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 103

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 103

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Jacob Nulton, deceased, came to Gircene county in 1842, and located under the bluff in what is now Wood- ville township. He was born in Ohio, and came to Illinois from there. IIe was married in Washington county, O., to Pamelia Cheadle, a native of Ver- mont. They were the parents of 11 children, only three of whom are now living-Col. Jerome Boneparte Nulton, residing in Carrollton, who commanded the 61st IN. Inf. in the civil war, and whose sketch, with a history of his reg- iment, appears in this volume; Drusilla, wife of William Collison, living in Washington county, O., and Elizabeth, now residing in the county. Jacob Nulton died Nov. 11, 1857, and is buried at the Dayton cemetery, in this township. Mrs. Nulton died Sept. 4, 1874, and is buried beside her husband. Christian Malcolm Nulton, father of

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Jacob Nulton, was a native of Switzer- land, and died in 1835, at the age of 94 years. Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Nulton, was married in 1847, to John Clathin, a native of Gallipolis, O., born in 1824. Hle came to this county with his parents in 1827, and then settled under the bluff, in what is now Woodville township, where his father built a mill. Mr. Claflin was reared in that locality, and, on growing up, managed the mill, but, after mar- riage, adopted farming as his vocation. By that marriage, there were five chil- dren, four of whom are living-Mar- shall, died, aged one month; George, married Margaret Briscoe, and lives in this township; Jacob, living at home; Florence, wife of Walter Prather, who lives in Chicago; John B., living at home. Mr. Claflin died on the 6th day of Feb., 1868. Mrs. Claflin was again married on the 11th of April, 1876, to William Harper, a native of Greene county, and a son of Calton Harper. Mrs. Harper was again left a widow, by the death of her husband, on the 19th day of August, 1882, at the age of 44 years. Mrs. Harper is comfortably fixed, having 380 acres of land, all in this township. She makes her home on Sec. 4. T. 9, R. 13.

Henry Borlin was born in Basle, Switzerland, on the 10th day of March, 1843, his parents being Jacob and Verana (Waibel) Borlin, both natives of Switzerland. Henry was reared in his native country, and there learned the trade of weaving silk ribbons, which he followed while living at Basle. In Aug., 1867, he went to Liverpool, England, and from there took passage for the new world. On arriving at New York,

he remained there but one day, and then set out for Illinois. On arriving here he located in Greene county, hir- ing out by the month. After three years he rented land in Carrollton township, from Leonard Eldred, and then sent for his parents, remitting to the old country, money which he had accumulated for that purpose. They came to America, and have been living with Henry ever since. Henry con- tinued renting about seven years, and then purchased 80 acres of land on Sec. 13, T. 9, R. 13, on to which he moved, and has since resided there. Besides that he has 26 acres of good timber land. On the 9th day of Nov., 1870, he was married to Mary Walter, a na- tive of Woodville township, and a daughter of Henry Walter, one of the old settlers of the township. By this union there are four children-Jacob, John, Lucy and Henry-an interesting family. Mr. Borlin is one of the direc- tors of school district No. 2, in his township. The family are members of the Methodist church at Carrollton.

George W. Hardwick was born in Jefferson county, Ill., on the 31st day of October, 1827, his parents being Willis and Anna (Scoggins) Hardwick. From Jefferson county, his parents re- moved to Morgan county, when George was but an infant, and in 1829, they came to Greene county, and located two miles south of Woodville, in what is now Woodville township. There they resided until their death. His father died 10 years before his mother, and both died at the age of SS years. They are buried in the Fry family cemetery, with some of their neighbors, with whom they spent their lives. George lived with

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

his parents, until his marriage, on the ville township, and divides his atten- tion between the raising of stock and grain. Mr. and Mrs. Varble and family are members of the Forest Oak Baptist church. Mr. Varble's political views are democratic. He is a highly re- spected citizen of that community, and is a thrifty, industrious farmer. 13th of April, 1851, to Ann Eliza Watson. She was born in Schuyler county, Ill., and is a daughter of John and Charlotte Watson. To that union were born 10 children, four of whom are now living- Clarissa Ellen, wife of John Tulley, living in this township; George W., married Julia Virginia Admire, living Herman Goeddy, a native of Langen- berg, Prussia, was born Nov. 30, 1833, his parents being llerman and Elizabeth Goeddy. He was reared in his native in this township; Fannie Eudora, wife of George W. Jones, living in this township; John W., living at home. Those deceased are-Mary Elizabeth, , country to farm life, and at the age of Robert W., who was killed by an acei- dent, in the 16th year of his age, hav- ing been run over by a wagon; James Allen, William LeRoy, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Hardwick has 120 acres of land, all in Sec. 10, T. 9, R. 13. He has been connected with the schools of his township as director of district No. 1, and is an enterprising and indus- trious farmer, well respected by all. 21 years entered the army, serving three years. After returning from the service, he remained in his native country one year, and then, at the advice of his phy- sician, removed to America, thinking the sea voyage would have a beneficial effect on his health, he having received injuries from a fall, which took from him much of his strength. On the ocean journey he suffered severe attacks of siekness, but finally arrived safely in New Orleans, in the summer of 1848. The cholera was then breaking out and he immediately took a boat for St. Louis and from there came up to Greene

