USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 84
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Mr. Gill's portrait will be found on page SS3.
William W. Gillon, grocer. La Harpe, established in his present business in 1879, carries a stock of $2,500 and has an increasing trade. Mr. G. was born in London, England, in 1844, and emi-
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grated to the United States in 1868, locating in this city, where he began teaching school, and followed various pursuits until he was enabled to open his present place. He was educated in the colleges of London, and a graduate of the school of 1859. Subsequently he received an appointment as clerk in the office of the Crown Solicitor, and three years afterward entered the mercantile business in London. In 1863 he was married to Miss Rose Hagger, a native of London. To this union 7 children have been born, 5 of whom are living: Alice R., Amy C., William B., Henry E. and Cora N. He has three brothers, Henry, Edward and Bruce, in the East Indies; two of them hold important offices in the civil service of the English Government. Mr. G. is a professor of book-keeping in the seminary of this city; is also a member and officer in the I. O. O. F. and of the M. P. Church. In politics he endorses the Republican party, and favored the nomination of Grant.
James Gittings, a pioneer settler of this county, was born in Jefferson county, Va., Feb. 21, 1801; his parents were Ason and Elizabeth (Clark) Gittings, who were born in Maryland, about 15 miles from Washington, D.C., of English ancestry, the first of whom in America settled here long previous to the Revolution. Ason Gittings was a farmer by occupation, and also followed wagon-making to some extent. He lived in Muskingum county, O., many years, and died there. He had, however, lived in this county awhile, with his family, but was not satisfied; his wife died in March, 1847, and he returned to Ohio. The subject of this sketch passed his early years upon his father's farm; at the age of 26 he commenced planting and raising tobacco, in Belmont county, O., which he continued for three years, taking his tobacco to the Baltimore market to sell. In 1830-'31 he engaged in flour and freighting from Zanesville, O., to New Orleans, La. His first trip was in 1829, when he went as supercargo, owning 100 barrels of flour himself and taking charge of 400 barrels for others. The first trip he made entirely on his own account, he cleared some $500. In 1833 he bought a farm in Muskingum county, of 320 acres, for which he paid $1,600 in cash, and in 1835 he sold this farm and came to Hancock county, Ill., where he purchased, in 1836, the north half of sec. 5, La Harpe tp. Previously he had spied out the land and found it a goodly one in comparison with what he saw in the East. Prior to 1837 he walked the entire distance from Zanes- ville, O., to this county three times! On his new land in the West he first broke about SO acres and sowed it in wheat, in 1836, and in the spring of 1837 he moved his family to this county. He built a flat-boat on the Ohio above Zanesville, placed his family and goods upon it, and with five other families he started West in that primi- tive style; at Cincinnati he sold the boat and transferred all to a steamboat bound for St. Louis; remaining at the latter place four or five days the boat came on with them to Warsaw where they landed in April, 1837, after having been a month on the way. Thence they came by team to within three miles of La Harpe,
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where he had rented a house; here he lived about one year, build- ing a house on his own place, into which he moved in the spring of 1838.
Sept. 17, 1832, he married Jane Van Horn, and in 1842 she died, leaving 5 children, 2 only of whom are now living, Elizabeth and Robert. May 17, 1844, Mr. G. again married, this time Mrs. Dogue, nee Susannah Thompson, daughter of John and Libbie Thompson, natives of Maryland. Mrs. G. was born in Stokes county, N. C. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson both died in Fountain Green, this county, where they had settled in 1837. James Git- tings has since added to his possessions so that he now has 2,700 · acres, all connected in one piece, in Illinois, and besides he has 740 acres in Missouri. He commenced life with nothing, working for only $6 a month, but through perseverance, energy, honesty and frugality he has amassed this large estate.
Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. In politics he has always been a strong supporter of human liberty, and is now a Republican. By his last wife the 2 children are Clarence R. and Mary Jane. The latter is now Mrs. Castle, and lives in La Harpe. We present in this volume, on page 369, a portrait of Mr. Gittings, from a photograph taken at the age of 72.
B. J. Headon, farmer, sec. 36; P. O., La Harpe; was born in Morgan county, Ill., in 1841. His parents, Thomas S. and Mar- garet Moore, came to this State at an early time and settled in Morgan county, where she died. He survives, in the 78th year of his age. The subject of this sketch was married in 1866 to Miss Maria C. Coultas, a native of this county, and they are the parents of 5 children living-William, Mary, George, Jennie and Rosa. The two deceased are Joseph and Demont. Mr. H. came to this county in 1868, and settled on his first estate of 200 acres in this tp. and 87 in Fountain Green. He is a School Director and member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat.
