USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 55
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MOUNT VERNON CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
the I. O. O. F; a Democrat in politics, and with his wife unites with the Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE WILLIAM REID, jeweler, Mt. Vernon, was born in Woburn, Mass., May 19, 1854, and is a son of J. B. and Emma T. (Holden) Reid. The father is a native of Ire- land, is a shoe-maker by trade, and is living in Greenville, Ill. The mother of our subject is a native of Massachusetts, and a daughter of William and Catharine IIolden. The parents are also natives of that State. To her has been born ten children, nine of whom are now living-William G., Lizzie (wife of a Mr. Dickey), Ward J., Katie (wife of a Mr. Rodgers), John D., Susie, Lilly, Frank and Tina. Subject received his education in Greenville, Ill. In early life, he farmed and clerked, and finally came to Mt. Vernon, where he learned the trade of a machinist, and afterward that of a jeweler under Mr. Morgan. He afterward formed a partnership with his employer, which still exists. In Greenville, on May 19, 1875, he was married to Gertrude A. Schank, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., November 26, 1852, and is a daughter of Lafayette and Delia (Wilson) Schank, also natives of New York. Four children have come to bless this union-Delia E. (born October 14, 1876), Katie W. (born June 28, 1878), John B. (born Jan- nary 26, 1880), Minnie G. (born December 13, 1881). Mr. and Mrs. Reid are members of the Baptist Church. Subject is a member of the A. O. U. W. In politics, he is a Republican.
JOHN A. ROBINSON, farmer, P. O. Mt. Vernon. Among the enterprising and substan- tial farmers of Mt. Vernon Township is Mr. Robinson. He is a native of this county, and was born in Spring Garden Township July 18, 1841. His father, John Robinson (deceased), was a pioneer of this county and a native of South Carolina. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and, in 1815, came to Franklin County, Ill., and helped build the first house in old Frankfort, in that county, and a short time
afterward came to this county and settled the old Wescott farm in Shiloh Township, on the Centralia road. He was a blacksmith, and struck the first liek on the forge in Jefferson County. He was a hard-working man, and cleared up several farms. In stature, he was six feet and seven inches. Ile married Rhoda San- ders, who survives him. She was born in North Carolina ; came to Rutherford County, Tenn., when a girl, where she became acquainted with Mr. Robinson ; they grew up children together, and married in that county. The old folks had fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls, of whom the subject of this sketch is yonngest. But three of them are living-Jemima Malone, of Mt. Vernon ; Theresa Phelps, near Creal's Springs, Williamson County, Ill. ; and John A. The father died during the cholera plague in 1852, of that dreaded disease. John A. Robin- son has been a druggist thirteen years, but had to abandon it on account of failing health. He was married, Angust 6, 1863, to Susan, danghter of Isaac Dodson, and by her he has had seven children, five living-Edward M., eighteen years old ; John S., Lulu, Frankie M., and George N. Mr. Robinson owns eighty acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and trading. lle is turning his attention to short- horn cattle. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows order, and of the M. E. Church. In politics, a Republican. For seven years he superintended the County Infirmary and dis- charged his duties faithfully.
R. E. RYAN, merchant, Mount Vernon. It is admitted that a poet is born not made, and of a true painter the same may be said. A strong natural bias or inclination for a special course in life will struggle for development and in most cases with success, and the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is an example of both of these principles. Among the self-made men of Mount Vernon, none de- serve a more honorable mention than Mr. Ryan, who was born in Princeton, Ind., July
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21, 1852. Our subject is of direct Irish de- scent, his father, John M. Ryan, having come from Ireland at an early age. The latter is also a merchant by occupation, and is at pres- ent engaged in business in Evansville, Ind. Ellen (Little) Ryan, the mother of our subject, was a native of Charleston, S. C., and died in Princeton, Ind., in 1867. Subject is the second of five children, viz., Mary J. (wife of a Mr. Page, of California), Robert E. (our subject), James L., John M. and Margaret. As far as his education goes, it was received in the com- mon schools of his native town. When quite a boy, he commenced life in a woolen mill, and then clerked in a general store. He remained in that town five years, and then went to Evansville, Ind., and clerked three ycars for Miller Bros., of that place. In the spring of 1878, he came to Mount Vernon, and, in com- pany with George H. Bittrolff, opened a general store. It was a stock of about $1,500, and consisted mainly of dry goods and boots and shoes. Since then, by careful industry and perseverance, the stock lias been increased to about $15,000, and the firm now occupy one of the most commodious and handsome store rooms in Mount Vernon. Mr. Ryan, in his business career, has proved himself to be truly a self-made man-one that can rely entirely upon his own ability; and he has made a mark for himself in the business circles of the city. Our subject was joined in matrimony in this city, April 28, 1881, to Christina May Harmon, who was born in Cairo, on May 7, 1859, and is a daughter of John Q. and Mary (Mckenzie) Ilarmon, the father being among the pioneers of Southern Illinois. The mother was a native of Pittsburgh, Penn. Mrs. Ryan is a member of the Episcopal Church of Mount Vernon. Mr. Ryan is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. M. A. fraternities. In politics, he is a Democrat.
