History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 57

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Iroquois county, and this was the first marriage in Iroquois county. He had to go to Danville to get a license, which took three days. She died about 1846, and is buried near Bunkum. Mr. Courtright's second wife was Huldy McGee, and his present wife is Katherine McCruhen, who was born in Ireland. By these three marriages he is the father of four children, three by his first wife and one by the third. He had one son in the late civil war, Joseph, who enlisted in Co. I, 113th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Jesse Moore, farmer, Woodland, was born in Adams county, Ohio, August 21, 1804, and is the son of John S. and Nancy (Edwards) Moore. His father was a farmer, having moved to Adams county, Ohio, about 1800, where he married and raised a family of eleven children. Mr. Moore, the subject of this sketch, was married in Adams county, in 1827, to Miss Latishia Downing. In 1831 Mr. Moore, with his wife, two children, father and two sons started from Adams county in a wagon drawn by four yoke of oxen. They came as far as the Wabash, and there remained but a short time, and in April, 1831, arrived in Iroquois county. They located on 200 acres of land in Belmont township, and here Mr. Moore has been a resident ever since. At that time the country was very wild, and plenty of Indians and wild game abounded. Here, about 1842, the Methodists erected the first church on Mr. Moore's place, he being a strong Methodist. Mr. Moore donated the land for the church, and for this act the people permitted Mr. Moore to name the church, which he called Bellemont. He had been reading a book and found this word, and he so named the church. The church was built of hewn logs, and was in size 26×36 feet, lap shingles, chimney in the middle, and two windows on each side. The entrance was on the south side. Mr. Moore has been a member of the M. E. church for the last fifty-two years. He had one son in the late war, Esera R., who enlisted in Co. A, 76th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was a brave soldier, and participated in the marches and battles of his regiment.

William S. Moore, retired, Watseka, was born in Adams county, Ohio, December 20, 1809. He remained in Adams county until 1831, when with his parents he came to Illinois, and located in Belmont township, Iroquois county, where he has been a resident ever since. Mr. Moore was married in Indiana, in 1834, to Miss Eliza J. Flemming, of Ohio. She died in 1845, and he was then married to Miss Asenath Lambert, of Ohio. Mr. Moore followed farming until 1868, when he moved to Watseka, where he has been engaged in the stock and grain business. He had one son, two sons-in-law and seven nephews in the late civil war. His son, Jasper N., enlisted in Co. C, 51st Ill. Vol. Inf., when he

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

was not quite eighteen years of age. He was a brave soldier and did good duty, participating in a number of prominent battles. He was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, and was sent to Libby prison, thence to the Danville prison near Richmond, Virginia. He remained a prisoner seven months and twelve days, and was almost starved to death. He was exchanged, and soon after died, May 8, 1864.

James H. Axtell, lumber merchant, Woodland, is one of the old settlers and highly respected business men. He was born in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1823, and is the son of John and Polly (Vennum) Axtell, who, in 1833, with a family of five children, emigrated west to Illinois, and located two and a half miles north of Milford, Iroquois county. Here the subject of this sketch grew into manhood, farming in the summer time, and in the winter attending the district school. He was also engaged in herding cattle, and driving them from this county to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He states that he has herded cattle on the grounds on which the Chicago Exposition now stands. Mr. Axtell's first purchase in land was 80 acres, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. From that he managed well, and to-day he is one of the successful farmers of the vicinity. Mr. Axtell was married, in Milford township, to Miss Eliza Gilbert, and by this union they have one child, a daugh- ter. In November, 1877, Mr. Axtell commenced the lumber business in Woodland, and to-day he owns and conducts a first-class lumber yard. Both his father and mother died in Iroquois county.

Alexander Wilson, farmer, Watseka, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1806, and is the son of Francis and Priscilla Wilson, natives of Ireland and Scotland respectively. Mr. Wilson remained in his native county until he was about seven years of age, when with his parents he moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained some two years. He then went to Champaign county, Ohio, where he remained until 1833. While a resident of Champaign county he was married, in 1827, to Miss Phœbe Cary, of Ohio. In 1833, with wife and three children, he moved to Illinois and located in Belmont township. He has held the office of justice of the peace eight years. He united the first parties married in Belmont township in 1835. They were John Hudson and Sallie Ann Long- shore, and James Longshore and Deborah Hudson. Both couples were married at the same time. Mr. Wilson also operated the first tannery in Iroquois county. He was a resident of Texas some four years. In 1850 he started for California seeking gold, but returned in 1851. He had in the late war one son, William, who enlisted in Co. A, 76th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was a brave soldier and did good duty. He died in service at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1863.

