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 38

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 38

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Andrew Young, the barber, of Graf- ton, was born in Prussia, Feb. 10, 1847, and is the youngest of the five sons of Anthony Young. The latter was born in Prussia, Jan. 1, 1812. In 1852, An- drew came with his parents to America, landed at New Orleans, thence went to Pomeroy, Ohio, where he remained until 1867. He then went to Cincinnati, having acquired the tonsorial art while living at Pomeroy. He followed that business until January, 1865, when he enlisted in the 187th Ohio Vol. Inf. He

served three months, participating in the skirmish of Resacca. He was mustered out at Macon, Ga., in Dec., 1865, and returned to Cincinnati, where he followed his former occupation until 1870. At that time he engaged as bar- ber on board the steamer "Northwest- ern." He was employed in that capac- ity until the fall of the same year, when he came to Grafton, Jersey county, Ill., where he has since resided. Mr. Young was married to Jane Redd, Feb. 17, 1874. She was born in 1854, and died Feb. 7, 1882. Mr. Young is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 449, of Grafton, and, politically, is a repub- lican.

POSTOFFICE.

The postoffice at Grafton was estab- lished in 1834, and Paris Mason was commissioned postmaster, who held that position until his death, in 1851. The succession of postmasters since Mr. Mason are as follows: W. H. Allen, E. Brinton, S. Farrington and G. M. Slaten. the present incumbent, who was appointed in Jan., 1883. It was made a money order office in July, 1883. Mail is received daily from Jerseyville by stage. There is also mail three times a week each way by rail.

George Newton Slaten, one of the business men of Grafton, is a son of John W. and Ann (Piggott) Slaten. John W. Slaten was born in Georgia, and his wife, Ann, in Missouri. George N. was born in Jersey county, Oct. 6, 1844, and remained with his parents until 21 years of age. He received a good education, attending the district schools, and, later, Lebanon College. In 1871 he went west, and spent two years in the states of Texas and Nebraska

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

returning in 1873. The same year he was elected constable, and served in that capacity eight years. In 1878 he was elected to the office of collector, which he filled seven years, and is now the present incumbent. In 1883 he was appointed postmaster at Grafton. He opened the lumber yard, which he now carries on, in 1877. He is the owner of 700 acres of rough land in Jersey county, 220 acres of which is in cultiva- tion, the remainder in pasture. Mr. Slaten is clerk of the board of school directors; also clerk and treasurer of the town of Grafton. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and permanent secre- tary of Silurian Lodge, No. 449, of such order.

REPRESENTATIVE MEN.

The following will give the readers an idea of the class of citizens who give to Grafton its name, for enterprise and in- telligence:

Rev. John T. Huffman was born near Paris, Edgar county, Ill., in 1847, and is a son of James and Phebe (Tiffin) Huff- man, the former, a native of Virginia, and the latter, of Ohio. At the age of 20 years, John entered Mckendree Col- lege, and was for a part of two years a student in that institution. He then spent one year in traveling in the east. In 1870 he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Conference, and entered upon his duties in Mont- gomery county, Ill. He preached 10 years in this state, then went to Arkan- sas, and joined the Little Rock Confer- ence. Six months later he was trans- ferred to the Arkansas Conference, and continued to preach there a few months, when, on account of the ill health of his family, he returned to Illinois. IIere

he labored with the Free Methodist Conference of Illinois, two years. At the expiration of that period he became connected with the Southern Illinois Conference, and began his labors at Grafton, where he now preaches. Mr. Huffman is an able and talented preach- er, and a faithful and successful worker in the vineyard of the Master. He was united in marriage, in 1870, with Rosa Bell Potter, of Grand Rapids, Mich., who died in 1871. They had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Huffinan was again married Aug. 9, 1875. to Elizabeth Funston, of Livingston, Ill. She died Dec. 9, of the same year. Nov. 23, 1876, he was married to Rosa Lane, of Staun- ton, Ill. By this union there were four children, three of whom are now living -Nellie B., Phehe Maud, and Lucy C. Sarah A. died in infancy. Mr. Huff- man's father died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1864, while in the service of his country. His mother is still living.

