USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 45
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Professor Robertson has been a frequent contributor to various scientific jour- nals, among them being The Botanical Gazette, Canadian Entomologist, Entomo- logical News, Science, American Naturalist, and Transactions of the St. Louis Academy of Science. He holds membership in the Illinois Natural History So- ciety, Cambridge Entomological Club, Entomological Society of France, Indiana Academy of Science, Academy of Science of St. Louis, Western Society of Na- turalists, Naturalists of Central States, and Botanists of Central States. He has been a very close student and observer of both flowers and insects, devoting spe- cial attention to their relations, his discoveries and observations in the latter connection having been very fully treated in his contributions to various scientific " periodicals.
On the 12th of November, 1879, Professor Robertson was united in marriage to Miss Alice McDonald Venable, a native of Indiana and a daughter of James and Mary (McDonald) Venable. Her father was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, a son of James and Elizabeth (Carver) McDonald, who were the parents of six children, as follows: Samuel, John, James, Sarah, Mary and Martha. The pa- ternal grandfather, James Venable, was a native of Virginia, but removed to Ken- tucky during the pioneer days and there he passed away at the age of seventy-six. His wife was about the same age at the time of her demise. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. In the maternal line Mrs. Robertson is of Scotch extraction. Her grandfather, who was a lawyer, emigrated from Scotland to the United States in the early part of the century, locating in Indianapolis. He met with excellent success in his profession and became a judge of the supreme court. For his wife he chose a Miss Mary Miller and of their union there were born four daugh- ters and two sons: David Hume, Curran, Mary, Eleanor, Flora and Lilla. The parents both passed away late in life. Their daughter, Mrs. James Venable, was only thirty-six at the time of her death, which occurred in Indianapolis in 1868. James Venable subsequently came to Illinois, locating in Carlinville, where he con-
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tinued to reside for several years, engaging in agricultural pursuits. He was living in Parsons, Kansas, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1868 at the venerable age of ninety-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. James Venable were born five children: Eleanor; Alice, now Mrs. Robertson; James; David, and William.
Professor and Mrs. Robertson are the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, Mary and Charles. In matters of religion they affiliate with the Pro- testant churches, while politically Professor Robertson has always been inde- pendent. His ballot is cast in support of such men and measures as he deems best qualified to meet the exigencies of the situation, irrespective of party con- nection. Although he has never taken a prominent part in political affairs he is a public-spirited man and takes an active and helpful interest in the welfare of the community, assisting to forward every movement he feels would in any way prove beneficial to the citizens generally. Professor Robertson taught until 1909, since which time he has been devoting his attention to his private affairs and his literary pursuits. He and his family are among the highly esteemed citizens of Carlinville, where they have many friends.
JAMES M. GIBBS.
Among the intelligent and successful citizens of Macoupin county is James M. Gibbs, who is the owner of a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in North Palmyra township, which yields a handsome annual revenue. A native of the township where he now lives, he was born March 1, 1872, being a son of John C. and Mary (O'Neal) Gibbs. The grandfather of our subject was also named John C. Gibbs. He was born in Yorkshire, England, and mar- ried Mary Ward. They lived in Canada for a number of years and in 1835 came to Illinois and located in Scott county. Mr. Gibbs died on his farm in that county but his wife survived for many years, passing away at Winchester, Illinois, in 1872.
John C. Gibbs, the father of our subject, was the youngest in a family of four children. He was born in Toronto, Canada, January 28, 1835, and as he grew to manhoood learned the wagon-maker's trade, operating a shop at Milton, Pike county, Illinois. On August 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Ninety- ninth Illinois Volunteers, and went to the front, serving valiantly for three years for the cause of the Union. He participated in many important battles, among them being Hartsville, Vicksburg and Champion Hill. He was twice wounded one wound being in the neck, at the battle of Vicksburg but continued in the army until the close of his period of enlistment. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Scott county, Illinois, where he continued until 1869. He then moved to North Palmyra township, Macoupin county, and devoted his attention to farming. He was married in North Palmyra township, March 12, 1871, to Mary O'Neal, who was born in the same township, December 20, 1842, a daughter of Lewis L. and Elizabeth (Crum) O'Neal. Her father was a na- tive of Kentucky and her mother was born in Clark county, Indiana, January
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12, 1815. Mr. Gibbs gave his support to the republican party and was a mem- ber of the Christian church, but his wife held membership in the Presbyterian church.