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Mrs. Rebbeca Gray, Watseka, is the widow of the late John Gray, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, October 31, 1816. From there Mr. Gray moved to Iroquois county, between the years 1832 and 1835, and located in Milford township. Here he was married to Miss Rebecca Stanley, June 28, 1838, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, November 11, 1817, and came west with her parents in 1830, and located in Milford township. After their marriage they located on a farm in Milford township, where he engaged in farming until 1876, when he moved his family to the present homestead. Here he died, April 4, 1876, leaving a wife and seven children; and thus passed away one of Iroquois county's honored and respected old citizens.

John Hudson, farmer, Watseka, was born in Sussex county, Dela- ware, November 6, 1814, and is the son of John and Mary (Will- iams) Hudson. In 1834 they, with six children, started west with a team and wagon, and finally reached Rob Roy, Indiana, where they remained a short time, and then pushed on to Iroquois county, Illinois, and located in Belmont township, where the Longshore graveyard is. Here Mr. Hudson died in 1834, and was buried in the Longshore grave- yard, being the first one interred in that cemetery. John Hudson has been engaged principally in farming since he has been a resident here. He made a trip to California seeking gold. He was married in Decem- ber, 1835, in Belmont township, to Miss Sallie Ann Longshore, at the same time his sister Deborah was married to James Longshore. These were the first marriages in Belmont township. They were married by Alexander Wilson. Mr. Hudson states that he helped to build Mr. Stanley's residence, which was the first built in Watseka. Mr. Hud- son's first wife died in 1836. He subsequently married Eliza Wagoner, and she also died. The third time he was married to Mrs. Ann Briley, who is now deceased. His present wife was Rebecca Horner. They have one child, a son, William H., who was born on the farm December 16, 1855. Mr. Hudson has held several offices of public trust in Belmont township: school treasurer some ten or twelve years, supervisor one term, and constable. He was also postmaster at Milford. . He moved to his present home in 1855.

Mary A. Troup, Watseka, is the widow of the late Henry Troup, who was born in Pennsylvania about 1800. From his native state, with his family, he came west to Ohio, and located in Canton, Stark county, where they were engaged in keeping a hotel. From there they went to Manchester, Ohio, and here, in 1834, he married Mary Ann Little, who was born in Columbus county, Ohio, in 1814. After this they remained in Manchester some four or five years, and while a resident

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

there Mr. Troup was engaged in the mercantile business. In about 1838, with his family, he started for Illinois, and located in Middleport, Iroquois county, being the first settler in this vicinity. Then the coun- try was very wild, and they camped the first night on the banks of the Iroquois River, in front of what is now Middleport. He erected a building, and after getting liis goods,-which came from Pittsburgh by boat down the Ohio to the Wabaslı, and up the Wabash where they discharged the goods,- they were then teamed to Middleport. He had the first store here. Mr. Troup was an industrious man and won a host of friends, and had customers for miles and miles around him. Many are the old settlers who speak of buying their goods from Henry Troup. He was successful in life and had accumulated considerable property before his death. He died, April 8, 1859, respected and honored by his fellow-men, leaving a wife and five children. One son, Edward, in the late war enlisted in the 76th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was a brave soldier. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and after- ward died in service at Jackson, Tennessee.