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JUDGE JOHN R. SATTERFIELD, Justice of the Peace, Mount Vernon, was born in Pen-
dleton County, Ky., September 28, 1809, to Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Breshiers) Satterfield. When he was eighteen months old, he was adopted by Edward Maxey, by whom he was reared. He was brought to Jefferson County, Ill., in October, 1818, and here he received the principal part of his education. He engaged in farming, and continued in that vocation until 1843, when he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which he still continues to hold, having served in it for over forty years. In 1843, he was also elected County Recorder, and served in that office for a number of years. In 1845, he was elected School Superintendent, and held the office one term. In 1842, he served as Deputy Sheriff, and also in 1846 and 1847. In 1850, he was elected Sheriff for two years. In 1850, he was elected County Judge, and held the same position for twenty-three years. In all his official positions, Judge Sat- terfield did his duty, and won the highest esteem of the people at large. He was married in Jefferson County, Ill., January 30, 1833, to Elizabeth P. Johnson, a native of Tennessee, born in 1815. She came to the connty with her parents in May, 1818. She is the mother of nine children, of whom the following are living-Edward V., John N., Prudence (wife of Frank Fry, of Colorado), Martha (wife of Sam- uel D. Cooper) and Laura. The Judge was in the Black Hawk war for three months, and held the office of Sergeant. Politically, he is a Democrat.
JOSHUA SHORT, farmer, P. O. Mount Ver- non, was born in Clinton County, IH., March 23, 1830, a son of Thomas J. Short, of Clinton County, III. He was educated in Jefferson County, and was in the late war, in Company I, Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; he was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and several skirmishes, serving nine months. He was married, November 24, 1857, to Abigail Williams, of Ohio, by whom he had one child -- Martha Jane. Mrs. Short died July 1, 1862,
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MOUNT VERNON CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
and was buried in Jefferson County. He was again married, May 26, 1864, to Lucinda Tur- ner, by whom he had eight children, six living. viz., Sarah S., Lena L., John T., George W., Alice I. and Albert A. Mr. Short owns sixty acres of land and is engaged in farming and stoek-raising. Polities, Republican.
THOMAS H. SIMONDS, farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., February 25, 1833, and is a son of Richard Simonds (deceased), a native of Virginia. Our subject attended the subseription schools in the old log sehoolhouse, sat on a split pole seat, and wrote on a slab. He came to this county in March, 1852, where he has since resided. On the 1st of February, 1854, he married Sarah Vance, by whom he has had eight chil- dren, seven living-John, William, James E., Mary E., Susan E., Robert and Rebecca. Mr. Simonds owns eighty acres of land, and is en. gaged in general farming on Section 23.