James M. Gibbs attended the common schools of North Palmyra township and, desiring to be well prepared for active business life, became a student of the Jacksonville Business College. He proved remarkably diligent in his studies and was graduated from that institution at the age of seventeen. After leaving college he concentrated his attention upon farming and prosecuted his work with such ability that he became the owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land. He cultivates the fields and also feeds shorthorn cat- tle and Chester White hogs for the market. He is progressive in his methods and is one of the respected men of the township, who has fairly earned the good fortune which he possesses.
On the 26th of April, 1898, Mr. Gibbs was married at Carlinville, to Miss Clara L. McGee, a daughter of Samuel and Kate (Dolan) McGee. Her father, who is a blacksmith and machinist by trade, was born in Kentucky and during the Civil war enlisted at Louisville, that state. He is now living retired in Chi- cago but his wife, who was also a native of Kentucky, died in 1888. He is a member of the Christian church, to which she also belonged, and he gives his political support to the democratic party. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs have been born four children: John Galen, Ralph E., Earl C. and an infant born July 9, IQII.
In politics Mr. Gibbs supports the republican party, believing that in so doing he is best advancing the interests of the whole country. He had good advan- tages of training early in life and by making wise use of the opportunities pre- sented in one of the richest states of the Union has acquired a competency. The father of a young and growing family, he is actively interested in education and in the substantial development of the region in which he has spent his entire life. Judging by what he has accomplished, there are before him many years of increasing responsibility. His record is one of which his family and friends may justly be proud.
JAMES W. RENO.
James W. Reno, one of the representative farmers and highly esteemed citi- zens of Shipman township, has spent his entire life in that locality. He was born in that township on the 3d of January, 1850, and is a member of one of its pioneer families. His education was obtained in the public schools and when twenty-two years of age he and his brother Granville bought their father's farm, consisting of one hundred and ninety-four acres. They added to this from time to time as they were able until they had acquired four hundred and forty acres and engaged in cooperative farming until 1892, when they divided the property equally, each taking a portion of the old homestead in his share. Our subject is still engaged in general farming and makes a specialty of stock- raising, devoting considerable attention to the feeding of stock for the market
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and to the dairy business. He is also interested in the breeding of Duroc Jer- sey hogs, in which he has met with excellent success.
On the 18th of December, 1877, Mr. Reno was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Mitchell, a daughter of William Wilson and Matilda (Nix) Mitchell. Her father was a member of an old Kentucky family and from that state he came to Illinois, locating in Greene county, where he resided until 1862, when he removed to Macoupin county, settling on a farm near Medora, which con- tinued to be his home up to the time of his death. Four of his children reached years of maturity, namely: Robert, who is now a resident of Cowlitz county, Washington, where he is engaged in farming; Ephraim, who made his home in Kingman county, Kansas, but is now deceased; Mrs. Reno; and Newton, who is engaged in the lumber business in Cowlitz county, Washington.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reno were born seven children: Sankey, now a resi- dent of Piasa, who married Elizabeth Travers and has one child, Ralph R .; Fred, who died at the age of six years; Eulalie, now the wife of Charles W. Black, of Shipman township: Rose, the wife of Charles Bartow, a farmer liv- ing near Piasa; William S., who is unmarried and lives at home; Newton, who married Phoebe Whitaker, of Piasa; and Paul, who is also at home.
The family attend the Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Reno is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, while politically he is a supporter of the democratic party. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and has served as school director in his district for twelve years. Wherever known he is held in high regard and has a host of friends throughout his na- tive county.
HOWARD OTIS TALLEY.
