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 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137
222
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
the Masonic order, being made a Mason at Bath, N. H., when 21 years of age. He was a charter member of Jerseyville Lodge, No. 394, A. F. & A. M. Hewas strictly honorable in all his dealings and had a large circle of admiring friends. Politically he was a whig and afterwards a republican. He was one of the first county commissioners, and for 16 years assessor of Jersey county.
John F. Smith was the next incum- hent of this office, having been elected to the same in the fall of 1857, and in December entered upon his official du- ties. He was re-elected in 1859, thus serving at this time four years as county treasurer.
John F. Smith was a native of South Carolina, born April 7, 1811. He came to Jersey county in 1848 or '49, and en- tered upon the business of cultivating a farm which he acquired. He was mar- ried to Sarah McGuire, previous to his coming here, and three of the four children by this marriage are still liv- ing-Mary, Martha and James Knox. He died Feb. 25, 1877; his widow still survives, living in St. Louis. He was elected and served as treasurer as above stated. Mr. Smith was a leading nem- ber of the M. E. church.
John E. Van Pelt, now a prominent citizen of Cook county, succeeded Mr. Smith as treasurer, being first elected in 1861, and again in 1863, serving the people for four years in the office.
John F. Smith, having, when in office, pleased the people, was again elected to this position in 1865, was re-elected in 1867, and again in 1869, serving this time six years, with credit to himself and honor to the people of the county.
James M. Young, was the next to fill
the office of treasurer. His election took place in 1871, and, proving his worth and adaption to the office, he was re-elected in 1873, serving the full four years.
James M. Young, a prominent citizen of Jersey county, was born in Ruther- ford county, N. C., Dec. 16, 1828. He was the eldest of the seven children of Martin and Deborah Young, who were of French and German descent. In 1835 Martin Young removed with his family to MeDonough county, Ill., locat- ing on a farm near Blandinsville, where they remained till 1845. They then moved to the state of Georgia. After the war broke out, Mr. Young moved his family to Jersey county. He died at the residence of his son, James M., in the fall of 1865, and the following spring his widow and children returned to Georgia. James M. Young attended the common schools of MeDonough county, and at the age of 16 went to Wisconsin and worked in the lead mines about four years. On Nov. 13, 1848, he came to Jersey county, and, for a few years, followed boating and rafting on the Illinois river. Oct. 15, 1851, Mr. Young was married to Lucretia Nott, daughter of S. B. Nott, of Jersey coun- ty. They have had seven children, five of whom are now living. For a few years after his marriage, Mr. Young followed farming in this county. He served as justice of the peace two years, and also two years as constable of Rich- woods township. He was appointed postmaster at Fieldon, September 18, 1868, and held that office three years, being constable at the same time. In the fall of 1871 he was elected assessor and treasurer of Jersey county, and in
223
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
the spring of 1872 removed to Jersey ville. In 1873 he was re-clected to the same office, thus serving four years. In the fall of 1876 he was elected sheriff, and re-elected in the year 1878, and served as such for four years. In 1880 he rented the National hotel, and run the same two years. In June, 1883, he removed to southern Kansas, there acting as agent for a patent machine for the manufacture of fencing. He re- turned to Jerseyville in February, 1885, shortly before the death of his wife, who for some time had been in feeble health. She died Feb. 12, 1885. Mr. Young is a member of the A. F. and A. M., also of the subordinate encampment of I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Pythias. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Young are-Luella, wife of C. A. Sullard, of Kansas City, Mo .; Hattie, wife of Fred Armstrong, of Jerseyville; Luther, who is a printer by trade and resides in Springfield, Mo .; Susan and Antonia, who reside with their father, in Jersey- ville.
At the regular November eleetion of 1875, John P. Stout was elected to the office of treasurer, and he entering upon the duties of the same, continued in the office two years.
Thomas O'Donnell, in 1877, was elected to the office of county treasurer, and filling that office to the satisfaction of the people, was re-elected in 1879. He did not enter upon the duties of the office, however, as he was cut off by death, Thanksgiving day, 1879.
On the death of Mr. O'Donnell an election was held on the 20th of Jan., 1880, which resulted in the election of John A. Shephard, who was re-elected in 1882, and is the present county treas-
urer of Jersey. Mr. Shephard is men- tioned at length in the history of Jer- seyville, in connection with the banking interests.
