USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 88
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David S. Lionberger was born in Licking county, O., August 2, 1827, and emigrated to this State in 1838, locating in Dallas tp., this county, where he remained a short time, and then moved to Adams county, where he lived until 1851, when he returned to this county and located on sec. 13, this tp., where he has since resided. Mr. Lionberger has been engaged in farming nearly all his life, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the county. He was married to Miss Mary Brown, of Pike county, Ill., in 1851. He has repre- sented Dallas tp. in the Board of Supervisors three years, and has held other offices of trust in the tp. He is a member of the Ma- sonic Lodge in Dallas City, and is one of the leading men in the township.
John M. Lionberger was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1835, and came to this county with his parents in 1839 and located in Pilot Grove township, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Adams county, and settled in Payson township. In 1851 he returned to this county and located in Pontoosuc township, and followed farming for several years, and then went into the nursery business with J. R. Tull, which he continued until 1870, when he entered partnership with his brother and they engaged in the nurs- ery business in Dallas township. He was married to Miss Margaret J. Tull, daughter of J. R. Tull, in October, 1861, and his
941
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
wife died March 7, 1865. In the fall of 1862, he, in partnership with his brother, went out with the 118th Reg. Ill. Vol .. as sutler, and remained with the regiment until it returned and was mustered out. In the fall of 1866 he went to Quiney and studied dentistry. and after the completion of his course of studies he located in Dallas City. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Council. He is also a member of the order of "Knights of Pythias."
Dr. Lionberger has on sec. 12, this tp., one of the finest fruit farms in the county, having over 1,000 fruit-trees. He has also fitted up and put in excellent order a fine driving park, known as the " Lionberger Driving Park." The Doctor is the only dentist in Dallas City, and has a large and lucrative business. He is one of the prominent men of the city, and has many friends through- out the county.
Benoni Mendenhall, the youngest son of Jacob Mendenhall. is of Qnaker origin, and was born Nov. 6, 1827, on Highland creek, county of Washington, Ind .; removed with his parents in 1830 to Tazewell county, this State, near Pekin. In 1833 they again re- moved to Warren county, this State, opposite Flint Hills, near Burlington, Ia .; again removed to Camp Creek, this county, in 1836. Having obtained his majority, Benoni assisted his father on the farm, and agreeably to an old custom, received the old home- stead as a remuneration for taking care of his parents in their old age. In 1845-'6 he was a volunteer under Thos. Carlin, to assist in expelling the Mormons from the county. In 1852 he, in com- pany with 20 others, crossed the plains to the gold fields of the Pacific coast. In 1854 he returned to the old homestead and was united in marriage with Miss Margaret L. Phillips, March 30, 1854. In December, 1856, he removed to Dallas City and engaged in the mercantile business with his cousin, P. C. Mendenhall, which vocation he has followed, with a few short intermissions, ever since. In 1861, being then Captain of an independent mili- tary company, he immediately offered his company to the Govern- nent for active service. On account of an aged invalid mother, he resigned his command and waited until her death, when, under the call for 600,000 volunteers, he enlisted as a private in Capt. Allen's company (Co. H, 78th Ill. Vol. ), serving two years and six months, when he was honorably discharged at Camp Butler by reason of the Surgeon's certificate of disability. Jan. 1, 1866, he was ap- pointed Postmaster at Dallas City, which position he held for 11 years, then resigned. He has filled several offices of trust, and is now a merchant.
The portrait of Mr. B. Mendenhall is found on page 935. It is engraved from a photograph taken at the age of 46.
John Mendenhall came from England about 1685, with one brother and one sister. He was cotemporary with Wm. Penn in settling Pennsylvania. John married Elizabeth Maris, 5th month, 1685; she dying, he again married Esther Dix, Sth month, 1708
942
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
By his last wife he had 3 sons and 4 daughters: Mordecai, the eldest, married Charity Mills, and removed to New Garden, N. C., (now Springfield), and had & sons and one daughter. Their names were John, Mordecai, Moses, Thomas, Stephen, Isaac, Aaron, Charity and Richard. Isaac, the seventh son, married Rachel Hoggatt and had S children; viz., Ruth, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, Zadok, Mordecai, John and Miles. Jacob removed, when a yonng man, to Washington county, Ind., then an Indian territory, and married Rachel Lamb, and they had 3 sons and 2 daughters; viz., Zadok. Milo, Madison, Mary and Ruth. His first wife dying, he married Nancy Hoggatt, and had 3 sons and one daughter; viz., Owen, Nathan, Rachel and Benoni. The first are all dead; of the last only 3 are living,-Owen, Nathan and Benoni, of Dallas City.
