USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 51
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GEORGE II. BITTROLFF, merchant, MIt. Vernon. This gentleman was born April 18. 1852. in Evansville, Ind. His father, Louis
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MOUNT VERNON CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
Bittrolff, was a native of Baden, Germany. He is a jeweler by occupation, having learned his trade with his father, John L. Bittrolff, who also had the first jewelry store in Evansville, Ind. The mother of our subjeet, Anna (Gross- man) Bittrolff, is a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many. She is the mother of seven children, viz .: George II., Louis H., Annie Wright, Mol- lie Ford, William, Eliza and Walter, deceased. Our subjeet was educated in Evansville, where he learned and followed book-keeping till 1878, when he came to Mt. Vernon, where he, in part- nership with R. E. Ryan, opened a dry goods store on a small scale, but added to the stock from time to time till at present they carry a stock of from $12,000 to $15,000, including a stoek of boots and shoes. Owing to his energy, honesty and perseverance, he has established for himself a good reputation as a thorough business man. His store occupies the first and second floors of a fine building on the south side of the square. He was married, October 10, 1872, in Evansville, Ind., to Miss Willa Nall, born August 24, 1854, in Rumsey, Ky. She is a daughter of William J. and Rebecca Nall. Four children were the result of this happy union, viz .: Hallie A., born November 3, 1873; George Nall, born July 10, 1877; Ray, born November 30, 1879; Clyde, born June 6, 1882. Mrs. Bittrolff is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a Knight of Pythias, and in polities is a Republican. The Bittrolff's came originally from France, from whenee they fled to Germany on account of religious perse- eution, about the time the Huguenots eame to America.
DR. ROBERT BLUM, dentist, Mt. Vernon. It is an encouraging phase of our present age that the prizes awarded honest work and vigor- ous energy are open to all, and that the young man may win the highest honors and emolu- ments equally with the man of large and varied experience. Dr. Blum, though only just in middle life, has risen to the higher rank of his
profession, and sustains a reputation worthy only of the highest ability. He was born July 23, 1842, in Southeastern Russia, and is a son of A. and Julia (Schultz) Blum, both natives of Russia ; he born in 1812, and she in 1818. The parents came to this country, with their family, in 1844, and first settled in Galveston, Texas, where the father dealt in furs for a num- ber of years. At present he is a merchant in Tarpen Springs, Fla., and since his advent in this country he has made and lost three good fortunes. Subjeet is the youngest of three liv- ing children-Edward A., Amalia G. and Rob- ert-out of a family of fourteen children. The schools of New Orleans and St. Louis afforded our subjeet his means of education. While in the latter eity, he apprenticed himself to a den- tist there, and there learned his profession. He afterward practiced dentistry in Du Quoin and Cairo, and in 1872 he came to Mt. Vernon, where he has followed his profession since. He was married, June 4, 1867, in Du- Quoin, to Miss Alice .Spotts, born February 8, 1844, in Greene County, Ill., and a daughter of Samuel Spotts, born May 7, 1812, in Delaware, an architect and builder by profession. Ile died July 31, 1864. Five children have come to bless this union-May O., born May 5, 1868; Albert and Alfred, twins, born September 2, 1869; Robert A., born Jannary 1, 1874, and Guy E., born February 6, 1881. Mr. Blum is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and in poli- ties is a Democrat.
