History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present, Part 90

Author: Clapp, Clement L., 1852- [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd
Number of Pages: 790

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 90

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Dixon Henry, renter, Sec. 5, P.O. Rockbridge

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TOWN 9, NORTH RANGE 10, WEST.

DOWDALL JAMES, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 7, P.O. Rockbridge. For nearly one hundred years the tide of emigra- tion flowed steadily westward, and among the many who became residents of this county in an early day, few have displayed more of the characteristic energy of the pioneer than James Dowdall, born in the year 1826, in Jennings County, Indiana. He was the child of John and Elizabeth Dowdall who removed from Indiana, set- tling in Greene County in 1831, at a time when Illinois had witnessed few improve- ments of a substantial nature. John Dow- dall was a native Virginian, raised in Ken- tucky. He was married while on a visit to Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth English, a daughter of Elisha English, of Kentucky. Having now followed the fortunes of this enterprising band of emigrants to Greene County, where many of them were destined to play a prominent part in the growth and development of this portion of Illinois, owing to limited space the statement is here given, that for the period of time in which he lived, John Dowdall was a suc- cessful agriculturist, who displayed marked energy that led to successful results. He died October 27, 1865, and was laid at rest in the beautiful cemetery of Carrollton. Mrs. D. passed away in 1848. James, from whom this narrative is obtained, who ranks among the more opulent farmers of Greene County, passed his early years in humble circumstances. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stevens, a daughter of John Stevens, of Virginia. To use his own language, Mr. Dowdall was then worth about $100, and procured his first start in life through diligence and strict attention to business, and the same energy that characterized his boyhood, laid the foundation of his present fortune. The owner of over 1000 acres of valuable land in the counties of Macoupin, Jersey, Mont- gomery and Greene, he enjoys the confi- dence of his many friends in this county. His hospitality is unbounded, and his na- ture genial and liberal. Of the marriage above referred to, ten children were born, of whom nine are living: John H., Joseph L., Ann E., Sarah W., William E., Anabel, Mary O., Martie O., Lucy M., James W., deceased

Dowdall Joseph L. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 17, P.O. Rockbridge

FDWARDS H. S. renter, Sec. 5, P.O. Rockbridge

Edwards Scott H. farm hand, Sec. 4, P.O. Rockbridge

F REER ABRAHAM, farmer, Sec. 5 P.O. Rockbridge

H UFF JAMES,farmer, Sec. 5, P O. Rock- bridge

HUFF JOHN, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 8, P.O. Rockbridge. The above named gentleman is a native of Greene County, where he was born in 1833, fourth child of John and Anna Huff. John was a Virginian by birth, who there married Miss Anna Cox, of Virginia, a relative of the late Gene- ral Hancock. Long before a railroad run through the State, and scarcely a steam- boat plowed our western waters, John Huff made his way to the then far western State of Illinois, locating in Greene County, where he subsequently became a successful agriculturist. He passed away in Septem- ber, 1873; Mrs. H. died in 1862 ; the sur- vivors of the family are eight. John passed his early years upon the old farm home- stead, and received a liberal education. In 1854 he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Cox, a daughter of David Cox, of Pennsylvania. Like many of the more opulent farmers of this county, the secret of Mr. Huff's success lay in his ability to work persistently and energetically, He is to-day the owner of 160 acres of valuable land in this township

I RVING DAVID school teacher. Sec. 8, P. O. Rockbridge

Irwin David, renter, Sec. 18, P.O. Rockbridge Irwin James F. school teacher

L IVINGSTON LUTHER, farmer, Sec. 8, P.O. Rockbridge

P RUITT ANDERSON, renter, Sec. 8, P. O. Rockbridge

Pruitt William, farmer, Sec. 5, P.O. Rock- bridge

R INGEL GEO. E. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. Io, P.O. Kane. The above named gentleman is a native of Germany,

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GREENE COUNTY DIRECTORY.

where he was born in the year 1840, fourth child of John and Mary Ann Ringel. John Ringel was a farmer and miller by occupa- tion, who is described as a man of energetic disposition and business capacity. He died many years ago, in his native land ; Mrs. R. is still living. Young Ringel, at the youth- ful age of thirteen, severed the ties that bound him to the old country, and became a passenger on board a sailing vessel bound for America. Landing in New York, he remained in the metropolitan city work- ing at such odd jobs as he could. Remov- ing to Pennsylvania he there secured em- ployment in a bakery ; thence to Philadel- phia and thence to Baltimore and Norfolk, Virginia, where he worked as a journeyman. He then proceeded to Portsmouth. A resi- dent of Charleston, South Carolina, when the war broke out, he was compelled to en- ter the Confederate service, where he served three years. Taking French leave from the boys in gray, he eventually made his way to New York State where he became a farmer, and where he married, December 3d, 1865, Miss Agnes Bush, a daughter of Michael Bush. In 1868 he made his way to Greene County, where he has since been identified with the farming interest, and where his liberality and kindness of heart, gain for him the friendship of all