Jacob Mendenhall was born Oct. 10, 1784, in Guilford county, N. C. Living with his parents until he attained his majority, he was importuned by his father to remain at the old homestead, but he had a yearning desire to try the new country then known as the Northwestern Territory. So he bade adien to home and the old red hills of North Carolina, mounted his nag and made his way through the States of Tennessee and Kentucky; crossing the Ohio at Louis- ville (then a small village) and landing at a point where New Albany now stands, he struck out through the back woods, intend- ing to halt at Salem, Ind. There he went to work clearing up the beech forests, fencing a patch and building a cabin. Obeying the divine injunction, Jacob Mendenhall was united in marriage to Rachel Lamb, in the 27th' year of his age, in January, 1810, by whom he had 5 children. Fortune smiled on his efforts, and after six years of toil, he engaged in the mercantile business, which proved very disastrous, and wound up by the Sheriff levying on and selling everything in his possession (there were no exemption laws then), even to the knives and forks of the dining table.
Misfortunes never come single; his faithful wife sickened and died; still he bore up, kept his family of small children together; was united again in marriage to Nancy Hoggatt, in 1818, by whom he had 4 children. Again misfortune frowned on him. Although considered the stoutest man in Washington county-being six feet two inches in his stocking feet-yet by exposure and hard- ships he was attacked by inflammatory rheumatism, which com- pletely prostrated him for six months.
Recovering, he resolved once more to try the West, and with his family sought the wilderness prairies of Illinois. Arriving at Pekin, on the Illinois river, he was advised to go no further, as " old Black Hawk" was about to levy war on the whites. Here the oldest son, Zadok, enlisted under Capt. Adams, and was killed at the defeat of Maj. Stillman, on Rock river. Remaining at Pekin until the war was over, he again faced westward, and settled eight miles east of Burlington, which then contained only a few log huts; was the first man that located the mill-seat and town of Warren now in Henderson county. Finally settling in Hancock county'
943
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
he selected two quarter-sections in township seven north, six west, on Camp ereek; he paid the entry fee and secured the United States patent. Here he found a resting place, and commenced permanent improvements, in 1834. Putting up a large double cabin, and fencing in a small patch of ground, he returned to Warren county (now Henderson) to winter. In the spring of 1835 he brought his family with him, and went to work improving his new farm on a larger scale. The nearest neighbor was then eight or ten miles. Deer, wolves, and other wild game, were in abundance. Prairie chickens were trapped in the door-yard; deer were frequently killed in the small fields close to the house. For several years after settling on the Camp creek farm, the wolves were very trouble- some, and made nightly raids on the pig-pens and sheep-folds. But a plan of trapping soon developed, and the old gray wolves were made to succumb to the cunning of man. For a term of eight years or more Jacob Mendenhall carried on an exterminating war- fare against the wolves.
Jacob Mendenhall was noted for his kind and liberal heart and square dealing. On his first settling in the county of Warren, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, and many were the angry dis- putes he was called on to settle between neighbors. Being reared in the staid old Quaker school, he was noted for his urbanity and just decisions. When removed to Hancock, he was again and again called on to fill the office of Esquire. His house was ever open to the poor and needy; the stranger and emigrant seeking a home in the West, found a resting place under his roof. When the Mor- mons were driven out of Missouri, and settled at Commerce, they would go out through the county begging for the necessaries of life: they never went away from the door of Jacob Mendenhall without being supplied and getting employment, if desired. This kindness was ill repaid by them when they were ordered out of the county, as they took a horse, saddle and bridle from him, and killed one of his best cows. This was so aggravating, that, Quaker as he was, he freely consented to driving them out of the county.
Prosperity crowned his latter days, and wealth finally came to him in the shape of a large farm, with a good brick dwelling, large barn, and other substantial improvements. But age was coming on, and the days of his pilgrimage were drawing to a close. Arranging his earthly affairs, like a true man, he prepared to pass over the river, which he did on the 31st of January, 1857, in the 72d year of his age. He survived all his children but 3, who are still living; 2 near the old homestead, and one in Missouri.