JOHN S. BOGAN, Circuit Clerk, Mt. Vernon, was born in Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., Va., on the 6th of March, 1820. ' His father, Benjamin Bogan, was born in Spottsylvania County, Va., December 30, 1795. He was reared in Alex- andria, Va., and graduated from the theolog- ical seminary of that eity; he there served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade with John Stewart, and subsequently removed to Wood- stoek of that State, when he became engaged , in the publication of a paper, he himself acting
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as editor; he continued this for a number of years and then removed to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he published a paper for four years. At the expiration of this time he returned to Woodstock, and soon after was appointed clerk of the Second Comptroller's office, Washington, D. C., and soon after was transferred to a clerk- ship in the general post office. He held this position for ten years, and was then appointed chief clerk of the Senate document room, where he remained for twenty-two years, and was then removed on the commencement of Grant's Presidency. IIc was a Captain in the war of 1812. At the time of his newspaper career, he became noted as one of the leading writers of the east, and was afterward a corresponding editor of five or six of the leading journals of our country. He was an Elder of the Presby- terian Church. His death occurred in Fair- fax County, Va., on the 25th of July, 1870. He was a son of John Bogan, of Scotch-Irish descent, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Sarah A. (Ott) Bogan (subject's mother) was born at Woodstock, Va., April 18, 1801, and died in Fairfax County, Va .; September 26, 1867. She was a daughter of Michael and Mary (Zaron) Ott, natives of York, Penn., who subsequently settled in Virginia. He was a soldier in the French war. Our sub- ject's parents had twelve children, of whom the following six are living: Dr. Vanburen, of Wash- ington City; Susan S., wife of Hon. George H. Varnell, of Mt. Vernon, Ill .; Samuel W., of Washington, D. C .; Anna, wife of Samuel Butt, of Fairfax County, Va .; Charles J., of the Treasury Department, Washington, D. C., and John S., our subject, who is the oldest child. He was reared in Woodstock until he was twelve years of age, when he was removed by his parents to Washington. When about four- teen years of age, he entered upon a six years' term of apprenticeship in the Globe printing office of Blair & Reed, Washington, D. C. He remained in this position until 1843, when, on
account of his failing health, he engaged in farming near Washington, and continued the same until October 30, 1846; he came to Jeffer- son County, Ill., in Grand Prairie Township, where he continued the occupation of farming until August, 1851, when he removed to Mt. Vernon, and started the first newspaper of the town, the Jeffersonian. In the fall of 1854, he sold his paper to Bowman & Robertson, and the same year was elected Circuit Clerk of the county, a position he still retains, and fills to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of Jeffer- son County. Previous to 1854, while engaged in farming, he held the offices of School Direc- tor, Constable and Deputy Sheriff. He was married in 1842 to Miss Louisa Margaret Bru- nette, a native of Alexandria County, Va. She is the mother of five children, viz., Sarah E., wife of Marcus L. Goodale; Mary C., wife of William T. Goodrich; Hannah, wife of Newton C. Pace; William and John F. Mr. Bogan has been connected with the Jefferson County Fair Association as Secretary or President since 1860; he is a charter member of the I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the " Iron Hall." He and wife are connected with the Presbyterian Church.
RUFUS J. BOND, druggist, Mt. Vernon, was born Nov. 11, 1847, in Shiloh Township, Jeffer- son County, Ill. He is a son of Michael Bond, a native of North Carolina, but reared in Ten- nessee. He came to this county in the fall of 1829, and the next year moved his family here, he following his vocation, and dying in 1880, being the son of Louis Bond. The mother of our subject, Maria (Fuller) Bond, was the mother of ten children, of whom five boys and two girls are now living. Her parents were Levi and Elizabeth Fuller, he a native of New York, and she of New Jersey. Our subject was cdueated in this county, where he also tilled the soil till after he was twenty-two years old, when he commenced clerking in Mt. Ver- non in the drug store of Samnel S. Porter. He
MOUNT VERNON CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
is now a partuer of Mr. Porter, having a half interest in the store. Our subject was joined in matrimony to Miss Mary J. England, who has been blessed with five children-Norman A. and Maude, deceased ; Harry, born Decem- ber 1, 1878 ; Auna L., horn November 19, 1880, and Neal, born May 27, 1883. Mrs. Bond is connected with the Baptist Church. Mr. Bond holds the responsible office of City Treasurer, and in polities is identified with the Republican party.
HON. THOMAS S. CASEY, Cireuit Judge, Mt. Vernon. For sketch of Judge Casey, see chapter on Bench and Bar.
W. B. CASEY, liveryman, Mt. Veruon, was born in June, 1820, in Jefferson County. His father, William Casey, Esq., was a native of Ten- nessee, but reared in Kentucky; he died in this county. When about twelve years old, while living at Cave-in-Rock, Ill., he and his aunt killed a bear which was swimming the Ohio River. He was also married at Cave-in-Roek, to Amy Barker, a daughter of IIon. Louis Bar- ker, one of the most prominent pioneers of Southern Illinois, who was elected to the Legis- lature when Illinois was a Territory, and was afterward elected to the Senate. His father, Isaac Casey, who was the grandfather of our subjeet, was a brother of Gov. Casey. He came here about 1817. (See General History about the Casey family.) Squire William Casey was a farmer by occupation and at one time was considered the wealthiest man in Jef- ferson County, donating the ground on which Mt. Vernon was built. He held the offices of Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. The past record of the Casey family is such that their descendants can well be proud of it. Our subject was educated in Mt. Vernon, where he spent a great deal of his time. His main oceu- pation in life has been that of a United States Mail Contractor ; even as late as eight years ago he got sixteen contraets from the Govern- ment. He has never held nor sought public
office, and may yet be considered a type of the old pioneers. Mr. Casey has been married twice, his present wife, Sarah C. Hamlin, being born in Ohio. She is a daughter of Rhoderick Hamlin. The result of the union is three daughters-Lora, deceased ; Cornelia, wife of John McGuire, and Virginia. Mr. Casey is identified with the Democratic party, and dur- ing the war belonged to the United States re- crniting service.