SIMON VALENTINE, farmer, Sec. 21, P.O. Rockbridge

SMITH JACOB, farmer, Sec. 5, P.O. Rockbridge. Jacob Smith is a native of Greene County, born in 1828; tracing back this family we find that the grand- father of our subject Nicholas Cris, who was a native of France ; like all of his race, of an adventurous disposition, he made his way to America, and settled in Greene County, as early as 1823, and here our subject was born in 1828 ; when the war came on he enlisted in Co. A, 6Ist Ill. Inf., and proceeding to the front, became a participant in the Battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Mission Ridge, Vicks- burg, Pea Ridge, etc., etc .; at Shiloh he received a severe wound that caused the loss of one eye. Since the war he has lived in Jersey County and Greene County, where at one time in his agricultural career he became exceedingly prosperous. In

1856 he was married to Miss Phoebe Fleming, a daughter of John and Hannah Fleming ; thirteen children blessed their union, one only surviving : Hannah, who resides at Jerseyville. Mrs. Smith died Feb. 21, 1871, was laid at rest in the Jerseyville Cemetery

Speers Geo. renter, Sec. 4, P.O. Rockbridge Spiker Martin, farm hand, Sec. 4, P.O. Rock- bridge

STRINGER WILLIAM M. farmer and stock raiser, who takes a leading posi- tion among the more prominent settlers of Greene County ; is a native of Kentucky, where he was born April 6, in the year 1807; but little can now be gleaned, relative to the ancestry of Mr. Stringer ; his father died during his sixth year, his mother Elizabeth Stringer was laid at rest many years after, within the borders of Greene County. While Illinois was still a territory, probably about the year 1817, young Stringer an adventurous youth, directed his footsteps westward in company with his uncle, and first landed in Madison County, where he remained six years, employed as a farm hand ; his mother had married the second time, and while a resident here, he received the news of his foster father's decease, and accord- ingly went back to his old home in Ken- tucky, where he took charge of the home farm; it was during this time that he united his fortunes to Miss Elizabeth Joslyn, a daughter of Elindor Joslyn, of Kentucky ; the year 1829, found this family en route for the West, where a settlement was made in what is now Scott County, then desig- nated as Morgan, close to the city of Win- chester then but a hamlet ; he remained until 1833, the date of his removal to Greene County, he found the country but little improved, comparatively few were here to improve it, the native prairie grass at times growing to a height of from three to five feet. He had entered his first land 40 acres in 1834, on which he built the usual rough cabin, where he lived the frugal life of the pioneer for many years, while his children grew up around him and became valuable assistants in bringing the farm to a proper state of cultivation. We can not describe in detail the hardships endured by Mr. Stringer, and perhaps it is only

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TOWN 9, NORTH RANGE 10, WEST.

necessary to state that his present good fortune was secured by no lucky chance or event, but by persistent energy; of his marriage, eight children were born only two of whom are living : Leroy and Levi, the latter enlisted at the breaking out of the war, in the U. S. Service, and serving through the Rebellion, received his com- mission as Lieutenant

TATE GEORGE, farmer and stock

raiser, Sec. 9, P.O. Rockbridge. George Tate is a native of England, where he was born August, 1830, and there followed ag- ricultural pursuits until his emigration to America, which occurred on the 12th of November, 1851. Landing in the City of New York, he eventually made his way to Albany, thence to Rochester, thence to Buffalo, where for a period of time he fol- lowed boating. Plying his vocation for years on the broad waters of the Missis- sippi, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, at the expiration of this time he wended his way to Greene County, where he subsequently married Miss Phoebe Ann Wolsey, a daughter of Amos Wolsey. Since his arrival here, Mr. T. has been quite successful as an agriculturist, and has now been a resident of the county for a period of twenty years

