USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 58
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Ga., was honorably discharged and returned home. He participated in many thrilling scenes and famons battles, among others, those of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Mission Ridge, with Gen. Sherman in his world-famed " march to the sea," and the battles which occurred in that march and after reaching the coast. Our subject has been merchandising ever since the war, keeping a general store in Piatt County, Ill .; at Spring Garden, this county, where he moved in 1866; stayed there till the spring of 1873, when he came to Belle Rive, where he now keeps a general store. He is a man that stands high in the commn- nity in which he lives. He is an A., F. & A. M., and also an I. O. O. F. He is no politician, and votes the Republican ticket. Our subject married Miss Laura A. Hoskin- son, born January 26, 1847, in Mount Carmel, Ill., daughter of William W. and Emeline (Geddis) Hoskinson, both natives of Ohio. This union was blest with three children, viz., Florence B., born „November 26, 1864; Minnie M., born December 2, 1867, and Lora A., born January 26. 1873. Mrs. Laura Grimes is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
S. C. GUTHRIE, druggist, Belle Rive, born May 16, 1858, in Adams County, Ohio. We count him whose name heads this sketch among our most wide awake and intelligent young business men. He is a son of James Guthrie, a native of Virginia, born 1801, who died here in 1874; he was a shoe maker by occupation, but followed farming here. The mother of our subject, Sarah Huff, born in 1825 in Ohio, is yet living, and the mother of six children now living, viz., Marion D., John E., Emmerson L., Sebastian C., Frank S., Lonella. Our subject received a common school education in this county. At the age of fifteen, he entered R. J. Eaton's drug
store, where he clerked about six years, when he took stock in the store and continued the business himself, being the successor of Dr. R. J. Eaton. He keeps the only drug store in Belle Rive. He is Township Clerk, hav- ing been elected twice. He was joined in matrimony, February 26, 1880, to Miss Mary A. Grant, born November 7, 1861, in Pen- dleton Township. She is a daughter of William M. Grant, a native of Illinois, where he was a farmer. Mrs. Mary A. Guthrie is the mother of one little girl -- Lela Anna, born June 30, 1881. Mrs. Guthrie is relig- iously connected with the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Guthrie is a member of the A., F. & A. M. fraternity, Belle Rive Lodge, No. 696. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.
ORLANDO M. D. HAM, fariner, P. O. Opdyke. was born July 4, 1840, in Jefferson County, Ill. His father, James Ham, was born 1805, in Kentucky; he died in 1845 He was classed among our best citizens. His father, Moses Ham, was also a native of Ken- tucky. James Ham followed farming, tan- ning and merchandising as his occupation. The mother of our subject, Frances T. Crisel, a native of Gallatin County, Ill., was born February 8, 1817. Her parents, Henry and Sally (Truss) Crisel, were natives of North Carolina. Our subject has one brother liv- ing-Christopher C., who is connected with the Mount Vernon National Bank. Mr. Ham early turned his attention to farming, and at present owns 160 acres of good land. He was joined in matrimony, February 10, 1862, in this county, to Marinda E. Goodner, who was born June 28, 1838, in Washington County, Ill. She was a daughter of Elijah Goodner, and is the mother of three chil- dren, viz., Charles R., born November 22, 1862; Orley T., born January 18, 1868, and Ulah Dove, infant girl, deceased. Mr. and
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Mrs. Ham and children are esteemed by the community in which they live. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ham holds the office of Township Collec- tor, and in politics is identified with the Re- publican party.
