., in 1852, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Effingham County, and located on 240 acres of prairie and twenty timber. He died November 18, 1872. He com- menced life poor, and by hard work and econ- omy succeeded in accumulating a good prop- erty. He was a member of the German Lutheran Church, and an active worker for the Republican party. Mrs. B. and family are all members of the German Lutheran Church.

JOHN BIRCH, farmer, P. O. Edgewood, was born in Lancashire, England, 1843, to Henry and Alice (Houth) Birch, both natives of England. He was a teamster and engineer in his younger days, and is now farming in West Township. His wife, and mother of our subject, died in 1879, aged fifty-nine years. She was the mother of two children-John, our subject, and Mary Ann, wife of I. Flahar- ty, a farmer in Mason Township. John was brought to America by his parents in 1856 ; they located in Rhode Island, where he attend- ed the common schools. In 1859, he was brought to Effingham County; his parents lo-

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cated in Mason Township. John left home at the age of twenty seven, and embarked on his career in life as a farmer upon a portion of his present farm. He then bought forty acres, and he has made all necessary improvements. In Effingham County, 1868, he married Mary E. Gillmore, a daughter of J. L. Gillmore They have had seven children, of whom four are now living, viz .: Roy, William, Jennie, Ada. Politically, he is independent, and in county offices he votes a Democratic ticket. In 1861, he enlisted in Fifty-fourth Illinois In- fantry, under command of Col. Harris (Com- pany D). He served three years and six months.

WILLIAM COLWELL, deceased, was born in Devonshire, England. December 18, 1834' He left his home at sixteen years of age, and came to America and worked as a farm hand in Ohio. In 1852, he went to New York City and drove a four-horse stage on Broadway, and remained one year. | In 1853, he returned to Ohio, and in 1858 came to Illinois and settled on Section 13, West Township, Effingham County, upon forty acres of land, and continued to add to it until | at the time of his death he owned about 200 acres. He commenced life poor, and worked hard in England to earn enough money to pay his passage to the New World. He served in the office of Justice of the Peace for ten years. In 1864, he was married to Miss Frances Fur- neaux. She is the mother of four children, viz .: Charles, born November 28, 1864 ; Herbert, born April 3, 1870 ; Jennette, born September 2, 1872; Winaford, born January 18, 1877. Mrs. Colwell lives upon the old homestead, surroun led by the comfort and convenience of a well-earned competency. She is a lady of more than ordinary powers of mind and exec- utive ability, and is respected by all who know lier.

GEORGE DUCKWITZ, farmer, P. O. Alta- mont, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 29,

1833. to George and Dorothy (Duckwitz) Duck- witz. He was born in Germany September 2, 17,96. and died in Effingham in 1865. She was born in 1810, and died in Germany in 1843. They were the parents of six children, of whom George was the third child. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of his native country afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. In 1848, he emigrated to America, and landed in New York in July. He located eighteen miles west of Buffalo, and worked on a farm as a hired hand, and remained there working for abont seven years. In 1859, he came to Effingham County and bought forty acres. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the war, and served until June, 1865, with the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry. under command of Col. Kapin. After the war, he returned to his home in Effingham County and began farming, at which he is still actively engaged. He is now the owner of 120 acres prairie and fifteen acres timber land. Ile was married in Effing- bam County, January 18, 1866, to Louisia Stumke, a native of Prussia, Germany, born in 1840. She is the mother of eight children - William, August, Agusta, George, Alvina, John, Rosana anl Otto. Self and family are members of the German Lutheran Church. In politics, his sympathies are with the Republican party.

GEORGE W. DURRIE, deceased, a na- tive of Germany, was born August, 13, 1826. Ile came to America in 1851, and located in Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1860. when he came to Effingham County, being among the first Germans who located in West Township. By trade he was a machinist, and worked at the same until he came to Effingham County, where he took upon himself the duties of a farm life, and remained actively engaged until he died. In January, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Sencil, a native of Germany, who was brought to America by her

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parents. She is the mother of thirteen chil- dred, of whom nine are now living, viz .: Charles C., Herman, Anna, Willie, Frank, Edward, George, John and Oscar. Mrs. Durrie is now living on the old homestead farm, which con- sists of 160 acres of well improved land.

