History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 101

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James Stone, was born in Greene county, Il., July 22, 1826, on the place where his parents then resided, on Sec. 6, T. 9, R. 12, on the adjoining quarter to that on which James now lives. His parents were John and Anna (Arnold) Stone, who came to this county, from Kentucky, in the winter of 1818. They were among the earliest pioneers of Greene county, coming the same year as Samuel Thomas. They first located in what is now Carrollton township, on the farm on which Mr. Hogg now re- sides, and which is now owned by Wil- liam Charles Ward. From there they moved to the place where James was born, now in Woodville township, where, by hard work, his father accum- ulated enough to enter that quarter sec- tion. James was reared at the same

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

place, and, after arriving at manhood's estate. he went out to work for himself. In March, 1852, he went out to Califor- nia, and while there engaged in min- ing. Ife remained there one year, and then returned by way of the Isthmus. The fall after his return, his father died, and was buried in the Dunegan graveyard, by the side of his wife. In 1858, James was married to Mary Ann Allen, a daughter of William Allen. By that marriage, there were seven children-Alice, deceased; Viola, wife of Lemuel Wood, living in Woodville; Luella, wife of James Harwood, liv- ing in Woodville; Orville, Etta, Otis, and Charles Orrin. Mrs. Stone died. Mr. Stone bas 209 acres of land, all of which is in Woodville township, and is now the owner of the oldl homestead. Nearly 20 years over half a century ago, his parents came to this county, and they occupied an honored place in its early history, and will be mentioned at length in this work. Mr. James Stone was married a second time, to Mary Louisa Burns, daughter of Samuel Ma- rion Burns, on the 18th of Nov., 1882. Mr. Stone, has, by his manly qualities, gained the respeet and esteem of all who have had any acquaintance with him.

Samuel Martin and his wife, both na- tives of Kentucky, made a settlement under the bluffs, in what is now Wood- ville township, in 1824 or 1825. From here, after some years, they removed to Sec. 7, T. 9, R. 12, where they both died. Isaac N. Martin, for many years a resident of the county, was a son.

Isaac N. Martin, deceased, was born in the territory now embraced in Wood- ville township, under the bluff, Decem-

ber 20, 1826. He was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Martin, natives of Ken- tucky, who in an early day removed to Indiana. From that state they came to Illinois, and were among the early set- tlers of Greene county, loeating under the bluff in this township, where Isaac Newton was born. He was reared there, and lived within its limits until the time of his death. He was married Oct. 3, 1848, to Jane Thomasson, a daughter of William and Sarah (Stone) Thomasson, her father a native of Mis- sissippi, and her mother of South Caro- lina. They came to this county about the year 1831, and a sketch of their lives will be found elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were the parents of sixteen chil- dren, of whom ten are living-William, George, John, Samuel, Douglas, Ed- ward, Frank, Eudora, wife of Wyatt Watts, living in this county; Della and Stella. Those deceased are Mary, Albert, Ellen, Georgiana and Clarence, twins, and James B. Mr. Martin died on the 30th of January, 1880, and is buried in Mt. Gilead cemetery. He was a kind husband and father, and a well respected citizen, and his loss was mourned by all. At the time of his death Mr. Martin had 200 acres of good land, 80 of which Mrs. Martin now re- tains. He had held several local offices, performing the duties attached thereto, with satisfaction to all.

Robert Seroggins, a native of Ken- tucky, the "Dark and Bloody Ground," came to Greene county in 1828, and located on Sec. 13, T. 9, R. 13, now in- cluded within the limits of Woodville township, where he lived several years. He then removed to a farm in Carroll- ton township, now owned by the heirs

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

of Peter Hobson. While living at this place, during a severe thunderstorm, the house in which he and his family resided, was struck by lightning, and three of his children killed, and his wife severely burned. and rendered for a time insensible. From there he ro- moved to Kane township, where he lived four years, and then left the county, going to the American Bottom.

With Robert Scroggins, came his son, C. J., then a lad, who was for many years a resident of Woodville township, " where he remained after his father's removal from the county. He is a na- tive of Kentucky, born in 1815, and was married in 1837, to Mahala Brown. He died July 15, 1883.

In 1829, Willis Hardwick and his family made a settlement in this town- ship, about two miles south of the town of Woodville. where he and his wife lived to the advanced age of 88 years, and departed this life residents of Greene county. Mr. Hardwick was a native of Virginia, and his wife, of Kentucky.

John H. Reynolds came to Greene county in 1829, and passed the winter of 1829-30, in a small log cabin in what is known as the Luther Tunnell place.

