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 96

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 96

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).

John Greer, farmer, Hoopeston, was born in Pennsylvania in 1812, and is of German descent. His early life was spent in Pennsylvania. In 1833 lie began flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi, which he followed until 1839, when he located on a farm of 320 acres near Napo- leon, at the mouth of the Arkansas river. He remained here farming until 1846, when he went to Madison parish, Louisiana, and engaged in furnishing cordwood for steamboats. In 1850 he was employed in the construction of the New Orleans and Ohio telegraph line. About 1852 he began farming in Madison parish, Louisiana, opposite Vicks- burg, where he owned 520 acres. He sold this farm in 1859. During the time that he owned it he was engaged during the winter in building levees on the banks of the river. February 26, 1841, he was married, at Napoleon, Arkansas, to Miss Eliza Adams, of Danville, Illinois, who was at that time visiting friends and relatives at that place. Mr. Greer has been very unfortunate with his children, all of whom died in infancy or when quite young, except Nelson B., who was born March 31, 1844. Two of his children, John and Eleanor, lie buried in the cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi. In November, 1853, Mrs. Greer went from her home in Vicksburg, with her son, to Danville, Illinois, partly on account of her health, but mainly to educate her son Nelson, then a promising boy of ten years. Mr. Greer remained in the south and had a large contract for building levees, when he received news of his wife's death, which happened February 26, 1854. He arranged his business as speedily as possible and came to Danville, which from that time on until 1861 he made his home. He owned considerable town property in Danville, and began buying land in Prairie Green and Lovejoy townships in 1857, where he now has a farni of about 1,000 acres, with several tenement houses on different parts of it. August 19, 1867, his son Nelson was killed by descending into a well on the farm in Prairie Green township, in which a tenant of Mr. Greer's had just expired from the effects of carbonic acid gas. This was a sad stroke to Mr. Greer. He had intended to make a stock-farm of his lands here, but the death of his son changed his plans, and now he lias many tenants on his farm. Mr. Greer has passed through a long, busy and eventful life, has seen his wife and children go down into the grave before him ; yet he possesses a cheerful mind, an active body, and per- haps has many years yet to travel in the journey of life. His residence

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LOVEJOY TOWNSHIP.

is in Lovejoy township, but the most of his farm lies in Prairie Green. He lias always taken a great interest in tree-planting, and exhibits a commendable pride as he shows to his friends the groves and orchards which were planted by himself and his son when they first began to improve their prairie farm.

Charles Dawson, farmer and stock-dealer, Wellington, was born December 14, 1839, and is the son of Charles W. and Mary J. (Hooker) Dawson, who were the first settlers of Warren county, Indiana, near Pine Village, and who are now living in Iroquois county, near Milford. When about fifteen years of age he came with his parents to this county, and at about the age of twenty he began to buy live-stock, which business he lias followed ever since. He was married in Wat- seka, November 21, 1861, to Julia Cadore, of French descent, and a native of Canada. Her parents were living in Kankakee at the time . of her marriage, and now live in Kansas. Mr. Dawson has two chil- dren : Mary A. and Priscilla R. He owns 400 acres, beautifully situ- ated on the banks of Gay creek, just south of the Red Pump Farm. His residence and barn, which are the finest in the township, are on the east bank of the creek, near the "Big Spring" and the "Lone Tree," a famous " watering place " for the red-skins more than half a century ago. Since coming to his present home in 1872, he has fed considerable stock, besides being constantly engaged in buying and shipping. He is a strong republican.

Joshua Galloway, farmer, Wellington, was born July 16, 1819, in Union county, Ohio, and was raised near Lebanon in that state. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. His father died when he was . three years old. He received a very limited education, and at the age of thirteen went to work at tanning and dressing leather, where he remained until he was eighteen. For the next three years he worked on a farm in Warren county, Ohio, and tlien learned the blacksmith's trade, became a good workman, and followed the business steadily for some years. He has also engaged in other mechanical pursuits, and farming, previous to coming to this county in 1859. He first settled in Prairie Green township, on section 4, where he remained eight years. In 1865 he bought the farm of 160 acres which he now owns, and moved on it in 1868, where he lias since remained. He was mar- ried in Ohio, August 5, 1850, to Sarah J. Martin. The first nine years ' of their married life they spent in Indiana, and then came to Iroquois county as before stated. They have four children : Mary A., born May 28, 1854 ; J. J. Haynes, born January 26, 1856 ; H. Xenophon, born May 15, 1858, and Lorinda P. A., born December 12, 1860. As a public officer Mr. Galloway lias always been honest, and has faith-

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

fully discharged the duties of his offices. He was commissioner of highways in Prairie Green for three years .. In Lovejoy he has served as school trustee, has been collector two years, and when his present term expires will have served as justice of the peace nine years. His fine home and farm, about midway between Wellington and Hoopeston, is the result of a long life of unceasing industry and practical economy. Here he expects to spend the declining years of his life.