A history of Macoupin county would hardly be complete without some ref- erence being made to the Talley family, who located here in the very early pioneer days and have been numbered among the representative citizens for four generations. Originally they were natives of France, having emigrated from there to England, whence three brothers came to America, settling in Delaware in 1680. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Talley, migrated from Delaware to Indiana in the early days and there engaged in farming. Later he came to Macoupin county, where he continued to follow agricultural pursuits, having always been identified with this occupation. His demise occurred at Piasa, Illi- nois, when he had reached a ripe old age. Unto him and his wife there were born seven sons and one daughter, the latter having died when very young. Their sons in the order of birth were as follows: John, William, Joseph, Adam, Wilbur, Henry and Harmon. The mother and the eldest son, John, were vic- tims of the cholera epidemic of 1854, both deaths occurring the same day. Joseph, Adam, Wilbur and Henry were all soldiers in the Civil war, the three eldest in the infantry, members of the same company, while Henry Talley was in the cavalry forces. Adam Talley was a native of Noblesville, Indiana, but in his early manhood located in Shipman, Illinois, where he followed his trade,
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which was that of decorating, until the breaking out of the war. He responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted as a private in Company F. Twenty-sev- enth Illinois -Volunteer Infantry, serving all through the war, participating in many of the most notable and closely contested battles. After receiving his dis- charge he returned to Shipman, where he continued to reside until 1874. He then removed with his family to Carlinville where he has made his home for thirty-six years. Mr. Talley married Miss Josephine Frank, a daughter of Abra- ham and Mary ( Witt) Frank. and a native of Carlinville : her father early set- tled in Carlinville, where for many years he conducted a hotel on West Main street. He was very popular, of a genial disposition and a great sportsman, spending much of his time in the forests which at that period abounded with game. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Frank numbered nine, namely: Francis, George. Josephine, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Isadore, Isabel and Effie. Their eldest daughter, Mrs. Adam Talley, passed away on the 25th of January, 1883, at the age of twenty-eight years ; she was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Adam Talley was born one son, Howard Otis. Talley, the subject of this sketch.
The first four years in the life of Howard Otis Talley were spent in Ship- man, Illinois, where his birth occurred on the 22d of September, 1870. His parents removed to Carlinville in 1874, and here he grew to manhood, being a pupil in the public schools. After laying aside his text-books he engaged in clerking here for several years and then went to St. Louis. There he obtained' a position in the express office and later pursued a business course in one of the commercial colleges. After the completion of this course he took a position as stenographer at Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where he remained for two years. Shortly after his marriage he again took up his residence in St. Louis and en- gaged in the hotel business. From there he migrated to Denver, where for three years he conducted a mining directory, returning to Carlinville in 1900. During the succeeding six years he worked as a decorator, then took over the Central Hotel and City Opera House with which he has ever since been suc- cessfully identified.
