USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 66
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R., residing in Missouri; Meniecs, wife of Joseph Wilbanks, of Logan County, Ill .; Patsey, wife of George Farrish, of Clackamas County Oreg; Martin. farming in Spring Garden Town- ship; Asa, in Custer County, Colo .; Ananias, in Moore's Prairie Township, his sketch appearing in that part of the work ; Leander, also farming in Spring Garden Township; Francis M., on the home farm ; Sarah, wife of Richard Davis, of this township ; and Lizzie Caroline, wife of a Mr. Gamber, of Portland, Oreg. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles are members of the Mount Nebo Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Knowles has been a Democrat, but in the last few years has been voting the Greenback ticket. Francis M., the eighth child of Wiley and Min- erva (Scott) Knowles, was born in Spring Gar- den Township, Jefferson County, September 1, 1848. In his yonth, he attended the free schools of his county, and helped on the home place until he married, and then erected a fine country house ; has settled down near his fa- ther, and now has the management of the home- stead. He was married in Moore's Prairie Township, this county, April 17, 1879, to Flor- ence Smith, who was born in this county Janu- ary 28, 1852, and is a daughter of Jesse H. and Jane Bliss Smith, whose sketches appear clse- where. This lady is the mother of three chil- dren-Norman Smith, Eliza and Wiley H. In politics, Mr. Knowles is at present a Green- backer, but formerly, like his father, voted the Democratic ticket.
J. W. MARSHALL, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden, was born in Jackson County October 15, 1836. His parents were William and Judith (Minor) Marshall, who came originally from North Carolina. When subject was three years old, his parents came to Franklin Conn- ty, and settled in Goode Township. There subject was permitted to attend school but slightly, but since coming to manliood's estate he has taught himself. He early commenced to render all possible assistance to his father
on the home farm, and remained with the lat- ter until twenty-four, and then on a rented farm near the old homestead he commenced life for himself. There he remained three years, and then came to Spring Garden Township, Jefferson County; he settled on the farm which he still owns, of 120 acres in Section 11, of Township 4, Range 3 east, and of that there are about 110 acres under cultivation. Sub- ject was married, October 25, 1860, in Jefferson County, to Sarah Farlow, a native of Spring Garden Township, and a daughter of John and Frances (Williams) Farlow; the father was a native of Maryland, the mother of Tennessee. This lady is the mother of seven children, and of that number six are now living-W. H., G. B., C. E., Rosa, Lilly B. and Daisy E. Mr. Marshall is a member of the Spring Garden Baptist Church. Has served as Township Trustee, Justice, Collector and School Director. In politics, he is a Greenbacker.
GABRIEL PEAVLER, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, is probably one of the oldest set- tlers in this part of the county. He was horn on the Holstein River, in Sullivan County, Tenn., January 27, 1813, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Steward) Peavler. The parents were both born in Virginia, the father of Ger- man parents, the mother of Irish. Our subject was the youngest of four children, of whom two are living-James, in Cooper County, Mo., and Gabriel Peavler. When about seven months old, his father went to Norfolk, Va., where he enlisted in a Virginia regiment being formed to fight the British in the war of 1812. At that time the city of Norfolk itself was threat- ened, and the regiment was stationed at that point. While serving at his post, the father was stricken with an epidemic which was then raging in that town, and died, as did thousands of his comrades. The mother also died when subject was about five years old, and he was . left at the mercy of the world. His half broth-
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ers helped him some, however, and at the age of twelve years he was bound out to a man by the name of Allan, at Monticello, Wayne Co., Ky .. and under him subject learned the trade of making and laying brick. He remained there until seventeen, and then deciding to fol- low that occupation for himself, he came to Clark County, Ind., and worked for some time at that point. Next went to Bloomfield. Greene County, and from there to Marion County, when Indianapolis was but a small village, and there he made and laid bricks on the State road leading from that point. The next few years were spent in running around in different points in Indiana working at his trade, and then made Washington County, Ind., his home. In regard to his education, our subject never had a chance to go to school but about a month in his life, but after he had settled down at this point, he first commenced to teach himself, and has since obtained a rather fair education. His first occupation in Washington County was that of farming, and followed that occupa- tion for about two years and then went to Providence, Clark County, and there opened a grocery store which he conducted for nine months, and then sold that out and opened a dry goods store, but after running that store six months at that point, he went to Pekin, Washington County, and there carried on the same business. IIere be ran a store for three years, and then turning his attention again to farming, he purchased a farm near that town, which he operated for nine years. In connec- tion with his farm he also ran a store for the accommodation of his neighbors. In 1850, he came to Illinois and first settled in Clark Coun- ty, where he both farmed and carried on a store. The first year of his residence there he opened up and put under cultivation a farm of 160 acres. In that county he lived six years, and then came to Spring Garden, Jefferson County, and settled on his present farm. Here he now owns about 456 acres in Sections 22.
