History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws, Part 57

Author: Gregg, Thomas, b. 1808. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, C.C. Chapman
Number of Pages: 1046

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 57

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).

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

ber, a native of Oregon, and their children are: Mary M., born in July, 1870; Melinda A., July, 1872; Fanny, J., March, 1874; Leah, August, 1876, and George A. in Dec., 1878. Mr. McCall owns 145 acres of well-improved land, valued at $5,000. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Sylvandale. Mr. McCall has some valuable specimens of rock from the mines of the West.

Dorrance Mc Ginnis, Basco. The ancestors of this gentleman were natives of Eastern Pennsylvania, living near the Delaware river, a short distance from Philadelphia, in the same county; his father was of Scotch descent, and mother of German. She was the eldest danghter of Robert Burke. . Soon after the Declaration of Independence Mr. Burke joined the Federal army under Washing- ton, and continued in the service, except at intervals, till the war closed. Mr. McGinnis' parents were married May 10, 1789, in which year they moved West, crossed the mountains, reached the Ohio river, and settled about 50 miles below Pittsburg, in West Virginia, on the Ohio river bottom, a short distance back from the river. It was a rough wilderness country, but the land productive. The family succeeded in improving a large farm, which produced well, especially small grain. There was plenty of wild game, deer in abundance, some bears, and a great variety of other animals.

The children in this family were, in order, James, George, Dor- rance, Louis, Amanda, who died in infancy, and Louis, who died in his fourth year.

At an early day most of the surplus produce raised in the Ohio valley found a ready market in New Orleans. It was shipped there on flat-boats. It took from two to three months to make the trip. In the fall of 1814 Mr. McG. loaded a flat-boat with produce for that market, and started, Sept. 2, with two hired hands for assist- ants, both strangers, but who appeared to be river men. He reached the falls of the Ohio and crossed. Between the falls and the mouth of the Ohio river he met with an acquaintance, a river man. At that time Mr. McG. was in good health and spirits, but never afterward was he or his cargo ever heard from! There were many conjectures regarding his fate. Every exertion was made to obtain information as to his fate, but all in vain. About a year previous to that, James McG., above mentioned, joined the Northern army under General Scott. He served five years, was discharged and returned home, to find the old homestead in the occupancy of strangers. Some years after the death of Mr. McG. his widow married an old farmer, a widower, a resident of Belmont county, Ohio, by the name of Farnsworth. By that marriage she had 2 children, a boy and a girl. George McGinnis had gone to live with an uncle in Ohio. Part of the time during boyhood Dor- rance lived with his mother, and part of the time was hired ont, till he reached the years of manhood. He made the acquaintance of a young lady, about 17 years of age. Her father was a farmer and had come from Germany. Her mother was Pennsylvania

617

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

German. They lived a short distance from Wheeling, W. Va. He - was joined in marriage to Elizabeth Cotts, Nov. 18, 1828. His birth day was Angust 25, 1809; hers, Jan. S, 1812. Their first child, Elizabeth M., was born Dec. 1. 1829, and died June 22, 1832; George Washington, the second child, was born Oct. 16, 1830, and died in infancy; Rosanna Antoinette was born June 10, 1832; John Randolph, June 10, 1834; Eleanor Virginia, Aug. 12, 1836; Caroline Melissa, Nov. 17, 1838; Mary Louisa, May 22, 1841; Elizabeth Clarissa, July 12, 1844. Mary Louisa was married to James Hughes, by whom she had 3 children, who are living. She died August 7, 1867.

