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 56
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D. N. DUNLAP.
THIS gentleman, who has been in the grain business at Warrens- burg since 1873, is a native of this state, and was born in Sangamon county, eight miles north of Springfield, on November 17th, 1839. The Dunlap family is of Scotch origin. His father, Tennessee Dunlap, was born in Tennessee, and came with his father to Illinois, some years previous to 1830.
The family settled in Sangamon county, on Fancy creek. His mother, Elizabeth Cartright, was born in Bourbon county, Ky., and belonged to a family of English descent. D. N. Dunlap was the oldest of a family of three children, and was raised in Sangamon county, obtained his education in the common schools, and on grow- ing up engaged in farming.
On the breaking out of the rebellion he volunteered, enlisting in August, 1862, in Co. B of the 130th Illinois regiment. From Camp Butler, Springfield, the regiment proceeded to Memphis, Tenn., where it passed the winter, and then went to Milliken's Bend, and afterward took part in the battles of Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, and Black River. It also participated in the siege of Vicksburg.
Mr. Dunlap had been placed on the roll of honor at Memphis. After Vicksburg was captured, he took part in the siege of Jack- son, Miss., and was then detailed in recruiting service. He went to New Orleans, and assisted in recruiting the First New Orleans regiment, in which he was mustercd in as 2d licut. of Co. B, and in which he served till June, 1866. This regiment was composed of white Union soldiers principally from Louisiana.
He served in the commands of Gens. Banks, Sherman, Canby, and Sheridan, and most of the time under Canby. He was sta- tioned at New Orleans, and various points along the Mississippi, and was engaged several times on detached duty, and sent to Havana, Dry Tortugas, and other points ; was promoted to be 1st lieut., and was afterward commissioned as captain. His regiment was the last white volunteer regiment mustered out of the service.
He returned to Sangamon county, and engaged in farming. In 1867 he married Mary A. Shannon, a native of New York. He came to Macon county in the fall of 1867, and began farming in Niantic township, and afterward in Illini township.
Since 1873 he has been engaged in the grain business at Warrens- burg. He has been a democrat in politics, though he has never been a strict party man, and on local issues has voted for the man whom he considered best fitted for the office.
He has three children-Gertic, Flora B., and Daniel Lec Dunlap. He is a member of the masonic order, and belongs to Beaumanoir Commandery, knights templar, of Decatur.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
A. W. LEAVITT.
A. W. LEAVITT, post-master and merchant at Warrensburg, is a native of New Hampshire, and was born at Wenham, in that state, on the sixteenth of August, 1842. His ancestors were early resi- dents of New Hampshire. His father, Joseph Leavitt, was born at Meredith, New Hampshire, and his mother, Elizabeth Fogg, at Pittsfield, in the same state. A. W. Leavitt was the second of five children. When he was six or eight years old his father moved to Salem, New Hampshire, and afterward to Manchester. When he was about fifteen the family moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts. In the common schools of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Mr. Leavitt laid the foundation of a substantial education. At the age of eighteen he left school and became a clerk in a dry goods store at Newburyport. Two years afterward he became book-keeper in
a hat manufacturing establishment in the same place. When about twenty-three or twenty-four he formed a partnership with his brother Charles Leavitt, and went into the grocery business at Newbury- port which was carried on till 1867, when the family came to Illinois and settled on a farm in Illini township, where one hundred and sixty acres of land were purchased. Mr. Leavitt was engaged in farming till 1876, when, in connection with his brother, he engaged in the general mercantile business at Warrensburg. Since 1877 he has acted as post-master. He has carried on a prosperous business and has built up an excellent trade. He is a member of the Illini Congregational Church. He was married on the third of March, 1869, to Harriet P. Questrom, of Newburyport, Massachusetts. He is known as an excellent business man, and a gentleman of high personal character.
OAKLEY TOWNSHIP.
B OUNDED on the north by Whitmore, east by Piatt county, south by Long Creek, west by Decatur and Whitmore townships. It is composed of fractional por- tions of the Congressional township of 16, Range 3-4 and Tp. 17, Range 3-4 East. The township is well drained by the Sangamon river, and its tributaries, Badger branch Morris branch and Jeff branch. The Sangamon enters the township on the nortlı- east corner, and traverses the northern and western borders, leav- ing it on the corner of section 9, Tp. 16-3. There is considerable timber skirting the banks of the stream. The lands are very fertile, and produce large quantities of corn, wheat, oats, rye, flax, barley hay, fruit and vegetables.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 1
The first settler, as a land-owner, was James Howell, who was a native of Galiia county, Ohio, he located with his family on section 30, Tp. 17, Range 4, in the spring of 1825. Soon after his son Wil- liam Howell and family settled on the same section.
