USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 65
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O. P. NORRIS, physician and surgeon, Williamsburg, was born in Bracken County, Ky., August 29, 1843, a son of Joseph and Rebecca R. West (Morris), the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Pennsylvania. The father fol- lowed boating in early life, but later he engaged in farming. The parents were blessed with nine children, of whom there are five living-O. P., William H., Millard F., Joseph D. and Edward .I. Our subject obtained a little schooling in his na- tive'State, and after coming to this county with his parents, about 1851, he continued his studies here, attending in after years the school at Nor- mal, Ill. In September, 1864, he was drafted into the war, and joined the Thirty-second Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, which belonged to the Seventeenth Army Corps, under Blair. The
regiment joined Sherman at Atlanta, and fought "under him at Savannah, Columbia, Bentonville, etc Our subject returned at the close of the war, and attended the high school at Mount Vernon, Ill. He had a desire for studying med- icine, and he read under the instruction of Dr. J. C. Gray, of Mount Vernon. He afterward at- tended the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, and received a full course of lectures, and later the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which institution he graduated, and re- turned to this county, where he has since en- joyed a liberal patronage ; he has given a good deal of attention to discases of the eye, but of late has given his time to the study of obstet- ries, in which branches of the profession he is especially successful. The Doctor has dealt largely in real estate, having at present several hundred acres of land in the county, and also a fine residence in Williamsburg, which he erected in 1873. He has been Postmaster for seven or eight years at this point ; has administered sev- eral estates, and was engaged in the drug and dry goods business until his practice assumed such proportions as to demand all of his atten- tion. He was united in marriage to Saralı M. Smith, and the union has given four children, three of whom are living-Myrtie E., Lena F. and Verner S. The Doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and has also been an I. O. O. F. for many years. He has filled many of the otli- ces of the township, including that of Supervisor. Politically, he is a Democrat.
SIDNEY PLACE, farmer, P. O. Laur, is one of the old and respected residents of Jef- ferson County. He was born in Chittenden County, Vt., April 21, 1807, youngest child of John and Lydia (Garland) Place, both natives of New Hampshire. The father was a carpen- ter by trade, but in late years he engaged in farming. He volunteered, and served six months in the Revolutionary war, and fought at the battle of Bennington ; he died April 22, 1828. The parents were blessed with ten chil-
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dren, only two of whom are living-Hannah and Sidney. The father had been married twice, his first wife bearing bim three children. Our subject got but a meager education in early life. At about ten years of age, his par- ents removed to New York, and then to Ohio, where the father died, and afterward to this county in 1839, where the mother died in Au- gust, 1845. Mr. Place worked at boat-building several years in Ohio, and after coming to this county engaged in farming ; he has a farm of 280 acres. He married Rhoda Dufur, a daugh- ter of David Dufur, of Ohio. This union has been blessed with ten children, five of whom are living-Emily. Luther, Isaac, Rufus and Malissa. Mr. Place had five sons in the late war, one of whom, Stephen, died in Anderson- ville Prison. Politically, Mr. Place is a Repub- lican. Ile has nine great-grandchildren living.
ISAAC W. ROBINSON, merchant and No- tary Public, Williamsburg, was born in Frank- lin County, this State, July 20, 1845, the eldest child of Isaac W. and Margaret (Knox) Robin- son, he of South Carolina and she of Tennessee. The father was a farmer and stock-dealer during life, and was a strong Democrat in politics. The parents moved to Jefferson County when our subject was about two years old. There were six children in the family, four of whom survive-Isaac W., William A., Mary J. and John A. Our subject obtained his early school- ing first in an old log schoolhouse, and he after- ward attended a select school for about eighteen months. During his life. he has dealt exten- sively in stock, and has also given some time to farming pursuits. Thinking that he would take np law as a profession, he studied during his leisure moments in this direction for many years. He, however, went into business in partnership with J. D. Norris, and being burnt out some time afterward, received a consider- able set-back, but opened a general store himself in February, 1878, which he still runs, carrying a line of drugs, groceries and dry goods. He
has been Assessor in this and McClellan Town- ship, and has also been for several years Notary Public. He married Lonvina J. (McConnaugh- ey) Gilbert, widow of William H. Gilbert, and danghter of James McConnaughey, of this county, and this union has been blessed with two children-James W. and Martha J. In March, 1864, Mr. Robinson enlisted in the Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Opdyke, which regiment was engaged in many heavy battles through the Southern campaign, and was finally sent to Texas, where they re- mained until mustered out at Springfield, this State; politically, Mr. Robinson is a Republican.
