History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 47

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 47

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Logan Lodge, No. 204, I. O. O. F., an order in which he takes great interest. Mr. Nicholson was married November 10, 1874, to Mary B., daughter of Larkin and Catherine (Lewis) Wall. They have two children-Leonard and Duff.

Peter Obcamp, wholesale and retail dealer in liquor, Lincoln, Illinois, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 31, 1833. He was reared in his native country, attending the common schools and assisting in the work on his father's farm. In 1854 he came to the United States and located in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illi- nois, working on a farm in that vicinity a year. During 1856 and 1857 he was an attendant at the State Insane Asylum, and then for two years was a coachman in a gentleman's family in Jackson- ville. From 1860 till 1865 he engaged in the bakery and con- fectionery business, then sold out and in May, 1866, moved to Lincoln and embarked in the business in which he is still engaged. Although a poor young man when he came to America, he has by industry and frugality accumulated a valuable property. He owns a pleasant residence and his business property and is also interested in the Citizens' Coal Shaft Company, of Lincoln. Mr. Obcamp was married March 28, 1863, to Mary Claffey, of Indian- apolis. They have six children-Emma, Amelia, William, Ed- ward, Anna and Clara. In politics Mr. Obcamp affiliates with the Democratic party. He and his wife are members of the Lu- theran church, of which he is treasurer.

George Lewis Ogilvie was born in Nova Scotia, September 24, 1845, the eldest of five sons of John and Fannie (West) Ogilvie. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Athens, Maine, where he was reared till his sixteenth year. In July, 1862, he enlisted for one year in Company D, Twenty-fourth Maine Infantry, and was discharged at Augusta, Maine, at the expiration of his term of service. He re-enlisted in the three-years service in Company C, Thirty-first Maine Infantry, February 20, 1863, and served as Third and Fourth Sergeant of his company. He partici- pated in many important engagements-battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court-House, Cold Harbor, was in front of Peters- burg, at the battle and surrender of Petersburg, Appomattox, and was present at the surrender of Lee's army, and other bat- tles of less importance. He was discharged at Bangor, Maine, in September, 1865. He then attended school at Athens till Feb- ruary, 1866, when he came to Illinois and located on a farm near Virginia, in Cass County. In 1869 he came to Logan

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County and settled on a farm in Sheridan Township, and in 1871 he came to Lincoln. In 1872 he was employed as bookkeeper in the Lincoln Flouring Mills where he remained till 1878, since which he has been engaged in the coal mines of the Lincoln Coal Mining Company. In the spring of 1872 he was elected an alderman of Lincoln, and was twice re-elected to the same office. He served two terms as assessor of West Lincoln Township being elected in the spring of 1879 and re-elected in 1880. May 27, 1871, he was married to Miss Fannie Smith, of Lincoln. They have four children-Gertrude Mabel, Lillie Maud, Carrie Belle and Minnie Irene. One child, Oliver Otis, died August 10, 1883, aged ten months. Mr. Ogilvie is a member of Lincoln Lodge, No. 204, I. O. O. F., and Oriental Lodge, No. 629, K. of H., and has passed all the chairs of the latter. He is also a comrade of Leo W. Myers Post, No. 182, G. A. R.

George Wellington Parker, general insurance agent, Lincoln, Illinois, is a native of Ohio, born near Morrow, Warren County, January 15, 1840, where he lived until sixteen years of age, receiv- ing his education in the common schools. His parents were Sam- uel and Elizabeth (McMullen) Parker. His father was a native of North Carolina, of Quaker parentage, and accompanied his parents to Tennessee and thence to Ohio when a young man. He is now a resident of Lincoln, aged seventy-nine years. His mother was s native of Maryland, of Irish descent on her father's side, and was reared a Methodist. She died in 1857. In September, 1856, our subject accompanied his parents to Illinois and located in Lincoln, where he attended the public schools about a year when he began to clerk in the grocery and hardware store of George F. Stillman & Co. In 1858 he was a newsboy on the Chicago & Alton pas- senger trains between Chicago and St. Louis, and in the winter of 1859-'60 was on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, running from St. Louis to Cincinnati. In the spring of 1860 he returned to Lincoln and was employed to buy grain for J. F. D. Elliott till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when, April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Illinois Infantry, under Captain W. D. Wyatt, to serve three months, and at the expiration of his term enlisted in Company B, Second Illinois Cavalry, for three years. In October, 1862, he was discharged on account of ill- health. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson and various skirmishes with the cavalry of Jeff Thompson in Missouri, and Forrest in Tennessee. After his discharge he returned to Lincoln