John Rea, a Virginian by birth, came to Macon county with his family in 1830, and settled on section 35, Tp. 17-3. Guy Helm and family located in the same township on section 26, in 1830. He is a native of the "Old Dominion," and when quite young moved with his parents to Gallia county, Ohio, where his youth and early manhood were passed. Mr. Helm is an old style Virginia gentleman, hospitable and generous. In 1835 came three brothers. with their families from Virginia, viz., William, David and Achilles Morris ; each improved a farm. Other early settlers were Garland Wheeler and Arch. Walton, who came in 1836.
Another old settler is W. T. Howell, a grand son of James Howell, the pioneer of Oakley. The first marriage was that of Caleb Warfield and Nancy Rea, in 1835. Elizabeth Helm, the daughter of Guy and Anna Helm, was the first child born in the present limits of Oakley. First death was that of Mrs. Morris, mother of William, David, and Achilles Morris.
A log school-house, 16 x 18 feet, was erected in the fall of 1830,
on section 26, Tp. 17, R. 3 E. It was built of rough unhewen logs, with puncheon floor, benches, and mud chimney. The house was lighted by means of oiled paper windows. Alexander Patton taught the first school in this building in the winter of 1830-31. The first sermon was preached at the house of one of the old settlers in 1835, by Mr. Lapham, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Other early preachers were Rev. Bird, of the M. E. Church, Rev. James Wilson. Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Rev. Carpenter, Baptist, and Rev. David Bunn, Universalist. The first blacksmith shop was established by John Hawkins. The first saw-mill was built by Rhodes and Wheeler in 1840. Guy Helm erected the first grist- mill in 1844. Early justices of the peace were William Howell, and Andrew Froman. First physicians who practiced here were G. H. Young, and Dr. J. G. H. Smith. The first post-office was at the house of John Rickett, on section 35, Tp. 17-3, with Mr. R. as post-master.
The first thorough-bred Durham bull was brought into the town- ship, by Joseph Howell. And the first blooded horse was introduced by Guy Helin. It was the celebrated race horse, Black John.
SANGAMON STATION
Is located on section 3, Tp. 16 R 3, on the line of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railway. In 1857, a general store was opened here by William Harmon, and Benjamin Wheeler. Silas Chappel was the first post-master. He also established and carried on a cooper shop here in 1857. A blacksmith shop was erected in 1867 by J. B. Spangler. At the present, J. B. Lichtenberger is post- master, and also engaged in general merchandizing and grain buy- ing. He has also a grain warehouse with a capacity of 5,000 bushels.
VILLAG E OF OAKLEY
is pleasantly situated and is the principal shipping and trading point in the township, situated on section 1, Tp. 16-3, on the line of the Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific railway. It is surrounded by a rich agricultural district and bids fair to become a prosperous
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
village; it was laid out by William Rca, in 1856. The same year Mr. R. erected the first house. A post-office was established here in 1856, and D. B. Landis was the first post-master. He was also the first justice of the peace. G. M. Everline opened and carried on a general store liere the same year. The first hotel was kept by John Nickey, and E. Rhodes was the first blacksmith. The first physician was Dr. Samuel Cooper. In 1860 a substan- tial school edifice was erected.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Holcomb & Turner, general merchants and stock dealers. There are also two grain warehouses, with storing capacity of 45,000 bushels, the business interests of the village are growing, and it is quite a shipping and trading point for the inhabitants of the town- ship, and is the most important station in Macon county, on the line of the Wabash R. R., east of Decatur.
Topography, Timber, etc .-- The land surface of this township is mostly an undulating prairie. Originally about one fourth of the area was covered with a thrifty growth of timber, comprising hard and soft maple, walnut, hickory, aslı, white, red, and black clm, and the several species of oak. As the early settlements were prin- pally made along the water courses, the timber afforded the set- tler the means to build his cabin, and to manufacture the rude im- plements of agriculture used during that period ; also for fuel, fencing, and other purposes.
