History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 59

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

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 59

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1885 .- Equalized valuation, $416,232; State tax, $1,484.28; county tax, $2,756.53; township tax, $169.63; road and bridge tax, $1,441.88; county bond interest tax, $551.31; district school tax, $3,369. 17; dog tax, $106; back taxes, $101.77; total taxes, $9,980.57.

POLITICAL.

In former years Chester was Republican in political sentiment, but now it is slightly Democratic. The majorities have never been very large either way. The presidential vote since 1868 is here shown:

1868-Ulysses S. Grant.

.123

1880 -- Winfield S. Hancock.

106

Horatio Seymour 78

James A. Garfield.

Neal Dow.

1872-Ulysses S. Grant

112

James B. Weaver.

Horace Greeley.

1884-Grover Cleveland

.101

James G. Blaine

Samuel J. Tilden.

104

Benj. F. Butler

CHURCHES.

There are four churches in Chester.

Methodist Episcopal .- The first services of this denomination in this vicinity were held at the residence of Asa French about 1840, and his house continued to be their place of worship till the

Digitized by Google

1876-Rutherford B. Hayes.

.106

John P. St. John

628 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

present church was built in 1873. This church, located on section 26, is a neat frame structure erected at a cost of $1,650. Among the ministers who had charge of the society before the church was built were: Revs. King, Bird, H. Wallace, Lane, Wilson Pitner, Daniel Hatton, James Rucker, Bartholow, Sampson, Shinn and Coult. Rev. Daniel Grimes of Mt. Pulaski Circuit, was pas- tor when the church was built. When first organized the class was assigned to Athens Circuit, subsequently was transferred to Lincoln and is now in the Mt. Pulaski Circuit. The church has a membership of forty. Services are held alternate Sundays and a flourishing Sunday-school and prayer-meetings are held every week.

Pleasant Valley Church, of the Methodist Episcopal denomi- nation, was built in 1875 at a cost of $2,100. It is a commodious frame structure, painted white, and is neatly and comfortably fur- nished. Services were held as early as 1835 at the house of James Downing, and later with David Loughrey and Nicholas Moore. It now numbers about fifteen members.

Layman's Chapel .- The original class at Layman's Chapel was organized in the fall of 1866, in the school-house, by Samuel, George and William Layman and their wives. The first pastor was the Rev. S. E. Pendleton, with Samuel Johnston as assistant. In February, 1877, Rev. Johnston held a very successful revival meeting, and nearly the whole community united with the church -many of them now being pillars in the church. Rev. C. Arnold was next pastor of Lincoln Circuit, of which Layman's Chapel is one appointment. Rev. H. C. Adams followed him in the fall of 1868. In the spring of 1869 trustees were elected as follows: Samuel, George and William Layman, Wm. Moore, W. A. Pe- gram and A. B. Hageman. The chapel was completed and dedi- cated in September following, the dedicatory services being held by Rev. Wm. Crain, of the Illinois Conference, Rev. W. R. Good- win, of the Methodist Episcopal church, in Lincoln, having laid the corner-stone early in the summer. Rev. G. B. Wolfe followed Adams and held a remarkable revival in which the church was awakened and many new members were added. The pastoral suc- cession has been as follows: Revs. Sampson, Shinn, John Everly, C. Powell, T. D. Weems, A. C. Armentrout and the present incum- bent, A. M. Danely, now serving his second year.

The Christian Church was organized many years ago and ser- vices were first held in the school-house on section 25. Land was donated by Peter Arınfelt and a church was built in 1875, at a

Digitized by Google

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

629

cost of $1,800. Rev. Henry Wright was their first minister and he was followed by Revs. Cain, Craig, [Hutchinson, Robinson, Doty and John England; the latter preached for them a number of years, but in November, 1884, was fatally injured at Cornland. At one time the membership numbered seventy-five, but at present is quite small and no regular services are held.

