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 111

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 111

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Alexander Hankins was born May $, 1819, in Knox county, East Tenn. He is a son of James and Margaret (Mc- Pheron ; Hankins, natives of Tennessee. They removed to Scott county, Ill., in 1828, locating on a farm near Winches- ter. where they lived until their death, his father's occurring in 1855, and his mother's in 1852. Alexander remained at home with his parents until he was 22 years of age. As his father was a poor man, he was obliged to assist him on the farm, so that his advantages for obtaining an education were not of the "best, although he improved the oppor- tunities offered in the common schools of the county. He was married Dec. 7, 1840, to Mary J. Kirby, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Hardcastle) Kirby, natives of Maryland, where Mary was also born. Iler parents afterward came

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

to Greene county, Ill., and resided here until their death. Mr. Hankins was married in this county, but resided some six years in Scott county before locating here permanently, which he did in 1846, upon the farm where he re- sides. Seven children were born to them, six of whom are now living- Eliza A., James M., John H., Daniel, William C., Mattie, Margaret, deceased. Mrs. Hankins died June 1, 1855, and was buried in the Providence cemetery. Mr. Hankins was again married Feb. 7, 1856, to Nancy A. Critchfield, a daugh- ter of Jesse and Ruan (Cadle) Critch- field, natives of Tennessee. Nancy was born in that state in 1830, and removed with her parents to Kentucky when, quite young, and later on came to this county. Five children were born to this union-Albert F., Emma B., Allie, Julia and Charles. Mr. Hankins has 160 acres of land, all improved. Ile has served his district in the capacity of school director. He became a member of Taylor's Creek Baptist church, in 1849, and continued in it until 1857, when it dissolved. In 1858, he united with the Providence Baptist church, and was ordained to the ministry, by Elders J. V. Rhoades and A. Farrow, in 1864.

John II. Perrine, one of the early set- tlers of Linder township, is a native of Monmouth county, N. J., and was born in 1812, being a son of Henry and Josie (Holman) Perrine, both of whom were also natives of New Jersey. John was reared to agricultural pursuits, and re- ceived his education in the district schools of his native state. In the spring of 1832, he came to Illinois, set- tling on section 30, Linder township, Greene county, where he now resides,

and owns 140 acres of improved land, be- ing engaged in agricultural pursuits. John H. Perrine and Charlotte Perrine, a native of the state of New Jersey, were united in marriage. By this union they have been blessed with five child- ren, two of whom are now living, and three are deceased-Mary A., born May 11, 1832, and died in Dec., 1875; William H., born May 23, 1839, and died Aug. 29, 1877; Peter, born Oct. 23, 1842, and died Nov. 15, 1873; Charles, born Dec. 30, 1845, and Sarah H., born Oct. 18, 1849. Mr. Perrine is one of the promi- nent and substantial farmers of Linder township, and has lived to see the won- derful development made by his adopted county. He is a kind, genial gentle- man, and is highly respected in the community in which he resides.

Frederick Wellhausen was born in Hanover, Ger'y, being a son of Daniel and Malinda Wellhausen, both of whom were natives of Germany also. . In 1868 he came to America, but had previously spent one year in the German army. On coming to this country Frederick remained in St. Louis, Mo., five months, engaged in making mill buhrs. He then came to White Hall, Greene county, Ill., where for one year he engaged in work- ing at his trade, that of a miller. At the expiration of that time, he returned to St. Louis and followed milling for four months, he having learned the trade in Hanover, Germany. From St. Louis he went to Belleville, Ill., where he remained a few months. He then came to Jalappa, Greene county, where for one and a half years he was engaged in running a mill. He then bought a farm in Kane township, where he farmed for three years, and then went to Jersey

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

county, working on a farm for one year. The next succeeding 10 years he rented land, and then bought a farm on section 28, Linder township, where he still re- sides, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Frederick Wellhausen and Katie Bow- ers, a native of Germany, were married in 1872. Among their children, were -Gussie, deceased, John and Christo- pher. Mr. Wellhausen is a member of Kane lodge of the 1. O. O. F. He is now the owner of 40 acres of land in Linder township.

EDUCATIONAL.

School district No. 1, or Union, has a school building, which was erected in 1874, at a cost of $1,750. It is built of brick. The contractor was Adam Engle- man. The building committee were, Peter M. Brown and Gilbert Full r. The first teacher was E. C. Sackett.