Silas Farrington was born Dec. 26, 1803, at Belchertown, Mass. At the age of 14 years he entered a cotton mill, and spent two years in learning to operate the machinery, then engaged as a spinner. After one year he was placed in charge of the spinning room, as over- seer, which position he occupied four years. He then went to Dorchester, six miles from Boston, where he learned the carpenter's trade, working one and a half years, for which he received the sum of $150. He became in that time a skilled workman, and then com- manded the highest wages. In 1825 he went to Roxbury, Mass., where he resided 11 years, engaged in working for different parties. He was there married, in 1828, to Elizabeth Kelly. In

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the fall of 1836 he moved to Bloomfield, Conn., four and a half miles from the city of Hartford, where he purchased a farm, and carried on farming in connec- tion with working at his trade, at which he had constant employment. He con- tinued there four years, then moved to Hartford, built a residence and lived in that city 14 years. In the winter of 1852-3 he went to Washington, D. C., and remained eight months, employed by the Washington Stone Company upon the Washington monument. In 1854 he moved to Trenton, N. J., where he built a residence. Mrs. Farrington died at Trenton, Feb. 5, 1855. The fol- lowing October, Mr. Farrington re- moved to St. Louis, Mo., and three years later, came to Grafton, Jersey county, and opened the first stone quarry ever opened at that point. He quarried the stone used in the construc- tion of the bridges at St. Louis, Quincy and Meredosia, also of the first Lindell hotel of St. Louis. He continued this business till 1876, when he was ap- pointed postmaster at Grafton, which position he held seven years, during which he was engaged in the furniture business. The latter he sold in 1883, since which he has run a repair shop, repairing furniture. Mr. Farrington was married in 1856 to Frances Marten, who died at Grafton, July 17, 1873, and Dec. 24, 1875, he was married to Eliza- beth Johnston. He had by his first marriage, two children, one of whom, Silas, Jr., is now a minister of the Uni- tarian church, engaged in preaching at Manchester, Eng. Mr. Farrington is a member of the Universalist church, also of Charter Oak lodge, I. O. O. F., at Hartford, Conn., and of the encamp-

ment. He is a man of sterling qualities and enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community.

Brook Stafford, a wealthy and prom- inent citizen of Grafton, settled here in the spring of 1836 and engaged in black- smithing, being the first to engage in that business in Grafton. He was born in New Jersey, Dec. 10, 1808, and is a son of David and Sylvia (Eaton) Stafford. Brook Stafford was married in 1826, to Mary Ann Hilliard, a native of Philadel- phia, and by this union had seven children-David C., living in Grafton; Christopher P., also in Grafton; Israel, who died in 1855; Mary J., wife of George Thomas, of Grafton; Elizabeth, wife of M. Jones, of Grafton; Sarah L., wife of John Brown, of this county; and Brook, who died in Leadville, Col., in 1881. Mrs. Stafford died in 1850. Two years later Mr. Stafford was married to Arty Ballard, of Jersey county. She died in 1853, and the following year he was mar- ried to Nancy Parker, of Greene county. By this marriage there were two child- ren-Ida Blanche, now wife of Samuel Leggett, of Jersey county, and John P. In 1869 Mr. Stafford was again bereaved by the death of his wife, and in 1871 he was married to Mrs. Maria Leper, widow of William Leper, of Greene county. By this last union there is one child-Lena May. Mr. Stafford owns 500 aeres of land, also residence and business prop- erty in Grafton. He is a member of the M. E. church and of the Masonic fra- ternity. For 25 years he has served as justice of the peace, and is a highly respected and useful citizen.

James Mason, deceased, one of the earliest settlers of Grafton, Jersey county, Ill., was born at Grafton,

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Mass., in July, 1783, and died in St. Louis July 5, 1834. When a young man he went to Portsmouth, N. H., and after two or three years, went to sea, being engaged in trade with the West Indies for a number of years. He then went to New York city and became a partner in the wholesale gro- cery firm of Hancock & Mason. The firm subsequently failed, and Mr. Mason came west, locating at Edwards- ville, Madison county, III., where he engaged in the real estate business. He was one of the prominent men of this vicinity, and assisted in laying out the city of Springfield. He was married Aug. 15, 1818, in St. Louis, to Sarah Von Phul, a sister of Henry Von Phul, who, at the time of his death, was the oldest merchant in St. Louis, being up- wards of 90 years. Mr. and Mrs. Ma- son were the parents of one child- Martha M., now the wife of William H. Allen, of Grafton. Mrs. Mason died Sept. 18, 1867, at the home of her daughter, in Grafton.

William Murphy, son of Jesse and Ellen (Mathews) Murphy, was born in the state of Ohio, in 1830. He resided in his native state until Sept., 1857, at which time he came to Jersey county and engaged in farming in Quarry town- ship. In Feb., 1864, he enlisted in the service of his country, and served 18 months; then, at the close of the war, returned to Jersey county, and resumed farming. He continued that occupation until 1882, when, on account of failing health, he retired from active labor and moved to Grafton, where he now lives. He was married in 1857, to Cynthia Lawrence, a native of Ohio, and by this union had seven children-William T.,

who now resides on a farm in this county; Rachel E., Miner E., Carrie M., James M., Eary N. and Jesse A. April 22, 1879, Mrs. Murphy died, and in 1884, Mr. Murphy was married to Celia Myers, a native of Indiana. Mr. Murphy owns residence property in the village of Grafton, and on account of disability, contracted while in the army, draws a pension from the govern- ment. He has served three years as school director and is a highly respected citizen.

