USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 54
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J. T. Johnson and wife emigrated from Champaign county, O., in 1839, to this county, in company with his parents, a brother and two sisters, the brother having a wife with him and one sister a husband. Mr. J. and wife also had their only child with them. Since that time, in 1840, the younger sister married John J. Graves, now of Carthage; Mr. J.'s mother died in 1545, his young-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
est sister in 1852, brother in 1857, and father in 1869, in the 81st year of his age. His sister, Mrs. Talbot. and himself are the only ones left of the family now alive. Mr. Johnson settled on the N. E. ¿ of sec. 2, St. Mary's tp., one and a half miles north of the town of St. Mary's, a piece of land which his father bought of Judge Williams, of Carthage. Mr. J.'s house was then the out- side one of the settlement in that direction, and he and his family were very lonely indeed. Mr. Johnson's first work was to make 400 sugar-troughs, as there was a good stand of sugar trees near, which has indeed yielded well ever since. After laying in provis- ions for the winter Mr. J. had $50 left, which he loaned to Mr. Comer, of Carthage; but he took his uncle's advice, who had told him: " John, when you git to Eelinoise, buy calves." He did so, has made money, and has not been out of the calf trade since. He drove his lot of calves, which he had kept till the fall of 1843, to Warsaw, and sold them for $11 a head, or about 75 cents a cwt. The first pork he sold was in 1842, which he hauled to Quincy and sold for $1.50 a cwt. net; it took four days to make the trip. After that he sold his pork to Benny Clark, of Carthage. While his neighbors all consumed the proceeds of their pork sales in store goods he could call for money in payment. One day Mr. Clark asked: "Johnson, what do you live on at your house? I always have to pay you the money." The reply was, " Hog and hominy." The old man grunted a little and paid over the money.
One day in 1840 Mrs. J. came out to the field to her husband, with her babe in her arms, and said there was the awfulest big snake in the house she ever saw. Mr. J. returned to the house with her, and sure enough, there lay coiled up in a corner a big black snake over four feet long.
In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. J. returned to Ohio on a visit, not cross- ing a single railroad on the whole route. They repeated the visit in 1851, going by wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have now been keeping house 45 years, have raised 7 children, all of whom are married and settled in the vicinity. The parents live alone now, aged respectively 68 and 65. In 1876 Mr. J. visited the principal Eastern cities.
Mr. Johnson is a farmer and stock-dealer on sec. 10, owning 1,300 acres of land; P. O., St. Mary's; was born in Ohio in 1813, and married in same State, in 1836, Miss Maria Wright, also a native of Ohio and born in 1816; of their 10 children 7 are living -Mason, Hiram, Joseph, Nelson, Martha, wife of W. S. Hend- ricks; Orella, wife of Lewis C. Green. Mr. J. has been Road Commissioner, is a Republican, a Baptist, and took part in the " Mormon war."
Andrew J. Massingill, blacksmith, St. Mary's, was born in McDonough county in 1836; was married in this State in 1866, to Georgia A. Rankin, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1845, and they have 5 children, Hattie M., Andrew J., Anna B., Viola and William R. Mr. M. owns 15 acres joining St. Mary's, and one lot
589
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
with shop. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 72d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served three years; was in the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Franklin, Tenn., and several other hard-fought engagements. He is a member of the Baptist Church.
R. C. Michaels, local agent of railroad, Plymouth, was born in Maine June 21, 1822, and came to this State in 1861, settling in Knox county. He married in Maine in 1852, to Charlotte Estes, a native also of that State, and the following are their children: John R., train-master on the C., B. & Q. R. R .; Mary E .; Lewis E., agent at Sagetown; Charles E., telegraph operator at Kirkwood; and Nellie G. Mr. M. has been agent for the road 16 years; has been Township Collector one term, Assessor one term, which office he now holds. His paternal grandfather was in the war of 1812. He owns one lot with dwelling, belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a Democrat.