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and clerked till the fall of 1864, when from September of that year till March, 1866, he was employed as traveling collector for the mercantile house of John McCreary, of Springfield. He then resigned his position and has since been engaged in his present business. Mr. Parker was married July 4, 1867, to Miss Louisa M., daughter of Thomas and Rhoda (Parr) Johnson, of Indianap- olis. They have four children-Winnie Louisa, George Howard, Florence and Ida Laura. Politically Mr. Parker is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, lodge, chapter and commandery, in each of which he has held various offices; and of Lincoln Lodge, No. 204, I. O.O. F., of which he has passed all the chairs. Mrs. Parker's father was one of the first settlers of Indianapolis, entering land within a mile and a half of the center of the city before it was laid out. He held many important offices in his State and county, was a representative in the Indiana State Legislature and a commissioner of Marion County. He died in 1865, at an advanced age.

Samuel Parker, blacksmith, Lincoln, was born in Washington County, Tennessee, July 28, 1807,a son of Joseph and Anna (Shinn) Parker, his mother being a native of Tennessee. His father was of Irish descent, and was a farmer by occupation, and during his lifetime improved three farms. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Samuel Parker was quite young when his parents moved to Highland County, Ohio, and there he was reared a farmer, helping his father improve his farms. When about eighteen years of age he began learning the blacksmith's trade at Hillsboro, Highland County. He engaged in business for himself about 1829 at Rochester, Ohio, where he remained till about 1844. He then removed to Morrowtown, Highland County, and from there came to Illinois in 1857, locating in Lincoln, February 19 of that year. He then followed farming for a year, when he engaged in black- smithing which he has since followed at this place. He has been married three times, and has had a family of twelve children. His wives and seven of his children are deceased, five dying in infancy. Samuel died at Helena, Arkansas, in 1862, aged twenty years, while in the service. Thomas died at Lincoln in 1873, aged thirty- three years, of disease contracted in the army. The children living are-Johnson, of Nebraska ; George W., insurance agent at Lin- coln; Mary E., wife of William Raglan, of Sterling, Kansas; Jere- miah, engaged in painting in Lincoln; Celia, wife of the late John 82

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H. Corwine, of Lincoln. Mr. Parker is a member of Lincoln Lodge, No. 210, A. F. & A. M., and has served as tyler about seven years. In politics he voted the Democratic ticket till the election of Abra- ham Lincoln, when he voted the Republican ticket until 1884, since which he has been a Prohibitionist.

Arthur Quisenberry was born near Hopkinsville, Christian County, Kentucky, August 29, 1835, the youngest son of Edward Sanford and Lucy (Cator) Quisenberry, who were both natives of Virginia. They removed from Kentucky in 1835 on account of their opposition to slavery, and came to Illinois, locating at Hittle's Grove, in Tazewell County, where the father followed farming till 1848. He then came with his family to Logan County, the parents living till their death in Eminence Township, the father dying in 1864, aged seventy-eight, and the mother in 1881, aged eighty-four years. They had a family of nineteen children, nine sons and ten danghters, all living to maturity. To each of the children was given a farm, and all were farmers or farmers' wives, and all the sons are engaged in farming in Logan County, except the eldest, who is now deceased. Arthur Quisenberry, our subject, lived at home till reaching maturity. He was reared a farmer and received but a common-school education. He began life for himself on a farm in Eminence Township, where he followed agricultural pur- suits till 1875. He then rented his farm and came to Lincoln, virtually retiring from business, but at the same time was engaged in dealing in grain and in carrying on a livery. February 18, 1858, he was married to Polly Burt, of Hittle's Grove, daughter of Miller and China (Henline) Burt, who settled in Tazewell County in 1827. They have three children-Laura, wife of John E. Richards, of Logan County; George H. and Clifford, both of Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Quisenberry are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Lincoln. He is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 480, A. F. & A. M.