Soon after Dorrance's marriage he fitted up a store-room in South Wheeling, near the bridge. The room was of good size, but only one story high. The dwelling was a large two-story frame building joining store on the west. For several years they had a good trade and made money. In the winter of 1832 there were heavy falls of snow. In the valley of the Alleghany it was from ten to twelve feet in depth. In February a warm spell occurred and snow melted so rapidly that water was from hill to hill. From Pittsburg down the Ohio most of the farm buildings were swept away by the flood. In Wheeling, on Main street, below the hill, a large steamer floated along. Lumber yards were all swept away. From South Wheeling there were 38 buildings swept away. Mr. McGinnis' store-house and goods, and his large dwelling house were among the number. Nothing was saved. As soon as the waters receded he procured a dwelling in Middle Wheeling. At. that time the Asiatic cholera was raging and carried off scores. In the fall of 1832 it made its appearance in Wheeling. A few contracted the disease, some of whom died. Mr. McGinnis was stricken down with it, bad as any one could have it to recover. He removed to a high, beautiful location on what was called Chapman's Hill. In the spring of 1833 the cholera appeared again. The deaths each day increased from a few till they numbered 28 per day, then decreased in the same ratio. Something over 300 had been interred in the cemetery before the disease disappeared.

Mr. McG. then purchased a large store-house on the east side of Market Square at $5,000; he put in a large stock of goods to suit the country trade. There were from 100 to 300 wagons backed up to that market house twice a week, unless bad weather or roads prevented their coming. Mr. McG. had charge of that market for a number of years, for which service he was paid $300 per annum. He was also acting City Marshal, for which he was paid a liberal compensation. He kept good faithful clerks in the store, which did a profitable business. He continued in business there about 18 years before selling out.

Jan. 9, 1846, Mrs. McGinnis died, the mother of 6 children. For several years after her death the bereaved husband continued in the mercantile business. He fitted up a large fine building on Market near Monroe street, in which he lived several years; he

618

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

then rented the property and moved to the island. He sold out his store-house and all real estate except his large residence on Market street.

In 1855 he moved to the West, and landed at Alexandria, Mo., opposite Warsaw, where he purchased 420 acres of land on the Des Moines bottom. A few years later he sold the land, and purchased a residence in Warsaw, to which he moved and planted a vineyard. Having an offer in 1856 of $5,000 from the Odd Fellows in Wheel- ing for his residence there, he returned to transact the sale; but they declining certain terms, he sold to another party. After re- siding in Warsaw a few years and the vineyard had commenced bearing, Mr. McGinnis had a good offer for the property, sold out and moved to Basco, where he now resides. He purchased several farms and tracts of land in Bear Creek tp., one lying north of and joining the old village of Summersett. He had part of the land surveyed in streets, alleys and town lots. It is called McGinnis' Addition to Summersett. Some of the best residences in the village are built on it.

Dec. 11, 1864, Mr. McGinnis married Matilda C. Downs, nee Huff. From that marriage 3 children were born; Eugene, May 19, 1866, who died in infancy ; C. C. Franklin, born Aug. 4, 1870; Caroline Isabel, born Oct. 20, 1874.

In political matters Mr. McGinnis is a Democrat; he has acted as Justice of the Peace for many years, has been Supervisor of this tp. several years; is a Knight Templar, has served as Mas- ter of the Lodge several years; and, having been left an orphan when young, he is a self-made man, a man of the highest integrity, and we count him as one of the most substantial and worthy citi- zens of Hancock county. We give his portrait in this volume.

Matthew Merriman, deceased, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, in 1813, the 9th of 12 children born to Richard and Mary (Pitts) Merriman, natives of England. Matthew followed farming in the old country until 1855, when he came with his wife and children to the United States, first settling in Pike county, III., where he remained for 11 years; he then came to this county, where he lived until his death in 1871. By honest labor Mr. M. became enabled to leave to his wife and 5 children a farm of 285 acres, valued at $15,000. Since his death the management of the farm has been in the hands of his son Joseph, by whose energy and business skill has been erected within the last few years a large three-story house finished according to the latest pat- terns. He has also put up a new and large barn which will hold 100 tons of hay, besides giving room for small grains and stock. He also deals largely in cattle. His marriage to Mary Saunders, of England, was in 1843. The children are, Mary A., Jane, Elizabeth, dec., Joseph and Elizabeth. Mrs. M. is a member of the Baptist Church. P. O., Basco.