ANDREW J. SIIURTZ, farmer, P. O. Ash- ley, is a native of Warren County, N. J., born February 3, 1834, the eldest child of Robert W. and Hannah (Cole) Shurtz, both of whom were born in Essex County of the same State. The grandfather was Andrew Shurtz, of Ger- man descent. Robert W. Shurtz was a black- smith by trade, and worked at it during odd spells, but was mostly engaged in farming. He was a robust, hard-working man, but died early from the effects of over-working. He was a bass drummer for many years in the State militia. Our subject got but a little schooling in early years. He has been engaged at canal- boating, saw-milling, etc., but has generally given his attention to farming pursuits. In the fall of 1835, he removed with his parents to Hamilton County, Ohio, and shortly after- ward removed to Warren County, same State. In April, 1859, he came to this county, and located on what is called the Monroe farm, and after moving around several times, finally pur- chased part of his present place, before moving, in the spring of 1877. He has 120 acres in Blissville and 165 in Bald Hill Townships. His first marriage was with Catharine Wheeler. who died in 1859. He was married a second time, to Martha McConnaughey, who bore him seven children, of whom six are living-John, Annie, Georgie, William, David and Sarah.
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He married his present wife, Mary E., June 3, 1875 ; she is a dangliter of D. H. and Nancy B. (Hargett) Thomas. This union has given four children-Ettie, Mary, Arthur and Carrie. In the fall of 1864, Mr. Shurtz joined Company G, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment joined Sherman at Atlanta, and went through the entire campaign with him. Mr. Shurtz came home from St. Louis in June, 1865. He and wife are members of the Free- Will Baptist Church. He has filled many of the offices in his township ; is a Republican.
HARRISON M. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Ash- ley, was born in this county September 2, 1838, to Drury and Rachel (Whitten) Smith, the father a native of South Carolina and the mother of Johnson County, Ill. Drury Smith is a substantial farmer, and now resides in Snlivan County, Mo. He was married a sec- ond time, to Widow Howell, who has borne him five children, three of whom are living. Our subject's own parents were blessed with nine children, of whom six survive-Ambrose, Cole- man, Harrison M., Nimrod, Meredith and Deli- lah. Mr. Smith received but a limited education in early life. He has always given his attention to farming pursuits, and at present rents land and engages in mixed farming. He married Elizabeth Flannigan, a daughter of Robinson and Finice Flannigan. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of eight children, one of whom, Lydia, is deceased ; those living are Drury, Wilham, Hulda, Belle, John, Riley and Lou- vina. Subject and wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
JOSIAH TUTTLE, farmer, P. O. Ashley, is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born August 19, 1823, the eldest child of John A. and Mary A. (Douglas) Tuttle, natives of Maryland. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living-Josiah, Henry, John A., J. N. and Mary J., who married David John- son. Mr. Tuttle's mother died when he was small, and he was raised by his step-mother, who was a Miss Annie Marsh. He was raised on a farm, and has always given his attention to farming pursuits. Since seventeen years of age, he has been a member of the Methodist Church and also of the Quarterly Conference, and for thirty years past he has been a li- censed preacher in that church, and is also the local Elder. Mr. Tuttle was first married to Elizabeth Wells, who died in 1844, the mother of one child-Mary A., who died No- vember 27, 1872. She had married John Dasher, by whom she had four children, of whom three survive-Annie, Elizabeth and Phobe. Mr. Tuttle was married a second time to Phobe Welch, a sister of Andrew Welch, of this county. This union has been blessed with tive children, two of whom are living-Thomas H. and Ann E. Mr. Tuttle
came to Jefferson County in 1853. His pres- ent property consists of 800 acres of land and some town property in Ashley, Ill. He built a fine residence on the home place in 1871, and is counted as one of Jefferson County's substan- tial farmers. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Ashley Lodge, No. 302. In politics, he is a Republican.
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SPRING GARDEN TOWNSHIP.
