History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws, Part 77

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 77

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Benjamin Crabill was born in Shenandoah county. Va., in 1815. His father, John C., of German descent, died at the advanced age of 91. His mother died in Ohio, nearly 70 years of age. where the family had emigrated a few years before. Mr. C.'s school dars were like the Irishman's potatoes. few and far between. He was married in Ohio in 1836, to Angeline Steinburger, whose parents were natives of Virginia. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and died Jan. 1, 1880. Had raised a family of 7 children. as follows: John H., Olander, William. Joseph R., Lizzie, Louis and Lucinda. Lizzie died at the age of 33. Mr. C. came to this county in 1849, and settled on sec. 5. where he now has 280 acres of land well improved, on which he built a large and commodious brick building in 1858. John H .. the eldest of the family, remained with his father in early life. and was married in 1861 to Miss Pru- dence Typton, daughter of John Typton. of Macomb, formerly from Ohio. After wandering for a few years in Iowa and elsewhere he finally took charge of the old homestead, where he has since resided. The father, now being relieved of the cares of the farm, enjoys his declining days with a happy group of grandchildren, S in number: Ida W .. Ella A .. Benjamin, Emma L., John F .. Mary E., Jane A. and Freddie W. The family, one and all, know how to dispense kindness and hospitality, making the Crabill residence assume the character of the stranger's home.

Morris Crump. M.D ... is the son of Wm. Crump, a native of Chel- ton. Eng., and formerly editor and proprietor of the Chelton Morning Chronicle; emigrating to Philadelphia in 1836, he became editor- in-chief of the Pennsylvania Enquirer. Died about 1860, aged 66. Morris is the 5th of a family of 7 sons and 3 daughters. His brother George is now acting as British Vice-Consul. John is the proprietor of the noted Colonnade Hotel at Philadelphia.

Morris spent his early life with his father in the Qnaker city. attending the public schools. He entered Philadelphia College of Medicine, graduating in 1554, locating the first year as resident physician of the Philadelphia Clinical Infirmary. He came to this

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

county in 1855, settled in the village of Fountain Green, where he has since had a reasonable practice. Mr. C. was married in 1860 to Miss Rachel White, daughter of Major White, of McDonough county, who died in 1866. She is the mother of 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. Mary, the eldest daughter, is now taking a course of study at St. Mary's College, Nauvoo; Janie, aged about nine; Wm. H. and George, the 2 boys at home. Mr. Crump has begun a residence, which, when finished, will be a model of taste and com- fort. Though somewhat eccentric in manners, he does not allow any one who calls to escape his genial hospitality.

Solomon Dill was born in Jackson county, Tenn., in 1822; his father, Stephen Dill, was of Scotch descent, and a native of Penn- sylvania; fought under Gen. Jackson in the war of 1812. His grandfather also fought the British under Gen. Washington, in 1776. The father emigrated to this State with his family in 1832, and died at an advanced age about 1858. His mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Harris, and who was a native of North Caro- lina, died in 1870. Solomon, the fifth in a family of 7 children, is now 58 years of age, has had general success in life and good health. He has one sister living now in Iowa, and a brother in Kansas. Mr. D. was deprived of the advantages of an education when a boy, and is showing his appreciation of the loss by giving his children all the advantages accessible. He was married in McDonough county in 1842 to Leanna Harris. She is the mother of 7 chil- dren living, 4 sons and 3 daughters, whose names are Mary, Elijah, Anna, Ada, Reuben, Ethelbert and Charley. Anna is the wife of Samuel Brown, and Ada of a Mr. Dorothy, both farmers of this tp. Mr. D. owns near 470 acres of land, 160 acres in his home farm in a fine state of cultivation. His residence and barn are plain but neat, and are surrounded by tasteful clusters of trees, some of which are of more than a century's growth.

