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 34

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 34

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and is a son of William and Janet (Fowler) Dougherty, the former a native South Carolina, and the latter of New York. The subject of this sketch has always followed farming. Ile now owns a fine farm comprising 656 acres, with splendid improvements. He was married, in 1845, to Susan Millross, a native of Scotland. They are the pa- rents of eight children, six of whom are living-Louisa, wife of J. C. Cad- walader, of this township; George H., living at home; William, living in this township; Irene, wife of C. A. L. Reed, M. D., of Hamilton, O .; Leon- ora, wife of Milton Noble, of this town- ship; and John, living at home with his parents. Julius died in 1849, and Anna in 1881. Mr. Dougherty's father, William, died in 1833, and his mother, in 1862.

Henry Noble, a native of Maryland, but a long time resident of the state of Mississippi, came to Jersey county in 1833, landing at Grafton on the 3d of April. He immediately purchased some 400 acres of land on section 10 and 15, in this township, and settled down to the hard life of a pioneer. Mr. Noble was married in the state of Mis- sissippi to Mary Swayze, a native of New Jersey, He was the father of quite a family of children, some of whom have risen to considerable dis- tinction-Reuben, having been until lately the judge of the 5th judicial dis- trict of Iowa; Caleb, associate justice of this county, and others. Mr. Noble was noted throughout this county as a man of the strictest integrity and ster- ling worth. He died in July, 1852, at his place near Otterville.

Caleb Noble came with his parents in

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

1833. He was born in Adams county, Miss., in 1817. He was married in 1840 to Electa Gillham, a native of Illi- nois. She died in 1852.

William Noble came to Otter Creek township in 1833, he being then six years old. He was born in Adams county, Mississippi, in 1827. His par- ents, Henry and Nancy Ann (Curry) Noble, resided in this township from from 1833 until their death, his father dying in 1852 and his mother in 1850. William H. was brought up on a farm and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He was married, on the 4th of March, 1849, to Thirza Chappell, a native of England. They are the parents of six children-Israel C., of Otter Creek township, Emma M., wife of Theodore Dodson of Jerseyville, Ill .; William H., of this township; Milton B., of this township; James R. and Jesse C., living with their parents. Mr. Noble owns 218 acres of land on sections 14 and 15, 200 on section 10, and 40 on section 9, of Otter Creek township. His residence is one of the oldest frame houses in Jer- sey county. He carries on general farming. Mr. Noble and all of his family are members of the Presbyterian church.

Samuel J. M. Dougherty settled where he now lives in Otter Creek town- ship, in 1845, since which this has been his home. He was born in the state of Mississippi, in 1810. His parents, James and Arkada (Varnada) Dougher- ty, were natives of South Carolina, who came to Jersey county in 1834, and set- tled where Samuel now lives, in this township. Here James Dougherty died in 1843. The subject of this sketch was married in 1846 to Elizabeth Cook, who

was born in Mississippi, and came with her parents to this state in 1835. Mr. Dougherty owns a fine farm, comprising 275 acres of land, all improved, and is engaged in general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty are the parents of four children, two of whom are living- Joseph C., of this township, and Mary A. James H. died while in the service . of his country, during the war of the Re- bellion. He was a member of Co. C, of the 61st Ill. Inft. Alexander F. died at the age of four years. Mr. Dougherty and his family are members of the M. E. Church. He is a republican po- litically, and was formerly a whig. Al- though advanced in years he is still vigorous and hearty, and a well inform- ed. intelligent gentleman.

Jeremiah O. Stillwell, was born in Haywood county, N. C., July 28, 1814. He came to Illinois in 1834, and located in what is now Jersey county, on the northeast quarter of Sec. 27, T. 7. R. 12, about two miles southwest of the place where the village of Otterville is now located. He was married Dec. 14, 1837, to Ann Eliza White, who was born Oct. 1, 1821, in Chatham county, N. C., and who came to Illinois with her parents about the same time Mr. Stillwell did. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Still- well 13 children, of whom only six are now living-five sons, Virgil, Leander, Reuben, Logan, Ernest, and a daughter, Louisa. Mr. Stillwell resided on the old homestead until 1881, when he sold out and moved to Anderson county, Kan., where he now resides, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Politically, Mr. Stillwell was an old-line whig, but on the dissolution of that party, he allied himself, in 1854, with the repub-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

lican party, with which he has ever since voted and acted.

