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 36

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 36

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is a teacher by profession, for which he is well fitted both by nature and educa- tion and in which he is popular and successful. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1869. His wife holds connection with the Protestant Method- ist church. He has always been an earnest advocate of the cause of temper- ance and is a member of the I. O. G. T. He belongs also to the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R. He has traveled considerably in Texas, the In- dian Territory, and several states. He has learned two good trades, hence will always be able to make a good living.

Silas W. Rogers of Otterville, is a son of William and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Rogers, and was born near this town in 1849. He was brought up on a farm and educated in the public schools of Otter- ville. When 16 years of age he entered the store of John A. Campbell, with whom he continued six years. He then went into business for himself, which he carried on until May 25, 1885. He was married in the year 1871, to Hattie Mckinstry, a native of Jersey county. They are the parents of three children -Eddie, Flora and John. Mr. Rogers was postmaster of Otterville six years and served two terms upon the board of supervisors, immediately after township organization. He is at present town- ship treasurer and treasurer of the Hamilton fund. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Otterville, of which he was the first member initiated. Mrs. Rogers is a member of the Baptist church. While in business here, Mr. Rogers won the respect and esteem of a large number of friends and patrons.

HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY. 299

Isaac Newton Kennedy was born in Otter Creek township, Jersey county, in the year 1859. His parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Davis) Kennedy are still living in the township. Both are na- tives of Indiana. Isaac attended school until 17 years of age, thus obtaining a fair education. He then followed farm- ing three years. At the expiration of that period, he went to Macoupin county and engaged in clerking in a store at Chesterfield. Ile continued thus em- ployed till Jan. 1883, at which time he returned to Otterville entering the store of S. W. Rogers, for whom he clerked until May, 1885, when Mr. Rog- ers sold out his business. Mr. Ken- nedy was married Sept. 2, 1884, to Mary C. Hall, of Chesterfield, Macoupin county, Ill. He is at present serving as township collector. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he now holds the office of N. G., being re- elected to the same.

Linus Humiston, of Otter Creek town- ship, is a son of Jason and Margaret (McNeal) Humiston, the former a na- tive of Wallingford, Conn., and the lat- ter, of Morgantown, W. Va. Linus was born in Washington county, O., in 1825. He remained in that county until 21 years of age, engaged in farming and carpentering. He obtained a good edu- cation in the public schools, and taught school one term of four months, in Ohio. In Sept., 1847, he came to Jersey coun- ty and settled in Otterville, where he has ever since resided. He has follow- ed teaching school and carpentering. He was employed about 10 years as teacher of the Otterville school. In Feb., 1864, he enlisted in the 124th Ill. Inf., and served till July 17, 1865,

when he was transferred to the 33d Ill. Reg., and was mustered out Dec. 6. 1865. He participated in the following battles: Benton, Yazoo City, Clinton, Jackson Cross Roads, Miss., and Span- ish Fort, Ala. Mr. Humiston was mar- ried in 1873, to Ellen Spangle, a native of this county, and daughter of Andrew Spangle, of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Humiston have two children- Andrew Jason and Luther Burton. Jason Humiston, father of the subject of this sketch, died in Ohio, Nov. 20, 1854, and his wife, Margaret, March 31, 1849, in the same state.

Horace K. Barber is a native of the "Green Mountain State," born in Wind- ham county in 1829, being a son of Calvin and Polly B. (Hall) Barber. In 1852 he came to Jersey county and settled in Jerseyville, where he resided till 1870. In that year he moved to Otterville, which has since been his home. He has followed the occupations of carpen- tering, coopering and brickmaking. In 1849 he was united in marriage with Martha E. Reed, also a native of Ver- mont. They are the parents of seven children-Francis Elliott, who died May 11, 1858, aged eight years; George Horace, born Aug. 6, 1551, now living in Edgar, Neb .; Arthur, who died March 18, 1854, aged eleven months; John A., born Oct. 24, 1855, now living in Carthage, Mo .; Frederick Eugene, who died in 1876, aged 18 years; Lula Winnie, who died in 1872, aged eight years, and Desdemona, who also died in 1872, at the age of six years. Mr. Barber enlisted in 1861, in the 14th Ill. Regt., and served as a musician in Co. F, one year. Ile was mustered out at Corinth, Miss., in June, 1862. In Feb. 1865, he again

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

enlisted in the 154th Ill. Inf., and served seven months as commissary-sergeant. Mr. Barber is a thorough musician and a band teacher.

