USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 64
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As we have seen, the town site was pre-empted by the county, and the County Surveyor (John Johnson, of Riverside) employed to lay out the town at once, to be completed by May 1. This time seems to have been too short for him to do his work well, for we
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find that afterward a new survey was ordered and a new plat made. Clerk Williams immediately removed to the new town, and we find that a special term of the County Court was held at his house on the 3d of June. The regular term, Sept. 2, was held at the new conrt-house.
At this term that singular attorney at law. Louis Masquerier, was licensed to keep a tavern and also to sell goods. Counting the " boarding house," referred to by Mr. Browning as the first one. this tavern of Masquerier's must have been the second one in the town or township, and his store the first store. He was still there in 1836, but soon returned to New York.
Thomas Brewer must have emigrated soon, as we hear nothing more concerning him.
Among the early settlers of Carthage, as we remember them, were Gad Hamilton and his sons Artois and Canfield, Samuel Williams, Walter Bagby, Frederick Loring, Rev. John Lawton, Dr. John F. Charles, Louis Masquerier, James B., Hamilton C. and David W. Mathews, Senator Little, Robert Miller, Joshua and Jonas Hobart, Elam S. Freeman, Homer Brown, Ellis Hughes, Capt. Robert F. Smith, Ebenezer Rand, Franklin A. Worrell, Harmon T. Wilson, Charles Main, Lewis Stevenson, Samuel Comer, Jesse B. Winn, George W. Thatcher, Miles B. Mann, James Baird, Isaac Galland, James W. Woods, James W. Brattle, Samuel Marshall, Malcolm McGregor, Chauncey Robison, Sylvester Thompson, U. C. Taylor, John Wilson, John Wilson Williams, George W. Stigall, Dr. Barnes, Michael Barnes. In the vicinity were David Baldwin, Epaphras B. Baldwin, William C. Hawley, Michael Rickard. Richard Cannon, Allen McQuary, Thomas Met- calf. T. Gridley. Thomas J. Kimbrough, W. J. Dale. John Booth, Robert G. Bernethy, Norman Hobart, I. N. Cauthorn, George C. Waggoner, Samuel F. Pray, Alexander Barnes.
Of the foregoing 50 odd individuals, more than half are known to have died, numbers of them long years ago. Many others left the county, some of them still living. Several will be recognized as men of note in the county's history. Three-Little, Marshall and Worrell-met violent deaths, which are mentioned elsewhere.
BUSINESS OF CARTHAGE.
The following men comprise the business circle of Carthage: Chris Y. Long is Postmaster, and keeper of a book-store. Shultz & Son, Wm. T. Smith and Dwight Cutler are engaged in the drug business; the latter also keeps a large stock of books and stationery. James Sample controls the furniture trade. Wm. Hughes has a large business in saddlery and harnesses. Dr. E. M. Robbins is the prominent dentist. The'dry-goods trade is represented princi- pally by Wm. B. Bennett. J. C. Williams and J. W. Everett; the latter has also a branch millinery department on the north side of square. Mr. Dale is also in the same business. Wm. H. Patterson is the
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
oldest living merchant in the city, deals in grain, etc. Also J. B. Strader & Son have an extensive ware-house, and offer a specialty in fence posts and drain tile. Also Foutch & Shultz, Taylor Bros., in the same business. J. Mack Shollard and John Boyd control the hardware, and Charles G. Clark & Sons are extensive dealers in lumber. Stephen S. Wilson is the miller. W. P. McKee has a lucrative trade in agricultural implements. O. P. Carlton also in the grocery business. Jas. N. Currens runs a nice trade in boots and shoes. Will O. Sharp is the only photographer. J. S. Johnson, patentee on corn-husker, does a large manufacturing business. F. B. Miller & Co., located near the depot, are large grain dealers. Chas. E. Smale and John Helfrich both have a good market business. The lawyers are Judges J. M. Ferris, and T.C. Sharp, W. E. Mason, State's Atty.,M. P. and O. F. Berry, W. H. Manier, Geo. G. Rogers.C.J. Sco- field, T. J. Scofield, A. W. O'Harra and others. Dr. J. W. Carlton, W.M. Kellogg, R. C. Halladay, W. T. Hannan, W. D. Noyes, J. H. Callahan, are the physicians. Dr. Adam Spilter is a retired physi- cian. The banking interests are represented by the Hancock County Bank, H. G. Ferris, President; A. J. Griffith, Vice Presi- dent; William Griffith, Cashier. A second institution of the kind isrun by Sholl & Cherill. Henry C. Wilson and E. T. Dorothy have the trade for livery business. The Stevens House, located on the square, is being run by J. Jackson. The Rohrer House, two blocks northwest of the square, is controlled by C. G. Rohrer.
