USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
Osborne D. D. commercial traveler
OSBORNE M. L. MRS. Among the many enterprises that have sprung into ex-
491
CARROLLTON CITY.
istence in the city of Carrollton, is the New York Store, conducted by Mrs. M. L. Os- borne ; but a few months ago Mrs. Osborne became established in business here, but during this brief time has built a large and constantly increasing trade in millin- ery and fancy goods, ribbons, flowers, feathers, gloves, ladies' furnishing goods, etc., etc. ; west of Square. A notable fea- ture of this already well and favorably known establishment is the five cent de- partment, where a variety of articles are retailed for the small sum of five cents that anywhere else would be retailed for from 25 cents to one dollar. A visit to Mrs. Osborne's will well repay the customer, who can not complain of either styles or prices. See business card elsewhere
PANKEY WILLIAM, retired farmer Patterson A. L. janitor Patterson William, laborer Pent William, laborer Perry Mary Mrs. Peters Michael, blacksmith Pickett William T. news foreman Patriot office
PIERSON DAVID, the pioneer bank- er, was born in Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., July 9, 1806, and when young received the rudiments of a common school education, but at the age of thirteen re- moved with his parents, Josiah and Naomi Pierson, to the then far West, arriving at St. Louis on the 3d of June, 1820, and after a short sojourn there moved across into Illinois, near Collinsville, in Madison County. In 1821 his father, Josiah Pier- son, died of bilious fever, after an illness of only five days, leaving his widow and a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, in a strange land and among strangers, in rather destitute circumstances; but that God who cares for the widow and the fatherless watched over them, and they found kind, sympathizing friends among those with whom their lot had been cast. After the death of Mr. Pierson the family removed into Greene County, locating two and one half miles north of Carrollton, about the close of the year 1821. In the Spring of 1822 the subject of this sketch was taken sick with chills and fever, which finally terminated in a rheumatic affection
and lasted, with more or less severity, for over three years; yet he continued to do such labor as he was able, in clearing up and im- proving the farm on which they resided, until his health became firm and he was able to do a large amount of labor. In the Spring of 1827, after having got a portion of the farm into a good state of cultivation, he rented it out and went with others to the lead mines near Galena, and engaged in mining, but re- turned to the farm in the Fall of 1828, living with his mother on the farm until her death, which occurred in September, 1829, and on the 25th day of August, 1830, was married to Miss Eliza Jane Norton (daughter of David Norton, an early settler of Illinois, from Herkimer Co., N. Y.), who has con- tinued the faithful, trusting partner of his joys and sorrows for almost fifty years. Mr. Pierson continued to reside on his farm until the beginning of 1834, when he sold his farm and moved into the village (now City of Carrollton) and commenced merchandising, with a capital of less than $2,000. coming into competition with sev- eral experienced merchants, some of whom were worth more than ten times as much as he was, and all of them failed during the hard times from 1838 to 1843, which were the times that tried men's souls as well as their purses. One other firm, that commenced business some two years later than Mr. Pierson (also without a large capital), and himself being the only mer- chants in the place that went through the great revulsion, that broke ninety per cent of the merchants and nearly all of the State banks in the United States, unscathed -thus illustrating the value of integrity of character. Mr. Pierson has always held that death was preferable to dishonor ; has always had decided opinions on all ques- tions where morals was concerned, and been outspoken in their defense. In pol- itics he was from early youth a Clay Whig, advocating protection to the laborer, me- chanic and manufacturer; after the dis- ruption of the Whig party he became a Republican, and acted with the Union party during the war of the Rebellion. After the return of prosperity to the coun- try, dating with the high tariff of 1843, Mr. Pierson extended his business operations largely, purchasing hogs, cattle, and grain,
492
GREENE COUNTY DIRECTORY.
