USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 50
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Mr. Moffett is one of the uscful men of his community, and com- mands the respect of all who know him. He and his lady have both been members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for the last twenty years, where he lias served as an elder some twelve years. He has been liberal with his means not only in support of the cause of religion, but in temperance and benevolence. He is also a friend of education, and has done much to keep good schools within his distriet, in which he has served as a director a number of times. With respect to Mrs. Moffett's ancestry, the following is
gathered. Her grandfather, McDonnald, was a native of Mary- land. He married Catharine Carnathan, and settled in Indiana county, Pa., where the family was raised. Her father, James, served through the late civil war, and died in 1865 from the effects of wounds and camp exposures. Her grandfather, William Par- ker, was from Ireland. He married Jane McCaffern, and settled in Indiana county, where Mrs. Moffett's mother was born.
FRANCIS A. BROWN.
MR. BROWN represents one of the oldest families of the United States. There were three brothers of the name, who were among the first colonists of Maryland. Two remained there and one went south. One of the two who remained in Maryland was the pro- genitor of James Brown's great-grandfather, who was born in 1686, and who died in his 84th year. One of his sons, also named James, the grandfather of Mr. Brown, was born in Dorchester county of the same state, in 1710. He married the daughter of Judge Thos. White, and also lived and died in his native state, at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. Brown's father, White Brown, was a native of the same county, and born in 1849. He married a Miss Lucretia Clarkston, by whom he raised a family of twelve children, three of whom are still surviving, viz., Mr. Brown and Mary Davis of this, and Sarah Rush of Pike county. He served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary army, though how long is not known. He made a tour through the north-western territory in 1799, and re- turned and settled in Ross county, Ohio, in 1802, where he died in 1842. He joined the Methodist Order, under the adminis- tration of Francis Asbury, before the societies were organized into the form of a church. He lived to the advanced age of ninety- three years to a day. Mr. Brown was born in Ross county, Feb- ruary 4th, 1805. He was united in wedlock with Miss Chatham McClintock, who died in 1831, leaving one heir, Richard, now of Champaign county, in this state. He was again married to Miss Sydney Barr, daughter of Judge Thomas Barr, of Pickaway county, his present wife, and who is the mother of five children, four sur. viving. On coming to this country, Mr. Brown purchased what was then known as the Sloan farm, an estate of eight hundred and forty acres, which he still owns, and which is without question one of the most desirable locations in the county, all things considered.
He had some previous knowledge of Illinois before settling in it having travelled through a number of the best sections in 1842, while buying up young cattle to drive back to Ohio. He had ample opportunities, therefore, to make a satisfactory selection, and chose this one, both on account of its healthy and beautiful sur- roundings, and the fertility of its soil. Here he has since lived with his family, one of our honored and well-known citizens, who has done much toward the development, culture and business interest of his town and county, both in material and social departments. In politics he is a republican, and by religious profession a Methodist, though in no sense an extremist. He believes all men should be valued according to their moral and social merits, and that parties are only useful to reach certain ends in government, and that the proper work of churches and religious societies is to make mnen Christians. His sons are well-known business gentlemen, and all live near the old homestead, of whom the following record is made Nelson F., was born in Ross county, Ohio, in January, 1839. He was married January 4th, 1870, the object of his choice being Miss Mildred Pasley, daughter of Robert Pasley, an old and well-known settler of Blue Mound township, who died here in 1874. He was the son of Henry A. and Nancy Pasley, natives of Virginia, and
FARM RESIDENCE OF CAP" H.I.'. ROSENCRANTZ, SEC. 10, T.15, R.I.( BLUE MOUND TP) MACON CO. IL.
FARM RESIDENCE OF H. T. BROWN, SEC. 3, 7.15, R.I. ( BLUE MOUND TP.) MACON CO. ILL .
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
early settlers of Hardin county, Kentucky. Her mother was formerly Miss Edna Stith, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Stith, Virginians, but old settlers of Breckenridge county, Ken- tucky, and who died citizens of Macon county, Illinois.