Albert Naegelin, druggist, was born in Kentucky in 1854, son of Emile and Annis (Thevenin) Naegelin, natives of France; they

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

moved to the United States in 1853, and now reside in St. Louis, where Mr. N. follows his trade of lithography. When about seven years old Albert was taken by his parents in emigration to this county, and after mature years returned with them to Kentucky; in 1868 he returned to this county, where he followed farming until one year ago, when he came to Basco and studied telegraphy for awhile, and then purchased a half interest in the drug store now known as Naegelin & Mourning's, on Main Street, near the center of the village. The postoffice is in the same building. This firm has a full stock of goods in their line, and they are one of the leading business firms in the county. In 1875 Mr. M. married Eliza J. Tanner, daughter of Doctor Tanner, of Basco.

Adam Rohrbough, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 15; P. O., Basco; was born in Virginia August 6, 1827, the son of George Rohr- bongh, who was born in Hardin county, Va., in 1792, and died in this county in 1874, leaving 11 children, 61 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren, in all 101. At 18 years of age Adam left his home and married Miss Susan Curtis, of Lewis county, Va .; after remaining on the home farmn for about seven years they moved to this county, having $300 in money, one span of horses and a wagon; but Mr. R. has been industrious and now owns 567 acres of land, valued at $18,000; his farm is near the county-seat and is one of the best improved in Western Illinois. Mr. R. takes a great interest in education and has given a college course to some of his children, and some are away from home now attending school. Their names are: Benia E., Marion, who was graduated at Carthage College in 1878, and is now professor in Mt. Morris College in this State; Lee J., who has taken a commercial course at Quincy, Ill., and has the honor of being the second best who has ever graduated at the Quincy Business College; George A., now a student at Carthage College; and Mary A. Mr. R. has also raised an orphan boy named Henry Carpenter, who was in 118th Ill. Vol. Inft., in the late war, having enlisted in 1862 under Capt. Mourning; he died at Vicksburg. Mr. R. is a strong ten- perance man and has been a member of the M. E. Church 35 years. He does not remember of being guilty of profane swear- ing in his life.'

Samuel Rose was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1809, and is the seventh of nine children of James and Phœbe (Coulter) [Rose, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Jersey. Mr. James Rose was a Lieutenant in the expedition sent out by Washington to subdue the Whisky Rebellion. Both he and his wife died at Lexington in 1813, when young Samuel was taken to an uncle, with whom he lived until he was fifteen years of age; he then went to Frankfort and learned the confectionery business. completing the trade at Lexington in 1829; he then came to Illi- nois and was in Quincy in 1830-'1; thenee he went to Jacksonville and worked at carpentry until 1849; was then several years in California, meeting with good success; in 1857 he returned and

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

settled on his farm in this county near Carthage, since which date he has spent most of his time hunting and trapping, having made as much as $20 in one day, killing deer, trapping mink and other animals; he is best known, however, as a wolf hunter, as he has killed since his residence here about 250 wolves in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, more than 60 of these in this county. Although he does not now follow farming, he owns an excellent tract of land of 170 acres near Basco, and has personal property worth about $2,000. Although he is now 71 years of age he can walk farther in a day than most young men of these times, and has a good memory. He has been a member of the Christian Church for many years. He was never married.

Samuel Russell, farmer, sec. 25; P. O., Denver; is a native of Ireland, and ever since he was nine years of age he has been bat- tling with the cold world, and by nntiring energy and strictest in- tegrity, he has accumulated a handsome fortune; he now owns 400 acres of improved land, valued at $12,000. In 1831 he landed at Quebec having but three cents, English money; about three years afterward he went to Delaware and learned carpentry; he then emi- grated West and settled near Alton, Ill., where he worked at his trade, although he owned some farming land there; he sold out at the end of 12 years, and after stopping one year in Adams county, he came to this county and settled on the farm where he now resides: has lived here since 1857. Mr. R. is a very careful and painstaking agriculturist. In 1842 he married Jemima A. Hickman, who was born in New Jersey in 1823, and of their 10 children only these 4 are living: James H., Nancy, Mary J. and Joseph S.

