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 81
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Hon. Robert H. Davis was born in Mercer county, Ky., now known as Boyle county. He came with his par- ents, Cyrus A. and Diana R. (Montague) Davis, to Greene county, III., in 1832, and here grew to manhood, being edu- cated principally in private schools. Ile subsequently removed to St. Louis,
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and for six or seven years was a clerk in a wholesale dry goods house, after which he entered into a large wholesale grocery and commission business, un- " der the firm name of R. H. Davis & Co., which he vigorously continued un- til 1867. At that time he returned to Carrollton, and in 1869, with J. B. Nul- ton, as partner, and under the firm name of Davis & Nulton, engaged in the grain trade. When Col. Nulton withdrew, Mr. Davis continued alone until 1883, when he became manager of the grain trade of D. R. Sparks & Co., and also associated D. M. Fishback as partner, and under the firm style of Fishback & Davis, engaged in the sale of flour, feed, fuel and all kinds of grain, except wheat. Feb. 4, 18 7, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Mary C. Newson, of Petersburg, Va., whose death occurred Feb. 18, 1872, leaving four children-Anna M, Cornelia, Liz- zie and Roberta L. Politically, Mr. Davis is a democrat. In 1872, Mr. Davis was selected by a non-party vote to serve the city of Carrollton as mayor. On retirement from that office, he att nded quietly to his large inter- ests n the grain trade until again called upon to serve as mayor in 1877, receiv- ing a large majority of the votes cast. In 1885 Mr. Davis was honored with the election to succeed Frank M. Bridges, as state : enator, whose death occurred in March of this year, and was the unanimous choice of the voters of this district, there being no opposing candi- date. Of Senator Davis' short term in the senate the Missouri Republican paid him the following compliment at the close of the 34th general assembly : "This general assembly contained many
good and reputable men, and none more so than Senator Davis, of Greene, who was elected to fill the unexpired term of late Senator Frank Bridges, of that county. Mr. Davis, although a new member, and taking his seat long after the work of the session had begun, proved a most careful and efficient leg- islator, always at his post and always on the right side of those questions in which the people are most interested. He has done so well for the short term, his constituents would render a deserved compliment to a good democrat and a faithful senator by giving him a long term." While a resident of St. Louis Mr. Davis was four years a director of the Mercantile Library Association, and two years vice-president. He always manifested an active interest in the sme, and is still an energetic worker in literary affairs. Mr. Davis is a cour- teous, sociable and agreeable gentleman, is a warm advocate and supporter of the temperance cause, but not a prohi- bitionist. He manifests a great deal of interest in anything pertaining to cdu- rational matters and its advancement, and is now serving his sixth years as a member of the board of education, and the third year as president of the same. He is a forcible and fluent speaker and always commands attention.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
A convention for the purpose of draft- ing a new constitution of the state of Illinois, convened at Springfield, June 7, 1847, at which there were 162 dele- gates present, among whom were Franklin Witt, Linus E. Worcester and D. M. Woodson, of and for the county of Greene. The convention adjourned
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Aug. 31, 1847. The constitution drafted by this convention was submitted to the people of the state and ratified by them March 6, 1848, and went into effect April 1, of the same year.
A convention was held at Springfield, commencing Jan. 7, 1862, which lasted until March 24, of that year, at which were 75 delegates from the state, John M. Woodson representing Greene coun- ty. The people of the state refused to ratify the work of their hands.
The present constitution is the work of a convention held for that purpose, which assembled at Springfield, Dec. 13, 1869, and remained in session until May 13, 1870. Eighty-five delegates were present, among them James W. English represented the county of Greene. The constitution so drafted was submitted to the people at a special election held on the 2d of July, 1870, and by them accepted, and went into operation Aug. 8, 1870. A sketch of Mr. English will be found further on in this volume.
COUNTY JUDGES.
When the county of Greene was or- ganized, in 1821, this office was simply a probate judge or justice, and had no power outside of these matters. The first to fill the position was John G. Lofton, who entered upon the discharge of his official duties, May 5, 1821. A sketch of this gentleman occurs in the history of Jersey county, he residing in that part of Greene county afterward included in Jersey. He held the office for less than a year.
