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 83

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 83

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Jacob Fry, who had been deputy un- der Mr. Wood, was elected to the office of sheriff in 1828, and re-elected four different times, in 1830, 1832, 1834 and 1836. He made a most excellent officer.

Gen. Jacob Fry was born in Fayette county, Ky., on the 20th day of Sept., 1799. His father was Barnhardt Fry, a Revolutionary soldier, and a native of Maryland. He was of German origin, a farmer by occupation, and served five years in the Continental army. He was married to a Miss Swigert, who bore him six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. At the early age of 20 he became a resident of Greene county, his total possessions footing up to 37 cents. He it was who commenced the first house in Carrollton. On the 25th of May, 1826, he was mar- ried, at Carrollton, to Emily Turney, a daughter of the late Gen. James Tur- ney, formerly of Tennessee. At the first county court ever held in Greene county, he was appointed constable, and

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

subsequently, deputy sheriff. Holding this position six years, he became sher- iff of the county, and for five terms of two year's duration, he held the position to the satisfaction of all. In 1831, oc- curred the Black Hawk war, and Gov- ernor Reynolds, with his usual prompt- ness, ordered out a brigade of mounted volunteers to the disputed territory, to repel the Indians. In this brigade, Col. Fry received the appointment of lieu- tenant-colonel. In 1832, Col. Fry was again called upon to take the field, and commanded a regiment of Gen. Samnel Whiteside's brigade. Col. Fry pro- ceeded to LaSalle, where he was elected colonel of a regiment of new levies, and subsequently formed a part of Gen. Henry's brigade. Shortly after, the regiment received marching orders, their objective point being Mud lake. near Rock river, whence they joined the reg- ular troops, under Gen. Atkinson. They overtook the enemy at the Wisconsin river, where a sharp conflict of short duration took place, and late in the af- ternoon the enemy escaped across the river. At the close of the Indian troubles in the northwest, Col. Fry took charge of the brigade, and proceeded to Dixon, where they were mustered out of the service. He was soon after made brig- adier-general, and subsequently major- general, of the militia of Illinois. He was elected by the state legislature, dur- ing the sessions of 1836-7, as acting canal commissioner, and accordingly removed to Lockport during the winter of 1837. He served until 1846, a period of nine years, in this capacity. Re- maining in Lockport, he entered upon a mercantile career, and in 1850, started for the gold mines of California; start-

ing from Lockport on the 1st of April, he reached Sacramento on the 2d of Ang. Here he remained for a period of three years, entering into mercantile pursuits, and turning his attention to mining, he became quite successful. He then returned to Illinois, locating at Ot- tawa. By James Buchanan, and through the direct influence of his old friend, Judge Douglas, he received the appoint- ment of the responsible position of col- lector of customs, at Chicago, and re- ceived, while the holder of this import- ant position, the first unbroken cargo that entered that port. However, Gen. Fry was outspoken in favor of his old friend, Stephen A. Douglas, then a member of the United States senate, and was accordingly superseded by a more pliable successor. He then re- turned to his old home in Greene county, where he was quietly pursuing the duties appertaining to his farm, when the war of the Rebellion came. He was well advanced in years, but he had a reverence for the old flag that had floated over many a battle-field in the Revolutionary struggle, and now, when the tramp of armed men resounded through many of our cities and towns, through the solicitation of Gov. Yates, he organized the 61st Reg. of Ill. Vol. Inf., and received from him the appoint- ment of colonel. Proceeding to the front from Carrollton, he bore a promi- nent part in the Rebellion, where he became a participant in many import- ant battles, especially that of Pittsburg Landing. Resigning his commission through disability, he returned to Greene county, where he has since died. His marriage to Miss Turney was blessd with five children: James, a

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graduate of West Point, and holds a po- sition in the regular army; Sarah; Wm. M .; Edward M .; and Julia A.

Mr. Fry quitting the office of sheriff previous to the expiration of his term, Young Wood occupied the office for about a year.

John D. Fry was the next sheriff of the county, being elected in 1838, and remained in office two years.

Hugh Jackson was first elected to the office of sheriff, in 1840, and was re- elected his own successor, at several general elections. remaining in the office until 1848.

Zachariah Morrow, in 1848, assumed the duties of the office of sheriff and served the people of the county, in this capacity, for two years. Mr. Morrow is noticed under the head of circuit clerk.

