History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 64

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

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 64

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Captain A. H. Bogardus .- Logan County possesses one man, at least, of more than national reputation, and that man is Captain A. H. Bogardus, of Elkhart, the champion wing shot of the world. Captain Bogardus was born in Albany County, New York, about 1832, and at the age of fifteen years began his shooting career. He- was a tall, strong lad, and developed into a large and muscular man. He is a man of great endurance, and is capable of enduring much exertion and exposure. In his boyhood the game found in his na- tive county consisted principally of ruffled grouse and woodcock, which were difficult birds for beginners to kill. He received no instruction in the art of shooting, but possessed a quick eye and a steady nerve. In 1856 he removed to Illinois, and settled on the Sangamon River, near Petersburg, and here he found ample oppor-

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tunity to indulge his natural fondness for hunting. Game of all kinds was found here in abundance. To use his own language, it was a paradise for the sportsman, and here in the land of abundant game was developed that remarkable skill in the use of the gun that has made the name of Captain Bogardus a familiar one through- out the land. After a residence of two years in Sangamon County, Captain Bogardus removed to Elkhart, Logan County, where he has since resided. The following description of Elkhart is taken from his book entitled, " Field, Cover and Trap Shooting," pub- lished in 1884. "It is in the heart of the State of Illinois, 166 miles south of Chicago, eighteen miles northwest of Springfield, and 115 miles from St. Louis. It was then a grand place for game. Grouse was found in immense numbers, though quail was not so plentiful as in the oak barrens of Sangamon. There, was however, and now is a grove of timber, 600 acres in extent, not far from the town. It is one of the finest to be found in the State, and on its borders there were many quail. This grove was then owned and still belongs to John D. Gillett. Gillett has planted hedges all over his immense pasture lands. These afford harbor and resting place for the quail, which is now more numerous than when I came here in 1858." Captain Bogardus, in his very interesting and valuable book enti- tled " Field, Cover and Trap Shooting," from which the above is taken, gives a very interesting account of the various kinds of game found in the vicinity of Elkhart, together with their habits, and contains much valuable information to both the sportsman and the naturalist. The first appearance of Captain Bogardus in public as a shooter was in 1868. He had then been a field shot for eighteen years, and had often been invited and urged to attempt contests at pigeon shooting, but until 1868 he had never seen a pigeon trap. The first public pigeon shooting in which he entered as a contest- ant was at St. Louis, where he was moderately successful. This re- sulted in a match between himself and Gough Stanton, of Detroit, for $200 a side, the match being for fifty birds each, and contested at Elkhart. It resulted in our subject killing forty six birds, and his opponent forty. Space forbids our following Captain Bogardus in his wonderful career from this time till he received the medal as the champion wing shot of America, nor through his still more re- markable career in England, where he met and conquered the most renowned shots of the old world, thus earning the title that he still bears, the champion shot of the world. The various medals, badges and cups which he has won are still in his possession. He

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has now practically retired from the shooting arena with laurels, such as none before him has yet won. This sketch would be in- complete without a brief mention of his four sons, all of whom to a greater or less extent partake of the characteristics of their father, in their love for the sportsman's life and their skill in shooting. Eugene, the eldest, now twenty years of age, has been champion with the rifle since 1879. He frequently knocks the ashes off a cigar at thirty-five feet with a ball from a Winchester rifle. Ed- ward, now fourteen years old, gives wonderful promise of becom- ing an excellent shot with both rifle and shot gun, and will doubtless at some future date make his mark in the sporting world. Peter, the third son, is now twelve years of age. He be- gan shooting when eight years old and, like his brothers, gives promise for the future. The youngest son, Henry, is ten years old, and when but five years of age he began to use his 32-caliber rifle, and with the utmost ease he shoots at a distance of thirty- five feet glass balls held in his father's hand. There is probably not another child in the world of his age capable of performing this feat. In conclusion we will add that to those who would know more of this remarkable family we would refer to Captain Bogardus's work above mentioned, a book full of interest and valuable information.