JOHN FURNEAUX, merchant and Post- master, Welton, was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, July 27, 1812. He attended school but a short time, he having received the most of his education from traveling and observation. ! His parents died when he was quite young, and 1 being thrown on his own resources, he began working by the month as a farm laborer, which he continued about ten years, and then engaged in a seal hunt in the north on a sailing vessel. In 1835, he went to New Foundland, and spent five years in fishing and doing general work. 1 In 1840, he went to Boston, where he remained two years. In 1842, came to Illinois, and set- tled first in Kane and afterward De Kalb Coun- ty, where he engaged in farming. In 1858, lie first came to Effingham County, and settled in West Township, where he engaged in farming, and continued the same until 1874, when he was appointed station agent of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad at Gillmore. In 1879, he opened a store at Gillmore and was appointed Postmaster, which office he is now holding. In Albany, N. Y., in 1842, he married Miss Jen- nette Schoolcraft, who was born in New York. - She has borne him seven children, of whom six are now living, viz .: Frances, John, Robert, Frederick and Anna, twins, and George. Mr. Furneaux has been around the world, and ex- perienced many adventures that would be very interesting to our readers if space permitted us to embody them in this work. He and wife are connected with the Methodist Church. He is a Republican.

JAMES L. GILLMORE, farmer, P. O. Edge- wood, was born in Morgan County, Ky., April 30, 1827, to Jeremiah and Mary (Lansaw) Gill- more. His father was born in Alabama Novem-

ber 7, 1802, and was brought to Kentucky when young, where he was raised on a farm. Here he married and removed to Illinois, and settled in Marion County and subsequently in Fayette County, where he died in 1862. He was a farmer. His wife and mother of our subject was born in Kentucky in 1806, and died in Effingham County, Ill., in 1878. She was the mother of thirteen children, all of whom lived to be grown. Our subject was the second child. He was born on a farm, and received a limited education from the schools held in the old log houses, common in Illinois when he was a boy. He remained at home till he was twen- ty-one years old, when he embarked on his ca- reer in life as a farmer upon the same farm he 1 is now residing on. He is now the owner of 760 acres of well-improved land. He com- menced lite poor, and by his economy and in- dustry he has acquired a good property and an honorable name and reputation. In Effingham County, in 1848, he married Cynthia Seales, a daughter of Solomon Seales, deceased. Mrs. G. was born in Shelby County, Ill., January 3, 1825. She is the mother of ten children, of whom eight are now living, viz .: William H., John P., Mary E., Margaret A., Jennie, Allen, Uriah and Nettie. Mr. Gillmore has held the office of Supervisor for fourteen years, and is now elected to the office of County Clerk, which office he is capable of filling to the satisfaction of all. He and family are members of the Baptist Church.

J. P. GILLMORE, farmer, P. O. Edgewood, was born in Effingham County, Ill., to James L. Gillmore October 14, 1849. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age, when he removed to his present farm, a present from his father, consisting of 170 acres. He came on the farm in 1869, and he is now actively engaged in farming. In Effingham

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County, June 5, 1869, he married Miss Jose- phine Marion, a native of New York. She is the mother of six children, five of whom are now living-Rosa, Nellie, Eurasa, Henry and an infant. He is now School Director. Politi- eally. he is a Democrat.

JOHN HAWKEY, farmer, P. O. Edgewood, was born in Allen County, Ind., January 28, in 1840, to John and Gertrude (Nirider) Haw- key. Ile was a native of Germany, and is now living in Indiana. He is a farmer. His wife is also living. They had ten children, of whom John was the oldest child. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools afforded, and assisted in tilling the soil of his father's farm. He left home at twenty-three years of age and embarked on his career in life as a carpenter ; he apprenticed himself at the trade at the age of twenty. In 1866, he came to Illinois and settled in Madi- son County, Ill., where he worked at his trade for three years and began farming, and. in 1875, came to Effingham County, Ill., and bought a farm of eighty acres, upon which he is actively engaged in farming. He has made all improvements on it. In Wells County, Ind., he married, in 1866, Miss Fredrica Rapp, a native of Wells County, Ind. They are the parents of eight children, of whom seven are now living -- Louisa, John A., Lasetty, Henry, Emma, Mena, Rosana. Self and family of the Catholic Church. In 1876, he was elected School Direc- tor six years. In 1878, was elected Road Com- missioner, now holding office.