John II. Reynolds, deceased, was born in Washington county, Va., Aug. 5, 1804, and was a son of Madison and Mary Reynolds. He was reared in Vir- ginia, partly to farm life, though when grown, he was engaged as overseer of the Elizabeth Salt Works there. He was married in Virginia, June 5, 1823, to Catherine Klepper, a native of Penn- sylvania. They removed to Tennessee, in which state they remained until 1829, when they removed to Greene county,

Illinois, locating five miles east of Car- rollton. In 1830 they removed three miles southwest of Greenfield, where Mrs. Reynolds died, on the 27th of August, 1537. In the following spring, Mr. Reynolds removed with his family into the neighborhood where his son Joseph now resides, and he remained in that locality until his death. He died March 15, 1858, and is buried at the farm on which he then lived, on Sec. 17, T. 9, R. 12. Mr. and Mrs. John IE. Reynolds were the parents of nine chil- dren, five of whom are now living-Re- becca Jane. widow of Mr. Fuller, lives at Kane; Joseph, whose sketch follows this; Mary Ann, living in Sangamon county; Emeline, deceased; Eveline, wife of Samuel Hall, living near Virden, Macoupin county; Willis, living in this township; Samuel, deceased, and two others, twins. who died in infancy.

Joseph C. Reynold, son of John H., was born in Roane county, East Tenn., Oct. 10. 1825, hence was about four years old, when he first came to Greene county. He was reared here, and has lived in the county ever since, with the exception of about six months, during the year 1845, which he spent in Arkan- sas. On arriving at the age of 22 years, he went to work for himself, living at two other locations in the neighborhood, before moving to his present place on Sce. 7, T. 9, R. 12, in the spring of 1867. He was married, Feb. 27, 1851, to Elizabeth Hall, a native of Carrollton township, Greene county, born Oet. 15, 1826, and has spent her life thus far in this county. Her father, Thomas Hall, was born in North Carolina, and her mother. Mary ( Me Veigh ) Hall, in South Carolina. They were married in East

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Tennessee, in 1815, just after the war of 1812. Mr. Reynold's father served all through that war, in the American army, and was at Quebec at the time of the battle of New Orleans. They re- moved from Tennessee to Illinois in 1818, locating on Wood river in Madison county, and in the following year, 1819, removed to Greene county and settled on 160 acres of land, erecting his cabin on the northwest quarter of Sec. 32, T. IO, north, R. 12 west, now in Carrollton township. They lived there some 15 years, and he then moved his house on to the south side of Dry creek, on the southwest quarter of the same section. Mr. Hall died March 18, 1854, and is buried at Mt. Gilead cemetery. He was one of the first pioneers of this county, and lived here a useful life, esteemed by all. Ilis wife now lives, at the advance ago of 89 years, with her daughter, Mrs. Clarissa Stone, at Vir- den, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had seven children, six of whom are living-Oscar, married Gulnare Heron, is now deputy clerk at the county seat, Mary Catherine, at home; Samuel C., married Anna Pierce; George Henry, Joseph William, Clarissa Jane, and Maria Ellen, deceased. Mr. Reynolds has held the office of school director of district No. 5, a great many years. He was once elected justice of the peace, but did not qualify. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have both been indentified with this county for over half a century.

James Wood, a native of Kentucky, came from the vicinity of Lexington, in that state, in the year 1830, and located this township. Ile was a man of family, who came with him. His wife was formerly Jane Arnold, also a native of

Kentucky. He is long since dead, but some of his descendents still live in the county.

John Clark made a settlement in Woodville township, in 1831, among the pioneers of that region. With him came his father-in-law, Rooney Camp- bell. With them they brought their families.

John Clark, deceased, was born near Lexington, Ky., April 20, 1806, and was a son of William Clark. When he was nine years old, his parents removed across the Ohio river, into the state of Ohio, where they remained one year, and then went to Cabell county, W. Va. There John was reared to manhood, and both his parents died there. He follow cd boating for many years. From that state he moved to Ohio, annd was there married, Dec. 12, 1830, to Mary Camp- bell, a native of Hampshire county, Va., and a daughter of Rooney and Susan (Miller) Campbell. Her parents came to this county with Mr. and Mrs. Clark, and lived here until their death. Mr. Clark remained in Ohio one year, and then removed to Illinois, loeating in what is now Woodville township, Greene county, in 1831, and they have lived under the bluff, it being now 54 years. They there built a small cabin on gov- ernment land, which was entered by Sam'l Gates, and is now owned by Alex. Logan, it being about two and a half miles from where they now live. In 1841 they removed to their present lo- cation on section 16, where Mr. Clark lived until his death, and where his widow still resides. He died July 17, 1881, and is buried at the old homestead. When the family came to this county, it was but a wilderness, and deer were to