The United Brethren.in Christ erected their house of worship on section 26 in 1867, at a cost of $3,000. It is a brick building, neatly and comfortably furnished. The first services of this de- nomination were conducted by Rev. Lewis D. Ambrose, in 1856, in the school-honse near the present church. The principal pro- moters of the organization of the society were: Rev. Mathias Ambrose and wife, Lewis D. Ambrose and wife, George Shoup and family, Reuben Bowers and family and Solomon Lincoln and wife. The membership had increased to about 100 when the church was built. The ministers who have had charge of the church have been: Revs. L. B. Ambrose, Mathias Ambrose, George Keller, Van Gordon, P. Brandenburg, John Watson, Gos- lin, David Giffon, W. W. Nipple, William Mosier, James Young and Thrasher, the latter being the present pastor.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Benjamin F. Baker, residing on section 30, Chester Township, was born iu Shelby County, Ohio, in 1831. His parents, George and Susannah Baker, were natives of Virginia, but removed to Ohio with their parents when they were children. They were mar- ried near Springfield, Clarke County, Ohio, and in 1852 emigrated to Morgan County, Illinois, and in 1854 came to Logan County, and settled on Salt Creek, in Chester Township, where they lived till death. Fourteen children were born to them, ten sons and four daughters. Eight of the sons and two daughters survive, and are all residents of this county except the eldest, Philip, who lives in Barton County, Missouri, and the third son, Samuel, who is also in Missonri. Benjamin F. Baker, whose name heads this sketch, came to this township with his father in 1854, and has since resided here, with the exception of two years spent in Broad- well Township, and one year in Minnesota. July 28, 1861, he married Mrs. Mary Jane Scroggin widow of William Scroggin who died in 1858. Mrs. Baker's maiden name was Mary Jane Greenslate. She was a native of Kentucky, born April 17, 1832. Her father was one of the pioneers of Logan County. Mr. and

Digitized by Google

630 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Mrs. Baker have six children-Sarah S., George M., Melissa I., Lucinda C., James W. and Emery A. Mrs. Baker had four chil- dren by her former husband, of whom three are living-Amos F., John A. and James W. Mary E. died in infancy. John Green- slate, father of Mrs. Baker, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1801. He was married at Portsmouth, Ohio, to Sarah M. Oliver, in 1826. She was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, in 1808. After their marriage they settled in Greenup County, where four of their children were born. They then removed to Alton, Illinois, where another child was born to them. The family lived in Sangamon County three years, then moved to Mount Pulaski, Logan County, where the father died in 1845, and his widow afterward married Mr. Bedinger. She died in Chester Township, March 3, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Greenslate had eight children, all of whom are de- ceased except Mrs. Baker. George died in 1862 while serving as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion; Lucinda, widow of Jackson Kelly, afterward married John Napier and died in 1875; Mary Jane, now Mrs. Baker; Silas M. died of cholera in 1851 in his eighteenth year; Sarah E. died in 1857, in her twenty-first year; William M. died in his eighth year in 1849; James C. was killed at the battle of Shiloh in 1862, and Cynthia Ann died in 1844 in her eighth year.

William T. Barnard, farmer on section 34, was born in 1834, in Ohio County, Kentucky, and is a son of Garrett and Martha A. (Morton) Barnard, both Kentuckians by birth. They had eight children. The subject of this sketch, W. T. Barnard, joined an exploring party of five and came by team to Illinois in 1864. Arrived at Lincoln he soon after bought 160 acres at $18 per acre in Chester Township, which he sold at an advance of $1,000 the following spring. He then bought 800 sheep, which he sold at an advance of 50 per cent., and encouraged by these spec- ulations, revisited his old home, returning to Illinois, accompanied by his brother Alonzo, and brother-in-law, W. H. Barns, with whom he bought 255 acres in Mount Pulaski Township. This land was farmed in partnership for several years, Mr. Barnard finally buy- ing out both partners. He now has 293 acres, all except forty of which is in Mount Pulaski Township. This really fine farm he has fenced into forty-acre lots, and has good improvements of all kinds. His farming for 1885 is as follows: Forty-five acres of corn, twenty of oats, fifteen of fall wheat, forty of meadow, and the bal- ance pasture. He has over 100 head of cattle, which he has

Digitized by Google

631

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

graded up to a fine degree of excellence. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Row, who came from Pickaway County, Ohio. Mr. Barnard is a Democrat and has filled local township offices.