Game of various kinds, such as deer, wolves, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens were plentiful, at the first settlement of this part of the county, and wild-honey and the skins of wild animals were used by the early settlers, for purpose of trade and barter.
Railroads .- The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroad enters this township on section nine, Tp. 16-3, and the line of the road is on a north-easterly direction. It leaves.the boundaries of Oakley on section 33, Tp. 17-4. This road furnishes excellent transporta- tion and shipping facilities for the residents of the township.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES.
The following are the first land entries from the general govern- ment. William Howell entered March 19th, 1830, 80 acres, in section 25, Tp. 17 N., R. 3 East. G. Helm, entered November 14th, 1832, 80 acres in section 30, Tp. 17 N. R. 4 east. James Howell, entered November 13, 1832, north 3 of lot 2, of the south- west } of section 30, Tp. 17 N., R. 4 East, containing 46.68 acres.
On the adoption of township organization, by the legal voters of Macon county, the territory now compriscd within the boundaries of Oakley, was erected into a voting precinct, and the following are a list of supervisors.
SUPERVISORS.
G. W. Forest, elected in 1860. G. W. Forest, re-elected in 1861. L. Chambers, elected in 1862. H. McCoy, elected in 1863. H. McCoy, re-elected in 1864. O. J. Doyle, elected in 1865. . O. J. Doyle, re-elected in 1866. E. Rhodes, elected in 1867. E. Rhodes, re-elected in 1868. R. Spencer, elected in 1869. R. Spencer, re- elected in 1870. E. Rhodes, re-clected in 1871. R. Spencer, re-elected in 1872. Dr. S. Cooper, elected in 1873. Dr. S. Cooper, re-elected in 1874. Wm. Grason, elected in 1875. Wm. Grason, re-elected in 1876. Wm. Grason, re-elected in 1877. H. J. Manecke, elected in 1878. H. J. Manecke, re-elected in 1879. H. J. Manecke, re-elected in 1880.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN HISER.
THE subject of the following sketch is a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He was born near Carlisle on the 3d of May, 1822. George Hiser, his father, was also a native of the same county and state. John Hiser, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Germany. He came to America and settled in the county and state above named, and married there, and remained in the county until his death. George Hiser, the father, came west to Illinois in 1850, and stopped with his son John until his deatlı in 1858. He married Mary Wolfc. She is still living with her son John, in Oakley township. There were born to George and Mary Hiser ten children, eight of whom are still living-six boys and two girls; John is the second in the family. His advantages for an education in his youth were exceedingly meagre ; his father was poor and had a large family to support, so that John was at an carly age forced to become a help and support of the family. He remained at home until his twenty-fourth year, when he hired out and commenced doing for himself. In the fall of 1849 he concluded to come west. Being possessed of little means and unable to pay his passage, lie started out on foot and walked
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the entire distance from Pennsylvania to Macon, Illinois. When he got here he found that there were better chances for a poor man than in Pennsylvania, and here he determined to stay. He first stopped in Decatur and worked at making rails during the winter. The next spring he hired to work on a farm, and soon after went into Spangler's flouring and grist mill, and six months later Icased the mill and operated for one year and a half. He then went back to farming and making rails until 1858, wlien he purchased one hundred acres of raw land in Sec. 27, T. 17, R. 3 E., and con- menced its improvement. There lie has lived up to the present time, and now has a fine farm, well-improved and stocked. A view of his farm and residence can be seen on another page of this work. On the 17th of September, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Hess. She was also born and raised in Cumberland county, Pa. Her parents, Caleb and Barbara Hess, came to Illinois in 1850, and settled in Oakley township. Eleven children have been born to John and Sarah Hiser, nine of whom are living. Their names arc: Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Scitz, a farmer living in Oakley township; Jane, wife of Levi Kniseley, a resident of Summer county, Kansas ; Mary Jane, died at the age of twenty-one
K'S,
FAIR-VIEW-FARM. PROPERTY OF JACOB SEITZ, ESQ.SEC. 26. T.17.R.3.E. ( OAKLEY TP.), MACON CO. ILL.
