USA > Illinois > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Illinois > Part 22
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where they grew up and were married, and emigrated to Illinois in 1834, and settled in Sefton Township, Fayette County, where they remained until their death. Mrs. Sage died May 2d, 1857. Mr. Sage survived her until Oct. 2d, 1872. Mr. Sage was a large and prominent farmer, and his name is well known throughout the County. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1854, Mr. Watwood purchased from his sister one hundred acres of land, and has continued adding to his real estate until he now owns four hundred and seventy-seven acres, three hundred of which is in a good state of cultivation, and well improved. A half page view of his premises may be seen elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Watwood acquired his early education at home, under the tutorage of his father. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and has held the office of assessor and collector, for one term each. He was also the second supervisor of Ramsey Township, and has six times been re-elected to fill that position. He is now chairman of the board of supervisors, which position he holds with satisfaction to the people, and credit to himself. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and are among the best citizens of the county.
BENNETT ANDERSON
Is the son of Bennett and Susan Anderson. He was born in Ramsey Town - ship April 30, 1830, and is the youngest of a family of five children, one of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Srs., were natives of North Carolina, and emigrated to Fayette County, Ill., in 1820, entered and settled
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on land in Sharon Township. At the time of his death, in 1853, he owned about two hundred and fifty acres. Mrs. Anderson survived him until March, 1874.
The subject of this sketch commenced for himself early in life by working at twenty-five cents per day. He continued at day-labor for three years, and then worked for Simeon Hinds one month, for which he received eight dol- lars. In the summer of 1848 worked a piece of corn, and in the fall con- tracted to make one thousand rails for four dollars. With this money he procured a marriage license, and November 25, 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Merriman, daughter of Charles Merriman, by whom he has had eight children, one of whom is deceased.
In 1855 he bought forty acres of land in Section 17, Township 8, Range 1, which he paid for by hard labor. He traded places a number of times, and finally located on one hundred and sixty acres in Section 28, Township 9, Range 1, where he now lives.
His advantages for an education were very limited; still he acquired a good knowledge of the common school branches. Politically, Mr. Ander- son has always been a Democrat.
The Anderson family is noted for longevity. The grandfather of our sub- ject fought in the Revolutionary war, and lived to be over one hundred ; and it is hoped that Mr. Anderson will live a long, happy, and prosperous life.
GEORGE DYCUS
Is a native of Todd County, Ky., and was born August 18, 1814. He is the second of a family of ten children (only three of whom are now living) of Andrew and Margaret (Watwood) Dycus, who are natives of North Carolina, both having emigrated to Tennessee, where they were married. They moved to Fayette Co., Ill., in 1832, and settled in Township 8, Range 1, where our subject grew to manhood. His father died in about a year after he came to the county, leaving a widow and nine children, the support of whom de- volved upon him. He worked the eighty acres of land entered by his father until he was able to leave home, when he went to work for the Government, quarrying stone at 75 cents per day. He entered forty acres of land in Sec- tion 28, Township 8, Range 1, which was his first property. He now has a farm of two hundred acres, eighty of which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved.
He was married in 1838 to Rebecca Revis, by whom he has had six chil- dren, three of whom are living.
Mr. D. had not the opportunity for gaining an education, as the newly settled country afforded but few schools, and the large family which was de- pending upon him employed his time on the farm. In politics he has always been a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and are strong believers in its teachings.
Mr. D. has never sought office ; but has been Road Commissioner and Director of District Schools. He is now sixty-four years of age, having spent a life of hard labor, and is known as an honest, Christian gentleman.
MOSES POLAND.
WHEN success is achieved by those who have the advantages of early education, of wealth, or influential friends, it is not deserving of comment, as evidencing the possessor of great power, unless that success is of a cha- racter to place the possessor at the very pinnacle of fame in the particular pursuit or profession to which attention has been given. Success in life belongs to no one occupation or profession. Every walk in life is open with advantages. Industry, energy and careful thought are only necessary to the accomplishment, when those advantages are combined with these quali- ties. The accidency of failure is the exception. Success acquired without the advantages, but with and by the exercise of those qualities of industry, energy and thought, is not unfrequent, but, whenever it has been attained, it has shown a combination of qualities, that, had they been combined with the advantages of life, would have given the possessor high rank.