George Varble, son of Elisha and Sarah (Fry) Varble, was born near Woodville, Greene county, Ill., on the 7th of Feb., 1845. Ile remained at home with his parents until he was 21 years of age. On the 11th of Feb., : county, where he went to work by the 1865, he was united in marriage with month. part of the time for the old pio- neer, Samuel Thomas, and part of the time for Mr. Clark. He was in their employ two years, then worked for John Hetriek, and then for Martin Bomen over four years. He then en- tered into partnership in the livery bus- iness, but did not continue long. Ile was married in March, 1858, to Eliza- beth Brotche, a native of Switzerland, born near Solsturn, her parents being Nicholas and Elizabeth (Hammer) Brotche. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Goeddy lived in Carrollton two Naney Ann Gilliland, daughter of Robert and Lucy (Cummings) Gilliland. By this marriage they are the parents of five children-Lucy, born Nov. 10, 1866; Etna Luella, born Feb. 6, 1868; George Lee, born Nov. 1, 1869; Della May, born Aug. 26, 1871, and Julia Arabella, born Sept. 21, 1873; Sarah Lena, born Feb. 25, 1881; Edgar, born July 30, 1884, died Nov. 20, 1884. Mr. Varble owns 80 aeres of land in Sec. 18, T. 9, R. 12, but resides on land belonging to his father-in-law, on section 13, in Wood-

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

years, and then came to T. 8, R. 13, now in Woodville township, where he resided until his death, and where his family still lives. By this marriage there were six children, three of whom are now living-Mary, wife of James Burns, living in Summerville, Macoupin county; Lizzie and llarry, living at home. The other three died in infancy. Mr. Goeddy regained his health to a great extent after coming to this coun- try, but was easily subject to sickness, and on the 4th of Jan., 1870, he died of lung fever, and was buried in the West- woods graveyard. The parents of Mr. and Mrs. Goeddy are all deceased, her father having died at the age of 70, and her mother at the age of 72. Mrs. Goeddy has 122 acres of land in a good location. Her brother, George Brotche, lives in Macoupin county, two and a half miles from Fayette, and her sister Anna lives with him.

William Allen Groves was born in Sumner county, Tenn., on the 10th day of Oet., 1856, and is the son of Gabriel Jones Groves. His mother died when he was a mere child. His parents were both natives of Tennessee, in which state his father still lives. William was reared to farm life, and lived in his native state until Nov., 1879, when he came to Greene county, Ill., locating in what is now Woodville township, where he has since continued to reside. He was united in marriage on the 26th day of March, 1884, with Sophronia Brown, a native of Greene county, and a daugh- ter of William Brown, one of the early settlers of this county. He was born in Simpson county, Ky., Dec. 24, 1828, and removed with his parents to Greene county, Ill., in 1829, and here resided

until his death, which occurred on the 10th of Oct., 1869. Mr. Groves is now engaged in farming, on Sec. 18, T. 9, R. 12, and by his thrift and energy succeeds in making a comfortable living, and is a well respected citizen of his township.

John B. Logan was born in Greene county, Ill., in T. 10, R. 13, now in Bluffdale township. He was born Jan. 4, 1843, his parents being Alexander and Mary (Flatt) Logan. John B. was reared and received his schooling right in the vicinity of his birthplace, and now resides within six miles of there. Hle worked on the farm for his parents until he was married, Feb. 5, 1867, to Frances Wardinski, a native of Polish Germany, born near Posen. Her father, John Wardinski, a Union sympathizer, was killed at Columbiana, this county, during the war, by bushwhackers. Her mother now lives with George W. Bech- doldt, a son-in-law, in Bluffdale town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Logan are the pa- rents of seven children-George, Mary, Mattie, Etta, Alexander, Josephine, Benjamin F., and one son, John A., who died Sept. 1, 1882, aged nine years. Mr. Logan is road commissioner of the township, and is also connected with the schools, being director of district No. 3. His parents, who are among the early settlers, are now residents of Bluffdale township, and are mentioned in its history.