Hugh Jackson was again called on by the people of Greene county to take the office of sheriff, in 1854, and served another term of two years.

He was succeeded by Lemuel J. Pat- terson, who served two years from 1856. Mr. Patterson was born in St. Louis county, Mo., June 19, 1816, and resided there until the autumn of the year 1843. He was there united in marriage with A. E. Hume, and in the year 1844 moved to Greene county, and, in com- pany with A. S. Seely and George Schutz, leased of John Coats, the David Hodges' mill on Hurricane creek, and started a steam distillery, the first in the county, and a great novelty at the time. They bought thousands of bush- els of corn at 10 cents per bushel. They ran it till the spring of 1849, when Mr. Patterson sold out his interest to Geo. Schutz, and moved to Wilmington and

engaged in the mercantile business. He was elected justice of the peace that fall, served six years, and in 1856 was elected sheriff, and served two years, living in Carrollton. In 1858, he had to discharge one of the most disagreea- ble tasks, that of hanging Hall and Goffner, for the killing of Current Hin- ton. He then removed to his farm, near Wilmington, and in 1862, was ap- pointed government inspector. In the fall of 1864 he was elected one of the county judges of Greene county, for four years. In 1860, he was appointed postmaster at Breese, in Greene county, and has held the office ever since.

Jordan Larkin was the next called upon to officiate as sheriff of Greene county, entering upon the duties of the office in the last of 1858, and serving two years.

Jacob Bowman, in 1860, entered the office of sheriff, in response to the call of his fellow-citizens, and served two years. He was a native of Ohio, and settled here about 1818. In his 27th year he was united in marriage with Letitia, daughter of John Fry. He was more than ordinarily successful as a farmer, and as a public officer was de- servedly popular. He removed to Kan- sas about 1875. He had seven chil- dren-Samuel, George, John, Julia, Catherine, Rosie and Alice.

W. L. Greene was elected to the office of sheriff, in 1862, and served two years.

The next to fill this position was G. W. Coonrod, who was elected in 1864, and served two years most efficiently.

Geo. W. Coonrod, of Greenfield, Ill., an old settler, and one of the promi- nent men of Greene county, was born

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

in Wayne county, Illinois, September 3, 1827. He is the son of Stephen and Candis (Lee) Coonrod, both natives of Kentucky, his father being born in 1798, and his mother in 1800. Ilis father was a Baptist preacher. In the year 1829 he moved his family from Wayne county to Greene county, where he made his first entry of land, on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Sec. 33,T. 11, R. 10, on which he built his first cabin, afterward entering the 40 acre tracts, ad- joining the first entry, north and south, and purchasing the 40 acres adjoining east, where he built a more commodi- ous house, and moved into it, in the year 1835, where he died in 1872 of that dreadful disease-small pox, his wife surviving him, dying at her son Jeffer- son Coonrod's, in Greenfield, in the fall of 1879. George W. was the fourth child in the family of 11 children. He received his education in the common schools of that early day, becoming proficient enough in the branches then taught to teach, himself, and followed the profession of common school teacher, interspersed with teach- ing classes in penmanship in Greene and the adjoining counties, from 1847 to 1852, when he went to Texas and fol- lowed the same calling until 1855, when he came back to Illinois and engaged in the fall of that year in the mercantile business, in company with G. N. Kin- kead under the firm name of Kinkead & Coonrod, at Greenfield. In 1858, having been appointed postmaster, he retired from the firm and connected with the post office a confectionery, notion and grocery business in company with a younger brother. In 1861 he resigned the postmastership, continuing in the