CHRISTOPHER HETH, farmer, P. O. Edgewood, was born April 4, 1825, to Mitchel and Christine (Disten-Haven) Heth, who were natives of Prussia. Germany. He was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools of his native country. At eighteen years of age, he was drafted as a soldier, and served eight years. At the expiration of that time, he returned home and engaged in farming as a hired hand. In 1856, he came to America and

located in Calhoun County, Ill., where he remained six years. In 1862. removed to Effingham County and made his first purchase of land, it consisting of forty acres. He has continued to add to this, until now his farm consists of 365 acres. In Effingham County, in 1865, he married Miss Margaret Cincel, a native of Germany. They have three children -George, Charley and Rosa L. Mr. Ileth is now holding the offices of Road Commissioner and School Director. He is an active member of the Masonic order, a stanch Democrat, and a man of considerable prominence in the town- ship in which he lives.

THOMAS E. HOLLIS, farmer, P. O. Welton, was born in the State of Delaware September 15, 1827, to Noah and Catharine (Hardister) Hollis. He was born in Delaware in 1807, removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Illinois, and settled in Effingham County, where he re- mained actively engaged in farming to the time of his death, which occurred February 17. 1879. He, with his two sons, Willard and William, served in the war, the former being killed. ITis wife and mother of our subject was born in Delaware March 22, 1807, and died in Etling- ham County September 1, 1881. They were the parents of four children, of whom our sub- jeet was the fourth child. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of Ohio afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. At an early age, he apprenticed himself at the cooper's trade, and after completing his trade was ae- knowledged to be a first-class workman. At the age of twenty two he left his home and set- tled in Effingham County, Ill., where he em- barked on his career in life as a cooper. con- tinning at his trade until 1864, when he bought a farm and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, at which he is still actively engaged. He commenced life a poor man, by his own efforts succeeded in accumulating a good farm of 140 acres. In July, 1856, he married Miss

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Catharine Bailie, who has borne him nine chil- dren, of whom eight are now living, viz. : Joseph F., Frank A., Edward N., Willie E., Ora S., R. Adalas, Eva B. and Flora M. Mr. Hol- lis has served the people in the following offices : Constable, Town Marshal of Mason City, and United States Deputy Marshal. He and fam- ily are religiously connected with the Method- ist Church. In politics, he is identified with the principles of the Republican party. In the possession of Mr. Hollis are relics in form of petrified fish, turtles, etc., taken from the wa- ters of Brocket Creek, a complete description of which may be found in another part of this work.

ISHAM MAHON, farmer, P. O. Welton, a native of Pittsylvania County, Old Virginia, was born January 6, 1819. His grandfather, John Mahon, was a native of France, and served in the Revolutionary war. His father, Benjamin, was born in Virginia in 1832; removed to Fayette County, Ill., where he remained to the time of his death, which occurred about 1867, aged eighty years. He was a carpenter by trade, but followed the occupation of a farmer in the latter part of his life. He was in the war of 1812. Dora Lansford, the mother of our subject, was born in Virginia, and died in 1858, aged about seventy-three years. She was the mother of ten children, of whom seven lived to man and womanhood, Isham being the fifth child. He was raised on a farm and received a common school education in Fayette County, Ill. When twenty-two years old he left home, married and began farming in Fayette County, on Government land. In 1848, he removed to his present residence in Effingham County, where he has accumulated 333 acres of good land. He was married in Fayette County, Ill., in 1842, to Miss Mary Loveless, who died January 27, 1851, leaving four children, of whom two are now living. viz .: Martha, Mrs. John MeCloy and James. In 1851, Mr. Mahon married a second time, Mrs. Naney McCoy, widow of

John McCoy. This union has been blessed with one child-Robert. Mr. Mahon is an ac- tive member of the order A., F. & A. M., at Mason. He is a Democrat.

JAMES B. MAIION, farmer, P. O. Welton, was born in Fayette County, Ill., March 31, 1847, to Isham and Mary (Loveless) Mahon. His early life was spent at home, receiving such an education as the common schools of Effing- ham afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he began farming on his own account near the old homestead. His tarm consists of eighty acres of good land. In Effingham County, October 5, 1873, he married Miss Matilda Holmes, a native of Allen County, Ind., the daughter of George and Hanna Holmes. Mr. and Mrs. Mahon have had four children, of whom two are now living, viz .: Elwin D., born December 31, 1879, and Lovella, born May 25, 1881. Mr. Mahon is an active mem- ber of the Masonic order. In politics, is a Democrat.

