USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 69
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B. B. PETTYPOOL, farmer, P. O. Opdyke, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., April 23. 1821, and was a son of Thomas and Mary (Nix- on) Pettypool. Subject was the second of six children, and is the only one now living of that number. When he was six years old, his fa- ther came to White County, Ill., and settled in Hervel's Prairie Township. There subject was permitted to attend school but slightly, and is what might be truly called a self-made man. Helped on the home farm until eighteen, and then settled near his father's farm, but in the course of a year or two, his father having be- come old and infirm, he returned to the home place. In 1868, he came to Jefferson County, and settled on his present farm ; he now owns abont 280 acres, 80 of which are situated in Sec-
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tion 21, 160 in Section 20, and 40 in Section 19. Of the whole pieec, 240 acres are in cultivation. He has about six acres in orchard. Mr. Petty- pool was married, August 2, 1839, to Celia Me- Geahey, a daughter of Parent and Jemmima (Pierce) McGeahey, both natives of Tennessee. His lady was the mother of eight children, and of that number six are now living-Thomas, in Effingham County ; Frances, in White County ; Daniel, in White County ; Huldah ; Telitha, wife of John Hanley ; Sarah Ellen, wife of Will- iam Jones. The lady died January 15, 1856, and he was married, February 28, 1857. to Mrs. Mary Teachenor, a native of New York. She was the daughter of Reuben Catline, of that State, and the mother of five children, three of whom are now living-Joel, in Spring Garden Township ; Ezekiel, in Franklin County, Kan .; and Marshall, in Spring Garden Town- ship. His second wife died October 2, 1876, and on July 4, 1877, he was united in marriage to Mary Jones, a native of this coun- ty, and a daughter of John and Mahala Jones. She is the mother of three children, Leah, Dora and Hardin. Subjeet is a Democrat in politics.
DAVID ROTRAMEL, farmer, P. O. Moore's Prairie, was born in Logan County, Ky., April 8, 1814, and was a son of Henry and Keziah (Simpson) Rotramel. When our subject was five years old, his father moved to Wilson County, Tenn., and there the former attended the schools of that county. He remained on the home farm until 1837, and then came to Frankfort, Franklin Co., Ill. He remained in that town until the next spring, and then com- menced farming in that township. In 1846, he left Frankfort Township and went to Benton Township, same county, where he remained two years. In 1848, he came to Jefferson County, and first settled about two miles from where he now resides. In the year 1850, he entered a portion of his present farm, but did not move on the place for abont seven years afterward. He now owns 200 acres, 120 of which are in Sec-
tion 21, and eighty in Section 20, Town 4, Range 4 east. Of this all is in cultivation. Mr. Rotramel was married, January 25, 1847, to Mary Myers, a daughter of Christopher and Agnes (Bright) Myers, both natives of Ten- nessee. This lady was the mother of eight children, and of this number seven are now living-George Alice, wife of Richard Nooner ; Florida, wife of Edward Burkhead ; Henry Olive, wife of William Hunter; David Wash- ington ; Arilla, wife of Oscar McClure ; William Lincoln and Richard Yates. Our subject is a Republican in politics. Has served as Town- ship Commissioner.
JESSE H. SMITII, farmer, P. O. Opdyke, was born in Hickman County, Tenn., Septem- ber 14, 1823, and was a son of Isaac and Millie (Hassell) Smith, both of whom were natives of Tyrrel County, N. C. He was the youngest of nine children, and of that number but two are living-Joan, wife of a Mr. Ilarrell, of Spring Garden Township, and Jesse H., our subject. When he reached the age of six years, his par- ents moved to Jefferson County, Ill., and set- tled in Spring Garden Township. In the schools of that county our subject received his education. In 1843-44, at the request of his father, he attended the St. Louis Medical Insti- tute, but never followed the practice of his pro- fession. He came back home and worked on his father's farm until twenty-four, and then settled on a Government improvement in Spring Garden Township, and finally had about forty acres in improvement. After ten years' resi- dence there, he came to his present farm, where he now owns 400 acres lying in Sections 8 and 18, Town 4, range 4 east, and of that 360 acres. are now in cultivation. Mr. Smith was married. March 30, 1847, to Eliza Jane Bliss, a daughter of Noah and Elizabeth (Martin) Bliss, of Vermont. This lady is the mother of ten chil- dren, seven of whom are still living-Harriet, wife of Ananias Knowles, of this township ; Florence, wife of Francis Knowles, of Spring
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Garden Township ; llubbard S., Cora, Kirby, Elnora and A. C. A son, L. D., died October 14, 1880. Mr. Smith has held numerous offices, among which are those of County Surveyor, County Coroner, Deputy Sheriff, Township Trustee, Supervisor and Assessor, also the dif- ferent school offices. He is a member of Ham's Grove Grange, No. 1,604. Ile is connected with the Baptist organization. In politics, he is a Greenbacker.