William Patton Randolph, a prominent business man of Lin- coln, was born near Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia, September 9, 1829, a son of James and Nancy Maria (Woodard) Randolph, natives of Virginia. In 1831 his parents came to Illinois, and settled on a farm in what is now Atna Township, Logan County, at that time a part of Sangamon County, where he was reared. In his boyhood he attended the district schools, and subsequently the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, and Mckendree College, at Lebanon, being at the latter, however, but a month, as

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the death of his father made it necessary for him to return home. In 1855 he completed his education by taking a special course at the Michigan State University, Ann Arbor. In 1857 and 1858 he studied law with David A. Smith, of Jacksonville, Illinois, and was admitted to the bar at Springfield in January, 1859. He lo- cated at Lincoln, and devoted himself to the practice of his pro- fession till 1875, when he moved to a farm in Oran Township and divided his attention between the law and agriculture. In 1885 he rented his farm and returned to Lincoln, and is now devoting part of his time to the grain trade, in which he is associated with his son-Ethelbert C. Mr. Randolph has been a member of the City Council at Lincoln, and on the organization of the Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children was appointed its treasurer by the Board of Trustees, a position he held six years. In politics he was a mem- ber of the Republican party from the date of its organization till 1884, when he transferred his allegiance to the Prohibition party, and was its candidate for Congress. March 13, 1862, he was married to Deborah, daughter of William B. and Mary (Thomas) Cramer. They have two children-Ethelbert Cramer, a graduate of the Jack- sonville Business College, and Arvesta Frances, a graduate of the Jacksonville Female College. Mr. Randolph and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for years he has been a member of the official board. He was chairman of the build- ing committee when the present church was built in 1872.

David Allen Reed, contractor and builder, Lincoln, was born near Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio, June 12, 1840. In his youth he learned the carpenter's trade in his native place, where he worked till 1858. He then accompanied his parents, David A. and Mary Ann (Burton) Reed, to Pike County, Illinois. In 1865 he came to Logan County, and located at Lincoln, where he worked as a journeyman carpenter till 1869, since which he has been en- gaged in contracting. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Caroline Gray, of Pike County, Illinois. They were mar- ried at Pittsfield, Illinois, September 12, 1865, Mrs. Reed dying December 12 of the same year. Mr. Reed was again married De- cember 29, 1866, at Griggsville, Pike County, to Miss Ellen Mor- ton, and to this union have been born three children, two still liv- ing-George Elmer, of Kansas, and Edith Ermie; Engene died at Lincoln, August 10, 1871, aged three years. In 1880-'81 Mr. Reed served as an alderman of the city of Lincoln. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.

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Simon Rock, proprietor of Rock's meat market, Lincoln, is a native of Germany, born in Hohenzoller, October 28, 1827. He was left an orphan before he was ten years of age, and was obliged to rely on himself for maintenance, working for farmers and as errand boy in hotels, obtaining his education in the free schools. In 1854 he came to the United States, and first located at Williams- port, Pennsylvania, and in December of the same year came to Illinois, and in 1855 located in Logan County, and since the spring of 1856 has been engaged in his present business in Lin- coln. He has been successful, and although a poor man when he came to America, has by his good management and industry ac- cumulated a good property. He owns a pleasant residence on the corner of Pulaski and Logan streets, and five brick business houses on Pulaski and Sangamon streets. While Lincoln was a village he served four terms on the Board of Trustees, and the last term was president of the board, and presided over the last meeting of the body. He has served as alderman of the city of Lincoln nine years. He was supervisor of Lincoln Township three years, serv- ing during the great bond suit of the Peoria, Decatur & Evans- ville Railroad vs. Logan County. In politics he is a Democrat. He was married January 21, 1857, at Bloomington, Illinois, by Father Hurley, to Theresa Franck. To them have been born six children-Mary Theresa, died January 13, 1864, aged five years ; Albert Simon, died September 6, 1885, aged twenty-two years and six months; Anna Louisa; Louis Benjamin, died November 22, 1878, aged eleven years; Balbine A. and Rosa M. Mr. and Mrs. Rock are members of the St. Mary's Catholic Church of Lincoln. He is one of the original members, and has been one of its most earnest and efficient workers and supporters.

Henry Rodgers, Clerk of West Lincoln Township, was born near Plainview, Macoupin County, Illinois, February 17, 1852, a son of James T. and Eliza J. (Squiers) Rodgers, his father a native of North Carolina, of German-Irish ancestry, and his mother a native of Illinois. When he was four years old his parents moved to Logan County, and settled in Lincoln. His father was a brick mason, and he learned the trade of him, and has followed it to the present time, with the exception of two years. He received a com- mon-school education, attending the public school at Lincoln. In the spring of 1881 he was elected clerk of West Lincoln Town- ship, a position he has since held by re-election. He is an efficient, vigilant officer, and has gained the confidence of his fellow towns-

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men. October 26, 1879, he was married to Miss Sarah Jeffords, of Lincoln. They have three children-Inno, Julius and Ivy. A son, Eugene, died August 11, 1881, aged three months.

