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 80

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 80

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Alexander King, justice of the peace, Roodhouse, is a native of the state of Indiana, and was born Jan. 13, 1820. He was a son of Alexander and Nancy (Gordon) King, the former of whom was a native of North Carolina, and the latter, of Virginia. and whom were married in Tennessee, to which state they had previously removed, with their parents. Some time after their marriage, they removed to Indiana, where our subject was born. In 1821, the family came to Greene county, Ill., where Alexander, Sr., followed agri- cultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1873, his wife following him to that better world, one year later. Alexander King, Jr., received his education in the Greene county schools, and followed farming until 1853, in which year he engaged in the merchandise business, at Athens- ville, carrying a general stock. This business he continued for some nine years, then sold, and again returned to farm life, which he continued until

1881, and then retired. Mr. King was elected constable of Carrollton, in 1844, justice of the peace in 1852, and repre- sentative to the state legislature in 1858, in each of which positions he fulfilled the duties thereof with entire satisfac- tion to his constituents, and honor to himself. In the fall of 1881 he was elected justice of the peace. On town- ship organization going into effect, in the spring of 1885, he was re-elec- ted to the office, and is giving gen- eral satisfaction. Oct. 30, 1845, Alex- ander King was united in marriage with Mary Waggoner, a native of Ken- tneky. She was a daughter of William and Sarah Waggoner, and was born Sept. 17, 1825. Seven children have been born to this union, four of whom are now living-David Fanning, mar- ried; Stephen A. Douglas, married and lives on the old homestead; Sally, widow of George Wood; and Samuel Thomas, married, and living in Kansas. Mr. King is a kind, genial gentleman, and is much respected by many friends and acquaintances. Mrs. King is a con- sistent member of the Baptist church.

The 22d general assembly held two sessions. The first convened Jan. 7, 1861, and adjourned Feb. 22. The sec- ond convened April 23, 1861, and re- mained in session until May 3, follow- ing. A. L. Knapp was still the senator. Benjamin Baldwin represented Greene county in the house. An extended notice of this worthy gentleman will be found in the history of White Hall and vicinity, further on.

On the convocation of the 23d general assembly, Jan. 5, 1863, a new apportion- ment of the state having placed Jersey, Calhoun, Scott, Greene and Pike in the

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

6th senatorial district, it was represented in the senate by Linus E. Worcester William B. Witt was in the house, rep- resenting this, the 23d district.

The 24th general assembly convened Jan. 2, 1865, and adjourned Feb. 16, 1865. Linus E. Worcester occu- pied a place in the senate, and Na- thaniel M. Perry, of Kane, in the house, as the representatives of the county. A sketch of Mr. Perry appears in connection with the history of Kane, of which he was a prominent merchant and business man.

The 25th general assembly of 1866- 68, contained as the representatives from this district, William Shephard, of Jerseyville, in the senate, and Henry C. Withers, of Carrollton, in the house.

Hon. Henry C. Withers was born in Girard county, Ky., on the 10th of Jan., 1839. His father, William Withers, was a son of Abijah Withers, and a grandson of William Withers, who at an early period removed from Virginia to Kentucky, where the family thereafter resided. His paternal ancestors, orig- inally natives of England and Scotland, came to America and settled in Virginia prior to the Revolution. His mother, Elizabeth Withers, was the daughter of Hon. Horatio Bruce, a distinguished politician of the democratic party in Kentucky, and Elizabeth Beasley, of Ohio. Mr. Bruce was one of the first men of Kentucky, of any prominence, to advocate a repeal of the laws impris- oning for debt, and it was mainly through his influence and exertion while a member of the legislature that it was accomplished. He was born in Vir- ginia, and at an early age removed into Kentucky. His father, John Bruce, and