Dr. Leonard T. Ferris was born in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1817. He is the son of Stephen G., whose biography is given on page 707. He was a native of Dutchess county, where the fam- ily had settled at an early day; emigrated to this county in Dec., 1832, and was one of the founders of the village of Fountain Green. He improved a farm near this place and raised a family of 3 sons, J. M., H. G. and the Doctor, all well known in this county. He removed to Carthage, and after remaining 12 years, died at the residence of his son in Fountain Green, in November, 1877. The mother, who was a sister of Jacob Beebe, who was the chief founder of the village spoken of, died in 1857, and is buried beside her husband in the beautiful cemetery of Fountain Green. Dr. L. T. Ferris was employed in early life on the farm with his father; after receiving his first education in the common schools he graduated in the study of medicine at the medi- cal department in the St. Louis University, in the spring of 1848, and began practicing soon after. Mr. Ferris was married in McDonongh county in May, 1859, to Helen M. Gilchrist, sister of

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Gen. Gilchrist, civil engineer. They have a family of 7 children living, 4 sons and three daughters: Charles L., Lelia, Alice L., Ulysses S., Ralph W., Helen, a little girl of 10, and Hiram G., a boy of S. Charles S., the oldest son, after graduating at Carthage College in the class of '76, attended Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, and also graduated there in 1878, since which time he has had an encouraging practice with his father. He was married in 1878 to Miss Ella Connor, of Warsaw, Ill. Mr. F. was attending school during the Mormon difficulties in 1845-'46, and therefore took little part with his fellow citizens in that noted affair, although he was a Whig and an Anti-Mormon. He owns a farm of 80 acres besides his town residence and a few other lots. He is one of the quiet and unassuming business men of his tp.

John G. Fonda was born on the Mohawk river, in Mont- gomery county, New York, March 8, 1822. His parents were Giles Fonda and Maria, nee Dockstader. The Fonda family are of Low Dutch descent and the Dockstader, of German. The subject of this sketch came to Hancock county with his parents in 1835, and has regarded this as his home most of the time since. In 1840 he com- menced the practice of surveying with J. Wilson Williams, and the greater portion of his life has been spent as a surveyor and civil engineer, in which profession he is engaged at the present time. From 1841 to 1843 he acted as Deputy County Surveyor under J. Wilson Williams. In 1844, in company with Alanson Lyon, he visited the island of Cuba. In 1847 he enlisted as a private in Capt. Stapp's company of Illinois Mounted Volunteers, and went to Mexico; did service between Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico. At the close of the war, the following year, he was discharged as a Lieutenant. In 1849 he was married to Mary McConnell, and the same year was elected County Surveyor, and settled in Carthage; lived there until 1854, when he moved to War- saw and was appointed an assistant engineer on the Warsaw & Rockford Railroad.

In 1860 he spent the summer in Colorado and New Mexico. In July, 1861, he entered the United States Volunteer Service as a Lieutenant in Capt. B. F. Marsh's Company of 2d Illinois Cavalry. In January, 1862, he was appointed Major of the 12th Illinois Cavalry, and soon after placed in command of Camp Butler, near Springfield. In October he was made Colonel of the 118th Vol. Inf., and in December went with his regiment to Louisiana, where he served most of the time in command of a brigade until the close of the war. With his regiment he participated in all the battles about Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg he had command of a cavalry brigade, and was breveted Brigadier-General. After the close of the war, in 1866, he settled on a farm near Fountain Green, and lives there yet. In July, 1877, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary, and still holds the position. In September, 1879, he was appointed Chief Engi-

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

neer to construct levees between Warsaw and Quincy, to protect the low lands from overflow. This work is still in progress.

William M. Hardey was born in Urion county Ky., in 1831, and is the son of John Hardey, of English descent, and a native of Maryland, who emigrated to this county in 1835 and settled on sec. 36 of this tp., where he died at the old homestead, aged 79.

The mother, whose maiden name was Mary A. Riley, a native of Kentucky, is still living (1880), aged 74. William has had the whole experience of a farmer's life, and being satisfied, will be likely to continue that branch of industry. He attended the com- mon schools of this county, which were not the best, 40 years ago. He was married in 1869 to Maria Tallis, daughter of Wm. Tallis, a native of Ireland, now in McDonough county. They have had 4 children : William H., Eva, Kittie and Blanche. Mr. H. has the care of his father's farm, now belonging to the Hardey heirs: it consists of 320 acres.

There are 3 brothers and 5 sisters of the family, none of whom reside in this tp. except William. Mr. Hardey and lady have been life-long members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Hardey is liberal in his views, charitable in action, and has the faculty of making one feel at home in his company.

Byers Hensly is the eldest son of Nathan Hensly, who was a native of Kentucky, and who died at the age of 65, in Hopkins, Mo. The father was of English descent; emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana. After remaining there for some time he sold his farm, moved to Texas and began dealing in money and stocks. He resided for a time in Washington city, then went to Hopkins, Mo., where the mother still resides, aged 65. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary Mosier, was a native of Middle Tennessee, and of German descent.

