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 79

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 79

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In the subject of free schools he took a deep interest, and strenuously insisted that as high a grade of education ought to be offered to those who depend upon these schools, as the children of the rich could obtain in private schools, As a man and citizen Dr. Davis was universally estecmed. Ile was frank, open-hearted, and spoke his opinion without disguise or concealment. As a husband and father, it may be said that the kindness of his heart shone most conspicuously in the privacy of his own domestic circle. Mrs. D. R. Davis, wife of Dr. C. A. Davis, deceased, was born in the state of Virginia. She was formerly Diana R. Montague. She re- moved to Mercer county, Ky., with her parents, and was there married to C. A. Davis, with whom she came to the state of Illinois. Eleven children were born to them, 10 of whom attained their ma- jority. These were Virginia, married John M. Woodson, died in the year 1857; Elizabeth, married James II. Henderson, died in 1851; Mary L., wife of J. P. Rogers; Robert H., James M., John C., Samuel W., George W., banker in Carrollton; Ophelia, wife of A. C. Bowman; Harvey H .; and Wil- liam A. who died in 1866. Eight chil- dren were living at the time of Mrs. Davis' death, which occurred on the 24th of December, 1879.

The IIth general assembly also held two sessions, the first meeting at Van- dalia, Dec. 3, 1838, and adjourned March 4, 1839, and the second convening at Springfield, the new state capital, Der. 9, 1839, and remained in session until Feb. 3, 1840. Manoah Bostwick was the senator representing the district composed of the counties of Greene

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and Jersey, in the latter session, having succeeded James Turney, of Greene, who had resigned after the first session. John Allen was the representative.

John Allen represented this county in the senate of the 12th general assem- hly, and Alfred W. Caverly in the house.

A. W. Caverly was an attorney of considerable note, and came to Carroll- ton in 1822, and locating in the then in- fant village, hung out his " shingle " and commenced the practice of law. He was a native of Massachusetts. He was one of the most prominent men of his time in this section of the state; served in many offices of trust and re- sponsibility with credit to himself and friends. He remained in practice in Carrollton, for many years, and removed to Ottawa, Ill., where he died about 1882. He practiced law to the time of his death, and was, at that time, the oldest member of the bar of the state.

In the 13th general assembly, A. W. Caverly, represented Greene and Jer- sey counties, in the senate. In the house, Greene county was at first repre- sented by John Greene, but he dying Feb. 3, 1843, was succeeded by llon. Alfred Hinton. This assembly met Dec. 5, 1842, and adjourned March 6, 1843.

John Greene, deceased, a native of Bowling Green, Ky., wos born in 1787, his parents being George and Luey (Jones) Greene. His youth was spent in his native state. where he remained until coming to Illinois, which was be- fore 1812. He located in Madison ! county, near Edwardsville, where he remained until coming to this county; where he spent the time improving his

farm. He was in the Ranger service in 1812, serving under Gen, Whiteside. In 1819, he with his family left Madison county, and coming up through what is now Jersey county, took up a location and made a settlement on the southwest quarter of See. 20, T. 9, R. 11, where he built a house and made improvements. That was his place of residence until his death. He was married in Madison county, about the year 1813, to Nancy Mains, a native of Georgia. Her par- ents were Robert and Margaret (Find- ley) Mains. Mr. and Mrs. Greene were the parents of 14 children-Jones, who moved to Texas in 1844, and died in 1862; Melinda, wife of William Pruitt, living in Texas; S. F., whose sketch appears in this work; James R., who lived and died in this township, his death occurring in March, 1885; William E., living in Rockbridge township; Lur- ana, wife of Wade H. Witt, died in Texas in 1864; Evans N. and Thomas (twins), the former living in Kane town- ship, the latter dying in infancy; Mary, died in this township in 1855; Elias, living in Kane township; Wade H., died in Rockbridge township in March, 1885; Anderson P., who married Delia Johnson, died May 1, 1846; Lucy, de- ceased wife of Enoch Littlefield; Joseph B., died Feb. 20, 1874. Mr. Greene was elected a member of the legislature three terms; first, of the 10th general assembly, which convened at Vandalia in 1836; next, of the 11th assembly, | at Springfield in 1838, and then of the 13th assembly, in 1842. During this session he died, at Springfield, Feh. 3, 1843, and was buried in Jalappa ceme- tery, which is situated on Sec. 16, T. 9, R. 11. He was one of the first com-

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

missioners appointed by the legislature, in 1821, to select a site for the county seat, and Carrollton was the location chosen as the most suitable. He was a member of the legislature that set off Jersey county, in 1839.