mercantile business. In February, 1858, he was married to Mary A. Parks, born Dec. 28, 1837, in Meredosia, Mor- gan county, Ill. By this union they had five children, four of whom are living- Arthur G., born Jan. 6, 1859, at Greenfield ; Louis P., born Oct. 5, 1860; Catharine E., born April 17, 1863, died Oct. 8, 1864; Mary E., born at Carroll- ton, July 12, 1865, and Helen G., also born there, Dec. 14, 1868. Mrs Coon- rod died at Greenfield, Ill., June 2, 1870. Mr. Coonrod was again married Dec. 25. 1871, to Mattie E. Nutting, a native of Portland, Me., born March 3, 1847. By this union were four children, three of whom are living - Edith J., born Jan. 3, 1873, died Nov. 22," 1873; Curtis M., born June 24, 1875; William J., born Aug. 5, 1877 ; Guy N., born Feb. 14, 1879. Mr. Coonrod in 1864 was elected sheriff of Greene county on the democratic ticket, and in November of that year moved to Carrollton. After his term of office expired he engaged in the family grocery business at that place, closing out the same in the spring of 1875, and moving back to Greenfield he engaged in the same business in partnership with J. W. Piper, under the firm name of Coonrod & Piper. In 1876 he retired from mercantile business. He had held several positions of trust in the city, hav- ing served many years on the board of education; was twice elected president of the town council; in 1877 was elected police magistrate, and served four years. In 1883 he was appointed, by the gov- ernor, a notary public, which office, with insurance and general agency business now occupies his time, together with seeing after his farming interests in

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Greene county, Illinois, and Bates county, Missouri. He was elected in 1884, the attorney for the city of Green- field on its adopting a city government, and compiled the code of ordinances governing that young city. Was one of the commissioners to divide the county into political townships after the adoption of township organization. In politics he has usually acted with the democrats, but votes independently for the man he conceives to be the best qualified for the office. He belongs to no church, believing more in practical christianity than creeds and dogmas of sects. Independent in thought and ac- tion, regardless of popularity, prefering always to be right as his best judgment dictates. Ile belongs to no secret or- ganization, and by strict attention to business has made life a success finan- cially.

S. Foster Greene, in 1866, became sheriff of Greene county, and served in that capacity for two years.

S. F. Greene, who bore a prominent part in the growth and development of the flourishing county of Greene, is a native of the county, born Dec. 13, 1820, and is in all probability the first white child born south of the Macoupin creek. He was the son of John and Naney (Mains) Greene, whose sketch appears in another chapter of this work, and was the third child born to them. Growing to manhood upon the old farm homestead, he received such education as the facilities of a log cabin offered. On the 5th of Nov., 1846, he was united in marriage to Polly Witt, a daughter of Franklin Witt. One child was born to them-John II., who married Maria Pope, and lives in Kane township. Mrs.

Greene departed this life Sept. 11, 1850, and two years later Mr. Greene was married to Eliza J. Witt, a cousin of his first wife, and daughter of William P. Witt. They are the parents of six children-William R., Hattie L., Rob- ert W., Mary E., Justina and Walter B. During the autumn of 1866, Mr. Greene received the nomination and was eleeted sheriff of this county, and serv- ing one term gave general satisfaction to the law-abiding portion of the commu- nity, and in 1877 he was elected county commissioner by a large majority. Ranking among the prominent farmers of the west, Mr. Greene is the owner of 706 acres of valuable land, and also holds a controlling interest in the pri- vate banking institution known as S. F. Greene & Co.

The office of sheriff of Greene county was filled from 1868 to 1870, by J. S. Vedder, who did it most satisfactorily.

In 1870, F. M. Bell was elected to this office, and entering upon the duties of the office, filled it for two years. Mr. Bell is noticed elsewhere.

N. J. Andrews was the next sheriff, filling it for two years, from 1872. Mr. Andrews has already been noticed at length under the head of treasurer, an office which he, also, graced.

F. M. Bridges, in 1874, was elected sheriff, and served two years. This gentleman afterward occupied a promi- nent place as senator from Greene county in the general assembly, in con- nection with which a sketch of him has already been given.

John Jones, the present genial county clerk, was elected to the office of sheriff in 1876, and was re-elected in 1878, serving in this office four years.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Mr. Jones was succeeded in 1880 by George W. Witt, who served two years. George W. Witt was born in Greene county, April 21, 1841, his parents being Franklin and Malinda (Perry) Witt, his father a native of Tennessee, and his mother, of Indiana. His father came to Greene county in 1826, and located on section 13. remaining there one year, then removing to Carrollton township, locating on section 34, where he bought 20 acres. To this he added until he had 120 acres, on which he lived until 1836, when he traded it for a half interest in Thomas Rattan's farm of 600 acres. He removed to that place and spent the remainder of his life there. He died in 1851, and his wife survived him 26 years, her death occurring on the 10th of Feb., 1877, at the home of her son, George Witt. Our subject remained with his parents until 21 years of age, assisting on the farm. He then started out for himself, buying 140 acres of land on section 13, and afterward 80 acres on section 12. He then bought 160 acres on section 13, adjoining his other tracts, and which was set off as his mother's dower. Here he has resided and farmed since he was of age. Mr. Witt has been three times married; first on the 15th of March, 1865, to Eliza J. Moore. By this union there were four children, one of whom is living-Toinette. His wife died in 1873, and he was again married June 24, 1874, to Margaret A. Gardiner. Three children were born to them, one of whom, Freddie T., is living. His second wife died March 7, 1879, and on the 29th of Sept., 1880, he was again married to Louisa A. Williams, daugh- ter of William P. and Rachel Williams.