Byers and Henry, a younger brother, are among the thriving farmers of this tp., and take deep interest in educational and religious interests.

Byers came from Texas in 1856, and in 1858 was married to Martha Anderson. In 1868 he came to this county, settling finally on sec. 14, where he has a farm of 80 acres. Having a very strong taste for mechanism he early began work at the carpenter's bench, in the end proving himself to be quite a success, and winding up his career in that branch by constructing a very neat and substan- tial residence, in 1876, upon his own farm.

Mr. H. has a family of 2 daughters, Mary and Lizzie. Sparing no pains to show his appreciation of the value of an education, he gave them all the advantages at his command. They are both suc- cessful teachers, at this writing, and are teaching in districts near their home.

Alfred R. Hotchkiss was born in New Haven county, Connecti- cut, in 1820; he is the son of Alfred Hotchkiss, of French descent, a shoemaker by trade and in later life a farmer. He died at eighty- six years of age in Cayuga county, N. Y. His mother, whose

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

maiden name was Lana Rosa, of Scotch-German blood, died in Cortland county, N. Y., 1839. Mr. H. has but two brothers living, Andrew A., a farmer in Michigan, and Samuel L., a hotel-keeper in Chenango county, N. Y. When but a small boy Mr. H. was left alone, and like many of the homeless yet ambitious orphan boys of New York, sought employment as a " tow boy " on the Erie Canal. After four years' drive in this capacity he was promoted to the position of pilot, afterward Captain, on J. H. Hooker's line. He next went to London, Canada, where he drove stage for some time, and followed the same business at Detroit, Kalamazoo, Chicago, Burlington, Barnesville, Virginia, etc. April 18, 1849, he was married at Montrose, Iowa, to Miss Sarah P. Campbell, a lady from Burlington, Iowa; she is of Scotch-Irish blood and the mother of 2 children, living; Roseltha, the wife of Wm. Mull, of Joliet, Ill., and Carrie B., an accomplished young lady at home. Mr. H. had a scant advantage of the subscription schools of New York in 1830; he took an interest in a livery stable at Keokuk, began running transportation wagons in that city, and with Wm. Graham owned and ran a stage line between Keokuk and Augusta; he afterward purchased a livery in Plymouth and remained there two years, when he went back to Keokuk in 1860; he enlisted in Co. C, of the 3d Iowa Cavalry, was promoted Veterinary Surgeon for the company, afterward for the regiment; so remained until discharged at the close of the war. He was engaged for a time as contractor on the D. M. R. R .; came to Hamilton, where he remained until he began a general merchandising business in Fountain Green in 1877. Mr. H. is one who believes in an active life, and is one also who enjoys his home, family and friends in the highest degree.

Joel Howd was born in Oneida county, N. Y., 1821, the second son of Isaac and Anna (Johnson) Howd, both of Connecticut. The mother died in Oneida county, N. Y., in February, 1833, 34 years of age. The father came to this State and died at Pontoosuc, this county, March, 1856, 56 years of age. Joel in early life attended the farm with his father, during which time a white swelling caused one of his lower limbs to become shorter than the other. The family emigrated to Pilot Grove tp., and were the first to turn the sod on sec. 16. The sad misfortune which befel Joel caused him to look for an occupation better suited to his physical condition; he therefore went to Warsaw in 1841 and remained three years, learning the tailor's trade. He began business in that line at Web- ster, about the time the Mormons made their exit, 1846, which he continued till 1855; he then began a general merchandising busi- ness in the same place which he has since continued, and is now doing a successful business. Mr. H. during this time held the post- office twenty-four years, resigning in 1875; was also J. P. for a number of years. March 26, 1849, he was married to Hester Mc- Elvain, whose parents had emigrated from Ohio; have 4 children living; Inez, the wife of George Evans, a merchant of Burnside; Sarah J. wife of B. Wright. of Fountain Green; Hattie E. and Nellie

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

B., at home. Mr. Howd during his past life has not merely en- couraged the moral elevation of his community by words and walk, but has actually sacrificed time and money. His neighbors testify to his life-long struggle against the monster evil, intemperance, in which his toils have not been in vain; for one knowing what the village of Webster was ten years ago he could hardly suppose it would now be without a licensed saloon. To know that he has prospered socially and financially one needs only to go and visit his business establishment and see his residence and family, where, in their music and merriment, he in his decline of life is spending his happiest days. His portrait appears on the opposite page.

