USA > Illinois > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Illinois > Part 26
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83
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of whom were natives of Kentucky. When Abraham was about five years old his parents removed with him to Indiana, settling in Decatur County of that State. Upon the death of his father, which occurred here some years later, the care of the mother devolved upon Abraham, and for her mainte- nance and support he labored by the month until the year 1848, when be came to Illinois, settling in Sefton Township, near where he now resides. In 1849 he married Cynthia A. Pickens, she dying the same year. Two years later, in 1851, he married Martha Ann Pickens, by whom he had seven children; two are dead, and five yet living at home, viz .: John J., aged twenty-four; Nathan E., twenty-two; Cyrus H., ten ; Abraham, twenty ; and Ulysses G., eight years. Mr. Sidwell is a sound Republican in politics. During the late rebellion, when the country most needed men, he answered its call at a great inconvenience and sacrifice to himself, he having a family of small children entirely dependent upon him for their support. He joined the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, a regiment partly made up from Fayette County.
Abraham Sidwell began life in this State with 160 acres of wild unculti- vated land. He is now the owner of 500 acres of good land, most of it under cultivation. He has secured for himself a comfortable competency for life, and is the largest tax-payer in the township.
He is devoted to the sports of hunting and fishing, although, unlike many others, he does not permit these pastimes to interfere with his legitimate busi- ness. Probably he has killed more deer, turkeys, coons, foxes, &c., than any other man in the county. He enjoys a good day's fishing, and rejoices in a little friendly competition with his neighboring friends occasionally. He has swam the Kaskaskia River many times while in pursuit of game, even in winter, when the ice floes were thick.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Sidwell are members of the Christian Church, and much respected.
JOSHUA ARNOLD
WAS born in Holmes County, Ohio, February 8, 1828, and was the second child of John and Sarah Arnold. He was raised a farmer, living at home with his parents, and working for them in the summer, and attending the old subscription schools of that day in the winter, getting nothing more than a fair education. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1840, and settled in Sefton township, near where he now lives. His principal avocation in life bas been that of a farmer, and he has certainly been a successful one. Having. nothing when he commenced life but a limited education, he now owns one of the best farms in the township, containing over 500 acres in a good
state of cultivation. He has held various township offices for about twenty years of his life, and in 1873 he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, discharging its duties to the entire satisfaction of every one. Mr. Arnold glories in being an old Jackson Democrat, although he lives in a township where Republicans abound.
He was married April 27, 1851, to Sarah Workman. As the fruits of this union they have had born to them twelve children, eleven of whom are living in the township; the other one is dead.
JOHN CARSON,
A REPRESENTATIVE man of Sefton Township as an officer, a farmer, and old settler, was born in Washington County, Virginia, April 18, 1818, and was the sixth child of a family of twelve, born to Samuel and Margaret (Debusk) Carson, both of whom were natives of Virginia. His father's parents were from the north of Ireland, and his mother's were of French and German descent. Samuel Carson and family moved from Virginia in 1835, coming through by team, it taking them some six weeks to make the trip. He settled first in what is now Bear Grove Township, where he lived several years; then removed to Sefton.
John Carson, the subject of this sketch, was married January 27, 1842, to Eliza Ann Paslay, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Paslay, who came to Bear Grove Township in 1840. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 27, 1822 They have had born to them a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living near the old homestead. Mr. Carson has always followed the avocation of a farmer, although he has filled several offices and positions of trust, first holding the office of School Treasurer for 'eight years, and Deputy Surveyor two years. He was then elected Sur- veyor in 1855, and has since been re-elected twice, giving entire satisfaction to his constituents.
He is a firm and earnest Republican in politics. Although admired and respected by his political enemies, he never loses sight of his duty in his zeal' for his party. For the last few years he has given some attention to fine stock raising, especially cattle and hogs. He now has some as fine stock as there is in the county. He commenced life a poor boy, with no educational advantages and no money; but through his own efforts he managed to acquire education enough to do all kinds of business, and money enough to furnish his children with a farm each, as fast as they were married. He has a good farm left for himself of one hundred and ninety acres, with money and stock enough to make life easy with him, and all the result of his own enterprise.