Hon. Alfred Hinton was born in Frederick county, Md., Feb. 15, 1800, being the second child of James and Catharine Hinton, who had a family of 12 children. The ancestors of Mr. Hinton, in consequence of religious persecution, came to America at an early day and settled in the colony of Maryland. Four of the brothers of Catharine Hinton were soldiers in the American army during the Revolution. In 1806, James Hinton removed with his family to Wellsburg, Va., and, four years after, moved to Delaware county, O. In 1816, he became a resident of Ghent, Gallatin county, Ky., where his death occurred in 1819. Mrs. Hinton outlived all her children, except the subject of this sketch, and one son, Otto, who died in California later, and died at the advanced age of 80 years. at Carrollton. Judge Hinton, quite early in life, commenced learning the trade of carpenter, and, in the fall of 1818, came to Edwardsville, Ill. He lived there about two years, and, in Sept., 1821, became a citizen of Greene county. In 1822, he entered a tract of land on Apple Creek Prairie, about three miles west of where White Hall now stands. In March of the same year he married Lucretia Pruitt, daughter of William and Sarah Pruitt, and imme- diately after his marriage he built a cabin and commenced the improvement of his land. Mr. and Mrs. Hinton had 11 children, of whom only five are liv-

ing-all daughters, and they are mar- ried and settled in life. Their son, Emanuel J. Hinton, after his marriage, settled on a farm three miles south of Carrollton, and in Aug., 1858, was mur- dered within a few rods of his house. Court being then in session, the mur- derers were promptly arrested, tried, convicted and hung within 30 days. In 1835, Mr. Hinton was elected justice of the peace, and by re-election held that office about 12 years. In the fall of 1842, he was elected a member of the legislature from Greene county. In the spring of 1843, for the purpose of edu- cating his children, he settled in Car- rollton, and soon after was appointed postmaster, which office he retained about nine years. In the fall of 1846, he was again elected to the legislature. and in March, 1830 or 31, he superin- tended the building of the present court house at Carrollton. In 1865, he was elected judge of the county court of Greene county, and filled that office four years. Since the expiration of his term of office, he has been justice of the peace most of the time until about 1880. In 1832, Judge Hinton and wife became members of the Christian church, at Carrollton, and for many years he has been an elder in the church. In politics, the judge has always been a straight democrat. His first vote for president was cast for John Quincy Adams, in the memorable contest of 1824. On the 18th of Feb., 1869, the beloved partner of his boson breathed her last, and in March, 1870, Judge Ilinton was married to Mrs. Amy IIol- liday, of Kane, when he became a resi- dent of that town. llis second wife died in 1881, and he again returned to

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Carrollton, where he now resides. He has five children living-Maria, mar- ried Johnson W. Davis; Sophia, now the wife of M. J. Frank; Louise, now the wife of H. V. Jackson; Harriet, wife of James B. Morrow; Elizabeth, wife of W. A. Morrison.

In the 14th general assembly, which convened Dec. 2, 1844, and adjourned March 3, 1845, Alfred W. Caverly was in the senate, and John MeDonald in the house, both representing the dis- trict composed of the counties of Greene and Calhoun.

The 15th general assembly convened Dee. 7, 1846, and adjourned March 1, 1847. In the senate A. W. Caverly still continued to represent this district. Henry Bragg was the representative in the house, from Greene county.

The 16th general assembly, the first one under the new constitution held two sessions, the first convening Jan. 1, 1849, and adjourning Feb. 12, the same year; the second meeting Oet. 22, 1849, and adjourning the 7th of Nov. In the senate, the 13th district was represented by Franklin Witt. The 22d representa- tive district composed of the counties of Greene and Jersey was, at first repre- sented in the house by Isaac Darnielle and John D. Fry, but Mr. Darnielle dying, and Mr. Fry resigning, they were succeeded by Joel Cory and Thos. Carlin. Mr. Darnielle is noticed in the Jersey county history, under this head, and J. D. Fry under the head of county officers, further on.

