USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 71
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Hubbard Chapter, No. 160, Royal Arch Masons, of Mount Vernon.
JAMES LOMAN, farmer, P. O. Elk Prairie, was born in Madison County, Ky., May 28, 1831, a son of Isaac and Phœbe (Davenport) Loman, who were natives of North Carolina. Subject was the oldest of seven children, and when eleven years old his father died. The former, however, re- mained at home with his mother and assisted on the farm. In the winter time, however, he found time to attend the subscription schools of his county some. When subject was eighteen, his mother married a Mr. Coffman, but Mr. Loman, however, made his home with his step-father until he became of age, and then, in the fall of 1852, he removed to Ilinois and settled in Gallatin County, where he remained six years. From there he came to Jefferson County, and settled on his present farm in Elk Prairie Township. Here he now owns about one hundred and seventy acres, located in Sections 23, 24 and 26, of Township 4, Range 2 east. Of this, there are about one hundred and forty - two acres in cultivation and two acres in or- chard. Mr. Loman was married, July 1, 1850, to Miss Sarah J. McClaine, a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and a daughter of Mrs. Lurenna McClaine. This marriage has resulted in seven children, of whom five are now living-Mary (wife of William Hester), William, Vienna (wife of Newton Wells), I. B. and Leota. Subject enlisted in the Thirty - first Illinois Volunteer Infantry in October, 1864, and remained in service until August, 1865. Among the campaigns in which his regiment participated was that of Sherman's famous march to the sea. Mr. Loman bas served in many places of trust in his town- ship, having been Justice of the Peace six. teen years. He is at present filling the office of School Trustee. He is a member of the
Elk Prairie Christian Church, and in poli- tics is at present connected with the Green- back party; formerly, however, he affiliated with the Democratic party.
JOHN MARTIN, deceased, was born in Gibson County, Ind., August 14, 1813. He was a son of James and Sarah (Williams) Martin, and was the third of six children, of whom two are living. His education was received in the schools of that day, and was somewhat meager, his father having died when subject was a mere boy. The latter rendered what service he could to his mother, and remained at the home farm until he was twenty-seven. Then, starting out in life, he married and settled down on a farm in that county, where he remained until 1847, and then came to Jefferson County, where he settled in Elk Prairie Township, on the farm now occupied by his widow. His first, pur- chase of 200 acres had been partially cleared. By careful saving and frugality he added to that until at the time of his death he owned about nine hundred acres, which have since been divided among his heirs. In Gibson County, Ind., February 11, 1841, Mr. Mar- tin was wedded to Julia Ann Armstrong, who was born in Wayne County, Ill., April 2. 1822, and is a daughter of Elsberry and Elizabeth (Landers) Armstrong, who were probably originally natives of Indiana. Nine children have come to bless this union, of whom seven are now living, viz., Elsberry, born November 11, 1841; Melissa, born January 1, 1845, wife of Har- ry H. Hartley; Sarah E., born November 29, 1847, wife of J. J. Pierce, of Franklin Coun- ty; Mary J., born November 25, 1849, wife of J. A. Allen; Nancy E., born February 24. 1852, wife of M. M. Fitzgerrell; Martha A., wife of Elijah Webb; John B., born June 23, 1862. Two infants were born April 23, 1855, and died the same day. It was the
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nature of our subject to remain aloof from political struggles and strifes, and was in no way an office seeker and holder, but bent all of his energies to the amassing of a consid- erable competence, which his heirs now en- joy. As far as his political opinions aud principles went, however, he gave his support to the Democratic party. Mr. Martin, in his lifetime, was a true and faithful member of the Baptist Church, and at his death, August 17. 1875, he was buried in the cemetery of that church in Elk Prairie Township. His widow and the unmarried children now re- main on the farm.