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SHARON TOWNSHIP
OMPRISES all of the Congressional (Township 7, Range 1 West, and a part of Township 7, Range 1 East) of the third principal meridian, and is bounded on the north by Hurricane and Ramsey Townships, and East by the Kaskaskia River; south by Van- dalis and Bear Grove Townships, and west by Bond County. That portion bordering on the Kaskaskis is much of it heavily timbered, and the bottom lands are rich and productive. Several creeks run through the township. The principal ones are Hurricane and Boas. The township abounds with many fine farms. The principal productions are wheat, grass, corn and osts. Stock-raising also receives considerable attention. The township is well supplied with churches and schools; the people industrious and moral.
VERA
Is a flourishing little village of about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, situated on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, and in the midst of a good farming district. Vera is also quite a shipping point for fruit. One season the shipment of peaches reached 80,000 boxes, and 10,000 bushels of apples. The town is well supplied with churches and schools. The largest store of general merchandise is kept by Little and Stokes. Mr. L. is also postmaster. A small grocery store is carried on by John Fifer. The hotel
of the town is kept by C. Stanburn. J. M. Parkes owns and operates a good flouring mill of four run of burrs, which is the largest enterprise in the township. The R. R. Co. have recently built a new freight and passenger depot. There is also a cooper and blacksmith shop in the town. Dr. John S. Barton is practising medicine at this point.
Early Settlers .- Joseph Hinds, wife, and three sons, John, Joseph and Samuel, settled with his family on Boaz Prairie in the spring of 1819. The same year came William Peyton and family, and A. Pelricho. Soon after . came Joseph Chaffin, who settled on Section 81, Tp. 7, 1 E. Capt. Smith, Gideon Buckmaster, Benj. Buckmaster, settled here about the year 1822 or 1828. The Buckmasters became quite a numerous family. John Enochs was also one of the pioneers of Sharon Township. Jerry Denton, Benj. Williams, Sr., Joseph Mckinney, Sr., Samuel and William Russell came to the township in 1819 or 1820.
Horse Mill .- Joseph Mckinney built and operated the first horse mill for grinding grain. It was erected on Boaz Creek, on Section 28, about the year 1827.
Saw Mill .- Samuel Parker owned and operated a saw mill on Section 21 on the Kaskaskia in 1880.
The first Preacher was James Woodard. He was a traveling Methodist
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
minister. This denomination also built the first church, which was used for a school-house for a time. Erected in 1827.
. First School-house built was a log structure, on Section 16, Tp. 7, Range
1 East; erected about the year 1826.
First Road opened through this township was the Vandalis and Shelby- ville Road.
First Bridge was built by John Enochs, in this township, across Ramsey Creek, in the year 1830.
First Post-office was kept by Hiram Bolt, at his residence on Section 10, Tp. 7, R. 1 E.
First Blacksmith Shop was carried on by Robert and Hiram Larrimore, on Section 9; built about 1830.
First Grave-yard was regularly laid out in 1825, on Section 10, at the Sharon Meeting House.
First land entered in Township 7, R. 1 East was :
John Watwood entered 80 acres of dec. 10, January 16th, 1821.
Abram Tetrick 80 =
4 21, January 16th, 1821.
William Russell =
80
29, January 16th, 1821.
Firat land entered in Township 7, R. 1 West was :
Samuel Redmond entered 320 acres of Section 32, August 3d, 1819.
Henry Cunningham 80
" 35, July 28th, 1831.
John F. Lawler 80
=
36, July 28th, 1831.
First Blooded Stock .- The first blooded stock of hogs and cattle were brought to the township in 1855 by Joseph Chaffin. The hoge were Berk- shire and cross, and the cattle were of the Durham stock ; since which time the people have continued to improve their stock, until now the stock of Sharon will compare favorably with other townships of the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN ENOCHS
Is one of the oldest settlers in Fayette County. He was born in 1794, near Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois, which was the first settlement of white people in what was then St. Clair County. His father, Isaac Euochs, was a native of North Carolina, and came to Illinois Territory when fourteen years old, and his mother, Sarah (Gibbons) Enochs, was born in New Jersey. His parents were among the earliest settlers of the State. The early years of our subject were spent as most of the youths of that period, in clearing the land of a newly-settled country. When eighteen years of age-at the breaking out of the war of 1812-he enlisted under command of Col. Russell, of Kentucky. Afterwards was under command of Col. Stevens, of Illinois, and was stationed at Fort Russell, a short distance from Edwards- ville, Madison County, Illinois. He participated in the Edwards' campaign and was present at the battle in 1812, that was fought with the Indians near Peoria. He remained in the service two years.