Moses Poland, was born in Warren County, Tennessee, May 20, 1814. He is the fifth of a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, only two of whom are living. His father was a native of Tennessee, and mother of Virginia. They emigrated to Fayette County in 1827. Mr. Poland bought and settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land in Section 17, Township 8, Range 1 E., for which he paid cash. At the time of his death in 1854,
he owned three hundred acres. Mrs. Poland died two years previous. Mr. Poland's father, the grandfather of our subject, fought in the Revolu- tionary war.
Mr. Poland of whom we write was married December 19, 1834, to Miss Jane Boaz, daughter of Edmund and Nancy Boaz, by which union they have had ten children, three of whom are living, viz. : Jacob, John, and Sarah. Mr. Poland lived for one year after his marriage with his father-in- law. Afterward bought twenty acres of improved land in Hurricane Town- ship, on which he raised one crop. He then entered forty acres in Section 8, Township 8, Range 1, on which he erected a log house. He has always been an industrious, energetic, and honest gentleman, and always succeeded in whatever he undertook. He now owns two hundred and twenty-nine acres, one hundred and forty of which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved.
Mr. Poland's advantages for an education were limited, but being a man of progress, he has acquired a fair knowledge of the common-school branches, and a large store of general information.
Politically he has always been a Democrat, and has never been known to scratch the ticket. He has held the office of Road Commissioner, and Director of district schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Poland are members of the Methodist Church. They have lived together for over forty-three years, and rank among the best citizens of the county.
ELIAS B. STOKES
WAS born in Bond County, Sept. 16th, 1831, and is the seventh child of James and Tabiatha (Merriman) Stokes. His parents were natives of North Carolina, and emigrated to Tennessee, at an early day, where they were married. Soon after they moved to Illinois and located in Bond County, where they lived but a short time, moving to Fayette County, and settled on Ramsey Creek, Hurricane Township, and from there they removed to Ramsey Township, near Ramsey. Mr. Stokes died in August, 1874, in his 78th year. His wife still survives him, and resides on the old homestead.
Their son, Elias B., the subject of this history, caine to this county with his parents when an infant. His early years were spent on his father's farm. He attended subscription schools only a short time, but by perseverance managed to acquire the rudiments of an English education.
He remained with his father until thirty years of age. On the 21st of November, 1861, he married Miss Margaret Hawks, daughter of Hervey and Louisa J. Hawks. Mrs. Stokes was born in Jersey County, Illinois, and emigrated to Marion Co., in 1844. By this union they have had four children, in the following order of their births :- Effie L., Sheridan E., and twin infants, Lawrence E., and Tillie E
In politics Mr. Stokes was originally a Whig, as was his father, and was the only man in his township that voted for Bell and Everett. Since the dissolution of that party, he has been identified with the Republican party ; voting in 1860 for Mr. Lincoln.
Mr. Stukes commenced in life with little means, but by a life of industry and honesty he has acquired a competency, and is one of the solid substan- tial farmers of Hurricane township.
E. BLANKINSHIP
WAS born in Fayette County, Illinois, September 4th, 1833. He is the seventh of a family of thirteen children, and is the son of Zadock and Sarah (Jones) Blankinship. Zadock B. was a native of Patrick County, Va. He moved with his family to Tennessee, where they remained but a short time : came to Illinois about 1820, and settled in Bowling Green Township, Fayette County.
His father died in 1835, leaving his family in moderate circumstances. Zadock by this time had grown to manhood, and settled on eighty acres of government lands, which he paid for by hard labor, clearing it all himself. He was married to Miss Sarah Jones, daughter of Benjamin Jones. She died in 1840. Mr. Blankit ship died September, 1862, leaving the hand- some property, consisting of four hundred acres.
Our subject commenced early life working by the month, and succeeded in saving enough money in a few years to purchase a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid cash. He was married August 17th, 1858, to Miss F. E. J. Burruss, daughter of Charles and Ruth Burruss, by
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
which union they have had eight children, four of whom are living, viz .: Jacob Franklin, Carrie C., Addie Alice, Sidney W. Those deceased are Charles Oscar, Joseph E., Harriet C., Zadock J., all of whom died in infancy.
In politics Mr. B. was a Democrat until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he became identified with the Republican party, of which he has ever since been a member. August 9th, 1862, he enlisted in the 97th Ill. Regt. in defence of bis country. He remained in the service three years, during which time he participated in a number of important battles. He held the rank of sergeant from enrollment, received his discharge at Galveston, Texas, July 9th, 1865. His grandfather, Benj. Jones, was in the Revolutionary war.