School district No. 2. The school building in this district was erected in Sept., 1860. It is a neat frame structure, 18x22 feet in size, and cost about $450. At the time of the building of it, there was an enrollment of 30 pupils, while now there is some 40. The pioneer teacher in this building was Hulda G. Gage. The present one is Adolphus Miller.

School district No. 3 .- The first school house in this district was erected in 1854. It was a frame structure, about 24x36 feet in size, and cost about $500. Samuel Jolly taught the first school in this. This edifice was commenced by the subscription of various inhabitants of the district, but was completed out of funds resulting from taxation. It stood on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 26, on the farm of Alexander Hank- ins. About the year 1870, the present

school house was built, on the north- west quarter of section 27. It is 16x28 feet in ground area. Joseph Brown taught the first school in the new edi- tice. Rose Secor is the present teacher. The average attendance is 45. Wesley McPheron, William Meldrum and Rob- ert Smith are the present directors.

School district No. 4 .- The school house in this district, is situated on the southwest quarter of section 10. It was originally erected in 1853, by Engleman & Bishop, a few rods west of the resi- dence of Christian Damm, but was af- terward moved to its present location, and about 1879, remodeled and rebuilt. It is a frame structure, 20×30 feet in size. The first school was taught by Ira B. Pickett. The present teacher is Jennie Ryan. William W. Johnson, Uen Linder and Henry Robley are the directors for 1885.

School district No. 5 has a school building, which was erected in 1874, at a cost of 8800. George Crane was the contractor. The first directors were, Jesse Robards, T. C. Robinson, and James Miller. The present ones are John Rhoades, William Turner and Robert Hardcastle. The present teacher is Belle Cannedy.

School district No. 7 had a school building, which was put up in 1863, The first directors were, Jonathan Kind, P. W. McMahon, and John Coleman. This building is 20x30 feet in size, and cost $775. The first teacher was Belle Cain. There was an enrollment here at that time of about 33. This was aban- doned as a school house in March, 1884, on account of its inconvenience to a portion of the pupils, and the rough traveling necessary to reach it. The

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

new school house is on the west side of the district, and bears the name of Dia- mond. This was built in 1883, at a cost of 8575, and is 20x26 feet in size. They had one erected previous to this, but it was burned when about completed.

CEMETERY.

Harden cemetery is located upon the southeast corner of section 12. The land, one acre, was donated by a Doctor Culver, to the public, for cemetery pur- poses, about the year 1832 or 1833. C'ulver afterward returned to the state of Pennsylvania, from which he came, where he died. The land upon which the cemetery is located was afterward sold to Robert A. Harden, who died without executing any deed, and so it remains to this day.

DAUM POSTOFFICE.

The postoffice at Daum, which is lo- cated upon the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 9, was es- tablished as such, July 14, 1884, and Charles A. Campbell commissioned as postmaster. This office is located on the L., C. & W. R. R.

There is, at this place, a general mer- chandise store, kept by Benjamin M. Spaulding, who succeeded Charles A. Campbell in the business, Sept. 1, 1885. Mr. Campbell established this store in June, 1884. It is contained in a room about 16x20 feet in dimensions, and the stock would invoice about $1,000.

COUNTY POOR FARM.

The building on the fine Poor farm of Greene county, was erected in the fall of 1870, and is a large, three-story, brick building, with commodious base-

ment under the entire edifice. Joseph C. Brown was the first superintendent of the place, and remained in charge for two years. He was succeeded by Asa Slone, who has remained in that capacity ever since. During the last seven or eight years, the average num- ber of inmates has been about 30. The farm embraces 160 acres of excellent land. on section 7, most of which is nicely improved. When Mr. Slone took charge, the farm was nearly all covered with timber of a young growth, with the exception of about 30 acres, but at present there can be seen marked improvement in every respect. In the building there are nine rooms in the basement, which includes dining room, kitchen, flour room, etc. On the next floor are 12 rooms, seven of which are bed rooms for male paupers. The bal- ance of the apartments on this floor are used by Mr. Słone and family, as sitting rooms and parlors. In the second story there are eight rooms, one of which is quite large, originally intended for a chapel, but has never been put to that use, but is put into requisition as a gen- eral work room. The rest of the rooms on this floor are used as sleeping apart- ments by the inmates. In the third story there are three dormitories for the women inmates, not otherwise pro- vided for. This makes a total of 32 rooms, besides several halls running through the different parts of the house. It is well appointed throughout, and is decidedly to the credit of Greene county, and an honor to Mr. Słone and his es- teemed wife for the able manner in which it is managed.