W. S. Kay, attorney-at-law, Watseka, is perhaps one of the best known and most highly respected attorneys of the Iroquois county bar. Mr. Kay was born near Greencastle, Indiana, October 31, 1831, and is the son of William R. and Ruth (Wright) Kay. William R. Kay was engaged in farming. He was born in Maryland. He moved from his native state to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged at his trade of glass-blowing and fur-dressing, in Pittsburgh. He went to Ohio and located on a farm near Cincinnati. In 1831 he and his wife were visiting in the state of Indiana, and it was during that time that Mr. Kay (W. S.) was born, and they returned to Ohio. In 1835 or 1836, they started from the farm in Ohio for Iroquois county, Illinois, where Mrs. Kay's father was. They came by steamboat down the Ohio, and then came up the Wabash river and stopped at Perrysville, Indi- ana. Mr. William Kay made a trip to Iroquois county, and not liking the situation of the country returned to Perrysville and built a steam saw-mill below that place. Here lie died with milk sickness in 1837, leaving the family in very poor circumstances. The family then came to Iroquois county and lived with Grandfather Wright, who at that time was living five miles south of Onarga. Mr. W. S. Kay was placed in a home with Thomas Vennum, where he remained until he was about fourteen years of age. At sixteen years of age he began to teach school, and taught three or four years in Iroquois and Ogle counties. Mr. Kay received a common school education at Milford, and was a student for one term at the Asbury University, of Greencastle, Indiana. In 1853 or 1854 he moved to Middleport, where he taught school for

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

some three years. He also held the office of constable for several years. He was appointed deputy sheriff of Iroquois county, under James H. Karr, and was afterward made sheriff by Mr. Karr, who retired from office. Mr. Kay was admitted to practice law in about 1856, and was a partner in the law firm of Fletcher & Kay for some three years. In 1864 the law firm of Blades & Kay was formed; from that the law firm of Blades, Kay & Evans emanated. This firm, perhaps, was the strongest law firm of the Iroquois county bar. Mr. Kay was married July, 1852, to Susanna Critchfield, of Ohio, by whom they had one child, deceased. Mrs. Kay died in 1855. He married the second time to Lavonia Burlingame, of New York. They have two children. Mr. Kay is a democrat in politics. His mother married twice, her second husband being the Hon. Isaac Courtright. She died with the cholera in 1854.

James W. Kay, real estate agent, Watseka, was born at Smith's Point, Onarga township, Iroquois county, Illinois, February 26, 1838, and is the son of William R. and Ruth (Wright) Kay. When Mr. Kay was very young his father died, and he was placed in a home with his sister until his mother was married to the Hon. Isaac Court- right. He then went to live with them in Texas, Iroquois county, where he remained until he was about sixteen years of age. He then went to live with his grandfather Wright, where he remained some eighteen months, and from there he went to Middleport, where he was engaged in attending school about one year. He then returned to the farm. In 1856 we find him hauling cord-wood for the Illinois Central railroad. Soon after he had the ague, which he had some fif- teen months. In 1857 and 1858 he was in Iowa. He returned to . Middleport. In 1858 he was appointed deputy sheriff under James H. Karr. In 1859 he made a trip to Missouri to see his relatives; then made a trip across the Rocky mountains prospecting for gold. In 1860 he was engaged in writing in the court house for Thomas Vennum. In 1861, during the late civil war, when Missouri was having a great deal of trouble, and during the battle of Lexington, Missouri, near his grandfather Wright's, Mr. Kay mnade the trip there and brought the old people back to Iroquois- county. In July, 1862, Mr. Kay enlisted in Co. A, 76th Ill. Vol. Inf. He did good duty and made a brave sol- dier. He participated in some very hard-fought battles : the siege of Vicksburg, capture of Mobile, etc. He was mustered out July, 1865, when he returned to Iroquois county, when he was nominated and elected to the office of county clerk by the republican party. He served faithfully for one term. From that time Mr. Kay has been engaged in speculating in real estate, and to-day ranks as one of the successful

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

men of Iroquois county-owning 1,200 acres of land. Mr. Kay is a republican in politics, and a member of the M. E. church. He married twice. His first wife was Mrs. Emily C. Campbell, now deceased. His present wife was Adeline Ellingwood. They have three children.