His advantages for an education were very limited, but he improved his leisure moments by reading and studying such books and literature as were accessible, and has acquired a good store of knowledge. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episco- pal denomination.
Mr. B. owns a farm of one hundred and forty acres, one hundred of which is in a good state of cultivation, and well improved. All of this he has gained by a life of honesty and industry, assisted by a willing and cheerful helpmate.
BOWLING NEELEY.
ANOTHER example of the industrious and persevering farmers of Ramsey Township will be found in the gentleman whose name appears above. Mr. Bowling Neeley was born in Madison County, Illinois, in 1812. He is the second of a family of thirteen children, only two of whom are living, of Jacob and Nancy Neeley. Mr. Neeley was a native of Georgia, and his wife was born in Tennessee. Jacob Neeley died in 1833, and Mrs. Neeley in 1842.
Our subject lived with his parents until the age of fourteen, and then com- menced to work in the neighborhood at five dollars per month. He con- tinued working in this way for one year, after which he worked about pro- miscuously for about four years, succeeding in saving three hundred dollars. At the breaking out of the Black Hawk war he volunteered for three months, and received one dollar per day while in the service.
In 1833 he married Elizabeth Alley, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Alley, by whom he has had eight children, six boys and two girls, four of whom are living.
Mr. Neeley and wife commenced life by working a rented farm, near Vandalia, where they remained for one year, and then moved to Loudon Township. Two years later they emigrated to Texas, where they spent one year, returning to Fayette County, where they bought eighty acres of land in Section 35, Township 8, Range 1. They also entered an adjacent eighty acres, and a few years later made another purchase, making in all two hun- dred and forty acres, all of which they have gained by a life of industry and economy.
In politics Mr. Neeley has always been a Democrat. A kind neighbor, an energetic man, and a good citizen; he is one of those men who add to the prosperity of the country.
C. L. BOLT
WAS born November 29, 1834, near Leesburgh, Ohio, and is the third child of a family of eleven children. He is the son of Elias Bolt and Elizabeth (Alderman) Bolt. Elias Bolt emigrated from Ohio in 1836, and settled in Sharon Township, Fayette County, Illinois, but afterwards removed to Bowl- ing Green Township, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. The father and mother are residents of this county yet, and like many of the old pioneers bear their age remarkably well.
C. L. Bolt was married to Martha Paine, December 24, 1856, by whom he has had six children-five yet living, four boys and one girl; the other child, a girl, died in infancy. The mother of Mrs. C. L. Bolt is living, but her father died when she was an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Bolt commenced life at " the bottom-round of the ladder," but by hard work and frugality have steadily climbed up, and are now the owners of a good farm of 137 acres well improved ; and what is more, paid for. Both are members of the Christian Church, and firmly believe in its doctrines. They are fitting their children for life by giving them the advantages of a good common school education.
Mr. Bolt has always been identified with the Democratic party. He has been elected Justice of the Peace three terms; he has also been Assessor, Collector, and Township Treasurer. Though yet a young man, by his honesty and integrity of purpose, he has won for himself the respect and con- fidence of the entire community in which he lives. Mrs. Bolt is a good wife and affectionate mother, and her husband owes much of his success in life to her industry and good management.
JEREMIAH T. ROGERS
Is a native of Fayette County, is the fourth child of Milton T. and Rachel (Curson) Rogers, was born May 30th, 1843. His parents were both natives of Washington County, Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1837, and settled in Bowling Green Township.
His father died March 5th, 1877, in the 63rd year of his age. His mother is still living in Shelby County, where they had removed to when their son was about three years old.
Until his 19th year he worked upon a farm and attended school, when the opportunity offered. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H. 54th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Columbus, Kentucky, where he went for that purpose. He was with his regiment ordered to various points in the south, when he contracted disease and was sent to the hospital at Jackson and thence to Little Grange, where he was mustered out. He returned home and turned his attention to farming and trading, in which he has been very successful. In 1872 he purchased his present farm, a tract of 720 acres of fertile and productive land. He is a thorough-going, active business man, although he has never entirely recovered from the disease contracted while in the army, and overwork since. He is numbered among the best men of his section.
BOWLING GREEN TOWNSHIP.