FARM RESIDENCE OF JOHN. HISER, SEC. 34. T. 17. R.3.E. (OAKLEY TP.) MACON CO. ILL.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
years ; George, farmer, now farming the home place; William ; John F., who died in infancy ; Lida, Albert, Jacob, Henry and Sylvester Hiser. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the United Brethren church. Politically he is a democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk in 1844, and from that time to the present has given his adhesion to the party of his early and first choice. In the business of life Mr. Hiser has been reasonably successful. He started poor and unaided. What he has has been accumulated by hard toil and the practice of rigid economy. Every cent of it has also been gotten in an honest and honorable way. Among his neighbors he is regarded as a man of strict propriety of character, a kind friend and good neighbor.
SIMON P. NICKEY.
THE Nickey family are of German ancestry. The paternal grandfather was a native of Germany. He came to America and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He afterward removed to Cumberland county, in the same state, where he remained until his death. David Nickey, his son, was born in Cumberland coun- ty ; he was a shoemaker by trade, but subsequently engaged in farming. He married Mary Ann Max. She was born in Perry county, Pa. She died in 1830. By this marriage there were four. teen children-eight boys and six girls-eight of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch is the youngest in the family. He was born in Cumberland county, Pa., November 16th, 1832. He received the rudiments of a common-school education in the private schools of his native county. Feeling the necessity and importance of a more thorough education than the common schools afforded, he went to work at four dollars per month, and earned money ; and with money thus earned he paid his tuition and sup- ported himself for three years in the Plainfield Academy in Cum- berland county. A portion of the time he taught school in the win- ter season and attended the academy during the summer months. In this way he prepared himself to enter Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pa. He entered that institution in 1853, with the inten- tion of taking a full course and graduating and preparing himself for the ministry ; but he remained there but two years, when he came west on a visit, and has remained here to the present.
He taught school in the winter of 1855 in Sangamon, and in Newburg in 1857 and 1858. In the spring of 1858 he embarked in mercantile business in the village of Oakley, and at about the same time was appointed station agent for the Great Western Rail- road Company of 1859. He continued in their employ until 1864. He was also appointed post-master in 1859, and held the office until 1862.
In the fall of 1864 he rented land in sec. 5, T. 16, R. 4 E, and in 1870 purchased the farm upon which he at present resides. Mr. Nickey taught school eleven winters altogether in Macon county. On the 9th of October, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary K. McCoy. She was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, March 31st, 1825. Her parents, John and Sarah McCoy, moved to Urbana, Ohio, in 1832. Mrs. McCoy was a resident of that state at the time of her marriage. By this union there has been one son, named John McCoy Nickey. Mr. Nickey's occupation, since his residence in Illinois, has been for the greater part of the time that of a farmer and school-teacher. In 1873 his interest and zeal in educational matters received suitable recognition. He was elected county superintendent of schools ; he occupied the office from 1873 to 1877. His term was characterized throughout by efficiency and zeal that aided very much in bringing up the com-
mon schools of Macon county to their present high standard of ex- cellence. Politically, he is a member of the democratic party. He cast his first presidential vote in 1856 for James Buchanan, and from that time to the present, in all national and state elections, has uniformly voted the ticket of his first choice. He has held various offices in his township, such as assessor, collector and school director, and in all has discharged the duties imposed upon him in a faithful and conscientious manner. In the summer of 1880 he received the nomination from the democratic party in convention assembled for the office of circuit clerk, and if elected will make an efficient and competent officer. He is a respected member of the ancient and honorable Order of Freemasonry, and is a member of Cerro-Gordo Lodge No. 600, Piatt county, Illinois.
This, in short, is a brief biographical sketch of one of Macon county's most worthy citizens. In his home he is a kind, hospita- ble gentleman, and, among his neighbors and friends who know him best, is regarded as an upright, honorable and honest man.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM GRASON.