COUNTY RECORDERS.
Under the earlier constitutions, the office of recorder was a separate one from that of circuit clerk. At the organization of the county George 11. Jackson, Sr., was chosen to fill the office for the first time in Jersey county. Ile entered upon the office in the fall of 1839, and continued therein four years.
George Hunter Jackson, deceased, formerly one of Jerseyville's most use- ful and highly esteemed citizens, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Oet. 15, 1813. His father, Andrew Jackson, was also a native of Philadelphia, and one of its honored citizens. He was appointed, by President Washington, an officer in the custom house of that city, where he remained till 1837. In 1838, he came to Jersey county, and died here in 1850. Mary (Servoss) Jackson, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey, and was the grand daughter of Samuel Fleming, the founder of Flem- ington, in that state. George H. re- ceived the rudiments of his education in the common schools of Philadelphia, and subsequently completed a course at the American Scientific and Military Academy, of Middleton, Conn. He moved to Illinois in 1833, and located on land adjacent to the present site of Jerseyville. Here he engaged in farm- ing, which occupation he followed the greater portion of the time until his death, which took place May 20, 1884. In Oct., 1839, upon the organization of the county, he was elected recorder, in which capacity he continued four
224
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
years. In 1866, he was appointed post- master of Jerseyville, and held that office two years. Soon after the incor- poration of the city of Jerseyville, in 1867, he was elected city clerk, and was re-elected to the same office, in 1874. During the latter years of his life, he devoted his spare time to investigating and making abstracts of the land titles of Jersey county, compiling a work of incalculable value to the people of the county, as much vagueness and uncer- tainty had previously characterized the boundaries and titles to large portions of the land of that county. For this work Mr. Jackson was eminently quali- fied, by reason of his early settlement, long residence and large experience. Politically, he was an Andrew Jackson democrat, believing in the greatest good to the greatest number. He was a firm believer in the doctrines of Chris- tianity, as taught by the "sermon on the mount," and a member of the Pres- byterian church. He was married in March, 1837, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Brown, who came to the territory of Illinois in 1802, and entered a con- siderable traet of land in Greene county. He accumulated much wealth and was, in later years, one of the influ- ential men of Jersey county, where he died April 24, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson reared 10 children, nine of whom are now living-Charles, who is an engineer and resides in Springfield; Emily, wife of J. S. Daniels; John, who resides in Kingman county, Kas., engaged in the real estate business; Mary, living at home; Katie, wife of W. W. Douglas, of Indianapolis, Ind .; Lizzie, Fannie and George II., at home. Mrs. Jackson lives in Jerseyville.
Thomas L. McGill, was the next in- cumbent of the office, having been elected to the same in August, 1843, and held the same until the adoption of the constitution of 1848, caused the blend- ing of the offices of clerk of the circuit court and recorder into one, under the name and title of the former. Mr. Mc- Gill for many years held the position of county clerk, and has been already noticed in that connection.
SHERIFFS.
The first to occupy the office of sher- iff of Jersey county was John N. Eng- lish, who was elected in 1839, and served in this capacity until the fall of 1842, when he stepped down and out. This eminent gentleman has been already noticed under the caption of members of the general assembly, in this chapter.
Perley Silloway succeeded Mr. Eng- lish as sheriff, in the latter part of the year 1842, and was re-elected in 1844, thus serving four years.
Jonathan Plowman was the next in- cumbent of the office, having been elected in 1846, re-elected in 1848, serv- ing four years. Mr. Plowman after- wards removed to Maeoupin county, and represented this district in the gen- eral assembly, under which head may be found a mention of him.
Murray Cheney was duly elected to the office of sheriff, at the general elec- tion in the fall of 1850, and served the people of Jersey county in this capac- ity for two years.