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HIS township is situated in the north-east part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Shelby County, on the east and south by the Kaskaskia River, and on the west by Ramsey Township. It contains the fractional congressional townships of 8, Range 2, 9, Range 2, and 9, Range 3, east. It originally contained all the territory that now comprises Ramsey Township, but was cut down to its present limits in 1860 when the county went under township organization. The north and north-west part of the township is mostly prairie; the east and southern por- tion along the Kaskaskia is heavily timbered. The streams are Beck's Creek and Little Creek. Beck's Creek rises in Shelby County, runs in a south-
easterly course through Bowling Green Township, emptying into the Kas. kaskia on section 11, Township 8, Range 2, east. Little Creek also rises in Shelby County, runs south through Bowling Green Township, and empties into Beck's Creek near its mouth in section 11.
The soil is a clay loam of a mulatto color. It is deep and rich, standing in the front rank of the townships of the county in that particular, and no township in the county outranking it in the growth of wheat and corn, which are its main products.
The first settler in the township was Guy Beck, who came there in the early part of the year 1815 and located in section 9, township 8, Range 2,
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
east. His father, Paul Beck, came in 1818. Silas Bankston, James Bankston, Jonathan Hill, Zadock Blankinship and Father Berney Bone, Benjamin Jones, Richard Thomasson, John Depew, William Nichols, John Watwood, and B. J. Wren, came about the years 1820 and 21.
Guy Beck built the first house. It was a log building situated in section 9, township 8, range 2, and is still standing. He lived in this house until his death, which occurred in 1871. The Becks had large families, and the name of Guy Beck is a household word throughout the township.
He was the first blacksmith in the township, and probably in the county. He learned his trade in Kentucky, the place of his birth, and where he spent his boyhood days.
He and his father, Paul Beck, built the first grist mill in the township. It was located on Big Spring branch, in section 20, township 8, range 2, east, and was erected about 1825. Guy Beck built another grist mill on Beck's Creek; horse mills had been in use before those water mills. Connected with the mill on Beck's Creek was a saw mill, which was the first in the township. it was also built and owned by Guy Beck. This grist and saw mill on Beck's Creek is still running, and does a good deal of business for the farmers in the vicinity.
The first school was taught by Moses Storey. The building was a small log house erected in 1820 on section 17, township 8, range 2, east ; those who attended school in those early days had to travel many miles to do so, as the country was very sparsely settled, and teachers a scarce article; but what was still more scarce was the money to pay the teacher. Still the parents in those days struggled hard to send their children to school, no matter what difficulties stared them in the face. To-day no matter where you may go in the township you will see the small white school building, and hear the glad shout of the scholar at play. Now school is called, and they all retire within the building, there to pursue those studies, which will form their after lives, there to obtain that common school education which is the glory and pride of the American nation.
The first marriage in the township was Peyton Bankston and Ellen Thomasson ; the date of this marriage is not known.
The first birth is in doubt, but was either in the family of Peyton Bankston or Jonathan Hill.
The first death was Hiram Hill, son of Jonathan Hill, followed shortly after by his two younger brothers. They were buried on the farm now owned by John H. Welch, in section 17, township 8, range 2 east, which was the first graveyard in the township, and is still used as a burial place. Most of the first settlers are buried there. Few are left to tell the tale of the trials they had to undergo.
The Methodists were the first denomination who held worship in the town- ship, James Bankston, John Depew and William Nichols being exhorters. The meetings were held at the houses of the members.
The Baptists organized shortly after the Methodists, and held their meet- ings principally at the house of Guy Beck, although meetings were held at other places.
The first church in the township was built by the Christian denomination . in 1872, on section 18, township 8, range 2 east, on the farm of John H. Welch. It is a good-sized frame building, and both the Christian and Methodist denominations hold worship there, farm and school buildings being used previously to hold their meetings in. There is also another church in the township built and owned by the Christian denomination. It is located in section 22, township 9, range 2 east, on the farm of Wm. Fraley.
THE TOWN OF BOWLING GREEN
was laid out by a man named Bowling Jones, a Tennesseean, and received its name from the beautiful city in Kentucky, called Bowling Green. It is located on section 31, township 9, range 2 east, and was surveyed and platted July, 1835, by the county surveyor. The location was an excellent one; it lies in a strip of prairie, which is said to be the richest land in the county, and as you approach it from the south, it rises gradually, until you stand upon one of the highest points in the county; from its summit you have a grand view of the surrounding country, as it slopes off on every side, extending like a beautiful panoramic view before the eye. It now goes by the name of Bowling Green Hill, and as a town is obsolete. The farms of Doctor Goldsmith and N. B. Owings now occupy the entire mound.