Po. Gillingham

Julier A. E. Gillingham

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

be seen from the cabin door in droves. There were scareely any improvements for miles around, and they did their trading at Carrollton, when there were but two small stores there. For over half a century they have witnessed the changes which have taken place in trans- forming this county from a wilderness to its present cultivated and populous condition. In those early days farm life was conducted with much greater trouble and hardship than at present. Mrs. Clark has 80 acres of land under cultiva- tion. They raised a child. Charles Edwin, that they had adopted, but he died at the age of 24 years. Uncle John Clark, as he was familiarly known in this neighborhood, died from injuries re- ceived from a team running away with him, in Carrollton. Charles Edwin, their adopted son, who was a very promising young man, died with the consumption, and was also buried on the old home- stead.

About the year 1831, Col. Purnell Short, a native of Kentucky, with his family. among whom was his son James, came to Woodville township. They had come to Greene county the year previous, and made a temporary stay in Carrollton township. The colonel lived here for some years and died here

James Short was, at the time of his arrival, some 18 years of age, and shortly after coming here located on a farm in this township.

Elkanalı Hutchens made a settlement on the southwest quarter of section 5, in this township during the year 1831.

Elkanah Hutchens, an early settler of Greene county, was born in Surrey county, N.C., Nov. 20, 1803, his parents

being John and Jane ( Brazwell) Hutch- ens. His father was a native of Virginia, his mother of South Carolina. Elkanah was reared in North Carolina, living with his parents until the time of their death. His father was a farmer and mill owner, and Elkanah learned the miller's trade, and spent his early life in that business. At his father's death, he succeeded to the ownership of the mill and continued in the management until he removed to Illinois, in 1829, arriving in Morgan county in May, when he commenced farming. He remained in that county until 1831, when he re- moved to Greene county, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 5, in this township, where he found a cabin on the premises, but had about all the improvements to make himself. He had been married in Surrey county, N. C., in 1821, to Frances Pilcher, a native of that state, and a daughter of James Pilcher. By this marriage there were 14 children, of whom five grew to manhood and womanhood. Gideon, married Rebecca Short, lives in Marion county, Kan .; Brazwell, died in July. 1878, and his widow now lives near Woodville; Mary T., wife of Samuel B. Hill, living in Marion, Kan .; Ellis B., married Almira Starling, and Elkanah D., whose sketch follows this. Mr. Hutchens made his home on the tract of land on which he first settled in Greene county, for over half a century, but in the spring of 1882 he removed to Marion, Kan., where he now resides, at an advanced age. His wife died there, July 7, 1884.

Elkanah Delaney Hutchens is the only one of the family of Elkanah Hutchens that now resides in Greene

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

county. He was born here, Dec. 11, 1845, and has never made his home per- manently in any other place. He was married Nov. 16, 1871, to Sarah A. Bell. By that marriage there was one child- Clara, who died in infancy. Mrs. Hutch- ens died Sept. 20, 1874. On the 17th of Feb., 1876, Mr. Hutchens was again married to Lucy J. Anderson, daughter of Samuel 'Anderson, who resides in Kane township. By this marriage there are three children-Eva J., Clarence Elmer and Walter A. Mr. Hutchens has 480 acres of valuable land, all in T. 9, R. 12, and is one of the enterprising, energetic farmers of that community. He has been engaged in teaching school in this county since 1865, except about five years, in which he devoted most of his time to farming. During the years of his teaching, he has always attended to his farm during the summer months. In 1885 he was elected, at the first elec- tion under the new organization, as clerk of Woodville township for the ensuing year. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchens are mem- bers of the Baptist church.

In the spring of 1832, Daniel Heron came to Greene county and made a set- tlement in what is called the bend of the Macoupin, in T. S, R. 13, where he lived until called upon to pay the debt of nature, in 1857. He was a native of Lenore county, N. C., but came here from Randolph county, Ill.