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
The first religious services held at the county-seat were in the log-cabin court-house south of the square. The date of the first cannot be fixed; but as Rev. John Lawton, the Home Missionary of the Congregational Church, settled there in 1834, and as its builder, Elder Owen, was also a minister of the gospel, the pre- sumption is that services were held in it soon after its erection. The first authentic information we have of any Church organization in the town, is that of the Cong. Church, organized in March, 1836. It was supplied by Revs. B. F. Morris, Joseph Mason, James A. Hawley, Wm. E. Catlin and Wm. B. Atkinson, but gradually de- clined, most of its members going to other denominations, and for 15 or 20 years past the organization has ceased to exist.
About the same period a society of Methodists and also of Bap- tists was formed, all holding their meetings in the log court-house, and none of them having regular pastors. A Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school is said to have been established as early as 1835, Col. Freeman, Superintendent.
There are at present seven church edifices in Carthage, the hand- somest and costliest being the Lutheran. There is also a German Lutheran, an unpretentious frame building; a Presbyterian, of brick; a Methodist Episcopal, of brick; a Missionary Baptist, of brick; a Christian, of frame; and a Catholic, of brick. Most or all
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of the above have their regular services and regular pastors, and some of them large congregations. There is also a small society of Episcopalians, who, without a church, rent a building for church services. We have no further statistics of any of the foregoing. There is also a new M. E. Church at Middle Creek village, and a congregation worshiping there.
The only other church in the township, we believe, is that known as the Old Brick Church at Middle Creek, in the southeast corner. This is undoubtedly the oldest Church organization in the county. It is of the Old-School Baptist order, and was organized, its records say, " on Saturday before the second Lord's Day in August, 1832," by Elder William Bradley and John Rhea, upon articles of faith submitted. Said Church has kept up its regular organization since, meeting in the same little old brick in the woods. Elder Thomas H. Owen was Clerk at said organization, and afterward preached to the congregation for many years. Its membership has been at times quite large, but has of late become reduced to 25 or 30. The late Elder Dennis Smith, of Carthage, to whom we are indebted for these facts, was a Pastor of this Church for several years.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
We continue the history of this township by giving short sketches of the old settlers and prominent citizens, which will be found of peculiar interest:
Francis S. Austin, farmer, sec. 35; P. O., Carthage; was born in Addison county, Vt., in 1824. His parents, Francis B. and Eleanor (Whitten) Austin, were natives of Massachusetts, and emi- grated from New York State to Illinois in 1848, settling in Foun- tain Green, Hancock Co., where he resided until his death, in 1855. She died in Kansas in 1875. The subject of this sketch was mar- ried in 1845, to Miss Phoebe Mapes, a native of Indiana. To this union 9 children have been born, 7 of whom are living: George W., Charles, H. H., Frank B., Edward F., Alice P., Josephine and John T .: Mary J. and Emma deceased. Mr. A. came to this county in 1852, and settled on his present estate of 445 acres, val- ued at $50 per acre. He was Town Constable three years in Car- thage, and was largely engaged in the livery business the same length of time, where he resided nine years. Has been School Director, and was formerly a member of the Methodist Church. Politically he was an old-time Whig, and now adheres to the Republican admin- istration, and is an early pioneer of Hancock.
Levi Barber, Jr., farmer, sec. 3; P. O., Carthage; was born in Pittsfield, Pike county, Ill., in 1839; is son of Austin Barber, of that city, and one of the oldest settlers and respected citizens of that county. The subject of this sketch was engaged in merchan- dising in Pittsfield until the war broke out, when he enlisted in April, 1861, in Co. G, 8th Ill. Vol. Inf. as 1st Sergeant, and served three months, when he re-enlisted in same regiment, and served until
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June, 1864, when he was discharged by the President to raise a company of 100-day men. This he accomplished at Pittsfield, and was connected to the 137th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. with rank of Cap- tain of Co. H. With this regiment he served until the close of the term. He was with the Sth at the battle of Fort Donelson, where he was wounded and confined at the hospital at Paducah, Ky., one month. Upon recovery he again entered the ranks and partici- pated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, and in all the smaller engagements in which that regiment participated. He was at Memphis with the 137th when Forrest made his eventful raid on that city. On his return home he was appointed Clerk in the general office of Provost Marshal at Springfield, where he was engaged one year. He afterward engaged in the livery business and merchandising in his native city until 1873, when he moved to this county and settled on his present estate of 160 acres, valued at $50 per acre. He was married in 1864 to Miss Amelia T. Scam- mon, a native of Pittsfield, who died in 1875, leaving born to him one child, Carrie. His present wife, Miss Mary E. Johnson, is a native of Aurora, Ill. To this union one son has been born, Lute. Mr. B. served one year as Assistant Internal Revenue Collector at Pittsfield, and was in other ways distinguished. He is a member of the Masonic order, the A. O. U. W., and of the State Militia; also, the family are members of the Presbyterian Churcli.
