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 137
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some 25 acres, on which he raises fruit and vegetables. Mr. Orr was united in marriage, Oct. 30, 1853, with Nancy J., a daughter of Henry and Eliza (McMullen) Dean, natives of Ohio, who came to Illi- nois, and now reside at Hardin, Calhoun county. Mr. and Mrs. Orr were the pa- rents of one child-Jennie, wife of N. A. Reed, of Kansas. Mrs. Orr died in the year 1856, and in 1858 Mr. Orr was again married to Susannah Dean, a sis- ter of his first wife. She died 18 months after marriage, being the mother of twins, who also died and were buried with her in the same grave. In 1865, Mr. Orr was joined in marriage with Catherine McCaskill, a native of Mt. Sterling, Ill, and this union has been blessed with four children-Laura Bell, Luella, James M. and Katie. Mr. Orr is an honorary member of the Cass lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M., at Beards- town, Ill. He still continues to preach, and his efforts for the welfare of man- kind are rewarded with success.
Nelson J. Ludi, editor of the Union, was born in Rock Island, Ill, Feb. 26, 1855, being a son of James and Eliza- beth P. (Bolles) Ludi, his father a na- tive of Switzerland, and his mother of Thompsonville, Conn. He was reared in Rock Island, and at the age of 16, engaged as clerk in Davenport. He started to learn the printer's trade in the Gazette office there. When 17, he went to work on a farm by the month, but soon went to Burlington, and finished the printer's trade. In 1877, he was made book-keeper in the Burlington Gazette office, and was local editor when he left, in 1877, to buy a half interest in the Orion Guzette. He bought out his partner and ran the paper until March,
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1882. He then went to Dakota, where he remained about six months. In the summer of 1883, he went to Minneapolis, and worked at printing until 1884, when he came to Greenfield, this county, and bought a half interest in the Union. IIe continued the publication until the spring of 1885, when they removed to Roodhouse, and have since remained here. He was married June 26, 1879, to Lilian M., daughter of Joshua and Mary Easton. They have two children living-Myrtle E. and Bessie M., and two deceased-Walter E. and Jessie.
We close the history of Greene county by giving a short sketeh of W. T. Mc- Iver and J. P. Drennan, Jr., proprietors of the office in which this volume was published. The former was born in Montgomery county, Ill., April 14, 1860, and the latter in Mansfield, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1861. At the age of 13 years, W. T. MeIver entered a printing office, and two years later opened a job office at Roodhouse. He soon associated John
P. Drennan Jr., as partner, and thus the firm of Melver & Drennan sprang into existence. But they were still boys, so Mr. Drennan again entered school, and McIver, after establishing the Review, and publishing it about a year, followed railroading until 1882. By this time, Mr. D. had graduated from the Illinois Academy, at Jacksonville, and also taken a course at Ann Arbor Law School. They then established the Roodhouse Eye, with a cash capital of about $0000, bnt they had plenty of energy. Their hand press was soon superseded by one run by steam, and new material has been added until, in 1885, they are found in a two-story brick building, owned by themselves, with three steam presses, and fully equipped for any kind of print- ing. Mr. MeIver was married, Oct. 17, 1882, to Elizabeth N. Atkinson. They have one son-Frank. These enterpris- ing young men deserve great credit for their industry, and merit the substantial support of the citizens of these counties.
ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES,
The following sketches of well known residents of White Hall township were unavoidably omitted from their proper places:
John Howard was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., Feb. 23, 1819, his par- ents being Henry and Charlotte (Bal- lard) Howard, natives of North Carolina. His parents came to Greene county in 1835, and located two miles east of White Hall, where his father bought 40 acres of land. There were only two stores in White Hall when they came here. His father lived in this neighbor- hood, about 12 years. He then moved to Scott county where he lived four years, then removed to Mason county, where he remained 12 years and then moved to Harrison county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring in 1866. There were 13 children in the family -- Coleman, Nancy, William, John, Avery, Allen, Sarah, Mary, Francis, Franklin, Thomas, and two who died in infancy. Six of these children are now living. Our subject was 16 years of age when his parents came to Greene county, and he remain- ed with them until he was 25 years of age. He then began the battle of life for himself, and buying 100 acres of land on Apple Creek Prairie, he moved on to it and engaged in farming there for three years. He then sold that farm and bought 120 acres on sections 22 and 27, on which he lived seven years, when on account of his wife's health, she having the consumption, he
left the farm and moved to White Hall, where he resided two years. His wife died while there, and after her death, he moved back to his farm and has since remained there. He has been three times married. June 18, 1844, he was married to Margery A. Bell, and by this union there were five children, three of whom are living-Francis M., married Melissa Teeple, resides in Harrison county, Iowa; William HI., married Elizabeth Barrow, resides in Calloway county, Mo .; John A., married Martha Clark, resides in Harrison county, Iowa. Mrs. Howard died in 1857, and Mr. Howard was again married in Sept., 1858, to Martha King, daughter of Sam- uel King. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are living -Thomas; Edgar, who married Winnie Stone, and resides at home, and Her- bert. In April, 1872, Mr. Howard was again left a widower, and in Aug., 1873, he was united in marriage with Har- riet Smith, daughter of David Smith. This union has been blessed with one child,-Catherine. Mr. Howard now owns 166 1-3 acres of land. He deals in stock to some extent; especially in Jersey and short-horn Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs and is a success- ful, enterprising farmer. He has held the offices of school director and road supervisor, and is a member of the Grange lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Howard are members of the M. E. church of White Hall.
William M. Bradshaw, a native of
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White county, Tenn., was born July 28, 1826, and is a son of Charles and Mary A. (Baker) Bradshaw, the former a na- tive of South Carolina, the latter of North Carolina. His parent left Ten- nessee in 1828, and removed to Morgan county, Ill., where they lived two years and in the spring of 1831, moved to Greene county. His father bought 80 acres of land in what is now Wrights township, and also entered 80 acres there, and kept buying and entering un- til he owned something like 500 acres of land. There they lived in a little log cabin for several years, and he then built a large two-story frame residence and a barn, and at this comfortable home, he spent the balance of his days, He departed this life in 1869. Mrs. Bradshaw is still living, and resides on the old homestead. William assisted his parents on, the farm, until he was 21 years of age. He was then married to Susan P. Lorton, Dec. 30, 1847, by which union, there was one child which died in infancy. He built a little log cabin on the home farm, and there they lived until her death, Dec. 6, 1848, which was within a year after their mar- riage. Mr. Bradshaw then went back home and remained there until 1850, when he was again married on Sept. 30, to Elizabeth Chipman, by which union there were three children, two of whom are living-Mary E., wife of John B. Hutton, residing in Topeka, Kas., and Lenora, wife of Henry Hart, residing in White Hall township. After marriage, Mr. Bradshaw moved back to his cabin and remained there until the fall of 1853, when he, with his wife and child, went to Fannin county, Texas, where they staid that winter. In the spring,
they returned to Illinois, and again set- tled in the log cabin, where he lived un- til the death of his wife, Feb. 25. 1855, when he returned home again. After staying there over a year, he was again married March 19, 1856, to Mary Baker, and they moved into the log cabin, where they lived happily until April 5, 1857, when his wife died, leaving one child, Albert, who is now married to Ellen R. Whitehead, and resides in Lo- gan county. Mr. Bradshaw again re- turned home to live, and remained four years. Feb. 19, 1861, le was married to Elizabeth Steward, by which union there were eight children, seven of whom are living-Joel, married Liza Coats, resides in White Hall township; Ida B., wife of Samuel Elliott, residing in White Hall township; Nancy L., Charles, Clara A., William H. and Ed- gar. In the spring of 1861, Mr. Brad- shaw bought 80 acres of land on section 27, T. 12, R. 11, on which he built a nice frame house, into which he moved and has since resided there. He now owns 260 acres of land, 200 acres of which is in this township, and 60 acres in Wrights, all of which he has acquired by industry and good management. Mrs. Bradshaw is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Bradshaw has seen a great deal of trouble in his lifetime, having lost three wives, each in a com- paratively short time after marriage. He stood bravely, all these trials and is now living in comfort and contentment.