Dr. Benj. F. Newlon was born in Louisville, Ky., July 27, 1833, and emigrated with his parents, in infancy, to Edgar county, Ill., who settled near Paris, where he was raised. He was educated at the Edgar County Academy; he received his medical education at Peoria, Ill., under Dr. Shubal York. Dr. Newlon first came to Hancock county in 1845, and in 1847 located at Dallas City, and commenced the practice of medicine in partnership with his elder
944
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
brother, Dr. John F. Newlon, which partnership continued for five years. His brother then moving to Kansas, he continued the practice alone. He had a large and lucrative practice until 1862, when his health failed him, and he had to give up active business for a time. He then formed a partnership with a younger brother, Dr. Wm. L. Newlon, who relieved him of the laborious part of the business; this partnership lasted for five years. Dr. Newlon has practiced in his present location over 30 years, and has perhaps given more medicine in that time than any one physician in the county. He has given medicine to 84 persons in one day of 24 hours. In early times it was more sickly than of late years, and there were fewer physicians. There is a family now living in this vicinity who were all sick at one time, that Dr. Newlon visited, and before he left the house, issued 77 doses of medicine. Dr. Newlon has. been identified with all the enterprises of this city; was present when the town was first surveyed and laid off. He wrote the charter of the city, and was sent with Col. Rollosson, in 1859, by the people, to Springfield, to lobby it through the Legislature, and was suc- cessful. He penned the present ordinances of the city, that were adopted when the city was first chartered. He was the first Mayor of the city, which office he held two years. He has held the office of Supervisor five terms.
Dr. Newlon was the founder of Dallas City Lodge No. 235, A. F. & A. Masons; was its first W. M., and is now and has been for many years in that position ; was one of the charter members of Dallas Chapter No. 111, and was its High Priest. He has also been Dis- trict Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Illi- nois. He has represented his Lodge and Chapter in their grand bodies very frequently, and is regarded by those who know as " bright" in Masonic lore. He has also been a close student, not only in science, but in the literature of the day. He at one time edited the Dallas City Democrat, frequently corresponded with the publications of the country, and his nom de plume, " Don Osso," is well known and appreciated by the reading public.
Dr. Newlon was married three times, first to Mary Walker, daughter of William Walker, an old citizen of this place. She died in less than a year. His second wife was Almira A. Richards. She died, leaving 3 girls and one boy. His third and present wife was Kate Gassaway. daughter of Jas. Gassaway, of this place, by whom he has 2 children, a son and a daughter. Dr. Newlon studied law in his youth, and was admitted by the Supreme Court of this State, but never practiced. He is a life-long Democrat, was a staunch Union man during the war, and is liberal in his religious views, and has many friends wherever known. He is one of the three surviv- ing first settlers of Dallas City.
Hon. W. H. Rollosson was born in Williamsburg, Va., Jan. 8, 1816. He received a classical education at William and Mary Col- lege, Virginia. In 1840 he emigrated to the West, and settled in Nauvoo, Ill., where he engaged in mercantile business until June,
945
HISTORY OF HANCOOK COUNTY.
1844, when, owing to the trouble with the Mormons, he moved his goods to Appanoose, where they were stored for a short time; and in the fall of 1844 he commeneed business in Pontoosue, having branch stores in Appanoose and La Harpe. In 1846 he came to Dallas City and built a large warehouse and store-room, and began business, being largely engaged in the grain trade and packing, and in the fall of 1847 he built a large flouring-mill and distillery. He was one of the founders of the city of Dallas ; he platted and laid out the original site of the town; drew its charter and secured its adoption by the State Legislature. He was mar- ried in 1855 to Miss Marietta Bostwick, of Fort Madi- son, Iowa. Mr. Rollosson continued in business in Dallas City until his death, Oct. 9, 1864, leaving a widow and three sons, and a large circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his early loss. He was a strong adherent to the Democratic party. In 1861 he received the nomination of his party, and was elected a Representative in the Illinois Legislature. In 1858 he was appointed by Gov. Bissell Inspector General of the State troops, with the rank of Colonel. During his residence in this county he was actively engaged in business pursuits, with the varying fortunes incident to commer- cial life, but has ever maintained his character for honor and integ- rity, and has done much to advance the material prosperity and develop the resources of the country. Col. Rollosson was no ordinary man-a perfect gentleman in his manners; a ripe scholar; a states- man; noble, generous and brave; none knew him but to admire him. Possessed of all the attributes calculated to adorn society, alleviate want, he failed not to make a proper use of them. Whilst living he was an honor to his family, the pride of his friends, the benefactor of his race.