sometimes on a large scale ; was from 1848 to 1854 the owner of the capital and the leading member in the firm of Mark Pier- son & Co. of Alton, who, in addition to a large dry goods trade, did a large business in the purchase and shipment of grain. About the commencement of the year 1854, Mr. Pierson, having an eye on the banking business, closed his connection with the firm of Mark Pierson & Co, and com- menced doing a banking business in con- nection with the dry goods trade. In 1855 his banking business had increased so much that he had procured a new safe, happily just before the night of the third of April, 1855, when a gang of robbers from Cal- houn Co. broke into the store, probably hoping to obtain a large amount of gold belonging to the sheriff of the county; but fortunately they were not able to force the safe, and escaped with only about $280, which they found in the desk. Mr. Pier- son, after a careful examination of all the facts and circumstances, raised a company of ten men of his true and tried friends, crossed over into Calhoun, and captured the whole gang, five in number, all of which 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 capturing the robbers, but in getting them convicted. Mr. Pier- son continned his dry goods business, and his miscellaneous trading until the first of January, 1858, when he disposed of the dry goods, and turned his attention exclu- sively to banking, and in 1859 erected the large and commodious house, which has been occupied by the bank up to the pres- ent time ; in IS60, having got established in his new and commodious quarters, he advertised his business more largely, and in 1861, notwithstanding nearly every bank in the State failed, he daily received the depo- sits of merchants and others, carrying his customers safely through the critical period without the loss to them of a single dollar, although at the end of the year the hun- dreds of thousands of dollars received on deposit, would not have been worth fifty cents to the dollar to the depositors had they kept their own money ; and while all, or nearly all, the individual bankers in the country paid off their depositors at a dis-
count, he continued to pay dollar for dollar, and as the broken bank money disappeared and national bank and treasury notes came into use, confidence succeeded the gloom and depression that had overspread the land, his business increased largely, having the confidence of not only the community in which he had so long resided, but that of the merchants and bankers in the neigh- boring cities, as well as that of the Treas- urer of the United States ; 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 loaning money to the Government to "co- erce our Southern brethren," Mr. Pierson succeeded in selling about six hundred thousand dollars in bonds of the different issues, to the citizens of the county, which speaks volumes in his favor, when the large opposition element in the county is taken into view. He was collector of internal revenue for several years, and paid more taxes for the poor than his profits from the office. Remembering the time, when a penniless boy, he worked for one and a half bushels of corn per day, when 20 cents per bushel was the highest price that could be got in trade or store goods for it, and com- mon calico was 3712 cents, and thin domes- tic 25 cents per yard, salt $2 50 per bushel, sugar 20 cents, and coffee 50 cents per pound, and remembering how long and pa- tiently he had to work before getting a start, he has ever been the friend and helper of the industrious poor. In 1862, Mr. Pierson purchased the Carrollton flouring mill, which he ran with great success for some years, clearing over $22,000 in less than four years; but others (hearing probably of his success) built mills in the city and county, until the competition became so great that nearly every miller in the county, except him, failed, some of them for a large amount. He still owns the mill, which has been quite successful for the last few years. Ilis flour ranks first in market. In 1862-3 he aided in building a woolen factory, which was destroyed by fire (the work of incendiaries), in the Fall of 1872, causing a loss to Mr. Pierson of over $25,000. In May, 1830,
493
CARROLLTON CITY.
Mr. Pierson organized the first total ab- stinence society (so far as known) in the State of Illinois, with only thirteen mem- bers, which prospered amidst the most bit- ter opposition for over ten years, having over six hundred members, when the " Washingtonians " came into the field and took the place of the first organization. In 1832, Mr. Pierson and wife became mem- bers of the Baptist church, and he has rarely been absent from his seat at any of its regular meetings, either on the Sabbath or week days, for nearly forty seven years, and has always been foremost in his con- tributions for the support of the minister and other church expenses ; and for many years was superintendent of the Sabbath school, and always a constant laborer, and has had the pleasure of seeing near one hundred of the scholars connected with the school make a profession of religion, and some of them have become eminent divines. During his superintendance of the school he made it a point to be punctual in his attendance, and more than five years have elapsed without his missing a single Sun- day. When the church was weak, he bore the largest share of the expenses of keep- it up himself; has been noted for his gen- erous and liberal impulses; has contributed liberally for benevolent enterprises or those of a moral or religious character. He aided liberally in the establishment of the Lang- ston school at Holly Springs, Mississippi, for educating the freed men in that State, and in 1872 met, in the National Republi- can Convention that met in Philadelphia, three freed men who were slaves until freed by the Emancipation Proclamation of the President, and when freed did not know a letter in the alphabet, but after had ac- quired a good, solid, practical education ; and one of them, James Hill has since been Secretary of State in Mississippi, be- ing elected by both parties, and by both whites and blacks. Over 2,000 scholars have been educated at that school, which is still prosperous. In early life Mr. Pier- son resolved so to live that no man could truthfully complain of any act of his ; and that he would never stoop to contradict a slanders, to which resolves he has adhered through life. In a long life of extensive business transaction, and as president of a