James Gordon Heron was born in Erie, Penn., March 9, 1827, and is a son of Robert E. and Sarah (Bell) Heron. Ilis father was born in Canada, his mother in Pennsylvania. Gordon moved with his parents to Louisville, Ken- tucky, when he was four years old. He

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remained with his parents until 1840, when he came to Maconpin county, Illi- nois, where he lived about ten years, working on a farm. He then moved to Greene county in 1850, and settled on Sec. 10, T. 9, R. 13. Mr. Heron served in the Mexican war, enlisting in Co. I, 1st Ill. Inft., May 13, 1846, at Alton, to serve during the war, under the com- mand of Col. E. W. B. Newby. He was mustered out Oct. 16, 1848, at Al- ton. On Sept. 25, 1849, Mr. Heron was married to Martha Clark, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Arnold) Clark, natives of Kentucky. They are the parents of nine children-James A., married Alice Medford, lives in this township; Sarah E., wife of W. P. Miller, living in White Hall; Martha G., wife of Osear P Reynolds, living at Carrollton; Ada I., John H., Gordon F., Julia R., Luella A. and Carl C. Mr. Heron has 80 acres of land on Sec. 24, T. 9, R. 13. He has served as school director, and has been justice of the peace for 15 years. He is a member of the Baptist church, and is a well re- spected, law abiding citizen.

Thomas Brannan, deceased, was born in Kentucky, Dec. 18, 1811. He is a son of Dudley and Mary Brannan, both deceased. In 1824, his parents came to Greene county, and located in Wrights- ville, where they spent the remainder of their days. There Thomas was reared, and there he resided until his marriage, about the year 1838, to Naney Orton. She is a native of Tennessee, born Jan. 10, 1821, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Bryant) Orton, both deceased. Her mother died in Tennes- see, about the year 1835. Her father came to Greene county with his family,

about the year 1835, and located three miles east of Carrollton, where he died during the time of the civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Brannan are the parents of 14 children, seven of whom are living -- Mary Jane, wife of William Short, liv- ing in Roodhouse; Lucinda, wife of Robert Davidson, living in this town- ship; Caroline, wife of Marion Cum- mings, a resident of this township; John, deceased; Hannah, deceased; Marion, also deceased; Henry married Cora Nye, living in Booth county, Mo .; Jasper, married Jane Camp, liv- ing with his mother; Newton, living at home; Robert, deceased; Thomas, mar- ried Ada Barber, living in this town- ship. Mr. Brannan died about the year 1874, and is buried at the Pea Ridge cemetery. Mrs. Brannan has 80 acres of land, located on Sec. 11, T. 9, R. 13, Woodville township, and is comfortably fixed.

J. C. Mulberry, was born in Scott county, Ky., on the 18th of Aug., 1821, his parents being James and Judy Ann (LaForce) Mulberry. His father was born in Virginia, but was reared in Kentucky, from the time he had reach- ed the age of one year, spending his early days amid the scenes attending the clearing up of the wilderness in the early times of Kentucky. His mother was born in that state, and was there married, and spent the remainder of her days. Our subject came to this county with his father, when he was about 17 years of age, and they located in what is now Woodville township, where his father remained until his death, about the year 1865, and where John C. still resides. John was reared to farm life, and remained at home until

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

after his marriage, Aug. 3, 1852, to Eliza Brown, a native of Madison county, 111. . She was a daughter of Peter and Jane ( MeCormick) Brown, her father a native of Nashville, Tenn. Her parents came to Greene county, in 1837, and settled under the bluff, on the land now included in this township. Her father died in Sept., 1843, and her mother in the same month and year, there being only four days difference in the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Mulberry were the parents of 11 chil- dren, 10 of whom are living-James W., deceased; Laura Jane, wife of George Rice, living in Montgomery county; Margaret, wife of Russell Riee, living in Montgomery county; George P.,

married Lida Brunk, living in Franklin, Morgan county; Lucy, wife of Joel M. Mulberry, living in Carrollton; John Shelby, living at home; Cordelia, Wil- liam, Etta, Dona and Samuel. Mr. Mulberry has 80 acres of land on sec- tion 17. Mrs. Mulberry is a member of the Mt. Gilead Baptist church. They have both been identified with Greene county sinee their younger days, and have spent something like half a cen- tury within its limits, so that they have witnessed its transformation from a wilderness to its present prosperous condition. The parents of both were among the early settlers, and took part in many of the events of those early times.

CHAPTER XVIII.

RUBICON TOWNSHIP.