Henry T. was born also in Ross county, Ohio, July 4th, 1851. He came to Illinois with the other members of the family, and was married March 5th, 1878. His wife was formerly Miss Sarah E. Jordan, the daughter of James and Emeline F. Jordan of this county, but formerly of Morgan county, where she was born. Hc was the son of William Jordan, a native of St. Clair county, where the family settled when Illinois was yet a territory. They were also among the first settlers of Morgan county, and are still remem- bered as old pioneers of the west. Thomas, the other surviving son is at home with his parents, having lost his wife, and is employed in the work of attending their large farin. The only daughter of Mrs. Sydney Livingston is also a resident of the homestead. Another son, Wesley M., was offered on the common altar of our country. He served three years in the late civil war; while there he con- tracted, from the exposures of camp-life, a disease, which afterwards proved fatal. He was a brave soldier, a beloved son, and died with the dew of youth still on his brow. He participated in the following engagements, viz. : siege of Vicksburg, and about the bat- tles consequent on Sherman's victorious march to the sea, and was a member of 116th Ills. Vol. Infantry .- Col. Tupper.
FREDERICK BAILEY
Is well known as one of the prominent farmers and stock-men of Blue Mound township, and as such we subjoin a brief sketch of his life, from the time he left his native land a poor wandering youth to the time he became known as one of the opulent farmers of Macon county. He was born in the province of Waldeck, Ger- many, Nov. 16th, 1832. He is the son of John and Nettie Bailey, (Ger. Behle,) average livers, according to European status. He is the second son of a family of five children, and remained on his father's farm till the age of nineteen was attained, when he deter- mined to put into execution the previously formed resolution of seeking a home and fortune in the United States. Accordingly, in company with some other young male friends, he left the shores of his fatherland, and arrived in New Orleans in the spring of 1852. There he met an agent of the Ills. Cent. R. R, was employed by him, and brought to this state to the town of Decatur. Here he met a rough reception indeed. As soon as it was known that a number of young German boys were employed to work on the road, they were assailed by a mob of Irish R. R. Paddies, and would likely have been killed by them had not the good people of Decatur interfered in their protection. This mob had no other object in view than to monopolize work, and was possibly instigated to some extent by a na- tional hatred found among the low-born and ignorant. Not deem- ing it safe to continue longer on the road, Mr. Bailey cancelled his engagement with the company, and hired out as a farm-hand about three years. He then rented land and farmed for himself about the same length of time, after which he bought one hundred acres in this township, the nucleus of his present fine farm, comprising somne 700 acres of Macon's richest soil. In 1858, he was united in wedlock to Miss Henriette, daughter of Annie Delbridge and John Fahrenhorst, of Prussia-a lady of fine domestic accomplishments and personal qualities, and the mother of their five bright boys and three promising daughters.
For the first few years of his farm experience, Mr. Bailey had a run of bad luck, included in which was the burning of his fine
barn, in which was stored all his machinery and agricultural im- plements. He has, though, kept steadily at work, and business has prospered in his hands, and now he ranks among the wealthiest farmers of the county, and every dollar of his property has been made, and that, too, in accordance with the strictest construction of the principles of business integrity, since he arrived here a poor, destitute German youth, among a strange though a sympathizing people. In no sense of the term can parsimoniousness be charged to his account. He has been liberal with his means in all true de- mands of charity, and to the interests of the public weal. He aided largely in the building of the German Methodist Church of his community, of which he and his lady are members, and has taken an active interest in the good cause of education. He is conferring on his children, as they grow up, all the advantages which his wealth commands, and lives and acts on the principle that property is a means rather than an end. He has a pleasant home, and a pleas- ant neighborhood, with many friends, and it can be said of him that the "lincs have fallen in pleasant places."
CAPT. HIRAM ROSENGRANTS.
THE Captain was born in the state of New York, October 28th, 1837. In 1851 his family moved to Illinois, and located in Sanga- mon county, near the present town of Pawnee. After the lapse of two years they changed their home to Christian county, locating eleven miles west of Taylorsville, where Mr. Rosengrants attained his legal majority. At the breaking out of the late civil war he responded to his country's call for troops, and entered the Union service in the fall of 1861-33d Illinois volunteer infantry com- pany D. He remained in the army four years and three months, and was honorably discharged December 6th, 1865. He 'partici- pated in some of the heaviest engagements of the war, among which were Frederick Town, Missouri, Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, Fort Esperanza, Texas, Spanish Fort, Alabama, and Yazoo City. Twice he was wounded, first in the leg by a musket ball, in the rear of Vicksburg, and second in a railroad disaster on the line of the Opelousas R. R., Louisiana, where he received injuries deemed at the time fatal, and from the effects of which he is not likely to recover during the remainder of his life.
Captain Rosengrants entered the army as a private and rose to the rank of captaincy during the last thirteen months of his mili- tary experience, a promotion due entirely to gallantry displayed on the field of action and the exercise of cool judgment amid the clash of arms. He was popular among the officers and loved by his command, and was the same genial companion in the army that has characterized his walks in civil life, and which has made him deservedly one of the most popular gentlemen of his section of the county.
