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 59
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ried in Kentucky Lavina Travis. Mr. Campbell was a member of the county commissioners' court, and for many years a justice of the peace-he died in 1864.
David Foster and family settled on section 6 (Tp. 15-3) in 1828. He was a Tennesseean, a farmer, and also a minister of the C. P. Church.
Early Marriages .- John C. Foster and Emily Montgomery were the first persons married in the township, the ceremony being per- formed in 1831.
The first person born here was Robert S. Traughber, on the 2d of September, 1830. The first death was Thomas Nelms in 1830.
In 1832 the first school-house erected in the township was built on sec. 4 (Tp. 15-3) ; it was a log structure, with puncheon floor and benches. James Scott was the first teacher.
The first sermon preached here was in 1828, by Rev David Fos- ter, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. Among the other early preachers who occasionally held service here were Rev. Neill John- son, and Daniel Traughber, Cumberland Presbyterians, and Rev. J. M. Peck, a Baptist clergyman, who became noted in the early history of the state. He resided in St. Clair county. Mr. Peck was a scholarly man and published several books and pamphlets treating on the early history of Illinois.
The first Sunday-school was organized in 1834 at the school-house above mentioned, and was a union school, where the children of all denominations congregated.
First Mill was built by Robert Lowe in towship 15-3 on sec. 2 in 1835. It was a band mill run by horse-power, and served for several years as a great convenience to the early settlers, who would come for miles around to get their corn ground.
Early justices of the peace were J. D. Campbell, Alonzo Pierce, and Mr. Schuffield.
Among the first physicians who practiced here were Dr. Buck- worth and Dr. Blaylock. The diseases in the early times were principally chills and fevers.
Improved Stock .- In 1855 John T. Campbell introduced the Ha- miltonian breed of horses from Kentucky. Thomas Davis brought into the township some improved Durham cattle in 1848, and the same year an improved breed of Merino sheep. In 1837 Robert Lowe introduced a small flock of Cottswold sheep, and Poland China hogs were brought here, by G. A. Smith, about the year 1860. The stock of the township now comprises many of the best breeds, and much attention is paid to stock-raising by the farmers.
Railroads .- Mt. Zion is well supplied with railroads. The P. D. & E. and Midland enter the township on section 6, and leave it on section 25. (See outline map.) Both roads run over the same track from Hervey City to Decatur. At Hervey City the Midland changes its course, and goes due east, leaving the township on sec. 9 (in Tp. 15-4).
In 1860, on the adoption of township organization, Mt. Zion was erected into a voting precinct, and the following gentlemen have served the township as
SUPERVISORS.
W. C. Myers, elected in 1860; re-elected in 1861. B. W. David- son, elected in 1862; re-elected in 1863. John Scott, elected in 1864 ; re-elected 1865. John A. Henry, elected 1866 ; re-elected 1867 and 1868. R. M. Foster, elected 1869; re-elected 1870. Wm. Davis, elected 1871. G. A. Smith, elected 1872. William Davis, re-elected 1873 and 1874. J. A. Henry, re-elected 1875. W. H. Wallace, clected 1876; re-clected 1877 and 1878. Stephen Mahannah, elected 1879. R. T. Williams, elected 1880.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The Village of Mt. Zion is situated on the line of thic P. D. & E. and Midland railroads on sec. 4, Tp. 15-3, and is quite a thriving little village. It was laid out in 1860 by S. K. Smith, and the first house was erected by Andrew Wilson, and Skillman & Mays kept the first store. The first post-office was kept at the store of Skillman & Mays. The first hotel was erccted by Dr. Blaylock, and kept by John McMillen. A blacksmith shop was carried on on the present site of the village, in 1851, by G. W. Riber. Dr. Buckworth was the first practicing physician. Early preachers were A. J. McGlumphy, J. T. A. Henderson, and Robert Cordon. Among the first teachers, A. J. McGlumphy, P. H. Crider, and C. W. Kinsolvin.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Ellis & Davis, general merchants.