He was married in 1814 to Margery Furguson, a native of Kentucky. She died July 12, 1815. Mr. Enochs was again married in 1819, to Polly Moore, also of Kentucky, by whom he had one child. Both mother and child died soon after the birth. In 1824 he married Mim Sarah H. Wood, daughter of Samuel Wood, of Kentucky. By this union he had two chil. dren, one of whom died in infancy. Jane, who married Robert Vaughn, is now living near her father, in Sharon Township. After a long and happy married life Mrs. Enochs died October 20, 1876. In April, 1877, he mar- ried Mrs. Ester Ann Burgers. They are now living on the old homestead.
Mr. Enochs came to Fayette County in 1820, and worked at carpentering, at which he continued for about three years. In 1828 he was elected Sheriff of the County, and re-elected to the same office in 1880. He has been Juus- tice of the Peace and County Treasurer, and has held other positions of public trust. While Sheriff it became his duty to inflict the penalty of whipping two men, viz .: Parks and Mears, for horse-stealing.
Mr. Enochs is a man who started in life with nothing but good health, willing hands, good morals, and a strong determination to succeed, and has gained by his industrious and persevering habits a competency; and for his manliness and honesty, a life of honor.
He is now eighty-five years of age, and is almost the last surviving of those hardy, earnest and self-sacrificing pioneers of Illinois. Now in his old age he can look back over a life of ceaseless activity of both mind and body, conscious of having made diligent use of the talents committed to him, and displaying & character remarkable for its native shrewdnees, for its extraor- dinary energy, for its power of endurance, for its keenness of perception and promptness in action, for its social geniality, and for its domestic affection. Thus he enjoys, as advancing years leave their traces upon the vigorous frame, the pleasure of a well-earned reputation,
" And departing,
Will leave behind him foot-prints on the sands of time."
JOHN HILLORY BUCKMASTER,
A NATIVE of Calvert County, Maryland, the eldest son of Gideon and Ann (Williams) Buckmaster, was born the 26th of December, 1818. His parents were of English ancestry, and natives of Maryland. They emigrated to Illinois in 1824, when their son John was six years of age, and entered land and located in Fayette Co., where they died a number of years after.
The early life of John Hillory Buckmaster,-until he was 22 years of age -was spent on his father's farm.
During those early times there were no schools, and the youth of that day enjoyed few advantages for education.
In his 22nd year, Mr. Buckmaster commenced farming for himself. He was married August 6th, 1840, to Mies Mary Ann McLilila, daughter of John and Nancy McLilila, who were natives of Kentucky, and were among the early pioneers of their state, where their daughter was born.
By the above union they have had eight children, four of whom are dead. They are as follows in order of birth :- Gideon D., who died Oot. 8th, 1848; Frances J., now Mrs. Levi Brown; Elizabeth A. the wife of Peter Jefferson ; Joseph J. died May 28th, 1855; Gideon D. ; Isabell; Luther B. died Jan. 26th, 1868, and Benjamin F., the youngest, still living at home.
In early life Mr. Buckmaster was a Whig, and on the dissolution of that party he identified himself with the Republican party, and voted for Mr. Lincoln, in 1860. During the war he was a staunch and outspoken advocate of the union cause. He enlisted in 1862, in the 97th Illinois Infantry regiment, and was mustered in at Camp Butler, after which his regiment was ordered to Kentucky. He was engaged in the first Campaign of Vicksburg, under Gen. Sherman. After the repulse, was ordered to Arkansas Post, from where they were again ordered to Vicksburg, where he participated in the siege and capture. From thence they were ordered to Jackson, Miss., and fought in that battle. He also participated in several other battles, among the principal, Port Gibson, Blank River, Champion Hills, and was present at the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4th, 1868. Was mustered out at Galveston, Texas, in 1865.
He returned home and renewed his former occupation.