THOMAS G. HOLLAND, farmer and stockman, P. O. Belle Rive. This gentle- man is one of our old settlers and self-made men, who have made their way up in the world by hard work and perseverance. He was born October 6, 1814, in South Carolina. His father was Hugh Holland, a native of South Carolina, where he farmed. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, with a good rec- ord as a brave soldier. He never came home, and was numbered among the missing heroes. The mother of our subject was Priscilla Brown, a native of Richmond, Va. Her father, Austin Brown, was a silversmith by oc- cupation and a native of Scotland. She was married a second time, to J. Bowyear, a shoe. maker, who was the father of two children, of whom William Bowyear is now living in Missouri. Our subject only went to the old- fashioned subscription schools of Tennessee about twelve months. He has been with strangers all his early life, having to work on the farm for his living, and for very small wages. He came to Jefferson County, Ill .. in the spring of 1837, working for small wages, till he was married, July 23, 1840, to Armilda Goodrich, born June 20, 1820. She is a daughter of Samuel and Calender Good- rich. Mrs. Holland reared ten children, viz .. Callie A. Dixon, a widow lady; Mary, wife of I. M. Casey; Priscilla, wife of Thomas J. Smith, John G., who married Hattie Baker; Minnie, wife of J. H. Wheeler, M. D. : Douglas, married Nettie Kirkpatrick: India Viola, wife of C. J. Riddle; Laura, William St. Clair and Thomas G. are deceased. Af. ter Mr. Holland got married, he settled on
Government land. He was poor in purse, but rich in muscle and perseverance. After raising nine crops, he sold his claim, and then moved to Moore's Prairie, and there bought an improvement and deeded 160 acres of land with a Mexican land warrant, and then com. menced to farm and raise stock in earnest, with good success. He has now a good farm of 240 acres in this county, having deeded his son 120 acres of land. He also owns forty acres of timber land in Hamilton Coun- ty. Mr. Holland has been elected twice as Township Supervisor, and also filled minor offices. Mr. and Mrs. Holland are religiously connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is a stockholder, and at present Vice Presi- dent of the Mount Vernon National Bank.
W. A. HUGHEY, physician, Belle Rive. Among our medical men in this county we are proud to record him whose name heads this sketch. He was born March 9, 1836, in Crittenden County, Ky., son of John R. Hughey, a native of Virginia, a farmer. He came to this county in 1869, and is yet liv- ing here, having reached the ripe old age of seventy years. The mother of our subject is Polly Ann (Crider) Hnghey, a native of Ken- tucky; she is yet living, and the mother of nine children. Our subject is principally self-educated, receiving his primary educa- tion in Kentucky. At the age of twenty-one, he commenced to read medicine with his nn- cle, Dr. C. M. Hughey. After reading two years, he commenced the practice of medicine in Wayne County, III. He came to this county in 1857, and has been here most of the time since. He is yet following his pro- fession in Belle Rive. In September. 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-eighth Regiment II- linois Volunteer Infantry, Company F, serv- ing three years and three months. He par- ticipated in many thrilling battles, among
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others that of Ft. Donelson, Jackson, Mission Ridge, Atlanta and others. The Doctor taught one term of school after the war, and then farmed one year and finally took up the medical profession. He was married, in 1859, to Lois Smith, a native of this county, born November, 1840. She is the mother of eight children, viz., Rosa V., Isaac A., Thomas L. M., Sarah B. (deceased), John S., Lenora L., Joanna M. and Benjamin F. Mr. and Mrs. Hughey are religiously connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican.
WILLIAM H. HUNTER, lumber and farm implement dealer, Belle Rive, born June 5, 1846, in }Rush County, Ind., son of William Hunter, a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer; he died in 1878 in this county. His father was John Hunter, a native of County Donegal, Ireland. The mother of our sub- ject was Elizabeth Kirk, a native of Mary- land, yet living, and the mother of nine chil- dren, of whom two are now living, viz. : David S., and William H., our subject, who received a common school education in Taze- well County, Ill., and attended one year at the Vermillion Institute, Ohio. In early life, he farmed till he was seventeen years old, when he enlisted. March 12, 1861, in the Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteers, Company I; served as a private in that company till June, 1865, when he was transferred to the Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G. and was promoted Corporal of the Color (Huard. He was not discharged till May 30, 1866. He participated in the siege of Fort Morgan. Ala .. Franklin Creek. Miss . Spanish Fort, Ala. After he came home. he farmed and taught school. In April, 1881, he came to Belle Rive, where he has been in the lumber and harness businesses, and is now engaged in the lumber and farm imple- 1 ment business, in partnership with L. D.