John G. Seager was born in New York city in 1807, the son of John and Eunice (Allston) Seager, natives of New York, who lived to a good old age. John was a prominent minister of the Baptist Church, being connected with the First Baptist Church of New York city, and afterward 19 years Pastor of the Church at Haights- town, Pa .; he then returned to New York and took charge of the Baptist congregation on Long Island. John G. remained at home until abont 16 years old, receiving a good education, having attended the first academy in the city of New York; and because of superior qualifications he was solicited to attend college at Hamilton, N. Y. He learned the cabinet trade, but has spent most of his long and useful life in preaching the gospel. He came West in 1839, locat- ing at Mendon, Adams county, Ill., and after laboring in that vicin- ity for about seven years, he came to this county and constituted the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, and in a few years more the Basco Baptist Church. He now serves these two Churches; he has also established many other Churches in this section, among which are Mount Vernon, Starr and Jubilee. For his first wife he married Rebecca Chamberlain, of Haightstown, N. J .; she died in 1844, having had in her life-time 6 children; namely, Charles A., dec .; Caroline, now widow of Mr. Doty, of Carthage; Lydia A., now of

Ir Games

BEAR CREEK Tp

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ILISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Quincy, Hickory county, Mo .; Enoch C., a member of the 118th Ill. Vol. Inf., who died at Camp Butler, aged 21; Catherine E., dec., who was the wife of Sheriff Dammeron; and John E., living in Basco. For a second wife Mr. Seager married Mary Pendergast in 1854, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have had 4 sons and 2 daughters. Mr. S. owns property in Basco and seems to be happy in his old age. His power of vision is nearly as good as ever. He has been Town Clerk and School Treasurer ten years each, and Col- lector five years; and was recently elected Town Clerk.

Hiram Simmons, farmer; P. O., Baseo. Mr. S. is one of the early settlers of Bear Creek tp., and has done much to make it and the county what they are. He was born in Kentucky in 1803. a son of Robert and Flora (Chenworth) Simmons, the former born in Maryland in 1779, and the latter in Virginia in 1787. At the age of 19 Mr. S. married Nancy Caulkins, of New York, and located in Hardin county, Ky., where he remained four years; then he came to Seott county, Ill., where he lived 20 years; then he came to this tp., locating near Basco, where he has ever since resided. Children -- Martha, born July 4, 1822; William B., deceased, born June 2, 1824; Mary E., born June 5, 1827; Robert H., Feb. 22, 1829; Hiram S., deceased, born Dec. 19, 1831; Franklin, deceased, born Oct. 20, 1834; Lucinda, deceased, born July 12, 1837; Isaac C., deceased, born June 12, 1840; Nancy J., deceased, born May 19, 1842. Mr. S. now owns a comfortable home and a small farm join- ing Baseo on the southeast. His son Isaac was a member of the 118th Ill. Vol. Inf., under James Logan, for about a year.

Samuel Staples, farmer, was born in 1818 in Indiana. His par- ents were natives of Virginia, and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Coons. In 1840 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Mary A. James, also a native of Indiana; after re- maining in Jefferson county, Ind., for two years, they came to this county and settled near Augusta. As a specimen 'of pioneer dis- couragements we may relate that at one time he went to a horse- mill to get some grinding done, and in the commencement of the grinding an accident occurred to his horse, which was at work in the mill; he at once went home, saying he would " eat parched corn and potatoes." He thien lived in Adams county four years, then he settled upon his own farm of 80 acres in this county, which is a part of his present farm of 190 acres. Of his 3 children only John W. is living. Mr. S. has been School Trustee, Justice of the Peace and Road Commissioner, which latter office he now holds. He is a member of the Methodist Church.