Leander Stillwell, son of Jeremiah O. and Ann Eliza (White) Stillwell, was born in Otter Creek precinct, Jersey county, Ill., Sept. 16, 1843. He received a limited common school education, at the old Stone school house, in Otter- ville. On Jan. 7, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 61st Ill. Inf., and in Feb., 1864, re-enlisted as a veteran vol- unteer in the same company and regi- ment, and served to the end of the war, being mustered out as 1st lieutenant, and having served continuously nearly four years. At the close of the war, he studied law at the Albany law school, and was admitted to the bar in Dec., 1867. He immigrated to Kansas, in May, 1868, locating at Erie, Neosho county, where he engaged in the practice of law. Ile was married in 1872 to Miss Anna L. Stauber. He was elected to the lower house of the Kansas legislature in 1876, and in 1883, was elected judge of the seventh judicial district, consisting of the counties of Allen, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson, which position he now holds. Politically, he is a republican.

Ephraim Fredenburg settled in Otter Creek township in 1837. He was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1817, his parents being Aaron and Mary (Routledge) Fre- denburg. His early life was spent in his native country, where, in his youth, he learned the carpenter trade. In 1837, he came to Jersey county, Ill., and settled in Otter Creek township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in January, 1880. He owned a farm of 40 acres. He was married in 1844 to Mary A. Lofton, who was born in this county. Six children

were born to them-Charles H., now living in Grafton; Catharine, wife of Charles Blish, of Jerseyville; Eliza- beth J., wife of R. R. Nugent, of Graf- ton; Caroline C., wife of Thomas J. Cannada, of Otterville; Delevan, living at home; and Celinda, wife of Frank Calhoun, of Otterville. Their son, Charles H., served one year in the army, during the war of the Rebellion. Mrs. Fredenburg is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

OTHER PROMINENT CITIZENS.

Reuben T. Worthey, son of George and Lucy (Ivins) Worthey. was born in East Tennessee, in 1828. In Aug. 1846, he came to Jersey county, Ill., settled in Otter Creek township, and engaged in farming. He has been a resident here since that time and now owns a fine farm of 120 acres. He was married in June, 1860, to Mary E. Miner, a native of this county. They are the parents of 11 children, 10 of whom are living- Toney Newton, Josephine, Daniel Ben- ton, Aaron, Louis, Nathaniel, Louisa, Jennette, Christopher, Harry A., and Lucy. Alice is deceased. Mr. Worthey carries on general farming. He is at present school director of this district.

John W. Sisson, one of the leading farmers of Otter Creek township, is a native of Virginia, born March 7, 1813. He is a son of Abner and Susanna (Hardy) Sisson, both natives of Vir- ginia. In the fall of 1820 they removed from Virginia to Jefferson county, Ky. John W. came to the state of Illinois in May, 1837, and settled in Macoupin county, where he lived until 1850, then moved to Jersey county and located where he now resides, on Sec. 13, Otter

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Creek township. He owns a well im- proved farm, comprising 295 acres. His residence is a handsome structure, erected at a cost of $8,000. His barn and other farm buildings are of a corre- sponding description. Mr. Sisson was married in Feb., 1843, to Martha J. Eaton, a native of Kentucky. They are the parents of eight children-Susan S., wife of Charles Stephenson, of Nebraska; Henry Hardy, now in Nebraska; John Franklin, living in Logan county, Ill .; Louisa Maria, wife of Shepherd Bell, of Nebraska; Emma Cordelia, wife of Is- rael Noble, of Jersey county; Jessie May, living with her parents; Cyrus Ausbury and Olive Augusta, also living at home. He is engaged in general farming. He came here in very limited circumstances, and his present highly prosperous condition is due entirely to his own industry and wise management.

Thomas Edsall, son of Coe and Li- dice H. (Perry) Edsall, was born in Jersey county, in 1841. Coe Edsall was a native of New York, and his wife of Tennessee. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in this county. During the war of the Rebellion he served ten months as a member of Co. E, of the 9th Ill. Cav. He has always followed the occupation of farming and now owns a good farm of 120 acres in Otter Creek township. He was mar- ried in 1884 to Eliza A. Myers, a native of Reynolds county, Mo. She is a daughter of Lorenzo D. and Angeline (Legate) Myers. Mrs. Angeline Myers was born in 1820 and died in the year 1881. She was an old settler of Jersey county, was well known and highly re- spected. Mr. Edsall has served two terms as road commissioner, and is a

highly respected citizen of this town- ship.

Charles R. Kirchner, a farmer of Otter Creek township, is a son of George C. and Elizabeth (Thurston) Kirchner, na- tives of Prussia, who came to America in 1825. Charles R. was born in Jersey county in 1850. He here grew to man- hood, receiving his education in the dis- trict schools of English township and the graded schools of Jerseyville. In 1870 he was married to Charlotte Hin- son, a native of this county. They have three children-Lula Bell, Harry Wes- ley, and Della Leo. Mr. Kirchner owns a farm of 120 acres, located on Sec. 15. Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. George C. Kirchner improved one of the first farms in English township, located on Secs. 31 and 32. George Kirchner died Dec. 11, 1881, and his wife, Elizabeth, in the fall of 1865. Both are buried in the Jerseyville cemetery.