Thomas W. Capps, general merchant and postmaster at Corn- land, was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1838, and has always lived in Sangamon and Logan counties. He is a son of John Capps, who settled at Mount Pulaski about 1850, where he was engaged in the mercantile trade a number of years, when he removed to Decatur and engaged in business. He subsequently settled in Sangamon County, where he still resides. He was born in England, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Springfield about 1830. Thomas W. is the only one of his father's family living in Logan County. Mr. Capps was again married in 1870, to M. E. Van Hise, a daughter of D. Van Hise, and to this union was born one son-Earl V., a native of Sangamon County. He was again married in 1876 to Mary E. Day, a daughter of Joshua Day, and to this union has been born one daughter-Nina D., born in Cornland. Mr. Capps established his present mercan- tile business at Cornland in 1875, which he has since followed with the exception of one year. He has held the position of postmaster since 1877. In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixty-eighth Illinois Infan- try in which he served seven months, when the regiment was dis-

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charged, the term of enlistment having expired. He then re- enlisted in the United States navy, serving till the close of the war. He was in both the Mississippi and South Gulf squadrons, and was with Admiral Farragut at the capture of Mobile, and after the war he was engaged in the mercantile trade at Illiopolis two years.

Joshua Day, of Cornland, Elkhart Township, is one of the pio- neers of Logan County. He is a native of Massachusetts, born in Chester, Hampden County, in 1817, and was a son of Ira Day. There were eleven children in his father's family, eight sons and three daughters. Joshua came to Illinois in 1837, and to Logan County in 1838, having resided for a short time in Hancock Town- ship. He purchased his first land in Logan County of John D. Gillett, an uncle of John D. Gillett, of this township. Mr. Day is now engaged in the mercantile trade in Cornland. His first wife was Hannah Wiley, and his second was Hannah Cheney, who died in June, 1882. Mr. Day has eight children, three sons and five daughters, all but one married. Mr. Day has been a resident of Illinois for thirty-eight years. and but few are now left in Logan County who came as early as he.

William Dolvin, grocer of Elkhart, is a native of Harrison County, Ohio, where he was born in 1819. He was reared to man- hood on a farm in his native county, and there received an aca- demic education. He began teaching at the age of twenty-three years, and followed that profession for twenty-six years. He taught sixteen years in his native county, and in 1858 came to San- gamon County, Illinois, where he tanght ten years, and since June, 1868, he has been a resident of Logan County. A younger brother, John Dolvin, who came with him to Illinois, also followed teaching, having taught in Ohio and Illinois for twenty-eight years. The latter was married in 1883 to Emma Hobkirk, a former pupil, who died about a year after her marriage. He now lives at Spen- cer, Clay County, Iowa, where he owns several farms. He is a very successful farmer, although he lost his right arm at the age of sixteen years. William Dolvin was married in the spring of 1867 to Mary A.Smith, a native of Sangamon County, Illinois, daughter of Philip Smith, one of the prominent and wealthy old settlers of Central Illinois. Her father was a native of North Carolina, and her mother of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Dolvin have two daugh- ters-Ida B. and Olive L., the former born in Sangamon County in 1868, and the latter in Elkhart in 1870. Mr. Dolvin has a beau-

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tiful residence in Elkhart where he has built up a fine mercantile trade. He has dealt considerably in Western lands, which he sells at an advance on the purchase price. At present he is the owner of two fine farms in Iowa. In politics he is a staunch Republican. He has never aspired to official positions, but has served as justice of the peace, and held other township offices. Mr. Dolvin and his wife are members of the Christian church at Elkhart. His father, Richard Dolvin, was a native of Virginia, removing to Ohio when a young man, where he married Phobe Edwards, our subject's mother, whe was also a native of Virginia. They had a family of eleven children, all of whom lived to be over twenty one years old, William being the third child. Richard Dolvin was one of the early settlers of Harrison County, and became one of the promi- nent farmers of that part of Ohio, where he lived till his death.

Samuel B. Hunter, general grocer, established his present busi- ness at Elkhart in 1871. He was born in Oneida County, New York, in 1836, a son of Robert Hunter, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, but for many years a resident of Oneida County, where he lived till his death. Samuel B. lived in his native county till he reached the age of eighteen years, after which he was engaged in railroading in the States of Mississippi and Tennessee. He was in the former State when its Legislature passed the Ordinance of Secession. The Southern States becoming too warm for him he resolved to come north, and accordingly located here in 1861. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, at Mount Pulaski, and served three years. His regiment belonged to the Army of the Tennessee, and operated in that State much of the time, but during the last part of its service operated in Arkansas. His health was much impaired through the hardships and exposure which he had endured, and his lungs were permanently affected. After the war he returned to Logan County, where he has since resided. He was married to Jennie Grogan, a daughter of Spencer Grogan, and to them has been born one son-Frank, born in Elkhart in 1872.