Asa Slone, superintendent of the poor farm, was born in Chatham county, N.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

C., Oct. 17, 1825. He is a son of Mat- thew and Chloe (Hughes) Slone, also natives of the above state. In 1833 they came to Greene county, Ill., set- tling in the town of Carrollton, where they resided some seven or eight years, when they removed to Macoupin county, and spent the remainder of their lives there. His father died Aug. 10, 1843, and his mother Aug. 19, 1868, at the home of her son in Carrollton. Asa, the subject of this sketch, is the young- est and only one living of a family of four children, those deceased being- Nancy, Martha and David. He re- moved with his parents to Macoupin county, where he resided some eight months, when he returned to Carrollton and began to learn the trade of black- smithing, which he afterwards followed for many years. When the Mexican

war broke out, he enlisted in Co. C, 1st III. Inf., and took part in the battle of Buena Vista, besides being in several skirmishes. He was mustered out in the latter part of June, 1847, at Ca- margo, Mex., and returned to Carroll- ton, where he resided until taking charge of the county poor farm, in March, 1873. It is unnecessary to extol the merits of Mr. Slone in this capacity, as the length of time he has already served will prove his ability for the po- sition, and the satisfactory manner in which he conducts the business. He was married July 6, 1848, to Ann M. Colwell. By this marriage there were seven children, six of whom are living- Margaret V., deccased; William M., Samuel T., Robert A., John C., Mary C. and Maud A. Mr. Slone's political views are democratic.

CHAPTER XXI.

WRIGHTS TOWNSHIP.

This comprises all of congressional T. 11 north, R. 11 west, and is bounded on the north by White Hall township, on the east by Rubicon, on the south by Linder, and on the west by White Hall and Carrollton. Part of the township is well covered with timber while the balance is either prairie or cleared land, and all of a very fine grade. The soil is a warm, black, clayey loam, with innate powers of fertility beyond the possibility of exhaustion. The surface is generally gently undulating except in

the neighborhood of the creeks, when it becomes a little more abrupt, but not so as to interfere with the tillage of it. Apple, Big Bear, Little Bear, and Whit- aker's ereeks supply an abundance of water for all stock purposes, and afford ample drainage. Apple creek crosses the township in a diagonal line from northeast to southwest, leaving the township about the center of the west line. . The Big Bear is a tributary of Apple creek, making a confluence with the main stream on section 16. Little

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IIISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Bear is a small rivulet flowing into the Big Bear. Whitaker's creek is in the south part of the township. The St. Louis branch of the C., B. & Q. R. R. passes through the township, and there is one town on the line, in Wright's township -Wrightsville. The citizens of this township are, as a rule, well-to-do, thrifty and intelligent.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first to make a settlement within the territory now embraced in the town- ship of Wrights, was William Waltrip, who came here in 1819, and located on the north of Apple creek, on the south- west quarter of section 18. A sketch of this pioneer is appended.

William Waltrip was the first settler of what is now Wrights township, locat- ing on the north side of Apple creek, on the southwest quarter of section 18, in Dec., 1879. In October of that year he left Kentucky, in company with his and several other families, with the inten- tion of locating in Missouri, where one of his brother's had gone the previous year. But on crossing the river at Smeltzer's ferry,and going to St. Charles, they met his brother returning to Ken- tucky. They then returned to the neigh- borhood of Edwardsville, Ill., where the family were left until a location could be decided on. Mr. Waltrip and his brother, Luke, came up into Greene county, and selected the location pre- viously described on section 18, in this township. They then returned to Ed- wardsville for their families, and arrived at the place selected, in Dec., 1819. There were about 20 of them, and they passed the winter in a camp, which the men had arranged, their food consisting

principally of venison and corn bread. The following spring a clearing was made, and quite a crop of corn was raised that year. They remained here until the spring of 1823, when they re- moved to the northeast quarter of sec- tion 31, and made a settlement, where they remained many years. Mr. Wal- trip was born in Halifax county, Va., Aug. 1, 1776, and was a son of Luke and Mary (Bunton) Waltrip, also natives of that state. He was married Dec. 27, 1802, to Elizabeth Thaxton, a daughter of William and Sarah (Gravitt) Thax- ton, natives of Virginia. In 1803, they removed to Kentucky, where they re- mained until coming to this county. They were the parents of 10 children- Bird, Sarah, Michael, Mary, William G., Martha, Eliza, Luke, Lucretia and Wil- son. Mr. Waltrip died Feb. 28, 1850, and Mrs. Waltrip, Aug. 23, 1855.