Robert Mills, deceased, a settler of the year 1832, was born in Maryland, on the 15th day of October, 1777, as near as can be now ascertained. When he was a mere child his parents removed to North Carolina, and he there grew to manhood. From there he removed to Kentucky, residing, while in that state,

in Franklin county. In 1832, he came to Illinois, and in the fall of that year located in Greene county, settling first in Carrollton. In the fall of 1833, he went to Edwardsville and entered 40 acres of land on the southeast quarter of section 13, in Woodville township, and on going there to locate, found a log house erceted on the land, which had been put there by a man named James Gilleland. IIe also found about three acres of his land broken out by another man, and in cultivation. He paid for the improvements and took possession. Like almost all the settlers who had come from the timbered states of the south, he preferred a location in the wooded country, with springs and water courses at hand, to the prairie regions already cleared. On taking up his location on section 13, he made it his home until the time of his death. He had been married in Kentucky, about the year 1808, to Susan Swigert, a native of Franklin county, Ky., born Jan. 11, 1797. Of their children, two sons died in Kentucky, in infancy. Those who have lived in this state are --- Mary, born in Franklin county, Ky., died in this county in 1834; Almeda Ann, deceased, born in Franklin county, Ky., March 19, 1828; Lafayette, born in Kentucky Oct. 1, 1830; John Henry, born Dec. 14, 1832, in Kentucky; Mar- garet Ann, born July 25, 1835, married William Thomasson, who removed to Osage county, Kan., in Feb., 1884, and now resides there; Andrew Jackson, born in Greene county, III., Aug. 5, 1838, married Annetta Reed on the 21st of May, 1885, she being a daughter of William Reed, now living in Washing- ton territory. Andrew J. has taught

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

school in Jersey, Calhoun and Greene counties, one term in each. Lafayette and John H. still occupy the old home- stead which their father took posses- sion of in the then wilderness, over a half century ago. They, with their brother, A. J., carry on the business of farming and stock raising, in partner- ship. They have 770 acres of land, most of which adjoins. John H. has been connected with the schools of the township, as director of district No. 2, and is now trustee. Lafayette has also filled positions in the township. The house they occupy is the same that was on the land when they first came to the county, with the exception of one room which is added, hence, it is one of the old landmarks of the county.

William Thomasson, an early settler of the county, came to Woodville town- ship in 1846, although he first located in the county in 1828. William Thom- asson, deceased, was born in Tennessee in 1804, and was a son of William Thomasson. His early days were spent in his native state and in the Carolinas, Alabama and Mississippi. He was married in Tennessee, in 1822, to Sarah Stone, a native of South Carolina. They came to Illinois and located in Greene county about two and a half miles east of Woodville, in T. 9, R. 11, now in Kane towship, at an early day. There they remained until 1830, when they removed to what is now the Reuben Bradley place, about one mile west of Woodville, in T. 10, R. 13, now in Bluff- dale township. There they resided until 1846, when they removed to Texas, where they spent the winter, returning the next spring to Greene county, and locating on Sec. 18, T. 9, R. 12, in Wood-

ville township, where he resided the rest of his life. Mrs. Thomasson died on the 20th of June, 1866. She was the mother of ten children, of whom seven are living-Nancy E., deceased; Sarah C., deceased; Mahala M., living in this county; Cassie Jane, widow of Isaac Newton Martin, lives in this town- ship; William B., married Margaret Mills, lives in Osage county, Kan .; John N., whose sketch follows this; Fannie E., married Wiatt Whitlow, living in Montgomery county; George W., living in Osage county, Kan .; Millie A., wife of John W. Clark, living in Macoupin county; and James H., deceased. Mr. Thomasson was married a second time to Mary Stone, daughter of John Stone. On the 23d of October, 1881, Mr. Thom- asson departed this life, and was laid to rest in the Dunegan cemetery. He was an highly respected citizen of the com- munity in which he resided, and left many relatives and friends to mourn his loss.

John N. Thomasson was born July 6, 1833, and was the seventh child of Wil- liam and Sarah (Stone) Thomasson. He was born in this county, in Bluffdale township, where his parents lived on what is now the Reuben Bradley place. He was reared in this county, and re- ceived the usual limited schooling of the early days, to which he afterward added by study at home. He learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at that a number of years, and in 1866 he began business as a contractor. In 1867 he worked with David Hartwell, and the next year engaged in contracting for himself again. Since 1870 he has been engaged almost exclusively in farming. Nov. 8, 1868, he was married to Sarah

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Varble, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of George and Henrietta Var- ble, natives of Kentucky. They were early settlers of this county, and the family are noticed elsewhere in this work. Mr. Varble died in the house of our subject, and is buried at the Dune- gan cemetery, as is also his wife, who died a year or two before him. Mr. and Mrs. John N. Thomasson were the pa- rents of eight children, of whom seven are living-Sarah Posey, Sophia Jane, George Tilden, born July 4, 1872, John Norman, Parley Epler, Bertha Adeline, and an infant, not named. One, named Hendricks, died in infancy, Mr. Thom- asson has about 300 acres of good land, all in Secs. 17 and 18, T. 9, R. 12. He and his wife are both members of the Mt. Gilead Baptist church, of which Mr. Thomasson has been a member for 30 years.