JAMES WATERS, farmer, P. O. Moore's Prairie, was born twelve miles east of Lebanon, the county seat of Wilson County, Tenn., March 7, 1815, and was a son of Shelleab and Nancy (Turner) Waters, both natives of Maryland. lle was next to the youngest of thirteen chil- dren, and of that number our subject is the only one now living. After receiving a fair education, he assisted on the home farm until the age of twenty-four, and then came to Jef- ferson County, Ill. On July 15, 1839, he set- tled on his present farm, and there remained eight years, and then went back to Wilson County, Tenn. There he remained until Au- gust 27, 1860, and then returned to Illinois, and again settled on the farm in this county September 5 of the same year. He now owns 280 acres ; 160 are in Section 28, 80 in Section 29, and 40 in Section 33. Of this all is in cul- tivation except about sixty acres ; there are also four acres in orchard. Mr. Waters was mar- ried, July 7, 1842, to Sarah Ann Estes, a daughter of John and Dicia M. (Jordan) Estes ; the father was one of the oldest settlers in Pen- dleton Township. To this lady were born three children, one of whom is now living-Jobn Thomas. Mr. Waters is a member of the United Baptist Church ; he is a Republican in politics.
JACOB P. WELLS, farmer, P. O. Moore's Prairie, was born in Indiana County, Penn., January 26, 1840, and was a son of James and Elizabeth (Pierce) Wells, both natives of that State. Our subject received his education in
the schools of that county, and at the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker in the town of Plumville, Penn., and remained with him three years, and then followed that trade for himself. In 1861, he came to Rock Island County, Ill., where he still follows his trade. In the spring of 1866, after the war was ended, he came to Franklin County, and settled there on a farm about six miles from his pres- ent location. There he farmed in the summer. and worked at the carpenter's trade in the winter. In the winter of 1871, he came to the place where he now resides, and soon after his arrival there purchased the saw and grist mill of Edward Choicer. This mill was continued in operation until it was destroyed by fire in 1877. Since then Mr. Wells has given bis principal attention to farming. He now owns 240 acres, 180 of which are in Sections 26 and 35 of Town 4, Range 4 east, and 60 acres in Frank- lin County ; of the whole, there are about 200 acres in cultivation. Mr. Wells was married, March 1, 1861, to Emily A. Pilson, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William and Eliza (McCardle) Pilson. This lady is the mother of ten children -- Clara (wife of Henry Pickel), Louis C., Elizabeth, James A., Hiley A., Charles T., Lydia A., Jessie W., Nellie R. and Ettie M .; nine of these are now living. At the breaking-out of the war, our subject, who was then at Rock Island, returned to his old home at Plumville, Penn., and enlisted in Company A of the Second Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, going out June 7, 1862, and remained in the service until July 13, 1865, when he again returned to Illinois. In politics, Mr. Wells is a Republican.