John E. Downing is a son of James Downing, who was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1805, where he was reared. In 1822 he came with his father, John Downing, to Logan County. He married Ruth Morrow, born near Schenectady, New York, in 1806. His first settlement was on section 35, where he improved a farm and resided until October, 1882, when he went to Sumner County, Kansas, to live with his son Josiah and died there in September, 1884. His wife died in November, 1881. They had six children-John E., our subject; Mary E,, wife of Thomas C. Fletcher, residing in Etna Township; Martha J., who is the widow of George W. Ripley, living in Montgomery County, Kan- sas; Josiah, residing in Kansas; Hannah, widow of Daniel Bowles, also a resident of Kansas; and Melita, wife of John Syke, of Harlan County, Nebraska. John E. Downing was born in Chester Township, June 10, 1826. He enlisted in June, 1846, in Com. pany I, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served a year. He went to Mexico and participated in the siege of Vera Cruz, and the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17 and 18, 1847. He went as far as Jalapa, and from there the regiment started back, and he arrived at home the following June having been honorably dis- charged. He married Elizabeth Roberts, born December 26, 1834, in Menard County, Illinois. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mis. Downing four are living-Ida May, wife of William Shep- herd, of Mount Pulaski; Ellsworth P., Warren W., and Frank W. Those deceased are-Charles A., Abraham L., Clara Ann, Will- iam, John H. and James. John H. died at the age of nine years and the others in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Downing are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Lorenzo D. Downing resides on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 22. His farm, which is in one body, contains 354 acres. He also has forty acres of timber land elsewhere in the township, eighty acres in Mount Pulaski Township, and eighty acres in Laenna Township. He made his first improvements on his place, when he settled there in 1856. Mr. Downing was born in Mount Pulaski Township, December 27, 1829, and is a son of one of the pioneers of Logan County. His father, Robert Downing, settled in what is now Chester Township in 1822. He lives now in Mt. Pulaski Township, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, having

Digitized by Google

632

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

been born in Pennsylvania, December 3, 1793. He is not only one of the earliest settlers but is the oldest resident of Logan County. His wife died in May, 1882, aged eighty years. Of the eleven children born to Robert Downing and his wife seven are now living. Two of the sons, Alexander and Henry Clay, served in the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry. The former now lives in Lincoln, and the latter contracted a disease while in the army and died at the hoine of his brother, Lorenzo D., before the close of the war. Lorenzo D., whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was born, as stated, in Logan County, where he has always resided. In 1854 he married; Angeline E. Shoup, daughter of 'Squire John Shoup. She died October 28, 1854, and in 1856 Mr. Downing married Sarah, daughter of James Shoup. Mrs. Downing died February 7, 1874, and January 5, 1876, Mr. Down- ing married Nancy Ann Hainline, daughter of Caleb Hainline, an early settler of Tazewell County, where he still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo D. Downing have four children living-Ellen, wife. of William Milner, of this township; William, John M. and Flora B. They have lost several children-Franklin, Mary J., Milton H., Ivy and Carry.

Samuel Evans, farmer and stock-raiser, Chester Township, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1838. When he was fourteen years of age his father, Charles Evans, came to America with his family and settled in Pike County, Illinois. In 1865 the family moved to Etna Township, Logan County, where the father died in 1881. Mrs. Charles Evans had died on a steamer, on the Mis- sissippi River, while the family were coming north from New Or- leans, where they landed on coming to America. Of the eight children who came with their parents to America four are now living, all residing in Logan County except one son, James, who is a resident of Dakota. Our subject, Samuel Evans, came to Lo- gan County in 1860, where he purchased a farm and resided until 1865, when he settled on his present farm of 760 acres. About 250 acres of his farm lies in Etna Township, while the remainder lies on sections 13 and 24 of Chester Township. He first settled on 160 acres on section 13, on which no improvements had been made, and has gradually increased his farm to its present dimensions. Mr. Evans is one of the most successful as well as one of the larg- est farmers of Chester Township, devoting his entire attention to- farming and stock-raising. In 1884 he built a fine residence, at a. cost of over $6,000, and his barn, which was completed in 1882, is

Digitized by Google

633

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

one of the largest and most commodious in Logan County. His farm is well tiled and the general improvements are first-class. Mr. Evans was married in 1860 to Miss Jane Boyd, a daughter of John and Sarah Boyd. Her father died in County Tyrone, Ireland. Mrs. Evans came to America in 1855, her mother coming several years later, settling first in Pike County, then in Logan County, and finally in Champaign County, where she died. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have ten children, eight of whom are living-Charles, Mary J., William S., John J., Sarah E., Robert A., Maggie R. and Ethel B., all born in Logan County. Two daughters, the eldest and ninth of their family, died in infancy. Politically Mr. Evans is a Re- publican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Harmony, Atna Township.