E. F. Bartholomew, professor of natural and physical science, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., in 1846. He received his early education at the academy of Foburgh, Snyder county, Pa. The success attending his studies in this school is greatly due to E. G. Erlenmeyer, professor of languages in that institution, to whom he makes grateful remembrance in shaping his course in life. Two years afterward he was employed as assistant in the same institution eighteen months, where he entered the Missionary Institute at Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania, and prepared for his col- legiate studies. In the fall of 1868, he entered the sophomore class of the Pennsylvania college at Gettysburg, and graduated with second honors of his class in 1871, standing second in a class of twenty-one. In the fall of the same year he was appointed prin- cipal of the academy at Clark City, Mo., and the following year moved to Cahoka, where he officiated as principal of the high school two years. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Kate L. Fasold, a native of Northumberland county, Pa. To this union 3 children have been born, Nettie C., Frank R. and Cottie. He was elected to the chair he now fills at Carthage College in 1874, and settled in this city, where he has since made it his home. In 1875 he took ministerial orders in Washington county, Ills., and subsequently filled the pulpit at Hamilton, this county, and Mendon, Adams county. He has served as Secretary of the Synod of Central Illinois two years, and officiates in the Trinity Lutheran Church of this city. He has also been connected with the Sabbat h- school of the same Church as superintendent for four years.
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William Bartholomew, his father, was a native of Christian county, Pa., where he was born September 21, 1796. He died March 9, 1861. His mother, Susan E. (Wolf) Bartholomew, was born in Lehigh county, Pa., July 10, 1800, and is, at this writing, a resident of that State.
William D. Bennett, merchant. established in 1872, has one of the most extensive dry-goods houses in the city. Mr. B. carries a stock of $9,000 and has an increasing trade. He was born in Adams county, Ill., in 1848; is son of W. L. and Bethier (Cord) Bennett, natives of Ohio, who emigrated to this county at an ear- ly day, and settled near Augusta where they resided until the spring of 1860, when they moved to this city, where Mr. B. died in 1868. His wife is still living. Mr. Bennett was engaged as clerk in the hardware trade, until he opened his present place of business. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mary A. Carlin, a native of this county. To this union one child has been born, Mabel. He is a member of A. O. U. W., and the family all mem- bers of the M. E. Church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Robert G. Bernethy, farmer, sec. 19; P. O., Carthage; is son of James and Elizabeth (Gilliland) Bernethy, who emigrated to Brown county, Ohio, at an early day, where they were married, and moved to this county in May, 1835. He entered 120 acres of land in LaHarpe tp., upon which he settled, and resided until his death in January, 1877. He was one of the oldest pioneers of the county. His estimable wife and 4 children survive. The subject of this sketch was born in Brown county, O., in 1823, and is the oldest of seven brothers. He laid out a farm from the Military Tract in Fountain Green tp., which he cultivated from the stump. It remains to-day one of the finest arranged farms in the county. In 1869 he disposed of his farm, and moved to his present estate of 70 acres which he has greatly improved, and is valued at $100 per acre. He was united in marriage in Dec., 1863, to Mary, daughter of Jabez A. Bebee, an early pilgrim of Fountain Green tp., now deceased. Mr. B. has never aspired to public prominence, being of a retiring disposition. His advantages for education were only such as the pioneer sons of the county could get, but possessed of energy and industry he has acquired a fine farm and enjoys the circle of his home. Politically he was a strong Abolitionist, dyed in the wool, and in war times was a Republican. He is now allied to the Greenback platform. His influence was used in the settlement of the Mormon difficulties, after which time he traveled extensively for one year.