IVERSON M. LITTLE,
THE youngest son of John and Syntha (Patterson) Little, was born July 17, 1844, in Fayette County. His parents were natives of Tennessee, and came to Illinois at an early day. Until his twenty-first year he lived in his native county. In 1864 he enlisted in the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, and was sent to Nicholasville, Kentucky, to join his regiment. The regiment was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee, and from there to Cleveland, where they joined Gen. Stoneman's command. They were in the battles of Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, and the disastrous engagement in which Gen. McPher-
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
son lost his life. They were next ordered to Macon, Georgia, in which ex- pedition they lost nearly one-half their regiment, by being taken prisoners. They were then ordered back to Nicholasville, remounted, and sent to Pulaski, where they joined Gen. Schofield's command ; thence to Waynes- boro', and joined Gen. Hatch's cavalry, where they had a severe engage- ment with Forest's cavalry. The Union troops were in much smaller num- bers, and had to fall back. They were reinforced by infantry from Colum- bia, on the double quick. They then fell back to Columbia, from where a detachment was sent down Duck Run to guard & crossing, when a fight ensued, and they had to cut their way out. Traveling all night, they reached Franklin in the morning, when they were again engaged. From here they returned to Pulaski, where they were mustered out. Mr. Little returned home, and engaged in various business enterprises. For the past five years he has been merchandizing at Vers, where he is also Post- master and Agent for the Illinois Central Railroad.
April 16, 1868, he married Miss Sylvin Hawks. They have six children, five of whom are living. Mr. Little is a most excellent citizen, as his war record will demonstrate.
ANDREW RAY
Is the eldest of a family of eleven children-five boys and six girls-born to James and Martha (Hutson) Ray, both natives of Ohio. James Ray, during the last twenty-five years of his life, was an itinerant Methodist preacher, and about the year 1838 or 1840 removed with his family from Ohio to this State, locating first in Marion County, and finally in Fayette, settling upon eighty acres of land in Section 21 of Sharon Township, where the subject of this sketch now resides. James Ray died in Lima, Adams County, January, 1858. Mrs. Martha Ray died on the 20th December, 1877.
Andrew Ray was born on the 22d of May, 1827, in Madison County, Ohio, and came with his father to this county in the spring of 1845. The profes- sion of his father taking him much from home, the care of the family and farm devolved upon Andrew. This fact, coupled with the scarcity of schools
in his early youth, gave him but little opportunity for acquiring a good edu- cation ; he, however, obtained sufficient for the requirements of his business. Remaining with his father until the country required his services, he, upon the 9th of August, 1862, joined the Ninty-seventh Regiment of Illinois In- fantry Volunteers, entering the service as Second Lieutenant, and on the 22d of January, 1863, was promoted to the Captaincy of Company F. Mr. Ray was with Sherman's Army at the first attack upon Vicksburg, by way of the Yazoo River; afterwards with Grant when the town was captured. He was then ordered to join the attack upon Jackson, Mies., which occurred in July, 1863; and finally in the siege of Mobile of the same year, this being the last engagement of any note during the late war. During his military career, Mr. Ray on several occasions narrowly escaped death. His coat was three times pierced by bullets, and his sword (which he yet retains as a trophy) was struck from his hand by a shot during a charge at Mobile; but himself luckily escaped without a scratch. Upon the return of the troops from Bayou Tesch the train collided with some cars left upon the track by the Confederates, and killed and wounded some sixty men. Mr. Ray was con- siderably shaken, but with his usual good fortune escaped serious injury.
His company was mustered out on the 29th July, 1865, at Galveston, Texas, and after an absence of three years and twenty days in all, Mr. Ray returned to his home, where he has since devoted the whole of his time and attention to farming and fruit-growing. He has in his home-farm 169 acres of land, in addition to outlying property, and a business house in Vera, all of which has been obtained by his own industry and strict attention to business.
In 1846, October 25, A. Ray was married to Harriet Buckmaster, the daughter of an old settler in the county, by whom he has had five children, three of them yet living. Losing his first wife, Mr. Ray again married, bis second partner being Kate E. Burns, a native of Vermont. By this marriage there were two boys and two girls, one of each still living.
Mr. Ray, in politics, is Republican. He has never held any official posi- tion in the county, though frequently urged to do so. He is an elder of the Presbyterian Church, Vera, of which his wife is also a member. Mr. Ray is a good citizen, and one of the enterprising men of the county.
SEMINARY TOWNSHIP.