DR. JAMES HENRY WILKEY, physician and farmer, P. O. Moore's Prairie, one of the oldest native born citizens of this county, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who was born bere April 19, 1825, and was a son of Carter and Brunetta (Casey) Wilkey. The father was born in Walker County, Ga., in
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1797. His father was a native of Scotland, and Carter in 1818 came to Mt. Vernon. Hle was a house carpenter by trade, also followed that of the cabinet-maker. In the carly history of Mt. Vernon, he assisted in many public en- terprises, among which was the erection of the first county court house in Jefferson County. In 1840, he commenced studying for the prac- tice of medicine, and as soon as his course was completed he located where our subject now lives. In that neighborhood he continued in active practice until his death, which occurred April 3, 1876. The mother was the daughter of Isaac Casey, one of the oldest pioneers of this county. Our subject received his educa- tion in the schools of Mt. Vernon Township, and at the age of seventeen he commenced reading medicine with his father. He contin- ued his studies until he reached manhood's es- tate, and then after a year or so's practice with his father, he made his stand in Wayne Coun- ty. He has since then practiced in Shadville, White County, Benton, Franklin County, Nor- ris City, in White County, and then at Macedo- nia, in Hamilton County. While practicing, the death of his father occurred, and soon after that he returned to Jefferson County, and took up the mantle that had fallen from the should- ers of his father. He is now the only physi- cian in that section. He practices over the counties of Jefferson, Hamilton and Franklin, and but few fall under the magic touch of his skillful hand, and the care of his watchful brain, but to be improved and to bless the existence of our subject. Besides his practice, the Doc- tor owns quite a nice farm of about ninety acres, situated in Section 36, Township 4, Range 4 east. He now has about sixty acres in cultivation. The charge of this devolves mainly on the son -Thomas M. Dr. Wilkey was married, February 25, 1847, in Hamilton County, to Lucy Goodwin, a daughter of John Goodwin, a native of Kentucky. This lady was the mother of two children, one of whom is now living-Thomas M., born March 1, 1848, Her death occurred May 6, 1850, and subject
was married the second time, in September, 1856, to Mary Ann Houseworth, a daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Houseworth, both na- tives of Ohio. She was the mother of four children, and of this number there is also only one living-Peoria, wife of Louis Shelton, of Hamilton County. This lady died in 1863, and he was married the third time, December 2, 1865, to Emily Darnall, a daughter of James H. and Mary (Robenson) Darnall ; the father was a native of Tennessee, and the mother of Franklin County, this State. The result of this union was three children, two of whom are now living-James H., Jr., born August 23, 1866, and Carter Wilkey, born March 16, 1876. In politics, subject is a Republican.
ELI R. YATES, farmer, P. O. Dahlgren, was born in 'Hamilton County, Ill., May 26, 1834, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy Campbell Yates. The father was a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Tennessee. Subject was the oldest of five children, four of whom are now living. He received his education, such as it was, in the subscription schools of that county. When sixteen years old, his father died, and subject roved about for a number of years working for farmers in Wayne, Hamilton and Jefferson Counties, also in several counties in the northern part of the State. In 1859, he settled down on a farm in Wayne County, but only remained there about one year, and then came to this county, where he settled on his present farm. He now owns 110 acres situated in Section 1, Township 4, Range 4 east. Of this, about ninety acres are in cultivation, and about 4 acres in orchard. Mr. Vates was mar- ried, Jannary 13, 1859, to Martha Shelton, a native of this county, and a daughter of John W. and Margaret R. (Smith) Shelton. The father was a native of Kentucky. This lady was the mother of seven children, four of whom are now living-Isam Riley, Oley, Edward and Lillie. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church of Dahlgren, Hamilton County, and a member of Dahlgren Lodge, No. 486, 1. O. () F. He is a Democrat in politics.
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HUGH L. BLEDSOE (deceased) was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1821, a son of Philadelphus and Mildred (Kendrick) Bled- soe, both natives of the same State. He was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in pol- itics, and died in 1863. His wife, who sur- vives him, was born July 9, 1828, but a half mile from where she at present resides, and has lived here ever since, making her the oldest resident of Casner Township. She is the mother of seven children, of whom six are living-William M., Eliza L., Permelia E., Philadelphus M., Thomas H. and James D. Mrs. Beldsoe is a member of the Chris- tian Church. She has a farm of 140 acres, which is given to general farming. P. M. Bledsoe was born December 30, 1855, and was married, March 28, 1883, to Ollie D. Henley, a daughter of James and Mary (Stilly) Henley. He has a farm of twenty six acres sitnated in Washington County. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Ashley Lodge. No. 302, and in politics is a Democrat.
EDWARD BOND (deceased) came from Tennessee and settled in Jefferson County with his parents, Mitchell and Elizabeth Bond, at an early day. He was reared on a farm. and during his life gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a man of quiet and unpretending ways and was held in high esteem and respect by the commu- nity in which he humbly toiled for many years. He responded to the country's call for troops for the Mexican war, and also served a year in the late war-in the Thirty- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Decem- ber 11, 1850, he married Elizabeth A. Gill,
a daughter of Joseph and Maria (Campbell) Gill. She still survives him, as do also three of their six children-William E., Mi - chael A. and Francis M. Mr. Bond died Au- gust 23, 1874, at which time his farm con- sisted of 240 acres. Although departed, his record is with us. and it is resplendent with achievements which, although humble and unassuming in their nature, are, nevertheless, noble and grand, reflecting great credit to the worth of his character, which was at all times pure and undefiled.