On the 29th of January, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Talley and Miss Florence Graham, a daughter of Dr. William D. and Mary A. (Rice) Graham. Mrs. Talley was born in Carlinville on the 13th of July. 1870, her parents also being natives of this town. Her preliminary education was ac- quired in the public schools after the completion of which she entered Black- burn University. Her father, Dr. Graham, was a son of Milo Graham, a native of Pennsylvania of Scotch extraction, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Carlinville. Mrs. Milo Graham, prior to her marriage was Hannah Dugger, a granddaughter of Pierre Dugger, who fought in the Revolution under General Lafayette and was killed in a duel in Virginia. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Milo Graham there were born but three children who attained maturity: Susan, who married George Hunter; Mary, the wife of Samuel Berry, who afterwards married Simon Peters; and William D. Mrs. Graham passed away while yet quite young but he was sixty-eight years of age at the time of his demise. Mrs. Talley's maternal grandparents were Hiram Jackson and Sarah ( Andrews) Rice. He was a native of Kentucky of Scotch descent, while she was born in Ma-
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coupin county, her people, however, were natives of Virginia. Four children were born to them: Mary Agnes, Florence Missouri, Frank Alonzo and Clar- ence Robert. Dr. Graham was engaged in the practice of medicine in connec- tion with which he conducted a drug store in Carlinville for about forty-two years. Although very young at the time of the Civil war he enlisted and went to the front, where he remained for a brief period. He was a very intellectual man, public-spirited and progressive, having high. ideals of the duties and re- sponsibilities of citizenship. He was always more or less prominently identified with municipal affairs, having served for sixteen years as alderman and one term as mayor. All educational matters found in him a strong cooperator and he gave most efficient service as a member of the board of education. His demise occurred in this city in 1906 at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife still survives and continues to make her home in Carlinville. Three children were born unto them, one daughter, now Mrs. Talley who is the eldest, and two sons, Frank and William Rice. Mr. and Mrs. Talley are the parents of one daugh- ter, Mary Josephine. This young lady upon attaining her maturity will be en- titled to membership in the Daughters of The American Revolution on both the paternal and maternal lines of ancestors. The Talleys were one of the prominent colonial families of Delaware, having furnished the country with sev- eral eminent jurists and soldiers, while Mrs. Talleys people were equally promi- nent in the colonial history of Virginia and Kentucky.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Talley are members of the Episcopal church, while fra- ternally he belongs to Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. of P. In matters politic Mr. Talley always votes the straight republican ticket at national and state elections, but for county and city offices casts an independent ballot, giving his support to those candidates he deems most likely to subserve the interests of the majority.
NEWTON H. WALKINGTON.
Newton H. Walkington, who is engaged in the cultivation of one hundred and thirty-six acres of land on section 2, North Otter township, was born in Macoupin county on the 22d of January, 1862. He is the seventh child in the family of William and Ellis (Leak) Walkington, natives of England. They were married in the mother country, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1851, and two years afterward they located in Macoupin county, Illinois. Here, the father always devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, in which he met with a most gratifying degree of success, his holdings aggregating at the time of his death five hundred and thirty-six acres. This land was all well im- proved and under a high state of cultivation, being among the most valuable property of the township. To Mr. and Mrs. William Walkington eleven chil- dren were born: Fannie, who was born in England and is now the wife of Will- iam Clack, of Edgar, Nebraska; the next three, deceased; David, a resident of Greene county, Illinois; William, also deceased; Newton H., our subject ; Clara, the wife of Robert S. Alderson, of Virden : Edward, who is living in Macoupin county ; Charles, also a resident of Macoupin county ; and Nathan, who is living
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in Virden. The mother passed away on the 22d of March, 1872, and the follow- ing year the father was married to Mrs. Clara (Brady) Beason, who bore him three children: Albert, who is living in Modesto; Elsworth, who is a resident of Macoupin county ; and Nellie, the wife of John Hamner, also of Macoupin county. The father died on the 9th of February, 191I.
The boyhood and youth of Newton H. Walkington were spent on the farm where he was born, his educational advantages being limited to the district schools. While engaged in the mastery of the common branches he was famil- iarizing himself with the best methods of cultivating the fields and caring for the stock under the capable supervision of his father, who was a successful, practi- cal farmer. At the age of twenty-three years he rented eighty acres of land, that he cultivated for four years. At the expiration of that period he located upon eighty acres in the central part of North Otter township, which he cultivated until 1893, when he removed to the place where he is now living. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, both of which are proving to be very remunerative.
For his wife and helpmate Mr. Walkington chose Miss May E. Hamner, a daughter of J. H. and Nancy Hamner, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Walkington five children have been born: Her- schel, who was born on the 29th of September, 1885, and is now a resident of Sangamon county ; Nora E., whose birth occurred on the 23d of April, 1887, and who is now the wife of Roy Andrews, also of Sangamon county; Minnie Ora, who was born on the 3d of February, 1890, and is living at home ; Nellie Opal, who was born on the 13th of January, 1893, and is also at home ; and Paul Ernest, born on the 23d of January, 1897.