J. H. Hungate, banker, La Harpe, of the firm of Hungate & Ward, is a son of Adonijah and Eliza (Ward) Hungate, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to this county in 1833 and settled in Fountain Green tp., where the subject of this sketch was born in 1838. The following year his parents moved to McDonough county, and engaged in farming. When 17 years of age Mr. H. took a course of studies in the schools of Knox county, and entered the law college at the Chicago University, at which institution he graduated in 1862, and began the practice of his profession with Judge Bailey at Macomb. In 1864 he was elected Circuit Clerk of McDonough county, and filled that position four years. In 1869 he moved to St. Louis, where he resided until 1874, and then took a trip to the East. The same year he formed the present partner- ship, and succeeded T. Gill in the banking business, which has since been successfully carried on. He made a strong race for State Sen- ator on the Democratic ticket, and was again defeated after his nomination to Congress in 1876. He was married in 1878 to Miss
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Florence E., daughter of James W. Mathews, a prominent man of Macomb-a neice of Dr. Mathews, of Monmouth, and descendant of the Stanley Mathews family of Virginia. They are the parents of one son, Wheaton Ward. The firm of Hungate & Ward is one of the most successful and solid institutions of La Harpe. Opening their business in adverse times, they have distinguished themselves and been crowned with success. Mr. H. is a Democrat.
John N. Hurdle .-- The ancestors of this gentleman were Scotch, the first of whom we have any account being John Hurdle, a native of Maryland, near Baltimore, where he lived many years. He after- ward moved to Muskingum county, O., where he followed farming. He died in this county in 1843, aged 75 years, leaving 3 sons and one daughter. He was an Abolitionist, and in his voting precinct in Ohio there were but three others who voted with him. His son, William V., who was the father of John N., was next to the youngest child, and was born in Virginia and brought up on his father's farm, but on attaining manhood he studied medicine, which he practiced 15 or 20 years in Ohio. About 1826 he married Miss Mary Kinney, a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., a daughter of William and Margaret ( Mahan) Kinney, both natives of Pennsyl- vania, who afterward moved to Ohio, where Mr. William V. married. In 1853 they, with 7 children, moved to Illinois, and bought, in company with his son, John N., 320 acres of land, being secs. 5 and S, La Harpe tp. In 1861 he moved to Henderson county, where he died in August, 1863. His widow now lives with her son, John N.
John N. Hurdle was born Feb. 15, 1831, in Muskingum county, O. His education was chiefly confined to the public schools of his native State, mostly in winter. At 18 he put in crops on rented land, at times when he was not needed on his father's place; this was on shares, and in this way he had accumulated some $600 by the time he was 23 years old. Dec. 15, 1853, he married Mary Wolf and immediately moved to Illinois, with a two-horse team, in 26 days, and located in Henderson county, where he bought a one- fourth sec. for $1,900, going in debt $1,500. This debt he paid in just three years, and then he sold out for $4,600. In February, 1857, with his father, he bonght a one-half sec. in La Harpe, 320 acres for $7,875. In 1861 Mr. H. bought out his father, giving a mortgage on the same for nearly $4,000. These times, from 1857 to 1864, were pretty hard, and he offered 6,000 bushels of corn for 10 cents a bushel, to pay the interest on the mortgage, which was not accepted; the mortgagee sued for his interest, but finally com- promised, and Mr. H. was to pay the same in June following, and by that time he had sold his corn for 70 cents a bushel.
April 9, 1860. Mrs. Hurdle died, leaving 2 children; namely, Edgar F., who was born July 13. 1856, and Emma F., born August 18, 1858. Laura J., who was born August 7, 1855, died November 23, following. May 28, 1861, Mr. Hurdle again married, this time Miss Elmira A. Barr, a native of Breckenridge county, Kentucky,
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and daughter of Elias and Sallie A. (Beanchamp) Barr, both natives of that State. They came to this county in 1857, settling on sec. 1, Rock Creek tp. Mrs. II.'s grandfather, Adam Barr, was a native of Maryland, served in the Revolutionary war under Washington, and died in Kentucky. Elias Barr was a Democrat, served as assessor. etc., and died in Rock Creek tp., July 18, 1874, leaving 5 sons and 6 daughters, Mrs. Hurdle being next to the eldest. The widow, who with her children were left in good circumstances, is still living on the old homestead. Mr. Barr was a high-minded and honorable man.