bank, doing the largest business of any in the county, it would be indeed a miracle if some offences were not given ; and yet he is assured of the respect and confidence of the good men that know him best. And now, taking into view the poor pioneer boy, shivering with chills and fever, in the rough log cabin, partaking of the humble fare of the backwoodsman more than fifty- five years ago, and what he accomplished in life, it can but raise in the estimation of all good men the straightforward principle that has actuated his career as a business man through life. Mr. Pierson's strong traits of character are a steady perseverance in business, honesty of purpose, will and energy in carrying out his aims, generous and liberal in his impulses, always sympa- thizing with those in trouble, and often making large sacrifices to aid others, in trouble. Such in brief is the narrative of the life and career of one of the oldest citizens of Greene County. By his genial and kind manner he has won the respect and esteem of those who have acted with him in the growth and development of the county for over fifty years. He is osten- sibly a self-made man, and needs no eulogy at our hands, as the work of his life speaks more eloquently for itself
Pierson David D.
Pierson Ornan, asst. cashier Greene Co. Nat. Bank
Pierson Robert, cashier Greene Co. Bank
Pinkerton Nancy Mrs.
Pinkerton Thomas, engineer Arcadia mills Powell John G. clerk
Prant Frank, clerk
PRANT H. A. grocer and tobacconist, north side of Square, Carrollton, Illinois. H. A. Prant is a native of Germany, and was born in IS37 ; at an early age le de- veloped marked energy of character and accordingly at the age of twelve years he embarked on board a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans. On arriving here, the yellow fever then prevailing, made it in- cumbent upon the authorities of the city to prevent the departure of any and all pas- sengers, and accordingly the subject of our notice remained there until the quarantine was removed, when he made his way to Memphis, Tenn. Ilaving learned the trade of a tobacconist in Germany he now worked
S
494
GREENE COUNTY DIRECTORY.
at his trade for a number of years. On leaving Memphis he proceeded to St. Louis where he worked as a journeyman and sub- sequently as foreman for a manufacturing firm. While a resident here he was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Groffe, a daughter of John Groffe, of Prussia. On leaving St. Louis he went to work at Jack- sonville, Morgan County, where he was foreman for a tobacco firm four years, when he took his line of departure for Jerseyville, Jersey County, Ill., where he embarked in business for himself; for a period of three years here he prospered, until his property was destroyed by fire in 1863 ; about 1865 he located at Carrollton, where he at first ventured in the tobacco trade, subsequently adding a stock of groceries. By strict at- tention to business and honorable dealing he now has a large and increasing trade. See business card elsewhere
Price G. B. associate editor Carrollton Gazette Price H. M. clerk
Price & Son, job printers and pub. Carrollton Gazette
Price T. D. editor Gazette
PRINDEBLE & GREEN, dealers in clothing and gent's furnishing goods, hats, caps, boots, shoes, trunks, valises, etc., also merchant tailors, Carrollton, Illinois. The above named enterprising firm became established in business one year age for the transaction of a clothing business, and during this short time have built up a repu- tation for honesty in their dealings that has brought success. The senior member, Mr, Green, is a native of Germany ; at the early age of 17 he left Germany for England, where he transacted a successful business in the city of Birmingham; in 1859 he crossed the Atlantic for America ; transact- ing business for some time in Texas ; on arriving in Carrollton he entered into the present business with Samuel Levy. J. P. Prindeble, the junior member of this firm, was born in Missouri, in 1854, and became a resident of Greene County, where he grew up on the old farm homestead of his parents, Patrick and Mary Prindeble. John con- tinued agricultural pursuits until entering into a co-partnership business with Mr. Green. Further notice will be given in the other department of this work
PRINDEBLE PATRICK, farmer
and stock raiser, r Maple Av. Patrick Prindeble is a native of Ireland and was born in 1818. Growing to manhood in Ire- land he followed farming for many years, and at the age of 35, having met with many reverses of fortune, he concluded to better his condition in America. Landing in New York, he remained here a short time, when he made his way to Albany, thence to Troy. It should be stated that Mr. Prindeble was twice married in Ireland ; his first wife was Miss Bridget Kelly, by whom he had two children ; this lady died in Ireland. His second wife was Miss Mary Caton, by whom he had ten children. Twenty-five years ago Mr. Prindeble located in Greene County where he purchased farm property, and here his second wife died, in 1877. During the present year our subject was united in marriage to Mrs. Ellen Devier, whose maiden name was Danworth. Mr. Prinde- ble has been a very successful farmer and is the owner of 300 acres of valuable land.