The Methodist Episcopal church claims the membership of the parents, in the faith of which denomination they have reared their family while fraternally Mr. Walkington belongs to the Court of Honor and the Anti-Horse Thief Asso- ciation. His political support is given to the democratic party, and he has served as township collector for one term, while for fifteen years he has been a school director. His entire life has been spent in North Otter township where he is widely known and has many friends, the majority of whom were comrades of his boyhood days.
JOHN JASPER COX.
John Jasper Cox, whose home in Virden stands upon a lot he purchased October 1, 1856, and who is one of two persons now living who settled in Vir- den in 1853, may truly be regarded as a pioneer. He served his country faith- fully when it needed defenders during the great Rebellion and in times of peace he has ably and conscientiously performed his duty as a public-spirited citizen. He was born in Jersey county, Illinois, January 20, 1835, a son of Henry and Levisa (Utt) Cox. The father was born near Louisville, Kentucky, and the mother in Scioto county, Ohio. The father came to Jersey county, Illinois, in 1833 and four years later moved to Calhoun county where he engaged in farm-
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN J. COX
JOHN J. COX
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
ing, becoming the owner of two hundred acres of land near Hardin. In his family were eight children, namely: William Utt, who died in California, April 27, 1904 ; Mary Ann, who became the wife of Myron Bacon, of Calhoun county, and is now deceased; Margaret, deceased, who married Isaac Fobal, of Cal- houn county, and afterwards wedded Wilson Virden, of Virden; Canna Sada, now Mrs. John C. Read, of Jerseyville; Rebecca, the widow of Antone Fesen- meyer, of Jerseyville; John J., of this review; Robert, deceased; and George W., a resident of Denver, Colorado. The mother of these children died in 184I and two years later Mr. Cox was again married. By this union there was one son, Frank, who is now living at Batchtown, Calhoun county. The father died in 1844, about a year after his second marriage.
After the death of his parents John J. Cox became a member of the family of his uncle Jacob, with whom he continued until nineteen years of age. He possessed advantages of attendance at the common schools and as he grew to manhood became thoroughly acquainted with farm work. In the spring of 1853, soon after the construction of the Chicago & Alton Railway through Vir- den, he arrived in this place and began learning the blacksmith's trade, to which he was destined to devote the principal years of his life. When the Civil war overshadowed the land his patriotism was aroused and on February 1, 1862, he enlisted as a mechanic in Company F, First Illinois Light Artillery. The regiment was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps and in July following was transferred to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, under General John A. Logan. Private Cox participated in twenty-two im- portant battles of the war, among which may be named the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Memphis, Coldwater, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was also present at the siege of Vicksburg and took part in a number of the great campaigns which finally led to the overthrow of the Confederacy. During the Atlanta campaign he was employed as an ambulance driver. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, March 8, 1865, and returned to Virden where he resumed employment as a blacksmith under the same man with whom he was working when he enlisted in the army. On September I, 1865, he opened a shop on his own account, which he successfully conducted for thirty years. Since 1895 he has lived retired. He owns three brick store buildings and a beautiful home in Virden, and erected a number of buildings which he disposed of, thus adding to the growth and prosperity of the community.
On the 8th of October, 1867, Mr. Cox was married to Miss Mary A. Emer- son, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hill) Emerson. She was born in Hull, England, and was three years old when brought to this country by her parents in 1850. Seven years later Mr. Emerson located in Virden, Macoupin county, and engaged in the wagon-making business, with which he was identified for many years. He died March 27, 1904, and his wife was called away Sep- tember 1, 1896. They were the parents of two children, John, who is living in Virden township; and Mary A., now Mrs. John J. Cox.
In politics Mr. Cox is an earnest advocate of the republican party and while he has never sought office he has served as a member of the city council. He is identified with John Baird Post, No. 285, G. A. R., of which he was a charter member. In religious faith he is a Baptist, while his wife is a member of the Vol. II-23
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Methodist church. During many years of his active life he applied himself with great energy and he now enjoys the comforts of his wisely directed efforts. He ranks among the most respected citizens of Virden.
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