William G. Waltrip, son of William and Elizabeth (Thaxton) Waltrip, was born in Kentucky, Aug. 5, 1814. He came with his parents to this county in 1819, where he has since resided, being a resident of the town of Wrightsville. He was married July 20, 1841, to Mary Heater, a native of this county, born Dec. 24, 1824, and a daughter of David and Mary (Reeder) Heater, natives of Ohio. They resided near White Hall where her father died in May, 1827, her mother surviving him until July 23, 1834, when she too passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Waltrip are the parents of 10 children-William D., deceased; Emily J., Angeline, Elsa A , deceased; Leo, deceased; John L., deceased; Luke de- ceased; Howard, deceased; and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Waltrip died Aug. 15, 1877. Mr. Waltrip was again

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

married Nov. 7, 1878, to Susan Ogle, a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Hill) Ogle, natives of Tennessee. They came to this county in 1818, settling on the Macoupin ereek, two miles south- west of Carrollton. Two years later they purchased a farm, three miles and a half north of Carrollton, where they passed the remainder of their days, Mr. Ogle dying in 1864, and Mrs. Ogle in 1872. Mr. Waltrip has a farm of 64 acres. He was reared in this county, and has spent nearly his entire life here, and is now spending his remaind- ing days in contentment in the village of Wrightsville.

Larkin Thaxton came to this town- ship in 1819, and made a settlement.

Larkin Thaxton, deceased, was a na- tive of Old Virginia. He came to Greene county, Ill., in 1819, and set- tled on Apple creek bottom, where he lived for some three years, prior to the government survey. He then entered a 40-acre tract of land, in school district No. 4, and resided there up to the time of his death, following agricultural pur- suits as his life-long avocation. His wife was Catherine Dudley, who was a native of Scotland.

Parham Thaxton, a son of the above, was born in Wrights township, this county, on the Sth day of Jan., 1821. He was reared on a farm up to his 14th year, when he went to Carrollton, and learned the trades of stone-mason, brick- laying and plastering, which he has followed almost ever since, with satis- faetion and profit. He was also, quite a successful contraetor, and has built a great many residences and buildings in this county. He has now retired from mechanical pursuits, but oeeasionally

does a job of building. While follow- ing his trade, he also ran a farm, and was successful as an agriculturist. In the month of Feb., 1857, he was united in marriage with Ann Drum, a native of this county, and a daughter of John Drum, one of the pioneers of this coun- ty. By this marriage they have had four children born to them-Florence, at home; Luella, who died in the fall of 1SS2; Jeannette, at home; Clifford, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Thaxton and eld- est daughter are members of the Hickory Grove Baptist church. He is township trustee at present, this being his second term. He was appointed by the court to fill out the unexpired term of John D. Jaek, as coroner, and two years later was elected to the office, and served a full term. He now owns some 200 acres of improved land, and his residence cost $2,000. At the age of 14 years he started for himself, a poor boy, and has made his present competence by his own exertions. Early in life he formed good moral and industrious habits, which he continued through life.

Thomas Lorton made his settlement in this township, on section 8, in 1820. He was born in Virginia, in 1784, and was the son of Robert and Tabitha (Gana- way) Lorton. His father was a Revo- lutionary soldier. When about 17 years of age, Thomas removed to Cumberland county, Ky., where he lived until 1818, when he came to this state, locating, for the time being, in Bond county, from where he came here. He was married Sept. 22, 1810, to Frances Nance, also a native of Virginia, and they were the parents of 12 children. Mr. Lorton spent the balance of his days in this township, dying Dec. 17,

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

1863. His wife died Aug. 15, 1871, and both are buried in White Hall ceme- tery.

In 1820, Zachariah and James Allen made settlement in this township, as did David Battle.

David Henderson came to this town- ship in 1820, and taking up a farm on section 7, entered upon the life of a pioneer. He came from Ohio. He re- mained upon the old homestead until his death.