Thomas A. Case, of Otterville, is a son of John B. and Ann (Ross) Case, and was born in the town where he now re- sides, Oct. 3, 1856. He attended the graded schools of Otterville and later, a private school, thus obtaining a good edueation, and at the age of 20 years, began teaching in a district school, which he eontinned five terms. Since 1880 he has clerked in the drug store of Dr. John Williams, during the sum- mer months, and followed teaching dur- ing the winter. In 1882 he was elected colleetor of Otter Creek township, and filled that office one term. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he is P. G.

SOCIETIES.

Otterville lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F., was organized on the 10th day of Oct., 1871, by T. B. Needles, G. M., and N. C. Nason, G. S., with the following charter members : Albert Livingston, Jesse Coekrell, L. H. Palmer, James C. Buckles, E. N. Yale, John Cooley, Richard Chappell, Joseph Chambers and Joseph Marshaw. The first officers were : Albert Livingston, N. G .; Jesse Cockrell, V. G .; John Cooley, R. S .; Richard Chappell, Treas. Since then the presiding officers have been as fol- lows: Jesse Cockrell, N. T. Rogers, James C. Buekles, E. J. Hughes, J. C. Noble, J. E. Hurd, John S. Williams, H. K. Barber, S. W. Rogers, W. H. Lehmkuhl, J. S. Turner, William II. Cook, W. C. Rogers, A. J. Milford, W. II. Lehmkuhl, J. S. Williams, W. A. Smith, J. A. Flautt, Vincent Martin,

S. Hamilton, Thomas A. Case, Geo. W. White, J. N. Kennedy. The present officers are the following: J. N. Ken- nedy, N. G .; W. H. Lehmkuhl , V. G .; Thomas A. Case, S .; W. C. Rogers, treasurer. The membership of the lodge is 40 at this writing. A commendable degree of interest is manifested by the members, and the lodge may be said to be in good condition, finaneially and otherwise. The lodge meets every Sat- urday evening.

Otterville lodge No. 563, A. F. & A. M., was organized in 1868, with the fol- lowing charter members: William J. Hull, O. B. Hamilton, John Lincogle, Rev. Daniel Bell, William Bell, Lewis White and F. A. Claridge. The hall in which the lodge met was burned in 1881, with all the records, so that little of the data of its earlier history is ob- tainable. The lodge was re-organized Dec. 3, 1881, with the following officers: J. C. Noble, W. M .; H. C. Terry, S. W .; L. H. Slaten, J. W .; N. T. Rodgers, S. D .; J. K. Cadwallader, J. D .; J. F. Curtis, secretary; A. Swantzmiller, tyler. The officers for 1885 are: J. K. Cadwallader, W. M .; J. S. Williams, S. W .; J. A. Flautt, J. W .; J. C. Noble, Treas .; S. W. Rodgers, Sec. The pres- ent membership is now 28. The finan- cial condition of the lodge is most ex- cellent. Meetings are held once a month.

BAND.

Barber's cornet band was organized on the 4th day of Dee., 1880, by H. K. Bar- ber, with the following members : R. S. Bell, J. A. Barber, Charles W. Noble, George W. Noble, L. T. Waggoner, and H. K. Barber. Since then there have been some changes in membership,

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though the number remains the same. The band at present contains the follow- ing new members : T. Herman Kirch- ner, Caleb C. Calhoun, W. C. Rogers. This band has held regular meetings for over four years, and under the efficient leadership of H. K. Barber, who is also instructor, they have made good prog- ress and are now able to furnish good music when called upon.

EDUCATIONAL.

Dibble. The school year consists of eight months. There are 106 pupils en- rolled, and the cost of maintaining this institution of learning is $1,000 per year. The present teachers are Will Hanly and Elizabeth Godfrey.

RELIGIOUS.

The Otterville Presbyterian church was organized March 19, 1885, with ten members.

The Otter Creek Baptist church was organized in June, 1855, by Revs. B. B. Hamilton, D. P. French, R. C. Keele, Aaron Dodson, and Elder John Brown. Shiloh M. E. church was built in 1859. A full history of these religious bod-

The present school house of Otter- ville was built in 1873 and 1874. The building in size is 28x66 feet in the main portion, with an annex 18x20. It is constructed of stone, is two stories high, and cost $8,000. The first term of ies is given in the chapter devoted to school in this building was taught by ecclesiastical history. Mrs. Hannah H. Devol and Frances

CHAPTER XIX.

QUARRY TOWNSHIP.