Captain Murray Cheney was born in Addison county, Vt., Feb. 28, 1809. He was reared in his native state, where he remained until he arrived at the age of 24 years. He then started for Illinois,
225
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
making the journey by canal to the city of Buffalo, thence to Pittsburg, and via the river to Illinois. This was during the long to be remembered "cholera year," and some of his fellow passen- gers sickened and died while on the passage down the Ohio river. Mr. Cheney was intending to remain on the boat until it reached St. Louis, but on account of the cholera landed at Shaw- neetown, and proceeded on foot to Alton, thence to Jersey county. He had no objective point in view, but had simply started in search of a favorable location in Illinois. On arriving at the site of the present city of Jerseyville, he located land and remained here one year, after which he returned to Ver- mont, where he was married to Caroline Pickett, who was born in Addison county. Her parents had just removed to Chatauqua county, N. Y., and in that county Mr. Cheney remained for a short time. In 1836 he again came to Jersey county, making the journey with wagons. Mr. Cheney continued to reside in Jersey county till 1856, and during that period, held numerous offices, among which were those of con- stable, deputy sheriff and sheriff. At an early day he organized a militia company, of which he was elected cap- tain. Their arms were the okl flint- lock muskets, and were furnished by the state. The "training days" are well remembered by the older inhabitants, and the "muster" was an event looked for as anxiously as the fair of the pres- ent day. It constituted, for many years, the amusement of the people, and was a semi-holiday. Capt. Cheney was elected major of the regiment to which his company belonged. He moved to
Sangamon county in 1856. Ife, at that time, owned land near Virden, in Macou- pin county, where he followed farming for a time, after which he removed to the village of Virden, where he still resides, having retired from active busi- ness, Mr. and Mrs. Cheney reared a family of eight children-Prentiss D .; Gilead P., who resides at Denver, Col .; Byron M., living in Seott county, Ill .; Mary, wife of George W. Cox, of Vir- den; Charles H., living in Burlington, Ia .; Martha S., wife of Oliver S. Greene, of Jacksonville, Ill .; John G., living in Christian county, and William, who lives upon his father's farm in Sanga- mon county. Mr. Cheney was formerly a whig in politics, but now votes with the republican party .. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
In 1852 Jay M. Hurd was elected and entered upon the duties of this office. He remained in it a term of two years. Mr. Hurd having served, also, in the office of county judge, he is mentioned in connection with that office.
In 1854, ex-sheriff Jonathan Plowman was again elected to this office, and transacted the business of the same for one term. He was succeeded in IS56 by Benjamin Wedding, who, also, oc- cupied the office for two years.
Benjamin Wedding, son of James H. and Nancy Wedding, was born April 14, 1826, in Scioto county, Ohio. He came with the family to what is now Jersey county in 1834, and here spent his early life and obtained his educa- tion. At the age of 20 years, he began teaching school, which occupation he followed during the winter seasons for 10 years, farming during the summers. In 1856 he was elected sheriff of Jersey
226
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
county by the whig party and removed to Jerseyville. He served one term. He joined the republican party at its organization and has consequently since been on the minority side of poli- tics in this county. In 1864 he was ap- pointed revenue collector for Jersey and Calhoun counties, which office he held four years. He was justice of the peace eight years, and mayor of Jersey- ville one year. He has carried on a real estate and loan business. Aug. 9, 1847, Mr. Wedding was married to Tabitha Johnson, then of Jersey county, but a native of Scioto county, Ohio. Twelve children were born to them, five of whom died in infancy. Those now living are-Barkley, James, Arabella, wife of R. H. Maltimore, Thomas, Phil, Harry and Heber.
Charles H. Bowman was first elected to the office of sheriff of Jersey county in the fall of 1858, and occupied the same this term.
Charles H. Bowman was born in Troy, N. Y., March 12, 1822, and was the third of a family of the six children of Elisha and Eunice Bowman. The elder Mr. Bowman with his family came to Jersey county, in 1836, landing here Sept. 27, of that year. He soon after settled upon a farm in Fidelity township. Charles H. was educated in his native city, and came to this county with his parents and engaged in farming until 1858, when he was elected sheriff as above. He held the office several terms and died, while in this position, in Jan., 1873.
W. H. Cummings was the next occu- pant of the office, entering upon its duties in Dec., 1860, and continuing there in two years.
Mr. Cummings was succeeded by Charles H. Bowman, in 1862. The lat- ter gentleman served two years, or until Dec,, 1864.
T. J. Selby, in 1864, was duly elected to the office of sheriff of the county, and filled it for one term. Mr. Selby having occupied the position of county clerk for many years, he has been noticed in that connection in this chapter.