Asa French (deceased) was born in Ohio, where he was reared and married Hannah Clark. He remained in Ohio until 1837, when he came to Logan County with his family, passing his first winter near the present village of Chestnut. In the course of the following winter and spring he entered and bought about 500 acres of land on section 36, Chester Township. Here he made his home- stead and resided until his death. The French family were formerly from New Jersey, but settled in Ohio at an early day. Asa French was a man of sterling character and a consistent member and class- leader of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he was a Whig. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. French, of whom all but one son grew to maturity. Of the family three sons are living-Daniel, John C. and Ezekiel. They are all living near the old homestead where their father settled fifty years ago. Those deceased are-Nancy, who married Robert Applegate and died aged about thirty years; Phebe J., married Joseph Barnes and died aged abont twenty-seven years; David B., died in boyhood, and Sarah W., died aged about seventeen years.

Daniel French, eldest son of Asa French, was born in Ohio, in 1831, and came to this township with his parents in 1837, where he has ever since resided. He married Miss Susan Bunfell, born in Ohio, in 1842, daughter of William and Elizabeth Bunfell. Will- iam Bunfell died in Ohio when Mrs. French was a child; Mrs. Bunfell is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel French have ten children-John W., Nancy C., Myrtus B., Edgar E., Harrison W., Anna E., Orpheus Q., Adeline S., Edith L. and Sylvester E.

David Gehlbach, a son of Philip and Mary Gehlbach, was born

Digitized by

Google

634 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

in Bavaria, Germany, May 23, 1836. When he was a child his father died, and his mother with her family of four children came to America in 1852, landing at New Orleans, December 25 of that year. Two of the sons, Jacob and Fred, had preceded the rest of the family. After reaching New Orleans the family went up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, and up the Illinois River to Bath, Mason County, Illinois, where one of the sons was living, but finally settled in Logan County. The mother died at Lincoln, September 7, 1883. Several of the children are now deceased. David Gehlbach, our subject, came to this county in 1854, and since 1864 he has been a resident of this township. In 1865 he settled on his present farm on which he has made almost all the improvements. He came to the country a poor boy, and what he has acquired is the result of his own untiring industry and good management. He is to-day classed among the successful and en- terprising farmere of his township, and is the owner of 477 acres in Chester Township, 281 acres on section 24, where he resides, and 196 acres in another part of the township. When he first came to Logan County, the county seat was at Mount Pulaski, and Lincoln was but a small village. He was married to Barbara Rentchler, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1845, a daughter of Mathew and Barbara Rentchler. Her mother died in Germany, and she came to America with her father in 1855. The family consisted of the father and five children, all of whom settled in Logan County. The father died in Chester Township in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Gehlbach have a family of eight children, one son and seven daughters-Rosa M., Mary, Adolph F., Emma L., Sarah B., Katherine E., Anna B. and Barbara C. Two sons are deceased. Peter died aged four months, and George P. H. in his sixth year.

Andrew B. Hageman settled on the place where he now resides, on section 24, in 1865. He came here from Pike County and bought the land of David Current, of Atlanta. He was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, April 4, 1824, a son of Isaac and Maria (Vandeveer) Hageman, who were also natives of New Jer- sey. In 1838 the family moved to Fulton County, Illinois, being among the pioneers of that county. The family went as far as Wheeling, Virginia, in wagons, several other families accompanying them. There Mr. Hageman resolved to finish the journey by water to avoid the rough roads through Ohio and Indiana, and arrived here with his family several weeks before the rest of the emigrants

Digitized by Google

635

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

who had come the entire way by wagon. Isaac Hageman was a mechanic, and could readily turn his hand to any kind of mechan- ical work. He settled in the village of Fairview, Fulton County, Illinois, and was one of the first mechanics of that place, and there he lived till his death. His wife died when our subject was seven years old. They had a family of eleven children, Andrew B. being the youngest. Six of the sons grew to maturity and all became mechanics. The following children yet survive-Isaac, of Fulton County, Illinois; Gertrude and Peter, living in New Jer- sey; and Maria, at Fairview, Fulton County. William died in Seward County, Nebraska, in 1884; Vandeveer died in New Jer- sey; Sarah died in New York City; Cornelius was killed by being thrown from a horse in New Jersey, when he was seventeen years old; Simon V. went to Oregon in 1848, where he was killed by Indians in Oregon wars. Andrew B. Hageman was married No- vember 13, 1845, in Fulton County, Illinois, to Miss Sarah Ross, and in April, 1850, moved to Pike County, Illinois. February 14, 1865, he removed to Logan County with his family, and set- tled on the farm where they now reside. Mrs. Andrew Hageman was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1827, a daughter of T. J. and Anna (Hovey) Ross. She came with her parents to Fulton County. Illinois, in 1843, where they lived till 1849. They then lived in Pike County till 1863, when they came to Logan County, Illinois. Her parents later removed to Texas, where they have since died. Mrs. Hageman's maternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hageman have had eleven children, of whom seven are living-Russel B., in Piatt County; Annie M., married Nelson Combs and died Oc- tober 17, 1873, leaving one child, Eva; Simon V., died December 10, 1882, leaving a wife and two sons, Oscar and Silas, who live with their grandparents; Andrew J., in Ford County, Kansas; Liz- zie, at home; Albert G., living in this township; Emma, at home; Margaret, died aged four years; Sherman, at home; Mary, died in childhood, and Phoebe C. is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hageman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hageman was reared a Democrat, but is now a Prohi bitionist, he being the first who voted that ticket in Chester Township.