S. A. Thompson, physician, was born in Tennessee in 1812, son of William Thompson, who was a Revolutionary soldier five years, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. At the age of 20 our subject began business for himself; in 1832 he went to Alabama, where he remained one year and returned to middle Tennessee. Here he was an eye witness of the great star-fall of 1833. He removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., and afterward

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

practiced medicine here 18 years, on eclectic principles. For his first wife he married Isabel Ogle, in 1839, and they had 12 chil- dren. For his second wife he married Mary A. Saterfield in 1872, a native of Missouri. The Doctor has the honor of being the first Supervisor of this tp. He used to be a Democrat, but is now a staunch Greenbacker.

Luster S. Wyckoff, a farmer, was born in Schuyler county, Ill., in 1840. the son of Gerritt and Nancy (McKee) Wyckoff, who were among the earliest pioneers of the great West, there being only three white families west of the Illinois river when they came here. In 1860 L. S. married Nancy C. Irvin, of Schuyler county, who was born in 1845. Of their 6 children only 2 are living; namely. Maggie J., born in June, 1862, and Elizabeth A .. in Nov., 1864. The first ten years after his marriage Mr. W. lived in Schuyler county, Ill., then lived in Missouri awhile, and in 1879 located at his present home at Basco.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

The following is a list of the officers that have served this town- ship since its organization, as far as could be obtained from the records :

SUPERVISORS.

Almon Thompson .

1850

David W. Browning 1868

Felix G. Mourning

1853

D. McGinnis.

1869

Thomas Logan. .

1855

W. C. Williams.

1870

C. W. Baldwin.

1858

Wm. P. Damron. 1872

Win. S. Moore

1859

Jameson H. Wetzel. 1873

Chas. H. Steffey.

1860

Jesse E. Gerard. 1874

John W. Tatman.

1861

Win. P. Damron.

1876

Wm. B. Skinner

1862

Wm. A. Anderson.

1877

John R. McGinnis.

1866

Constant Cacheaux 1878

Win. B. Skinner

1867

James A. Anderson.

18,9

CLERKS.

John G. Seger.

1855

John G. Seger. 1968

William Hawkins

1858

Albert Naegelin.

1879

William Fleming

1865

John G. Seger. 1880

ASSESSORS.

John M. Wetzell

1855

James Anderson. 18:2

Andrew Moore.

1858

Edward Harrison. 1873

Charles W. Baldwin.

1860

A. H. Caywood. 18:4

Elisha McGee.

1862

Geo. H. Damron.

John W. Tatman.

1864

A. H. Cavwood 1875

Almon Thompson

1865

Clark Lewis . 1876

C. W. Baldwin.

1866

J. H. Wetzel.

1877

Geo. C. Gordon

1867

John Daw.

1878

E. Brown, Jr ...

1869

Wm. G. Mott

1880

Wm. P. Damron

1870

COLLECTORS.

William S. Moore

1855

G. C. Gordon 15:0

J. G. Seger. .

1858

John D. Page.

18:1

Nicholas Wren

1862

John J. Hawkins.

1872

J. R McGinnis

1863

Nathaniel C. Caywood 1873

Charles H. Steifey

1864

Josephus Hutf. 1874

Wmn. P. Damron 1866

G. C. Gordon

18:5

J. IT. Wetzell.

1867

J. R. McGinnis 1876

Willie . Drydm

1869

G. C. Gordon

1878-80

WYTHE TOWNSHIP.

This township, named after an old Revolutionary Virginian, Nos. 4-8. It is chiefly prairie, located between the head waters of Bear creek and those flowing westward into the Mississippi. One long branch of Bear creek traverses its southeastern corner, supplying some tim- ber and some broken country. The remaining portion is well-ly- ing, mostly rolling prairie, chiefly owned and occupied by intelli- gent, enterprising and rich farmers.