The first store was kept by Samuel Carson, in a log building on section 19, township 8, range 2 east, now near the house occupied by Capt. John H. Welch. This was about 1833. Carson was a Virginian, and had come to the township about 1831. Before starting this store he had sold goods through the township, using a horse and light wagon with which to carry on his business. His brother, W. L. Carson, is now one of the prominent farmers of the county. His residence is in section 9, township 8, range 2 east, and is the finest farm residence in the vicinity.
The first fine blooded stock was introduced into the township in the year 1853, by W. L. Carson. He bought both hogs and cattle, and has done more than any other man in the township to improve its stock. Too much credit cannot be given him for setting an example that every good farmer should be proud to follow.
The first Justice of Peace in the township was William Nichols, followed by Guy Beck, Heston Buchanan, Peyton Bankston, Hiram Carson, M. Lar- ton, Jacob Austin, John Adams, Asa Harper, C. D. Fraley, Jr., Hiram Bolt, C. L. Bolt, William Dauley, John Donaldson, Z. F. Watwood, James McFadden, Jeremiah Goodwin, Jesse Mays, Peyton Bankston and E. Prater.
The first murder in the township was committed by John A. McClanahan about the year 1845, who shot and killed a man named Webster Nance. McClanahan left the county but afterwards returned, was tried at Vandalia and acquitted, claiming that he shot Nance iu self-defence. The second mur- der in the township occurred during the late Rebellion in the year 1863. Charles McClanahan and Harvy Rice, two soldiers in the U. S. army while home on a furlough, got drinking in a low groggery with a man named Richard Nowlin, who was a strong southern sympathizer. A political dis- pute arose, ending in a fight, when McClanahan shot and killed Nowlin. McClanahan and Rice left the county and are supposed to have returned to their regiment. They were not arrested, and therefore were never tried for the offence. The third and last murder in this township, occurred May 5th, 1876, on Bowling Green hill, where Abraham Depew shot and killed a man named Wm. Austin. The impression prevails that the cause of this murder was the seduction by Austin of Depew's daughter. Austin was a married man with a wife and two children. Depew had quite a large family ; both were men of doubtful character. Depew stood trial in Vandalia at the fall term of the Circuit Court, was convicted of murder and sentenced to the Penitentiary for twenty-five years, where he is now serving out his sentence.
Among those now living who are old settlers of the township, are the fol- lowing :- John H. Welch, W. L. Carson, E. Blankinship, John Flemming, Jesse Mays, John Sarver, Moses Luster, Wm. Pety, G. Larton, John Larton, A. Francis, John Fraley. C. D. Fraley, Sr., Jacob Austin, John D Wren, Jackson Guthrie, C. L. Bolt, Wm. Burruss, Wm. Jackson, Allen Austin, John Depew, Henry Ginger.
The first supervisor of the township, was Jacob Austin, who served in 1860, followed by Jesse Mays in 1861, who also served in 1862. Lemuel Jackson in 1863, Guy Beck in 1864, also in 1865, A. W. McDonald in 1866, N. B. Owings in 1867, also in 1868 and in 1869, J. D. Perine in 1870, John Adams in 1871, J. D. Perine in 1872, also in 1873, John Adams in 1874, N. B. Owings in 1875, J. D. Perine in 1876 and in 1877. Jesse Mays suc- ceeded Perine iu the latter part of 1877, and is the present supervisor. In finishing this history of Bowling Green Township we are pleased to be able to record that the general character of the people will rank with most of the townships in the County. The township is well supplied with schools, the majority of the people being anxious to give their children a good edu- cation. A large number of the farmers take the County papers, and quite a few the St Louis as well as other weekly journals, and are therefore well en- lightened on the current events of the day. The roads are as good as the facil- ities at hand can make them, gravel and stone being a scarce article in the township. We are indebted to the courtesy of John H. Welch, W. L. Car- son, C. L. Bolt, Jacob Austin, Wm. Ginger and C. D. Fraley, Sr., for many of the facts concerning the early settlement of the township ; but more than any one to Mrs. Martha Welch, wife of John H. Welch, who was the daugh- ter of Richard Thomasson, one of the first settlers of the township. She is the oldest living settler of Bowling Green Township, and gave us many facts we could have got from no other source. But to all those mentioned we re- turn our sincere thanks, firmly believing we have given an impartial history of Bowling Green Township.
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