After the close of the war he returned home, and was. in the spring of 1867, united in marriage with Miss Sarah Mason, the accomplished daughter of John Mason, formerly of Sangamon, but then a resident of Christian county, and by whom he has a family of bright, interesting children. He located on his farm in Blue Mound township, this county, in the fall of the same year, and has since been one of its most active and energetic citizens, known well as both a farmer and trader. Twice he has served his town- ship in the capacity of collector, and as many times as supervisor, a position of which he is still an incumbent. In politics he is a republican, and has been a supporter of the regular nominees of his party from the time that he was old enough to cast a ballot.
From information available, the following is gathered with respect
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
to their families : His grandfather was a native of Germany, and an early settler of Pennsylvania, where Abiel L., the captain's father, was born, in Herkimer connty. He married Miss Almira Skinner, by whom he raised seven children. On leaving his native state he located in St. Lawrence county, New York, and is now residing in Kansas with one of his sons. His wife died in Pana, in 1868.
Mrs. Rosengrants' father was a native of England. He arrived in this country when about nineteen years old, and spent some time
boating on the Mississippi river. He afterwards located a mile and a half south-east of Springfield, and was one of the first settlers of Sangamon county. He married Miss Isabella Flemmings, and lived on his farm near Springfield till he had eleven children. He then moved to Christian county, where he was well known as a large real estate owner and prominent business man, and where he died in 1878, eighty-two years and a week old. His wife is still surviv- ing, a lady both venerable in age and in matronly and lady-like qualities.
FRIEND'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
F RIEND'S CREEK township has the largest area of any in the county. It contains forty-eight full sections, of very fertile and productive land. It is located in the ex- treme north-eastern corner of the county, and is bonnded on the north by De Witt county, on the east by Piatt county, south by Whitmore and east by Maroa townships. The surface is a beautiful undulating prairie, well drained by Friend's creek, which enters it in section 4 of T. 18 N., R. 4 E., and mcanders in a south-westerly direction through the territory, nntil it reaches the north-eastern corner of section 25 in T. 18 N., R. 3 E., where it changes its course to a south-eastern direction, passing out of the township on the south of section 31, T. 18 N., R. 4 E The main tributaries are East and West Forks, Kickapoo Branch, and several small affluents. There is a fine belt of timber along the banks of Friend's creek, and there are scattering patches along all the minor streams.
The township took its name from Friend's creek, which stream was named in honor of George W. Friend, a native of Ohio, who emigrated to Illinois in 1822, and settled near this stream in section 22, T. 18 N., R. 3 E , which was the first settlement within the present borders of this township. He brought with him his family, which was quite large, and a good supply of stock. Immediately npon his arrival he erected a log-house, which was the first one built here, and at the present time some of the logs may be seen. In 1824 Charles Nelson, a Kentnckian by birth, settled on section 12, T. 18, R. 3 E., and in the same year Nathan Burrill, who was also a native of the " Buck-eye State," emigrated to and settled on scc- tion 19 of this township. Josiah Abrams, another Ohioan, removed to Sangamon county in 1822, and in 1828 came to this township and began farming on section 24. Two years following this Wm. Dickey, a native of Kentucky, emigrated from that state and settled on section 19, near Mr. Abrams. John Dickey came in 1829, and located near William Dickey on section 19. The Wilson family was also one of the early settlers in Friend's creek, some of theni having arrived as early as 1830, and others of them a few years later. In 1830 Nathaniel Brown came from Tennessce, with a family of thirteen persons, bringing with him considerable stock and provisions; and after making the trip from that state to this township he had 150 lbs. of pork, 20 lbs. of tallow, and several bushels of corn. They arrived in 1830, just after the
fall of the "deep snow." The family moved into a house pur- chased by Mr. Brown. The snow was then four or five feet deep, and the man from whom he had purchased the place told him that it was enclosed by a seven-rail fence, although none could be seen ; but in the spring, when the snow melted off, the fence was found there as represented.