eight sons, older brothers of Horatio, served through the war for independ- ence under Gen. Geo. Washington, and he served during the war of 1812. He was a cousin of Henry Clay, and an uncle of Judge Horatio W. Bruce, of Louisville, Ky. His grandfather Bruce had eight brothers who were lawyers, four of whom were legislators, and some of them especially distinguished, and an admiration for his character, more than anything else, influenced our sub- ject to choose the legal profession. In 1846 his parents left Kentucky and set- tled on a farm in Greene county, Ill., and here he attended the common school during the winter months only, working on the farm the remainder of the year, but so great was his zeal and ambition that his progress was equal to those of his class-mates who attended throughout the entire year. His early tastes were for reading and acquiring knowledge, with a constant craving for opportunities of higher intellectual at- tainments. At the age of 17 he went to Bercan College, at Jacksonville, Ill., then under the management of Rev. Jonathan Atkinson, at which he com- menced a classical course of study. After two years diligent application he had become tolerably proficient in the Greek, Latin and German lan- guages and mathematics. Lack of means on the part of his parents made a further prosecution of the collegiate course impossible. He subsequently taught a common school for three months, near Alexander station, Mor- gan county. In the summer of 1858 he worked as a farm laborer in Greene county, making a full "hand" at all kinds of farm work during the season.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

The following winter he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. James W. English, at Carrollton. In 1867 he formed a law partnership with Hon. David M. Woodson, which continued till the death of Judge Woodson, in 1877. He then pursued his ealling, alone, till 1884, when he associated as partner Thomas Henshaw, of White Hall, which partnership still continues. Mr. Withers residing at Carrollton, and Mr. Henshaw at White Hall, the firm having an office at each place. The po- litical career of Mr. Withers has been conspicuous from the time he attained his majority. In 1855-6 he edited the Carrollton Democrat, and supported the democratic candidates and measures. In 1860 he became an active supporter of Stephen A. Douglas for the presi- dency, and has ever since been an earn- est and active democrat. At the same time he favored the emancipation of the colored race, and the suppression of the Rebellion in the most speedy manner and with the least possible bloodshed. He heartily acquiesced in the several constitutional amendments on the slav- ery question. In 1866, at the age of 27, he was elected to the house of repre- sentatives from Greene county. In 1872 he was a delegate to the Baltimore convention, and endorsed the platform there made. In 1874 he was elected as an independent candidate to the office of state's attorney for Greene county. He now owns a full set of abstraet books of Greene county, and in his legal pur- suits has a large and lucrative practice. On the 18th of March, 1863, Mr. With- ers was united in marriage with Fanny W. Woodson, only daughter of Judge David M. Woodson. Two sons have

blessed this union-Mead W., who died at the age of 18 years, and William II., who is still living. Mr. Withers is a Knight Templar and a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a man who is easily approached; courteous to all, and while he may have some enemies, he is sur- rounded by a host of warm and admir- ing friends.

The 26th general assembly, which convened Jan. 4, 1869, contained as the representatives of this district, Willian Shephard, in the senate, and David M. Woodson, of Carrollton, in the house. A sketch of D. M. Woodson is given in the chapter of this work, entitled, "Courts of Greene County," and Mr. Shephard, in the history of Jersey county, in this volume.

In Jan., 1870, the 27th general assem- bly, was first convened. William Shep- hard, at first represented the district in the senate, but resigning, was succeeded by William H. Allen, of Grafton, Jer- sey county. In the house, Thomas H. Boyd attended to the interests of this county, then the 39th representative district. Judge Allen is noticed at length in the history of Jersey county, and Thomas H. Boyd, under the head of county judge of Greene county.

The 28th general assembly convened Jan. 8, 1873, and in the senate, the 39th distriet, embracing the counties of Greene and Morgan, was represented by William Brown, of Jacksonville, and in the house, by Jerome B. Nulton, of Carrollton, John W. Meacham, of Wav- erly, and John Gordon, of Lynnville. This was the first assembly under the workings of the constitution of 1870, and contained one senator and three representatives from each district, one

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of the latter being of the minority party.

Col. J. B. Nulton is a native of Wash- ington county, O., born in 1835. Of his parent, it will be well to enter into a short deseription. Jacob Nulton, the father of our subject, was born in Penn- sylvania, where he followed agricultural pursuits. In an early day he moved to Ohio, and while here formed the ac- quaintance of and wedded Parmelia Cheedle, by whom he had eleven chil- dren, nine of whom attained the age of maturity, and six of whom afterward became residents of this, Greene county. Miles came in 1841, and here followed agricultural pursuits until his death; Susan, wife of Beeman North, died in Jersey county ; George died in Greene county ; Marshall went to California about the year 1850, and some two years later was murdered by a Spaniard; Eliz- abeth married John Claflin and is still a resident of this eounty. The family came to Greene county in 1841, where they have since resided, and where Ja- cob Nulton and wife lived until called upon to pay the debt of nature by the cold and unrelenting hand of death. In early life the subject of this sketch fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. When the war of the Rebellion came on, Col. Nul- ton disposed of his farm property and was commissioned by Gov. Richard Yates as captain of Co. G., 61st Ill. Inf. Marching from Illinois into Missouri, a temporary halt was made at St. Louis, from which place the company proceed- ed to Pittsburg Landing, was assigned to Gen. Prentiss' division, and was the first company under fire from the enemy. Col. Nulton became a participant in many important battles, and received