Joseph Henderson, a worthy repre- sentative of one of the old settler fami- lies of this county, is a native of Ohio, having been born there in 1813, his pa- rents being Daniel and Sarah (Collins) Henderson. With his parents, Joseph came to Illinois, in 1820, and settled on section 7, Wrights township, where Joseph has ever since resided. He was united in marriage, in 1832, with Mary Ann Stont, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Henderson departed this life Sept. 3, 1876. Mr. Henderson was again mar- ried, Sept. 3, 1885, to Clara Davidson, a native of this county, born Feb. 20, 1867. He is a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church, while his wife affiliates with the Baptists. Joseph was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he has followed all his life. He is now the owner of 100 acres of land, which is all improved. In politics, he is a republican, but has had no ambition for political preferment. He is a kind, genial gentleman, and is much respected by all his friends and acquaintances.

H. Clay Thaxton was one of the ear- liest settlers in this county. He came here in 1818, and went to work on gov- ernment land, on the Apple creek bot- tom. In 1821, when these lands came

into the market, he entered 80 acres of land on section 28, of this township, on to which he moved. He was born in Virginia, Aug. 5, 1799. When 12 years of age he moved to Kentucky with his parents, where he remained until he was about 19, when he came to this county. He has, since making his first entry, purchased other property, and has owned considerable tracts of land. He was married Nov. 9, 1829, to Caro- line Whitaker, a daughter of Robert Whitaker, one of the old settlers of the county, by whom he has had 11 children, two of whom died in infancy. He is still a resident of this township, having been spared to witness the tre- mendous growth of Greene county, from its primitive wilderness to the civilization of to-day.

William Hart, with his family, emi- grated from Indiana, in the spring of 1822, and entered some 80 acres of land on Lorton's Prairie, where he lived about 30 years, when he removed to Piatt county, this state, but eventually returned to this county and died here.

Jesse Stark and family made their settlement in Greene county, in 1823, on section 31. He was a native of the state of New Jersey, and served in the army during the war of 1812-15. After the elose of the hostillities, he removed to Tennessee, where he was married. From thence he removed to Madison county, this state, and shortly after to this county. He had a large family of children. He resided upon the home- stead, which he had established, until the day of his death, in Aug., 1854. His wife died in March, 1829. But two of his children are living now, and they are both residents of Nebraska.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Dudley Brannan, with his family, set- tled in Wrights township, in 1824, where they resided until his death. Mr. Brannan came from Kentucky to this county.

Louis J. Ballard, in 1829, came to Greene county, looking for a home. He found that which he sought, on section 7, in Wright's township, and soon com- menced improvements. lle was born in Lincoln county, N. C., Oct. 4, 1800. At the age of 10 year's he moved with his parents to Tennessee, where, July 22, 1824, he was united in marriage with Ruth Pace. The result of this union was twelve children, several of whom are still living. Mr. Ballard resided here until his death, which took place in 1878. His wife survived him until 1882. Both are buried in the White Hall cemetery.

William H. Goode came to Wright's township in 1829, settling upon section 31, upon the place now owned by E. Meister.

William B. Goode was born in Chris- tian county, Ky., Sept. 16, 1827. He is a son of William H. and Jinsa (Walker) Goode, the former a native of Halifax county, Va., and the latter a native of Tennessee. When William H. was about 12 years of age, his parents re- moved to Kentucky, where William was reared and married. In 1829 he came to this county, and settled in Wright's township, on the place now owned by E. Meister, where he broke some ground and put in a corn crop. Ilere he re- mained until 1856, when he removed to Davis county, la., where he lived until his death, Jan. 12, 1874, in the 76th year of his age, having been born Feb. 23, 1797. Jinsa (Walker), Goode died in

1835. William B. came to this county with his parents in 1829, and has since resided here. On Aug. 22, 1845, he was married to Eliza A. Davidson. By this union there were five children-Jinsa A., deceased wife of William D. Waltrip, now deceased; Emeline and Angeline, twins; Melissa J., wife of Robert Good- hall; John L., married Abbie Pinkerton, who died in 1885. Mrs. Goode died in 1853, and on Oct. 12, 1854, Mr. Goode was again married to Elizabeth Walker. By this marriage there were the follow- ing children-William H., died July 25, 1860; Mary E., died Nov. 7, 1859; Sarah M., died Oct. 2, 1863; Louisa, died March 14, 1866; Alzina, living at home; Laura, died Dec. 24, 1870; Fannie, died May 19, 1873, and Alvin, living at home, born April 20, 1872. Mr. Goode owns 532 acres of land, part of which is in Iowa. He has served his district nine years as school director, and has also held the office of supervisor for a nun- ber of years; and is an enterprising and highly esteemed citizen.

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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 111

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