USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 47
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
kinds abounded on the prairies and wolves were often heard howling at night. About 1847 he disposed of his place and bought three hundred and forty acres upon which he established his home. After his children were grown and scat- tered in different parts of the country he sold his farm and went to Cherokee county, Kansas, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres. He died on his Kansas farm February II, 1883, his wife having passed away in March, 1880. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Alderson, namely : James, deceased ; W. C., who makes his home at Virden; J. D., of this review; Samuel, who died: in infancy ; Reuben, also deceased; Warner, who lives at Carl Junction, Missouri ; Sarah, the widow of Benjamin Higler, of Macoupin county ; Mary, deceased ; Nancy J., the wife of F. J. Coonrod, of Idaho; Robert, of Macoupin county ; Arthur, who went to Oklahoma and is now deceased; Martha, who became the wife of John Simms, of Morgan county, and is now deceased; and Lydia, who married F. A. Jackson, of Cherokee, Kansas.
Advantages of education were secured under greater difficulties in the rural districts of Illinois previous to the Civil war than under the present favorable con- ditions. As a boy J. D. Alderson was obliged to walk four miles to the district school and the schoolmaster ruled with the rod and not by moral suasion. The growing lad assisted his father on the home farm until eighteen years of age. He was then married and during the first winter after that happy event he hauled rails with two yoke of oxen and he and his father fenced forty acres of land. In the following spring he rented land on his own account and raised a crop, his wife assisting by dropping corn which he covered with a plow. He sold his crop in the field and then purchased forty acres of land at twenty dollars per acre. He disposed of this land at twenty-five dollars per acre and invested his money in one hundred acres at twenty dollars an acre. A year later he sold his property at an advance of five dollars per acre and bought one hundred acres. After los- ing two crops he traded his land for forty acres which he owned for eight years. acquiring additional property until his land holdings amounted to one hundred and thirty acres. He sold out and bought two hundred and forty acres on the edge of Sangamon county, later acquiring eighty acres in Macoupin county upon which he lived for twelve years. He gave two of his sons eighty acres apiece and disposed of the balance, after which he bought two hundred and forty acres in Macoupin county, which he owned for twenty years. In October, 1890, he moved to Virden where he has since made his home. He bought thirty acres in the eastern part of town, upon which one of his sons resides. The father is now living in a beautiful home which occupies three city lots and is in the enjoyment of comfort and ease as the result of many years of well directed effort.
On the 5th of October, 1854, Mr. Alderson was married to Miss Sarah Nevins, a daughter of A. S. and Margaret (Steel) Nevins. To this union nine children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: William A., a resident of Virden; Charles A., who makes his home in Macoupin county ; Robert, also of Virden ; Ida B., deceased; Amy A., the widow of Horace Camp- bell, of Virden; Laura, who is the widow of John Armstrong, of Jacksonville, Illinois ; Arthur, a physician of Thayer, Illinois ; and Louis, deceased. The mother of these children died in 1881 and Mr. Alderson was married March 29, 1882, to Miss Mary Clarke. Three children were born to this union : Roy Rus-
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sell, who is now living at Eureka Springs, Arkansas; O. C., of Lafayette, Colo- rado ; and Mattie L., at home.
Politically Mr. Alderson has for many years been a supporter of the demo- cratic party but never through any desire for office as his principal interest has centered in his business and his family. He has been identified with this section of the state during all his active life and has always responded promptly to every movement which aimed to advance the general welfare of the county. He is connected with the Christian church, is one of the oldest members at Virden and was selected, with his grandson, John Campbell, ten years of age, the youngest member of the church, to turn the first sod for the foundation of the new church building in Virden, which is being erected at a cost of about twenty thousand dol- lars. The ceremony took place on Sunday, June 18, 1911, at seven P. M., before a large gathering of people. The exercises were held out of doors, the ministers of the various denominations assisting in the services, and proved highly interesting and impressive.
THOMAS B. RICHARDSON.