A little stream meanders through the southeastern portion of T. 11, R. 10, too insignificant to have any name for many years, but swollen one day by spring rains, its turgid waters hurrying by the almost submerged banks, drew from some classic scholar the title which it bears, the name of the historie river whose puny tide could not stay the re- turning legions of victorious Cæsar, the Rubieon. Notwithstanding its rather far-fetched and high sounding name, it has bestowed it upon this eivil sub-di- vision of the county.

Rubieon comprises all of T. 11, R. 10, the board of county supervisors having

made its civil and surveyors' lines co- extensive. It is bounded on the north by Athensville township, on the east by Macoupin county, on the south by Roekbridge township, and on the west by Wrights township. There is no town or village within its limits, of any importance, but Greenfield, on its south- ern border, supplies a good market for produce, and for the purchase of all the necessaries of life.

The township, which contains some of the finest land in the county, is in large part prairie, but still, enough is timbered to make it beautiful and sheltered.

HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in what is now Rubicon township was made in 1826, by Thomas Piper, a native of Kentucky. From his native state he removed to Indiana in an early day, and resided there until coming to Greene county. He settled on seetion 10, this township, where he lived until overtaken by the hand of death. He had a wife and five children when he came here,

Israel Piper, a son of Thomas, eame with him. He was, at this time, a young man, having been born in 1813, in Kentucky. He helped his father for a time, but in 1833, was united in mar- riage with Louisa Fair, and started out for himself. He was a resident of this township until his death, which occurred Sept. 5, 1850.

Isaae and Alfred Wood, William Fin- ley and David Miller made settlements in this part of the county in 1826, lo- cating on what is now known as String Prairie, where they lived many years.

The next settler was a Jeremiah Hand, who eame here in 1827.

Ellis and John Davidson made settle- ments here in 1829.

Henry Norris, the same year, built a eabin at a point about three or four miles north of Greenfield.

George Wright located at White Oak Spring in 1829.

Joel, David and Eri Edwards, three brothers, came to Greene county in 1829, and stopping near Carrollton, rented some land, and then came to what is now Rubieon township in 1830. They all entered land on section 33 and 28, and settled, the fall of that year, where they resided until their deaths, Joel in 1860, David in 1856, Eri in 1866.

Eri Edwards, deceased, an old settler of Greene county, was born in Guilford, Vt., in 1804, and was a son of Benaiah and Mary (Stowell) Edwards, natives of Vermont. The family are deseend- ants of three brothers, who came to America from Wales. Eri's father died in Rock Island county. Eri came to Greene county in 1829. He was mar- ried in Vermont in 1827, and by that marriage six children were born, two of whom are living-Gilbert H. and Eri L. Mrs. Edwards was born in 1804, and was a daughter of James Worden, a na- tive of Vermont. Mr. Edwards died in 1866, and his wife in 1878. Both were members of the M. E. church. Mr. Edwards was by trade a blacksmith, and continued in that business until a few years before his death, being the first in this vicinity to engage at it. He was identified with the organization of the Agricultural Society. In politics he was a republican.

Eri L. Edwards, son of Eri Edward-, of whom mention is made in the fore- going, was born Dec. 25, 1836, at the old homestead, where he has ever since continued to reside. He was married April 20, 1859, to Caroline M. Hutchin- son, a native of Pike county, IH., born Sept. 10, 1838, and a daughter of Sam- uel Hutchinson, a native of Boston, Mass. By the above marriage there were three children, two of whom are yet living-Minnie H. and Julia M. The one deceased is Laura A. Mrs. E. is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Edwards has, by perseveranee and good management, made himself one of the substantial farmers of the county, own- ing 680 acres of land, located in Rubi- con and Rockbridge townships, and he

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

devotes considerable attention to the raising of stock.

Joel Edwards, deceased, an old settler of Rubicon township, and one of the three brothers who settled here, on sec- tion 33, in 1830, was born in Vermont, Aug. 16, 1799. He grew to manhood in his native state, and was there married to Lucy Goss, March 21, 1822, she being also a native of Vermont, born Aug. 13, 1799. They removed to Illinois, ac- companied by Joel's two brothers, and located in Wayne county, in 1827. They then removed to Greene county and settled near Carrollton, March, 1829, and there they rented land, and raised one crop They then moved to this township, in 1830, as above stated. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were the parents of six children, five of whom grew to man- hood and womanhood-Oshea, deceased; Oshea L., Surry L., Jane A., Tryphena, and Mary O. Mr. Edwards died, Sept. 28, 1860, and Mrs. Edwards, Sept. 25, 1869. Both were members of the M. E. Church. His parents were of Welch extraction.