Davenport. Our subject was married, Octo- ber 5. 1871, to Miss Olive H. Rotramel, born December 29, 1852, daughter of David and Mary (Myres) Rotramel. She is the mother of two children, viz., Harry (deceased) and Fred, born May 7, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Hun- ter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an A., F. & A. M., also an I. O. O. F., and I. O. G. T. and O. I. H; has been Assessor of Moore's Prairie Town ship, and in politics is identified with the Republican party
WILLIAM A. JONES, merchant, Opdyke. This gentleman represents one of the Jones families who came here when the southwest part of Jefferson County was a wilderness. He was one of that class who helped, by his industry and perseverance, to make out of a wilderness a beautiful and productive country. He was born May 10, 1810, in Virginia, but was reared principally in Indiana. He was a farmer and merchant in Indiana, and in 1858 moved to this coun- ty, where he tilled the soil for about fourteen years, breaking up the very soil on which the village of Opdyke now stands, having built the first substantial frame house on this prairie. About ten years ago, he again eu- barked in the mercantile business, which he now follows. He was joined in matrimony to Sarah Ann Conner, a native of Ohio, but reared in Indiana. She was a daughter of Willoughby and Rachel (Johnson) Conner, and is the mother of ten children, of whom four are now living. viz .: George W. and James W. are twins (they were born July 3. 1836, both are married and mechanics by oc- cupation): Alanson C. (born January 10, 1841, and is married to Martha Foster, a grand daughter of Judge Foster, and the mother of four children, viz .: Melnotte, born November 18, 1876; Pearl M., born June, 1878; Augusta, born June 1880, and Royal
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H., born 1882); Mary Maria Jones (who is yet living with her parents). The father of our subject, George Jones, was a native of Virginia, a farmer by occupation. He came to Indiana in 1816, and died there in his seventy-fifth year. The mother of our sub ject, Prudence Keith Jones, was a native of Virginia; she died in Indiana, and was the mother of eight children, seven sons and one daughter. All the boys have been res- idents of this county. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is also a local minister. He is an I. O. O. F., and in politics has al- ways been a Democrat. He was a member of the County Board who built the court house. He has been no office-seeker nor pol- itician.
MRS. SARAH J. JONES. Opdyke, was born July 29, 1821. She is a daughter of Jacob Brougher, who was a native of North Carolina. but was reared in Indiana, where he died July 23, 1853. The mother of our subject, Isabella Foutz, was born in 1804, in North Carolina: she died August 23, 1879, in Jennings County, Ind., and was the moth- er of nine children. Her parents, Lewis and Sarah Dougan, were natives of North Car- olina, but reared a large family in Clark County, Ind. Mrs. Sarah J. Jones went to school in Jennings County. Ind. She was married in 1841. in Indiana, to George D. Jones, born May 12, 1821, in Indiana, dying May 14, 1879. He was a son of George and Prudence Jones, of Virginia. George D. Jones, deceased, was a man of considerable intelligence. He was identified with the affairs of the county to a great extent, acting as Justice of the Peace for many years; also was Notary Public, and filling many minor offices. Among the secret societies he was well-known. The A., F. & A. M. fraternity counted him among her active members, as
did also the I. O. O. F. Commencing with small means. he accumulated wealth. The family lost in him a true husband and a good father. and the county an exemplary citizen. He was the father of seven children now living, viz., Lewis E., Silas W., Jacob B., Sarah C (the widow of A. J. Wilkerson), Rosa (wife of James Estes), Isaac N., Clem- ent L V. (born July 25, 1863). Our subject has a farm of 165 acres of good land, left her by her industrious husband. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her husband was formerly a mem- ber of the Methodist Epicopal Church (South). He came here in 1865.
ALONZO JONES, farmer, P. O. Opdyke, was born December 24, 1843, in Jennings County, Ind., son of Jonathan C. Jones, a native of Indiana and a farmer. He died in 1878. in this county, to which he had come in 1858. He was a wide awake, intelligent farmer, and has set an example worthy of imitation. He was prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth. In politics, he was Democratic. His father was George W. Jones, a native of Virginia. The mother of our subject, Delilah Keller, was a native of Indiana. She was a dangh- ter of Adam Keller, from New Jersey, of German descent. She is yet living, and the mother of twelve children, of whom our sub- ject is the oldest. He was educated in In- diana and Illinois. He has now a farm of 136 acres, which he keeps in a high state of cultivation. He was married, November 19, 1875, to Miss Ellen Newby, born September 28, 1847, in Jefferson County, Ill. She is a daughter of Hezekiah B. and Nancy (Brown) Newby, he a native of North Carolina and she a native of Tennessee. This union was blessed with two children now living, viz., Curran N., born Angust 14, 1878, and Rado, born November 1, 1881. Mr. Jones is a
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member of the I. O. O. F., Moore's Prairie Lodge, No. 397. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.
J. D. JONES, merchant, Opdyke, born May 22, 1846, in Jennings County, Ind., son oî James K. Jones, a native of Virginia. He was a farmer, principally, and is yet living in Mount Vernon. His father, George Jones, was a native of Virginia The mother of our subject, Hannah S. (Kellar) Jones, was born in 1819 in Indiana. She died in 1874 in this county. She was of German descent, and the mother of five children now living, viz., Isabelle D. Stonemetz, Mary L. Stratton, Jesse D., Frederick C. and Virginia H. Our subject was educated principally in Mount Vernon. In early life he tilled the soil. In 1878, he engaged in the mercantile business in Opdyke, where he now keeps a general store. Our subject was joined in matrimony. October 24, 1869, to Sarah F. Estes, born May 1, 1854, daughter of John and Caroline (Irvin) Estes. She is the mother of four children, viz., Carrie A., born September 21, 1870: Nellie J., deceased; John K., born November 8, 1875; Jessie R., born October 4, 1877. Mrs. Jones is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Jones is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, Moore's Prairie Lodgo, No. 397. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.