Again in 1866, Charles H. Bowman was induced to enter the office of sheriff, and again served one term. He was followed by James Henry Belt, who was elected at the regular election of 1868, and entering upon the duties of the office he filled it for two years.
James H. Belt was born Feb. 22, 1837, in Jersey county, and was the son of Horatio N. and Mary Jane Belt. He received his education in the common schools of this county, and when but about 16 years of age he became a mem- ber of the firm of Belt Bros. & Co. When about 25 years of age he was united in marriage with Helen M. Bramlett. In the fall of 1868 he was elected sheriff as above mentioned.
Charles H. Bowman was again elected to this position in 1870, and re-elected in 1872, but dying while an incumbent of the office. At the fall election of 1873, his son, Stephen H. Bowman, was elected by the people to fill the vacancy, until the expiration of the term, which he did very acceptably.
In 1874 Augustus H. Barrett entered the office of sheriff, and filled it for one term.
James M. Young was duly elected to the office of sheriff of Jersey county in 1876, and filling it to the satisfaction of
227
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
the people, was re-elected in 1878, serving, in all, four years. Mr. Young having occupied the office of county treasurer, a sketch of him is given in connection with that office.
H. C. Massey served the people of this county as sheriff for two years, from Dec., 1880. Mr. Massey is one of the present members of the general assembly and is noticed under that cap- tion.
C. S. Frost, the present sheriff of Jersey county, was first elected to the office in 1882, and has filled the same to the credit of himself and honor of his friends, ever since.
SURVEYORS.
The following is believed to be a com- plete list of those who have filled the office of surveyor of the county of Jer- sey. On account of the early records of the county being incomplete in some respects, an omission may occur, but it should not be laid to the historian, as every endeavor has been made to make it cover all the ground: James A. Potts, 1843-47; Job Collins, 1847-49;
James A. Potts, 1849-53; Lewis S. McNeil, 1853-57; H. M. Chase, 1857-59; Josiah H. White, 1859-61; George I. Foster, 1861-71; W. L. West, 1871-75; George I. Foster, 1875-79; and D. J. Murphy, elected in 1879, and the pres- ent incumbent.
CORONERS.
The following is a complete list of the various gentlemen who have filled the office of coroner of Jersey county, from the date of its organization to the present time, together with the dates of their service: N. R. Lurton was first elected, in 1839, and served one year; Aaron Rue, 1840-42; John Britton, 1842-46; George Hoffman, 1846-48; Wil- liam Loy, 1848-54; Benjamin Wedding, 1854-56; Felix Virney, 1856-58; Lewis Johnson, 1858-62; James L. Beirne, 1862-64; F. W. Besterfeldt, 1864-66; Lewis Johnson, 1866-68; Sidney Noble, 1868-70; E. L. Harriott, 1870-74; Wes- ley Park, 1874-76; John S. Williams, 1876-83; Caleb DuHadway, 1880-84; and E. L. H. Barry, the present incumbent of the office, was elected in Nov., 1884.
CHAPTER XV.
EDUCATIONAL.
Schools, of some sort, were estab- lished many years ago; but the eye of history has furnished no lens sufficiently powerful to enable us to determine when or where the first one was located. It appears like a fixed star, which is lost in the nebulæ of mythology, and obscured
from our vision in the vista of distance. Schools of astronomy were in operation in Babylon over 3,300 years B. C. An academy of seribes and philosophers was an existing institution in China a thousand years later. Schools of archi- tecture, astronomy and magic were in
228
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
operation in the time of Moses, among the Egyptians, and he was educated therein. Schools of philosophy flour- ished in Judea 2,000 years B. C. The schools of Greece date back to the siege of Troy. The first Roman school was a military academy, established 667 years B. C. How these schools were con- dueted, we have but little means of knowing. In many countries they were state institutions for the benefit of the royal court. The magic wise men, sooth- sayers and prophets of those ancient countries were not ignoramuses, es- pecially gifted, as many suppose, but were educated men - learned in the knowledge of their age-so as to fit them for royal counsellors. Most of these schools were kept secret from the masses, and as much mystery and won- der were thrown around their inmates as possible. These were seats of the oracles, and court prophets, without whose sanction kings rarely commenced or prosecuted any great enterprise. In the more republican nations, teachers gathered their students in groves, mar- ket places, temples, porches, or by the sea, and taught them by conversational lectures. Book were unknown. The art of printing slumbered in the then distant future. Even letters had not been born out of hieroglyphic charac- ters. Education was confined to the royal retinue. The masses were igno- rant, and purposely kept so, in order to insure subordination. It was realized many years ago that ignorance only would demand and submit to des- potism.