Louis Ropers, proprietor of the Chicago & Alton House, Lin- coln, Illinois, was born near the village of Harsefeld, Hanover, Germany, March 3, 1842, a son of Louis and Mary (Martens) Ropers. His parents died when he was young, and he was reared by a married sister, living with her till fifteen years of age. He attended the common schools till his fourteenth year, and subse- quently worked for farmers till twenty-one years old, when, in 1863, he came to the United States, arriving in New York City, April 22. He remained in that city, clerking in a grocery store till 1865, when he came to Illinois, and for a short time was em- ployed in a flour and feed commission house in Chicago, and then came to Logan County, and worked six months in the saloon and boarding house of John and Henry Ahrens. In 1866 he went to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and engaged in the saloon business till May, 1868, when he returned to Chicago and worked in a whole- sale and retail grocery till 1869; then came again to Lincoln, but soon after returned to Chicago, and remained till 1874. He then came to Lincoln, and formed a partnership with Henry Ahrens, keeping a saloon and boarding house till 1876, when he established his present house. Mr. Ropers was married in July, 1873, at Richfield, Wisconsin, to] Dora Friess. They have five children- John, Louis, Henry, Frank and Katie. Mr. Ropers is a member of Mozart Lodge, No. 345, I. O. O. F. Although a poor young man when he came to America, he has by industry and energy ac- cumulated a good property.

Charles Eugene Ross was born at Cummington, Macoupin County, Illinois, February 24, 1842, a son of John W. and Harriet A. N. (Shaw) Ross, his father a native of Tennessee, of Scotch and Irish ancestry; his mother, of Cummington, of Puritan descent. When he was five years old his parents removed to Waverly, Mor- gan County, Illinois, and there he was reared to manhood. He was educated at the common schools and later attended the Illinois College at Jacksonville three years, taking a scientific course. At the age of twenty-one he began teaching school which he followed two winters, teaching his last term in the vicinity of Lincoln. In the fall of 1865 he engaged in the grocery business at Lincoln in partnership with his brother, George W. Ross, and William Yates under the firm name of Yates & Ross. In 1868 he went to Bush-

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nell, where he took charge of a branch store for his firm until 1870. In the meantime, Mr. Yates retiring from the firm, the name was changed to C. E. & E. S. Ross. In 1870 he became sole proprie- tor, since which time he has conducted the business alone at Lin- coln. May 28, 1867, he was married at Hannibal, Missouri, to Lottie A. Snover, daughter of A. G. & S. A. Snover, of that city. To this union have been born three children-Florence, Carl and Howard. His mother finds a home with him.

Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Ross, of the Thirty-second Illi- nois Infantry, father of C. E. Ross, was mortally wounded on the. first day of the battle of Shiloh, in a fierce contest which took place between two Illinois regiments, on the left of Hurlbut's di- vision, and Statham's Confederate brigade, led by three chosen Confederate leaders, and is described by General Force, of Cin- cinnati, as follows:

"The Forty-First Illinois, constituting the left of Hurlbut's division, held its position, and the Thirty-second Illinois was moved from its place to support the Forty-first. The after- noon was come. Johnston directed Statham's brigade against this position. Statham deployed under cover of a ridge, facing and commanded by the higher ridge held by the Illinois regiments, and marched in line up the ridge. On reaching the summit, coming into view and range, he was received by a fire that broke his command, and his regiments fell back behind the slope in confusion. Battle's Tennessee regiment on the right alone maintained its position and advanced. Lytle's Tennessee regiment three times rallied and advanced, but, unable to stand the fire, fell back. Every time it fell back the Thirty-second Illinois threw an oblique fire into Battle's regiment, aiding the direct fire of the Forty-first, and preventing Battle's further advance. The Forty-fifth Tennessee could not be urged up the slope. Squads would leave the ranks, run up to a fence, fire and fall back to place. General Breckenridge, foiled and irritated, rode to General John- ston and complained that he had a Tennessee regiment that would not fight. Governor Harris, of Tennessee, who was with Johnston, remonstrated, and riding to the Forty-fifth, appealed to it, but in vain. General Johnston moved to the front of the brigade, now standing in line, rode slowly along the front, promised to lead them himself, and appealed to them to follow. The halting sol- diers were roused to enthusiasm. Johnston, Breckenridge and Governor Harris in front, followed by the brigade, charged up the

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slope and down the hollow beyond. Unchecked by the hot fire of the Illinois regiments, they pushed up to the higher slope and the posi- tion was gained. The Illinois regiments fell back slowly, halting at intervals to turn and fire, and were not pursued. One of those Parthian shots struck General Johnston, cut an artery, and, no surgeon being at hand, he bled to death in a few minutes."