F. C. JONES, farmer, P. O. Opdyke, This gentleman is a member of the Jones family, who settled in this part of the county in an early day, and who have done much for the advancement of education and the gen- eral prosperity of the country. He was born March 15, 1848, in Jennings County, Ind., son of James K. and Hannah S. (Keller) Jones. Our subject received his education partly in Indiana, and the rest in Jefferson County, Ill., where he follows farming, own- ing sixty acres of good land, which he keeps
in a high state of cultivation. He was joined in matrimony twice. His first wife, Ella A. Brittin, died, leaving five children- Myrta I., Jesse M., Anna A .; Sophia and Freddie are deceased. His present wife, Mrs. Catharine J. Wood, was born in 1851, in Columbus, Ind. She is a daughter of James McEndree, a farmer by occupation. She is the mother of two children-James and Flora Wood. Mrs. Jones is a member of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Jones is religiously connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party.
JESSE LAIRD, farmer, P. O. Belle Rive. This gentleman is one of our self-made and most enterprising and successful men in Jef- ferson County. He started in life without a dollar and without an education. Yet, eleven years after he started he had accumulated $20,000. He is not known for style, but for solid business qualities. He was born April 7, 1825, in Macon County, N. C., son of David Laird, a native of Virginia. He died in this county, to which he had come in about 1837. He was a farmer. The mother of our sub- ject was Elizabeth (Tumbleson) Laird, a na- tive of North Carolina. She died here. She was the mother of ten children, of whom three are now living-Samuel, of Ottawa, Kan .; Nancy Cofield and Jesse. Our sub- ject went to school only about three months, to the old-fashioned subscription school. He worked on his father's farm till he had reached his majority, when he went to the American bottoms, where he worked for Blair & McLean; finally came to Jefferson County, where he bought hogs and drove them to St. Louis, where he sold them. Getting an in- sight in the stock business, he devoted his whole attention to' it, and amassed quite a fortune. He was the most successful stock- man in this county in his day, and to-day
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owus 280 acres of good land. He is, to a great extent, connected with the railroad his- tory of Jefferson County. Our subject was married June 18. 1556, in this county, to Miss Martha J. Goodmer, born November 1S. 1828, near Belleville. St. Clair County, Ill. She is a daughter of Elijah and Mary (Gore) Goodmer. Mrs. Martha Laird is the mother of six children-an infant daughter (de- ceased: Clara L., born February 23, IS59. wife of Dell Guthrie, of Belle Rive: Samuel T., born July 11. 1861: Sarah A., wife of H. A. Shields: Flora B., born July 23, 1566. she died October 10. 1582: Cora E., born February 9, 1568. Mr. and Mrs. Laird are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. of which he was once a local preacher for two years.
JACOB METZ, farmer. P. O. Opdyke. This gentleman was born June 19. 1849, in Dayton. Ohio, son of Jacob Metz. Sr .. a na- tive of Hessen, Germany, where he was a weaver in silk and satin. and after coming to the United States he followed carpet weaving for about twenty-three years. but for the last twenty-five years has followed farming in Warrick County. Ind. The mother of our subject, Anna Fischbach, was a native of Germany : she died in 1556. in Dayton, Ohio. She was the mother of six children now liv. ing -- Henry. Belle, Matilda, Julius, Jacob and Emma. Our subject attended school mainly in Indiana: also took a commercial course at Evansville. fitting himself for the mercantile business, of which he followed various branches in Evansville. Ind. In 1874, he came to Belle Rive. Ill., where he was en- gaged in the lumber and saw mill business till 1STS, when he was married and settled down on a farm, where he is considered a practical farmer. September 26, 1877, at the residence of Judge Foster. he was mar- ried to Alice Foster, who was born June 9,
1855. She is the mother of two children now living-Harry Foster. born September 22. 1SSO, and Ruby Nell. born September 24. 1852. Mr. Metz is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife is religiously connected with the Christain Church. He is a strong Prohibitionist, and in politics he is connected with the Republican party.