Malvin P. Berry, lawyer, of the firm of Berry Bros. & Sharp, was born in McDonough county, Ill., in 1853. His father, Lebury Berry, emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1841 or '2, and settled in Fountain Green tp. and engaged in farming. He resided there until his wife died, in 1848, when he moved to McDonough county. HIe was again married in 1851. He had 3 children,-Orville, Clar- ence L. and Melvin P. He was a prominent man in McDonough
W. A. Patterson CARTHAGE
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county, serving as Deputy Sheriff two terms and twice elected Sher- iff of the county. He was Captain of Militia in the Mormon attack, and after a life of usefulness, died in 1858. The subject of this sketch read law in the office of Mack & Beard of this city, attended colle- giate studies, and was admitted to the Bar in Feb., 1879, and has been in successful practice since that time. He was married to Miss Hattie Campbell, a native of McDonough county, by whom he has one child, Leota R. Mr. B. is connected with Judge Sharp and his brother Orville in the practice of his profession. The firm numbers among the prominent members of the county Bar, and represent a trio of Republicans in principles and politics.
Orville F. Berry, lawyer, firm of Berry Bros. & Sharp, is a son of Lebury and Martha Berry, and was born in McDonough county in 1852. His father was a prominent man in that county, where he served as Deputy Sheriff two terms, was twice elected Sheriff of the county, and served as Captain of Militia in the Mormon outbreak, and after a life of industry and usefulness died in 1858. His mother died in 1860. Mr. B. secured his education at the high school at Fountain Green, was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court in 1877, and in January of the same year formed a partnership with Judge Sharp, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in his profession. His brother, M. P., was also admitted to this firm, which forms a circle of the best legal fraternity of the city. He was married in Fountain Green tp. in 1873, to Miss Anna Barr, a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1850. One child has been born to them, Clarence L.
Edward G. Boswell was the son of John and Catharine (Gam- brel) Boswell, and was born in Ripley, near Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1825. The family resided in Ohio until 1865, at which time they removed to Palmyra, Mo., and spent one winter. In the spring of the same year they moved to Griggsville, Pike county, Ill., and four years afterward came to Hancock county, and settled on a farm near Dallas. The following year Mr. B. retired from the active field of life and moved to this city, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1873. He was largely engaged in the mercantile business in Preble county, O., where he was married, in 1849, to Miss Sophia VanHorn, a native of the same county. To this union 8 children were born, 7 of whom are living,-Anna, Mary, Kate P., William E. (the eldest son, at this time connected with the postoffice of this city), Roscoe T., James M. and Libbie E. Mr. B. followed merchandising at Griggsville, and by close attention to business, energy, prudence, and industry realized success. He was a modest, unassuming man, and a citizen highly esteemed and honored by all who knew him.
John Boyd, hardware merchant, established in 1863, carries a stock of $4,000 and does a good business. He was born in Harri- son county, O., in 1828. Is son of Samuel and Ellen (Leckard) Boyd, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1812, and
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settled in Ohio in 1813, and in 1849 moved to Fairfield county, Iowa, where they both died. Mr. B. became engaged in the mer- cantile and grain business in Keokuk, where he was largely inter- ested until 1863, when he came to this city, where he has sinee made it his home. He was married in 1865 to Miss Margaret O'Harra, a native of Indiana. By this marriage 5 children have been born, + of whom are living, Cora B., Arthur W., Walter K. and Lettie F. Politically Mr. B. is Democratic, and he is a thorough business man of Carthage.
James H. Callahan, physician, was born in Adams county, Ill., in 1844; his parents, John and Jane (Henry) Callahan, were natives of Kentucky and Ireland. Grandfather Callahan emigrated to Illinois and settled in Adams county, where he resided until his death. His son, John, was then an infant, and is now one of the oldest settlers of that county, and resides in Columbia tp. The subjeet of this sketch attended a course of studies at Rush Medical College, at Chicago, Ill., when he entered the Bellevue college, N. Y., and was graduated at that institution in 1870. After a few months' practice in Kingston, Adams county, he moved to this city in October, 1870, where he has since been in active and suc- cessful practice. The following year he was married to Miss Enima Yeargain, a native of Adams county, who died in 1872. His present wife, Miss Martha E. Simpson, is a native of Ken- tucky. By this marriage 2 children have been born, one of whom is living, Lena M. The Doctor is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and of the I. O. M. A. He has a farm of 220 acres on sec. 23, valued at $40 per acre. In politics the Doctor is Democratic.