Since his coming to this county Mr. Hurdle has added to his possessions so that he now has 905 acres of land in the home farm. His large residence 18 by 40, with L 32 by 18, was built in 1872. and is one of the finest farm houses in the county; it cost $6,000 besides time and labor. In 186S he also built a large frame barn, at a cost of $4,000, size 40 by 60 feet, the carpenter work alone amounting to $900.
Mr. Hurdle's children: Lula B., born March 19, 1862; Sarah Olive. July 19, 1863; Maggie C., October 2, 1855: Carrie A., June 14. 1868; Willie Elias, January 24, 1870; Dora K., February 20, 1872; Henry A., March 5, 1876; and John Franklin, November 21, 1877; all living,
In 1873-'4 Mr. H. met with some reverses of fortune, by endeavor- ing to assist and accommodate others, indorsing notes, etc., to the extent of nearly $20,000, all of which he had to meet, as his friends failed to come to time; but he is fast recovering from the loss. He is one of the most substantial and enterprising farmers and citizens of the county; has strong religions convictions, and has been a member of the Church ever since he was eighteen years of age; has always observed with strictness the rigid habits of temperance. honesty and integrity, and has ever been a high-minded, honorable Christian gentleman. He joined the Washingtonian Temperance Society when he was seven years of age, and has ever since adhered strictly to his pledge. He and four of his children are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and his life, according to the uniform testimony of the neighbors, has ever been an exemplary one. In politics he is a Republican. We give a portrait of Mr. Hurdle in this volume, which may be found on page $93.
Henry Hyatt, grain dealer, La Harpe, was born in Yates county, N. Y., in 1825. His parents, Thomas and Hannah (Finch) Hyatt, were natives of New York, and remained there until 1855, at which time they came to Hancock county and located in this tp., where he resided until his death. The esteemed widow survives in the 76th year of her age. The subject of this sketch came to the city in 1849, and engaged in the drug business. In 1859 he disposed of his stock and entered the grain trade. He purchased the ele- vator located near the depot, and makes large shipments of grain to St. Louis and other points, where he is connected. The average amount of grain handled at this elevator is 100,000 bushels of
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wheat, 30,000 to 40,000 of oats and 20,000 to 30,000 of rye. Mr. H. was married in 1852, to Miss Fredonia Duncan, a native of Illinois, who died in June, 1866, leaving one child, George W. Mr. Hyatt was again married in May, 1867, to Miss Josephine Lane, a native of Illinois. One daughter, Anna M., has been born to them. Mr. H. has served as Mayor of the city, and has been otherwise identified with the interests of the city and tp.
Andrew Jackson James .- The ancestors of this gentleman on his father's side were of Welsh descent, and settled in Maryland probably 60 years before the Revolutionary war. The first we learn of the family by this name was Evan James, who lived at Westport, now Tolona, Maryland. His wife was a Miss Firman. He was a farmer by occupation. and died at the place mentioned, leaving a widow and a large family of children. She afterward moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, where she died at the age of S1 years. One of her sons, Evan, Jr., was born in Maryland in 1792, and married about 1812, Miss Lydia Wolf, in the same State; soon afterward he moved with his family to Muskingum county, O., where he followed farming, lumbering, etc .; afterward, in 1854, he moved to Edgar county, Ill., where his wife died; he married again, in that county, and subsequently moved to this county and lived with his son, the subject of this sketch; he died in 1869.
A. J. James, our subject, was born Sept. 15, 1815, at West Zanesville, Muskingum county, O., where he passed his early years at farming, logging and lumbering; at the age of 21 his father gave him a colt, saddle and bridle; this is all he had to start with, and all he ever had given him. The first year, he worked a piece of land on shares; the next year, in partnership with his brother, he went into the logging and lumbering business, but was not success- ful; the debts they contracted required the next two years of their time to pay up; they then followed farming six years, on rented land; then they dissolved partnership and A. J. continued on the same land six years longer, paying 20 bushels of corn per acre for rent, and hauling the grain two or three miles to a still-house; at the end of this six years he had accumulated money enough to buy 240 acres of land; on this farm he lived two years; he then sold out at $15 perfacre and moved with his family to this tp., locating on sec. 17, Oct. 22, 1852, where he bought 500 acres of land at $10 an acre; since that time he has added to his possessions in this county so that it now amounts to 1,311 acres, besides having 495 in Iowa. The improvements on the home farm on sec. 7 are among the finest in the county; the home farm consists of 640 acres; the dwelling is a large two-story brick, and the fine, large frame barn is built in the gothic style; they were built in 1868-'70, at a cost of about $20,000, including all out-buildings, door-yard fences, ice-houses, etc.