Samuel C. Ellis was born in East Tennessee in 1824. His parents were Elijah and Amanda (Cox) Ellis, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Pennsylvania. When Samuel was quite young his parents moved to Pennsylvania, thence to Ohio, where his mother died August 6, 1826, and his father in 1835. After his father's death he went back to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1841. He then returned to Ohio, and, in the spring of 1846, en- listed in the Mexican war, joining Co. G, 2d Ohio Regt. He was in the ser- vice two years, after which he came to this state, and settled in Quarry town- ship, Jersey county. He followed farm- ing there until 1872, then removed to Otterville, and has lived in this neigh-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

borhood ever since. In 1850 he was married to Mary M. Edsall, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have had two children-Linda Maria, who died June 14, 1860, aged nine years, and Ida Jane, wife of J. N. Noble, of Quarry township. Mr. Ellis owns a farm of 80 acres. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and an Odd Fellow. Mrs. Ellis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

John T. Swan, a farmer of this county, was born in 1823, in St. Clair county, Ill. Heis a son of Francis and Eliza- beth (Chambers) Swan, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Virginia. He came to this country in 1826 with his parents, and settled two miles west of Carrollton, Greene county. Ile there lived until he was about ten years old, when they moved to Missis- sippi township, this county, and lived there 15 years. They then moved to Sec. 25, Otter Creek township, which has since been his home, and where he now owns 80 acres of good land. He was married in 1856 to Melissa Fell, a native of this state. They have two children-Laura, wife of O. S. David- son, of Virden, Ill., and Mary, wife of Silas Spangle, of this township. Mr. Swan is a member of the M. E. Church. He takes a considerable interest in pub- lic affairs, and has been town trustee. His mother died in 1844, and his father in 1846, and both were buried in Salem church cemetery.

Henry S. Rogers, a prominent farmer of Otter Creek township, is a native of Scioto county, Ohio, born in the year 1821. His father, Elias P. Rogers, was born on Long Island, N. Y., and his mother, Susanna (Spangle) Rogers, in

Pennsylvania. Henry S. Rogers came to Illinois in 1840, locating in St. Clair county. Eight months later he removed to Jersey county and settled in Jerscy- ville township, where he lived four years. He moved to a farm on the Illinois river bottom, upon which he lived two years and kept the farm, then went to Monroe county, Ill., and re- mained one year, then returned to Jersey county, lived here four years, and removed to Johnson county, Ind., where for two years he was proprietor of a paper called the Franklin Jefferson- ian. At the expiration of that time, he came back to Jersey county and staid five years engaged in blacksmithing, then went to Montgomery county, Ill., and there followed farming eighteen months, after which he purchased the farm in this county, upon which he now resides. It is located in Otter Creek township, and comprises 340 acres. Mr. Rogers was married in 1844, to Rachel Vanausdall, a native of Ohio. Eight children were born to them-Austin J., born in 1847, and died in 1879; Desde- mona, born in 1849, and died in 1865; Margaret H., born in 1860, and died in 1865; Cornelius W., born in 1854, now living at home; Mary E., born in 1851, now the wife of T. A. Davis, of Win- chester, Ill .; John V., born in 1857, living at home; Teresa C., born in 1863, now the wife of Seth Fisk, of this county, and Rowena Maud, born in 1865, living at home. Mrs. Rogers died in 1879, and was buried in the Noble cem- etery, near Otterville. Mr. Rogers is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has for the past forty years, held connec- tion with the Baptist church. He is at present serving as township trustee.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Noah T. Rogers settled where he now resides, on section 11, Otter Creek town- ship, in 1846. He is a son of Elias P. and Susanna (Spangle) Rogers, and was born in Scioto county, O., in 1824. He was married in 1849 to Sarah McDaniel, a native of Illinois. By this union there were seven children, six of whom are living-Sarah A., William C., Viola V., Maria L., Dora J., and Ada. He owns 198} acres of land. Mrs. Rogers also owns 180 acres in this county, and 240 acres in Madison county. Mr. Rog- ers is a justice of the peace and a town- ship supervisor, having held both offices for a number of years. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., also of the A. F. and A. M.