Ile was succeeded by Abram Bow- man, in 1822. This gentleman came from Warren county, O., to Greene
county, in 1820, and settled on a farm west of Carrollton, where he passed the remainder of his life. He had a family of 10 children, and some of his descend- ants are still residents of this county.
A. W. Caverly was the next to fill the office, being elected thereto in 1823, and . was re-elected in 1825, filling the office for the term of four years. Mr. Cav- erly was one of the prominent and early attorneys of this section of the state, and is mentioned at length in this chap- ter, under head of representatives to the general assembly.
In 1827, Jehu Brown was elected to this office, and was re-elected to the of- fice in 1829, 1831 and 1833, filling the position satisfactorily for six years. lle was an early settler in what is now Jer- sey county, and is treated of it in that connection.
Lewis W. Link was the next judge of probate of Greene county, entering upon the duties of the office in 1835. He re- moved from this county years ago, it is believed to Missouri, and is doubtless dead by this time. He only held the office for two years.
Judge Link was succeeded by David M. Woodson, in 1837. This latter gen- tleman acted in this capacity for two years. A sketch of Judge Woodson is given at length in the chapter in re- lation to the courts of Greene county, he having served for many years as cir- cuit judge in this region.
In 1839 Calvin Tunnell was elected to to the office of probate judge and served in that capacity for four years. He was a native of North Carolina, born Octo- ber 4, 1791,and was one of the large fam- ily of William and Mary (Massey) Tun- nell, who were married in 1771, in Fair-
Banja Buletin.
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fax county, Va., their ancestors being formerly from England. When their son Calvin was only four years old, Mr. Tunnell and his wife moved to Ander- son county, Tenn., locating on a wild tract of land there, where he made a farm. It wasin that county and state that Calvin was educated, his learning being such as the schools of that day af- forded. Quite early in life he became inured to the toils and hardships of frontier life. On the 25th of August, 1811, he was married to Jane Adair, a native of West Virginia, born July 28, 1795. After his marriage, Mr. Tunnell started out in life on his own account, continuing to reside there until 1817. He then removed, with his wife and two children, to Madison county, Illinois, where they staid until late in the fall of 1818, and early in the spring of 1819, came up to Greene county. Here he located on a piece of land and made an improvement, and was one among the early settlers of the township where he resided. Like the majority of pioneers of this county, he came here very poor. He had hardly any money, and but three head of horses, and they died be- fore he was able to make any improve- ment ; and in order to break up his first piece of ground, he found it necessary to work for a neighbor by the day to get his first team of oxen to plow with. A few months previous to making a set- tlement here, he came and selected this piece of land, and by some it has been said that he split the first rails north of Macoupin creek. Mr. Tunnell and wife had fourteen children, nine of whom are yet living, and are married and com- fortably settled in life. Not many years after they came to Greene_ county, :Mr.
Tunnell and wife joined the Baptist church. He also preached a few ser- mons in the earlier part of his pioneer life. He was a member of the 9th general assembly which met at Vanda- lia, in 1834-5, and also of the 14th gen- eral assembly of 1844-6, and when the democratic convention met in 1866, his name was presented for the same posi- tion, but was positively declined by him. He died on the 7th of April, 1867, mourned by a large circle of friends and regretted by all who knew him.
Mathias S. Link succeeded Judge Tun- nell in the office of judge, in 1843. In 1847 he was re-elected. In 1849 he was re-elected again, but in the meantime the office had become a much more im- portant one. By the constitution of 1848, the county commissioners' court was abolished, and a county court con- sisting of a county judge and two asso- ciates, given jurisdiction over the fiscal and other affairs of the county, and pos- sessing all the powers of the commis- sioners' court, as well as attending to probate matters, as formerly. Judge Link with Adam I. Whiteside and An- thony S. Seely, as associates were the first to open the new court, which they did in December, 1849. Judge Link served in this office four years. A long time ago he left this county, and is sup- posed to have died in Missouri.
C. D. Hodges, one of the most pron- inent of the sons of Greene county, was elected to the office of county judge in 1853, and again in 1857, but in the early part of 1859 he resigned the position to accept a seat in the United States con- gress, in connection with which posi- tion, a sketch of this worthy gentleman is given in detail.