Abram C. Bowlby, cordwainer, Wellington, was born January 17, 1844, in Washington, Warren county, New Jersey. His father fol- lowed boating on the Morris canal, and died when Abram was ten years old. His mother, whose maiden name was Euphema Smith, still lives with an only daughter in New Jersey. His youth was spent mainly in New Jersey. In 1862 he went south and worked for the government at Fortress Monroe, and afterward he drove team for Uncle Sam at Washington, District of Columbia. His mother opposed. his desire to enlist in the army. He left home and enlisted at Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1863, in Capt. J. C. Paine's detach- ment of United States Signal Corps for three years. After his enlist- ment his mother wrote him to be a good soldier and do his duty. August 15, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Georgetown, District of Columbia. He came to Ohio in 1865. He was married, August 16, 1866, to Mary, daughter of W. K. and Caroline Williamson. They . have liad five children : Euphema, Edna and William Bartley, wlio are living; and two who are dead, Augustus and Jennie Maud. Mr. Bowlby came to Vermilion county in 1873, where he lived two years, and then settled in Wellington. In the fall of 1875 he lost nearly all of his household goods in the fire that destroyed Weston's drug store. This was a great misfortune to him, coming as it did in the midst of hard times. He at once went to work to repair his losses, and by unceasing industry he has secured a home for his family in the thriv- ing town of Wellington, where he is now having a prosperous trade.

Joseph Williams, farmer and stock-raiser, Wellington, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, May 27, 1839. His parents were Nathan and Sarah (Hoopes) Williams, the latter still living at Hoopeston. When two years old his father died. He started out in the world to "do for himself" at the age of fourteen. He hired out to a farmer for eight months, at $6 per month, and placed the money at interest. He was engaged in working on a farm near his old home until the spring of 1858, when he came to Prairie Green township, where he farmed in partnership with his brother. He was principally engaged in break- ing prairie here for two or three seasons. He remained in partnership with his brother until about 1863. He then bought 160 acres near

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LOVEJOY TOWNSHIP.

Kendal Shankland, but sold out and came to Lovejoy, where he has lived since 1866, except one winter spent on the farm of Mr. William Adsit, during which time he fed 230 head of cattle for Mr. Adsit. He was married April 6, 1864, to Mary J. Adsit, daughter of William Adsit, the largest land-owner in the township. He has four boys : William A., born February 12, 1865 ; Thomas N., born January 14, 1867; John B., born April 26, 1869; and Frank O., born December 1, 1875. Mr. Williams' farm lies in sections 21 and 22, and embraces 640 acres, of which his wife owns a quarter-section. He has built about twelve miles of post-and-board fence, besides improving by setting hedges and trees. His farm is well adapted to stock-raising, which is his principal business.

John S. Bradford, farmer, Wellington, was the first justice of the peace of Lovejoy township. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, August 23, 1830. His parents came from Virginia. His mother's father was a second cousin to General Winfield Scott. Mr. Bradford's father still lives in Grant county, Indiana, in his eighty-first year. At the age of twenty-three Mr. Bradford came with his parents to Indiana, where he followed the blacksmith's trade until he had to quit on account of his poor health. He came to Lovejoy township in 1865, and in the spring of 1866, settled on the farm he now owns and occupies near the town of Wellington. He has brought his land into a high state of cultivation. Mr. Bradford early began to plant trees to protect his home from the sweeping winds of winter, and now he is almost surrounded by orchard and groves. He has been married twice. By his first marriage, in 1855, he has two children : J. L. and Mollie C. J. L. has been in the Wisconsin pineries, hewing his own way in the world, but was recently called home on account of his father's failing health. Mollie C., an intelligent young lady, has had good success as a teacher. Mr. Bradford was married to his present wife, Huldah Bald- win, February 6, 1863. Her parents came from North Carolina. They have one child, named Lucy E. by this last marriage. Mr. Bradford had two brothers in the 57th Ind. reg., one a captain ; both died of disease contracted in the service. He has held the office of town collector for two terms. His political faith is that of stalwart republicainism.