WILLIAM WELLS, farmer, P. O. Elk Prairie, was born in Giles County, Tenn., September 16, 1813, a son of William and Elizabeth (Livingston) Wells. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Tennessee in a very early day: the mother was a native of Kentucky. Subject was the third of nine children. In 1819, his father went, with his family, to Lauderdale County, Ala., and there William attended subscrip- tion school some. In 1825, the father again moved, this time to Jefferson County, and settled in Mount Vernon Township. He was one of the first settlers in that neighborhood. where he, however, remained only about three years, and then moved to Wolf's Prai- rie, McClellan Township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in June, 1865. The father, in his day, was one of the foremost men of the township in which he resided, and served in numerous township offices. After subject came to this county, he also attended the subscription schools of his township. His first teacher was old Ned Maxey. Another teacher was a young man of the name of Bee, who afterward was Coun. ty Judge. Our subject remained at home most of the time until he was twenty-five, and then, starting out in life for himself, im-
mediately settled on his present farm. The place was at first a piece of Government land, entirely unimproved. He owns at present 180 acres in Sections 1 and 12, 40 in Section 14, 120 in Sections 22 and 23 of Township 4, Range 2 east; also 160 in Section 25 and 73 in Sections 14 and 23 of McCleiland Town- ship. Of the whole, there are about 350 acres in cultivation, about four acres in orchard. Mr. Wells was married, in Jefferson County, February 14, 1838, to Lucy Farthine, a native of Madison County, Ky., and a daughter of William and Sarah Farthine. The father was one of the earliest settlers in McClellan Township. This union has resulted in ten children, of whom eight are living-Eliza- beth (wife of Joseph Dial, of Spring Garden Township), Thomas (in Mcclellan Town- ship), John (in Elk Prairie Township), Har- vey, Mary (wife of Thos. Puckett. of Blissville Township), Newton Edward and Jonathan, all at home with their father, and Joseph, in Spring Garden Township. Mrs. Wells is a member of the Elk Prairie Campbellite Church. Mr. Wells has served as Justice of the Peace eight years, Road Supervisor, School Director, etc. In politics, he is Dem- ocratic.
JOHN WILBANKS, farmer and banker, P. O. Mount Vernon, is a descendant of an old and prominent family of Jefferson Coun- ty-a family who came here when the coun- try was an almost unbroken wilderness, with danger lurking everywhere. In its subjection to civilized life, they bore an active and im- portant part, and the education, wealth and refinement by which we are to-day surround- ed attest the labors of these and other pio- neers of the county. The grandfather of our subject was a native of the Spartausburg District. S. C., where he was born June 15, 1770. He grew up to manhood there, and married Miss Jane Thomas, a native of the
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same district, a union which resulted in the birth of nine children-Joseph (father of subject, born July 2, 1795), John (born Oc- tober 22, 1796; he was a carpenter in South Carolina, and never came West), Thomas (was born December 11, 1798, and was a sad- dler by trade; he came to St. Louis when a young man, where he lived for some years, and was afterward drowned), James (was born march 19, 1801; he came West, and after living in this county a few years re- moved to Benton, Franklin County, where he lived until his death; his daughter, Roz- ella, is the wife of William Jones, the pres- ent Sheriff of that county). William (born March 19, 1803, was the first one of the fam- ily to come to this county and settled in Moore's Prairie Township first, where he remained some years and then moved to a farm in Spring Garden Township, where he died in an early day), Robert A. D. (born in 1805, the father of the present Clerk of the Appellate Court)-Robert Wilbanks (who is ap- propriately mentioned in another part of the work), "Peggy" (as she was called, was born in South Carolina, came West in 1823 with her parents and August 10, 1824, was mar- ried to James Black, a native of Washington, D. C., the twain settling down in the south part of Moore's Prairie Township; at the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, he en- listed in it, and was killed at the battle of Kellogg's Grove in 1832, and in 1837 his widow was married to Uriah Campbell), Jud- ith (was born August 13, 1813, and was mar- ried. November 19, 1839, to John Robert- son), Daniel P. (was born May 13, 1817, came West and settled in Gallatin County, III., where he married Margaret Campbell March 7, 1841; Mr. Wilbanks lived in that county for a number of years, was Circuit and Coun- ty Clerk and finally moved to Arkansas; in 1854, while returning East on a visit, he