S EMINARY TOWNSHIP is situated in the south-western part of the county, and is composed of the fractional parts of the congressional township 4 N. Range 1 west, and township 5 N. Range 1 west, and township 5 N. Range 1 east, of Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and has the Kaskaskia River for its eastern and southern boundary, on the west by Bond County, and north by Bear Grove and Vandalia Townships. The township took its neme, from the fact that it was set apart by the General Government, for school purposes, hence was denominated Seminary lands : the Hurricane Creek enters it on the north and runs a south-easterly direction through the township, and empties into the Kaskaskia, in township 4, range 1 west. There are a number of small and beautiful lakes in the township. The lands are productive, and well adapted to the growth of wheat, corn, oats, grass, etc., and fruits of all kinds. The lands are well improved, and the farmers are an enterprising, industrious and thrifty class of citizens. Good morals prevail, and churches and schools are liberally supported in the township.
The carly settlers were, Philip Luster, Martin Jones, Jeremiah Evans, Adam Smith, John Smith, and the Hon. John Shirley.
The first school-house was built about one mile east of John Thompson's. It was a log structure, with all the primitive characteristics of those early days; it was erected in the year 1885, and was also used for church pur- poses.
COUNTY SEAT.
Prior to the organization of Fayette County, when it formed a part of Bond County, the county seat of the then (Bond County), was located at a
place called Perryville, on the west side of the Kaskaskia, in township 4 N Range 1 west, of the Third Principal Meridian. Here was erected a log court-house and jail. Many of the old settlers of the county remember distinctly, the appearance of the old buildings, which were low and con- structed of logs. Subsequently the county seat was moved to Greenville, and Perryville became obsolete.
The religious denominations are, the United Baptists, Christians and Methodists. The first church built exclusively for church purposes was by the Baptists about the year 1868.
John Hannion & Co., erected and carried on the first saw mill in the year 1852. The Carlisle road was the first opened in the township.
Improved Stock .- The honor of bringing the first improved stock to the township belongs to John Thompson. They were short-horned cattle: Leicester and Cotswold sheep. The introduction of these improved animals has had a very beneficial effect on the improvement of the stock of the township.
The first county bridge built in Seminary, was across Hurricane Creek, prior to the year 1829.
The first cemetery was laid out in section 14. This was done prior to 1830.
John Maguire opened and carried on the first store, in 1848.
The population of this township is composed principally of citizens whose ancestors were originally from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and the Caro- linas. The village of Hullsville is situated in this township.
First lands entered in township 5-1 west. Radford Carroll, 80 acres, sec. 4, June 15th, 1836. E. Yarbrough, 80 acres, sec. 14, June 15th, 1836.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Aj Taylor
THE present Sheriff of Fayette County, was born near where he now resides, April 24th, 1832, and is the fifth child of Andrew and Charlotte (Matheney) Taylor. His parents emigrated to Illinois from Kentucky, though the families were natives of Tennessee. They were among the early pioneers of Fayette County, in which they settled in 1831, in Seminary Township, where Mr. Taylor immediately began farming, which occupation he con- tinued at until his death, which occurred December 12th, 1859, having sur- vived his wife only a few years, who died June 18th, 1857. Both died at the old homestead, and are buried at the family burial-ground near by. They were thrifty and industrious people, and most excellent friends and neighbors. Their son, Andrew Jackson, the subject of this history, was en- gaged during his youth working on his father's farm. Whenever opportu- nity afforded, which was seldom, he attended school. He succeeded, however, in acquiring a fair education. When twenty-two years old he made his first venture in business for himself, and has continued uninterruptedly and profit- ably in the same course since. October 25th, 1853, he married Miss Lucinda Cook, who was born in this State, of which her parents were among the early settlers. In 1874 Mr. Taylor accepted the appointment of Deputy Sheriff, and moved to Vandalia, but still continued to conduct operations on his farm. In 1877 he received the nomination by the Democracy, of which he had been a life-long and active member, for Sheriff of his native county. He was elected, and now fills the position with marked ability and credit.
He is a man that stands well in the county, and whatever he has sooem- plished in life is mainly owing to his early training by his parents, to habits of economy and industry, and his subsequent observance of their teaching. Still in the prime of life, with a good record and plenty of energy, he bids fair to attain to any position to which he may aspire.
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