The first of this family we can learn by name is Samuel Howd, a native of Connecticut, a farmer, who moved to Oneida county, N. Y., where he died about 82 years of age. His son, Isaac C., was born in Connecticut, and from the age of ten years was brought up in Oneida county, N. Y., where he was married in 1818. His wife died in 1833, leaving a family of 8 children : Edmund, Joel, Betsey, Otis, Smith, Julius and Julia (twins), and Eveline. The second time Mr. Isaac C. Howd married Mary Roe, and moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, with his family in 1835, where he remained until 1837, when he, with his wife and 5 children, removed to this county, settling in Carthage. He bought a farm in Pilot Grove, tp., where he lived many years, and afterward moved to Pontoosuc, where he built the Franklin House, which he kept as a hotel nearly until his death. Mr. H. was Justice of the Peace for many years in this county, and was a man highly esteemed by the community for his many sterling qualities.

David Leach was born in Litchfield county, N. Y., in 1816; he emigrated to this State finally in 1852, settling on the northwest of sec. 31, this tp. Being of an ingenious mind, he turned his attention early in life to mechanical exercise, serving for a time as a carpenter upon vessels at sea. Later he has attended strictly to the duties of farm life, paying some attention to bees and horti- culture. Mr. Leach was married Feb. 26, 1838, to Eliza Sherwood, nativity same as himself. She died Feb. 28, 1878.

Mr. Leach has had 8 children, 4 now living: Jesse, Sarah, Ken- drick, Barak, Henry, George, Hettie and Chitty are their names in order of their ages. The 4 younger boys are not living. Ken- drick was with Sherman in the 2d Iowa, was left sick at Lovejoy Station, where it is supposed he died in 1864. Barak was in Co. A, 7th Mo. Cav., under Capt. Brawner; he died at Sedalia, Mo., Oct. 6, 1852. Mr. Leach being on the decline of life, has given the management of lis farm into the hands of Jesse, who is now running it. Jesse, like his father, uses every spare moment in perusing substantial works on science and art.

K. N. Leach, brother of the preceding, was born in the State of New York in 1818. He emigrated to this State in 1852, purchased a farm owned by Jabez Beebe, directly north of the village of Fountain Green, which he still owns. His father, Jesse Leach,

Joel Howel FOUNTAIN GREEN TP.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

was a native of Litchfield county, Conn., and of English blood. He died in 1831, aged 53 years. Ilis mother, nee Zaruah Loomis, was of the same county and State as his father. She was also of English descent and a relative not far distant from Prof. Loomis, of Yale College, who has published a genealogy of the family. She was born May 16, 1791. She died in New York, nearly 80 years of age. Mr. Leach was employed in early life on the farm, and at the age of 18, engaged as a tow boy on the Erie canal. Was with Col. Stephenson on his expedition around the Cape to Cali- fornia, during the Mexican war. Mr. L. was married in New York in 1851, to Mary J. Read, whose parents were from Mass. She is the mother of 3 children living; 2 sons and one daughter. Benja- min F., is a drover in Kansas; Silas, a farmer at home, and Celia, a miss of 10, also at home. Mr. Leach has had reasonable success in life, though but little encouragement to start from.

He has been Justice of the Peace longer than any one now living in the county, 28 years. His chances for education when young were poor, but he has gained a practical knowledge of things as he has advanced through life, and seems to be at home with scientific subjects. He owns the most costly and beautiful residence in the tp., which was built in 1862-'3, situated on the south end of his farm of 185 acres, adjoining Fountain Green. Mr. Leach is a Republican, and is not ashamed of his faith.

James McConnell emigrated to this county in 1838, and pur- chased an improved farm on sec. 29. He was born in Franklin county' Pa., and is of Scotch descent. The family consisted of 6 children, 4 of whom are still living. The mother, who is of the same nativity, has died. Martha, the eldest sister, is the wife of the late Alex. Walker, of this tp. Samuel went to Colorado during the gold excitement of 1850, and has since died, leaving one son. Mary is the wife of Gen. John G. Fonda, now of Quincy, Ill. Alexander, the elder of the two brothers, now residing in this tp., spent his early life on the farm, and is still making agriculture his chief vocation. He was married in 1851, to Miss Mary E. Walker, daughter of John M. Walker, of this tp. A family of 5 children have blessed their domestic ties, two of whom are married. Fannie, the second in age, is the wife of Frank Fortney; and Anna is the wife of Price Lathro, both farmers by occupation. Linda, Charley and Johnny are at home. Mr. McConnell has 300 acres of land, principally on sec. 29, to which place he moved in 1866. James, the younger of the two mentioned, is now keeping hotel in the village of Fountain Green. He was born in Franklin county, Pa., in 1827, and emigrated to this county with his father; was married during middle life, in 1868, to Mrs. E. L. Conner, of Pennsylvania. She is the mother of one child, Ralph, a boy now 10 years of age. Mr. M. began the business in which he is now engaged in 1869, during which time he has held the postoffice. He was Sergeant three years with Co. G, 12th Ill. Cav .; was on the Stoneman raid to Richmond, at Antietam, Gettysburg, etc.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