Scott Lanterman resides on section 32 where his father, Peter Lanterman, settled in 1856, he purchasing the farm from J. D. Gillett. Scott Lanterman was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1848. He was reared on the homestead of which he is now owner. He was married to Huldah Leach, August 18, 1882, who was born in Logan County in 1858, and is a daughter of Daniel Leach. They have two sons-Robbie A. and Willie E. Peter

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Lanterman was a native of Fleming County, Kentucky, born Sep- tember 4, 1817. He removed from Kentucky with his parents to Illinois, the family being among the early settlers of Sangamon County, where he was married December 6, 1839, to Dolly A. Lightfoot, who was born in Adair County, Kentucky, February 9, 1820. They had a family of five children who grew to maturity- John H., living in Elkhart; Susan J., wife of Jacob Yocom; Scott, onr subject; Joseph M. and James W., living in Elkhart. Peter Lanterman died October 9, 1876, his wife surviving him till Jan- uary 6, 1883.

Adoniram Judson Leach, deceased, was born in Madison County, New York, May 24, 1818, a son of Bachus Leach, who was a lineal descendant of Miles Standish, one of the Mayflower's pas- sengers in 1620. Bachus Leach removed from Massachusetts to New York State, settling in Madison County in 1813. Of his family eight children lived to maturity, of whom onr subject was the fourth child. The latter was reared on a farm, receiving good educational advantages. He came to Illinois in 1850, locating in Sangamon County, and engaged in teaching and farming. In 1855 he settled in Elkhart Township, Logan County, on the place where his family now resides. He first bought about 133 acres, which he afterward increased to 496 acres. He also taught in this neigh- borhood till his marriage. He was an excellent teacher, and through his instrumentality the standard of the public schools was much raised. April 3, 1862, he was married to Mary E. Ross, who was born near Springfield, Ohio, in October, 1825, a daughter of Elijah and Mary (Houston) Ross, her father a native of Kentucky, of Scotch descent, and the mother born in Delaware, of English origin. Her parents were married near Springfield, Ohio, March 24, 1816. The father died at Piqua, Ohio, August 11, 1838, leav- ing his wife and nine children. Mrs. Ross and her family came to Illinois in 1858. She died at the home of Mrs. Leach, May 11, 1869. Mrs. Leach, previous to her marriage, taught school for two years in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Leach were born two sons -Miles Adoniram and William Ross. The former was born in Elk- hart Township, December 7, 1863, and September 10, 1885, he was married to Mary B. Hackett, of Louisville, Kentucky. The young- est son was born July 3, 1866, and is now a student at the Uni- versity of Illinois. Mr. Leach lived on the homestead till his death, which occurred December 15, 1865. He was a prominent and in- fluential citizen of Elkhart Township, and his death was a great

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loss to the community in which he resided. He was a member of the Free-Will Baptist church. In politics he was a Republican.

Daniel Standish Leach was born in the town of Eaton, Madison County, New York, in March, 1822, a son of Bachus Leach. He was reared in his native county, and there married Sarah L. Tal- bott. who also was a native of New York State, and of the eight children born to this union five are living-Mary, wife of Benja- min Wood, was born in Sangamon County in 1850; Bachus; Abbie, wife of Benjamin Bishop; Huldah, wife of Scott Lanterman, and Cyrus. In May, 1849, Mr. Leach and wife came to Sangamon County, Illinois, where he entered land near Chatham, residing there till 1856. He then came to Logan County and purchased a farm in Elkhart Township, where he made a homestead. Here his wife died June 23, 1867, and in January, 1868, he was mar- ried to Henrietta Baldwin, who was born in Canada, but reared in Erie County, New York. She was a daughter of Alfred W. and Amanda Baldwin, her father dying when she was a child. By his second marriage Mr. Leach had two children-Alma and Alfred. The latter died in infancy.

George C. McEndree, of Elkhart, is one of the pioneers of this part of the State of Illinois, coming here almost fifty years ago when the country was very sparsely settled. He was born March 6, 1818, in Jefferson County, Virginia, a son of William and Phoebe McEndree. When he was seven years old his mother died, his father dying a year later. Thus he was left an orphan at the age of eight years, after which he lived with a brother-in-law till he was fourteen years old. He was then apprenticed to learn the cabinet-maker's trade at Winchester, Virginia, remaining there for three and a half years. He then went to Baltimore, where he worked at his trade under instructions about two years, when he went to New York City, and there worked at his trade till the spring of 1837, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri, remaining in the latter city but a few weeks. In the fall of 1837 he located in Naples, Illinois, and in January, 1839, he settled in what is Me- nard County, Illinois, then a part of Sangamon County, and estab- lished a cabinet shop in Athens, which he conducted till 1848. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Havana, and after a few years he returned to Menard County, and March 10, 1864, he came to Logan County. He engaged in the mercantile trade at Elkhart, which he followed till February, 1883. He was married in Athens Township in 1839, to Mary Claypool, born in Cham-