Hiram White a farmer of Otter Creek township, was born in Clinton county, Ill., Dec. 16, 1843. He is a son of Thomas and Rebecca White, who came to Jersey county in 1845, and settled on section 26, Otter Creek township, where Hiram White now lives. Thos. White died in 1850 and his wife, Rebecca in 1884. Hiram White was married in 1868, to Julia Hill, a native of Georgia. They have three children-Nettie De- light, Iva Nellie and Elda May. Mr. White served five months in the army during the war of the Rebellion, enlist- ing in the 27th Ill. Inf. He was dis- charged for disability and returned home He owns 80 acres of valuable land and is engaged in general farming. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

Andrew Spangle, of Otter Creek town- ship, was born in Ohio in 18IS, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Johnson) Span- gle, natives of the same state. In the year 1832 he came to Jersey county, and settled on the place where he now re-

sides. He has 200 acres of well im- proved land, and is engaged in general farming. In 1846 he was united in mar- riage with Susan Hughes, who was born in Ohio. They reared a family of eight children-Ellen, who was married to Linus Humiston, and died in 1879; Silas, living in this township; Louis, at home, George, living in Mississippi township; Julia, at home; Albert, living in this township; Emma, wife of James Bot- kin, and Jasper, of English township. Mr. and Mrs. Spangle are members of the Baptist church.

Isaac Kennedy was born in Hen- dricks county, Ind., April 10, 1838, his parents being Levi and Elizabeth (Smith) Kennedy, both natives of Ken- tucky. Isaac came to this county in 1854, and settled in Quarry township remaining there two years. He then moved to Christian county, but after a few months, returned to Jersey county and located in Otter Creek township, where he has since resided. He was married on the 27th day of May, 1850, to Elizabeth Davis, a native of Indiana. They are the parents of two children- Isaac Newton, of Otterville, and Jesse, living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are members of the Baptist Church.

Louis Albrecht was born in Germany in 1834, and is a son of Ignatius and Victoria (Tischler) Albrecht. both na- tives of Germany. He came to the United States in 1867, and located first . at Memphis, Tenn., where he remained six months, then went to Iowa, thence, soon after, to Missouri. Three months later he came to Illinois, and stopped three months in Brighton, after which he came to Jersey county, locating at Grafton, where he resided one year. At

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the expiration of that time he moved to a farm near Grafton, where he spent four years, taking care of a vineyard. In 1872 he rented a farm in Otter Creek township, and in 1876 moved to the farm where he now lives. He rented the same for a period of five years, but at the end of two years purchased the place. It is located on Sec. 34, and comprises 119 aeres of valuable and well improved land. He was married in 1865, to Elizabeth Willmann, a native of Germany. Three children have been born to them-John Michael, Joseph Louis, and Maggie Elizabeth, all attend- ing the district school. Mr. Albrecht, before coming to this country, served nine years in the German army. He was also a conductor on a railroad in that country, and kept a store there two years. He is at present serving as school director.

James F. Moss, a farmer of Otter Creek township, was born in Jefferson county, Ill., in 1825, being a son of Ran- som and Anna (Johnson) Moss, both of whom were native Virginians, and came to this state in 1818, settling in the eounty where James was born, near Mt. Vernon. His father there died in 1835, and his mother still lives in that county. The subject of this sketch came to this county in 1849, locating first in Graf- ton, and there remained one winter. He then came to this township, and located on Sec. 25, and rented a farm, which subsequently he purchased and where he now lives. He was married in 1846 to Martha Broek, a native of this county. By that union were nine children, only two of whom-Samantha J. and James C .- are now living. His first wife died Jan. 2, 1864, and July 27 of the follow-

ing year he was married to Lueinda C. Slaten, a native of this county. By this marriage were six children-Neenah, Nettie D., Fannie R., Ruth, Harmon W., and Carrie. Mr. Moss takes a com- mendable interest in public affairs, and has been school director and trustee. He has always made farming a business and now owns 200 acres of land.

James C. Moss, son of James F. and Martha (Brock) Moss, was born in Jersey county in the year 1858. His early life was spent here and his education ob- tained in the district schools of this neighborhood. In 1877 he was united in marriage with Alma C. Hinman, who was born in Jefferson county, Ill. They are the parents of one child-Fred- die, aged two years. Mr. and Mrs. Moss are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an active interest. Mr. Moss is superin- tendent of the Sunday school and in that capacity is well liked and highly useful.

Daniel Newberry came to Jersey county in 1856, locating then in Otter Creek township. He was born in New Jersey, in 1806, his parents being Daniel and Elizabeth (Smallwood) Newberry, both natives of New Jersey. Daniel Newberry was married in 1827, to Eliza- beth Jones, a native of Clermont county, Ohio. Nine children were born to them, two of whom are now living-Lonisa, wife of J. W. Lane, of this township; and Hamilton D., now living in Mont- gomery county, Ill .. Mr. Newberry has a farm of 80 acres, and has always been a farmer. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the M. E. church.