J. A. Ellis, post-master.
R. Brownlee, druggist, and dealer in paints and oils.
G. W. Riber, blacksmith and wagon-maker.
A. Greenfield, dealer in general merchandise.
J. E. Davis, one of the enterprising citizens of the village, operates a saw-mill and tile factory.
R. L. Hochaday, general merchant and proprietor of hotel.
K. W. Conn, general merchant.
J. H. Hutchinson, boot and shoe maker.
The town has a large four-roomed graded school building, erccted by the liberality of private citizens.
There are also two churches-a Cumberland Presbyterian and a Methodist church.
An odd fellows' lodge was established here Jan. 8th, 1862, and its beneficial effects arc felt in the community.
Mt. Zion is a prosperous and growing village, and is situated in a beautiful district of country, and surrounded by an intelligent and enterprising people.
HERVEY CITY
Is located near the centre of the township at the junction of the
P. D. & E. with the Midland railroad. The present business of the village is carried on by-
G. W. Conn, general merchant.
A. M. Phillips, proprietor of hotel and postmaster.
D. S. Shellabarger & Co., grain buyers.
Eli Ulery, dealer in and shipper of stock.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DAVID L. FOSTER.
THE subject of the following sketch is " to the manor born." He first saw the light of day in Macon county, July 13th, 1848. He comes from a Scotch-Irish ancestry, and inherits from them the characteristics of that hardy, active and industrious people. His father, John C. Foster, was a native of Wilson county, Tennessee. His father and grandfather of David L. was the first Cumberland Presbyterian minister in the county. His son, John C. came with him here from Tennessee. He went back to his native state in 1847-8, and was married there for the second time ; then returned to Macon county, and remained there until his death, December 20th, 1859. His first wife's name was Montgomery. By this mar- riage there were two children, named Robert M. and Tabitha, wife of R. P. Wilson .; In the winter of 1847, he married Miss Mary Donnell. She was born and reared in Wilson county, Tennessee. There were two children by this latter marriage, Samuel L., and the subject of this sketch. The latter remained at home at work upon the farm, and attending the public-schools until he attained his majority. On the 3d of February, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda A. daughter of Clayborne and Matilda Jones. She was also; born and raised in Macon county. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and were among the pioneers of this county. Two children have blessed the union, a boy and girl, named Maud and George S. aged eight and four years, re- spectively. Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a republican. He is an active member of the independent order of Odd Fellows, and be- longs to Mt. Zion Lodge, No. 300. He is also an advocate of
temperance, and is a member of an organization whose object it is to suppress intemperance and vice in the land. In April, 1879, he was elected justice of the peace, and now fills that position with credit to himself, and honor to those who placed him in that offi- cial capacity.
R. BROWNLEE.
THE Brownlee's on both the paternal and maternal side, are of Scotch ancestry. James Brownlee, the father, was born and raised in Washington county, Pa. He removed to Ohio and married there. In 1839 he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Shelby county, where he still resides. While a resident of Pennsylvania, he followed teaching school. After he came west he adopted the profession of surveying, and also added farming. He was for many years surveyor of Shelby county, Illinois. He has been married four times. His first wife, by whom he had two children, was a Sheridan ; after her death he married Rachael Dye, mother of the subject of this sketch. She was born in New Jersey, but was a res- ident of Ohio at the time of her marriage; she died in 1849. By the third wife he had three children ; none by the fourth. By the marriage with Rachael Dye there were five children, three sons, and two daughters. The subject of this sketch is the eldest son and second in the family. He was born in Shelby county, Illinois, November 23d, 1840. He spent his boyhood days at work upon the farm, and attending the public schools of his native county. He remained at home until in his nineteenth year, when he married Miss Caroline Payne. She was born in Pickaway county, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Her father, Samuel Payne, was a native of Maryland, and her mother of Virginia. They came to Illinois in 1854, and settled in Shelby county, where Mr. Payne still lives. The date of Mr. Brown- lee's marriage was January 23d, 1859. After his marriage he en- gaged in farming until after the war broke out, when he enlisted for three years as a private in Co. " M." 3d Illinois Cavalry. The regiment was attached to the commands under Genl's. Fremont, Hunter and Curtis. He was discharged and mustered out, when he returned home to Shelby county, and re-engaged in farming until 1865, when he removed to Piatt county, remained there three years, then went to Moultrie county, and in 1870 came to Mt. Zion, Macon county, and engaged in the milling business. Prior to this, he was engaged in buying and shipping live stock. During the time he was engaged in milling business in Mt. Zion, he also con- tracted and built bridges on the Illinois Midland railroad, which was then in process of construction. In 1878, he rented out his mill property, and in the winter of 1879-80, sold it out and invest- ed in a stock of drugs and medicines at Mt. Zion, and at present is engaged in dispensing these to those afflicted with ills that the flesh is heir to. Mr. Brownlee has given considerable time to the study of law, and practices before justices' courts, although he has never been regularly admitted to the practice. When he intended to adopt the profession of law as the business of his life, he was drawn off and prevented by his army life, business complications, etc. He is, by nature, well qualified for the profession of law, and had he brought as much energy and industry to the profession as he has to other business in which he has been engaged, we have no doubt, he would have succeeded admirably. Politically he is an ardent, active and influential democrat. He is a member of the ancient and honorable order of Free Masonry, and belongs to Ionic Lodge, Decatur Ills. He is an advocate of temperance and prohibition. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church of Mt. Zion. Mr. Brownlee is a pleasant and affable gentleman, and is much respected for his honesty and strict probity of character.