J. W. Moore, farmer and stock dealer, sec. 9; P. O., Plymouth; was born in Canada in 1832, and is a son of John and Maria Moore, of English ancestry; they came to America in 1831, and to this county in 1841, where Mr. J. W. Moore has ever since resided. He now owns 200 acres of fine farm land, worth $35 per acre. He deals in cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. His first marriage was to Catharine McCurdy, in this county, in 1852; she was born in Ken- tucky in 1833, and died in 1875. Mr. M. again married, in this county, in 1876, Honore Wolf, a native of this county, and born in 1850; their 2 children are Maud and George. Mr. Moore is a Free- mason, a Baptist and a Democrat.
Elmer D. Olmsted, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, was born June 6, 1848, in the State of New York; commenced the study of medicine in 1872, at a medical college, where he graduated in 1877, but he began practice in 1875; he settled in Plymouth in 1878, and now has an extensive and successful practice. He was married in Knox county, Ill., in 1869, to Ella F. Lane, a danghter of John and May Lane; she was born in this State in 1852, but died in 1874, leaving 2 children, Amy F., and Cary E. Mr. O. is a member of the Masonic and Good Templar orders, and in religion is a Liber- alist.
Jefferson Perkins, farmer, sec. 33; P. O., St. Mary's; was born in New Hampshire in 1809, and came to this county in 1845; mar- ried a native of Massachusetts in 1837, and they have had 5 chil- dren, of whom 4 are living; viz., Mary E., wife of James G. Botts; Charlotte, wife of Thomas Smith, of Macomb; Alla C., wife of John W. Wilson, of Missouri; Emma G., wife of R. R. Price, also of Missouri; James, deceased. Mr. Perkins owns 130 acres of fine farm land. Being in the county during the Mormon troubles he had a hand in driving them out of the State. His.father was killed in the war of 1812. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Thomas J. Printy, farmer, sec. 5, owning 90 acres, worth $35 per acre; P. O., Plymouth; came to this county in 1840; in 1858
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
married Margarett Scott, who was born in 1833 in Kentucky. Of their & children 6 are living: David F., Marcus, Mary E., Lenora and Eleanora, twins, and Edward. Mr. P. has been Constable and School Director, and is a Republican.
Stephen E. Roberts, farmer and stock dealer, sec. 14: P. O., Plymouth: is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth Roberts, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky; was born in this State in 1830, and came to this county in 1833 with his parents. He now owns 400 acres of fine farm land; buys, feeds and ships cattle and hogs extensively. In MeDonough county, in 1852, he married Junia A. Smith, who was born in that county in 1836, and died in 1858, and their only child is John M. Mr. R. again mar ried in 1865 Nancy E. Robertson, who was also born in MeDonough county, in 1841, and they have + children: Jesse, Eliza, Josie and Jose. Mr. Roberts is a Freemason and a Democrat.
Newvell Sapp, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, was born in North Carolina in 1825, and came to this State in 1831, settling in Rushville; came to this county in 1866. HIe commenced the study of medicine in 1846, and graduated in 1864; he has had an extensive and successful practice. He owns a farm of 160 acres in Schuyler county, Ill. Was married in Galesburg, Ill., Jan. 18, 1855, to Martha L. Payne, who was born in Vermont in 1834, and they have 5 children, only one of whom is living, Cora. Mr. and Mrs. S. belong to the Congregational Church. He owns one lot and dwelling in Plymouth. He was in the " Mormon war " under Gov. Ford.
Joseph E. Talbott, farmer and stock dealer, sec. 14, owning 410 acres, valued at $40 an acre. He is a son of Benjamin and Cynthia Talbott, natives of Ohio. He was born in this county March 7, 1858, and raised on a farm. Was married in this county in 1879 to Miss L. Kate Graves, who was born, in Kentucky Nov. 15, 1857. Mr. T's father was one of the pioneers of this county, having come here in 1839. The subject of this sketch is a prosperous farmer, and is a Republican. P. O., Plymouth.