This civil sub-division of Jersey county embraces congressional fractional T. 6 n., R. 12 and 13 w., and is bounded on the north by Rosedale and Otter Creek townships, on the east by Elsah, and on the south and west by the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. This township is perhaps most worthy of notice on account of the outcropping of the Niagara group of the Lower Silurian limestone, which is quarried so exten- sively here, and which gives to the town- ship its name of Quarry. There is some good farm land in the township, but the surface of the country is generally so

| rugged and uneven that a large part of it must remain untried by the hand and implements of the agriculturist. The town of Grafton, in the south part of the township, which stretches along the north bank of the Mississippi river, near the mouth of the Illinois, affords an excellent trading place, as well as post- office facilities to the citizens of the township. There are several small streams running through the township, flowing into the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Long lake and Deep lake pro- ject into this township from Rosedale, on Sec. 5, R. 13. Gilbert lake lies right

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

alongside the Illinois river, on Secs. 14 and 15, R. 13.

Many interesting historical items have their origin in this township, which are duly noticed further on in this chapter, or in their proper place in the general chapters.

George Finney located near the Illi- nois river, in the south part of what is now . Quarry township, in 1819. He had been a soldier in the regular army, and after his discharge, in St. Louis, came up. and made the settlement mentioned. In the latter part of the year 1826, he entered land on Sec. 15, T. 6, R. 13, and on Sec. 8, T. 6, R. 12.

Sanford Hughes also located in what is now Quarry township, in 1819. He had been a companion-in-arms of Geo. Finney, and on their discharge, at St. Louis, had come up, and located on the Illinois river bottom land.

David Gilbert and John Stafford were also settlers of 1819, locating, with their former comrades of the regular service, Finney and Hughes, on the bottom land of the Illinois river, in what is now Quarry township.

A man named Babcock settled in the southeastern corner of what is now Quarry township, about 1819. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812. Babb's Hollow took its name from him. Bab- cock died at this place.

A man named Copeland also came up with the four mentioned, and settled in the south part of Quarry township. He had also been a soldier in the United States service.

William D. F. Slaten was a settler of 1829, coming in March of that year.

William D. F. Slaten, one of the ear- liest settlers of Jersey county, was born

in Jackson county, Ga., in 1808. He came to Illinois in 1822, locating four miles southwest of Carrollton, in Greene county. Seven years later he moved to Quarry township, Jersey county, living here until 1831, when he returned to Greene county, and remained two years, then moved back to Quarry township, and after two years (in 1835) again re- turned to Greene county. In 1836 he came back to Jersey county, where he has since resided. He first settled on a farm in Quarry township, but remained there only a short time, moving to Grafton the same year. He lived at Grafton about six years, during which time he held the offices of constable, collector and deputy sheriff. In 1842 he moved to seetion 36 of Otter Creek township, where he lived until 1848. In the fall of that year he returned to Grafton, and was there partner in a gen- eral mercantile business, one year. Then he removed to a farm two miles northeast of Grafton, which was his home until 1852. In that year he moved to section 1, Quarry township, remain- ing here two years, then again returned to Grafton, but soon after returned to his farm on section 1, where he now resides. He was married in Aug., 1831, to Irene West, born in Kentucky in 1817. They have had 13 children born to them, nine of whom are now living. Mr. Slaten was for many years a prom- inent and leading citizen of this county, and is now held in much esteem.

Woodberry Massey settled on the present site of Grafton about 1830. He afterwards moved to Otter Creek, and opened a store.

Nicholas Kesling came to what is now Quarry township in 1832. He was

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

probably the first German settler in the township.

Among other early settlers were also, George Pixley, Joseph Marshall, Judah Warner and Joseph Marshaw.

OTHER PROMINENT PEOPLE.

A. N. Thoroman is a son of James and Sophia Thoroman, and was born in Ohio, in 1848. When a child of four years he was brought to Jersey county by Thomas Wedding, who settled at Rosedale. He remained with Mr. Wedding until 24 years of age, working upon a farm. In 1868 he was married to Harriet Richardson, a native of this county. She died in 1869. Jan. 25, 1873, he was married to Laura F. Brown, daughter of William S. and Amanda Brown. They have four children-Al- pheus W., born May 12, 1874; Ollie, born March 1, 1875; Ruth A., born Feb. 24, 1879; Mamie, born July 29, 1882, and died Oct. 6, 1883; and Spalding M., born April 24, 1885. Mamie is buried in Hartford cemetery. Mr. Thoroman owns 40 acres of land, and carries on general farming. He is a member of the Christian church, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Seth Burris, an enterprising farmer of Jersey county, came here in 1856, and settled on Coon creek, where he lived four years. He then removed to his present location, on section 2, Quarry township. He owns a valuable and well improved farm, comprising 120 aeres, 55 of which is improved, and 65 wood- land. Seth Burris was born in the state of Kentucky in 1827, and is a son of Job and Sarah (Hendricks) Burris, both of whom died in Madison county, Ill. He was married, Oct. 24, 1850, to Rhoda