WILLIAM R. CHAMP, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, is one of the early settlers of Jefferson County, having come here with his parents, who unloaded their small stock of this world's goods in Grand Prairie Town. ship November 9, 1829. He was born No- vember 15, 1828, in Lincoln County, Tenn., to Henry and Delanie (Brown) Champ. The father was a Georgian by birth, was a sub- stantial farmer during life, had filled many offices, and was a man who occupied a high position in popular favor. He died August 30, 1876, aged nearly seventy-three years, his noble wife having departed this life in 1872. Their union had been blessed with twelve children, of whom five sons and two daughters are still living, our subject being the eldest. His early schooling was ex- tremely limited-to a single spelling book he was indebted for all that he obtained. Farm- ing claimed his attention in early life. and he has since made that his exclusive busi- ness. August 5, 1852, he wedded Nancy Bond, a daughter of Mitchell and Elizabeth Bond, and by her raised a family of six chil-
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dren, of whom five survive-Franklin P., William H, Olive M., Benjamin P. and Sey- mour. Mr. Champ has a farm of 2623 acres, mostly in Casner Township. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., Woodlawn Lodge, No. 522. He has filled many offices, includ- ing that of Supervisor, Collector, Town Clerk, etc., and is a Democrat in politics. With a possible exception, Mr. Champ is Casner Township's oldest resident at the present time. His success in life is altogether due to his own energy, and it is such charac- ters as these that insure the growth and prosperity of the country.
SPENCER S. EUBANK, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Woodlawn, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., May 13, 1814, a son of John and Susan (Shelton) Eubank, both natives of Georgia (or South Carolina, as they were right on the line), and here they were also married. The father was a car- penter and millwright by trade, which he followed the most of his life. The parents removed to Lincoln County, Tenn., where our subject was born, and after residing in different counties in Alabama and Carroll County, Tenn., they came to Washington County, this State, about 1830. Their mar- riage had given them fourteen children, five of whom were living at last accounts -Polly, Spencer S., Richard, Margaret and Betsey. Mr. Eubank received but very little early schooling. He has been variously en- gaged during his long and active life. He made his first crop of corn, and it was a good crop, too, with a grass collar and hick- ory bark traces, and was the first owner of a " painted " plow in Washington County. With his father, he put up the first frame house in Ashley, and they burned the first lime in the county. Mr. Eubank built sey- eral steam mills, one of them the second in the county. For thirty years he was en-
gaged in farming and milling, owning at one time 1,400 acres of land, which be lost in the flouring mill business in Ashley. He has a present farm of 220 acres, mostly in meadow, which is devoted to stock-raising and grazing. He winters large herds of stock in Missouri and Arkansas and disposes of them in the Northern markets. He was married to Sally White, a daughter of Stin- son White. She died in 1875, the mother of fourteen children, of whom seven are liv ing-James, Anrow, Emily, Richard, Robert, Susan and Margaret. Politically, Mr. En. bank is a Republican. Although advanced in years, he is still hale and hearty, and en- gages in active every-day work.
THOMAS J. GASKINS, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, is a native of Clark County, Ind., born August 23, 1838, a son of Elias and Mary (Bear) Gaskins, he a native of Ohio and she of Indiana. The father was a farmer, and died in 1882, aged nearly seven- ty-three years; the mother is still living. The married life of the old folks had been blessed with eleven children, seven of whom still survive-Thomas J., Sarah, Harriett, Owen, Mary, Martha and Leah. When Mr. Gaskins was quite small, his parents came to Jefferson County, and here he obtained what little education was afforded by the common schools. He started in life as a tiller of the soil, and has been always thus engaged, baving at present a farm of 105 acres, which is devoted to farming in its various branches. March 7. 1861, he married Sarah E. West- cott, born June 4, 1830, a daughter of John D. and Margaret S. (Willis) Westcott, he born September 12, 1803, and died Septem- ber 29, 1850. and she born August 24, 1804. and died November 30, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskins have five children- William T., born March 23, 1862; Mary R. E., February 27, 1864; Francis M., November 19, 1866;
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Annie S. C., July 7, 1869; and Harriett E. I., February 27, 1872. Our subject and wife are members of the Christian Church. Polit- ically, he is a Democrat.