Prouse John, laborer
Purl Charles, farmer
Purl M. L. Mrs.
Purl Thomas, farmer, Sec. 22, P.O. Carrollton Purl T. C. farmer
Q UINN THOMAS, farm hand
R AINEY JOHN, real estate dealer, Carrollton, Illinois, was born in Lexing- ton, Ken., July 15, 1825 ; his father, Wm. C. Rainey, a native of Penn. emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, where he married at Lexington Miss Susan Clay, by whom he had eight children ; John, the second child, a patron of this work, grew to manhood in Carrollton, where he received a liberal edu- cation ; September 9, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Kate Thomas, young- est daughter of the late Hon. Samuel Thomas, whose name is mentioned in the historical portion of this volume. There are three children : Henry Thos., a gradu- ate of the high school of Carrollton and a promising student of the Knox College of Galesburg, Illinois; the younger members of the family are William C. and Susie E. Mr. Rainey owns a valuable city property at Carrollton and a farm of 226 acres three miles from the city limits. For the space
495
CARROLLTON CITY.
of two years he held the position of alder- man of Carrolton
Rahm Robert, tailor Rattan Richard, horse trainer
Ray Eliza Miss, milliner
Ray Elizabeth Mrs. Reanier Squire, carpenter Reed J. G. & Son, lumber dealers
Reed Mark, lumber dealer Rexroat John, laborer
Rexroat Samuel, laborer
Rensis Floris, artist
RICE S. A. photographer, r West Third St., is a native of Pennsylvania, born Sep- tember 13, 1839. When quite young his parents moved to Louisiana, Mo., where the head of the family followed the occupation of a cabinet maker, and of him we make mention as far as our limited space will permit ; he was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and there married Miss Margaret Clifford ; he received a liberal education, and de- veloped a decided taste in mechanics, and on his removal to Louisiana became the in- ventor of a valuable gas retort and other patents of note. When the war broke out he received his commission as Captain of State Militia under command of Major General Henderson; he is still living, a resident of Louisiana. The subject of our notice passed his early years in Louisiana, proceeding to Chicago he there entered the photographic establishment of C. Shaw, a leading photographer. Remaining here for some time, he proceeded to Sterling, Illinois, where he opened a gallery, conducting a successful business here for two years when he again moved to Louisiana, Mo., where he established a reputation for workmanship that gained for him a large share of public patronage ; locating at Perry, Pike County, Illinois, he was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Hovey, a daughter of Sylvester Hovey, by whom he has one child, Everet. In 1874 Mr. R. concluded to embark in business as a traveling photographer, and two years ago located at Carrollton, where he is already well known as a reliable and skillful workman
Richardson F. traveling agent Roberts F. M. deputy circuit clerk
ROBERTS J. E. pastor First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Illinois, is a native of the State of Ohio, and was born in 1853.