To them three children have been given -- Thomas K., Alta M. and Rachel J. In 1875 Mr. Witt built a fine two-story frame house 52×54 feet, costing about $9,000. This, with its pleasant sur- roundings, show him to be an intelli- gent, enterprising citizen, and one who has made a success of farming, he now owning 650 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Witt are members of the M. E. church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge; is a democrat in politics; was elected and served one term as sheriff of the county, from 1880 to 1882, and is among the prominent men of the county.

William M. Morrow, the present efficient sheriff of the county, was elected in 1882, and has held the position ever since.

William M. Morrow, the present sher- iff of Greene county, is a son of Abner and Mary (Ward) Morrow, and was born near Athensville, Greene county, Ill., on the 1st of Dec., 1842. His early life was spent on the farm, and as he was left an orphan, at the age of 13 years, he went to make his home with Peter Roodhouse, with whom he re- niained for four years. He then started out to "paddle his own canoe," en- gaging by the month, at farm work, until Nov., 1861, when he was united in marriage with Emeline Smith, daughter of James Smith. When he was mar- ried he had hardly a dollar, but two years later he received $600 from the estate of his father. He then purchased his father's old homestead, and a year later sold the same at a gain of $1,000. During the war he made some other deals in land, and thus got a start in life, still engaging in tilling the soil.

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Ilis farm now contains 460 acres of land, on which he raises a great deal of stock. Hle also engages in shipping stock and horses. Besides the farm, he also owns property in Roodhouse. In 1869 his wife died, leaving four children- Mary P., James A., Harry C. and Anna. In Sept. 1871, he was again united in marriage with Ellen Maberry, daughter of William M. Maberry, and this union has been blessed with a family of four children-Edith, Blanche, Claude and Ernest. In politics Mr. Morrow is a staunch democrat. He served three years as county commissioner, and in the fall of 1882 was elected sheriff of the county. He then left his eldest son to manage the farm and moved to town to enter upon the duties of his office, which he manages with the utmost sat- faction to all. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F. and K. of H. lodges. He is one of the direct- ors of the Carrollton bank, and also of the Greene County Loan Association. Activity, honesty and liberality have won for him the position he now occu- pies in business and social circles.

CORONERS.

The office of coroner has been held

by many eminent men in the county, at various times, men identified with the growth of the county, and who have honored the office, while it honored them. The following is a list of them, with the years they served: John Wag- goner, 1821; Christian Link, 1822-4-6; Peter Fronk, 1827-8; Philip N. Rampy, 1831-2; J. N. Whitlock, 1832-6; James G. Berry, 1836-8; J. N. Whitlock, 1838-42; James Hopkins, 1842-44; John N. Whitlock, 1841-6; Richard Ellis, 1846-8; James Medford, 1848; R. R. Nichols, 1849-50; Marshall Dulaney, 1850-8; Anderson Headrick, 1858-61; J. E. Bridges, 1861-2; John D. Jack, 1862-3; Parham Thaxton, 1863-6; Thomas Wright, 1866-8; Henry Nash, 1868-76; Anderson Headrick, 1876-80; George W. Thompson, 1880, and pres- ent coroner.

COUNTY SURVEYORS.

Among those who have filled the office of county surveyor of Greene, have been the following named gentlemen: Robert Avery, who was the first; Wil- liam Scott, Samuel Smith, Job Collins, Jay M. Hurd, C. C. Dodge, William S. Ellis, Samuel Heaton, Henry Bonfoy, L. M. Dyer and J. C. White.

CHAPTER XI.

THE BAR OF GREENE COUNTY.