WILLIAM C. COWGER, deceased, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., February 15, 1828, and was a son of Adam Cowger, deceased. The subject of this sketch came to this county in 1850, where he lived until his death, which occurred February 15, 1883. He followed teaming several years, and ran a livery stable in Mt. Vernon about twelve years. He was married in July, 1849, to Abigail Suter, by whom he had one child-William A., born June 29, 1850, and died January 24, 1874. Mrs. Cowger was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1833, and is a daughter of William Suter, de- ceased.
RUSSELL DEWEY, miller, Mt. Vernon, born February 11, 1833, in Erie County, Penn. He is a son of Russell Dewey, Sr., born January 2, 1800, in New Canaan, N. Y. He was also a miller, and died near Quincy, Adams County, Ill. The mother of our subject, Elizabeth (Miks) Dewey, born March 5, 1805, in Hocking Ohio, and died in Adams County, Ill. She was married September 17, 1821, at Hocking, Ohio, by Rev. Mr. Spurgin, at the age of fifteen. She was the mother of twenty children, of whom seven are now living. Our subject was educated in Pennsylvania and New York, and in early life devoted his attention to milling, and has followed it in Erie, N. Y., near Cincin- nati, Ohio, in Missouri and in Mt. Vernon, to which place he came in 1860. Ile was mar- ried twiee. His first wife, Rebecca Kimmons, died in Adams County. His present wife, Eu- niee (Mills) Dewey, was born January 28
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1841, in Hardin County, III. Her parents were George and Hannah (Pollard) Mills, the latter a native of England. George Mills lived eighteen years in Mt. Vernon, merchan- dising most of the time, but at one time acting as Deputy Sheriff of Jefferson County, in which he died. Mrs. Eunice Dewey is the mother of eleven children, viz. : George W., deceased; Addie, born March 14, 1864; Mary O., born October 20, 1865; Emma L., born De- cember 2, 1867; Eliza G., born October 26, 1869; Edgar A., born March 12, 1871; Mattie, born December 27, 1873; Charles L., born No- vember 16, 1875; Lucy A., born May 26, 1878; Harry R., born April 9, 1880; Frank M., born September 13, 1882. Mrs. Dewey is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is an A. F. & A. M .; also a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Iron Hall. At present, he holds the office of Alderman.
SILAS DOWNER, wagon-maker, Mount Vernon, was born July 15, 1831, in Vermont. His father, John Downer, was a native of New Hampshire. He was a farmer by occupation, but in early life taught school. In the fall of 1832, he came to Jefferson County, and for many years followed teaching as a vocation. He is yet living with the subject of this sketch, whose grandfather, Silas Downer, was a native of New Hampshire, but died in Jefferson Coun- ty, to which he came about 1830. The mother of our subject, Sarah (Neil) Downer, was a na- tive of Vermont ; she was a daughter of Wal- ter and Hannah Neil, and the mother of eight children, of whom four are now living in this county ; she died May 1, 1882. Our subject was educated in this county, where he has made his home most of his life. In early life he farmed. At the age of nineteen, he commenced working at the blacksmith trade, to which he devoted a great deal of attention. He is a natural mechanic, and most of his life has been spent in shops and mills, of which latter he has built and repaired a great many. The last
three years, however, he has spent in his wag- on shop. Our subject was joined in matrimony, April 13, 1852, in Mount Vernon, to Miss Harty L. Schanck, born July 9, 1825, in New York ; she is a daughter of Samuel Schanck, a native of New Jersey, born in 1799. He came here in 1839, following different occupations, and is one of the oldest living men in the county ; he was also the oldest man in his regiment while serving in the Mexican war. Mrs. Downer's mother, Abigail (Cole) Schanck, was a native of Oneida County, N. Y. She was the mother of seven children, of whom four are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Downer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an A., F. & A. M., also a member of the H. W. Hubbard Chapter of R. A. M .; has been Alderman of the Third Ward, and is a Demo- crat in politics.