George H. Tuck, dealer in boots and shoes, south side public square, Plymouth, was born in Massachusetts Sept. 29, 1849; taught school six years; engaged in his present business in 1878, and does a lively business. Was married in this county in 1879 to Annie S. Bell, who was born in this county in 1854. Mr. T. is a Republican in politics.
Henry Tuck, boot and shoe manufacturer, Plymouth, was born in England in 1821, and came to America in 1844 and to this county in 1855, settling in Plymouth. In . Maine, in 1849, he married Miss Perry, who was a native of that State, born in 1823, and they have & children: George H., Alice J., Nathan H., Angelica, Charlie S., Edward P., William O. and Benjamin F. P. Mr. Tuck owns one lot, with shop, one with dwelling, and three acres joining town and 107 acres of fine farm land. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and is a Republican.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
William D. Wade, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, is a son of David and Nancy Wade, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Georgia, and both of English descent. Wm. D. was born March 22, 1841, in Schuyler county, Ill .; passed his boyhood days on a farm; commenced the study of medicine at the age of. 15, and graduated in 1869 at Cincinnati; commenced the practice of medicine in 1864 at Doddsville, Schuyler county; he settled in Ply- mouth in 1866, where he has commanded a large practice, attended with good success. Was married in Carthage in 1862 to Elizabeth Fowler, who was born in Schuyler county, Ill., in 1843, and died Dec. 25, 1869, leaving 3 children-Elizabeth M., Lillie M. and Jennie. Mr. Wade owns 110 acres of fine land, and one lot with dwelling. Is a Democrat.
Wesley Walton, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 36; P. O., Denver; was born in Boone county, Ky., Sept. 20, 1831, a son of Frederick M. and Emily (Rice) Walton, both natives of Kentucky, and their parents were from Virginia and of Welsh extraction. The grand- father of the subject of this notice, William Walton, was a soldier in the Revolution. Fred. MI. Walton, his father, emigrated to Illi- nois in 1835, bringing with him 2 children, Wesley and John, first locating on sec. 3, Augusta tp. This land, except a little more than 20 acres, had never been cultivated by white man. Here he lived until his death. He left about 230 acres of land at the homestead, but before his death he gave each of his 6 children over & sec. He was a Baptist, a Whig and a Republican. He was a most worthy citizen. At the age of 22 Mr. Wesley Walton married Martha L. Browning, Sept. 14, 1554, near Rushville. She was a daughter of Absalom Browning, who was born in Virginia and moved to Ken- tucky, and thence to Illinois. Mr. W. lives on sec. 31. this tp., where he has about 254 acres of fine farm land, and raises stock, feeding about all the grain that he raises. He has been Collector in this tp. one term, and is a Republican, and a member of the Christian Church, and now an Elder. His brothers and sisters are: Wesley, John. Frances, Matilda A., William C. and Simeon M. The deceased are Malvina, aged 23 years, and Mons. S., who died when about grown. We give Mr. Walton's portrait in this volume.
H. P. Wier was born in North Carolina in 1825, and came to this State with his parents in 1835, settling in Schuyler county, and settled in this county in 1847. In 1848 he married Amanda M. Whittington, who was born in this State in 1831, and of their + children 3 are living: Lida. Sandril and Ray; James is deceased. Mr. Wier owns one lot, with dwelling. He has been Deputy Sheriff, Postmaster, and was Constable several years. He is a Democrat. P. O., St. Mary's.
William L. Wristen, keeper of a restaurant, west side of the public square, Plymouth, was born in this State in 1845; taught school 14 years. He is a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat.
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592
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The following is a catalogue of the officers who have served and are now serving in St. Mary's township, as complete as returns enabled us to compile:
SUPERVISORS.
William Darnell
1850
John W. Cox. 1865
Wm. Darnell.
1854
John A. Ross.
1866
Geo. M. Berry
1854
A. T. Cloud. 1871
Bryant F. Peterson.
1856
John A. Ross. 1872
Alonzo H. Blai
1858
T. B. Brumback.
1875
John H. Lawton.