JOSEPII ADCOCK, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden, was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., January 4, 1816, son of John and Ellender (Hieks) Adeock. His father was a native of Rockingham County, Va. Soon after the birth of our subject, the parents separated, the mother taking the custody of the children She afterward married Solomon Goddard, and in 1828 the family moved to this county, where they settled in Dodds Township. Sub- ject attended subscription schools but very little; but after he came to manhood taught himself. As soon as he was able, he com- menced to work around among the farmers of this connty, and after two years' work here he went to St. Louis, where he ran on the river from that point to Alton. He re- mained there some six or seven years, and then returned to this county, just as he was nearing manhood. In this neighborhood, he commenced to farm himself, and first settled on a farm in Dodds Township, but only re- mained there about eighteen months, and then came to Spring Garden Township, where he settled about one and a half miles from where he now lives. On that farm he resided until 1846, when he came to his present farm, a tract of 100 aeres, lying in Sections 9 and 10 of Town 4, Range 3 east. Has eighty acres in cultivation. Mr. Adcock was married in Spring Garden Township, April 2, 1833, to Polly Kimball, a daughter of William and Sarah (Burns) Kimball. The father was a na- tive of Germany. She was the mother of four children, three of whom are living-John II., Eliza J. (wife of R. V. Gibson) and William M., in Marion County. This lady died Sep- tember 30, 1845, and subject was married the
second time, to Sarah Jane Pitts, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Jesse Pitts, of Pittsylvania County, Va. This marriage re- sulted in eight children, four of whom are now living-Nancy Ellender (wife of Marion Page), Jesse C. (in Dodds Township), Minerva (wife of John Rines) and Willaby (now at home with his father). This lady also died, on Feb- ruary 5, 1866, and he was married the third time, to Elizabeth Addison, a native of Logan County, Ky., and a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Grigsby) Addison, the father heing a native of North Carolina. Mrs. Adcock is a member of Moore's Prairie Methodist Church. Mr. Adcock is a Democrat in politics.
THOMPSON ANGLEN, saddler and har- ness-maker, Spring Garden. Subject was born in Rockingham County, N. C., September 15, 1822, was a son of Caleb and Hannah (Powel) Anglen. The father was a native of Pittsyl- vania County, Va., the mother of North Caro- lina. Subject was the ninth of thirteen chil- dren, and of that number six are now living. In his native county he attended the first school, and in 1831, the father brought his family to Montgomery County, Tenn., where he died in 1856. Subject finished his educa- tion in the schools of that county, and then as- sisted on the home farm until 1849. Decem- ber 19 of that year, he came to Jefferson Coun- ty, and settled on a Government improvement, in Pendleton Township, about a mile east of Belle Rive; he, however, only farmed there for four years, and then came to Mt. Vernon, where he elerked in a general store then owned by Thorn D. Balzell; remained with them but one year and then returned to Pendleton Town- ship, and there purchased the home farm. In
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connection with his farm, he also ran a store for the accommodation of his neighbors in that township; he only remained three years, and then exchanged his farm for a hotel in Mt. Vernon, then owned by a Mr. Thomas. It stood (1858) where Pavy and Allan's building now stands. In that hotel he remained until 1865, when he came to Spring Garden Township. Here he first purchased a half-interest in a flonring mill and still house which then stood about one and one-half miles south of the vil- lage, but only remained about a month there, and then came to the village, where he has since resided. His first venture in the town was merchandising, and he followed that for about two years; he then opened his hotel, which he still continues to run; he also turned his attention some to stock trading and en- gaged in that for about three years. He next purchased a harness shop and commenced fol- lowing the occupation of a harness-maker. He now carries a stock of about $1,500. Mr. Ang- len was married in Montgomery County, Tenn., on June 10, 1846, to Nancy J. Smith, a daugh- ter of Joseph II. and Nancy ( Clifton) Smith, natives of that county. This lady was the mother of five children, of whom four are now living, viz .: H. V., in Princeton, Ky .; E. J., in Huron, Dak .; Thomas, in Macon County, Ill., and Lilly, in Princeton, Ky. This lady died February 14, 1864, and subject was married the second time, in Spring Garden Township, May 11, 1865, to Mrs. Nancy F. Williams, a daughter of Joseph Felps, of Robertson Conn- ty. Tenn. The result of the marriage is one child-Ora Mande. Mr. Anglen has served in numerous county and township offices, among which are Justice of the Peace of Mt. Vernon Township, from 1859 to 1865, and since his ar- rival in this township he has held the office al- most continually ever since. In April, 1872, was appointed School Treasurer, and is still holding that office. llas also served as mem- ber of the County Board of Supervisors. Is a
member of Williams Lodge, No. 242, I. O. O. F., of Spring Garden. Has held all the offices in that lodge and is now Past Grand. For the past fifteen years has also served as Treasurer of that organization; is a member of the Spring Garden Baptist Church. In politics. is an In- dependent.