A. M. Cannon, farmer, sec. 35; P. O., Carthage; is a native of Howard county, Mo., where he was born in 1821. His parents, Simeon and Sarah (Cornelius) Cannon, are of German descent, and settled in Missouri in 1808, where they both died in Macon county. The subject of this sketch eame to this county in 1844, and resided for two years in Harmony tp. He was married in 1845 to Miss Elizabeth Gibson, a native of Indiana. Their children are all living; William B., a prominent resident, and engaged in the mercantile business in Huerfano county, Col .; Mary M .; John W., a resident physician of Grant City, Iowa; Sarah E .; James R., also a resident of Colorado, and a large stock dealer; Alvin, Miles and Frank. In 1846, Mr. Cannon moved to his present farm of 285 acres, where he has since made it his home and numbers among those of the early settlers of the county; has served as School Direc- tor, and in politics lias been identified with the Republican party for twenty years.
Melancton S. Carey .- This gentleman, whose portrait, taken at the age of +8, we give in this volume, was a native of the town of Coventry, Chenango county, N. Y., where he was born March 1, 1820. At the age of 22 he left the homestead and engaged in teaching the village school at Brooklyn, Susquehanna Co., Pa .;
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next spring he returned to his father's farm, and the following winter returned to Pennsylvania, locating in Luzerne county, re- suming his labors as a teacher; 1845-'49, he was clerk and pay- master for Jonathan Wasley, a miner and coal operator at Potts- ville, Pa .; in 1850 he first came to Harcoek county, locating at Nauvoo, and followed farming for a time, varying that pursuit with school teaching and keeping books. In 1853 or 1854 he served that city as Mayor, and afterward served as Deputy under Sheriff's Hamilton and Clarkson. He afterward moved to Car- thage, where he was employed as assistant in various official positions. In 1860 he was elected Sheriff, which office he filled two years with credit; 1862-'4, he was most of the time Deputy in the office of the County Clerk, under F. M. Corby; in 1864 he was elected Circuit Clerk, and in 1868 was re-elected, serving until 1872, since which time he has served only on the Board of Supervisors, desir- ing to devote his attention more exclusively to his personal affairs. In the spring of 1878 he went to. Hot Springs, Ark., with his wife and only living child, for his health; and there, May 20, of that spring, he died. In private life, and in all his dealings with others, he was a man above reproach; he was methodical and care- ful in all his business affairs, whether public or private; as an offi- cial he was exact, painstaking, punctual and courteous; as a citizen he stood deservedly high, being a friend of education and contribut- ing liberally to the growth and advancement of every interest of the community. For two years previous to his death he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was buried in the family plat in the east cemetery near Carthage, whither 4 of his chil- dren had preceded him. Two of his sisters survive.
Oct. 2, 1853, Mr. Carey married Mrs. Esther C. Mix, of Nauvoo; she was born in Christie county, Pa., in 1820, the daughter of Mr. Lindsey; in 1837 she married Philip Mix, who was a machinist, and settled in Nauvoo in 1846. He went to California in 1849, and died in 1852, while on his return home by way of the Isthmus, leaving 3 children, 2 of whom died in Pennsylvania, and one son, Thomas E., who enlisted in 1862 in Co. B, 118th Ill. Vol. Inf., and after participating in many battles was killed in August, 1865. Mrs. Carey and daughter Nellie still reside at Carthage. She has one adopted son, Frank.
John Carlin; P. O., Carthage; was born in Madison county, Ky., in 1818. He was married in 1843, at Quincy, to Miss Martha J. Flood, who was born in Montgomery county, Ky., in 1825, daughter of William J. and Jane Anderson, who settled in Adams county in 1830, where Mrs. Anderson died in 1836; Mr. A. is liv- ing with his widowed daughter in this city in the 76th year of his age. Mr. Carlin came to this county from Quincy with the rifle company during the Mormon disturbance in 1846; subsequently he was engaged as Clerk in the Recorder's office, and afterward elected to that position which he filled some years. He also was elected Sheriff of the county, and was otherwise prominently
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identified in the county and township. In fact, the whole time of his residence in the county was devoted to the public good. He was a quiet, unassuming man, and his demise, which occurred in this city in 1865, was a bereavement to a wide circle of friends. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and the father of 6 children, 4 of whom are living: James W., Mary A., Lewis C. and Martha W. Mrs. C. has a pleasant home near the city, with 30 acres of valuable and productive land, where she re- sides with her children. The family are members of the M. E. Church.
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