the promotion of major after the en- gagement at Little Rock, and when the noted battle of Murfreesboro drew to a elose, our subjeet was promoted to colonel of the 61st regiment, July 1, 1865, through meritorious conduct. Al- though the regiment was commanded by Jacob Fry, S. P. Ohr, and Daniel Grass, they only held commissions as lieutenant-colonels, consequently Mr. Nulton was the only colonel the regi- ment ever possessed. At the close of the war he returned to Greene county, and located at Carrollton where he re- ceived the appointment of deputy rev- enue assessor. After serving in this ca- pacity for two years he entered into partnership with R. H. Davis, in the transaction of a grain business, con- trolling a larger trade than any similar firm in the county. In 1872 Col. Nulton was elected to the house of representa- tives from the 39th district, serving one term, and although urgently persuaded by his many friends to enter the contest for re-election he declined to become a candidate for the legislature a second time, but again entered the grain trade. discontinuing this however, in 1875. He then obtained some real estate in Kan- sas and for some time spent most of his time in that state. He afterward spent two years in Colorado as superintend- ent of a mining company and being in- dneed to go to New Mexico to look after mining interests, spent the major por- tion of his time in that territory for three years, where he stills owns min- ing property. In September, 1871, he was united in marriage with Henrietta Sieverling, a daughter of H. C. Siever- ling. Of this marriage two children were born-Guy, deceased, and Nettie.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Col. Nulton is commander of Carroll- ton post, No. 442, G. A. R. and has been an active member of the Masonic order for twenty years, serving three years as commander of Hugh de Payen commandery, No. 29. Politically the colonel is an ardent supporter of the principles of the democratic party, vot- ing for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860 and strenuously opposed to secession.

On the 6th of Jan., 1875, the 29th general assembly met and remained in session until April 15th, following. Charles D. Ilodges represented the dis- trict in the senate, Andrew J. Thomp- son, Samuel Woods and John Gordon in the house.

The 30th general assembly met at Springfield, Jan. 3, 1877, and remained in session until May 24, 1877. In its senate, this district was still represented by Hon. Charles D. Hodges. In the house the interests of the inhabitants of these counties were in the hands of Isaac L. Morrison and William P. Callon, of Jacksonville, and Lucian King, of Kane.

Capt. Lucian King was born in New York, in 1817, and his early life was there spent, on a farm. In 1842 he re- moved to Cleveland, O., where he was employed as clerk one year, and then took charge of his brother's boat for one year. He then came to Greenc county and worked as a farm hand, and during this time married Almira Lemon, daughter of Elder Moses Lemon, a pioneer minister, of Greene county. This union had been blessed with seven children-Lottie E., Mattie L., Martha E., Adele, Sadie B. and two deceased, When the civil war broke out, Mr. King organized Co. C., 122d

Ill. Inf., and proceeded to the front with the rank of captain. He participa- ted in many important battles, famous in history, and in May 1865, was hon- orably discharged, and returned to Greene county, where he engaged in farming. In 1876, Capt. King was elec- ted to the state legislature, from the 39th district, by an overwhelming ma- jority, and served with decided satis- faction to all.

In the senate of the 31st general assembly, which met Jan. 8, 1879, and remained in session till May 31, was found Hon. William P. Callon, of Mor- gan county, as the representative of this district, and in the house, Isaac L. Morrison, Richardson Vasey and Fran- cis M. Bridges. The two former of Morgan county, the latter of Greene.

The 32d general assembly convened at Springfield in Jan., 1881, and this district was represented in the senate by F. M. Bridges, and in the house by Joseph S. Carr, Oliver Coultas and David Pierson.