Milton L. Holler, farmer, section 31, was born in 1848, in Gilmer County, Georgia. He is the son of Lawson Holler, a North Caro- linian by birth, and now a resident of Cowley County, Kansas; he married Elizabeth Privett. The family came to Illinois in 1854. At 40

Digitized by Google

636 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

the age of fifteen M. L. Holler removed to Mason County, Illinois, going from there to Iowa, and thence to Nebraska. In 1871 he came to Logan County, where he has since resided. November, 1878, he was married to Mrs. Mary J. Brucker, widow of Jacob Brucker. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio. Jacob Brucker was born in Wurtemberg, and came to America in 1843, locating near Zanesville, Ohio, where he lived ten years. He then came to Illinois and was crushed to death in November, 1874, by a saw- log rolling over him. He left four children-Mary . E., Katie, William and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Holler have three children- Claude D., Floyd F. and Letitia. The homestead comprises 245 acres and is well located and adapted for a stock farm. Mr. Hol- ler makes a specialty of breeding fine Poland-China hogs, and has purchased thoroughbred animals of Messrs. A. M. Caldwell, William Jones and others. The corn product is annually fed out on the farm. In politics Mr. Holler is a liberal Democrat.

John Lachemmayer, residing on section 18, Chester Township, is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born October 30, 1833, s son of Jacob Lachemmayer, who died in Germany in 1882. John Lacheminayer remained in his native country till December, 1853, when he left for America, just in time to escape being conscripted into the German army, that being one thing that induced him to cross the ocean. He arrived in New York in March, 1854, when he went directly to Michigan, where he had a sister living. He remained in Michigan three years, when he came to Lincoln, Illi- nois, and has since been a resident of Logan County. He now has a fine farm of 200 acres, which is located on sections 18 and 19, his residence being on section 18. He was married in Lincoln to Magdelena Rentchler, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. They have a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Mr. Lachemmayer cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, but since that time he has voted the Democratic ticket.

Andrew Layman, youngest son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kret- zinger) Layman, was born in Mason County, Illinois, April 14, 1852. He married Blanche Pegram, who was born in Pike County. Illinois, in 1854, a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Ward) Pegram, the father a resident of Lincoln and the latter deceased, dying December 1, 1876. To Mr. and Mrs. Layman have been born four children-Ward E., Nellie M., Beulah B. and Clifford A., the latter dying in infancy. Mr. Layman is at present resid-

Digitized by Google

637

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

ing on the northwest quarter of section 14, Chester Township, where he has a fine farm containing 380 acres, situated on sections 11 and 14. William Alexander Pegram, father of Mrs. Layman, was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, January 16, 1824. When he was ten years old his parents, William and Sarah E. (Walker) Pegram, came to Illinois, the family settling in Carrollton. Mr. Pegram, after his marriage with Martha Ward, located at Monte- zuma, Pike County, Illinois, where he engaged in the mercantile and grain trade. In 1857 he came to Lincoln, and a year later he settled on a farm on section 11, Chester Township, where he lived till 1869, when he returned to Lincoln, his present home. He had twelve children by his first wife-George R. died aged one year; Virginins died at the age of seventeen years; Blanche, now Mrs. Layman; Carrie E. married Andrew Armstrong, and died at the . age of twenty-four years; William A. died aged ten years; Lin- coln C. married Irene Curry, and lives in Lincoln; Mary E. mar- ried William Curry, and lives in Dakota; Edith, at home; John M. died in infancy; Helen P., Virginia, and Samuel M. Mr. Pegram was married to Sarah Martin, his present wife, in February, 1885.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 59

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