died from fever on a steamboat at Memphis. The grandfather came West about 1823, and settled on the old Wilbanks farm in Moore's Prairie Township. There he lived until his death. In 1827, the great-grand- mother, Judith Wilbanks, came out from South Carolina to pay her son and her grand- children a visit, and died at the old home- stead January 11, 1829, aged eighty years. Joseph, the father of our subject, came West soon after the close of the war of 1812, and first settled in Madison County, Ill., where he married Candace Pickering October 14. 1819. The mother was a native of Broome County, N. Y., and came West abont 1815. They resided in Madison Conn- ty until about 1826, and then came to Jeffer- son County, where the father settled in Mount Vernon and commenced merchandis- ing. He was afterward elected to the posi- tion of Sheriff. At that time the county was not very thickly settled, his vote being thirty - five and his two opponents receiving thirty- four and thirty-three respectively. Also served as Postmaster. To them were born four children, three boys and one girl-John (our subject), Luke (deceased, was a soldier in the late rebellion, serving as Captain in the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and while in the service contracted disease from which he afterward died), Q. A. (lives at present in Belle Rive, Pendleton Township), Margaret (married Alexander Moore and died in Mount Vernon about 1853). The father, who was consumptive, thinking a change of climate would help him, went to South Car- olina about 1828, and there died from .the effects of the disease January 7, 1829. The mother afterward married Stinson H. Ander- son, who, in 1838, was elected Lieutenant Governor aud served one term; his death oc- curred in 1853. When subject was about six years old, his step-father moved to Elk Prai-
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rie Township. Here subject attended the subscription schools of his day and helped on the home farm until he reached manhood. In 1843, he commenced farming on a piece of unimproved Congress land. In 1849, he entered eighty acres, and soon afterward for- ty acres more, which he had cultivated. He at present owns 422 acres in Sections 10 and 11; about five acres in orchard. He has given, in past years, a good deal of attention to stock-raising, but in the last few years he has turned his attention more to agriculture. In June, 1873, he embarked in the general banking business, with G. W. Evans, in Mount Vernon, Ill., under the firm name of Evans & Wilbanks. Mr. Wilbanks was married, December 9, 1849, to Elizabeth Evaline New- by, a daughter of Capt. H. B. and Nancy (Brown) Newby, who were among the earliest settlers in Mount Vernon Township. This union has resulted in eight children, five of whom are now living-Vanwert, born Octo- ber 27, 1852, Cashier of Evans & Wil- banks' Bank; Florence, born December 11, 1854; Nannie O .. born July 26, 1859; Frank A., born August 18, 1863; Robert
Lee, born June 25, 1866. Of the deceased ones. Enterpe was born August . 16, 1850, died May 28, 1874; Joliet, born February 13, 1857, died March 19, 1875; Newby, born February 24, 1861, died April 18, 1862. Mr. Wilbanks served in the Mexican war. He enlisted in June, 1846, in the Third Reg- iment, and remained in the service for twelve months-the time for which he enlisted. He participated in the battle of Cerro Gordo, and experienced during his term all the hardships of a solider's life, and the dangers and exposures incident to being in an en- emy's country. In 1848, he was elected Cir- cuit Clerk of Jefferson County, served one term, and was then (in 1852; elected to rep- resent his county in the State Legislature. In both of these important positions he dis- charged his duties faithfully, and to the full satisfaction of his constituency. He is at present Commissioner of Highways. Polit- ically, he is a Greenbacker, but has formerly been identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of Marion Lodge, No. 13, I. O. O. F, at Mount Vernon.
MCCLELLAN TOWNSHIP.
JOSEPII BRADLEY, farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born May 9, 1809, in Maryland. His father, Purnell Bradley, was also a native of Maryland, and a large farmer; he died there. The mother of our subject, Sinah Tull, was a native of Delaware; she came to this county, where she died. Her father, James Tull, was also a farmer, and a highly respected member of society; he died in Hancock County, III. Our subject was educated in Delaware. He has farmed all his life, and now owns a farm of 199 acres of good land in Wolf's Prairie. He was married twice. His first wife, Mary Van
Cleave, was the mother of eight children, of whom four are now living, viz .: Sarah P. Down- er, Mary A. Langley, Parthenia M. Williams and Eliza E. Gilbert. His present wife, Mrs. Ellen L. Rahm, born August 30, 1820, in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and is the daughter of James and Sarah (Decourcey) Kirby. She is the mother of Anna C. Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are members of the United Brethren in Christ Church. His son-in-law, Louis Law- rence, is a minister in that church. In politics, he has been identified with the Democratic party till Greeley was run; of late years he has
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been independent in politics. Mrs. Ellen L. Bradley's children by her first husband, John Rahm, of Pittsburgh, Penn., were-George A. Rahm, James K. Rahm, Alice L. Rahm, wife of Mr. Joseph Meritt, of Salem, Ill.