C. M. BROWN, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden, was born in Washington County, Ill., Decem- ber 24, 1827, and is a son of Stephen and Eliza- beth (Spoon) Brown, who came to this State from Guilford County, N., C. Subject was the sixth of eleven children, of whom six are now living. His education was received in the subscription schools of that day. He re- mained at home with his father until twenty- five, and then started out in life for himself; settled on his present farm, where he now owns 840 acres, which lie principally in Sections 19, 20, 25, 29, 31 and 36. Of the whole, there are about 700 acres under cultivation, about six - teen aeres in orchard. Mr. Brown was married, April 9, 1851, in Ewing Township, Franklin County, Ill., to Anu Eliza Foster, a native of Franklin County, and a daughter of E. H. and Cynthia Freeman Foster, natives of Tennessee. This lady is the mother of nine children, of whom five are living-B. F., S. E., Margaret A., Martha F. and Melissa E. Our subject was a soldier in the Mexican war. Enlisted in the Sixth Regiment of Illinois Infantry, Col. Collins, Company A, Capt. James Bowman, in May, 1846, and was out until July, 1847. Has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors, four terms, and is at present serving in that capacity. He also served as School Director of his district for the last twenty-five years. In polities, Mr. Brown is an Independent.
JOSEPHI CARROLL, blacksmith, Spring Garden, was born in this county October 26, 1832, and was a son of James and Elizabeth (Delaney) Carroll, natives of Tennessee, but emigrated to this county abont 1829, settling first in Mount Vernon Township, and then
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moved into Dodds Township, where the father died in 1849, and the mother in 1877. Our subject was the third of eight children, of whom three are now living. His education was re- ceived mostly in the schools of Mount Vernon and Dodds Townships. On his father's farm he remained until twenty-two, and then started out in life for himself. He settled in Dodds Town- ship, where he farmed until about 1858. In that year he came to Spring Garden Township. Ilere he first farmed for about two years, and then came to the village, where he has since carried on the blacksmith trade. In connec- tion with his shop he also carries a stock of plows, wagons, cte., which generally runs on the average to about $1,500. He also owns a farm of 530 acres, part of which is in Section 7 and the rest in 15, of Town 4. Range 3 east. Also owns some in Elk Prairie Township. Of the whole piece, there are about 320 acres in cultivation. Mr. Carroll was married in this county in August, 1854, to Martha Shaffer, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of David Shaffer. She was the mother of four children, two of whom are now living-Mollie (wife of Harvey Gardner, of Colorado), and Charles H. This lady died about 1866. Our subject was married the second time, in August, 1868, to Mrs.Sibyl Garrison, a daughter of Uriah Cramp- ton, a native of Mississippi. The result of this marriage is four children, two of whom are now living, Willie and Clyde. He is a member of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 31, A. F. & A. M., and Williams Lodge, No. 242, of Spring Gar- den. In politics, our subject is a Democrat.
LOGAN FITZGERRELL (deceased) was born in Posey County, Ind., in 1837, and was a son of Michael and Mary (Overton) Fitzgerrell. The parents moved to Jefferson County as early as 1840, and settled on the farm afterward owned by our subject. Our subject was edu- cated in the schools of his county, and at. the age of eighteen assumed the responsibilities of life for himself, and settled on the farm which
his widow now occupies. Originally, the father gave his son a tract of eighty acres, and that has since been increased until at present the farm contains 336 acres, located in Seetions 21, 22, 23, 24 and 27, of Town 4, Range 3 cast. Of the whole, there are about 250 aeres in proc- ess of cultivation. Mr. Fitzgerrell was married twice. The first time in 1855, on the celebra- tion of his eighteenth birthday, to Miss Miranda Johnson, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Johnson, of this county. The result of this . marriage was one child-James Michael (now deceased). This lady died only a few years after her marriage, and our subject was married the second time, February 20, 1858. to Nancy Simpson, who was born in Gibson County, Ind., July 12, 1836, and is a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Simpson, descendants of Old Vir- ginia stock. This lady has been the mother of the following children : Hiram R., Mary, Lu cinda (wife of William Harmon), Melissa E. Daniel L., Luther, Miranda S. and Nancy. Our subject was a member of Williams Lodge, No 242, I. O. O. F., of Spring Garden. In his life time, he sought to walk in the retired paths of life as much as possible, and tried to follow out his duty as a citizen good and true. His aspira- tions did not tend toward public office-seeking, but toward preparing for his family's wants. And thus Mr. Fitzgerrell's life came to a close January 1, 1879. His family was left well provided, and as his neighbors, in words soft and low, paid their respects to the bereaved family, none spoke but to praise him. At present, Mrs. Fitzgerrell, assisted by her sons, is carrying on the farm.