In Michigan, where his parents, William S. (a Baptist) and Henrietta E. afterwards re- moved, he passed the early years of his life. Receiving a preliminary education in the district schools of his native place, in his 17th year, for the purpose of acquiring a liberal education he proceeded to Alton, where he entered Shurtleff College ; after two years spent in the preparatory, the next four years were occupied in classic studies ; at the expiration of this time two years were spent in the theological department. Graduating from this noted place of learn- ing June, 1878, he became ordained to the ministry and during the Autumn of the present year entered upon the pastorate of the first Baptist church of this city. In September, 1878, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Miss Frances L. Bulkley, a daughter of Dr. J. Bulkley, D.D., of Alton Robbins Lafayette F. clerk
ROBERTS & LAVERY. Among the notable features of inventions, we mention the manifest improvements that Messrs. F. M. Roberts and William Lavery have made in the recording of abstracts of title. For years the above mentioned par- ties have worked faithfully and pa- tiently to bring before the property owners of Greene County a form of abstract that for simplicity and reliability in the way of finding with little loss of time all abstracts of title made, remains unexcelled. In the past agricultural men are well aware of the difficulties that have been met with in searching the records in order to trace to a definite source the changes that have transpired incidental to sales of real es- tate. All have now an opportunity of ac- quiring a valuable fund of information at slight cost
Rohls Valentine, tailor
Roodhouse Benj. pres. Carrollton Bank
Roodhouse J. M. cashier Carrollton Bank
Root Herbert T. lawyer
ROOT & GARDNER, lawyers. Among the law firms of Carrollton who have but lately entered upon a professional career here, we mention the law firm of Messrs. Root & Gardner, who occupy an office over the drug store of S. A. Vedder. The senior member, Mr. H. T. Root, is a gentleman of scholarly attainments and genial manners. He was born in the
496
GREENE COUNTY DIRECTORY.
State of Michigan, November 5, 1853. At an early age his parents moved to New York State, where he remained until he had attained his 14th year, when he di- rected his footsteps to Illinois. At Shurtleff College, Madison County, he took a pre- paratory course; in 1872 proceeding to Princeton, New Jersey, he there entered the noted Princeton College, taking a classical course of study, and two years after graduating, having conferred upon him the degree of A. B., taking the degree of A. M. three years later; entering upon a course of study at the Columbia Law Institute, graduating from this famous seat of learning with the honorary title of L. L. B .; admitted to the bar in the City of New York, June 1, 1877, Mr. Root entered the law office of Thomas C. Pinckney as partner, continuing with this well known attorney until his decease, which occurred during the Winter of 1877. Digressing a little from the direct line of narrative, for one year Mr. Root taught in the High School of Carrollton, thereby gaining an extensive acquaintance here, and in his profession as attorney will no doubt reach a success in a profession open to all who have the necessary ability. Of Mr. Gard- ner it may be said, that he is a native of Nantucket, Mass .; born January 31, 1856. Receiving his preliminary education at Boston, in 1875, attending Columbia Col- lege Law School, becoming a graduate in 1877, he was admitted to practice in all the Supreme Courts, practicing in New York for a period of 18 months. In conclusion, we wish the new law firm a hearty success in their practice at Carroll- ton
ROSE C. C. boot and shoe maker, west side Square, Carrollton, Ill. Charles C. Rose is a native of Germany; born in 1840, and was but five years of age when his parents crossed the Atlantic for Amer- ica, locating in the west at Cape Girar- deau, Mo. At the early age of 16, pos- sessed of an adventurous disposition, the subject of our sketch departed from the parental roof for Pike County, Ill., where he became apprenticed to the trade of a shoemaker, becoming a journeyman work. man. He now launched out in business on his own account, afterward proceeding to
Beardstown. He there embarked in busi- ness for a period of three years; and while here a resident formed the acquaintance of and married Miss Catherine Dan, of Cal- houn County, a daughter of Michael Dan, one of the oldest settlers of said county. Nearly two years went by and Mr. Rose took up his line of departure for Greene County, locating at Carrollton, where he has since conducted a successful business for the past twelve years. Of the marriage above referred to two children were born, Ella and Harry
Rowe Mrs. milliner Rumrill Edward, wagon maker
RUMRILL GEORGE & SON,
blacksmiths and wagon manufacturers, Locust and Fourth Sts., Carrollton, Ill. Among the many skilled mechanics of Carrollton, none are more favorably known to the public than the reliable firm above mentioned. The senior member, George Rumrill, is a native of Massachusetts ; born in 1821. Ten years later the parents of our subject moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where George, growing to maturity, became regularly apprenticed to the trade of carriage and wagon making, in after years receiving a diploma for superior workmanship. In 1845 Mr. Rumrill was married to Miss Lois Williams, in the State of Ohio, by whom he has four chil- dren living, four children having passed to that world of spirits to which we all are tending
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.