MAJ. W. H. SUMMERS. Mt. Vernon, was born June 22, 1821, in Muhlenburg County, Ky. He is a son of David Summers, a native of North Carolina and a farmer by occupation, who came to Jefferson County in 1828, and died here after a useful career, in which he filled the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years. His father. William H. Sum- mers, Sr., was also a farmer. The mother of our subject. Mary A. (Cash) Summers, was a native of North Carolina. She is yet living, and was the mother of six children who reached maturity, and of whom Emeline, wife of M. Redmond, and our subject are the only ones now living. The latter was educated in this county. In early life he farmed. He has dis- tinguished himself as a soldier in two wars. He fought in the Mexican war and in our late war. enlisting in the summer of 1861 in the Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company E. He was elected Second Lieutenant, and from that rose rapidly through his merit and bravery to the rank of First Lieutenant, then
Captain and finally Major, and as such mus- tered the regiment out at the close of the war, at Louisville, Ky. Maj. Summers participated in many thrilling scenes and famous battles, among others those of Shiloh, Jackson, Chat- tanooga, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, and was with Gen. Sherman in his famous "march to the sea," and while on the route he and his regiment participated in what they called the "side-show at Griswoldville," and af- terward in the battle of Bentonville and other minor engagements. At the battle of Shiloh, he was shot in the right leg. and for three months did not know that the bullet was in the leg. It is in there yet, a fit memento of the hardships gone through. He was also wound- ed at the engagement of Griswoldville. At the battle of Mission Ridge, he was stunned by a shetl, which shock impaired his hearing and otherwise injured him. The United States Government has granted him a pension for his faithful and valuable service. After the war, Maj. Summers returned to this county, where he engaged in farming and milling, and at pres- ent keeps the "Farmers' House " in Mt. Ver- non, where he intends to pass his days. He was joined in matrimony twice. His first wife, Theresa Lisenbey, died in this county. This union was blessed with two children, viz .: Charles F., deceased, and John D., a farmer in Moore's Prairie. His present wife, Loviza J. (Short) Summers, is a native of Tennessee. She is the mother of three children, viz .: Ne- braska Van Dyke, William S. and Thomas J. Ile and his estimable wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and in polities has been identified with the Republican party.
JOHN W. SUMMERS, deceased. Among the worthy and once useful men of this county was Mr. Summers. He was a native of this county and was born in this township July 2, 1825. His father, John Summers, was a native of Scotland, but spent most of his life after C
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BIOGRAPHICAL:
1
coming to this country in Jefferson County, except one year, which time he spent in Texas. He was engaged mostly in the milling business. He owned a saw and flouring mill and carding machine, in partnership with his father. He also made some furniture, and was a kind of general mechanic. He married Wincy J. Hutchison September 22, 1847; she is a daughter of William Hutchison, deceased. This union was blessed with nine children, eight of whom are living, viz .: John W., Lin- da W., Rufus A .. Margaret F., James C., Wincy C., Thomas E. and Bertha L. Mr. Summers was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died July 14, 1864. loved by all who knew him. Mrs. Summers married William Finley December 30, 1866, and by him had one child, Everard W. Mr. Finley is also dead. The latter was a Presby. terian minister, and a native of Warren Coun- ty, Ky., born November 30, 1800.
JEREMIAH TAYLOR, banker and farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born in Warren County, Ky., on the 26th of November, 1816. His early life was spent at home, assisting to till the soil of the farm, and receiving sueb an education as the subscription schools of that period afforded. At seventeen years of age, he began teaching school, following the same during the winter months, and in the summer divided his time in working on the farm and trading in stock, shipping by flat- boats to New Orleans. The exposure incident to such a business so impaired his health that in 1842 he was obliged to give up trading and seek other pursuits. He began the study of chemistry and daguerreotyping for the purpose of securing a business that would enable him to travel and thereby regain his health. After six months of laborious study and practice, he became master of the art, and immediately began traveling in the interests of his business, making a tour through the following States : Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri and
Illinois, which occupied five years of his life. He is now one of the oldest artists in the United States. On the 13th of June, 1848. he arrived in Mount Vernon, and became one of Jefferson County's permanent settlers. He worked at his trade in the city of Mount Ver- non until the following September, and then married and engaged in farming and stock- raising on a farm nine miles south of Mount Vernon. He proved to be a very practical and successful farmer, and by economy and good management he soon acquired sufficient means to start a tanyard, saddlery and shoe shop, which he operated in connection with his farm duties, continuing thus until April, 1867, when he retired and removed to Mount Vernon. Having always been a man of active business qualities, he soon tired of this easy life, and after three months engaged in the mercantile business, taking in as a partner his step-son, Mr. C. D. Ham. This business was continued for five years, and with good success. In 1872, after selling his mercantile interests, he, in company with several other prominent men of the county, organized the Mount Vernon Na- tional Bank, and which has ocenpied a great portion of his time since. He has, however, managed his farm during all this time. In September, 1848, he married Mrs. Frances Ham. He and wife are connected with the M. E. Church ; he is a member of the A , F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., and politically is a Republican.