Many of the old pioneers remember with warm admiration, Franklin Witt, a leader among men in earlier times, and who afterward became noted in the annals of the state and nation. He was

a native of Tennessee, where he was born in 1804. His parents gained a livelihood by the products of the farm, and in 1814, to better their finances, perhaps, moved westward and settled in Polk county,in the extreme southern portion of Illinois. Franklin Witt passed his boyhood among pioneer as- sociations, and imbibed there that spirit of self reliance that led to successful re- sults. He was married in his 19th year to Melinda Perry, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Capt. Franklin Perry. In 1826, he sought broader fields, and packing his household goods upon the two horses he owned, after some days spent in travel, he landed in Greene county with scarcely a dollar. He now began, in an humble way to gain a foot- ing in Illinois, at a time when horse- mills were the fashion, and rough round log cabins the only habitations in the pioneer settlements. His was an ener- getic nature, and he accumulated prop- erty rapidly. In subsequent years he became a justice of the peace, and about 1835 he beeame the regular nominee of the democratic party, and received the election of legislator, serving through this session. Probably no man in his day swayed the popular heart more than he, and on three subsequent occa- sions he received the election to repre- sent this eounty in the legislature, and presided as a member when Springfield became the capital. As a representative he has proved so efficient that he now received the nomination for state sena- tor. Serving through one session and receiving a re-election,he was a member of that body when he died, at his home, in Greene county, in 1851. To the care of his wife he left a family of four chil-

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

dren. Mrs. Witt departed this life Feb. 1877, at the house of her son, Geo. W., in Kane township.

The 17th general assembly convened on the 6th of Jan., 1851, for its first ses- sion, and adjourned Feb. 17; a second session was held from June 7, 1852, to June 23, following. Hon. Franklin Witt was the senator at first, but dying during his term of office was succeeded by Hon. John M. Palmer, afterward governor of the state, at that time a res- ident of Macoupin county. Charles D. Hodges and J. C. Winters represented this, the 22d district, in the house.

Col. J. C. Winters, one of the most prominent citizens of Greene county, was born in St. Clair county, Ill .. July 11, 1816. He is a son of Nathan and Ruth (Lindsay) Winters, natives of Tennessee. They came to the then territory of Illinois, in the year 1815, locating in St. Clair county, where Nathan Winters engaged in farming until the breaking out of the Indian troubles, in which he was engaged in three campaigns as an officer, and four times as a private, under Andrew Jack- son. He departed this life in the month of July, 1866, and Mrs. Winters, in the year 1867. The early years of Col. Winter's life were spent upon the old homestead, where he learned the duties pertaining to farm life. In the year 1846, when war was declared be- tween Mexico and the United States, he enlisted in Co. C, 1st INI. Inf., under Col. J. J. Hardin. He was elected 2d lieutenant, and proceeded to the front and took part in the famous battle of Buena Vista. After being discharged he returned home, and resumed his agricultural duties until the war of

the Rebellion broke out, when hee organized Co. G, 59th Ill. Inf., and pro- ceeded to Missouri. He first ranked as captain, but through meritorious con- duct became the popular lieutenant- col- onel, and acting colonel of the regiment. He had entered for three years' service, and when his regiment veteranized, he resigned his commission on account of ill health, and retired from the exciting scenes of war to the more peaceful pur- suits of agriculture. In the year 1850, while a member of the legislature, he was one of those who voted in favor of the I. C. R. R. Since his retirement from the legislature the name of Col. Winters has been frequently mentioned in connection with other responsible civic offices, but he has always declined, preferring to look after his farm inter- ests, he being the possessor of 317 acres in T. 12, R. 11. Mr. Winters split rails for a living 38 years ago, and to-day is proud of the success which followed as a result of his unswerving energy and good management. In the year 1837 Mr. Winters was married to Cynthia Cochran, born Dec. 22, 1812. She was a daughter of George and Margaret (Fal- lis) Cochran, her mother born in Penn- sylvania, her father near Harrodsburg, Mercer county, Ky. During the war of 1812 Mr. Cochran was in the United States service, in a light horse brigade under Col. Richard M. Johnson, and was present at the killing of Tecumseh. He died in the year 1863, and Mrs. Cochran in the year 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Winters are the parents of seven children : Frank, Samuel, Lafayette. Solon, Joshua, Josephine and Byron, The colonel and his wife are members of the M. E. church. Col. Winters is a

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charter member of White Hall lodge, No. 80, A. F. and A. M., and is a de- mitted member of Jacksonville chapter. He also is a member of the G. A. R. In connection with the history of Col. Winters is an incident which should not be omitted, and which points unmistak- ably to the character of the gentleman. His father moved to Missouri in 1839, and offered his son, the colonel, a home- stead if he would come there to live. He would not accept, preferring to rear his family where white labor was re- spected. During the Rebellion, his father, mother and two brothers were with the South in sentiment, while the colonel and two other brothers fought on the Union side. One of his brothers was a minister of the M. E. church south, and he wrote very strong scriptural letters to the colonel to have him stop murder- ing, as he called it.