Judge Samuel Williams, president of the First National bank of Watseka, Woodland, is a fair example of what may be attained by perse- verance, industry and energy. He was born July 11, 1820, in Adams county, Ohio, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Swim) Will- iams. His mother was born in Ohio and his father in Maryland. Thomas Williams moved from Maryland with his parents and located on a farm in Adams county, Ohio, when he was four years of age. Here he remained until 1835, when, with his family, he moved to Illi- nois and located in Winnebago county. At that time there were but two houses in Rockford. Here they remained until 1842, when they moved to Iroquois county and located in Belmont township. The sub- ject of this sketch, then quite poor, commenced working at the carpen- ter trade, in which he was engaged for some twenty years. About 1842 he purchased 120 acres of land, part of which is where Woodland stands. This land he promised to pay for in cattle. It was his first purchase of land. From the 120 acres, by his industry and energy he owns over 1,000 acres of land, which consists of one of the best improved stock- farms in Iroquois county. Besides Judge Williams being engaged in the stock business, he in 1878 erected a first-class creamery at Wood- land, size 30 × 55, two stories high. He invested in the building and cows some $7,000. This creamery is conducted by Judge Williams and two sons: George M. and John S., who are meeting with good success. In 1870, at the organization of the First National bank of Watseka, Mr. Williams was made president, which position he lias held ever since. The First National bank is one of the most prominent insti- tutions in eastern Illinois, and the people of Iroquois county are proud of such an institution. It is one of the safest banks in Illinois. Judge Williams has held several offices of public trust. In 1861 he was elected judge of Iroquois county, which office lie filled for one term, proving himself a gentleman of acknowledged ability. He was elected first supervisor of Belmont township, and this office lie held for some six or seven years. He also held the office of justice of the peace for a nnm- of years. Judge Williams' political views were formerly democratic, but since the passage of the Nebraska bill he has been a republican. For some time he has not taken any active part in politics. He is a member of the M. E. church, of which he has been a member since

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

1840. Judge Williams was married in 1846 to Miss Catharine Body of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Iroquois about 1838. By this union they have four children. Judge Williams' father was born Jan- uary 15, 1797, and died August 7, 1857.

J. B. Moore, farmer, Watseka, was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, on section 10, in Belmont township, August 5, 1842, and is the son of John B. Moore, who was born in Adams county, Ohio. John Moore was married in Warren county, Indiana, to Sarah Aun Flem- ing, and in 1831 they came to Iroquois county and located south of the present homestead ; from there they moved to the present farm, where he made the principal improvements - having planted the evergreen trees in front of the residence some nineteen years ago. By hard work and good management he became the owner of 400 acres of land at his death, which occurred November 20, 1870, he being fifty-four years of age. Mr. J. B. Moore, the subject of this sketch, was married in Warren county, Indiana, to Miss Sarah M. Frame, of Indiana, and they have six children. Mr. Moore has held several offices of public trust : school director and township clerk. He is a republican in politics. He had two brothers in the late war: Macajah and Fleming R .; both did good service. Macajah died at Mobile in 1865.

Charles Sherman, retired, Watseka, was born in Windsor, Vermont, February 24, 1816, and is the son of Samuel and Abigail (Squire) Sherman. His mother was a native of Connecticut, and his father of Massachusetts; they were married in Vermont. Mr. Sherman was born' on his father's farm. In 1836 they came west to Milwaukee, Wis., where they remained but four weeks, and in 1838 came to Chicago, Ill., then a very small place. Here Mr. Sherman remained until 1842, clerking in a store where the Tremont House now stands. In 1842 he came to Iroquois county and located at Bunkum, and entered the mercantile business. In 1849 he went to Middleport, and was engaged in the mercantile business about four years, when he returned to Bunkum; he remained at the latter place until 1861, when he moved to Watseka. When Mr. Sherman first came to Illinois, he located 300 acres of land where the town of Evanston now stands. He lield it a short time and sold it with but little gain. Mr. Sherman was married December, 1844, to Miss Nancy White, of Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of A. White, an old settler of Bunk- um, who kept one of the first hotels at that place. They have three children.