A. F. TAYLOR, merchant, Mount Vernon. As a worthy example of Western enterprise, no better can be found than he whose name heads this article, a man who, beginning life without wealth or position, with no other help than a determined will and native abilities, has amassed quite a fortune, and has risen to a position of honor among his fellow-townsmen. Mr. Taylor is a native of this State, and was born in Schuyler County, III., on November 22. 1832. He is son of Rev. W. Il. and Elizabeth (Spohnhimmore) Taylor. The grandfather of
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MOUNT VERNON CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
our subject was a native of England, and came to this country in an early day and settled in Vermont, where the father was born August 27, 1800. The latter came West in 1818, and settled in what.is now Schuyler County, Ill., and became minister of the M. E. Church. In 1847, he came to Jefferson County, where he followed his noble calling until his death, which occurred in this county on April 3, 1872. The mother was a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Philip Spohnhimmore, a native of Pennsylvania Subject was one of a family of eight children ; his education was received mostly in this county. At the age of sixteen, he commenced clerking in Mount Vernon, and remained there until the spring of 1861, when he eulisted in the Fortieth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. In that regiment he served as Quarter- master for two years, with the rank of First Lieutenant. lle was then detached to serve on the staffof Col. Hicks, with the rank of Brigade Adjutant. Ile afterward served in the same capacity under Gen. Meredith, who commanded the district of Western Kentucky. In that line of duty he served until the close of the war. Among the battles in which he participated was that of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Jackson (Miss.), and many other smaller skirmishes. After the war, our subject returned to Mount Vernon. when he again devoted himself to the mercan- tile business. He first opened a clothing store, in company with S. H. Watson. At the end of one year the partnership was dissolved, how- ever. and he went into the dry goods trade with J. F. Watson. This firm continued in opera- tion about five years. The firm was then changed to Johnson, Taylor & Co., and at present the business is being transacted under the name of Hudspeth, Taylor & Co. In Mount Vernon. Ill., he was wedded to Miss E. A. I Hicks, who was born January 16, 1834, near Edwardsville, Ill. This lady is the daughter of Stephen G. and Eliza R.
(Maxey) Hicks, the father being a native of Georgia, the mother of Tennessee. The result of this union has been three children, two of whom are now living-Stephen G., born May 21, 1859; Nellie A., July 16, 1866, and Will- iam W. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are both members of the M. E. Church. Subject is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity, and has filled most of the offices of that organ- ization. It is Mr. Taylor's desire to bend all his faculties and abilities to his business, and, in consequence is no office seeker, but as far as his political feelings and principles go, he gives his influence to the Republican party.
S. G. H. TAYLOR, merchant, Mt. Vernon. Among the many successful business men of Mt. Vernon, there are none whose career affords a much better example of what steady perse- verance will accomplish than the gentleman of whose life this is a brief sketch. Still a young man, Mr. Taylor Has already made himself a mark among the business men of this city. Ile is a native of the town in which he is doing his duty as a good and true citizen, being born here March 21, 1859. Ile is a son of Albion F. and Elmira A. (Hicks) Taylor, whose sketeh- es appear elsewhere in this work. Our sub- ject's education was received in the schools of this city, and then took a course in the MeKen- dree College at Lebanon, Ill. After his return from that institution, he clerked in his father's store for a short time, and then in 1881, he having chosen the mercantile profession as his calling for life, he opened a grocery store, where so far he has had a fair share of the patronage of Mt. Vernon and vicinity. In the pleasant little city of Mt. Vernon, on Septem- ber 8, 1881, he was wedded to Miss Lulu L. Patton, who was born in Ohio and is a daugh- ter of Charles H. and Charlotte (Lake) l'atton, the father a native of Ohio, the mother of Eng- land. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city. He is a member of Marion Lodge, No. 31, A.
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F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.