1859
John J. Graves.
1877
Jonas Aleshire.
1860
John J. Hipple.
.1877
Jacob Castlebury
1862
Douglas Aleshire
1878
Thomas L. Gannon.
1863
CLERKS.
Joshua M. Botts.
1855
Louis Graham
1868
Louis Graham.
1858
Henry H. Ross.
1869
Geo. W. Ross.
1860
James S. Wade 1870
John A. Ross
1862
J. W. Shaffer. .
1871
David Currens
1865
James S. Wade.
1875
Cyrus Elliot.
1866
George H. Tuck.
1877
G. W. Kelly
1867
David E. Wade.
1878-1880
ASSESSORS.
Napoleon B. Lawrence.
1855
Samuel Long. 1868
Benjamin Warner.
1856
Henry B. Brumback.
1869
William O. Botts
1858
T. B. Brumback.
1870
James Irwin.
1859
J. G. Garnett.
1871
Jacob Rich.
1860
T. B. Brumback.
1873
John W. Shaffer
1862
Thos. W. Monk ..
1874
Wm. N. Kington
1865
Jas. D. Botts.
.1877
James Irwin.
1866
Joel G. Garnett.
1878
J. R. Nichols
1867
R. C. Michaels.
1879-1880
COLLECTORS.
George D. Chapman.
.1855
Robert H. Ellis. 1870
David P. Palmer.
1858
Jesse Wright.
1871
George D. Chapman
1859
Jas. W. Huey.
1872
John W. Shaffer
1860
Wesley Walton.
1873
H. P. Weir
1863
W. S. Browning
1871
John W. Romick. 1866
John M. ( age. 1875
Merritt Berry.
1867
W. S. P. Turner
1877
G. E. Kelly.
1868
A. S. Eidson. 1878
John W. Romick
1869
W. S. Browning
1880
HARMONY TOWNSHIP.
Township 4-6, with a harmonious name, is seven-eighths prai- rie-land, there being a few sections of partly broken and rough- timbered land on the head-waters of Bronson's creek, and another small body on another tributary of Crooked creek. A portion of this township is rich flat prairie, valuable for meadow; and a large part is sufficiently rolling for corn and grain. It has fine farms, and some rich and enterprising farmers. This township, being so largely prairie, was not settled as early as the townships surrounding it. It contains two villages on the T., W. & W. railroad, Bentley and Denver, both small places but doing considerable local busi- ness.
Bentley lies ten miles west from St. Mary's and five southerly from Carthage, and was laid out in August, 1863, by John Sutton, Jr., and first called after his name, but for some cause changed to Bentley. It lies just south of the well-known Big Meadow. Post- masters in Bentley-T. J. Bates, A. R. Robinson, J. A. James, present ineumbent.
Denver was laid out Jan., 1864, by S. C. Seybold and G. W. Bush. It is distant nine miles from the county seat, and ten miles due west from Plymouth. The P. O. was formerly called Rough and Ready.
Among the earlier settlers in this township we may name George M. Browning, Truman Hecox, E. S. Cannon, S. B. Walton, B. F. Tucker, George Langford, Samuel Ramsey, Isaac S. Burner, Sam- nel Diekenson, Larkin Scott, Wm. Pike, Mr. Peebler, Mr. Wed- ding, Mr. Collison, James Major, and the several sons of Samuel Ramsey-Enoch, Henry K. and Samuel F.
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
The oldest Church in Harmony is that known as Mount Pleasant, belonging to the Christian denomination, located on sec. 13, near the east end of the township. It was organized about 1837, and the building erected as early as 1850. No statistics.
The Christian Church in Denver was built abont 1873.
The M. E. Church at Bentley was organized about 1864, before the town was built, with the following named members: J. W. O'Hara, Paulina O'Hara, Win. J. Bates, M. A. Bates, J. A. James, Win. R. Lackey, Nancy Lackey, Barbara Shoup and Win. A. Thompson. The building was erected in 1875.