William Scott, farmer, Wellington, was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, November 22, 1827. His parents, John and Martha (Templeton) Scott, moved to Shelby county, Indiana, about 1834, and were among the first settlers of the county. Mr. John Scott was in the war of 1812. In 1853 the subject of this sketch came to Illinois with A. J. Endsley, and together they bought of Joseph Heffner the "Red Pump" farm, containing 400 acres. Mr. Scott was married, in 1856, to Martlia A.

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Rothgeb, daughter of George Rothgeb, an old settler of Milford town- ship. They have four children : Carlile, Olive, Winfield and Anna, all living. After his marriage Mr. Scott settled a short distance south of his present home. In 1873 he bought Endsley's interest in the farm, moved his house up to the Red Pump, where he still lives. Mr. Scott is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Milford Lodge, No. 168, and also of Gay Creek Grange. He now owns 456 acres, valued at $35 per acre.

Joseph Galloway, farmer and stock-raiser, Wellington, is a native of Fountain county, Indiana, and was born October 19, 1840. His parents, Samuel and Prudence Galloway, had eight children, seven of whom are yet living. They moved to Springfield, Ohio, when Joseph was quite young ; after two years came back to Fountain county, and removed from there to Warren county, Indiana, where they still live, near the close of a happy life. Joseph received a common-school edu- cation in Warren county, Indiana. He enlisted in September, 1861, in the 33d Ind. Vol., where he served three years, then reënlisted in the same regiment as a veteran. He was at the battle of Wild Cat, Kentucky. He was captured by the rebels, March 5, 1863, at Spring Hill, Tennessee, and sent to Libby prison. He was in prison one month, then let out on parole, and in July, 1863, he was exchanged. When his regiment was reorganized he was in the 20th Army Corps, under the command of Gen. Hooker. He was in the charge at Resaca, also participated in the battles of Dallas Woods, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church and Peach Tree creek. He was in the march to the sea, and took part in the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, and other skirmishes on their victorious march through Richmond into Washington, where he was at the general review. He was discharged June 23, 1865, and has been for many years a resident of this town- ship. Mr. Galloway was married to Louisa Haines, March 28, 1867. Ella M., Wilbert U., Hettie S., Maggie E. and David A., are the names of his children by his first wife. He was married again to Rebecca Doan, February 28, 1877, and has one child by this union, named Johnny. Mr. Galloway now owns a well improved farm in the northeast part of the township, which he has obtained mostly by his own labor. He has been elected to the offices of town clerk, assessor, collector and school trustee. He is an uncompromising republican.

J. D. Calhoun, minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, Well- ington, was born in Blaine, Perry county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1850. He was the son of John M. and Catharine (Kiner) Calhoun. His father was a carpenter, who died when the subject of our sketch was eight years old. He then moved with his mother to Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois, where she still resides with her second husband

John & Hamilton

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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LOVEJOY TOWNSHIP.

J. B. Terpenning. Mr. Calhoun attended school at Farm Ridge, La Salle county, Illinois. He taught school two years and in September, 1873, he entered the Methodist Episcopal conference. He labored for the first year at Eldridgeville, in Ford county ; he was three years at Iroquois in this county, and will complete his third year at Welling- ton in September, 1880. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd- Fellow lodges at Iroquois, and is a republican in politics. He was married, March 25, 1873, to Vina J. Robinson, of Geneseo, Illinois. They are the parents of three children : William S., Kate E. and Florence G., all living. Mrs. Calhoun's parents were William L. and Catharine Robinson. Mr. Calhoun is respected by all who know him. Of him it may be said, " He has no enemy." He is an earnest worker in his Master's vineyard. He aided in building the church at Iroquois, one of the finest in the county, and since he has had charge of Well- ington circuit the church edifice here has grown up, and the societies at the different appointments have prospered under his care.