Thomas B. Richardson, a retired farmer, residing at 431 East First South street, Carlinville, is a representative of one of Macoupin county's pioneer fam- ilies, who for more than seventy years were prominently identified with the agricultural development of Chesterfield township. The eldest child to John and Martha (Ronksley) Richardson, his birth occurred on the parental homestead in Chesterfield township on the 23d of April, 1844. His parents were both na- tives of England, the father having been the second of the three sons born to Robert and Harriet (Moody) Richardson. Robert Richardson died during the early childhood of his boys and his widow later married John Birkby. Subse- quently John Richardson and his brothers Thomas and Robert emigrated to the United States with their mother and step-father, who settled on a farm in Mor- gan county, Illinois. There he grew to manhood, completing his education in the district schools of the vicinity while mastering the principles of agriculture. He began to work for himself about 1832 or 1833 when he removed to Chester- field township and farmed as a renter for two or three years. His activities proved to be so lucrative that at the expiration of that period he was able to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of land. Unremitting energy, thrift and capable management made it possible for John Richardson to extend his holdings until they aggregated three hundred and eighteen acres. He had cleared and placed under cultivation all of this land, which at the time of his death was classed among the valuable property of the township. Mrs. Richardson died in 1881, at the age of fifty-six years, and after her death the father removed to Medora, where his demise occurred in 1907, after he had passed the eighty- fourth milestone on life's journey. The mother was a daughter of Thomas Ronksley of England, who early emigrated to the United States with his family. He located near Jacksonville, Morgan county, this state, where for some years he operated a blacksmith shop. Later he removed to Chesterfield township,
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Macoupin county, continuing to follow his trade until age compelled his retire- ment. He was thrice married. His first wife died in Chesterfield township, and to them were born two daughters: Martha, the mother of our subject; and Elizabeth, who remained in England. His second wife was Miss Ellen Thorn- ton, while for his third companion he chose a widow, Mrs. Teague.
Mr. and Mrs. John Richardson were the parents of eight children, six of whom attained maturity: Thomas B., our subject; John, who is a resident of Medora, Illinois ; Mary Ann, the deceased wife of Henry Doughty ; Genevra, also deceased, who became the wife of James Searles; Priscilla, the late wife of F. A. Sannebeck; William, of Chesterfield township; Harriet, who died. at the age of two years; and Elizabeth whose demise occurred when she was three years old. Being conformists, the parents always affiliated with the Episcopal church. Mr. Richardson was ever interested in promoting the welfare of the community where he resided, but never chose to play a prominent part in political life, his official service being confined to the position of school director.
It was on his father's farm in Chesterfield township that Thomas B. Rich- ardson learned how to till the fields and care for the stock. His early years did not differ save in details from those of other lads of the community, his educa- tion being pursued in the district schools, where he continued to study until he had mastered the common branches. He remained at home with his people until attaining his majority, when true to the highest principles of patriotism he re- sponded to the call of the nation's chief and in February, 1865, went to the front in Company I, One hundred and Fifty-Second Illinois Infantry. He served until the close of the war, being mustered out in April. After the close of hostilities he returned home and in the ensuing autumn began preparations for establishing a home of his own. He cleared forty acres of land that had belonged to his father from whom he also rented some cleared land, all of which he placed under cultiva- tion. He continued to reside there until 1889, then removed to a place containing sixty acres that he bought, located just south of Chesterfield. The cultivation of this property engaged his energies until November Ist, 1907, when he dis- posed of it and removed to Excelsior Springs, Missouri. After having lived there for six months he returned to Macoupin county, purchasing a nice residence .
that had just been completed in Carlinville, where he has ever since resided.