23. 26 and 27; has abont 370 acres in cultiva- tion-about eight acres in orchard. Mr. Peav- ler was married, November 27. 1834, in Wash- ington County, Ind., to Nancy Mckinney, a daughter of Alexander and Susannah (Turner) MeKinney, natives of Virginia. This union resulted in twelve children, six of whom are now living-Dr. J. W. (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work), born July 20, 1840; Mary Jane (wife of J. W. Fitzgerald), born December 31, 1842; Henrietta (wile of Will- iam H. Dorr), born September 3. 1844; W. T. C. ( now in Huron, Dakota Territory ), October 18, 1846; Nancy Frances ( wife of George Will ), October 20, 1858; and G. N. E .. February 18, 1862. Our subject is a member of the Spring Garden Methodist Episcopal Church; also of Williams Lodge, No. 242, I. O. O. F. In poli- tics, is a Republican. Mrs. Peavler is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
DR. J. W. PEAVLER. One of the most suc- cessful physicians of this county is the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch, and who was born in Washington County, Ind., July 20, 1840. Our subjeet is a son of Gabriel, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and Nancy (McKinney) Peavler. The father was a native of Tennessee, the mother of Washington County, Ind. Subject was the third of twelve children, and of that number six are now living. When two years old, his father came to Clark County, Ind .; there our subject was first per- mitted to attend school. In 1856, his father came to Jefferson County, and settled in Spring Garden Township, and here subject attended school until eighteen, and then taught for two years in that township. lle next went to Mount Vernon, where he read medicine with his uncle. Dr. Il. J. Peavler. With this gentle- man he remained three years, and then went to the Medical Department of the Michigan State University, located at Ann Arbor, from which institution he graduated in 1864. Ile immedi- ately located at Knob's Prairie. this county,
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and there practiced some five years. From that location he went to Chicago, and there practiced for about one year, also attending lectures. He next came to his present location in Spring Garden Township, where he has prac- ticed most of the time since, except in 1878, when he attended the American Medical Col- lege at St. Louis, from which he graduated, and in 1879, when he attended the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, and also graduated from that institution. His present practice extends over a large portion of this county and portions of Franklin County. The Doctor is at present a member of the Missouri State Medical Soci- ety. Dr. Peavler was married. August 4, 1867. to Victoria Hagle, a daughter of John W. and Mahalia Boswell Hagle. This lady is a native of this county, and is the mother of six chil- dren, five of whom are now living-Eugene, Minnie, Mazie, Ethel and Harry. Subject is a member of Williams Lodge, No. 242, I. O. 0. F., of Spring Garden, and No. 765, Ewing Lodge, A. F. & A. M. In politics, is a Repub- lican.
DR. J. B. SCARBOROUGH, physician. Spring Garden, was born in Ewing Township, Franklin County, Ill., March 12, 1842, and is a son of Dr. Bennent and Allie (Bennett) Scar- borongh. The father was a native of Wilson County, Teun., and came to this State in 1832. The mother is a native of Posey County, Ind. Subject was the third of five children. aud was permitted to attend the schools of his county until about twenty, and then the Doctor commenced reading medicine with his father. Remained with him until twenty-four, reading and assisting the elder Scarborough in his practice. Then onr subject took up his chosen practice for himself at the town of Macedonia, Franklin County. In that locality he only re- mained about six months, when he again be- took himself to his native county, and there took up the practice of his father, the latter having become too old to attend to it (his
death subsequently occurred in 1879), and in that locality our subject remained until 1873. In that year he removed to Ham's Grove, Pen- dleton Township, this county, and there prac- ticed until October, 1879, when he came to his present location at Spring Garden. In this locality he now has a practice that extends over territory which lies for miles north and east of Spring Garden, and where he has the confidence of the people of that locality, in Pendleton Township. Subject was married, September 20, 1865, to Miss Ada Yates, a native of Providence, R. T., and the danghter of John I. and Hannah (Stewart) Yates, na- tives of Maine, but settling in Ohio, where the father died. and the mother married Bennett Woodworth, and subsequently the twain came to this county (in 1853), and settled in Moore's Prairie Township, where they have subsequent- ly resided. The result of this union has been three children, two of whom are now living, Lizzie (wife of Edgar Bernard), born October 20, 1866, and Ida May, born July 22, 1870. Alice was boru December 17, 1868, and died July 24, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Scarborough and daughter Lizzie are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Ham's Grove Lodge, No. 405, I. O. O. F. In politics, he is a Republican.