ALLEN C. TANNER, County Clerk, Mt. Vernon. The grandfather of our subject, Allen C. Tanner, a merchant, and connected with many of the best families of Virginia, emigrat- ed to Missouri in 1824, and there engaged in frontier trading. His wife. Martha (Bates) Allen, was of a highly respectable family. Tazewell B. Tanner, subject's father, was born in Danville, Va., November 6, 1821. His edu- cation was acquired in the Mckendree College, located at Lebanon, Ill., although his home was in St. Louis. After leaving college, he engaged in school teaching, and continued at that avo- cation during the ensuing four years. He then went to California in search of gold, remaining on the Pacific slope for one year. Upon his return to Illinois, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, serving two years, at the expiration of which time he re- signed his position. He was subsequently elected to the Lower House of the Illinois Leg- islature, and in the following year conducted the Jeffersonian newspaper, a journal intend- ed to educate the people upon the question as to the propriety of donating swamp lands to aid in the construction of railways, a mission which it ultimately accomplished. In the meantime, he studied law with the Hon. Will- iam H. Bissell, and later under the supervision of Judge Scates. While conducting the Jeffer- sonian, he was occupied also in practicing law, meeting with much success. At the end of fif- teen months, he sold out his interest in the newspaper and devoted himself exclusively to the increasing calls of his profession. In 1862, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, and served prominently and ably with that body until its dissolution. He was while thus engaged Chairman of the Committee of Revision and Adjustment, and while officiat- ing in this capacity elicited the praise and en- cominms of all concerned, and was especially
complimented for the masterly manner in which bills were revised and adjusted, and redeemed from bareness by the elegant language in which they were expressed. In 1873, he was elected Judge of the Twenty-fourth Judicial District, which position he held to the time of his death, which occurred March 21, 1881. He was al- ways associated with the Democratic party. and was one of its most esteemed supporters. His skill and judgment as a legal practitioner and as an expounder and definer of the law was unimpeachable. Ile enjoyed the respect and confidence of the entire bar, and was high- ly commended for the fairness and soundness of his decisions. He was married. May 22, 1851, to Sarah A., daughter of the late Gov. Anderson, of Illinois, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Tanner was born on the 11th of April, 1831, in Jefferson County, Ill., and is now residing in the city of Mt. Vernon. She is the mother of the follow- ing children : Allen C., our subject; Winona, wife of R. A. D. Wilbanks, Mary, Blanche and Neil. Allen C. Tanner, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Jefferson County, Ill., Au- gust 4, 1854. He was educated in the Union School of Mt. Vernon, Champaign University of Illinois, and the Christian Brothers' College of St. Louis. At eighteen years of age, imme- diately after leaving school, he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. W. Duff Green, of Mt. Vernon, but at the end of two months was compelled to relinquish his study on account of poor health, and immedi- ately started West to Colorado and spent a considerable time in fishing and hunting, and afterward went North to Minnesota, where he remained thus engaged for the benefit of his health, and in 1874 returned home to Mt. Ver- non. Ile immediately engaged with Circuit Clerk Bogan and remained in his employ un- til, December 14, 1880, he was appointed Coun- ty Clerk to fill a vacancy, and was elected to the same office in the fall of 1882, for a term of
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MOUNT VERNON CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
four years. Mr. Tanner, like his father, is an active worker for the Democratic party. He is an active member of the orders I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. He was married, on the 28th of September, 1880, to Miss Mabel W. Pace, who has borne him one child, Florence.
HON. GEORGE H. VARNELL was born in Georgetown, D. C., February 2, 1833, the second child in a family of ten children of George W. and Mary Ann (Gibson) Varnell. George W. Varnell was a native of Alexandria, Va., born in 1808, and Mary Ann Gibson, born in St. Mary's County, near Leonardstown, Md., in 1813 ; she died in 1854, leaving her husband and the father of her ten children a citizen of Georgetown, where he now is spend- ing the evening of his green old age, residing in the same house where he has spent the past forty years of his life. In early life, he was a hard-working brick mason, and worked and struggled hard for his large young family. For some years now, he has retired from the active business of life, and is enjoying the fruits of his early labors, and the loving care of his children and friends. The childhood of Hon. George H. Varnell was spent in Georgetown, where he passed through the various phases of infancy, and when old enough did " with shin- ing face trudge unwillingly to school "-to the Benevolent Catholic School-but at the prema- ture age of thirteen years this childhood was cut short, and he found himself launched upon a rather selfish world and forced to enter upon the great struggle for existence-a mere child taking up the cast-down gauntlet, and in steady- eyed confidence entering the lists where every hour for so many thousands of years have gone down in despair and gloom so many and such strong, well-developed men-dashed to pieces upon the rocks of strife warring with their fellow-men. He embarked on his career in life as a mule-driver for a canal boat on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and worked at the same for two years. He then went to Wash-
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