Many inconveniences and hardships were experienced during that winter. Although many of the settlers had the means to pur- chase food, yet there could scarcely any be obtained, and conse- quently many of them and their stock suffered much for the want of necessary food to sustain life. Corn was as high as $1 per bushel. Many of the settlers lost several horses and cattle during the winter. The nearest mill in those days was thirty miles distant, in what is now Logan county, on Kickapoo creek. This trip generally took three or four days ; each person, as was the custom, being required to wait his turn. This mill was owned by John Hoblet. For many years the settlers were compelled to haul their grain to Chicago or St. Louis in order to find a market, and then would only receive thirty cents per bushel for wheat. Threshing wheat was done by clearing a space of ground, throwing the bundles of wheat on the same, and trampling it with horses. The falls and winters in those days were spent principally in hunting and trapping. The game consisted chiefly in deer, turkey, prairie chickens, mink, coon, otter, musk-rat, etc.
The first marriage in Friend's creek took place in 1829, at the residence of Thomas Pettyjohn. The parties in this wedding were Levi Abrams and Susan Pettyjohn. This couple also deserve the honor of having had born to them the first child in this township; the child was named Eli Abrams, and was born in 1829.
In 1835 a log school-house was built on section 25. It was very primitive in style, and was nsed for the combined purposes of school- honse, church, and camp-meetings. The following year John Heath taught the first school in the township. The first sermon was delivered by Rev. William Owens. Among other preachers in early times were Revs. Chasc, Taylor, and Haines. The first mill in this township was a water-power saw mill, located on section 31, T. 18 N., R. 4 E., propelled by the water of Friend's creek. It is now converted into a steam saw-mill.
John Dickcy was elected the first justice of the peace in 1836, and held the office for sixteen or twenty years, and probably would
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
have held it longer had he not met with a strange death. In early times, as before mentioned, it was sometimes necessary to haul wheat and other grain to St. Louis and Chicago to market. Mr. Dickcy started for Chieago with a load of wheat, but subsequent events showed that he never reached that point. Several days after he had left his body was found in the road with the skull crushed, apparently by the wagon ; but the real cause of his death is a mystery to this day. Andrew Dickey was elected to fill the office made vacant by the death of Mr. John Dickey. David Troxel was another of the early justices. In 1831, soon after his settle- ment in this township, Nathaniel Brown opened a blacksmith-shop on section 23. The Tile Works of Reecer Bros., located on section 25, T. 18, R. 3, were built in 1877 by Messrs. Reecer & Nymon. They have a capacity of 175,000 feet per annum.
The first land entries were made by the following persons : August 28th, 1830, Josiah Abrams entered eighty acres in section 24; March 25th, 1831, Elizabeth Stevenson, eighty acres in section 24; May 2d, 1831, William Dickey, eighty acres in same section- all in T. 18 N., R. 3 E. The following entries were made in T. 18 N., R. 4 E. : March 3d, 1834, John Robinson, eighty acres in sec- tion 8; March 14th, 1834, David Cordell, forty acres ; October 14th, 1834, John Dickey, forty acres, and same day he entered 99.38 acres, both tracts in section 30.
.
The following named persons have represented this town in the Board of Supervisors since township organization : D. K. Wilson, elected in 1860, and re-elected 1861; C. Lukens, 1862; Andrew Dickey, 1863 ; C. Lukens, re-elected 1864; D. K. Wilson, re-elected 1865; William Daves, 1866 aud re-elected 1867; S. Payne, 1868 and re-elected 1869 ; F. Swantes, 1870; John Marsh, 1871; R. H. Park, 1872 and re-elected 1873 ; J. Ruddock, 1874; J. W. Brown, 1875, re-elected '76, '77, aud '78; W. A. Van Leer, 1879 and re- elected 1880, and is the present incumbent.
Prominent among the older settlers now living in this township may be mentioned James Querry, a native of Virginia, who settled in this county as early as 1831, and his wife, Elizabeth S. Williams, also a Virginian, who came in 1825. Israel Fout, of Virginia nativity, lo- cated in the county in 1839, and his wife in 1849. John G. Jimison, a Scotchman, settled in the county in 1834, aud now resides in section 4 of T. 18, R. 3. Sarah A. Brennan, the widow of William Dickey, a Canadian by birth, came to the county in 1849, and now lives on section 34. Alexander Greenfield settled here in 1843. George S. Young, a native of Irelaud, came in 1848, and his wife in 1835.
Joseph G. Kile came in 1846; he is a native of Ohio, and resides on section 28, in T. 18, R. 4.