Elbert M. McCracken, was born in Greene county, on April 22, 1855, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Bran- yan) McCracken, natives of Pennsyl- vania. His parents came to Greene county about the year 1837, and located
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on Sec. 26, T. 12, R. 11, where he bought a tract of land, built a little log cabin and lived there for several years. He then bought about 92 acres on Sec. 25, T. 12, R. 11, and afterward moved on to it, having built a house into which he moved and remained until his death, which occurred in Jan., 1855. Mrs. Mary McCracken is yet living and re- sides with her son Samuel. Our sub- ject was reared on a farm, remaining at home until he was about 27 years of age when he bought 140 aeres of land on Sec. 25, T. 12, R. 11, moved on to it and has since resided there. He has been twice married. Jan. 7, 1877, he married Eliza Vanderver, who died in 1880. By this union there was one child-Ilarry E. Mr. McCracken was again married, Feb. 23, 1882, to Dicy Short, daughter of William and Eliza- beth Short. They are the parents of two children-Elsa and Elmer. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken are members of the church. Mr. McCracken is an intel- ligent and enterprising farmer, and his enterprises have been very successful.
George Edwards was born in Greene county on April 29, 1851, his parents being Ezekiel and Polly (Rucker) Ed- wards, natives of Knoxville, Tenn. Ilis father came to Greene county about the year 1830, and located near Provi- dence, where he lived several years. He died in 1853, while living near Ber- dan. George's mother died in Dec., 1859, and he then went to live with his sister, Polly A. Lee, remaining there for six years, after which time he work- ed out for about 11 years at most any- thing he could get to do. He then rented a farm for about four years, when by industry and economy, having accu-
mulated enough money to buy himself a home, he purchased 156 acres of land, on section 29, where he has since re- sided. He was married Oct. 13, 1877, to Sarah J. Moore, daughter of Alanson and Rebecca Moore. They are the par- ents of four children-Henry, Ward, Walter and Louis. Mrs. Edwards is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Edwards is an active, industrious far- mer, and his efforts are meeting with success.
George Painter, was born in Ross county, Ohio, Dec. 31, 1829, his parents being John and Eleanor (Clark) Painter natives of Virginia. His parents re- moved from Virginia to Ohio, where they remained until the fall of 1848, when they came to Greene county and located on what is now known as E. V. Baldwin's farm, remaining one year. They then moved on to section 20, where . his father bought 80 acres of land, built a log cabin and there lived until his death, which occurred in 1879. Mrs. Painter died in 1857. George was rear- ed on a farm, assisting his parents at home, until he was 24 years of age, he then started in life for himself, renting ground on which he farmed for about two years, when he bought 120 acres of land on section 29, moved on to it and remained there until 1876. He then moved on to the homestead and has since resided there, He was married in Feb .. 1855, to Mary M. Phillips, daugh- ter of Baylis and Nancy (Raines) Phil- lips. They are the parents of seven children, four of whom are living- Erastus W., Edwin B., Irs E. and Jennie. The ones deceased are Walter and two who died in infancy. Mr. Painter now owns 230 acres of land. He deals in all
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kinds of stock, making a specialty of Clydesdale horses. He is a successful farmer and an enterprising and intelli- gent citizen. He is now holding the office of highway commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Painter are consistent mem- bers of the M. E. church.
Henry Hanson, deceased, was born in Prussia, on Nov. 11, 1824, his parents being Peter and Susan Hanson, natives of Germany. Henry followed farming in his native country. In May, 1852, he, in company with Frank Schmidt, took passage at Antwerp, on a sailing vessel bound for New York. On arriving at that city, Henry traveled westward, as far as LaSalle, where he remained two years, engaged at laboring. In Dec., 1855, he came to Greene county and located on B. F. Baldwin's place, where he remained about six years. He then rented a place from John Grimes, on
section 29, and afterward bought 80 acres on the same place where he had lived, and resided here until his death, which occurred Jan. 29, 1884. His wife died Feb. 24, 1880. He was married Jan. 20, 1859, to Rachel Schouse, daughter of John and Margaret Schouse. They are the parents of seven children -Anthony, married Frances Schneider, and resides in Walkerville township; John, married Sophia Weible, and re- sides in Walkerville township; Frank, Peter, Susan, Margaret and Catherine. The family now owns 120 acres of land, which is farmed by Frank and his brother, Frank being the administrator and manager of the place. These young men are enterprising and industrious and deserve credit for the manly way in which they carry on the farm enter- prise. They stand high in the estima- tion of all who know them.
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.384H62 C001 HISTORY OF GREEN AND JERSEY COUNTIES, IL
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