The Baptist Church was organized about 1873, with a small membership. The edifice was erected about the same period; pres- ent number of members about 20 or 25.
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594
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Following we give personal sketches of the early settlers and prominent citizens of Harmony township, which form an impor- tant factor in its history :
Joseph C. Anderson, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ken- tucky in 1810, son of John and Elizabeth (Conaway) Anderson, the former a native of Maryland, and of Irish descent; and the latter of Kentucky, and of German descent. Was educated in the common schools of Morgan county, Ill .; in 1832 he married Melinda Wilhite, and they have had one son and one daughter; the latter is married. Mr. A. came to this county in 1833, settling near Augusta, where he commenced a poor man, but by industry and economy has been successful as a farmer, now owning 190 acres of highly improved land; he is a Democrat.
M. D. Baker, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Washington county, Ind., Jan. 14, 1842; is a son of Zephaniah and Polly (Davis) Baker, of English descent, the father a native of New York, and the latter of North Carolina; he was educated in the common schools of this county; in 1864 he married Mary Frances Scott, and 5 of their 9 children are living. Both Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Christian Church in Denver, Ill. Mrs. B. was born April 4, 1839, in Kentucky, and is of English ancestry. Mr. Baker came to this county in 1851 from Indiana, and has lived here ever since. He owns 90 acres of land, and resides on sec. 22. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been School Director five years, and Commis- sioner of Highways.
B. W. Beyler, farmer, sec. 11; P. O., Bentley; was born in Page county, Va., in 1833, and is the son of Samuel and Eliza (Wood) Beyler; has had a common-school education; as a farmer and dealer in stock for 15 years he has been successful. In 1856 he mar- ried Ann R. Lionberger, a native of Virginia, and they have had 2 children, Ardella, born April 7, 1860, and Willie II., June 25, 1870. His immigration to this county was also in 1856. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is a studious reader. His father was killed during the last war by some desperadoes because he had said that the North would whip the South; he was taken out and shot down like a brute and left lying on the ground for some time. He was an intelligent, well-posted man.
H. H. Black, physician and surgeon, Denver; was born in Todd county, Ky., in 1840, the son of James Black, a farmer now of Denver. The Doctor graduated in 1865 at the Northwestern Chris- tian University (now called Butler University), with honor, and Feb. 28, 1878, he received a diploma from the Indiana Medical College. Dr. Black was a diligent and determined student, and his efforts for a high standard of qualification for his work have been attended with success. Nov. IS, 1869, he was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Kelley, and they have had 5 children, 3 of whom are living. They are both members of the Christian Church, in
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IIISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Denver, and he is a Republican. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E., 71st Ill. Vol. Inf., under Captain Parker, and served during his term. He commenced the practice of medicine in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1878, with Dr. John A. Campbell, under whom he continued his studies of the healing art.
John H. Boston, farmer, sec. 3; P. O., Carthage; was born in Kentucky, Feb. 27, 1832, and is the son of George and Mahala (Southerlin) Boston, natives of Kentucky; he was educated in sub- scription schools of this county, having been brought here by his parents in 1836. In 1867 he married Charlotte Fletcher, and of their 6 children 4 are living, 2 boys and 2 girls. Mr. B. owns 151 acres of land. Although he is a good speller he cannot write. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church.
George M. Browning, Sr., farmer, sec. 35; was born in Davidson county, Tenn., March 25, 1820, son of David and Vashti (West) Browning. His father was a native of Virginia, and was the son of Edmund Browning, a native of the same State, and his father emigrated from England, his native country, prior to the Revolu- tionary war, locating in Culpepper county, Va. The parents of Mrs. Vashti Browning were John and - (Sanders) West, who were of English ancestry. Edmund Browning emigrated to Illinois in an early day, settling in Wayne county, where he died. David Browning came to Illinois in the spring of 1835, locating in Augusta tp., this county; he was a cooper by trade, but always fol- lowed farming in this county. He brought a family of 11 children with him here, only 4 of whom now live in this county; all of the 11 lived to be heads of families, and nine of them are still living. David Browning died in 1839 and his widow Aug. 9, 1864; they are both buried in the Providence Church burying ground in St. Mary's tp. They were both members of the Baptist Church, and in politics he was a Whig.