Mr. James was married in Coshocton county, O., Oct. 31, 1838, to Miss Sidney Pigman, a native of that county and a daughter of John and Jane (Thompson) Pigman, natives of Hampshire county,
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Va., who came to this county in 1858 and lived on Mr. A. J. James' farm, where they died. Mr. P. in 1867, aged $1 years, and Mrs. P. in March, ISTS. Mr. Pigman was very widely and favor- ably known in Ohio, where he spent the most of his life, in Coshoe. ton county. In that place he served 20 years as Justice of the Peace, besides holding various other offices of trust and honor. He was in the war of 1812, was a flag-bearer at the battle of Tippe- canoe, and was present the time Tecumseh was killed, being the second man to discover the fact. He always claimed that it was a man named Wheatty that killed Tecumseh, instead of Gen. John- son, who had the credit of it.
Mr. James' children: Lydia J., deceased, was born Oet. 14. 1839: John P. was born Ang 25. 1841; Evan. Nov. 4. 1548; Francis M. April 11, 1846: Josephine, deceased, was born Dec. 15. 1848: Mary E., Nov. 6. 1851: Roxana, deceased, was born March ". 1844: Salina. Sept. S. 1856: Sidney, deceased, born Nov. 14 1858: Henrietta, Dec. 21. 1$60; and Andrew J., Jr .. Oet. 25. 1564. The tive eldest were born in Muskingum county. O.
Mr. James is a Republican in politics, and has been Supervisor and in various other official positions. His portrait will be found on page 459.
F. M. James, farmer. sec. 38: P. O., La Harpe: was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in .1546: is a son of Andrew J. and Sidney (Pigman) James, natives of Ohio, who came to this county in 1852 and are among the living pioneers of the county. The subject of this sketch was married in 1871 to Miss Frances A. Vincent, a native of this tp. Charles O. is their only child. Mr. J. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Methodist Church. The farm upon which he now resides consists of 1633 aeres of val- uable and productive land. Politically Mr. J. endorses Republi- can administration.
George Kirkpatrick. M. D., was born in Allegheny county, Pa .. in 1813. His father. William Kirkpatrick, was a native of Scotland. who emigrated to the United States at an early time and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Jane Jamison, a native of the same State: both are deceased. The subject of this sketch was edneated for his profession at Cincinnati. O. He studied medicine with his preceptor. Dr. J. H. Ogden, of Harrison county. W. Va .. and attended lectures at the medical college of Cincinnati, at which he graduated with honor. Subsequently he entered the drug busi- ness in West Virginia, in which he was successful. In 1854 he moved to Henry county, Iowa, near Mt. Pleasant, and for two years followed the practice of his profession. He then moved to this city and has since been in constant practice. He was married in 1836 to Miss Maria Tretwell, a native of England and daugh- ter of Thomas R. Tretwell. of Mercer county, deceased. They are the parents of 6 children. all living: Jane. Elizabeth, Amanda. William. Robert and Ida. Dr. K. has a very large, yet uniform,
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practice, and is widely known and esteemed. Hle is a member of the Masonic order and of the Methodist Church.
Hezekiah Lincoln, retired farmer, a son of Abraham Lincoln; a cousin of the honored President of the United States. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Mudd. His parents came to this county in 1829 and settled in Fountain Green tp. They were among the earliest pioneers of the county, and the farm is to this day known as the " Lincoln farm," and consists of 220 acres of land, which he entered. He was the first Justice of the Peace for 20 years. She died in Sept., 1851. Abraham died in JJan., 1852. The subject of this sketch was born in Hardin county, Ky., in 1829. He was married in 1867 to Miss Phobe Brewer, a native of New York State. In 1863 he engaged in the dry-goods business at Dallas City, in company with Philip Knowles, to whom he sold his interest, and formed a partnership with W. Block in the mer- cantile business at Fountain Green. The firm came to this city in the fall of 1865, and the following year he purchased Mr. Block's interest and carried on the business alone until he sold and retired from all active pursuits to the enjoyment of his industry. He once served as Collector of Fountain Green tp. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is one of the oldest pioneers and business men of the county. Politically he is a Republican.