Perhaps there is no part of this history of more general interest than the record of the bar of the county. It is well

known that the peace, prosperity and well being of every community depends upon the wise interpretation of the

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

laws, as well as upon their judicious framing, and therefor the records of the various parties, who have at various times, made up the bar, will be no un- important part of the county record. Upon a few principles of natural justice is erected the whole superstructure of civil laws, tending to meet the desires and relieve the wants of all alike. It has been said, that "The business of the lawyer is not to make the laws, but to apply them to the daily affairs of men." But the interests of men are of so diverse a nature, and so intermingled and complex, that the problem presented to both lawyer and judge often seems to need the judgment of an oracle. Change is everywhere the order of the day. The relations of life are changing with each revolution of the earth, and the law, that yesterday met the wishes of the people, will no longer suit the ne- cessities of to-day. New and more sat- isfactory laws must be enacted to keep pace with the unprecedented stride taken in science, art and mechanics. The ex- igencies of law are those of to-day, and a lawyer is essentially a man of the present, and must meet the issues of the hour. His capital is his ability, and when he lies down and divests himself of mortal clay, the characteristics that distinguish him above his fellow men, are lost to his successors, to whom he could not bequeath them.

In 1878, in an address to the Illinois State Bar Association, Anthony Thorn- ton, the venerable president of the so- ciety, thus speaks of the lawyer:

"In the American State, the great and good lawyer must always be prominent, for he is one of the forces that move and control society. Publie confidence

has generally been reposed in the legal profession. It has ever been the de- fender of popular rights, the champion of freedom regulated by law, the firm support of good government In the times of danger it has stood like a rock and breasted the mad passions of the hour, and finally resisted tumult and faction. No political preferment, no mere place, can add to the power or in- crease the honor which belongs to the pure and educated lawyer. The fame of Mansfield, and Marshall and Story ean never die. Time's iron feet can print no ruin trace upon their char- acter. Their learning and luminous ex- position of our jurisprudence will al- ways light our pathway. It is our duty to preserve the prestige of the profes- sion. The past, at least, secure; the present and future summon us to action. With the progress of society, and the inerease of population, wealth and trade, varied interests arise and novel questions requiring more thought con- front us. A disregard for the law has been developed, crime meets us un- abashed, and corruption stands un- masked in the high places of the land. It is no fancy picture that the law has, to some extent, lost its authority, and it is only the shade of that which was great. Hence new duties are imposed and firmer courage is required. *

" The exaltation is a duty enjoined upon us. It is a debt that only death can discharge. Lord Bacon has said : Every man is a debtor to his profession; from the which, as men of force do seek to receive countenance and profit, so ought they of duty, to endeavor themselves, by ways of amends, to be a help and ornament thereto. Every

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lawyer is a debtor to his profession. If worthy, it gives him an honorable char- acter and position. The lawyer should prize and love his profession. He should value its past renown and cher- ish the memory of great men, whose gigantie shadows walk by us still. He should love it for the intrinsic worth and innate truth of the fundamental truths which adorn it."

The bar of Greene county has núm- bered among its members some who have been an honor, not only to the county, but to the profession and the state as well. So far as material was accessible, sketches are given of each attorney who has practiced at the bar of the county, being residents thereof. Not one has been omitted with intention; and of some, more would have been gladly written were the proper data at hand from which to do so. The peculiarities and personalities which form so inter- esting and pleasant a part of local his- tory, and particularly of the lives of the members of the bar, are in some measure lacking, more from the nature of the case than from a lack of interest or labor. Unlike the fair plaintiff in the famous Bardell vs. Pickwick, we have no painstaking "sergeant to relate the facts and circumstances of the case."

One of the first attorneys, if not the very first, to settle in Greene county, was Alfred W. Caverly, who located in Carrollton as early as 1822. Ile prae- tieed law there for many years, and was quite a prominent figure in the political world. He is noticed under the head of members of the general assembly, in the chapter on National, State and County representation.

James Turney, at one time attorney

general of this state, was a member of" the bar of Carrollton, coming here about 1828. Heis spoken of more fully in the chapter on representation.

David M. Woodson, for so many years the circuit judge of this judicial circuit, was also numbered among the brighter lights of the Greene county bar. A full biographical sketch of this emi- nent jurist is given in connection with the courts of the 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 83

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