This township contains the two recorded towns of Elderville and Prairieville, containing each a few houses only. Wythe, being prairie, was settled later than Walker and Montebello, on each side of it. Among its early settlers were named Benjamin F. Marsh, Sr .; Rodolphus Chandler, Mark Phelps, Andrew McMahan, William Crawford, Samuel Knox, Davidson Harris, Moses Ham- mond, Slocum Woolley, John S. Johnson, Robert Avers, David Ayers, Samuel Chandler, Isaac Bliss, H. P. Griswold, Thomas Crawford, Joshua C. Berry, Lyman L. Calkin, Wm. A. Smith, L. Horney, Wm. J. Ash, J. D. Browning, William Wallace Reed, Wm. Jackson, Alonzo Sanford, Charles Ames, Wm. Shinn, L. L. Piggott, and the Robinsons, Yanewines, McGees, Butlers, Dough- tys, Livelys and others.

The early settlement, known for so many years as Green Plains, was partly in Wythe and partly in Walker, Wilcox and Rocky Run townships, its center being near the corner connecting the four townships. Hence, in naming the early settlers in each, some of them may be located over the line of the township for which they are named.

Benjamin F. Marsh, named above, was an early settler. His farm east of Warsaw was for years the extreme settlement on the route toward the county seat, all beyond being an unbroken and almost treeless prairie. Mr. M. was born in His Majesty's dominions of North America, New Brunswick, we believe, and was until his death a man of note in the county. His son, B. F. Marsh, Jr., our present talented and genial member of Congress, was born on the home farm in Wythe, and in his boyhood days hunted rabbits and squirrels, and gathered nuts and things in the timber brakes ad- joining.

Mark Phelps was a man of remarkable character in the eastern part of the township. Free, jovial, reckless, wild, good-natured, always ready for an adventure or a spree, and always on hand in a crowd; everybody knew and joked and drank with Mark,-water, of course; lager had not then been imported from Germany, and the

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

"country was too new for cider. He still lives, showing the hand of time upon his brow.

The brothers Ayres were natives of the Emerald Isle, came to America and settled in Hancock county at an early day.

Numbers of these pioneers have gone.

William Crawford was probably the first to build a house in Wythe township, in the fall of 1832. Andrew McMahan and Sam- nel Knox also came in 1832.

Of the foregoing, Messrs. B. F. Marsh, Wm. Crawford, Thomas Crawford, Rodolphus Chandler, Samuel Knox, Robert Ayers, Sam- uel Chandler, Moses Hammond, and perhaps others, are now de- ceased. Andrew McMahan and Silas Robinson still remain, with the frosts of over 75 winters upon their heads.

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.

Elders Joseph Hatchett and Samuel Knox, early residents of' Green Plains settlement, both residing, we believe, in Walker, were the earliest preachers in that section. The first religious organization within the limits of Wythe of which we have any record is that of the Congregational Church, on the west line of the township. This society was organized in 1851, with the follow- ing members; viz., Hurlburt P. Griswold, Lucy Griswold, Moses Hammond, Elizabeth Hammond, Caroline Hammond, Asaph C. Hammond, Ero Chandler, Emeline Chandler, Benjamin Whitaker, Eliza Whitaker, William F. Frazee, Isaac Bliss, Elizabeth Bliss, David A. Robinson, Edward C. Griswold, Walter R. Glover, Agnes W. Glover, John A. Howes, Elinor Howes, and Lorinda Chandler -20. Some of these resided in adjoining townships. The mem- bership has since increased to about 75. The church edifice is of frame, built about 20 years ago, and has a parsonage adjoining. The pastors who have officiated there are Rev. George J. Barrett, Rev. Mr. Johnson, Revs. Samuel Dilley, Nathaniel P. Coltrin, A. R. Mitchell, John H. Shay, W. B. Bachtell, C. C. Irland and Joseph Wolf.

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History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws, Part 57

Author: Gregg, Thomas, b. 1808. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, C.C. Chapman Number of Pages: 1046

Author: Gregg, Thomas, b. 1808. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, C.C. Chapman
Number of Pages: 1046