COL. GEORGE W. EVANS, banker, Mount Vernon. This gentleman is a son of Nathaniel and Mary Evans, both deceased, who were na- tives of Wales, and who came to America when they were both young, and were reared by their parents in Eastern Virginia, where they died, the former in 1846, aged fifty years, and the latter in 1849, aged fifty years. They were the parents of two children, viz., Jonathan and George W., our subject. He was born in Pres- ton County, Va., December 20, 1832, and was there reared on a farm, being bound out to work after his father's death. When he was seventeen years of age, he accompanied an overland emigrant train to California, and there spent four years in merchandising and mining. In the fall of 1850, he returned to Jefferson County, Ill., and the following spring began a roving life, which he continued until the break- ing-out of the late war, when he enlisted in Johnson County, Ill., and raised Company E, of the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and entered the service as Captain of the same. He served through the war, and passed through the general rules of promotions, and when he
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was mustered out of the service he held the rank of Colonel. After the war, he settled permanently in Jefferson County, Ill., and en- gaged in farming in Elk Prairie Township ; he is now one of the largest land owners of the county, and has been very successful in farm- ing. In 1873, he engaged in the banking busi- ness, under the firm name of Evans, Wilbanks & Co. In 1865, he married in Jefferson Coun- ty, Ill., Miss Martha C. Anderson, daughter of Gov. Stinson H. Anderson, whose history ap- pears elsewhere in this work. This union has been blessed with three children. Col. Evans is a wide-awake, public-spirited and self-made man, and enjoys the highest respect of the community in which he lives. He is an active member of the A., F. & A. M. and K. of II. J. E. FERGERSON, merchant, Mt. Vernon, was born August 1, 1819, in Sumner County, Tenn. He is a son of Nelson Fergerson, a na- tive of Virginia, and a blacksmith by occupa- tion. He came here in the fall of 1819, follow- ing his trade, mostly. He moved back to Ten- nessee in 1822, and died there in 1825. His father, Edward Fergerson, was also a native of Virginia, but died in Tennessee. The mother of our subject was Roxoda ( Tyler) Fergerson, a native of Tennessee, where she died. She was married three times, her second husband being Gideon Pitt, who died in Tennessee. Iler third husband was Carter C. Hall. She was the mother of eight children, viz .: James E. Fer- gerson, John W. Fergerson, Matilda A. Fergerson (deceased) Nelson Fergerson (deceased) Sarah E. Pitt, William H. Hall, Andrew Hall and Cath- arine Hall. Our subject only went a few months to the old subscription schools in Tennessee. At the age of thirteen years, he was bound out eight years, by the courts, to learn the black- smith trade with B. F. Simpson. After four years, he took the white swelling in his ankle, and was laid up almost two years, and finally was cured, his employer paying all expenses and giving him his liberty. In the fall of 1836,
he returned to Jefferson County (where he had lived several years during his infancy), and in Mt. Vernon worked at his trade as a black- smith with Burton Affleck, till August, 1837, when he returned to Bedford County, Tenn., where he stayed with his unele from 1837 till 1841, when he got married and moved to Sum- ner County in 1843, where he carried on farm- ing with good suecess till 1852, when he lost his first wife, Ann S. Ventress, who was the mother of eight children, of whom three are now living, viz .: James M., Frank L. and John L. In the spring of 1852, he again came to this county, where he engaged in farming and mer- chandising. He was married the second time to Mrs. Margaret S. Westeott, who died in 1858. After Mr. Fergerson was married, he went baek to Tennessee in order to bring his children to his new home. Mrs. Margaret S. Fergerson was the mother of five children, viz .: Mary A. West- eott, wife of William T. Williams; James West- cott; IIon. John W. Westeott, a prominent mer- chant and politician of Xenia, Clay County, Ill .; Elizabeth Westcott, present wife of T. J. Gas- ton, and William B. Westcott, a commission" man in St. Louis, Mo. Our subject was mar- ried a third time, to Sarah F. Allen, born in Jefferson County. Her father, Rev. George Allen, is a local minister of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church. She is the mother of six chil- dren, viz .: Glendora B., born May 2, 1860; Ju- liette E., born September 18, 1863; Edith L., born January 6, 1869; George E., born July 20, 1872 (he died, July 6, 1883, from wounds received by the explosion of a coal oil can on July 5), Fannie E., born Angust 5, 1876, and Carrie M., born October 25, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Fergerson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Fergerson has no aspi- ration for office, but devotes his attention strict- ly to business. He has been engaged as a mer- chant, farmer and mannfacturer since 1852. He now owns a harness store and an interest in Hudspeth, Taylor & Co.'s dry goods store; also,
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an interest in the wooleu factory, and for many years had an interest in the milling business. In politics, he is a Republican to the core.