O. H. Russell, the second child of Jonas Galusa Russell, was born near Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1840. In 1848 he moved with his parents to Pioneer, Ohio, where he resided until he was 16 years old, when he entered Hillsdale College, Mich., where he re- mained between three and four years; he then went to Ohio and taught school for about 18 months, and returned to Pioneer in June, 1861, and read medicine with Dr. J. G. Gordon ; in the fall of the same year he attended medical lectures at the University of Michigan, where he remained and pursued his medical studies for two years. He was married to Miss Rosalia Morrison, of Ann Ar- bor, Feb. 17, 1872, and now has one son, James G. In 1863 hie lo- cated at Amboy, Mich., and commenced the practice of medicine, where he remained a little over a year. In the spring of 1865 he came to this State and taught school in Fulton county, and after traveling through Missouri and Iowa, not being pleased with the country, concluded to return to New York. At Toledo he met a friend who induced him to return to Illinois; he came to Henry county, and located near Cambridge. During the spring of 1865 · his father moved to Missouri ; in the fall he visited his father, and on his return he stopped at Keokuk, and attended medical lectures
54
946
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
at the University of Iowa; then located there, where he remained until he graduated in 1866. He then settled in Freedom, this State, where he practiced medicine for two years; he then moved to Gilman, where he remained one year. In the spring of 1869 he was again married, to Mrs. Julia L. Gilman, of Galesburg, Ill., and moved to Northern Missouri, where he lived about a year. He then returned to Illinois, and in 1872 located at Dallas City, where he has since resided and followed his profession, having a large and lucrative practice.
Hon. William Scott is a native of Indiana, having been born in Pennsylvania county, Dec. 26, 1827. He was married June 28, 1849, to Miss Caroline Dickey, and came to this county, locating in Fountain Green tp., where he resided three years; then moved to Durham tp., where his wife and one child died, Nov. 3, 1860, leaving him with six children. Dec. 31, 1861, he married Miss La- vina Dickey, of this county. Until 1861 Mr. Scott was engaged in farming and teaching. In the fall of 1861 he was elected County Su- perintendent of Schools, and in the spring of 1862 he removed to Carthage and attended to the duties of his office. In the fall of 1862 he was the unanimous choice of his party for re-election to the office he then held, but failed to be elected by about 27 votes. In the fall of 1863 he returned to Durham tp., and resumed his former oc- cupation. He moved to Henderson county in March, 1868, and same year was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he has held ever since. He was elected Representative to the State Legislature in 1872 from the 24th Senatorial district, and served through two sessions of the General Assembly. In 1876 he was elected State Senator from this district, which office he now holds, and has served through the 30th and 31st General Assemblies. In April, 1877, he bought the Central Hotel in Dallas City, which he repaired and refurnished, and opened to the public. His wife died October 6, 1877, leaving him with the care of seven small children. He was elected Mayor of Dallas in 1878, and re-elected in 1879. He has also held other offices of importance in the county and city. Mr. Scott is a self-made inan, and one of the prominent men of this Sen- atorial district, and is possessed of many social qualities that endear him to his many friends and acquaintances.
Mark Tandy was born in Burton tp., Adams county, in April, 1848. He remained in Adams county until 1872, working part of the time on a farm, and part of the time was a clerk in the city of Quincy. He then came to Dallas City and engaged in the mer- cantile business, in which he has continued ever since. In 1869 he was married to Miss Laura Tibbets, of Payson, Ill. In July, 1877, he was appointed Postmaster at Dallas City, which office he now holds. His father, William H. Tandy, was Sheriff of Adams county for several terms, and during the Mormon troubles in this county, was called on to assist in expelling them. He was one of the first settlers of Adams county, going there from Kentucky in 1832. He has one of the finest geological collections in this county.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
In business he has a large. and lucrative trade, and is one of the leading business men of this city.
Edward H. Thomas, editor and proprietor of the Dallas City News, was born at Pittsburg, Louisa county, Iowa, Sept. 14, 1841. Commencing in 1853, he served an apprenticeship of four years at the printing business in the office of the Wapello (Iowa) Intelli- gencer. He worked at printing up to the commencement of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the 19th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Since the war he has been connected with the following papers, as publisher and part owner: Wapello (Iowa) Republican, Keithsburg (Ill.) Kerana, Nanvoo (Ill.) İnde- pendent, and Burlington (Iowa) Monday Morning News. Mr. Thomas issued the first number of the Dallas City News April 6, 1878. Owing to the many failures in the newspaper business in the place, he had many difficulties to contend with in the establish- ment of a new paper, but his experience of over 20 years in the business, and a determination to succeed, enabled him to overcome all obstacles and gain the confidence of the people; and the News is now in a prosperous condition, receiving a large advertising patronage from the merchants of Dallas City, Fort Madison and Burlington.