James Mayer, dealer in agricultural implements, La Harpe, was born on the Mississippi river April 10, 1842. His parents, John and Eliza Bickerstaff, were natives of Preston, England, and em- barked on a sailing vessel for the United States in 1842. They landed at Nanvoo, and shortly after came to La Harpe. He was a blacksmith and worked studiously at his trade until his death in 1874. The wife and mother survives in the 58th year of her age. The subject of this sketch followed the profession of his father until 1876, when he entered the mercantile business, and has since been actively engaged. He has served as City Marshal, Police Magistrate, Supervisor, and is a member of the present School Board, etc. He opened his present business in 1880, and is en- gaged in fire insurance. Among his companies are the Hartford, of Hartford, Conn .; North American, of Philadelphia, Phoenix, of Brooklyn: American and German, of Peoria. He was married in 1863 to Miss Laura Everson, a native of Ohio. Their children are Irving and one not yet christenel.
Deacon L. C. Maynard .- The ancestors of the Maynard family are of Scotch descent, and were among the very early pioneers who settled in America. Tradition says that two brothers Maynard were the founders of the family in America, of which L. C., the subject of this notice, is a descendant. They settled in Massachu- setts and raised families. Captain Gardner Maynard, who prob- ably served in the Revolutionary war, was a farmer in the town of Phillipston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, where he died. His son Calvin was the father of L. C., a resident of the same place, and
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died when the latter was sixteen years old. His widow, nee Lucy Piper, was left with a family of + children.
The subject of this sketch was born March 7, 1806. passed his early youth on his father's farm and received a good common-school education: at sixteen he attended Amherst Academy three months: taught school every winter until he was twenty-eight years of age, attending to farm work in the summer. At the age of sixteen. when his father died, he went to live with Doctor Stone, with the understanding that he could teach winters, the money he should receive for which he was to keep: and the doctor was also to clothe him and furnish his medical services free and give him 870 on his 21st birthday. This programme was faithfully carried out, and Mr. M. found himself at that age with about $300 on hand. most of which he had earned at teaching. April 6, 1835. he married Miss Adeline Ward, daughter of Nahum Ward, of Phillipston, Massa- chusetts. and of Irish descent. Artemas Ward, the great-grand- father of Mrs. Maynard. was a General under Washington in the Revolutionary war. Previous to his marriage, in 1831. Mr. L. C. Maynard and his brother, Jeffrey Amherst Maynard. came to Illi- nois on a prospecting tour, hunting a good place for a home, and they selected a half section near Canton, Illinois, and bought a tax title on a half section of timber land near the same place: they afterward secured a clear title to both pieces of land. L. C. returned to Massachusetts in the fall well pleased with the country: accord- ingly, immediately after his marriage he started West with his wife. mother and youngest brother, going by stage to Albany. N. Y., by railroad to Schenectady, by canal to Buffalo, by steamboat to Cleveland, Ohio. where he visited friends: thence they were taken by an uncle with a team to Morgan county, thence by team to Marietta. Ohio, then by steamboat to St. Louis, Missouri, then by steamboat to Havana, Illinois, and finally by a private team to Canton, Illinois: the trip consuming six weeks of time: but in a month or two Mr. Maynard removed to La Harpe. having brought with him a general stock of goods, and started the first store in this place. Continuing this establishment until 1838. he sold out and purchased an unimproved farm, the N. W. ¿ of sec. 27. La Harpe tp .. which place he thoroughly improved with build- ings. hedge fence. etc. During the hard times of 1833. Mr. M. was broken up in trade, and he went upon his farm. which he mortgaged and came near losing: but he finally paid for it: in 1854 he sold it and bought another on the N. W. { of sec. 26. same tp., where he now resides. Here he has put up a fine residence. barn and other buildings; has improved it and added to it so that it now comprises 265 acres.
Mr. Maynard is not only one of the early pioneers who has by his energy and labor made this country what it is, socially, morally and financially, but he is honored and respected by every one for his strict honesty, and his enterprise in things pertaining to the benefit of his fellow men, for all of which his purse and heart were
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ever open. He was an abolitionist before the war; his house was known among the officers of the under-ground railroad as a station, and many black men. no doubt. to-day remember with grateful hearts and memories the helping hand to freedom that was extended to them from this station. Mr. M. is now a Republican, and has filled various local offices in his tp .: he has been a member of the Congregational Church since his sixteenth year, and Mrs. M. has also been a member from her youth. They have a family of'S children: 4 of whom are living: namely. Lucy S., born May 22. 1837: Louis P., July 2. 1839: Nahum W., March 28, 1841. died September 11, 1842: James S., September 16, 1843. died November 2. 1846: Calvin H., May 7, 1846, died November 6. 1876; James W., Sep- tember 19, 1848; Pliny A., March 16, 1851; and Joseph C., May 27. 1854. died October 20. 1863. James and Pliny are married and live on the homestead: Lucy S. lives with her parents, and Louis P. lives in Henderson county, ten miles from the homestead.
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