ED MILLER, physician. This gentle- man, who may be counted among our wide- awake physicians, was born August 16. 1847, in Jefferson County, Ill., son of John W. Miller, a native of Ohio, where he was a carpenter. He is now in the furniture business in Belle Kive, and his father, John J. Miller, a farmer and miller by occupation. The mother of our subject. Harriet N. Dodridge Miller, was a native of Ohio, and daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth (Miller) Dodridge. He a native of Virginia. a saddler. and she a native of Ohio, and born 1820, in Lawrence County, and died January 7. ISSO. She was the mother of nine children, of whom three are now living -John E .. Dr. Merritte S. and Edward, our subject. Dr. Miller received his primary education in his native county He worked on his father's farm till he was eighteen years old: he then worked at the carpenter's trade three years, and then kept a drug store in partnership with his brother. Dr. Merritte Miller, in Mt. Vernon. At the end of two years, they sold out to Ed Shephard, and both went to Kansas, where they remained about two years. In 1571. he returned to Jefferson County, where he read medicine with Dr. Eaton. and the following year entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keo- kuk. Iowa, graduating in February, ISTS, after which he returned to Belle Rive. where he commenced the practice of his noble pro- fession. He is yet following it. enjoying the
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esteem and confidence of the people. He was joined in matrimony, August 8, 1876, in Opdyke, to Miss Anna J. Barbee, born June 17, 1858, in this county, daughter of William and America (Harshbarger) Barbee. She is the mother of two children-Walter F., de- ceased, and Lizzie A., born July 24, 1878. Dr. Miller is an active member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. Belle Rive Lodge, No. 696, also a member of the O. I. H. He is identi- fied with the Republican party.
M. V. B. MONTGOMERY, physician, Opdyke. This gentleman is a native of Ohio, being born near Cincinnati March 4, 1837, on the day President Martin Van Buren was inaugurated. and whose initials he bears. His father. Alexander Montgomery, was a native of New Jersey, of Scotch descent; he was a farmer, and died in this county, to which he had come in May. 1869. The mother of our subject, Catharine (Jag gers) Montgomery. was a native of New Jersey. She was also of Scotch descent, and the mother of twelve children; she died in this county. Our subject is the youngest of the twelve children. who are all living and imarried except one. He was educated in Indiana. and received his medical educa- tion in the Ohio Medical College at Cincin- nati. Dr. Montgomery followed his pro- fession two years in Indiana, and then in 1863. came to Jefferson County, Ill., settling near Lynchburg, and in 1870 removed to Opdyke, where he now follows his profession, enjoying the esteem of the people. The Doctor was joined in matrimony, April 25, 1861, in Jennings County. Ind., to Miss Serena P. Jones. born January S, 1840, in Jennings County. daughter of David C. and JAMES W. RENTCHLER. merchant. Op- dyke, was born October 22, 1856, at Hams Grove, Jefferson County, son of John Rentch- ler. a native of Pennsylvania. He was a Susan C. (Prather) Jones, he a native of Vir- ginia, and she a native of Indiana. Mrs. Dr. Montgomery is the mother of two children now living-George W., born May 10, 1866, | farmer. and died in this county, to which he
and Lena L., born March 7, 1869. Dr. Montgomery is an A. F. & A. M., also an I. O. O. F. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres near Opdyke. In politics, he has always been identified with the Democratic party.
W. H. POOLE, merchant, Opdyke, was born May 10. 1842, in Robertson County, Tenn., son of William Poole, a native of that State, a farmer by occupation, who is now living at Mount Vernon. His father, Ephraim Poole. was a miller. The mother of our subject was a descendant of the Cham- bless family. She was the mother of twelve children. of whom nine boys are now living. Our subject was educated in Montgomery County, Tenn. At the age of twenty-two, he left Montgomery County. and came to Wash- ington County. Ill .: this was in 1866; he ran a grocery store there one year, then sold ont and came to Jefferson County, where he ran a wagon shop in Mount Vernon for about twelve years, and then came to Opdyke. where he ran a wagon shop till the fall of 1850, when he engaged in the mercantile business with J. C. Tucker. keeping a general store till July, 1SS3. when he bought his partner ont and continued in the business himself, keeping a large and good stock of goods and doing a cash business. Our sub- ject was married, August 15, 1867. in Mount Vernon, Ill .. to Miss Amelia V. Davison, boru May 3, 1851. in Jefferson County, Ill., daughter of Hardin Davison, and is the mother of five children-Fannie E., Gertie, Edith, Judson C. and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Poole are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been identified with the Dem- ocratic party.
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