Matthias Meeker (deceased), was born in Essex county, New York. His parents were natives of New York, of English descent. When about twelve years of age he came with his parents to New Jersey, and finally removed with them to Hamilton county, Ohio. Young Meeker went to Cincinnati, and was engaged in the yards there building steamboats. He followed the trade also in the yards at Louis- ville, and New Albany, Indiana. It was during his stay at New Albany that he became acquainted with Elizabeth Allstott, of German descent, who was born in Washington county, Indiana. Miss Allstott became Mr. Meeker's wife in October, 1833. They lived in New Albany, Indiana, twenty-two years. All this time Mr. Meeker was busy at his trade in the yards, or on boats that ran on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. For seven years he was with one captain. In 1855 he traded his property in New Albany for a farm of 200 acres near Corydon, Indiana, and began farming, but still clung to the river in the winter. In the financial crisis of 1857 he lost all his property. He removed, first to Jasper county and then to Clark county, Illinois, in 1860, where he staid four years, tlien he came to Indiana and lived mainly in Vermilion county, in that state, until the spring of 1867. He came to Iroquois county in 1867, and settled, first in Fountain Creek township, then came to their present home in the spring of 1873. Here Mr. Meeker died April 27, 1876. He was the father of ten chil- dren, named as follows: Margaret J., William, Julia, Laura, Halsey, Thomas, Charley, Amos, Joshua and Mollie. Mr. and Mrs. Meeker had three sons and three sons-in-law in the Union army. Their son, William, was in the battle of Belmont, and died of sickness soon after. 27

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

Halsey and Thomas were in the 11th Missouri. They were mere boys when they enlisted,-were at the siege of Vicksburg and in the march to the sea. Both reënlisted as veterans. One of the sons-in-law was killed in battle. Mrs. Meeker willingly let her boys go from home to defend their country, and certainly no one more richly deserves a pen- sion than she, for lier devotion to the Union.

William M. Miskimmen (deceased), and Emma Miskimmen, his wife, were born and raised in Ohio. Mr. Miskimmen was born in Wheeling township, Guernsey county, December 21, 1827, and Mrs. Miskimmen was born May 3, 1828, in Coshocton county. They were married in Ohio, March 11, 1850. Mr. Miskimmen was a merchant in Olio. He came to Henry county, Illinois, and was for some time en- gaged in buying and selling stock. In 1868 he removed to Lovejoy township, and settled on his farm adjoining John Greer's on the west. Mr. Miskimmen's health was very poor, and on February 17, 1872, he died of consumption. They have two children living: Richard T., who was born December 6, 1851, and who married Celia Anderson, January 1, 1878; also Nannie R., born September 17, 1855, wife of B. F. Shankland, of Watseka.

J. W. Clements, farmer, Wellington, was born October 29, 1841, in Athens county, Ohio. His parents were John and Sarah A. (Thompson) Clements, natives of Ohio and Connecticut. His youth was spent on his father's farın in Olio until August 23, 1862, when he enlisted in the 92d Ohio Vol. for three years. He followed the fortunes of his regi- ment through the war, marched with the boys to the sea, was in the battle of Bentonville, and at Washington when the grand review took place, although unable to marchi with his regiment on that occasion. He was discharged in June, 1865, and returned to Ohio, where he remained awhile, then spent one winter in Indiana, and came to this township in May, 1867. He began farming on the large farm of William Adsit, and remained here until 1873, in the spring, when he removed to his fine farm of 320 acres, in sections 23 and 26, in this township, where he has since resided. He was married, October 15, 1868, to Julia A., daughter of William Adsit, of Delaware county, Indiana, who at one time owned 1,760 acres in this township; but he is now dividing his land among his children, having recently deeded 320 acres to Mr. Clements' wife. Mr. Clements is the father of four children : Lucy E., Leroy, Thomas T., and Elizabethi M. There is a step-son named Daniel. Mr. Clements is one of the solid men of Love- joy, and expects to make this his permanent home.

William Wilson (deceased), was a native of Ohio. He was married to Amanda Pearson, in Ohio, about March 6, 1826. Five or six years

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LOVEJOY TOWNSHIP.

after marriage they came to Warren county, Indiana. Attica was then only a small village. Mr. Wilson built a house in the woods on the 80 acres he had bought, and by industry acquired 80 acres more. The family lived here for about seven years, and then sold out and bought a prairie farm of 200 acres, nine miles northwest of Williamsport. Mr. Wilson lived on this farm up to the time of his death, which occurred November 1, 1871. By his good management he liad become the owner of 320 acres, near Sheldon, in this county. Mrs. Wilson, . after her husband's death, bought 80 acres in section 35, in this town- ship, and removed here with her two sons, James and Asa, in March, 1875. She will be seventy-three years old March 15, 1880. Both she and her husband were members of the New Light church, in Warren county, Indiana, thirty-five years ago. She is the mother of eleven children, whose names follow: Margaret, Cynthia, Emily, Nancy, Mary, Sarah C., James, Asa, John, Amanda and William. John enlisted in the 86th Ind. reg., in the fall of 1864. He was out only three months, when he sickened and died. James, who lives with his mother, is an energetic, wide-awake farmer, and was born in War- ren county, Indiana, July 6, 1849. He devotes his attention mainly to the raising of corn, for which purpose he rents considerable land, besides managing his mother's farm.