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IIISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
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On the resignation of Judge Hodges, in Feb., 1859, a special election was held to fill the vacancy, which resulted in elevating Thomas H. Boyd to the place. He was re-elected in 1861, and again in 1865. serving in this capacity nearly eight years, he resigning the po- sition in the fall of 1866. He was a na- tive of Alexandria, Va., born in 1817. His father, John Boyd, was a saddler and harness-maker by trade, who mar- ried Mary Kirk, a native of Philadel- phia, Pa. In an early day, they moved to Washington city, where they passed the remainder of life. Thomas was but 10 years old when he accompanied an emigrant train to Illinois, in 1834. At 25 he entered into the mercantile busi- ness at Columbiana, Greene county, where he started a small store, and be- came a dealer in cord-wood, and also a successful grain shipper. He transacted a good business here until 1856. About this time he married Mary Ann Ellis, a native of North Carolina. By this union there were six children, of whom three are living-Olly A., Carrie and Thomas. In 1859 Mr. Boyd was elected probate judge; faithfully discharging the mani- fold duties of this office, he received a re-election. In 1872 he was elected by a large majority to the state legislature, serving four sessions.
On the resignation of Judge Boyd, he was succeeded by Alfred Hinton, in 1866, who occupied the bench until 1869. He was succeeded in that year by John Ruyle, one of the early settlers of Greene county. Ile was born in Jacksonville, Ill,, April 2, 1824. Ilis father, who was a native of Davidson county, Tenn., was born in 1793. Ilis chances for obtaining an education were
extremely limited, so that he could only read print and write his name. Ile was reared on a farm, and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, in Sumner as well as in Davidson county, Tenn. When about 22 years of age, he was married to Lucy Dyer, daughter of Edward Dyer, form- erly of Virginia. For about 8 years after his marriage, he remained in Tennessee, engaged in farming; but being an anti- slavery man by instinct, though born in a slave state, he left his native state in order to found a home where his chil- dren might not be brought in contact with, or exposed to the influences of, slavery. Consequently, in 1823, he started for Illinois, and on the 3d of November of that year, without a single dollar in his possession, he arrived at Mauvaisterre creek, Morgan county. The subject of this sketch was born the following year, at the location of his father, in Morgan county. For the first seven years of his life he was without any means of obtaining an education, as there was not a single school-house or church in the neighborhood. In 1830, when John was six years of age, Mr. Ruyle removed to Greene county, and located in Mount Airy precinct. In this locality John Ruyle attended school for the first time. His first teacher, Western Scruggs, labored faithfully with him, and implanted in his young mind many principles which he never forgot. His education was wholly ob- tained in the common schools of Greene county, and, by studying at nights and at odd times, he was fitted, in a great measure, for the honorable career which has marked his maturer years. On the 14th of Feb., 1848, Mr. Ruyle was mar- ried to Elizabeth Whitlock, daughter of
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Charles Whitlock, an early settler of Mount Airy precinct. Immediately after marriage, he commenced farming on his own account, and his career as a farmer, we might say, dates from his marriage. In 1844 he was elected con- stable, and his journeys as an officer often extended over a large portion of the county. In 1849 he made his first purchase of land-a tract containing about 40 acres. In this year, also, he received from Gov. French a commis- sion as a second lieutenant in the 18th Regt. Ill. Mil. This was at the period of the Mexican war. Previous to this he had volunteered in the 1st. Ill. Regt., and started to go to Mexico, but on account of sudden illness, contracted at Alton, was discharged, and returned home. In 1853, Mr. Ruyle was elected a justice of the peace for his precinct, and his career as a justice extended over a period of 12 years. In 1861 he was elected associate justice of the county court. His term of four years was very acceptable to the people at large, as they regarded him as an honest, upright and high-minded magistrate. In 1869 he received the nomination of the dem- ocratie party for county judge, and was elected by a very large majority. Iłe died in 1876.
In 1873 the county commissioners be- ing again vested with the power of gov- ernment, the office of county judge was divested of some of its prerogatives, but still remained a very important office. Linus E. Worcester was elected this year, and occupied the bench until 1882, a most efficient and able officer. Mr. Worcester has already been noticed, at length, in this chapter.
Judge Leander R. Lakin, the present
incumbent of the office of county judge was elected in 1882.