THE subject of the following biographical sketch is a native of Ireland, and was born December 27th, 1832. His father, Robert Grason, emigrated to America in 1835. He settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained a few years, then removed to St. Louis, from there to Peoria, Illinois, and then back to St. Louis. He afterward went to New Orleans, when all trace of him was lost. He was in Ireland a shop-keeper. After he came to America he worked at the carpenter trade. He married Jane Glenn. She was of Scotch parentage. Her parents removed to the north part of Ireland to escape religious persecution. They were Episcopalians in faith. By this marriage there were ten children. William left home at the age of twelve years, and went to work on a farm. When at the age of sixteen years he saw the necessity of getting an education. He therefore went to a school and learned rapidly, and soon mastered the rudimentary principles and advanced to and became proficient in the higher grades, particularly in language and mathematics. He afterwards went on the river and learned ship and house carpentering. He worked at the trade until he was in his twenty-second year, when he came to Macon county, Illinois, and stopped in Oakley township and worked at his trade, and in the spring of 1855 he purchased land in section 9, T. 16, R. 4 E., and improved it, and here he remained until the sixth of September, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Co. " A," 116th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. On the formation of the company he was elected first_sergeant. The regiment was organized in Decatur, and was ordered to Cairo and from there to Memphis, where it was bri- gaded with the 1st Battalion, 8th Regulars, 6th and 8th Missouri regiments, Morgan L. Smith Brigade commander. It formed a part of the 2d Division, 15th Army Corps, under command of Gen. WV. T. Sherman. The first service in which the regiment and bri- gade participated was the Tallehatchie march, after which they returned to Memphis, took boats and went down the river and made the first attack on Vicksburg, then fell back to Helena, Ar- kansas, and went up the White river, cut off and attacked and captured Arkansas Post, then returned to the Mississippi again, where they were joined by Gen. McClernand, and participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg. On the 22d of May, 1863, in the charge of Fort Hill Capt. Grason was shot through the lungs. He was sent home, where he remained until he recovered his health, after which he rejoined his command at Jacksonville, Alabama, and there on the 15th of February, 1864, had the ball extracted. He
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
was also in the disastrous eharge upon the works at Vicksburg on the 19th of May, 1863, when Co. A of the 116th regiment entered with thirty-one men, and after the charge stacked arms with but thirteen left.
He after joining his regiment participated with it in the siege and capture of Atlanta, and went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, then to Savannah, where the 116th regiment took part in the assault upon Fort McAllister, and were the first inside of the works, closely followed by the 6th Missouri, then on to Washington, where they participated in the Grand Review. Capt. Grason was promoted 1st Lieutenant, April 28th, 1863, and then to the cap- taincy of the company, and was mustercd out as captain, June 7th, '65. He returned home, went to Scott co., Illinois, where his family was, and remained there two years, working at his trade; then returned to Oakley township and re-engaged in cultivating his farm, at which he has continued to the present. On the 22d of April, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen E. Burrows, a native of Morgan county, Illinois, but a resident of Scott county at the time of her marriage. This marriage has been hallowed and blessed by eight children, six of whom are still living, five sons and one daughter. Their names are Charles Fremont, William Carlton, Robert Emmett, Franklin Glenn, Thomas Addis and Ida Belle. Charles F. is now in Oregon; the rest are residents of Macon county. Politically Capt. Grason was one of the original republicans. He was among the few who gave their support to John C. Fremont, in 1856. He remained an active member of the party until 1876, when he espoused the independent or greenback movement, and supported Peter 'Cooper for the presidency. He has now returned to his first love, and is, as of old, an ardent and active supporter of republican principles. He takes great interest in all public affairs connected with his township or county, and has served upon the board of supervisors for four terms. While a member of that body he exercised great influence, and bore the reputation of being a careful and prudent offieer, looking carefully after the interests of his constituents not only in his township, but in the entire county. During the year 1880 he was appointed census enumerator for his township. Capt. Grason is universally respected by his neighbors. He is a man of large heart and most generous impulses, genial and sociable, hospitable at his home, and possessed of much general and varied information ; we found him a man whose acquaintance it was a genuine pleasure to make.
W. F. COULTER.
THE subject of this sketch is a native of Illinois. He was born in St. Clair county, June fifteenth, 1848. Archibald Coulter, his father was a native of South Carolina. He removed to Tennessee, then to Kentucky, and came to Illinois between the years 1825 and 1830. He remained in St. Clair county until 1866, when he removed to De Witt county, in this state, and was a resident of that county at the time of his death. His death occurred in the winter of 1875, and in the following manner : He had been to New York on a visit, and on his return home, while the train was stop- ping at Danville junction, he stepped off the cars and walked out upon the track. His absence from the cars was not noticed until after the train started, when his body was found on the track, the cars having passed over him, killing him instantly. During his life he was engaged in farming, milling and general merchandiz- ing. He was twice married, and was the father of eight children. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family. Hc re- mained at home, and in his youthful days attended the public schools of his native county. Hc received a fair education therein,
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