DR. G. S. ALLISON.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Pike county, Missouri, July 22, 1848. Joseph C. Allison, his father, was a native of Tennessee. He married Maria Jackson, of Kentucky. Both parents died in Missouri. Dr. Allison attended the schools of his native county, and secured the rudimentary principles of an educa- tion, which he improved by three years' study in the Academy at Abingdon, Illinois, where he took a general and classical course. He determined to adopt the profession of medicine as the business of his life. With this idea in view, he read the standard text-books upon medicine, in the office and under the direction of Dr. W. C. Duncan of Pike county, Mo. He remained with Dr. Duncan four
years, then entered the St. Louis Medical College and remained two years, and graduated from that institution with the degree of M.D., March, 1871. He commenced the practice in his native county, and two years later came to Mt. Zion, Macon county, where he has continued the practice with good success to the present. Dr. Alli- son belongs to the progressive school of physicians. He is a mnem- ber of the County Medical Society, and at present is president of that body. On the 2d of May, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen E., daughter of Prof. William Mariner, formerly of Lincoln University, Lincoln, Illinois. One child, named Ida, is the fruit of this happy union. Dr. Allison is a respected member of the order of A. F. & A. M., and I. O. O. F.
W. H. WALLACE
Is a native of Macon county, Illinois. He was born in Mt. Zion township, March 17th, 1848. James Wallacc, his father, was a native of South Carolina. He was born in 1821. The Wallace family originally came from Scotland, and settled in South Caro- lina prior to the Revolutionary war. After the war they moved to Nova Scotia, and then back to the Carolinas. James Wallace, grandfather of 'the present sketch, emigrated to Illinois between the years 1825 and 1828. He first stopped in Sangamon county ; after the winter of the deep 'snow came to Macon county, and settled on Long Creek, where he entered land, and there remained until his death, which occurred about the year 1846. His son, James, remained in the county until his death, March 13th, 1863. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed that and stock-raising during his entire life. He married Mary J. Ferry. She was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, and came to Illinois in company with her grandfather. Her parents came here at a later date. She is yet living with her son W. H. in Mt. Zion township. The sub- ject of this sketch is the second in a family of five boys and one girl. His education was received in the public schools of the county, and in the academy of Mt. Zion, where he spent several years improving himself in the higher grades of learning. Since his father's death, which took place while he was in his fifteenth year, he has practically been doing for himself. At present he is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is one of the enterprising and leading agriculturalists of his township. Politically he is a democrat. He cast his first presidential vote for that purest of patriots and philosophiers, Horace Greeley. He takes an active part in the local elections, and is an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of democratic principles. He has represented his town- ship in the Board of Supervisors for three terms, and while a member of that body earned the reputation of a careful and pru- dent officer. He is much respected as a man and citizen in the neighborhood where he was born and raised.
MILAM TOWNSHIP.
M ILAM,* is situated in the extreme south-east corner of the county, and comprises the north half of the congression- al town 14 north, range 3 east, with one tier of sections on the south from town 15 north, range 3 east.