Judge Leander R. Lakin, among the most prominent of Greene county's citizens, was born in this county, Dec. 17, 1847, his parents being Jordan and Eliza Ann (Myers) Lakin, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Pennsylva- nia. His father was born Dec. 1, 1817, and was a son of John M. Lakin. He received his education in the common schools of Fidelity, O .. and was reared to the duties of farm life. In 1827 they came to Illinois, locating in Greene county, on section 35, near what is now the village of Berdan, where Jordan was occupied at farming. He was united in marriage with Eliza A. Myers' and by this union there were nine child- ren, of whom our subject was the young- est son. In 1861 he organized Co. H, 91st Ill. Inf., and proceeded to the front with the rank of captain. He partici- pated in the battle at Elizabethtown, against Morgan, and there became dis- tinguished for his great bravery. He resigned before the close of the Rebellion and returned to his home in Greene county, where he engaged in farming until death called him to his happy home, July 29, 1869. He was buried at the Hopewell cemetery, near the old homestead, and a fine monument was erected to the memory of one who stood high in the estimation of all. Leander's mother, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Rogers) Myers, died May 30, 1860. She was known for her gentleness of dispo- sition and her kindness to the poor and needy, and was beloved by all who knew her. Judge Lakin was educated in the common schools of this county, and engaged in farming until his elce-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
tion as county clerk, in Nov., 1873. Hle served that term with such ability and gave such satisfaction that he was again elected in 1877 to fill the same import- ant position. At the expiration of that term of office he was, in Nov., 1882, elected to the office of county judge, in which capacity he is now officiating. He was united in marriage, Nov. 28, 1874, with Henrietta Sayles Brace, a daughter of Dr. and Emily (Sayles) Brace, both natives of New York state. This marriage has been blessed with five children, four of whom are living- Jesse, Jordan, Eliza and Emily. The one deceased is Leela, born in Dec., 1875, died in Aug., 1877, and is buried in the Carrollton cemetery. Judge Lakin is one of our most liberal minded citizens, and his past life has been characterized by official ability, and by a generosity of spirit which makes for him many friends.
COUNTY CLERK.
During the first years of the county's existence, this office was more generally known as the clerk of the county com- missioners' court, and has always been one of the most important offices in the county. The first to fill it was Samuel Lee, Jr., who was appointed to the of- fice at the first meeting of the commis- sioners, in 1821. He held this, and several other offices until his death, which occurred in 1829. He was a man of considerable ability, and had the re- spect and esteem of all, and at one time held the position of county clerk, clerk of the circuit court, county record r, justice of the peace, notary public and postmaster of Carrollton.
On the death of Mr. Lee, the commis-
sioners appointed George P. Kenney to the position of county clerk, which he filled until June, 1832, when he, too, was removed by the hand of death. On his dying, the commissioners appointed Edward D. Baker, as clerk, pro tem. This was afterward the famous senator from Oregon, and colonel of the 1st Cal. Reg, who was killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff, while acting brigadier- general. He was brought up in Greene county, although of English birth.
Mortimer Kennett was appointed to this position in 1832, to succeed Mr. Baker. He occupied the place until Jan., 1834, when he was removed, by the same power that appointed him, and Moses O. Bledsoe, at that time clerk of the circuit court, appointed in his stead. To this removal Mr. Kennett demurred, and contested the matter for a short time, but finally gave it up. Mr. Bledsoe acted as county clerk until the fall of 1837. He is noticed under head of circuit clerk, further on, an office which he filled for many years.
On the 27th of Sept., 1837, James Reno was inducted into this office, but held it only about six weeks, resigning it on the 17th of Oct., 1837. Mr. Reno was a noted hotel keeper of Carrollton, in those early days.
R. W. English was appointed to fill out the term until the next election, and entered upon the duties of the office, which he followed for a month or two. He is noticed elsewhere.
Philip N. Rampy was the next incun- bent, being elected in 1837, and served nearly two years.