TAYLOR JOHN, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 8, P.O. Rockbridge. To some extent we trace back the ancestry of John Taylor. Ambrose Taylor, his father, was a native Kentuckian, where he was born as near as can be ascertained, in 1800. It must have been that he was of an extremely adventurous disposition, for in the year 1819 he wended his way across the prairies to the southern portion of Illinois. He set- tled at Madison County, Ill., finding em- ployment in breaking the prairie soil; but little land being then under cultivation. The following year we find him en route for Greene County, where he was destined to become a successful agriculturist. Here he formed the acquaintance of and married in 1822, Miss Nancy Courtney, a daughter of Wm. Courtney, whose ancestry were Irish ; in what is now town I0, range Io, he built a two-story hewed log cabin, a novelty in its day, and one of the best and most substan- tial buildings erected in Greene County. We

naturally suppose that he lived the frugal life of the pioneer for many years, his en- ergetic struggles carried the day in after life, and he became not only a well-to-do farmer, but one who merited the respect of his many friends in this section ; he died at the age age of 60 years, and was laid at rest on the broad prairies where so many years of his life were passed. Mrs. Taylor survived her husband eighteen years, de- parting this life at an advanced age. John, from whom this sketch was obtained, grew to mature years, blessed with a hardy vigor and energy, from his earliest years sharing in the hard work of the farm. In 1846 he was married to Miss Mary Jane Dixon, a daughter of Jefferson Dixon, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are living : Allen, Henry J., Jas. F., and Ida J. Mrs. Taylor departed this life on the 22d of March, 1874, and on the 17th of August, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Mahuldah Livingston, a daughter of James Manis, an early settler of this county. John Taylor is the owner of 373 acres of valuable land, and takes a leading position as a farmer and stock raiser

Taylor J. H. renter Sec. 4, P.O. Rockbridge TUCKER DAVID M. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 18, P.O. Rockbridge. David Tucker was born in Tennessee in 1833. In an early day his parents moved to the West, locating in Greene County, where the youthful years of our subject were spent upon the farm homestead. In 1855 he was married to Miss Rhoda Whit- lock, a daughter of Henry and Hannah Whitlock, by whom he has five children living: Henry B., Thomas A., Sarah S., Melvina J., and Bertha B. Like nearly all of those whose boyhood was passed amid the scenes of western life, David Tucker found a hard row to hoe formany years. He now resides in comfortable circum- stances in township 9, range 10, the owner of 80 acres of valuable land. The only office he has ever held or aspired to he holds at present, that of constable of this precinct

W ATSON ROBERT, renter, Sec. 7, P.O. Rockbridge

Whitlock P., renter, Sec. 5, P.O. Rockbridge Witt Frank, farmer, Sec. 4, P.O. Rockbridge Witt John, farmer, Sec. 4, P.O. Rockbridge

TOWNSHIP 9, NORTH RANGE II, WEST.

A DAMS C. N. livery and feed stable, Kane

Adams Clark, renter, Sec. 4, P.O. Carrollton Adams Joel, thresher, Kane

ADAMS JOSEPH, thresher and farmer residence Kane. The above named gen- tleman is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., born in 1841 ; three years later his parents, George W. and Bathsheba Adams, emigrated to the West, locating in Greene County, near the present town of New Kane, on a farm, and here, amid the asso- ciations of pioneer life, young Adams passed his boyhood, receiving a liberal edu- cation in the district schools ; while at work upon the farm, the war broke out, and accordingly, the youth, fired with that zeal which appears to be a peculiar character- istic of western people, enlisted in Co. C, I22d Regt. Ill. Infantry, serving three years. He became a participant in numer- ous battles noted in history. He was hon- orably discharged at Springfield, Ill., when the war closed. He returned to Greene County, where he subsequently married, in 1869, Mrs. Laura Froment, a daughter of Matthew Duty, by whom he has five chil- dren : Harry L., Gracie F., Herbert L., Royal J., and Blanche. Ever since the town of New Kane was platted, Mr. A. has taken up his residence here, in former years holding the position of constable ; Mr. Adams is well and favorably known to many of the residents of Greene County, having a large trade as a grain thresher in this section

Adams M. carpenter, Kane

Adams N. L. livery and boarding-house, Kane

Adams Philo, carpenter, Kane

Adams William, laborer, Jalappa

Alabaugh S. A. farmer, Sec. 4, P.O. Carroll- ton

Allen Albro, physician, Kane

ASHFORD GEORGE, farmer and

stock-raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Carrollton, is a native of Frederick County, Va., where he was born in the year 1820; was the oldest child of John and Lydia Ashford. John Ashford is also a Virginian, where he re- sided many years, and married Miss Lydia Clevinger. In 1827, the family moved to Ohio, where they settled upon a farm. In 1844, wending their way still farther west- ward to Illinois, they purchased a farm in Greene County, where the head of the family died one year later. Mrs. Ashford is still living. George, from whom this sketch is obtained, since the family removed west, has followed agricultural pursuits. In 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Murphy, a daughter of Isaac Murphy, a native of Ohio. Eleven chil- dren were born of this marriage, nine of whom are living. Mr. Ashford is among our most successful agriculturists