A. J. Hall, farmer and stock-dealer, Wellington, is a son of D. A. and Mary M. (Lemon) Hall, and was born August 24, 1852, while his parents were visiting at Amboy, Douglas county, Illinois. Their residence was at Newport, Indiana. In March, 1862, the family removed to Fairmount, Vermilion county, Illinois, where Mr. Hall engaged in the grain' trade. While here .the subject of this sketch aided his father by driving the horses to the "power," when shelling corn. Two years after this his parents moved to Chicago. His father at once entered the live-stock commission business, which he has followed ever since, and in which he has been eminently successful. Young Mr. Hall attended the public schools in Chicago, and was one year at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in that city. In 1867 he was employed by the live-stock cominission firm of Conover & Hall, of which his father is a member, as book-keeper, in which position lie served three years, and was for four years more employed by the same firm in the yards. In the spring of 1874 he came to Lovejoy township to manage his father's farm in section 5, containing 655 acres, where he has since resided. He is now engaged in feeding cattle and buying and shipping stock. His previous seven-years ex- perience in the Union Stock-yards has admirably fitted him for this business. January 22, 1876, he was married to Sarah A., daughter of

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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.

J. B. Wilson, of this township. The young couple have a pleasant, happy home, and start prosperously out on life's journey in the rosy morn of wedded life. Mr. Hall is a republican. He belongs to the Blue Lodge of Masons, and of the chapter in Hoopeston.

. PRAIRIE GREEN TOWNSHIP.

This township occupies the southeastern corner of Iroquois county, and embraces all of T. 24, R. 11 W .; also a narrow strip in R. 10 on the east, containing six fractional sections. The township is all prairie ; its surface gently undulating, except in the southeast, where it is high and rolling. The soil is very rich, and every foot within its boundaries is capable of being tilled with but very little artificial draining. Indian corn is king of products here, not much attention having been given to the production of wheat. The little republic of Prairie Green took its legal birth from the division of Crab Apple township in the winter of 1858. Kendall Shankland, Robert Finch, H. C. Smith and a few others were the leading spirits in obtaining its independence of Crab Apple. The first election was held in April following, at the house of Robert Finch on section 10, the ballot-box on this occasion being an old teapot, the lid of which was raised to deposit the votes. Nineteen votes were cast, all in favor of separation. Kendall Shankland was elected supervisor; H. C. Smith and Washington M. Pugh were elected justices of the peace; Robert Finch, assessor ; A. B. Handy, town clerk, and William Sawyer, collector. K. Shankland served the people so well in the position given him that he has been repeatedly elected to the same office, so many times, in fact, that he forgets how many terms he has served. H. C. Smith also served three terms, and later F. Williamson has held that office. Besides those first elected, J. C. Pugh, J. H. Hobart, J. C. Shankland, H. J. Calkins, George Besse and John W. Hudson have served as justices. H. C. Smith, William I. Hobart, C. M. Harris and A. S. Shankland have held the office of town clerk. Robert Finch has been the principal col- lector, serving in that capacity for ten years. Lately J. W. Dixon has held that office. Politically, Prairie Green has always been re- publican, and in its early years was nearly unanimous. For a long time there were but one or two democrats in the township. In the dark days of the war for the Union the draft was avoided in this township by hiring substitutes to fill its small quota. This was done by K. Shankland and Robert Finch, who obtained the money on

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PRAIRIE GREEN TOWNSHIP.

their individual notes, and were afterward reimbursed by the town- ship.

A quarter of a century ago the people who lived along the belts of timber, and the few pioneers who were brave enough to squat out on the prairie, thought that these prairie townships would never be completely settled. Deer were then numerous. The early settlers need never be out of venison. Wolves were numerous, and the few settlers who lived here then, would often mount a horse bareback, and indulge in the invigorating sport of chasing a wolf or running down a deer.

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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 96

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