On the 2d of Sept., 1839, William Carlin entered upon the duties of this office, and continued therein until
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IHISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
March 4, 1847, when he resigned the same. Mr. Carlin was a native of Fredericksburg, Va., born May 31, 1804, and was a brother of Thomas Carlin, governor of Illinois. Mr. Car- lin, while quite young, removed with his parents to the territory of Illinois, and settled at the Wood river settle- ment in Madison county, where they resided several years. In the fall of 1820, William became a citizen of Greene county, and purchased a piece of land near Carrollton. On the 6th of Dec., 1826, he was united in marriage with Mary Goode, also a native of Vir- ginia. Politically a democrat he was always a favorite with his party. He was elected to the above office as men- tioned. On his resignation he retired to his farm eight miles west of Carroll- ton. In 1848, while on his way to New Orleans with stock, he was nominated by the democratic party for the office of circuit clerk, and elected. He entered upon the duties of this office in Dec., 1848, and while serving in this capacity was cut off by the hand of death, on the 20th of April, 1850. No man in the county, perhaps, had the esteem of his fellow-citizens to a greater degree than he, and his death was mourned by all.
On the resignation of Mr. Carlin, on March 4, 1847, Francis P. Vedder was appointed to fill the vacancy. In Sep- tember of the same year he was elected for a full term, and re-elected to the same office in 1849, 1853 and 1857, thus holding the office for 14 years and six months.
In 1861, W. A. Davis was inducted into this important office, and served for four years.
William A. Davis, deceased, at one
time the most active business man in Carrollton, engaged in the mercantile business in 1852, being then 22 years of age. He engaged in handling grain, pork-packing and in purchasing all kinds of country produce, and this con- tinued until 1865, when he sold out here, and, going to St. Louis, opened up a commission house, which business he carried on until his death. He was married in 1858 to Louisa Hodges, daughter of Judge C. D. and Ellen (Hawley) Hodges. Judge Hodges was a native of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of three chil- dren-Jennie, Charles H. and Ella, wife of W. C. Wertheimer, of St. Louis. In 1861, Mr. Davis was elected to the office of county clerk, which position he filled for a term of four years, with honor to himself, and satisfaction to all. Ife was regarded as a man of per- haps the finest business tact in the county, and at the time of his death, being then only in his 36th year, had amassed a fine property. Mr. Davis was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He fell a victim to that dread scourge, cholera, and was deeply mourned, not only by his family and immediate re- latives, but by the people generally, throughout the county. His widow is still a resident of Carrollton.
G. W. Davis was the next to occupy the office of county clerk. He entered upon the duties of the office in 1865, and was re-elected in 1869, serving the people in that capacity for eight years.
George W. Davis, a prominent citizen of Carrollton, was born in Woodville township, Greene county, Ill., Aug. 9, 1839. He is a son of Dr. Cyrus A. and Diana R. (Montague) Davis, his father
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Virginia. They were early settlers here and a sketch of their lives will appear in this volume. George was educated in the district schools of his native place, and afterward clerked in his brother's store for some time, but upon the elec- tion of his brother to the office of county clerk, he was appointed by him to the position of deputy. He was thus em- ployed during that term of office, and in 1865 was himself elected county clerk, and in 1869 was re-elected to the same important office. At the expiration of that term Mr. Davis engaged in a family grocery business, but his health failing him he was obliged to retire from busi- ness for a few years. In April, 1883, he became connected with that thriving institution, the Carrollton Bank, as its president, a position he still holds. Dec. 27, 1865, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Jennie Lane, of Louis- ville, Ky., a daughter of W. F. and Lo- retta (Baker) Lane. They have an adopted child in their family-Mattie L. Mr. Davis was a member of the school board for some years, and was the principal mover in the erection of the very fine school house which this city can now boast of; he also superin- tended the building of it. For 12 years Mr. Davis has been secretary of the Agricultural Association, and was its president for two years. He has been president of the L., C. & W. R. R. Co., for the past three years. He is a mem- ber of Carrollton lodge No. 50, A. F. & A. M., of chapter No. 77, and of Hugh DePayen commandery, No. 29, and has occupied the highest position in each of these lodges. He is now master, and has for several years past been dis-
trict deputy for the 22d district. Mr. Davis is a member of the Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1857, and since 1874 has been elder therein.
Leander R. Lakin was elected to the office of county clerk in 1873, and serv- ing to the general satisfaction of the people of the county, was re-elected to the same office in 1877, by a majority of 1.337 over two candidates. Mr. Lakin, at present, occupies the important posi- tion of county judge, and is spoken of in that connection.
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