William S. Brinton, a retired merchant of Grafton, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. Ile came to Jersey county in 1858, and located at Newbern. Three years later he moved to Grafton, where he has since been a res- ident. For the first cight years of his residence herc, he was employed in teaching school. He then entered the store of Grady & Co. as clerk, with whom he remained until 1874. At that time he purchased their stock of goods, and engaged in merchandising, which he continued until 1885, when he retired from the business. He was married, in the year 1860, to Miss E. J. Spaulding, daughter of Richard Spaulding, of this county. They have four children- Harry E., Ettie May, William R. and Alford. Mr. Brinton is a member and an earnest worker of the M. E. church, and has been for three years superin- tendent of the Sunday school. Mrs. Brinton is also a member of that church. He has held the office of marshal two years, and school director 10 years. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F.

William I. Bray is a son of Isaac and Rosanna (White) Bray. Isaac Bray

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

came to Jersey county in 1831, and lo- cated two miles northeast of Grafton, where he improved a farm. He was born in North Carolina, in 1792, and married to Rosanna White, who was born in the same state in 1822. Isaac Bray died in this county, in 1872, and is buried in the Odd Fellows' cemetery, near Grafton. His wife survived until 1876, when she died, and was laid to rest beside her husband. They were consistent members of the Baptist church. Isaac Bray was one of the earliest settlers of Jersey county, and assisted in laying out the town of Graf- ton. The subject of this sketch, Wil- liam J. Bray, was born in Jersey county in the year 1840. His early life was spent upon his father's farm. He at- tended the district school, and obtained a fair education. In 1861 he was mar- ried to Eliza J. Slaten, daughter of W. D. F. Slaten, of this township. She was born here in 1843. By this marriage there are three children-Henry, born Dec. 5, 1863; Ziba, born Nov. 30, 1866, and Rowena, born Jan. 5, 1870. Mr. Bray lives in Grafton, where he owns residence property. He at present, holds the office of township assessor. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a public spirited citizen.

Nathan T. Veaeh, of Grafton, is a son of William and Ruth (Burris) Veach. Ile was born in Scioto county, O., in 1824, and there reared upon a farm. When 22 years old he began lumbering and rafting on the Ohio river, and con- tinued that occupation until 1861. He then enlisted in the service of his coun- try, joining the 56th Ohio Reg., in which he served one year. He was discharged on account of disability and

returned home. Among the engage- ments in which he participated were those at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. Hle came to Grafton in 1868 and for six years followed the business of stone cutting. Since that time he has been engaged in fishing, shipping from $700 to $1,200 worth of fish to St. Louis annually. He was married in 1846, to Elizabeth Bryson, a native of Kentucky. By this union there were four children-Mary L., wife of Jacob Wise, of Ohio; Australia, wife of Wm. Peck, of the same state; Wm. Thomas, now living in Texas, and Ruth, wife of Hiram McMear, of this county. Mrs. Veach died in 1856. Mr. Veach was again married in 1867, to Mary Douglas, a native of Massachusetts. They have one child, Charles F., who now resides with his parents. Mr. Veach has been a member of the town board five years, and president of the same one year. He is a republican in politics.

ARMORY HALL.

This hall is a large and handsome room in the upper story of the massive stone building erected in 1869 by the Grafton Stone & Transportation Co., at a cost of $14,000. The hall is 30x70 feet in dimensions, and is used for all publie purposes.

SOCIETIES.

The first meeting for the organization of the lodge of A. F. & A. M. was held at the residence of J. L. Beirne, Beirne- ville, Jan. 7, 1860, and was organized as Full Moon lodge, No. 341. During that year the lodge was removed to Grafton, and first met over the store of Jacob Godfrey. The charter members of the society were: J. L. Beirne, Hezekiah