Gilbert H. Edwards, the third of a family of six children, of Eri and Na- omi (Worden) Edwards, old settlers of Greene county, of whom mention is made elsewhere, was born at the old homestead, on the southeast quarter of section 28, in this township, Aug. 19, 1832. Gilbert was there reared to man- hood, receiving his education in the common schools there. In the fall of 1853, he went to Rock Island county, re- maining there two years, then began traveling over the country, first visiting Vermont, then the Southern states. In the spring of 1856 he went to Minnesota, pre-empting land in Monongahalia

county. In 1859 he went to Colorado, where he worked one and a half years . in the mines, also working at the car- penter's trade. He then returned to Rock Island county, and was there mar- ried, June 12, 1863, to Rebecca Elizabeth Michaels, a native of Rock Island county, born June 9, 1838. She is a daughter of Philip and Esther (Shanks) Michaels, residents of Zuma, Rock Island county. After marriage, Mr. Edwards moved to Macoupin ,county where he remained until 1869, when he returned to Greene county and settled on the farm where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are the parents of six children-Albert L., Clara N., New- ton, deceased; Cora A., Cassius L., and Dana C. Mr. Edwards has, by indus- try and good management, acquired a comfortable amount of property, having 310 acres of land lying in Greene and Macoupin counties. In politics Mr. Edwards was formerly a republican, but now does not allow partisanship to interfere with him, always voting for the best man, thus showing him to be a man of honesty and principle.

Oshea L. Elwards, eldest son of Joel and Lucy (Goss) Edwards, was born Oct. 6., 1824, in Vermont, He was four years of age when his parents moved to this country, and he here received such education as the common schools of that day afforded. He remained with his parents on the farm until he became of age, and when he was 25 years old, he removed to Woodford county, Ill., and engaged in farming. While living there, he returned to Greene county and was united in marriage with Tabitha E. Foster, April 26, 1855. She was born in Kentucky, Aug. 27, 1830, and was a

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

daughter of David and Priseilla G. (Piper) Foster, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Greene county in 1834. Mr. Foster was born Feb. 23, 1794, and Mrs. Foster, Sept. 12, 1799. He died March 11, 1835, and Mrs. Foster was again married to Benjamin King, a na- tive of Georgia, born Dec. 15, 1809, by whom she had one child. Mrs. King died Dec. 17, 1878, and he survived her only until Dce. 25, 1878. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards moved to Woodford county, remaining two years, when they returned to Greene county, and settled on the site where they still reside. The farm contains about 300 acres of land, all in a good state of cultivation, except 40 acres of timber. In 1881 Mr. Edwards erected a handsome, commodious brick resi- dence, and has it nicely and comfortably furnished He makes a specialty of raising stock, and is very successful therein. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have had six children born to them, four of whom are living-Arthur J., born Aug. 2, 1856; Edgar, born Jan. 10, 1858, died March 3, 1881; Mary, born June 28, 1862; a son born Nov. 23, 1865, died in in- fancy; Olive, born May 22, 1867, and Howard, born Oct. 25, 1869.

It was during the year 1829 that Jacob Young came to Greene county, and made a settlement on what is called String Prairie, in Rubicon township. He entered the southwest quarter of section 26, where he made a farm. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1785. When about three years old he went with his parents to Kentucky, where they remained until 1795, when they came to Monroe county, Ill. He served through the war of 1812-15, and

was with the command that burned Peoria during the war. He was mar- ried twice, first to a Miss Kincaid, by whom he had three children. After his first wife's death, he was united in mar- riage with Clarissa O'Fling. She died in 1851, leaving one son, Felix H. He was a whig and a free-soiler, and cast his last vote for Abraham Lincoln. He died on his farm, in this township, in Sept., 1863.

Elder Stephen Coonrod made a settle- ment in this township, in 1829, on the northwest quarter of the northeast quar- ter of section 33, which he entered, and where he lived until 1872, when he died. He was born in Grayson county, Ky., Feb. 4, 1798, being a son of George Coonrod. He was married Feb. 28, 1819, to Candis Lee, born Dec. 6, 1800, in Kentucky. Soon after marriage they removed to Wayne county, where he lived until 1829, when he moved to Greene county, as above. The date of his death was Dee. 19, 1872. He pro- fessed religion and was baptized in May, 1812, and in 1828 he began preaching, and continued doing so the rest of his life, being a member of the old Regular Baptist church. In politics he was a democrat. His wife died Nov. 11, 1879. Their marriage was blessed with ten children, six boys and four girls.

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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 103

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