Marion MeDow was born in Jersey county in the year 1830, and is a son

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

of William and Delilah (Waggoner) McDow. The subject of this sketch has spent most of his life in Otter Creek township, where he now lives. He was married in 1862, to Melissa Rogers, a native of Otter Creek township. In 1853 he went to California, remaining there until 1861, engaged in blacksmith- ing. Ile then returned to Jersey county. He owns 120 acres of land and town property, consisting of a residence and five lots. He has served as township assessor, two terms.

Henry T. Miller was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in the year 1838, and is the son of Henry and Charlotte (Hincey) Miller, natives of that country. The subject of this sketch came to America in the year 1848, and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he learned the trade of turner, with the firm of Woodburn & Scott, where he worked fifteen years. He then went to Calhoun county, Ill., and was a resident of that county five years, after which he moved to Clark county, Mo. One year later he came to Jersey county and settled in T. 7, R. 12, Sec. 36, where he still lives. He owns a farm of 80 acres and carries on general farming. In 1862, Mr. Miller was married to Melvina M. Miller, a native of Ohio. Four children have blessed their union- Scena, wife of Phillip Maxwell, of Burden, Kan .; Fannie Bell, wife of Sam- uel S. Leppler, of Burden, Kan .; Susie, wife of Edward W. Maxwell, of this township; and Thomas Henry, at home. Mr. Miller has been school director of his district four years. His father, Henry Miller, died in St. Louis, in 1874, and his mother now lives in Calhoun county.

James Shortal is a native of Kil- kenny, Ireland, born June 15, 1815. He is a son of Robert and Bridget (Griffin) Shortal. In 1847, James Shortal emi- grated to America, landing in New York city, where he resided 12 years. In March, 1865, he moved to Jersey county, Ill., settling in Otter Creek town- ship, where he now owns a valuable and well improved farm, containing 277} acres of land. He has a commodious and comfortable residence, erected at a cost of $2,500. Ile began life without financial capital, and has accumulated his property unaided. He carries on general farming. He was married, in 1849, to Mary Sangford, also a native of Kilkenny, Ireland. Six children were born to them, only one of whom is now living-Samuel, who resides upon the farm with his father. Bridget was mar- ried to James O'Neal, who died in 1877. She died Feb. 2, 1879, in Colorado. Robert died Sept. 29, 1882, in this county Margaret died in 1858. Mary died in 1859, and Ellen in 1861. The three last named are buried in Bordentown, New Jersey. Mr. Shortal and his family are members of the Catholic church. He has five grandchildren living with him, all of whom attend the district school.

Edward D. Howard, a farmer of Otter Creek township, is a son of Beal and Ann R. Howard, both natives of Fair- fax county, Va. They emigrated to Illi- nois in 1829, and settled at Alton, where Edward was born in 1843. When he was eight years old he removed with his parents, to a farm four miles north of Alton, upon which they lived until the fall of 1868. He then went to Montgomery county, and remained un- til 1875. In that year he came to Otter

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Creek township, where he has since resided. In Oct. 1882, he went to New Mexico, with the intention of making that his home, but not being pleased with the country, returned after a few months. He was married April 9, 1868, to Emma M. Terry, of this township, and by this union had five children- Jasper E., Thomas Henry, Anna, Eva, and Cartney Leroy. Mr. Howard owns a good farm containing 150 acres, all under cultivation and well improved. He carries on general farming. His father, Beal Howard, died in 1874, and his mother in 1861.

Jesse K. Cadwałader is a son of John and Mary (Branson) Cadwalader, and was born in 1846, in Fulton county, Ill. He remained with his parents, on a farm, in that county till April, 1858, then came to Jersey county and settled in Otter Creek township. After coming here he attended one year (1866) at Shurtleff college, at Upper Alton, then returned to the farm, on Sec. 12, where he now resides. In March, 1864, he en- listed in the 124th Ill. Inf., and served until June 13, 1865. He participated in the siege of Mobile, Ala. In Sept., 1871, was married to Louisa M. Dough- erty, daughter of John S. Dougherty, of Otter Creek township. They are the parents of one child-Mamie D. Mr. Cadwalader owns 270 acres of land, all of which is improved except 30 acres of timber; also, a residence in Jerseyville. He makes a business of stock-raising, paying particular attention to short-horn cattle. Mr. Cadwalader and his family are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has held the office of township supervisor two years.

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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 34

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