Robert Mc Connell was born in Franklin county, Pa., and emi- grated to this county in 1845. His father, Francis McConnell, was of English-Irish descent, who also emigrated to this county and died soon after, at the age of 83. His mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Campbell, died at the age of 72 in this tp. Robert, now 70 years of age, is of a family of 11 children. He has been engaged in farming during his entire life, and now owns a farm of 160 acres on sec. 29, this tp., where his father and mother are buried. He was married in 1849, to Miss Joanna Brewer, daughter of John Brewer, an early settler of this county. She is the mother of 3 children, living; viz., Morris C., Mary P. and Walter L .; all at home. Mr. M. was here in time to take part in the Mormon troubles. He was detailed to transport supplies to the brave (?) defenders of our liberties, near Nauvoo, and was present when the last remnant were placed on the opposite shore of the great river. " Uncle Bobby" has been several times Supervisor of his tp., and is still held among his people as a kind and generous citizen.

Thomas Miller, deceased, emigrated to this county in May, 1836; was born in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1795. He opened up a farm on sec. 21, where he raised a family of 8 children: 4 sons and 4 daughters. Mrs. Miller, whose maiden name was Margaret Meredith, was born in 1817; is of Irish-German descent, and a native of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1878, being 83 years of age. The mother is still living, and in good health at this writing. Rebecca died at the age of 7. The sons are all farmers of this tp. William is on a farm of 160 acres, in sec. 15, where he has resided since March, 1868. William was married in 1868 to Miss Christina Sibert, who is the mother of a happy little group of 3 children-James C., George W. and Josephine E., the last a little girl of 7 years. Mary is the wife of Wm. Mccullough; Kate, unmarried, is a milliner at Fountain Green. Sarah E. is the wife of John Sibert. Robert, the second son, was born in 1842. At the age of 20 he enlisted in the war, under Col. Marsh, and was with that regiment for over two years; was at the engagements of siege of Vicksburg, Jackson's Mills, Holly Springs, etc .; was wounded at the latter place, but was not discharged until after that mem- orable 4th of July, 1863, when Vicksburg yielded to the great General. James, born Sept. 4, 1846, also enlisted in the late war, but in the 12th Ill. Cav., Co. G. He was only 17 years old at the time, and therefore had to take a turn holding horses; was with the regiment on the Red river expedition, and was discharged at the close of the war. He was married Sept. 19, 1875, to Anna Kelley, whose father, James Kelley, was a native of Kentucky. The little girl, Maggie, a loving little child, died June 13, 1880. James resides on sec. 15, where he owns 80 acres of good prairie land. John Miller, the youngest of the family, who now resides on the old homestead, was married in 1877, to Julia Brandon. They have but one child, a little girl of one year. The Miller family were among the oldest settlers here, and have all settled in life in the

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

immediate neighborhood where they were brought up. The father was active during the Mormon difficulties, and was a live Repub- · lican during the late war. The Presbyterian Church record con- tains several of the family as members.

L. J. Rhea is a native of this county, and was born in 1834, of Scotch descent, and is a son of Lewis Rhea, of Tennessee. Mr. R. received his early education in the common schools of this county, afterward graduating in the Keokuk Medical College in 1856. After traveling for some time in the West, he enlisted early in 1861, in Co. B, 2d Inf., under Gen. Lyon. He was among the troops ordered to Fort Scott to settle thie Jayhawkers, thence to St. Louis; afterward he was at the 2d Bull Run. Among other engagements was " the seven-days fight," Gettys- burg, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. He was discharged at the close of the war at Washington city, 1865. His father and mother died at the ages of 64 and 58, and lie buried in Hancock tp., this county. Mr. R., at an advanced age in life, was married in 1876, to Mrs. White, widow of Jno. W. White, deceased.

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History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws, Part 77

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