ELIJAH COLLINS, farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born April 18, 1846, in Rush County, Ind. Ilis father, Charles Collins, was a native of Pennsylvania, born October 5, 1802; he was a farmer by occupation, and came to this county in the fall of 1865; he was well known and highly respected in this county, where he died April 13, 1872. His father, Ephraim Collins, was a native of Pennsylvania. The mother of our subject, Agnes Johnson, was born July 22, 1815, in Bullitt County, Ky .. daughter of Moses and Rebecca (Irons) John- son; her father, Jonathan Irons, was the dis- coverer and owner of what is now called the Sheperdsville Salt Works, and was scalded to death in one of the kettles. Mrs. Agnes Col- lins is the mother of seven children now living, viz .: Charles, Isaac, Elijah, Anna Morgan, Sn- san Keaton, John W. and Isabella Gray. Our subjeet was educated mostly in Brown County, Ind. He has made farming his vocation, hav- ing a farm of sixty acres. He has filled the offices of Constable and Highway Commissioner, and now holds the office of Township Supervi- sor. In politics, he is a Democrat. lle was married, July 25, 1867, to Sarah M. Downer, born December 29, 1846, in Jefferson County, Ill. She is a danghter of John and Sarah MI. (Neil), very old settlers. She is the mother of six children, viz .: Jennie, Agnes, Walter, Mary C. (deceased), Ethel M. and Louie. Mr. and Mrs. Collins are members of the'Christian Church, of which he is an Elder.
WILLIAM A. DAVIS, farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born January 16, 1846, in Mc- Clellan Township, Jefferson County, Ill. Ilis father, Clinton S. Davis, was a native of Ten- nessee, and a farmer, who came to this county in or about 1838; he is yet living, aged sixty-
three years. llis father, Alfred Davis, was a native of North Carolina. The mother of our subject, Susan (Wells) Davis, was born June 11, 1811, is yet living, and the mother of seven children; her parents were William and Eliza- beth (Levingston) Wells. Our subject was edu. cated in this county, and here he was joined in matrimony, November 29, 1870, to Nancy G. Davis, born May 29, 1852, in Smith County, Tenn. She is a daughter of Joseph M. and Rebecca (Roister) Davis. Mrs. Nancy G. Davis is the mother of four children, viz .: Su- san R., born October 20, 1870; C. Clinton, born November 8, 1873; N. Norman, born January 8, 1879; W. Willis, born August 16, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are connected with the Chris- tian Church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Mount Vernon Lodge. He has served the people in the capacity of Township Clerk for one year, as Township Supervisor five years, and for the last seven years he has been Jus- tice of the Peace, filling the office with tact and ability. He has a farm of 260 acres, aud in politics has been identified with the Demo- cratie party.
J. G. HOWE, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, was born February 17, 1827, in Davis County, Tenn. Ilis father, Samuel Howe, was a native of Mary- land, and died here, he being the son of William Howe, a native of Scotland. The mother of our subject, Anna Berry, was a native of Ten- nessee. She was the mother of ten children, of whom only Eliza Rightnowar and James G., our subject, are now living. He went to school but little in this county. Hle has farmed all of his life, and now owns a farm of 180 acres, which he made all himself. lle supported his mother from 1838 till 1863, when she died. He married Margaret Cameron, born September, 1828, in this county. She is a daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Cameron, old settlers, and she is the mother of five children, viz .: Mary F., William W. (deceased), Samuel S .. Sarah A. (deceased), and Margaret II. Mr. and
J
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Mrs. Howe are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, Woodlawn Lodge, No. 522. In pol- itics, he has been identified with the Demo- cratie party. His grandmother, whose maiden name was Sela Gorden, was married three times, and all three husbands were killed by the In- dians in Tennessee.