Henry Walker .- This gentleman is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in 1808. He lived in Ohio 42 years; he worked nine years at the carpenter trade, then engaged in farming until 1850, when he emigrated to this State and settled in Pontoosuc, where he now resides. He embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he followed until 1860, when he sold out and again engaged in agri- culture, and is now one of the best farmers on the Mississippi bottom. He was Postmaster at Pontoosuc for nine years, and has represented his township on the Board of Supervisors several years. He was married Oct. 13, 1835, to Miss Margaret Agnew, of Ohio. They have 5 children now living. Mr. Walker has given consider- able attention to political affairs, and is considered a leader of his party in this township. He is a staunch Democrat.
Jesse Wimp was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in the year 1803. He moved with his parents to Kentucky in 1813, and came and settled in Dallas township in 1830. He was married in 1826 to Miss Elizabeth Simmons, and they have had eight children. His entire life was spent in agricultural pursuits, and by his careful management and industry he acquired a large property. He took an active part in the Mormon war, and captured and held until after the troubles were settled, a brother of the prophet Brigham Young. He was a member of Capt. Logan's famous company of " Bloody Pontoosucans." Mr. Wimp was one of the first settlers of Dallas tp. He died April 24, 1875, leaving a large circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his loss.
His youngest son, Jesse Wimp, who is now living on the old homestead, was born in 1840 in this township, where he has always resided. He was married in 1868 to Miss Susan Nolan, of this
-
948
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
county. They have 4 children. He is one of the leading farmers of the county, having a fine prairie farm of 350 acres. He is also an extensive dealer in stock.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
SUPERVISORS.
.
John M. Finch.
1861
B. F. Johnson. . 1868
John Gibbs.
1862
David S. Lionberger.
1873
Benjamin Lionberger.
1863
B. F. Newlon ..
1876
John M. Finch.
1867
J. F. Dietrich.
.1880
CLERKS.
Jonathan Rice.
1861
D. E. Johnson. . 1872
S. Gates. .
1863
John C. Hupfer.
1874
H. C. Johnson ..
1864
Lawson S. Bliss.
.1876
Walter B. Loring.
1869
Wm. A. Felthausen
1877-1880
H. C. Johnson. .
1870
ASSESSORS.
John Gibbs.
1861
Henry Howard. 1869
Benoni Mendenhall.
1862
William V. Banks 1870
William Jolly
1864
J. C. Hupfer.
1875
Theo. Rhea ...
.1866
John H. Rauck.
1877
William V. Banks.
1867
Thomas L. Dixon.
1879-1880
COLLECTORS.
Owen Mendenhall
1861
Thomas Shaw .. 1873
Henry Howard ..
1862
William Ramsey.
1874
B. F. Johnson.
1866
J. M. Carper. ..
1875
Henry Howard.
1867
Thomas L. Dixon
1877
Walter B. Loring.
.1868
J. F. Dietrich 1879
John K. Ruth.
1871
Vernon Smith.
1880
J. B. Duffy
1872
3
APPANOOSE TOWNSHIP.
Fractional township numbered 7-S lies above the bend of the river at Nanvoo, and is the northwest township in the county. It loses about one-third of its dimensions by the river; one-third is broken timbered bluff land, and the remainder prairie. The south and south-eastern portions of the township are composed mainly of beautiful prairie land, embracing some fine farms owned by rich and prosperous farmers. Three or four streams enter the river from the south, heading out in the open prairie. Chief of these are Tyson and Rollosson creeks, which furnish considerable bodies of timber.
The early settlers were Edward White and Amzi Doolittle. Channey Robison was an early settler in the county, though not in this township till after the Mormon exodus. The celebrated big prairie mound is located in this. township, on section 25, on the summit of which the late Amos Davis built his fine residence, and where his widow still resides. The portion nearest to Nauvoo is partly settled by some German and French foreign immigrants, who came to the county after the Mormons left the city; some of them belonged to the Icarian community. They are generally industrious and thrifty citizens.
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