G. W. HAYS, farmer, P. O. Mt. Vernon, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., July 4, 1840; was a son of John and Rebecca (Maltus) Hays; was the fifth of twelve children, ot whom eight are living. When only two months old, his parents moved to Jefferson County, where the father settled in Spring Garden Township, abont one mile from where our subject now lives,
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but only lived there a short time, and then came to Dodds Township. In that township he held quite a number of offices of trust and profit, and there he died in 1863-the mother in 1862. Our subject attended the subscription schools of his county, and remained on the home place until about twenty. In starting out in life for himself, he first settled in Elk Prairie Township, but only remained there a short time, and then came to his present farm, where he now owns 190 acres in Sections 5 and 6 of Township 4, Range 3 east. There are about 180 acres under cultivation. Mr. Hays was married in the fall of 1865, in Spring Gar- den Township, to Margaret Howard, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Charles and Jane (Mendenhall) Howard. This lady is the mother of three living children-Lilly. Josie and a baby boy, born April 6, 1883. Our subject en- listed in the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, Col. Bacon, Company E, Capt. Hutchins, in the win- ter of 1861. Was out three years and three months. Was in the engagements of llick- man, Ky., Union City, Tenn., Corinth, Miss., Island No. 10 and many other smaller skir- mishes. Mrs. Hays is a member of the Easter M. E. Church of Spring Garden Township. Mr. Hays has held the offices of School Direc- tor, Road Supervisor, etc. In politics, he is a Greenbacker.
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JAMES JONES, farmer, P. O. Spring Gar- den, was born in Todd County, Ky., November 9, 1822 ; is a son of William and Chrissie (Gib- son) Jones, natives of Tennessee. Subject was the elder of two children. The father died when the son was about two years old, and when eight years old his mother moved to this county and settled in Spring Garden Township, where she afterward married a man named Na- thaniel Morgan. Subject's education was but very meager as far as schooling goes, but after his marriage he managed to teach himself some. He remained at home on his step-father's farm until twenty-one, then started out for himself.
lIe settled about a mile and a half from his first farm, where he lived until 1871, when he came to his present farm. Ile now owns about 1,000 aeres, situated in Sections 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 20, 22 and 23, of Town 4, Range 3 east. Has about 300 acres in cultivation. Mr. Jones was mar- ried in Jefferson County, on January 1, 1845, to Mrs. Elizabeth Allan, a daughter of Mrs. Nan- cy Cochran, a native of North Carolina. This union has resulted in the following children : Mary E., wife of Martin Knowles, of this town- ship ; John, Nathaniel, Chrissie, Josiah and James, and. David. Mr. Jones has served in numerous township and district offices ; in pol- ities, is a Democrat.
WILEY KNOWLES, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden, was born near Savannah, Ga., April 25, 1809 ; was a son of Putaman and Patsey (Greer) Knowles. The parents went from Delaware to Georgia, the mother, however, coming over to the former State from Scotland when a child. Subject was the fourth of ten children, of whom only four are living. When two years old, his parents came to Indiana, and settled near Black River, in Gibson County. Ilis schooling was very limited; remained at home with his father until about twenty-two, and then purchased a farm in Owensville Township, Gibson County. On that farm, he remained until the spring of 1845, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Spring Garden Township, Jefferson County, on his present farm, where he now owns 240 acres in Section 16, 130 acres in Scetion 4, 120 in Section 9, 40 in Section 8, and 10 in Section 10, all of Town 4, Range 3 west. IIe also has 120 in Dodds Township. Of the whole, there are about 280 acres under cultivation. Mr. Knowles was married in Gibson County, Ind., July 8, 1830, to Minerva Scott, a native of Bullitt County, Ky., being born there in 1811. She is a daughter of Mrs. Mary Scott. who was one of the old pioneer residents of Gibson County. The result of this union was eleven children, ten of whom are now living-William
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