Ashford George W. farm hand, Sec. 18, P.O. Kane

Ashlock Jesse, farmer, Sec. 17, P.O. Kane Ashlock Nancy Mrs. Sec. 17, P.O. Kane Astor House, A. Giles, prop. Kane

AULABAUGHSAMUEL A. farmer

and stock-raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Carrollton. The subject of our sketch was born in what is now termed West Virginia, on the second day of November, 1833, the seventh child of Jacob and Elizabeth Aulabaugh. In the old Dominion State young Samuel attained d his 17th year, when his pa- rents emigrated to the West, located in Greene County, on the farm now owned by Samuel Aulabaugh, who has, since this date resided in Greene County ; in 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ann Hankins, a daughter of Alexander Hankins, by whom he has six children : Sarah M., John C., Walter L., Mary E., Ida M., and Lottie H. Mr. Aulabaugh owns a valuable tract of land comprising 129 acres, ac- quired by energy and industry. Jacob

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TOWN 9, NORTH RANGE 11, WEST.

Aulabaugh and Elizabeth Robinson, daugh- ter of Abraham and Rebecca Robinson, were married Aug. 26, 1819. "I was born in Morgan County, Va., on the 10th of January, 1797. My father, born in Mary- land, was of German origin ; and my mother, who traced her ancestry to Germany, was born in Pennsylvania. I was but a child when my father died, and to the care of my mother were left a family of five children, four boys and one girl. Not being in easy circumstances, my mother labored hard for two years to provide for her family, and then received a proposal of marriage from R. Buck, a native Irishman, a good man in many respects, although .at times he displayed an ungovernable temper. The learning of the family was the Bible ; the family library was Bunyan's Pilgrim's Pro- gress, the Saint's Rest, one or more books of sermons, one volume of Whitfield's works, and a work on Predestination. Both my foster father and my mother were diligent Bible readers, and I believe both were blessed with a good knowledge of the old and new Testaments. In my sixteenth year I left the home of my youth and proceeded to Boonesborough, Maryland, where my sister and several of my uncles lived. The war of 1812, had already commenced and intemperance and vice of every kind was prevalent, and indeed it was considered genteel to swear, drink, gamble and dance. I soon discovered that I needed now more than ever the advice and instructions of my parents, but happily for me, I had been taught to read the sacred volume, and the truths it contained made a vivid impression upon me. I hired out by the month and my duties were to drive team from Wil- liamsport to Baltimore ; wages were low, but by economy, I kept myself decently clothed. I made an attempt to apprentice myself to the blacksmith trade, but failed in accomplishing my object. My next ven- ture was to hire to a mason, where I re- mained until enlisting as a soldier from the vicinity of Bladensburgh, under the com- mand of Gen. Winter ; the British had marched to Bladensburgh ; Winder collect- ed his forces and joined by Commodore Barney and the Baltimore volunteers, pro- ceeded to Bladensburgh, and on the 24th of August, 1814, at 2 o'clock in the after-

noon, a general engagement took place ; it lasted but a short time, when the American troops gave way in disorder, the order of retreat was to Montgomery Court House, but a large portion of the soldiers never halted at the court house, and the retreat was characterized by extreme disorder." The above is a copy of an article written many years ago by the father of the subject of this sketch

BAYLESS W. J. school teacher, Kane Bolt Jefferson, proprietor Kane mills, Kane

BRACE CURTIS W. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 28, P.O. New Kane. Curtis W. Brace, one of the most success- ful agriculturists of Greene County, is a native of New York State; born in 1825 ; three years later the family settled in Greene County. Like nearly all early residents, the present success of Mr. Brace is due his perseverance, integrity, strict sense of jus- tice and energy of character. In 1855, he married Miss Catherine Black, a daughter of William Black, who emigrated from England in an early day, to Greene Coun- ty, where he met with flattering success as an agriculturist. Mr. Brace is the owner of 700 acres of land, said to be for its size, the best in Greene County. It is needless to add he ranks among our most substantial farmers. The marriage of Mr. Brace, to Miss Black, was blessed with one child, deceased

Bridges Sylvester, stock shipper, Kane Briggs J. T. miller, Jalappa

BROOKS JAMES E. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 23, P.O. Kane. The above named gentleman is a native of England ; born in Lancashire, March 18, 1828; he had attained his eleventh year, when his parents William and Mary Ann Brooks, determined to emigrate to Ameri- ca. Landing in New York City, the fami- ly took up their residence in the State of New Jersey, where they remained a short time, when they removed to Rhode Island, and three years later, in 1844, the head of the family set his face toward the far west, in search of a home. He landed at Alton, Madison County, in this State ; from there making his way to Greene County, where he purchased his first farm in Illinois. In

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GREENE COUNTY DIRECTORY.