D. C. JONES, farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born August 1, 1812, in Virginia, son of George Jones, also a good farmer. The mother of our subjeet, Prudence Keith, was the mother of eight children. Our subject, D. C. Jones, was reared in Jackson County, Ind., but was married in Jennings County, where also all of his children were born. His wife, Susan M. Prather, was born August 8, 1811, in Clark County, Ind. She is a daughter of William and Lettice (MeCarroll) Prather, highly respect- ed people, who reared a large family, and who became useful members of society, and were all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Susan M. Jones reared seven children. viz .: Maria J., Marinda A. Meredith, Cyrena P. Mont- gomery, Lettia A. Titsworth, Calvin L., Mar- garet R. Mills and Irena Bell Klein, deceased. Mr. Jones farmed many years in Indiana, and finally, in 1863, he came to Jefferson County, where he has farmed ever sinee, owning now almost 300 acres of land, and is a good farmer and manager. His past life is worthy of imi- tation and ought to be recorded in these pages, which will serve as a guide post to the coming generations. In polities, Mr. Jones has been a Democrat.
SAMUEL LACEY, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, was born April 13, 1825, in St. Clair County, Ill. His father, Thomas Lacey, the old United States Mail carrier, was a native of Kentucky, born February 9, 1800 ; he died here in 1879. He came to Illinois Territory in 1806, with his father, Liner Lacey, a native of Virginia. They settled in what is now called St. Clair County. He was a pioneer in Kentucky, as well as Illi-
nois. The mother of our subject. Lucinda (Greathouse) Lacey, was the mother of three children, of whom our snbjeet is the only one living. Ile was educated in Belleville, Ill., and early turned his attention to farming. He now owns 160 acres of land. His wife, Jane A. (Caulk) Lacey, was born March 27. 1832. in Carlinville, Ill. She is the mother of eight chil- dren, viz .: Thomas M., deceased ; Mary M., Emma B., James II., Edward S., Charles G. Jenette D. and Anna M. Mr. and Mrs. Lacey are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Clinreb. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 31. Ile has been Highway Commissioner, and in politics is identified with the Republican party. His son, James II., born February 2, 1857, is a grad- uate of the St. Louis Medical College. Ilis pre- ceptor was Dr. H. S. Plummer, of Mount Ver- non.
ADAM RIGHTNOWAR, farmer, P. O. Woodlawn, was born March 29, 1824, near Elizabethtown, in Hardin County, Ill., son of George Rightnowar, a native of Pennsylvania ; he was a farmer, and came here in an early day. The mother of our subject. Jerusha (Rose) Rightnowar, raised ten children. Our subject never went to school three months, all told, in his life. He has followed farming all his life, and owns 280 acres of land, having given about 200 acres to his five children, now married. He was married, March 8, 1849, to Eliza Howe, born August 26, 1829, in this county, danghter of Samuel and Anna E. Howe. She is the mother of eight children. viz., Francis (who married Harriett Giles), Elizabeth Rutherford, Anna Mandrel, Levina Wells, George (who married Sarah Mayberry), Eliza E. (born Au- gust 28, 1861), Mary D. (born December 30, 1863), and Adam D. (born October 18, 1866). Mrs. Rightnowar is connected with the Chris- tian Church. Mr. Rightnowar is identified with the Democratic party. He is a man who started out in the world with nothing, but has
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done well without an education, bis example in life being worthy of imitation.
DANIEL STURGIS, farmer, P. O. Mount Vernon, was born February 14, 1832, in Ham- ilton County, Quio, son of Daniel Sturgis, St., a native of New Jersey ; he was a blacksmith, and died in Ohio, his father being Moses Stur- gis. The mother of our subject, Mary McKee, was a native of Ohio ; she was a daughter of Samuel McKee, a native of Ireland ; she was the mother of eleven children, and died in Mount Vernon. Our subject was educated in Ohio. In early life he was a mechanic, and followed it for many years in Mount Vernon ; for the last four years, he has been a farmer, owning a farm of 120 acres. He was joined in
matrimony twice. His first wife, Anna A. Mayhew. was the mother of four children now living. viz., Martha Hiserman, Viola, Charley and Albert. Ilis present wife, Mrs. Sarah Kel- ly. born November 6. 1841, in Brown County Ohio, was a daughter of William and Mary A. (Guthrie) Edgington, natives of Ohio. She is the mother of four children, viz .. William, De- lilah, Mary A. and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Stur- gis are both church members. He is identified with the Republican party, of which he was an ardent supporter during the war, in which he served about one year, enlisting in the One Ilundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers. Company D, serving till close of war, when he was honorably discharged.