Frank M. Bridges, deceased, was born in Greene county, Ill., July 27, 1834, his parents being Archibald and Dor- leska (Eldred) Bridges, his father a na- tive of South Carolina, his mother of Connecticut. His parents were among the first settlers of Greene county, and entered 600 acres of land, all in one tract, when they came here, on which they built a little log cabin, where they lived a number of years. His father afterwards built a large two-story frame house, in which he resided until his death, in 1861. Mrs. Bridges survived him until 1870. Both are buried in the Carrollton cemetery. Frank was reared to farm life, remaining with his parents

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

until 22 years of age, and receiving his education partly in the district schools and partly in those of Carrollton, until about 1856, when he attended the Shurt- leff college, at Upper Alton. After fin- ishing his education, he went to Mem- phis, Mo., where he was employed as clerk in a dry goods store for two or three years, when he purchased an in- terest in the store, and the firmi became Bridges & Billups. This partnership continued until 1862, when he dispo-ed of his stoek of goods, and began buying up a lot of horses, which he took across the plains to California, and there dis- posed of them. He and his wife then remained there one year, keeping a hotel. From there they removed to Virginia City, Nev., where he remained about two years, engaged in a quartz mill. In May, 1864, his wife returned to Memphis, and Mr. Bridges followed about four months later, and after stay- ing there a short time they returned to Greene county, Ill., where they resided with his mother about two years. Ile then purchased 85 acres of land near the old homestead, built a house, and resided there about five years. After his mother's death, he bought out the heirs, and moved on to the homestead, where he resided the remainder of his lifetime. His marriage occurred Oct. 11, 1860, when he was united with Lena Hudnall, daughter of Dr. Moses L. and Minerva (Henderson) Hudnall. This union was blessed with six children, three of whom are living-Helen, Arch- ibald and Jessie. Those deceased are- Edgar, Nellie and Ruth. Mr. Bridges was elected sheriff of Greene county, Nov. 21, 1874, and served four years. In 1878 he was elected to the house of rep-

resentatives, and to the senate in 1882. When elected senator, his majority was 2,300. Mr. Bridges took his senatorial seat at the commencement of the ses- sion, in Jan., 1883, and again, in 1885, for his second term; but during the ex- citement, then at its highest pitch, over the election of a U. S. senator, he was stricken down with paralysis, and died March 20, 1885. He was a very promi- nent man, active in politics, who made many friends and few enemies, and stood high in the estimation of all who knew him. He left a farm of 245 acres, which is now owned and controlled by his widow, Mrs. Lena Bridges, an intelli- gent lady, who is a devout member of the Episcopal church at Carrollton.

Joseph S. Carr is a native of St. Charles, Mo., where he was born in the year 1832. His parents were John Carr, a native of Lexington, Ky., and Elizabeth Mary Ann (Sumner) Carr, who was born in North Carolina. John Carr was murdered in the Old City Ho- tel, at St. Louis, in 1840. Mrs. Carr died in 1873. The subject of this sketch was reared in St. Charles, receiving a liberal education, and graduating at the old St. Charles College. In 1869, he came to Illinois, and located in Kane, Greene county, where he engaged in the practice of law until 1883. He then removed to Jersey county, continuing the practice of his profession in Jersey- ville, where he now resides. May 10, 1857, he was united in marriage with Georgie Ann Logan, a native of Calla :- way county, Mo. They had 11 children, nine of whom are now living-Bettie E., Lois, Ernest H., Louis M., John, Josephine, Fritz, Festus, and Georgie E. He was bereaved by the death of

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

his wife, in 1881, and in 1883, was mar- ried to Etta Cory, a native of Jersey county. By this marriage there is one child-Etta May. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are members of the M. E. church. In 1881. Mr. Carr was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature and served one term. He is deputy grand m s er of the state in the I. O. O. F., and a member of the K. of II., also of the K. of l'.