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paign County, Ohio, in September, 1820, a daughter of Levi and Melinda Claypool, who settled in Athens Township in 1827, coming to Illinois from Ohio. Mr. Claypool was born in Virginia, and died in Illinois in February, 1866. Mrs. Claypool is still living aged eighty-four years. She was a native of Ken- tucky. Mr. and Mrs. McEndree have seven children-William, at Central City, Nebraska; Melinda, the only daughter, is now the wife of Daniel Brinkerhoff, of Central City; John T., at Beloit, Kansas; George M. and Charles F., at Central City; Henry W., at home, and Dunbar, the youngest son, at Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, engaged in the mercantile trade. But few residents have lived longer in Logan County than Mr. and Mrs. McEndree, they having been at Elkhart Grove in 1840. In politics Mr. McEndree was formerly a Whig, casting his first vote for General Harrison in 1840, but has been identified with the Republican party since its organization. He has served on the Board of Supervisors two terms, and for a number of years was justice of the peace.

William McKie, general merchant at Cornland, Elkhart Town- ship, is a native of Scotland where he was born in 1847. His father, John McKie, died in Scotland, his mother still living in that country. William McKie followed the sea for several years, and for some time was fireman on one of the North western Steam Packet Company's boats, plying between Liverpool and New York, and during the war of the Rebellion was acting in that capacity. In 1865 he came to the United States to reside permanently, and be- fore coming to Cornland he lived in various places. . From 1870 to 1872 he was on the police force in Cincinnati, Ohio, and for some time he worked in the Pittsburg Rolling Mills, and also as fire- man on a steamer plying between that city and New Orleans. He has one brother, Samuel McKie, living in the United States, who is engaged in farming in Plymouth, Nebraska. His wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Blackstock, is a native of Scotland. She came to America in 1876. Mr. McKie has been a resident of Cornland since 1877. He established his present business in 1882, and carries a full line of dry-goods, groceries, clothing, boots and shoes, queen's-ware, glassware and patent medicines.

George W. Shreve, residing on the northwest quarter of section 31, is a son of Thomas J. Shreve, who settled where his son now lives in 1858. Thomas J. Shreve was a native of Lawrenceville, Mercer County, New Jersey, born in 1818. He was married in his native State to Adeline Drake, by whom he had nine children

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-Emily, wife of J. S. McClure, of Williamsville, Illinois; James, who has lived in Denver, Colorado, since 1860; Hannah, wife of H. G. Brearley, of Denver; Thomas, at Denver; Grace, married Hutchinson McClure, and died in this township in 1870; Theodore, living in Rochester, Illinois; Anna, died in childhood; George W. and Charles, both living in Champaign County, Illinois. In 1857 the father came to Springfield, Illinois, and in the same year pur- chased the farm in Elkhart Township above referred to. The farm was then wholly unimproved, but under the skillful management of Mr. Shreve it soon became a well-cultivated tract of land. Here Mr. Shreve made his home for many years, and in 1882 the homestead was purchased by George W., whose name heads this sketch. Thomas J. Shreve now resides in Williamsville, where he removed previous to disposing" of his farm. He was bereaved by the loss of his wife in 1871. George W. Shreve is the only one of his father's family still residing in Logan County. He was born in New Jersey in 1850, and was eight years old when his father settled in Illinois. His wife was formerly Emma Pearce. She came to Elkhart Township in 1869. She was a daughter of Dr. J. W. and Emeline (Ross) Pearce. Her father was born in Ohio in 1816, and was a practicing physician at Wiltshire, Van Wert County, Ohio, for fifty years. He was a surgeon in an Ohio regi- ment during the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Shreve have one child- Jessie, born in May, 1879. Mr. Shreve is one of the prominent citizens of Elkhart Township, which he represents on the Board of Supervisors of Logan County. In politics he is a Republican.