It contains nineteen square miles, or twelve thousand one hundred and sixty acres of choice prairie land, bounded on the north by Mt. Zion township, on the east by Moultrie county, on the south by Shelby county and on the west by South Macon township. The soil is a rich black loam, averaging about two feet in depth, adapted to the growth of all the cereals usual to the county, but especially to the culture of corn. The surface is generally level, and is much in need of artificial drainage, which is just being understood and introduced.
The name of Milam was suggested by J. B. Gleason, from the fact that the Milam apple thrived better in that locality than any other. The township was organized in the spring of 1870, at the instance of J. B. Gleason and others. It was struck off from Mt. Zion. The first settlement began in the year 1851, when James Greenfield and his son, Jesse Greenfield, located in the northern portion of its border, erected a dwelling, and made some improve- ments. Joel Cloud settled in section twelve in 1857, and David J. Freeland from Orange county, North Carolina, settled also on sec- tion twelve in 1858. There were also a family named Hale, that settled here at an early date. Milam is the newest township in the county, and with the exception of those above mentioned it remained unsettled until after the late civil war. In 1865, J. B. Gleason, located with his family and began the settlement of the south-eastern corner. . David Shelton arrived the same year. Also Frederic and Henry Wehrman settled and commenced farming. Richard Crib- bett, J. W. Smith, James Kerr, William Meyers, John W. and William Dudley, William Rutledge and a few others arrived with- in a brief space of time, and assisted in establishing the agricultural and commercial prosperity of the township.
Franklin Cloud, son of Joseph and Nancy Cloud, was the first child born in the township. Silas Rutledge and Oliver Smith were the first couple married. The first death was that of Philo Hale.
* We are under obligations to Captain J. B. Gleason for data furnished for the compilation of the history.
The township was resurveyed by special provision of the Legisla- ture and county court, at a cost of some two thousand dollars, cor- ners established and roads laid out. Immediately after its organi- zation and among its first enactments, a stock law was voted, which has worked with entire satisfaction, and has added much to the con- venience of all citizens as well, as aiding in a more rapid improve- ment of the county, as well as the stock.
The first land entries were made by Benjamin Durgin, August 23d, 1852, to wit : the N. E. } of section No. 1, 160.24 acres. Sarah Nash entered on same day 164.18 acres in same section. The next entry was made by Andrew Libby same date, 160 acres in section No. 1. Theodore Brooks entered 160 acres in section No. 1, town- ship No. 14 N. R. 3 east.
The first school district was laid off in 1866. Samuel Gregory taught a winter term of four months. This was named Harmony school, and was located in the center of sections 11 and 14 N., R. 3 E. Since then two school districts have been added, and commo- dious houses erected.
The inhabitants are divided in nativity, between the eastern, southern and middle states, and a few Americanized Germans. They are all sober, intelligent and enterprising people. There are six hundred and thirty-one inhabitants ; one hundred and fifteen families and dwellings, and four school-liouses. There are three school districts and halves of two others. Though having no house especially dedicated to public worship, yet the people almost uni- versally belong to some one of the evangelical denominations, each of whom have houses of worship just outside of the township. There is in fact not an infidel resident in Milam. A noteworthy fact is that in this township there is no preacher, no doctor, no lawyer, no pauper, no drunkard, no empty houses and no family without a house.
J. B. Gleason was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and has held the office ever since. Geo. A. Bartlett, was the first collector ; W. E. Kyer, first assessor ; James M. Kerr, first town clerk. The supervisors that have been elected to represent Milam, are : J. B. Gleason, in 1870; G. A. Bartlett, 1871; re-elected 1872; J. W. Rogers, 1873, re-elected 1874; W. E. Kyer, 1875, re-elected 1876 and '77; John Vangundy, 1878, re-elected 1879; A. Dickson, elected 1880.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN C. MCREYNOLDS.