BALD HILL TOWNSHIP.
R W. MANNEN. farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Laur, was born in Bald Hill Township. Jefferson County, July 5, 1851 ; is a son of Sydney S. and Eliza A. (Walton) Mannen. The parents were originally from Mason County. Ky., and came to this county about 1844. They settled on the farm now occupied by subject, where the father died in 1872. The mother is still living. Subject was the fifth of nine chil- dren. of whom eight are living. In childhood and youth, he attended the free schools of his township, and worked on the home place until the father's estate was settled. And when the estate was divided, subject inherited the part that he now occupies. At present, he owns 220 acres in Sections 1 and 10, of Town 1, Range 1, eighty acres in Section 6, of Town 4, Range 2, and eighty acres in Section 33, of Town 3. Range 1. Of the whole farm, there are about 2.10 acres in cultivation. He also pays some attention to stock-raising, having about 130 head of cattle, and some sheep and hogs.
Mr. Mannen was married, December 31, 1879, to Amanda E. Dodds, a native of Shiloh Town- ship, Jefferson County, and daughter of Will. iam and Anna (Hall) Dodds. The father was born in this county, his parents having come here from South Carolina. The mother was a native of Gallatin County, IH. The father in his day was one of the foremost men of this county, and served as Circuit Judge, County Clerk, and other responsible positions. He died in 1870. The mother is still living, in Elk Prairie Township. This marriage has resulted in one child-Walton Dodds, born March 13, 1881. In politics, Mr. Mannen is a Demo- crat.
SIDNEY S. MANNEN, farmer. P. O. Laur, was born October 31, 1853, a son of Sidney S. and Eliza A. (Walton) Mannen. (See sketch of T. H. Mannen, in Blissville Township.) He ob- tained what little schooling this county afforded in his younger days, and has, during his life, devoted his attention to the prosecution of
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farming industries. His present place consists of about 200 acres of land, and also a good residence, which he erected in 1880. Mr. Man- nen married Eliza S. Stewart, a daughter of Peter Stewart, now deceased. Two children have blessed this union, one of whom is living- Lelia. Politically, Mr. Mannen gives his sup- port to the interests of Democracy.
J. W. PHILP, farmer, P. O. Laur, was born in Bracken County, Ky., October 10, 1833, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Baltzell) Philp- the father being a native of England, the mother of Gallipolis, Ohio. Our subject was the sixth of eight children, of whom six are now living. When six years old his parents moved to Illinois and settled in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County. There the family only remained about six months, and then moved to Bald Hill Town- ship and settled about a mile and a half from where our subject now resides. There the father resided until the spring of 1854, when he moved to Central City, Ill:, where he died in 1856, and the mother in 1872. The subscrip- tion schools of this county afforded our subject his means of education. He remained at home with his father until of age, and then com- mencing life for himself, settled on his present farm, where he now owns about 400 acres sit- uated in Sections 1, 2 and 11, of Town 4, Range 1 east, and of that there are about 240 acres in cultivation. Mr. Philp was married, April 6, 1856. to Augusta Kinne, a native of Posey County, Ind., and a daughter of George N. Kinne. This union has resulted in eight chil- dren, six of whom are now living-Ida E., wife of Ichabod Newell, of Blissville Township ; Emma F., wife of Wilburn Dodds, of MeClellan Township ; Charles T., James W., Henry O. and Maggie. He is a member of the Williams- burg Universalist Church. Has served his township as Justice of the Peace. Township Trustee and School Director. He enlisted in the Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry in October, 1864, and was mustered out in June,
1865. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Bentonville, N. C., but was exchanged at Riclı- mond nine days after being taken. He is a Republican in politics.