ARGENTA
Is a flourishing little village on the line of the Champaign, Havana and Western railroad, about fourteen miles northi-cast from Decatur, and is the only railway station in this township. There are three villages in Friend's creek township, and a striking peculiarity is that they are all within a very short distance of cach other. This place is the newest, but not the least important in point of business. It was laid out by R. B. Rodgers immediately after the completion of the C. H. and W. R. R. The first store was crected by Garver & Co. F. F. McMullin established the first wagon-shop, and B. S. Schall did the first blacksmithing. Dr. Denisson was the first physician. The school-house was built in 1874. The town has a very heavy shipping business iu cattle, hogs, and grain. The pre- seut business of the town is contained in the following list : General Store, Garver & Co .; Boots and Shoes, John Keck ; Drug-store, S. C Ham ; Wagon-shop, F. F. McMullin ; Blacksmith-shop, B. S. Schall ; Physicians, Drs. Denisson and S. C. Ham; Grain Dealers, Denisson & Co.
NEWBURG.
This village is located in the north-east corner of section 36, T. 18, R. 3, and 31 of T. 18, R. 4, and is just one mile due east from Argenta. It was laid out in 1854 by William Dickey, who was one of the earliest settlers in the township. In 1856 a store with a general stock of merchandize was opened by William Dowling. The first wagon-shop opened was that of Philip Carver's, in either 1858 or 1859. Dr. R. F. Carr, who is still engaged in the practice of medicine in Newburg, and is one of the most prominent physi- ciaus in this part of the county, was the first physician to locate here. The first school-house was built in 1854; it was a frame structure. The preseut business is represented in the following list : General Store, J. Benford ; Drug-store, Dr. R. F. Carr; Blacksmith- shop, Thomas Strickler.
WEST DANVILLE
Is located on section 31, T. 18, R. 4, and for a number of years during the early period of its existence it was known by the noto- rious name " Hell's Half Acre." Calvin Whitcombe built a dis- tillery here in 1857, and operated it for a number of years, but it is not at present running ; he also built a steam saw-mill, which is still in operation. Messrs. V. D. & R. J. Ross erected a steam grist-mill, which is still running, and does a good business.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JAMES QUERREY
Is one of the pioneers and early settlers of Macon county. He was born in what is now known as Western Virginia, October 18th, 1810. The Querrey family are of French descent. Their ancestors came to America prior to the revolutionary war. Elisha Querrey, the father of James, was a soldier of the revolution, and served his country for seven years and six months in that memo- rable struggle. He afterwards settled in Pennsylvania, and then moved to Virginia, and died in that state. He married Sarah Stediek, a native of Pennsylvania. By this marriage there were
nine children-six sons and three daughters. James is among the younger children ; he remained at home until he was fourteen years of age, when he started out to learn the blacksmith trade. When in his eighteenth year, being youug aud ambitious and desirous of seeing the west, of which he had heard much, he joined a family who were coming to Illinois. He, in company with them, landed in Clinton county, Illinois, April 1st, 1828. Mr. Querrey remained there until Jauuary 2d, 1831, when he came to Macon county, landing here on the fifth of the same month. He stopped in Deca- tur aud worked at the carpenter trade. He afterwards purchased
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
a farm near the town and rented it out, and continued at his trade. He remained there until 1858, when he sold out and purchased two hundred and seventy acres of land in section 24, T. 18, R. 3, which he improved, and here he has continued to reside up to the present. time. On the 8th January, 1833, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth S. Williams. Her parents, Philip D. and Jane Wil- liams, were among the earliest settlers of Macon county ; he was born in Connecticut, and his wife in Virginia. Before her mar- riage she was a Bryant. Mr. Williams removed from Pittsylvania county, Va., to Illinois in the fall of 1825, and settled on Stevens' Creek, two miles north of Decatur. There were then but nine families on the north side of the Sangamon river, in what is now Macon county. Mr. Williams had the honor of building the first house in Decatur. There have been born to James and Elizabeth S. Querrey thirteen children, six of whom are living. Two of his sons were soldiers in the late war. Bartlett D. enlisted for three years in Co. " L" Tenth Cavalry ; and Eri S. was for three years a private in the 116th Regiment Illinois Vols. The names of the other children are : Miriam K., wife of W. J. Myers; Levina Belle, Charles B., and Warner C. Querrey ; Sarah J., wife of E. A. Piper. Olive Frances, Ira, and Miriam and Aquilla E. are dead. Three others died in infancy. Mrs Querrey has been a consistent member of the Christian Church for over thirty years. Politically Mr. Querrey is a republican. His first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson in 1828 : he afterwards joined the whig party, and in 1860 voted for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has been a repub- lican. He is now among the older settlers living in the county, having been a resident for nearly fifty years.
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