EDUCATIONAL.

School district No. 1 has a building on the northwest quarter of section 12, known as Forest school, was built about the year 1878. It is a good sized brick structure, and cost about $1,500. J. C. White, the present county surveyor, taught the first term of school in this building. Samuel Reynolds is the pres- ent teacher. The first school house in this district was of frame construction, built about 25 years since. It was after- ward destroyed by fire: A log cabin was then removed from the farm of Elisha Varble, to the school house site of the district, but a few years after- ward, it was also destroyed by fire, at which time the present brick structure was erected.

District No. 2, Rough Edge school house, is situated at the northeast corner

of the southwest quarter of Sec. 24, T. 9, R. 13. It was preceded by a small log school house, which had been used for a dwelling. Prior, even to that, there had been used another log cabin, in which the first school of the district was taught. At the time it was used as a school, it had only one window, and that, with only one pane of glass in it, on the same side as one of the doors. Among the first scholars of this first school were: Sarah Miller, the Giber- son children; John, Frances and Caro- line Herring; James, Alex., and Eliza Gilliland; Hiram S. Miller; George and Joseph McCormick; Thomas Rayfield: Luther Connor; Mary and Catherine Walter; James and Lucy Rayfield. This first school was taught by Katie Culti- more, in 1861. The present school building was erected in 1863, and the first school therein, was taught by Mag- gie Clark. The directors are, Henry Borlin, John D. Varble and John T. Heron. Henry Borlin is clerk. The building is 18x24, and cost $500.

School district No. 3, known as Mt. Gilead, had the first school building, a brick one, erected in the district in 1851. It stood near the site of the present building, on the southeast cor- ner of the northeast quarter of Sec. 7, T. 9, R. 12. This edifice was used for school and church purposes, until about June, 1878, when it was destroyed by fire, supposed to have been started by an incendiary. Another brick struc- ture was built that same fall, at a cost of $1,395, which was used until 1882. In Sept., of that year it, too, was burned. The walls were not destroyed, however, and the building was rebuilt, at a cost of $1,239, including furniture.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

The directors are: Willis Brooks, Perry C. Short, and Joseph C. Reynolds. The ground on which this school house is built, was donated by James Short, and contains about one acre.

School district No. 6, is known as Sunrise. The school house was erected in 1866, and is about 18x24 feet in size. The contractor who built it was David Hartwell. It is still standing on the original site, on the southwest quarter of Sec. 20, T. 9, R. 12. The first teacher was a Mr. McNutt, and the present one is Jasper Wright. The directors are: Geo. L. Scroggins, J. D. Anderson and Isaac Holmes.

ORGANIC.

The election for the organization under the township system, was held at the Pleasant Grove school house, in district No. 2, April 7, 1885. The judges of election were: Jno. Borman, Sr., Perry C. Short and Willis Brooks. The elcc- tion resulted in the choice of the follow- ing officers: E. B. Pegram, supervisor; Samuel C. Martin, collector; E. D. Hutchens, town clerk; Wm. T. Short, assessor; Geo. Sturman, Win. R. Heron and John B. Logan, commissioners of highways; J. S. Heron and Jno. Bor- man, Sr., justices of the peace; M. S. Ferguson and Robert Martin, consta- błes.

CEMETERY.

The cemetery, on the southwest quar- ter of section 5, known as the Hutchens burying ground, was established about the year 1840, and contains about two acres.

WOODVILLE.

The village of this name, which lies in the northern part of the township on Sec. 1, T. 9, R. 13, was laid out on the

10th of Oct., 1835, by Aman Wood, Sea- wright Wood, Cyrus A. Davis, Squire Wood and Ilarrison Poindexter, and the plat thereof was filed for record with the county recorder, on the 26th of March, 1836. The first store here was erected prior to the date of the laying out of the town, in 1834, by Harrison Poindex- ter. It was a small shanty, and report says, that whiskey was the principal goods dispensed. About 1836, George Rice opened a general merchandise store, and did a large business. After his death, John Bronough, a son-in-law, and Allen Wood, succeeded him. A frame store building was erccted in 1836, by Squire Wood, but for some reason, was never used for that purpose. Russell Rice opened a small grocery in a building which he erected for that pur- pose, in 1837. The fourth building upon the town site, was a log dwelling, put up by Benjamin Powell, for a dwell- ing, the same year. Allen Wood dis- pensed drugs, although the hamlet never had an exclusively drug store. There has been but little growth to the village since that date. In 1870, Dr. Bruner located as a physician at this point, and built a fine residence.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150