1845, came the remainder of the family, consisting of Mrs. Brooks, and seven chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth child. On the old home- stead property he passed his boyhood, and here united his fortunes, in 1853, to Miss Anna Davis, a daughter of James Davis, a native of North Carolina. Like many who followed agriculture in an early day, Mr. Brooks met with many discouragements. Purchasing 40 acres, now owned by Robert Brooks, in 1852, subsequently purchasing a part of his present farm in 1854; since this date Mr. Brooks has added to his pos- sessions, and now owns, through indomita- ble will and industry, 180 acres of valuable land in this township, and a beautiful farm residence. It is needless to add that Mr. Brooks ranks among our most substantial farmers. Of the marriage above referred to, eight children were born, living: Mary Ann E., Harriet E., Clara J., Geo. H., Sarah B., Chas. W., Anna L .; deceased, Kate

Brooks Michael, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 9, P.O. Carrollton

BROWN GEORGE, agriculturist. The growth and development of the pros- perous county of Greene, is largely due to that restless energetic people known as Kentuckians; among this people George Brown was born in 1801. While a youth he wended his way to Franklin County, Mo., where at the early age of nineteen, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Antrobus, and the following year hearing many glow- ing accounts of the fertility of Illinois, he made his way thither, where he found but few inhabitants, as but few then had the hardihood to venture to the wilds of Illinois, save a few daring spirits in search of new scenes and incidents. Building a cabin near the present Munday estate, he prepar- ed to battle for an existence in Illinois, at a time when such kindred spirits as Samuel Thomas, Peter Cartwright and others were among the principal settlers. We cannot owing to limited space, follow in detail the progress of Mr. Brown in his career in Southern Illinois. Many years after his marriage, about the year 1847, Mrs. Brown died, leaving to the care of her husband, ten children. Mr. Brown survived his wife many years, passing to a home not

made with hands in 1872. One thing in the life history of Mr. B. is some- what remarkable, living in an age when horse racing, drinking and carousing was the order of the day, he held himself aloof from the prevalent vices of the times, and was much respected for his Christian char- acter ; and when the gray light of morning beamed upon his pathway, beckoning him onward to a brighter and better land, he obeyed the summons of the Great Un- known with true Christian fortitude. Rich- ard W. Brown, from whom this sketch is obtained, grew to manhood in Greene Co., following farming from his earliest years. In 1862 he enlisted in the 122d Ill. Infantry under the command of Captain King. Pro- ceeding to the front he became engaged in many important battles as Parker's Cross Roads, Paducah, Nashville, Mobile, etc. Honorably discharged at the close of the Rebellion, he returned to Greene County, where he was at one time the owner of 290 acres of valuable land. January 25th 1865, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Witt, a daughter of Franklin and Melinda Witt, of whom notice will be found in another department of this work. Of this marriage five children were born, of whom four are living ; Mary E., John F., Henry and Ida M.

BROWN SAMUEL E. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 10, P.O. Carrollton. Sam- uel E. Brown is a native of Greene Co. Born in 1841, he is the oldest son now liv- ing, of Elijah and Mary E. Brown. Elijah Brown died during the early infancy of the subject of this sketch; it is supposed he was a native of Georgia. He married his first wife, Miss Polly White, November, Ist, 1827, in Missouri, and not many years after occurred the death of this lady. His sec- ond wife, Miss Belinda Stevens, was a na- tive of Missouri ; of this marriage three children were born, none of whom survived. He married his third wife, Miss Mary E. Scoggins, in Greene County, where he re- moved in an early day ; the marriage oc- curred on the Ist of March, 1837. His wife was a native of Kentucky, and was born on the 18th of January, 1818 ; seven children were productive of this union, of whom four survive. Samuel, from whom this narrative is obtained, passed his boy-

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TOWN 9, NORTH RANGE 11, WEST.

" hood and grew to manhood in Greene Co., and from his earliest years has followed agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he was uni- ted in marriage to Miss Nancy M. Kirby, a daughter of Daniel and Polly Kirby ; of this marriage five children were born : Edward B., George. G., Abraham J., Anna E. and Nina M. Mr. Brown is the owner of 240 acres of valuable land, and takes a leading position as a grain thresher and far- mer in this section

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History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present, Part 90

Author: Clapp, Clement L., 1852- [from old catalog] comp Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago, Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd Number of Pages: 790

Author: Clapp, Clement L., 1852- [from old catalog] comp
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd
Number of Pages: 790