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

Funk, T. K. Phipps, L. W. Bethel, J. HI. Hadley, D. M. Highfill, John Piper, G. L. Smith, M. B. Hadley, Freeman Sweet and William Williams. The organization was effected by Hon. A. H. Burke, G. M .; F. M. Blair, D. G. M .; A. T. Kuykendall, S. G.W .; and S. C. Saler, J. G. W. The first officers installed were: J. L. Beirne, W. M .; Hezekiah Funk, S. W .. T. K. Phipps, J. W. The present officers of the lodge are as follows: W. S. Brinton, W. M .; Jasper Tidball, S. W .; J. Larbey, J. W .; C. P. Stafford, treas .; C. Brainard, sec .; L. Foster, S. D .; F. Stinman, J. D .; H. Backster, tyler. Those who have served as masters of the lodge since its organ- ization are: J. L. Beirne, Hezekiah Funk, James Darby, C. P. Stafford, Jacob Godfrey, J. T. Simms, Charles Brainard, Brook Stafford, Jr., Albert Ratzal, Hiram Heath and W. S. Brin- ton. The present membership of the lodge numbers about 55 in good stand- ing. The financial condition of the lodge is also excellent.

Silurian lodge, No. 449, 1. O. O. F., was organized in April, 1871, by D. P. G. M. James Starr. The date of the charter is Oct. 8, 1872, upon which are the following charter member-James R. Bell, C. J. Lyons, C. P. Stafford, William H. Allen, James Nelson, W. S. Brinton, R. D. Sudduth, F. Stein- man, W. C. Curry, and L. Foster. The first officers were James R. Bell, N. G .; C. J. Lyons, V. G .; C. P. Stafford, sec- retary; W. HI. Allen. treasurer. Those who have held the office of N. G. since the organization of the lodge are W. S. Brinton, C. J. Lyons, S. Farrington, C. P. Stafford, Ernest Meysenburg, F. Steinman, A. Young, W. H. Allen, B.

Stafford, T. A. Reams, C. W. Lund, H. C. Allen, M. Ruebel, Thomas Robin- son, Ziba Noble, William I. Bray, E. Brinton, J. Closson, William R. Initt, Thomas M. Calloway, The present officers are: George Rateliff, N. G .; Harry Willison, V. G .; C. P. Stafford, R. S .; G. M. Slaten, P. S. The present condition of the lodge is flourishing, with a membership of 41 in good stand- ing. They have leased a neat and com- fortable hall, in connection with the Masonic lodge, in which to hold their meetings, the lease extending over a period of 10 years.

Grafton Encampment, No. 131, I. O. O. F., was organized Jan. 10, 1872, by E. A. Casey of Jerseyville, with the following charter members: E. A. Pi- nero, T. A. Reaves, C. P. Stafford, Jas. Nelson, A. H. Barrett, C. J. Lyons, W. S. Brinton. The first officers were E. A. Pinero, C. P .; T. A. Reaves, H. P .; C. P. Stafford, S. W. The mem- bership at present numbers 17, with the following officers presiding: M. Ruebel, C. P .; John Classen, Il. P .; Andrew Young, S. W .; C. P. Stafford, scribe; E. Meysenburg, treas. The camp is in a flourishing condition. C. P. Strafford is also the present district deputy.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first term of school in Grafton was taught by a man named Brock, at an early day, in a log cabin on the site of the present school building. The next term of school was taught in a building 24 feet square, which is now a part of Lewis Johnson's residence. In 1838 a frame school house was erected, which was 18x24 feet in size. This building was superseded by a stone

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

structure erected in 1858, at a cost of 84,500. It amply served the town for school purposes until one night in 1870, when it was burned to the ground. Not only was the building a total loss, but a valuable library, which had been under process of collection for some time, shared the fate of the edifice which eon- tained it. The school books in the building were also consumed.

In 1874, the present building was erected at a cost of $15,000, the contract being let to N. T. Smith. It is an ele- gant structure, built of the celebrated Grafton stone, with two large rooms in the first and two in the second story. It is a graded institution and furnishes em- ployment for four teachers.

The first principal was John W. C. Jones, who taught two years. The suc- cession of principals and time they served since then, are as follows: J. W. Roberts, one year; M. J. Hoffman, five years; W. H. Gregg, one year; and the present principal, Otis D. Leach. There are about 225 scholars enrolled in the school, and $2,000 per annum is expended in the maintenance of the same. The present school trustees are the following: W. D. F. Slaten, M. Ruebel and Charles Brainard. The board of directors are James M. Allen, president ; George N. Slaten, clerk, and J. T. Slaten.

MILLS.

The flouring mill at Grafton was erected in 1855, by W. H. Allen, but is now operated by his son, James M. Allen. The building is a large frame structure, 40x88 feet in ground area. 1t originally had three run of buhrs, with a capacity of 125 barrels of flour per day. It is operated by steam, and

the machinery is the patent roller pro- cess. It cost about $30,000.