JOIIN GIBSON, farmer, P. O. Mt. Vernon, was born October 22, 1829, in Monroe County, Ohio, the son of James and Mary (Gorley) Gib- son. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Gibson, was a native of Scotland. He was a farmer by occupation, and settled in the North of Ireland, where he died. The father was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. He was a farmer by occupation, and came from Ireland in an early day, and was one of the earliest settlers in Monroe County, Ohio, where he entered Government land. He finally moved to Mt. Vernon, where he died. The mother was a native of County Dublin, Ireland, and was the mother of eight children, of whom seven are living. Our subject's education was re- ceived in the schools of his native county, and, in 1853, he went to California, where he mined for a year and then returned to the States. In 1855, he came to Jefferson County, Ill., and farmed for three years, and then went .to Pike's Peak, Colo., crossing the plains with two yoke of oxen. He mined in what was called the California Gulch until 1860, and then returning to Illinois, he farmed in this county until October, 1861. He then enlisted in the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and served until the close of the war. He entered the army as a private, but was soon afterward elected to First Lieutenant. He was next promoted to Captain, and held that position to the close of the war. Among the battles in which he participated were the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, siege of Nash- ville, Mission Ridge, Atlanta campaign, Sher- man's " march to the sea," and was finally mus- tered out at Goldsboro, N. C. Since the war. he has been actively engaged in farming. He owns 134 acres, part of which is situated in the corporate limits of Mt. Vernon. He was married, in this county, October 10, 1833, to
Mrs. Mary Adeline Coleman, who was born in Morgan County, Ohio, October 10, 1833, and is a daughter of Charles and Sarah Jane (Web- ster) McClure. This lady is the mother of four living children-C. C. Colemau (by her first husband), born June 12, 1860 ; Armettie, born February 13, 1867 ; James A., born November 4. 1869 .; Emily B., born May 27, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are members of the M. E. Church. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. fraternity of Opdyke, and the Union Lodge, No. 13. I. O. O. F., of Mt. Vernon. He has filled the various chairs in both lodges, and has been Grand Representative to the Masonic Grand Lodge twice. In politics, he has been identified with the Republican party.
JUDGE ANGUS McNEIL GRANT, banker, Mt. Vernon, was born in Christian Co., Ky., May 26, 1810. His parents, Joshua and Henrietta (McNeil) Grant, originally of North Carolina, and of Scotch parentage, settled in Kentucky in the early part of the present century. He received in his boyhood an ordinary school educatiou, perfected by a subsequent two- years course of study in the higher branches of learning, at Princeton College, in his native State. Upon abandoning definitely student life, he became engaged in clerking for an uncle, with whom he remained for a period of about four years. He was afterward occupied in farming and agricultural pursuits, at which he continued until 1836. At this date he moved to Mount Vernon Ill., and for two years was employed in merchandising, at the expiration of which time he hecame identified with the hotel business and also with farming opera- tions. In 1867, he abandoned the botel busi- ness ; continued busy with farming, however, until 1872. In this year, the organization of the Mount Vernon National Bank was effected, be being the prime inover in the enterprise, and to him by election was awarded the presidential chair, which he continued to fill with fidelity and ability until a serious attack of sickness, in
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1879, compelled him to resign the position. During the days of the Whig party, he was one of its adherents and supporters, but since its dissolution has been a zealous and consistent Democrat. In 1837, he was elected County Surveyor, and filled that office for many years. He was afterward elected County Judge, but resigned before the expiration of his term. le was one of the earliest pioneers and settlers of Mount Vernon, and is honored as one of its most enterprising citizens ; upon his arrival, there were but four or five houses in the place, and from that time to the present he has con- stantly and ably exerted himself to aid in securing to it the full development of its resources. He was united in marriage in Octo- ber, 1836, to Miss Martha Anderson, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of William B. and Ann (Galaspie) Anderson. She was born in 1810, and died in Mount Vernon, III., May 8, 1883. She was the mother of the following children : Edward Henry, who died at the age of six years; Lena, wife of C. D. Ham ; Amanda C., wife of M. M. Poole, a prominent banker of Shawneetown. Ill., and Augusta May, wife of William C. Pollock. Judge Grant is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, and enjoys the highest esteem of the community in which he lives.
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