In the senate of the 18th general as- sembly, when it met, Jan. 3, 1853, was found as representative of the 13th dis- triet, of which Greene county formed a part, John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Charles D. Hodges was also a member of the house.

Under the apportionment act of 1854, Greene, Macoupin and Jersey counties were re-organized into the 14th senator- ial district, and Greene county into the 23d representative district. In the gen- eral assembly which convened Jan. 1, 1855, the district was still represented in the senate by John M. Palmer, and in the house was represented by J. M. Pursley .

Linus E. Worcester, of Greene county, was the representative in the senate of the 20th general assembly, which con- vened Jan. 5, 1857, and adjourned Feb.

9. John W. Huitt was the member of the house from this county.

Among Greene county's most promi- nent and influential citizens, is Linus E. Worcester, of White Hall. He is a son of Elijah and Lucy (Ely) Worcester, and was born in Windsor, Vt., Dec. 5, 1811. His father, Elijah, was twice married, first to Lucy, daughter of Aaron Ely, of Windsor, Vt. Her death occur- red Oct. 13, 1813, leaving six children. His second marriage was to Anna Cady, by whom one child was born. Elijah Worcester was a carpenter and farmer by trade, his death occurring Feb. 25, 1861. He was a son of Asa Worcester, who was born in Groton, Mass., in April, 1771, the latter being a son of Asa, born in Haverhill, Jan. 27, 1738. He was a son of Benjamin, born in Bradford, in Aug., 1709, who was a son of Francis, born in Rowley, Mass. Francis was a son of Samuel, who was born in England, and came with his father, William, to the United States, between the years 1638 and 1640. It will, therefore, be seen that by direct descent the subject of this sketch, Judge Worcester, is of English extraction on his father's side. William Worcester was a clergyman, and Francis was very devout. In fact much attention seems to have been given by the ancestery of the judge to things of the spiritual life, which will, no doubt, account for the fact that he is so doubtful upon re- ligious subjects. Linus was educated in the common schools of Vermont, and in Chester Academy, which he attended, when he was twenty-three years of age. Prior to coming west he felt the necessity of more learning, and, therefore, at this age he attended the

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

academy, as above. He had been con- tent with farm life in Vermont, but on immigrating to this county in 1836, en- gaged in teaching school for three years, when he became a clerk in the dry goods store of Chester Swallow, at White Hall, and two years later entered into partnership with his former em- ployer. This firm existed but one year, as the death of Mr. Swallow occurred at that time, and the business was closed out. He then formed a co-partnership with Simeon Bros., who engaged in the sale of general merchandise for about 10 years, doing a very profitable business. For some three or four years he was then engaged in the retail of drugs, groceries and hardware, and for five years following in the manufacture of agricultural implements. He has also been interested in the lumber business at this place, Roodhouse and Manches- ter, for about 30 years. Perhaps, there are few men in the state of Illinois who have held more commissions than Mr. Worcester. In 1843 he was elected justice of the peace, which he held for some six years. Nov. 11, 1843, he was commissioned postmaster, and re-com- missioned Dec. 31, 1845, which office he held 12 consecutive years. He was agusciate elected and commissioned county judge Nov. 16, 1853, continuing în that capac- ity by re-election for six years. He was elected and served as a member of the constitutional convention of the state, in 1847, and was appointed as one of the state trustees of the deaf and dumb asylum, in 1859, being re-appoint- ed in 1863 and 1867; holding the office 12 years. In 1859, while sitting in the state senate, he was appointed notary public, which he has since been regu-