BENJAMIN SMITH, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden, is a great-grandson of Alexander and Joanna Smith, who settled in North Carolina. They had the following children born to them in Tyrrell County, that State, viz .: Ann, born February 6, 1771 ; Joanna, January 23, 1774 ; Isaac, January 19, 1779 ; Ananias, December 12, 1780 ; Zilpha, April 10, 1782 ; Euphemia, November 1, 1783; Loef, March 2, 1789 ; Azilla, October 4, 1792; and Jose, February 12, 1797. The third child of this family, Isaac, was the grandfather of our subject. This child grew to manhood in North Carolina, and there married Millie Hassle. The twain came to Tennessee, and settled in Hickman County,
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where unto them were born nine children, among them Anderson, the father of our sub- jeet, who was born February 6, 1811, and Jesse H., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Isaac came to this county with his fam- ily about 1829, and settled in Spring Garden Township, near where subject now resides, where he died about 1850. The father of our subject grew to manhood in this county, and married a Miss Elizabeth Hopper, who was born in Middle Tennessee January 28, 1811. She was a danghter of Thomas Hopper, who came to this county in a very early day, prob- ably about 1820. The parents of our subject also settled near where the latter now resides, and there subject was born August 29, 1838. The parents lived in this county until a ripe old age. The mother peacefully passed away March 22, 1870, and the father, who for fifteen years before his death had been Deacon of the Spring Garden Baptist Church, died May 3, 1872. Our subject attended both the subserip- tion and free schools of his county until about twenty-one, and then worked at home about one year, and then located on his present farm, a piece of land that had been entered by his father, and of whom our subject afterward purchased it. He now owns about 400 acres in Sections 1, 2, 3 and 12, of Township 4, Range 3 east ; has about 240 under cultivation and thirty in orchard. Mr. Smith was married, January 24, 1860, to Elizabeth Shirley. a daughter of Russell and Jinca (Allan) Shirley. The father was a native of Hamilton County, Ill., and the mother of Macon County. N. C. The result of this union has been twelve chil- dren, of whom nine are living-Isaac N., born February 6, 1862 ; George H., May 19, 1863 : Seth T., June 7, 1865 ; Charles E., March 14. 1869 ; Judson A., April 6, 1871 ; Ellis Lee. April 28, 1877 ; Ollie J., February 17, 1873 ; Ornie, September 26, 1879 ; Rado. December 19, 1881. Of the deceased children, William D. was born September 14. 1860, and died
September 14, 1867 : Mary F., born May 2. 1867, died December 3, 1869 ; and an infant born April 28, 1877, and died May 5 of the same year. Our subject has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors, also served as Road Commissioner, School Director, etc. Is a member of Ham's Grove Lodge, No. 405, 1. O. O. F .; has served in the different offices in that organization, and is now Past Grand ; has also been representative two years at the Grand Lodge. In polities, Mr. Smith is a Greenbacker. A. J. SWEETEN, lawyer and school teacher, Spring Garden, was born in Franklin County, Ill., September 21, 1839, and is a son of Reuben and Jane (Isom) Sweeten. Subject was the second of three children, of whom two are now living-A. J. (our subject) and John R., in Franklin County. When subject was two years old, his father moved to Jefferson County, and settled in Spring Garden Township. Here the father remained only about three years, and then returned to Ewing Township, Franklin County. Subject attended the schools of that township, and in 1857 he attended for a short time the McKendree College, at Carlyle, Clinton County ; also attended the high schools of Mt. Vernon and Benton prior to going to the col- lege. In the winter of 1857, he commenced the ocenpation of teaching ; his first school was taught in Ewing Township, and he continued to teach there until 1861. In 1863, he com- menced teaching in Elk Prairie Township. this county, and from that time he taught each con- seeutive year until 1881. lle then came to this township and taught one school in the town, and in 1883 he taught in this township. About 1865, Mr. Sweeten commenced the study of law, first under H. M. Williams, of Spring Gar- den Township, and then attended Judge A. D. Duff's Law School in Benton, Franklin County. March 19, 1870, he was admitted to the bar of Jefferson County, and since that has followed his profession some in this county. In 1864, he purchased a tract of land in Elk Prairie Town-
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ship, where he farmed nntil 1881, and then moved to this township, and now owns abont eighty acres in Section 18 of Town 4, Range 3 east. Subject was married, August 7, 1864, in Elk Prairie Township to Harriet Jane Kirk, a daughter of James and Phebe Ann (Cook) Kirk, natives of North Carolina. This lady is the mother of six living children-Margaret Ann, Calvin M., Druzailla J., James R. O., Quintilla O. and Arthur C. Subject was a soldier in the late war ; enlisted August 15, 1862, in the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, Thomas S. Casey, Company T, Capt. S. G. Dewitt, and was out nine months. Was wounded Jannary 1, 1863, at the battle of Stone River, and was subsequently discharged for disability as a supernumerary officer. Mr. Williams is a member of William's Lodge, No. 242, I. O. O. F., of Spring Garden ; served in Ewing and Elk Prairie Townships as Justice of the Peace from 1857 to 1867 ; also has served as Township Collector two terms, and Township Trustee eleven years. In politics, is a Demo- crat.