Whitlock, a native of Jersey county. Five of their children are living-Ben- jamin, who lives in Kansas; John, in Minnesota; Margaret E., wife of Henry A. Kruger, of York, Neb .; Henry Grantus, married, and living at York, Neb .; and Charles Perry, living at home. Mrs. Burris died in in 1877, and on the 16th of October, 1878, Mr. Burris was married to Sarah Jane Keyser, a native of Kentucky. Mr. Burris opposes the manufacture and sale of liquors, oleo- margarine, butterine, glucose, and all such articles, and always votes against such when the opportunity offers.

Spalding E. Brown came to Jersey county when quite young, accompany- ing his parents, William S. and Amanda (Durand) Brown. They settled at Grafton. Spalding E. Brown was born in DuPage county, Ill., in 1849. He received a good education, attending the district schools of Grafton, and later a select school taught by Prof. Atchison, of Chicago, under whose tuition he con- tinued six months. He afterwards at- tended another select school at Fideli- ty, fully preparing himself for the im- portant work of teaching, which he be- gan at Deer Plain, Calhoun county, Ill., teaching there two terms of six months each. Since then he has taught one term at Union school; the same at Snow school house, during which the building was destroyed by fire, in the middle of the six months term; one term at Teneriffe school; the same at Rosedale, Farmer's school house, Ger- man school house, Washington and l'leasant Cove schools. He has, most of the time, followed teaching during the winter and farming in the summer seasons. He was married Feb. 1, 1873,

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

to Anna M. Journey, · daughter of Samuel Journey, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of one child-Carrie E. Mr. Brown has served as road supervisor one term. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, also of the Masonic fraternity. He is the owner of a farm of 90 acres, located in Quarry township. His parents now reside in Fieldon, Rose- dale township, in this county.

Samuel P. Dinsmoor, a prominent and leading farmer of Quarry township, is of Scotch, English and French extrac- tion. He is the seventh from John Dinsmoor, who went from Scotland to Ireland, and settled in the county of Antrim, and the sixth from John, who came to America in 1720, and settled in what is now Windham, N. H. He is the eighth from George Little, who came from England in 1840, and settled in Newbury, Mass. His father's mother was a Little. His mother's father's father was a Frenchman, and lived in Canada. His mother's mother was a ('leveland, and he is the ninth genera- tion from Moses Cleveland, the emi- grant, and sixth cousin to President Grover Cleveland. He has the geneal- ogies of the Dinsmoor, Little and Cleve- land families. His father, William A. Dinsmoor, was born in Chester, New Hampshire, Oct. 3, 1814, and married to Laodicea Tubbs. The latter is now liv- ing in Coolville, Ohio. William A. Dins- moro died in that state Sept. 6, 1884. The subject of this sketch was born in Athens county, Ohio, March 8, 1843, and reared upon a farm near Coolville, where he attended school. When the civil war broke out, he enlisted in the 116th Ohio Vol. Inf., and served three years,