JOHN A. NIRIDER, farmer and insurance agent, Edgewood, was born in Germany Angust 11,1832, to George and Elizabeth (Harehenritter) Nirider. His father was a farmer, and came to America in March, 1834, and located in Allen County, Ind., and died there January 13, 1860, aged seventy-two years. His wife and mother of our subject died in Allen County, Ind., in 1874, aged seventy-two. They were the parents of six children, of whom subject was the fifth child. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of Allen County. Ind., afforded, and assisted in tilling the soil of his father's farm. When but four years of age, he was taken from home by his sister, and lived with her nine years ; he then returned home and attended the German school two years, walking ten miles a day. At fourteen, he was bound out to Judge Allen Melain, acting as chore-boy, and, as he says,

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he washed dishes, baked, ironed, washed and scrubbed. He remained with the Judge until he was twenty-two years of age; then entered a store and clerked, and worked on a farm some. In 1856, he went to Central Iowa, and worked on a farm for the summer of 1856, and in the fall returned to Indiana, and went to school. In 1857, came to Madison County, Ill., and worked for $14 per month on a farm until 1861, when he bought seventy-two acres ; began farming on his own account for the first time. In February. 1871, he bought his pres- ent farm and removed to the same in the fall of the same year. Ilis purchase was of eighty acres ; his farm consists now of 100 acres. In 1858, Whitley County, Ind., he married Sophia Ober- lin, a descendant of the family from whom the town of Oberlin, Ohio, was named. She died November 26, 1878. In February 22, 1880, he married Miss Jane Kepner, a native of Fayette County. By first marriage, six children, viz., Flora E., Clara L., Hettie S., Elmer C., Lucy A., and I. G. In April, 1880, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, to till a vacancy of G. W. Colwell. He was also School Trustec. Ile is a member of the order A., F. & A. M .. dimitted from Marion Lodge. In politics, he is a Republican. In 1882, he engaged with Messrs. Faulk Bros., in the fire, lighting and tor- nado insurance business.

HARTMAN NIRIDER, farmer, P. O. Farina, was born in Allen County, Ind .. to George and Elizabeth (Harchenritter). His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the com- mon schools afforded, and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. At sixteen, he left home and hired out as farm laborer, working for one Hartman Smith one year and a half, and then worked by the day for different men, and continued the same until he was twenty- one years of age, when he married and com- menced in woods in his native county to make a farm out of his forty acres, and remained on the same ten years, and after that had increased

it to 130 acres for $2,600, and removed to Illi- nois and located in Madison County in 1866, and bought forty acres of prairie and twenty of timber, for which he paid $3,500; he remained on this farm for eighteen months, and sold it for $4,000, and came to Effingham County in the fall of 1867, and bought 120 acres for $4,- 000, where he now resides, in West Township. and has since added to it until now he is the owner of 650 acres, and is now renting a por- tion of it. He is making the raising of stock a specialty -- cattle, mules and horses. In 1857, in Allen County, he married Mary Emrick, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Silar) Emrick, bothı natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Nirider are the parents of six children, five of whom are now living-Allen, who died in 1877, aged nineteen years; Hiram, Lucetta, Cinda, Lily and Esty, all at home. Subject and family are religiously connected with the Methodist Church, at Farina, and Steward of the same. He is an active member of the Masonic order at Edgewood. In polities, he is Democratic. His start in life consisted only of $80, and by his honesty, industry and economy he has succeeded in accumulating a good property, all by farming, and dealt some in stock, in which he has been very successful. When he com- menced in Effingham, he bought his farm and only had $2,000 to pay down on it. He has met with several losses, and can now say that he is free from debt. and has money ahead.