DR. S. L. WILLIAMS, physician, Spring Garden, was born in Franklin County, 111 , November 13, 1839. Is a son of S. M. and Frances (Shaw) Williams. The father was born in North Carolina January 28, 1792, and emigrated to Franklin County in 1837, and there died in September, 1875. The mother was also a native of North Carolina, and died in Franklin County in July, 1874. Sub- ject was next to the youngest of a family of fourteen children, and of this number seven are living. Subject's education was received in the schools of Franklin County. Until twenty four years of age, he remained at home with his father, and then started out in life for himself on a farm in that county. There he remained until 1865, when he went to Cincin- nati, and there attended the Physio-Medical Col- lege for a short time. From that institution he returned to Franklin County, and com-
meneed the practice of his chosen profession. He only remained there a short time, however, and then came to Spring Garden Township, where he has since built up quite an extensive practice. Since his coming to this county, he has been here all the time, with the exception of 1878 and 1879, when he attended lectures in the St. Louis American College, from which institution he graduated in 1879. The Doctor was married, January 22, 1869, to Miss Mar- garet J. Arnold, a native of Robertson County, Tenn., and a daughter of James M. and Nancy (Felse) Williams. This union has resulted in four children, of whom three are living-Hugh, Curtis and Alsa. In politics, he is a Demo- crat.
G. H. WITMER, salesman, Spring Garden. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Washington County, Md., Novem- ber 13, 1850, and is a son of Elmer and Char- lotte (Huffman) Witmer. Our subject was the youngest of two children. His education was received, first at the public school of Hagers- town, Washington County, and at the age of thirteen he took a preparatory course at the Franklin & Marshal Collegiate Institute, sit- uated at Mercersburg, Penn. After two years instruction there, our subject taught for a year, after which he went to Fort Whipple, Va., where he attended the United States Signal Service School of Instruction. At that point he remained until summoned to Washington, where, after passing a creditable examination, he was sent to Nashville, Tenn., and there he opened the first Signal Service Bureau ever had at that point. After remaining at that point about five months, he was transferred, upon ap- plication, to the active service, and was stationed at the Department of Columbia, with headquar- ters at Portland, Ore. In the employ of the Government he remained two years, and then applying for a discharge, which was granted. our subject returned to his native county in Maryland, where he aguin turned his attention
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to teaching After teaching one term there, however. he was offered a position on the Dis- patch, at Commerce, Mo., and, accepting it, went to that point. But owing to sickness, he was, in the course of three or four months, compelled to resign there and then come to this point, where he farmed for a year ; but that not suit- ing his taste, he again betook himself to his na- tive town, where he accepted the position of Way- bill Clerk for the Adams Express Company, and then in due course of promotion was trans- ferred to Harrisburg, Penn., where he assumed the duties of Receiving Clerk. He remained connected with that company but about one year, when his health again failed him and he was compelled to resign his position. From that he came to his present location, where, after teaching one term in the schools of Spring Garden, he accepted the position of head sales- man for W. H. Barber, in which capacity he is now acting. August 14, 1879, he was married, in Spring Garden, to Miss Rosa Bernard, a daughter of Dr. and Maurice (Hawkins) Ber- nard, of Spring Garden. This lady is the mother of two children-Edna Earl and Thomas Bernard. Mr. Witmer is a member of Williams Lodge, No. 242, I. O. O. F., of Spring Garden, and is at present serving as Secretary for that organization. Is also a member of the Spring Garden Baptist Church, and in politics, is a Democrat.