On the 17th of December, 1865, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Martha Dowland, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Edwards) Dowland. To them were born four children: Levi, Joseph, who is a farmer in Chesterfield township, married Alice Gracy, now deceased, for his first wife, his second union being with Mary Maska, who has borne him two children, Albert and Esther. John Thomas, who is a deputy United States revenue collector in St. Louis, Missouri, married Christa Bauer, and they have three children: Anita, Russell and Cecil, the last two twins. Martha Genevra, the only daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, died soon after passing the second anniversary of her birth. Horace James, an osteopathic physician in Colorado Springs, married Nina Maloney and they have one son, Horace Edward. On the Ist of March, 1882, Mr. Rich- ardson was married the second time to Miss Martha Moody, who was born in Chariton county, Missouri, on the 5th of October, 1859. Mrs. Richardson is a daughter of James and Frances (Davis) Moody, natives of Somersetshire,
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
England, who early located near Chapin, Morgan county, Illinois. There the father died on the 3d of July, 1887, having passed the age of fifty-six years. The mother survived until 1902, her demise occurring at Jacksonville, Illinois, when she was more than seventy-two. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moody : Mrs. Richardson, William Richard, Clara Jane and Frances. Mrs. Rich- ardson's paternal grandparents were Austin and Jane (Perrett) Moody, while her mother was a daughter of William and Ann (Moody) Davis. The union of Mr. Richardson and his present wife has been blessed by the birth of two daugh- ters, Myrtle and Olive.
The Christian denomination claims the church affiliation of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, while his only fraternal connection is with the Masonic order, his local membership being in Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M. Politi- cally he gives his earnest support to the prohibition party, thus publicly voicing his sentiments on the liquor question. He is a man of high standards regarding the responsibility of citizenship and has ever striven to live up to his ideals, his honorable life and upright principles having won for him the respect of his community.
WESLEY A. PARKE.
Wesley A. Parke, who comes of good Revolutionary and pioneer stock and has for a number of years past been engaged in business at Staunton, is a native of Unionville, New Jersey. He was born December 6, 1847, a son of Abram B. and Sarah Ann (Hoffman) Parke, the former of whom was born in Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, December 24, 1819. The grandfather of our sub- ject was John Parke, a native of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and a son of Ozias Parke, of Maryland, who moved to Hunterdon county and died there at the advanced age of ninety-five years. His father was a soldier in the patriot army at the time of the Revolutionary war. Ozias Parke was a member of the state militia of New Jersey and assisted against the British in the war of 1812. John Parke was married in New Jersey in 1818 to Charlotte Bryan. They emigrated to Ohio and spent eight years in Logan and Auglaize counties, then going to Madi- son county, Illinois. Mr. Parke remained two years in this state and then re- turned to Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy-five. His wife continued her residence in Madison county where she spent the remainder of her days. .
Abram B. Parke, father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native state and was married in Morris county, New Jersey, to Sarah Ann Hoffman, who was born in that county, October 31, 1816. She was of German descent, being a daughter of Nicholas and Anne (Youngs) Hoffman, who spent a large part of their lives upon a farm in New Jersey, both passing away at the age of seventy- five years. William Youngs, one of the great-grandfathers of our subject, was also a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Abram B. Parke came with his family to Illinois and located on a farm in the vicinity of Worden, Madison county. He devoted his attention largely to farming and also served as postmaster of Moulton- ville for eleven or twelve years. In 1875 he removed to Macoupin county, estab-
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lishing his home upon sections 21 and 28 of Staunton township. There he lived until 1901 when he moved to Staunton. He died three years later and was buried in Spangle cemetery, near his old home in Madison county. His wife died in 1910 and is buried beside her husband. In their family were ten children, all of whom are deceased except the subject of this review and Charlotte A., who was born June 30, 1842. The others were: Mary J., born July 26, 1843; John, born February 19, 1845; Alfred, born May 23, 1846; Eveline M. C., born November 19, 1849; Elias T., born September 29, 1851; Albert, born November 21, 1853; Louise, born September 27, 1856; and George, born September 14, 1858.