larly re-appointed to every four years, and which office he still holds. He was elected to the state senate in 1856, to fill a vacancy, occasioned by the resignation of John M. Palmer, for two years. In 1440 he was again elected to that office, and was one of the five dem- ocrats in the senate who dared vote to ratify President Lincoln's proclamation of emancipation. He was elected countyl judge in Ists, and re-elected in 1877, with but one opposing vote, serving nine years. In 1852, he was appointed township school trustee, which office he still holds, having handled some $250,- 000 of school funds during that time. He was a member of the national demo- cratic convention at St. Louis, in 1876, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden for the presidency. He is now and has been for 25 years a director of the Jacksonville branch of the C. & A. R. R. Co. He has been engaged for the past 30 years as administrator and ex- ecutor of estates, and guardian of chil- dren, all of which trusts reposed in him have been faithfully discharged to the satisfaction of all parties interested. In Feb., 1840, in White Hall, Mr. Worces- ter was married to Martha A. Jackson, of Apple creek, and a native of Ver- mont. Two children were born to them-Altred J. and William P. Mrs. Worcester's death occurred Feb. 17, 1845. In Feb., 1848, Mr. W. was mar- ried to Sarah M. Hull, a native of Con- neeticut. By this union there were two children-Maurice H., deceased, and Wentworth. Ilis wife, Sarah M., died in 1854, and in Feb., 1856, he married Luthera, daughter of Timothy and Diadama (Swallow) Ladd, a native of Vermont. She was the widow of Geo.

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Smith, by whom she had two children -Eugene and Timothy L. By the mar- riage with Judge Worcester, five chil- dren have been born-Lucy E., wife of Michael Gahula; Henry C., Richard S. and Irene, and Lucius W., deceased. The judge has always been identified with the democratic party, is a member of no secret organization or church, be- ing a free thinker. His religion consists of humanitarian principles, honor and integrity, fidelity to friends and good will to all.

John W. Huitt, deceased, was a native of Franklin county, Ga., and was born Nov. 15, 1793. He was the fourth of a family of John and Elizabeth (Ratliff) IIuitt, the former of whom was a native of Brunswick, Va., and the latter of Franklin county, N. C., she being of genuine English stock. With his pa- rents John W. came to Illinois in 1804, arriving at Cahokia in December of that year. From there they immediately started for what was then known as the Goshen settlement. Here they re- mained until the fall of 1805, then re- moved to the bluff opposite the conflu- ence of the Missouri river with the Mississippi. On the breaking out of the war of 1812, John W. Huitt enlisted in Capt. Judy's company of rangers, which were stationed to guard the front- iers, from the Mississippi river to Vin- cennes, against the depredations of marauding bands of Indians. After the war was over, Mr. Huitt returned to the quieter pursuits of farm life. June 13, 1818, he was united in marriage with Rosanna Harriford, of Chariton county, Mo, Their marriage took place in the old town of Chariton. She was a daugh- ter of James Harriford, and was born

in.Wayne county, Ky., Dec. 27, 1798. In Oct. 1818, Mr. Huitt, with his young bride settled on a tract of prairie land near P'hill's creek, now in the present limits of Jersey county, Ill. There he built a small log cabin and started out in life on his own account. After the land was surveyed and came into market, he, with his brother, entered a half section. His capital was limited upon starting out in life, consisting prin- cipally of a well-developed physical or- ganization and active mental faculties, combined with energy and perseveranee, but by industry and economy he aceu- mulated a fair share of this world's goods. He continued to reside at the point where he first located until 1823, when he bought 80 acres of land in Lin- der township, on which he lived until removing to Carrollton, in 1878. He departed this life at the latter named place, Oct. 22, 1882, having survived his wife two years, she having died April 21, 1880. During the Black Hawk war, in 1832, Mr. Huitt volunteered in Capt. Thos. Carlin's company, which was joined to what was termed the "spy battalion " of the service. He re- mained in that capacity until his term of service expired, and was then honor- ably discharged. His first vote for pres- ident was east for James Madison, and he voted at every subsequent presiden- tial election up to that of Gen. McClel- lan, which was his last vote for presi- dent. For the dissenters from the old school of democracy he not only had no sympathy, but felt like branding them us traitors to their party. Mr. Huitt was never an aspirant for political pre- ferment, though, in the fall of 1856, he was elected as the candidate of the dem-

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ocratie party, to a seat in the legislature, and proved to be an active and efficient legislator. Mr. and Mrs. Iluitt joined the Baptist church in 1853, and were consistent members of the same up to the time of their death. They had born to them 13 children, some of whom still reside in the county, and are mentioned in the proper places in this volume.

Convening at Springfield, Jan. 3, 1859, the 21st general assembly contained within its senate, as the representative from this district, the person of Anthony L. Knapp, and in the house, Alexander King. Mr. Knapp has a honorable sketch in the history of Jersey county 4 and its reputation here is needless:

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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 79

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