Henry Stahl, dealer in hardware at Elkhart, established his pres- ent business in 1865. Beginning life on small capital, he has by his industry and good management made his business a success, building up a fine trade, and by his honest dealings has secured the confidence of the people. Mr. Stahl is a native of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, born in 1841, a son of Henry Stahl, who was born in Germany, his mother being also a native of that coun- try. His parents came to America in 1830, and settled in Ohio, where the father died in 1865. His widow still survives. When fourteen years of age our subject began learning the tinner's trade at his home, Hamilton, Ohio. He then went south to Mississippi and Alabama, working at Oxford, Mississippi, about a year. In 1859 he located at Winchester, Scott County, Illinois, where he worked at his trade till the breaking out of the Rebellion. May 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry,

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and participated in many of the important events of the war. He took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh, his regiment being engaged in the latter both days, and where he was slightly wounded. He was at the siege of Corinth and siege of Vicksburg, battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and battle of Hatchie. He was made First Sergeant of his company in 1862, then but eighteen years of age. He was discharged at the expira- tion of his term of enlistment, having served three years and a half. During that time he never spent a day in hospital, and his entire record was that of a gallant soldier. After his discharge he returned to Winchester and worked for his former employer, where he continued till March 1, 1865. He was married in 1866 to Eliza Ebey, daughter of George and Melinda (Killpatrick) Ebey, the latter a sister to Colonel Killpatrick, of the Twenty-eighth Illi- nois Infantry, who fell at the head of his regiment at the battle of Shiloh, and a cousin of the great cavalry leader, General Judson Kill- patrick. Mr. and Mrs. Ebey were early settlers of Scott County, Illinois, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl have three daughters and two sons-Mamie, Georgia, Tilly, Charles and Gar- land. Their eldest child, Harry, died at the age of sixteen years.

John Telfer, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Elkhart Township, is a native of Scotland, born in 1822. He is a son of John and Mary (Rae) Telfer, who remained in their native country, Scotland, till their death. Our subject was reared in his native country, and when a young man went to Liverpool, England, where he worked at his trade, that of a stone-mason, for four years. He immigrated to America in the fall of 1849, and resided in San- gamon County, Illinois, for two years, after which he settled in Logan County. His residence is on section 6, Elkhart Township, where he has about 213 acres. He has a farm of 105 acres on sec- tion 7, adjoining his home farm, his farms being well improved. Mr. Telfer came to this country comparatively poor, but by indus- try and good management he has acquired a competence. Besides the farms already mentioned he has three others, amounting in all to 760 acres. Mr. Telfer was married in Sangamon County to Emmeransa Potter, a native of New York. They have four children living-John Paris, Mary, Jessie and Thomas. Two daughters and one son died in childhood.

Benjamin F. Wiley, one of the early settlers of Logan County, is a son of John and Margaret (Willday) Wiley, who settled in what is now Elkhart Township in 1835. Benjamin F. is the only

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representative of his father's family living in Illinois. He was born in Logan County, August 17, 1837, and has always lived in Elkhart Township. In the fall of 1857 his left leg was amputated, the result of a white swelling, and when twenty-three years of age he was apprenticed to the trade of a harness-maker, at Elkhart, to William Irwin, with whom he formed a partnership, which con- tinned about one year, when the partnership was dissolved, since which time Mr. Wiley has carried on a harness-shop, a period of twenty-five years. He was married December 14, 1863, to Sabra Freeman, daughter of Ashley Freeman, an early settler in Mc- Henry County, Illinois. They have two children-Fred E. and Clara F. Our subject's father, John T. Wiley, was born in Vir- ginia, November 1, 1807. When a boy he removed to Ross County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and was there married, Decem- ber 25, 1831, to Margaret Willday, a native of Kentucky. Eight children were born to them, six of whom were born in Logan County. The children are-Thomas served in the late war a year and a half, in the Seventy-third Illinois Infantry, when he was dis- charged on account of disability, and is now living in Oregon; Alexander was a member of the Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and died in Danville, Virginia, being at the time a prisoner of war in the hands of the Confederates; Benjamin F. was the first of the children born in Logan County; Charles P. served in the late war in the Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, is now living in Nebraska; Isaac and Lydia (twins), the former in Oregon, and the latter the wife of W. B. Lawrence, of Nebraska; William, of Ore- gon, and Jefferson, also living in Oregon. On coming to this county, in 1835, Mr. Wiley settled on a new farm, which he ob- tained from the Government, of which he made a homestead, liv- ing there till his death, which occurred October 3, 1853. His widow survived till February 14, 1868, when she died at the age of sixty-one years and three months. Mr. Wiley was a man of strict integrity, and was a worthy representative of that grand old pioneer element that is fast passing away.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 64

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