participating in 18 battles, among which were: Moorefield, Jan. 3, 1863; Win- chester, June 12, 13 and 14, 1863; Pied- mont, June 5, 1864; Lynchburg, June 18, 1864; Occoquan, Sept. 19; Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, 1864; Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864; Hatch's Run, March 31, 1865; Ft. Gregg, April 2, 1865; Farmville, April 6 and 7, 1865; and surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. Ile returned from the army to his home in Ohio, where he remained, engaged in farming, one year, then came to Illinois in the fall of 1866, and spent three months in Bond county, after which he became a resident of this county, where he has since lived. He first settled at Rosedale, and during the winter of 1869 and 1870, taught school at the Williams' school house. He con- tinued teaching five terms. Aug. 24, 1870, he was married to Mrs. Frances (Barlow) Journey, widow of Samuel Journey, and daughter of Martin B. Barlow, of Kentucky. By this union there are five children- Charles A., James F., Samuel A., Thomas B., and Laura E. Mrs. Dinsmoor had four chil- dren by her former marriage, three of whom are living-William H. Journey, Alice M. Journey, Addie L. Journey, who died in April, 1881, and Carrie M. Journey. Mr. Dinsmoor owns 341 acres of land, 150 of which is bottom land. His business is general farming. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and has been school trustee six years. Pre- vious to the death of Mr. Dinsmoor's father, in 1884, a death had not occurred in the family for 38 years, the last one being that of his eldest brother, in 1846. Mr. Dinsmoor is a gentleman of superior intelligence, and an honored citizen.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Enoch W. Wallace, of Quarry town- ship, is a veteran of two wars, having served in the war with Mexico, in 1846, as a member of the 3d U. S. Dragoons, continuing in the service until the close of the war, and in 1861, enlisted in Co. D, of the 61st Ill. Inf., and served three years and three months, in the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted as orderly sergeant, serving in that capac- ity till Sept. 3, 1862, when he was pro- moted to the rank of second lieutenant. He resigned his commission in Febru- ary, 1865, and during the last month of his service acted as captain of Co. A, of the same regiment. He participated in engagements at Shiloh, Murfrees- boro, Vicksburg, Little Rock, Frank- lin, Nashville, and other points, and was a gallant soldier, never shrinking from duty and always at his post. Mr. Wallace was born in Davis county, Ind., in the year 1830. He is a son of Cole- man C. and Sarah (Chapman) Wallace, the former a native of Indiana, who died in that State; the latter is still liv- ing there. Enoch was brought up on a farm and remained with his parents in Indiana until the date of his enlistment in the Mexican war. At the close of the war he came to Jersey county, ar- riving at Andrews' Landing, three- fourths of a mile above the mouth of the Illinois river. He settled at that time near Otterville, where he lived one year, then moved to Graham Hollow, and remained until the spring of 1852. He then purchased a farm three miles north of Grafton, on which he resided a short time, removing from thence to Otter Creek. In 1855 he removed to Christian county, and in 1857 returned to this county and located near Grafton,

and has since that time been a resi- dent of this vicinity. Ile was married in Feb. 1849, to Julia A. Bray, daughter of Isaac Bray, of Quarry township. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are the parents of nine children-Eli M., living on a farm near Grafton; Elijah S., in Graf- ton; William T., engaged in farming in this township; Rosa S., wife of Rupert Claridge, editor of the Stockman, at San Antonio, Tex .; Alford J., living in Grafton; Alice J., wife of William Hol- brook, of Macoupin county; Enoch W., Perry A., and I. Newton, living at home with their parents. Mr. Wallace owns a good farm of 80 acres, and is a member of the G. A. R.

William Williams (deceased), an early settler and wealthy farmer of Quarry township, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, and was a son of Robert Williams. He came to Jersey county in 1835 and settled at Camden, where he lived three ycars and then removed to a farm eight miles west of that place. Ile resided here until his death, which occurred in 1868. He was the owner of 1,000 acres of land. He was married in 1836 to Sidney Darnell, who was born in Ken- tucky. Three of their children are now living-Nelson, William and Elvira, wife of Martin Fox, of Grafton. Nelson Williams, eldest son of William and Sidney (Darnell) Williams, was born in Jersey county in 1840. He was brought up and educated in this county. In 1862 he was married to Adaline Stafford, daughter of John Stafford, of this county. They are the parents of five children-Lula May, Ollie Bird, Ivy Myrtle, Grace V., and Elva L. In 1878 Mr. Williams went to Pawnee county, Kan., and settled on a homestead which

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he improved and lived upon one year. He returned to Jersey county in the fall of 1881 and rented the farm of Thomas Thompson, seven miles west of Grafton, where he now resides. Mr. Williams was in the army three years during the war of the Rebellion, enlist- ing in 1862 in the 97th Ill. Inf. He par- tieipated in the battles of Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, siege of Blakeley, Chickasaw Bluff, Black River Bridge and siege of Jackson.

J. N. Noble, son of George and Sarah (Swan) Noble, was born in Quarry town- ship in 1849. His childhood and youth were spent on the farm where he now lives. In 1869 he went to California and remained 14 months, during which time he was engaged in farming. In 1872 he was married to Ida Ellis, a na- tive of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have three children-George E., Clar- ence, and Ida May. Mr. Noble owns 63 acres of land and carries on general farming. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. His father, George Noble, died in Quarry township in 1856, and is buried near Otterville. His mother, Sarah Noble, died in 1862, and is buried at the same place.

Antoine DeFossa is a native of Can- ada, and a son of Spray and Rojenia DeFossa, both natives of Canada. He was born in the year 1832, and in his youth worked upon a farm. At the age of 20 years he went to Monticello, Can- ada, to learn the baker's trade, at which he worked three years. He then went to St. Paul, Minn., where he spent 18 months, then engaged as cook on board a steamboat, following that occupation three months, after which he came to Jersey county. Here he worked at

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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 36

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