The subject of this biography was the fifth child of the preceding, and passed his early years on his father's farm; at the age of 22, Nov. 25, 1841, he married Hannah Ramsey, who was born in Clarke county, Ind., July 22, 1821, daughter of Samuel and Eleanor (Kime) Ramsey, the former probably a native of Kentucky, and the latter of North Carolina. The Ramseys are of Scotch-Irish descent and the Kimes of German. Samuel Ramsey's parents were James and Betsey (Pitman) Ramsey. He came to this county in the fall of 1836, locating in Chili tp. for one year, and then moved to sec. 25, Harmony tp., where he lived until his death, April 27, 1861. His wife died in Dec., 1873, and they are both buried on the old home- stead. They brought 4 children with them to. this county, and 2 others were born to them here; 5 of these descendants are still liv- ing. They were members of the Christian Church, and he was a Republican.
When Mr. George M. Browning was married he located on the s. e. { sec. 35, which was given to him by his wife's father; they
596
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
moved into a house on this land, 16 feet square and one story high, with frame clapboards inside and out, and mud-and-stick chimney. Here they lived about five years, and here their first 2 children were born-Eleanor V., born Feb. 19, 1843, and Sarah, Jan. 20, 1845. Then he built a part of his present residence on the north part of the quarter, where the rest of their children were born, namely: Adaline, born Aug. 16. 1847, died at the age of 18; Han- nah, deceased, born Dee. 29, 1849; George M., born April 11, 1852; Hannah J., born Sept. 30, 1854: Melinda, born March 22, 1858; David S., deceased, born Jan. 2, 1861; John J., born July 22, 1862, and Fannie M., deceased, born June 7, 1868. All the living children have families except John J., who is single and living at home.
In 1842 and 1846 Mr. B. hanled pork to Warsaw, selling it at $1.25 per ewt. and wheat at 373 cents a bushel; he hanled 40 bushels of oats to market and sold them for just money enough to buy a pair of stoga boots and one pound of nails; he had the oats tramped out by horses. He started in life bare-handed, going in debt for a team.
Mr. Browning's homestead now contains 280 acres of land, and he has given all of his children 160 acres or its equivalent, and all are doing well. Mr. Browning has been a member of the Chris- tian Church for ten years and Mrs. B. about 40 years. In politics he is a Democrat, has been Supervisor seven years, Commissioner of Highways 10 or 12 years, Assessor, School Director, etc.
Mr. Browning's portrait will be found in this volume.
George Madison Browning, Jr., farmer, sec. 36; P. O., Denver; son of the preceding, was married in 1874 to Martha J. Brown and they have one son, Rolla, who was born Sept. 28, 1875. He is a successful farmer and stock raiser, owning 240 acres of land; is a Democrat. ITis wife is a member of the Adventist Church.
J. W. Burton, physician and surgeon, Bentley, was born in Davidson county, N. C., Jan. 3. 1847, the son of John V. and Elizabeth (Klinard) Burton, natives of the sunny South, father of English descent and mother of German. The Doctor worked on a farm with his father in his boyhood, and also worked at carriage- making and blacksmithing; and to this day, although having a good practice as a physician, he makes many useful articles, having ingennity and skill enough to do almost anything in the mechan- ical line. He is a man of nerve and ambition and a diligent student. During the last war he was a member of the Junior Reserves, the first regiment of North Carolina, being in the Quartermaster's Department most of the time, where he improved his penmanship and advanced his general education. Ilis medical education he received at Washington University, in Baltimore, where he gradu- ated Feb. 22, 1872, but he had practiced three years previously, commencing at Highport, Guilford county, N. C. He came to Bentley in 1876, where he established a reputation in advance of bringing his wife here. In this vicinity he stands at the head of his profession.
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