After the discoveries of Galileo, edu- cation made rapid strides toward popu- larization. He, being repudiated and
persecuted by the royal authorities, be- came the people's educator; and the progressive ideas by him promulgated, caused America and the Pacific isles to be discovered and settled-brought forth the art of printing, unfolded the pro- testant religion, and infused a general spirit of research throughout Europe. After this the graded system began to be introduced into academies and col- leges; but the common schools received but little benefit therefrom until within the last half century, when Prussia took the lead in the enterprise. A committee appointed by the crown reported that "it was advisable to educate all classes, for the encouragement of piety and religion, in order to lessen the police force of the nation." Public schools were accord- ingly established for all classes. The common people flocked in, and it became necessary to erect new and more com- modious buildings, and to provide an increased number of teachers. To meet this demand the graded system was adopted. It was found that where one teacher had but one grade of pupils, he could give instruction to about twice the usual number-be more thorough, and advance them much faster than by the ungraded method.
The pioneer school houses of Jersey county, as was common in all new countries, were built of logs, and in some cases yet stand rough cradles of learning that many distinguished men recall in the glamour that memory throws around their boyhood's days, as their only alma mater. These days are past and gone, and now, on every hill- top, the white frame school house rears itself, inviting the reluctant youth to follow the road to knowledge.
229
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
COMMISSIONERS OF SCHOOL LANDS.
When the county of Jersey was organ- ized, in 1839, the office of superintend- ent of schools had not been, as yet, created. The only officer connected with the schools, under the constitution of 1818, was the commissioner of the' school lands, who had charge of the funds arising from the sale of the six- teenth sections, donated in each con- gressional township for educational pur- poses. This officer was appointed by the county commissioners' court, who were empowered to fix the compensation of the same. Many of these men in all the early communities were unfit for the position, and upon the records of Jersey county is spread the following unique preamble and resolution, which is here given with names and dates left out, as it is not necessary for historic accuracy that they should be given; suffice it to say, that it is at a term of court in the early "forties:"
"Whereas. an order was made at the June term, 18-, declaring the office of school commissioner and agent for the inhabitants of Jersey county, vacant by the removal of - for neglect of duty and incompetency; and whereas, the court was not aware of the existence of the law passed last winter, making said offices elective by the people, on the first Monday in August next; and, whereas, in consequence of the exist- ence of said law, the court could not get a suitable and competent person to accept the appointment of said office for so short a time; therefore it is
"Ordered, that said order is hereby rescinded, and said is to all intents and purposes re-instated in and to said office, for the reason above
mentioned. But, be it known, that nothing has occurred to change or alter the minds of this court relative to the causes of removal."
The first to occupy this office was Jo- seph Crabb, who was appointed by the county commissioners' court Oct. 14, 1839, and held it for about a year. He was succeeded by George Pegues. By some change in the law this was altered from an appointive to an elective one, and this gentleman was elected, but re- signed it September of that same year, and James Harriott was appointed in his place. In 1843 he was re-elected with- out any opposition, and again in 1845 and 1847, holding the office for eight years.
Rev. B. B. Hamilton was the next to fill the office, being elected thereto in the fall of 1847, but only served one year. Mr. Hamilton is a resident and present postmaster of the town of White Hall, Greene county, in the annals of which town may be found his sketch.
In the fall of 1848 Hiram Bridges was elected to fill this office, and held it for nine years, being re-elected in 1855.
Henry H. Howard, a prominent attor- ney of the county, was elected to this office in 1857 and acceptably filled it for two years.
In 1858 the law governing school mat- ters was radically changed, among the improvements being the abolishment of the office of school commissioner, and the establishment of the office of
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
This officer was required to examine applicants for teachers' certificates, and to issue said certificates to such as were qualified; to visit and inspect the schools
230
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.