B. F. WHISSENHUNT, farmer, P. O. Spring Garden, was born in Middle Tennessee May 21, 1830 ; is a son of Uriah and Dorcas (Roach) Whissenhunt, natives of that State ; the grand- parents, however, came from Pennsylvania. Our subject was the only child. When about one year old, his parents came to Marion County. Ill., where they remained about twelve years. In that county our subject attended his first school. In 1843, the family came to Jef- ferson County and settled on the farm where our subject now lives, where the mother died in 1859, the father in 1860. In this county our subject had but little chance to attend the sub- seription schools, and consequently his educa- tion is very limited. His life for upward of twenty years was spent at home with his father, and then commeneed life for himself on a piece of Congress land which his father en- tered for him. That has since been increased until he now owns about 160 acres in Sections 2 and 3, of Town 4, Range 3 east. Mr. Whis- senhunt was married, April 3, 1850, to Susan Book, a native of this county, and a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shelton) Book. The father was a native of Virginia, the mother of North Carolina. This marriage resulted in nine children, and of that number two are liv- ing-Ellen Catherine, wife of George Harveil, and George Washington. Is a member of Moore's Prairie Baptist Church. In politics, he is a Democrat.
GRAND PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
JAMES C. BALDRIDGE, farmer P. O. Centralia, was born in Rutherford County, N. C., December 10, 1811, a son of Dornton and Mary (Boggs) Baldridge, both natives of North Carolina. They resided in Ruther- ford County till November, 1820, when they
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came to Jefferson County, where they resided until his death, except for a few years aeross the line in Marion County. He died Janu- ary 14, 1832, at about forty-five years of age. His wife was afterward married to Matthew Cunningham, an old settler of this
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county, removing to Marion County, where she died. Mr. Baldridge was the father of twelve children, of whom three sons and two daughters are now living-James C., Joseph and Thomas; Mrs. Jane Porter, widow of William Porter; and Mrs. Sarah Baltzell, wife of George Baltzell. The subject of our sketch was reared in this county, receiving such an education as could be obtained at the schools of that day. July 26, 1832, he was married in Marion County to Margaret Raney, a native of Kentucky and daughter of Matthew Raney. She died October 3, 1845. She was the mother of six children, three of whom are now living -Sally A., wife of Owen Breeze; Mary J., wife of Zadok Jennings; and James C., of Jerseyville, a minister and farmer. Two children died in youth, and one-Samuel R. -- died in the army, Company H, Eightieth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry. Mr. Baldridge was mar- ried again, January 8, 1846, to Mrs. Tabitha Casey, widow of Isaac Casey and danghter of Robert White. Her father was a native of South Carolina, and came to Madison Coun- ty, Ill., in 1810, and July 10, 1811, Mrs. Baldridge was born in Chamber's Fort. Her mother, Sarah Holt, was a native of North Carolina, but was married in Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Baldridge have had four children, two of whom are now living, viz., Joseph D. and George P., both farmers in this county. Immediately after his first marriage, Mr. Baldridge settled on his present farm, where he has lived ever since; his occupa- tion has always been that of farming and stock-raising. His farm now consists of over 500 acres. In politics, Mr. Baldridge is Republican, but has taken no part in polit- ical life.
C. W. BEAL, farmer, P. O. Irvington, was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 26, 1838, to Jacob and Catherine (Claymann)
Beal. He was born in 1801 and died in 1881. In 1840, he came to America with his family and settled in Lehigh Connty, Penn., where they remained till our subject was about fourteen years of age, when they removed to St. Clair County, Ill., and in 1857, our subject came to this township and has made this his home since. August 15. 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Capt. George C. McKee, Col. W. H. Wallace. He served in the engagements of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, was in the siege of Vicksburg for forty-seven days, and with Sherman on the Mississippi campaign. After serving three years in the army, he again returned to this county and has been engaged as a farmer since. His farm contains 160 acres. On this he does general farming and fruit growing. On his farm also is a quarry of splendid sandstone. September 30, 1866, he was married in this county to Miss Ellen J. Fry. She was born in this township October 18, 1849, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Dellenger) Fry. He was born in North Carolina in 1806; she in 1818. He died in 1877, April 4, in this county, whither he had moved in 1844: she still survives. Of their family of six chil- dren, only three are living, viz., John, Zachariah and Mrs. Beal. Mr. and Mrs. Beal have four children living and one dead, viz., David E., Sadie J., Charles W., Fred- die, and Ole, deceased. In politics, Mr. Beal is a Republican.
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