THOMAS W. HARVEY, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, was born June 27, 1830, in Hampshire County, Va. (now West Vir- ginia), to Zachariah and Betsey (Ward) Har- vey, both natives of Virginia. His father was a farmer by occupation, and was in the war of 1812. The parents had fourteen chil- dren, only two of whom are now living --- Aun and Thomas W. The latter received what little education the old subscription schools afforded. At the age of five, he re- moved with his parents to Tazewell County, Ill., where the mother died. Shortly after- ward, the father came to Jefferson County, and here our subject has since resided. His present farm consists of 160 acres, which is given to farming in its general branches. He was united in marriage, July 23, 1852, to Catharine Watkins, a daughter of Samuel and Barbara (Bear) Watkins, and the union has been blessed with fourteen children, seven of whom are now living-Mary E. (wife of Simeon L. White), John H., Isaac Z., Elijah B., Leah F., Thomas J. and Bar- bara L. Mr. Harvey was a member of the I. O. O. F. until his lodge broke up. He and wife are members of the Southern Meth- odist Church. He has filled the offices of Supervisor, Assessor. Deputy Sheriff and Constable, and in politics gives his support to the Democratic party.
THOMAS KELLY, farmer, P. O. Wood- lawn, is a native of County Galway, Ireland, born September 25, 1829, the eldest child of Edward and Mary Kelly, both natives of the same country. His parents had a large fam- ily of children, our subject being the only one in America. He spent his early life in Ireland, and in 1849 embarked for the
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United States, landing in New Orleans. In the spring of 1852, he came to Jefferson Coun- ty, where he has since resided, with the ex- ception of several years' residence in the ad- joining county of Washington. He has been twice married, first to Catharine Hayes, who bore him one child-Ashford-and after- ward to Lucinda (Green) Pitts, by whom he has four children, of whom two are living- Hattie C. and Charles W. In January, 1862, Mr. Kelly enlisted in the Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Morrison, and was in many heavy engagements throughout the Mississippi and Western campaigns. He re- ceived a severe wound in the left leg at the battle of Fort Donelson, but served his three years of enlistment and was mustered out at Springfield. He and wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, in which he is also a licensed preacher. He has been Jus- tice of the Peace for seven years in succes- sion, and has filled many other offices. Polit- ically, he is a Democrat. Although abrupt and decisive in speech, the Squire is, never- theless, courteous and considerate, and is ever ready to give his support to enterprises calculated for the public good.
JOHN KENDALL, farmer, P. O. Ashley, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, January 5, 1823, the eldest son of William and Christina (Lawson) Kendall, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia. The father was first married to a Miss Brown, who bore him seven children, only one of whom survives-Thomas-a resident of Cleve- land, Ohio. Of his second marriage, four children are now living-John, Jeremiah, Susan and Louvina. William Kendall was a surveyor and located a great amount of land in Ohio, and also assisted in laying out Portsmouth, that State. He was engaged in the furnace business in Scioto County, and also steamboat building, and built many of
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the first to run on the Ohio River. He was a member of the State Legislature for many years, and at his death was an honored mem- ber of the State Senate. He was a Whig in politics, and during his life was actively identified with numberless popular enter- prises of various kinds. He served in the war of 1812. John Kendall, the subject of these lines, obtained a little schooling in his native county, and was raised on the farm. He was in the mercantile and also coal bus- iness in Portsmouth, Ohio, and was after- ward railroad agent for two years at Jack- son, same State, after which he came to Jefferson County and located on his present place, which now consists of 320 acres, with a large orchard and the various attributes of a good farm. He was first married to Louisa Lucas, who died a short time after her mar- riage. His second marriage was with Louisa J. (Stamper) Martin. Mr. Kendall has filled many minor offices, and is the present School Treasurer of Casner Township. He is a Republican in politics. He holds a high position in popular esteem, and his humble, yet vigorous life, sets but another example that is worthy of emulation by all.
THOMAS B. LACEY, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, was born February 17, 1827. in St. Clair County, Ill., to Joshua and Ma- linda (Gooding) Lacey, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Kentucky. Joshua Lacey was a tiller of the soil, and came with his father to Illinois Territory about 1807 and settled in what is now Madi- son County. He served in the war of 1812, as did also several of his brothers. He died in June, 1858, leaving his wife, who is yet living. Their married life had been blessed with ten children, of whom six are living -- Annie, Thomas B., J. R., Thompson, Cynthia and Permelia. The early education of our subject was limited to what little was ob-
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