PETER W. STEWART (deceased). Mr. Stewart came from Abbeville District, S. C., where he was born February 18, 1806, a son of John and Ann (Stewart) Stewart. During his life, he was mostly engaged in farming pursuits. He was first married in South Carolina, to Jane Crawford, and moved to Illinois, locating in Monroe County. She died about 1859. This marriage gave three children, all of whom died in infancy. In 1862, Mr. Stewart married the lady who now survives him. She was Hester A. Upton, a daughter of David and Margaret (Carmichael) Upton. This union was blessed with nine children, of whom there are three who are probably living-Jennie A., Eliza S. and Ida L. Mrs. Stewart had been previously mar- ried to Jeremiah Carmichael, by whom she had one child, who was living at last accounts. His son. Hiram S., is now living with his grand- mother. The Stewart place consists of about 208 acres of land.
JOHN B. WARD, farmer, P. O. Fitzgerell, is a native of Hampshire County, Va., born September 28, 1820, to Lloyd and Catharine (Wilson) Ward, both of whom were natives of the same State. The father was a farmer. He was a son of Lloyd Ward, who served in the Revolutionary war. The parents of our sub- ject were blessed with ten children, of whom there are six living-Sarah A., John B., Will- iam, Edward, Ruth and Lloyd S. Mr. Ward obtained but a meager education in the old- fashioned schools, and at the age of nearly four- teen, came with his parents to McLean County, Ill., where they resided about two years, and removed to Jefferson County, where our subject has since made his home. He has a farm of 460 acres which he devotes to farming in its varions branches. He was united in marriage in 1845 to Prudence Reeves, a danghter of
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Barnes Reeves. This union has given ten children, eight of whom survive-James S., Lewis D., William E., Franklin P., Rachel, Lncy A., Mary E. and Richard M. The oldest son, James S., served in the late rebellion, a
member of the Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Dollins. Mr. Ward has served as Justice of the Peace and Supervisor for many years. In political affairs, he casts his lot within the Democratic ranks.
Sketch received too late for insertion in proper place.
HON. CHARLES T. STRATTON, rail- road and warehouse commissioner, Mount Vernon, Ill. We have in the character of this sketch a representative man, whose ear- nest efforts have won for him a position of high merit, and whose genial, pleasant man- ners have not failed to leave an impress on the minds of all with whom he has become acquainted of genuine regard. He was born May 1, 1855, in Wilmington, Ohio. He re- moved with his father, Stephen T., to Mer- cer County, Ill., in 1855, and in 1857 to Mount Vernon. Ho attended the Mount Vernon Seminary and awhile at Mckendree College, two years at Washington University, at St. Louis, and two years he spent at the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, fiu- ishing his school course there in 1873. In 1872, he returned home from Delaware, and being in poor health ho was advised by the family physician to teach a term of school some distance in the country. This he did, taking a school at $30 per month, and rode on horseback a distance of five miles from his home and return daily. By the close of his school, he was able to resume his studies at the university, of Delaware, Ohio. In 1874, the authorities of the Mount Vernon High School wisely chose him as Principal. One year later, ho accepted the Principalship of the high school at Nashville, Ill. Here he had the chance to show his worth, having the advantage of one of the finest school buildings in Southern Illinois and a large number of enterprising students. He sub-
sequently withdrew from this placo, much to the regret of the citizens of Nashville, and took charge of the schools of Edwardsville, this State. In the fall of 1878, he was in- vited to take a position in Washington Uni- versity, at St. Louis, which he accepted, and his services were much appreciated in the academic department for two years. During the time he was here. his time was not all consumed at teaching, and ho studied law. In the spring of 1880, he was admitted to the bar, and in the same year was nominated and elected from the Forty-sixth District to the Thirty-second General Assembly of the State of Illinois. In 1882, he was the Republican nominee for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. but was defeated. Although beaten at the polls, he made a noble fight for the nomination, having as competitors several of the best teachers of the State. In the fall of 1882, be resumed the practice of law at Mount Vernon, and on March 9, 1883, he was appointed by Gov. Hamilton as one of the three Railroad and Warehouse Commis- sioners for the State of Illinois, to succeed Hon. William H. Robinson, of Fairfield, Ill. This position he now occupies. The record of Mr. Stratton's life is a history of earnest and faithful work; 'of the actions and em- ployments of one who has done thoroughly and well whatever he undertook to do, and whose life will-imperceptibly, perhaps, but not the less surely-exercise an influence for good on those with whom he was brought in contact.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.3793P42H C001 HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS CH
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