James M. Allen, miller at Grafton, is a son of William H. and Martha M. (Mason) Allen. He was born in Jersey county, in the year 1847, and was reared here, receiving a good education. He attended the district schools, and later spent two years at the Normal Univer- sity, at Bloomington, Ill. In 1864 he entered the mill owned by his father, and learned the miller's trade. Four years later he assumed the full charge of the mill, which he still operates. He was united in marriage in 1869, with Alice S. Eaton, daughter of C. B. Eaton, of Jerseyville. She was born in the state of New York, and came with her parents to this county in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of five children-Rosalie, Harry E., Mason, Robert Stewart and Arthur Barrett. Mr. Allen has been a member of the town council 12 years, three years of that time acting as president of the board.

The first saw mill at Grafton was built by A. W. Caverly, which run but a short time, when it was destroyed by fire. Before the year 1840, and pre- vious to the erection of Caverly's mill, a saw mill had been built at the mouth of the Illinois river, and was operated by a man named Crandall. In 1845 one was built at Grafton, by W. H. Allen, which was operated for some 12 years; and was afterwards torn down.

STONE QUARRIES.

The stone quarries adjoining the town are the richest and most extensive of Grafton's resources. These quarries were worked for local purposes from the

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

date of the first settlement of the town, and small quantities were shipped sub- sequently to Alton. About the year 1856, the quarries were opened on a larger scale by Silas Farrington and John Loler. The excellence of the stone and the importance of the quarries had already attracted the attention of Giles F. Filley, of St. Louis, and through his influence the stone was brought into public notice and use. The first that the quarries were worked to any eon- siderable extent, was in getting out the stone for the old Lindell Hotel in St. Louis. Since that time the stone has come into general use, and has entered into the construction of a large number of important buildings and public works, among which are the Quincy bridge, the St. Charles bridge, the great bridge across the Mississippi, at St. Louis, and one of the finest government buildings on the island, at Rock Island.

The product is a magnesian limestone, and, according to the judgment of com- petent authorities, possesses the best qualities for building purposes of any stone found in the Mississippi valley. It was thoroughly tested by James B. Eads, previous to its selection for use in the St. Louis bridge, and was found to be of the highest order of excellence. The quarries passed into the hands of the Grafton Stone and Transportation Co., and are now owned by the Grafton Quarry Co., of whom James Black, of St. Louis, is president, and John S. Roper, of Alton, is secretary. There are two other quarries beside the one operated by the Grafton Quarry Co. During the years 1866 and 1867, when the quarries were worked to their greatest extent, the men employed

reached the number of about 2,000. At present there are only about 100 men employed.

Charles Brainerd, superintendent of the Grafton Quarry Co., is a native of Rome, Oneida county, N. Y .. born Sept. 10, 1839. Ile is a son of J. B. and Laura (Gates) Brainerd. He re- mained with his parents in Rome until 1854, when he went to Saratoga county, N. Y., where he lived until the war broke out. He then, in 1861, en- listed in the 15th N. Y. Engineers, and served three years, participating in the Peninsula campaign, engagements at Manassas, Fredericksburg, and other points. He was with the Army of the Potomac, and acted as chief clerk in the commissary department of the Eng- lish Brigade. After the war he returned to Rome, N. Y., and remained four months, at the expiration of which time he came to Grafton and assumed his present position as manager of the quarry company. He is also a stock- holder in the company. Mr. Brainerd was married in 1870, to Hattie A. Ben- ner, of Waldoborough, Maine, daughter of Edward Benner, a native of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Brainerd have four chil- dren-Laura Josephine, George Car- rington, Carl Edward and Harold Web- ster. Mr. Brainerd is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His father, J. B. Brainerd, was born in 1804, in New York, and is now living in this county, having come here in 1881. His mother, Mrs. Laura Brainerd, died in Rome, N. Y., in 1853.

CEMETERY.

The Grafton cemetery is located some two miles north of town, and was laid out by E. Meysenburg, N. G., and Em-

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

mor Brinton, R. S., of Silurian lodge No. 449, I. O. O. F., July 23, 1873. It was surveyed and platted by Z. E. Freer, surveyor, June 30, of that year, and filed for record Aug. 20. The first burial was that of William Godfrey, July 12, 1873. The burying ground is nicely located on the bluffs north of the Mississippi river, and is quite well improved.

FERRY BOATS.

Grafton was at one time an important point for crossing the river for emigra- tion to Missouri. In the month of June, 1833, permission was given by the Greene county court to Paris Mason, to establish a ferry. This first ferry was a horse boat, and was subsequently taken off, and an ordinary flat boat substituted, but when business got better again, the horse boat was again called into requisi- tion.

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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 38

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