David Pierson, the pioneer banker, was born in Cazenovia, Madison county, N. Y., July 9, 1806, and is a son of Josiah and Naomi Pierson. When 13 years of age his parents immigrated west, arriving at St. Louis, Mo., on the 3d of June, 1820, and after a short sojourn removed across into Illinois, locating near Collinsville, Madison county. In 1821, his father, Josiah, died of bilious fever, after an illness of only five days, leaving his widow and a family of five children-two daughters and three sons-in a strange land and among strangers, in rather destitute circumstances. After the death of Mr. Pierson, the family removed to Greene - county, settling two and a half miles north of Carrollton, about the close of the year 1821. In the spring of 1827, after having got a portion of the farm into a state of cultivation, David rented it out, and with others, went to the lead mines near Galena, and en- gaged in mining, but returned to the farm in the fall of 1828, where he re- mained with his mother until her death, in Sept., 1829. On the 25th of Aug., 1830, Mr. Pierson was married to Eliza J. Norton, a daughter of David Norton, an early settler of Illinois, from Her- kimer county, N. Y., who continued

the faithful, trusting partner of his joys and sorrows for over 50 years. Mr. Pierson continued to reside upon his farm until the beginning of 1834, when he disposed of the same and entered into the merchandising business in the then village of Carrollton, with a capital of less than $2,000, coming into compe- tition with several experienced mer- chants who were worth many times as much as he was. In politics Mr. Pier- son was from early youth a Clay whig, but with the disruption of that party he became a republican, and acted with the Union party during the war of the Rebellion. In 1843, he extended his business operations largely, purchasing stock and grain, sometimes on a large seale. From 1848 to 1854, he was the owner of the capital and the leading member of the firm of Mark, Pierson & Co., who, in addition to the dry goods trade, did a large business in the pur- chase and shipment of grain. About the commencement of the year 1854, Mr. Pierson closed his connection with the firm and entered into the banking business in connection with the dry goods trade. In 1855 his banking business had increased so much that he procured a new saf , happily just before the night of the 3d of April, 1855, when a gang of robbers from Calhoun county, broke into the store, probably hoping to obtain a large amount of gold belonging to the sheriff of. the county; but fortunately, they were unable to force the safe, and es- caped with only about 8280, which they found in the desk. Mr. Pierson imme- diately raised a company of 10 men, crossed over into Calhoun, and captured the whole gang, five in number, all of

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

whom were finally convicted, and landed in the penitentiary. It was said by the state's attorney, that he manifested a large amount of skill, not only in cap- turing the robbers, but in having them convicted. In Jan., 1858, Mr. Pierson disposed of the dry goods business, and turned his attention exclusively to banking, and in 1859, erected the large and commodious house which has since bren occupied by the bank. He was appointed special agent for the sale of United States bonds, during the time the government was borrowing money to crush out the rebellion, and while many who sympathized with the South, opposed and ridiculed the idea of loan- ing money to the government, to coerce our southern brethren, Mr. Pierson suc- ceeded in selling about $600,000 worth of bonds of the different issues, to the citizens of the county. Ile was also collector of internal revenue for sev- eral years, and paid more taxes for the poor than the receipts of his office amounted to. In 1862, Mr. Pierson purchased the Carrollton flouring mill, which he ran with great success for some years. In 1862-3 he aided in building a woolen factory, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1872 causing a severe loss to him. Mr. Pier- son and wife are members of the Bap- tist church, having been connected with that organization since 1832. Mr. Pier- son was a director of the construction company, in the building of the L., C. & W. R. R., and at present owns $10,- 000 worth of the stock, and is also vice- president, chairman, and financial agent of the same. His wife died May 11, 1879. Four children survived her- Ornan, David D., Robert and Mary J.

And now, taking into view the poor pi- oneer boy, shivering with chills and fever, in the rough log cabin, partaking of the humble fare of the backwoods- man, more than 50 years ago, and what he accomplished in life, it can but raise, in the estimation of all good men, the straightforward principles that has actuated his business career through life. He is, ostensibly, a self-made man, and needs no eulogy at our hands, as the work of his life speaks more elo- quently for itself.

Under the new apportionment, in 1882, Greene, together with the counties of Scott and Jersey, was placed in the 37th district and in the 33d general assembly, which met in Jan. 1883, the new district was represented in the senate by Frank M. Bridges. Walter E. Carlin, George W. Murray and John H. Coats, were the representatives in the house. Most of these gentlemen are noticed elsewhere in this volume.

The general assembly conveyed Jan. 6, 1885, and in its senate contained Frank M. Bridges, but in the latter part of March, that gentleman dying while in the discharge of his duties in Spring- field. Robert H. Davis was elected to succeed him. He is the present state senator. In the house the district was represented by Henry C. Massey and Theodore S. Chapman, of Jersey county, and Byron McEvers, of Scott county.

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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 80

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