THOMAS B. PETTYPOOL, farmer, P. O. Altamont, was born in White County, III., No- vember 7, 1840, to Bracksten B. and Celia (McGehec) Pettypool. His father was born in Tennessee in 1815, and is now farming in Jef- ferson County, Ill., upon his farm of 400 acres. He is a son of Thomas Pettypool, a native of Old Virginia, and was in the war of 1812. The mother of our subjeet was born in New York, and died in 1855. aged about thirty-seven. She was the mother of eight children, of whom our

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subject was the second child. His early life was spent at home assisting in tilling the soil of his father, and receiving such an education as the common schools afforded. He remained with his parents to the age of twenty-one, when he left home, married and embarked on his career in life as a farmer. He then bought 240 acres, and in 1867 sold it, and removed to Jef- ferson County and rented for about three years. In 1870, he bought 170 acres in West Town- ship, Effingham County, and removed to the same, where he is now actively engaged in farming. On November 7, 1861, in White County, he married Miss Ellen Aud, who died in 1868, leaving three children, viz., Celia, Frances and Millia. In 1870, he married Julia Teachner, who died in 1875, leaving one child, viz., Edson. In 1879, he married Belle Dutton, who has borne him one child-Maud. He is. an active member of the order of A., F. & A. M., at Altamont, holding office of Senior Deacon. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Church. Politically, Mr. Pettypool is a Democrat.

WILLIAM QUADE, farmer, P. O. Edge- wood. Charles Quade, the father of this gen- tleman, was born in Germany in 1822, emi- grated with his family to America in 1854, and settled in Lancaster, Penn., where he followed the occupation of a stone mason. In 1859, he removed to St. Louis, and after six months' stay removed to Effingham County, where he re- mained actively engaged in farming to the time of his death, which occurred in 1875. He was a hard-working man, and knew comparatively little of the ease and comforts of life. He was an excellent farmer and an honorable, upright gentleman. He was a member of the Evan- gelical Association at Cleveland, Ohio. Anna Traisler, his wife, and mother of our subject, was born in Germany in 1815. and is now re- siding with our subject. She is the mother of five children. William being the oldest child. He was born in Prussia, Germany, November

10, 1845, came to America with his parents, received a good education, and when he arrived at his majority engaged in farming. His farm is located in Section 26, and consists of 120 acres of improved prairie land. In 1871, he married Miss Louisia Wacker, a native of Ger- many. They are the parents of the following children: Charley, Willie, Anna, Edward ; Charley and Henry, who are dead. Mr. Quade and family are members of the Evangelical As- sociation. In politics, he is a Republican.

JAMES SIDDENES, farmer, P. O. Welton, a native of Putnam County, Ind., was born April 27, 1837. His father, Jesse Siddenes, was born and raised in Kentucky, and removed to Indiana, being among the early settlers. In 1855, he came to Effingham County, where he died in 1857, aged forty-five years. He was a farmer by occupation. Julia Ann Wilson, the mother of our subject, was born in Old Vir- ginia, and died in Effingham County, Ill., in 1858, aged thirty-nine years. They had nine children, our subject being the second child. His education was limited to the common schools of his native county. He left his home when but eighteen years old, and embarked on the rugged pathway of life as a hired hand upon a farm. In 1856, he came to Effingham County, where he commenced farming on his own account, and is still actively engaged. He commenced life a poor man, and by his hon- esty, industry and economy succeeded in accu- mulating a good property. He is now the owner of 160 acres of land. In 1859, in Effingham County, he married Miss Gillia Cooksey, who died in April, 1881, leaving five children as the result of their union, viz., Sarah A., Lura B., Iliram R., Della and Adelbert (twins). He is a member of the order of A., F. & A. M. at Edgewood. He is a Democrat.

BENJAMIN SIDDENES, farmer, P. O. Welton, was born in Putnam County, Ind., Jan- nary 7, 1841, to Jesse and Julia Ann (Wilson) Siddenes. He was brought to Effingham County

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by his parents when twelve years of age. Here he attended the common schools and re- ceived a limited education, caused by his par- ents dying when he was young. When a boy, he earned his own livelihood by working as a farm laborer upon a farm with Mr. Isham Ma- hou for one year, and then worked his farm on shares. In 1863, he bought his present farm, and commenced farming on his own account. Ilis farm consists of 105 acres of land. In 1863, he married Miss Naney Patterson, a na- tive of Ohio. They are the parents of the fol- lowing children, viz., Frances, Charles, Curtis, Amy E., Luzetta, Arthur and Thomas. Mr. Siddenes is a man of few pretensions, but an industrious citizen, who attends to his own affairs in an unassuming way. He is a Demo- erat.

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 67

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