MR. MCREYNOLDS' great-grandfather, John McReynolds, was born in Ireland, where he was married. He became one of the early settlers of Viginia-the native state of another John Mc- Reynolds, Mr. McReynolds' grandfather. He early emigrated to Blount county, Tenn., where he married a Miss Jane McReynolds, a distant relative. There Robert, Mr. McReynolds' father, was born, who married Miss Sarah Wear, of his native county. There also Mr. McReynolds was born, June 21st, 1834. At the age of ten he came with his parents to Illinois, who made a scttle- ment near Ramsey, where his father died in 1855. Being the eld- est of the children, the care and support of the family devolved almost exclusively on him. He brought the family to Moultrie county in 1856, and located in the town of Marrowbone, where he continued to provide for their wants up to the beginning of the late civil war. He enlisted in the United States service in May, 1861, and was honorably discharged July 14th, 1864. His was the Twenty-first Illinois Vol. Infantry-Grant's old and well-known regiment-which went immediately to the front, where it remained till the close of the war, and was employed in some of the heaviest fighting known in military annals-including the battles of Fred- erickstown, Corinth, Perrysville, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chick- amauga, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, and Nashville.
He was married in 1865, the object of his choice being Mrs. Mary A. Wear, relict of David M. Wear, another Union soldier, who lost his life in the cause of his country, and by whom she had one son. John W., born Sept. 25th, 1862. She was the daughter of Dr. William Morrison and Azella Battersbee, natives of England, who came to this country and were married in Boston, where they both died, leaving only one heir.
Immediately after their marriage Mr. McReynolds bought forty acres of land in Milam town, where he still lives, and where he has made as handsome and as tasteful a home as is to be found in the county. He conducts his business in a scientific manner, and has furnished an illustration of what enlightened husbandry is capable of producing with such a soil as is found in the county of Macon. He has only one hundred and twenty acres, but it is cultivated in such a manner as to yield more than is usually produced from twice the amount, farmed in the careless methods of former times.
J. B. GLEASON
WAS born near the city of Hartford, Conn., September 25th, 1807, and is the youngest son, save two, of a family of eleven chil- dren, of whom nine were sons. All are now dead except himself, Joseph, of Manchester, of his native state, and Mary, the relict of Joseph Kendall, of Hartford county, Conn.
Mr. Gleason's father, Jonah, was a farmer of some note, who occupied the estate near Hartford which his father purchased im- mediately on his arrival in this country from the shores of " Merry old England."
Mr. Gleason's mother was formerly Miss Hannah Blodgett, a lady of fair attainments and accomplishments, such as were to be se- cured by the usual advantages of the age in which she was raised.
At the age of nine, an arrangement was effected by which he went to live in the family of Isaac Gleason, a distant relative, and where he remained, taking part in the usual routine duties of farm work till the age of sixteen was reached, in the mean time receiv- ing such advantages as were to be had at the common district schools. He next learned the bricklayer's trade from an elder brother, Lathrop, with whom he found a home for a period of two years, and then began work at his trade on his own account, making not only a support, but something for future contingencies. At the age of twenty-two he began a course at Amherst Academy, where he made the usual two years' preparation, when he entered Williams College, Mass. After spending two years at that institu- tion, according to a general custom of the times, he changed insti- tutions, completing a course, and graduated with full honors at Union College, Schenectady, in 1835. He then began teaching, and married toward the close of the same year, but finding his health somewhat injured by the too sedentary habits of the school- room, he changed his business back to the more active and healthy exercises of his trade, to which by this time a natural mechanical bent of mind had added that of " builder." In 1837 he settled in Summit county, Ohio, where for about nine years he was employed in academic teaching, when failing health again compelled him to abandon the school-room, and he again applied himself to me- chanics, building a large factory for the general manufacture of wooden-ware, in which he found profitable employment for a period of five years, meantime teaching a few special terms of school, at the urgent request of friends. His factory having been burned down in 1851, he determined to fulfill a desire to visit the West, and he accordingly moved to Iowa and settled in Buchanan county. There he remained during the late civil war, and entered, bought 'and improved a farm, which he reduced to cultivation. While in that county he was county surveyor two terms-was deputy provost-marshal, enrolling officer, and a part of the time an acting justice of the peace. In all of his official relations he acted with such promptness, efficiency and good judgment, that he won the good-will and csteem of all classes, and earned the reputation of being one of the most useful citizens of the county.
From Iowa he moved to Illinois, and located in the south-eastern corner of this county-Milam township, which has been the place of his residence ever since. Here he bought and improved a nice home, on which he expects to remain the balance of his days, till
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
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