A Confederate account by Wm. Preston Johnston, of the death of his father, the Confederate leader, Albert Sidney Johnston, in the same contest is as follows:

" General Johnston was with Statham's brigade, confronting Hurlbut's left, which was behind the crest of a hill, with a depres- sion filled with chaparral in its front. The Confederates held the parallel ridge, in easy musket range, and ' as heavy fire as I ever saw during the war,' says Governor Harris, 'was kept up on both sides for an hour or more.' It was necessary to cross the valley raked by this deadly ambuscade and assail the opposite ridge in order to drive the enemy from their stronghold. When General Johnston came up and saw the situation he said to his staff: ' They are offering stubborn resistance here, I shall have to put the bay- onet to them.' It was the crisis of the conflict. If his assault were successful their left would be completely turned, and the victory won. He determined to charge. He sent Governor Harris of his staff, to lead a Tennessee regiment; and, after a brief conference with Breckenridge, whom he loved and admired, that officer, followed by his staff, appealed to the soldiers. As he en- couraged them with his fine voice and manly bearing, General Johnston rode out in front and slowly down the line. His hat was off. His sword rested in its scabbard. In his right hand he held a little tin cup, the memorial of an incident that had occurred earlier in the day. Passing through a captured camp he had taken this toy, saying: 'Let this be my share of the spoils to-day.' It was this plaything which, holding it between two fingers, he em- ployed more effectively in his natural and simple gesticulation than most men could have used a sword. His presence was full of in- spiration. He sat his thoroughbred bay, 'Fire-eater,' with easy command. His voice was persuasive, encouraging and compelling. His words were few. He said, 'Men, they are stubborn; we must use the bayonet.' When he reached the center of the line he turned. 'I will lead you,' he cried, and moved toward the enemy. The line was already thrilling and trembling with that irresistible ardor which in battle decides the day. With a mighty shout the line

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moved forward at a charge. A sheet of flame and a mighty roar burst from the Federal stronghold. The Confederate line withered, but there was not an instant's pause. The crest was gained."

Colonel Ross was wounded through both thighs, in the ankle, in the shoulder, and his left jaw was broken with a fragment of a shell. The retreat of the Illinois regiments, made necessary by the giving out of ammunition, left him lying wounded between the lines, the ball which passed through his thighs killing the horse. It was a minie-ball, and the two lines were within thirty yards of each other. The Confederates treated him kindly, one squad of- fering him water, with which he was readily supplied, another squad tying the shattered limb to the one in which the bone was uninjured with a rope, so that in that way he might change his position somewhat. When his position on the hillside seemed to become uncomfortable, they carried him further down the hill to more level ground; before this they had driven bayonets down at his feet to keep him from slipping. A Confederate sur- geon assured him that if he had time he would come back and dress his wounds; but that they had come there to take Pittsburg Landing and that they were going to do it. Some Confederate soldiers had taken the saddle from his dead horse, near him, and had placed it under his head. This the Confederate surgeon took, replacing it with his old saddle, taking also his sword and pistols. He lay upon the field until about 4 o'clock on Monday, when, the Confederates being driven back, he was taken in an ambulance to the hospital boat Hannibal, where he died on the following Friday morning. The remains were brought to the then family home at Waverly, Illinois, for burial, where they now sleep. The G. A. R. post at that place was named John W. Ross Post in his honor. It shows the desperate character of the fighting which saved the day, and which saved our army from annihilation when these two regiments which had just emerged from the " hornet's nest " and were badly cut up, could hold in check for over an hour six fresh Confederate regiments under the leadership of General Johnston, General Breckenridge and Governor Harris, and that they left the field only when ammunition was exhausted and when overwhelming force was flanking them on the left. Colonel Ross was with his regiment all day and received his fatal wounds only as the regi- ment left its last position for the day, though he had carried the ball in his shoulder and that in his ankle for over half an hour. So in- tense is the excitement of battle that he stated to his sons George

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 47

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989