Daniel Fry, merchant, Watseka, the subject of this sketch, and whose portrait appears in this work, is one of the old settlers and

٠٠٠

Dans, Fry

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

MIDDLEPORT AND BELMONT TOWNSHIPS.

ex-county officers of Iroquois county. He was born December 8, 1827, in Coshocton county, Ohio, and is the son of Abraham and Catharine (Deamude) Fry. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of the state of Maryland. His father in an early day mnoved to Ohio, where he was engaged in farming; and in 1843 he removed to Illinois and located in Iroquois, Iroquois county. Here young Daniel grew to man's estate, the earlier part of his life being spent with his father. In 1853 he was elected to the office of county clerk of Iroquois county, and on assuming the duties of the office he became a resident of Middleport, then the county seat; in 1857 he was releëcted to a second term. These public favors were conferred upon him by the democratic party. In the discharge of his duties as a public officer, he acquitted himself in a very creditable manner. Mr. Fry is now one of the oldest merchants of Watseka, where he entered the mercantile trade in 1864, though he had also for two years been engaged in the business in Middleport. Since his residence in Watseka he has been honored with different offices, among others that of alderman, and in 1879 he was elected supervisor of Middleport township, which office he is still holding. In 1860 Mr. Fry was married to Miss Priscilla, daughter of Amos White; by this union they have three children.

Isaac W. Cast, superintendent of the County Poor Farm, Watseka, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, August 9, 1843, and is the son of Hiram and Ruth (Smith) Cast. Both parents were natives of Ohio. His grandfather was among the first settlers of Clinton county, Ohio. When but a babe, the subject of this sketch came to Illinois with his parents and located in Vermilion county, where he remained until lie was about seven years of age. With his parents he then came to Iroquois county and located on Spring Creek, two and a half miles north of Jefferson Point, where he was brought up on the farm. His stepfather was a soldier in the late civil war, and enlisted in 'an Illinois cavalry company in 1862. He died when at home on a furlough in 1863. Mr. Cast, in 1875, was appointed superintendent of the Poor Farm, which office he is still filling, doing his work faithfully and giving entire satisfaction.

A. C. Johnson, farmer, Watseka, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, January 12, 1822, and is the son of Isaac and Nancy (Tucker) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Isaac Johnson was a soldier of the war of 1812, and came to Ohio at an early day. The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm, and learned the trade of a carpenter. In 1843 he came to Illinois, and located in Belmont township. In the winter of 1843-4 he taught his first school in Illi-

. 58

HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

nois in a log hut near Mr. Carlock's farm, this being one of the first schools in this neighborhood. He had an attendance of some twenty- six scholars, who came from a radius of some three miles. Mr. Johnson engaged in teaching school in the winter time, and in the summer months worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1849 he was married to Miss Mary A. Body. Mr. Johnson's last school was the Dixon school, in Milford township, which he taught in 1870. He has held several offices of public trust : justice of the peace, twelve years ; assessor and school director, for twenty-five years. These offices he has filled with honor, and acquitted himself in a very creditable manner. 'Squire Johnson's political opinions are republican. He is a member of the United Brethren church, of which he has been a member some thirty years. He has lived on the present farin since 1850. He is the father of ten children.

John Reader, farmer, Watseka, was born in Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, May 27, 1819, and is the son of Samuel Reader, who was a brick- mason and contractor. At fifteen years of age the subject of this sketch embarked at London on board of a ship bound for America, to seek lis fortune in a strange land. On the voyage he made himself useful by ministering to the wants of sick passengers, from one of whom he received three shillings, this inaking five shillings that he had on landing in America. He first stopped in Albany, New York, where he remained a short time working at odd jobs to earn an honest penny ; from there he went to Green Bush, thence to Cheatham, thence to Rochester, New York, where he began to learn the trade of a shoemaker. He served an apprenticeship of three years, and then worked at his trade there until 1843, wlien he came west to Illinois and located in Chicago. Here he remained until 1844, when he came to Iroquois county and located in Milford, and commenced to work at his trade. He commenced life in Iroquois county with only five dollars in cash. In 1847 he went on a farm on Pike creek; there he remained until 1849, when he moved to Middleport, where lie worked at his trade about a year. From there he moved on the farm now owned by Mrs. Gray. In 1857 he went to Texas, where he engaged in the cattle busi- ness until 1860, when he returned to Iroquois county and located on his present homestead. Mr. Reader was for about four years a resident of Watseka. He built a great many buildings in that city, and erected the present opera building for a woolen mill. He owns 700 acres of land, and ranks as one of the leading successful farmers of Iroquois county. He was married in Rochester, in 1843, to Miss Ann Lavell, of Ireland, and they have four children.

J. G. Joiner, attorney-at-law, Watseka, was born in Windsor county,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 57

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180