Wesley A. Parke, the fifth in order of birth in his father's family, was brought to Illinois early in life and received his preliminary education in the schools of Madison county. He continued at home until eighteen years of age and then began working for the farmers of the neighborhood. In 1874 he returned home and in 1875 came with his parents and other members of the family to Macoupin county. In 1880 he began farming on his own account in Staunton township, con- tinuing until 1901, when he purchased fifty acres in section 19. He platted twen- ty acres of his farm and founded the village of Parksville and has disposed of all the lots in the village except fifteen. The remaining thirty acres of his place is devoted to truck farming. He is also the owner of a feed store.
In 1882 Mr. Parke was married to Miss Amanda E. Coalson, a native of Staunton, and they have three children. Grace Blanch, the eldest, is a graduate of the Staunton high school and the commercial college at Litchfield. She is now a stenographer and resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Myrtle Beatrice was grad- uated at the Staunton high school and Eureka College at Eureka, Illinois. She entered the ministry of the Christian church and for three years past has had charge of the congregation at Carlock, Illinois. Clarence Winifred is living at home.
Mr. Parke originally gave his support to the republican party but later changed his allegiance and voted the democratic ticket. His study of political and social questions led him to adopt the cause of prohibition of which he is now an earnest advocate. His wife and children are consistent members of the Christian church. He takes a vital interest in the development of the region with which he is iden- tified and in his various relations with his fellow men has won their entire confi- dence and respect. Through life he has felt the stimulus of a worthy ambition and the position he holds in the community is evidence that his example of sincerity and rectitude has not been in vain, for nothing so appeals to the hearts of young and old as the simple lesson of an upright character.
LEONARD ERASTUS ROSS.
Leonard Erastus Ross, for the past eleven years identified with the mercan- tile interests of Carlinville as a member of the firm of Fanning & Ross, clothing dealers, is a native of Macoupin county. He was born on the IIth of September, 1870, and is a son of Erastus H. and Elizabeth L. (Pockington) Ross, the father a native of Morgan county, Illinois, and the mother of this county. . When a
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child Erastus H. Ross came to Macoupin county with his parents, who first lo- cated on a farm but later removed to Carlinville. There the paternal grandfather, Thomas Ross, served one term as sheriff and there he died at the age of 49 of cholera. Later the family removed to a farm in South Palmyra township. His wife survived him for some years, her demise occurring at the age of seventy. They were both natives of Tennessee. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ross numbered the following children, namely: Jane, Woodford, Will, Erastus, Charlotte, John, Sallie, Mary and Joseph, all of whom were reared on the home- stead in South Palmyra township.
When ready to begin life for himself Erastus H. Ross naturally decided to follow agricultural pursuits, for which he had become ably qualified under the capable supervision of his father. After engaging in farming for several years he removed to Carlinville to assume the management of the Carlinville Coopera- tive Association, a position he retained for twenty-seven years. Here he passed away in 1901, at the age of sixty-seven years, being survived by his wife, who is a daughter of James and Mary Pockington, natives of England. They emi- grated to the United States from the mother country during the pioneer days of Illinois, locating in South Palmyra township, this county, where Mr. Pockington engaged in agricultural pursuits. Both lived to attain a ripe old age. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. Ross and Wesley. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Erastus H. Ross there were born three daughters and two sons: Mar- tha A., the wife of Rev. C. F. Wilson, now of Oneida, Illinois; Mary A., who married R. S. Hemphill, of Carlinville; Amelia Florence, the wife of G. F. Fan- ning, also of Carlinville; Thomas P., a resident of the same place; and Leonard E., our subject. The father was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which the mother continues to be affiliated, striving to exemplify its princi- ples in her daily life.
Although born in the country, Leonard Erastus Ross has been a resident of Carlinville from the age of two years. He attended the public schools until after he was graduated from the high school, when he pursued an advanced course at Blackburn University. Following this he taught in the district schools for two years, and was later graduated from Brown's Business College at Jacksonville. Illinois. He then began his practical business training as a clerk in the Coopera- tive Store, under the supervision of his father. He remained there for several years, acquiring a good comprehensive knowledge of commercial methods and mercantile principles. In 1900 he became associated with his brother-in-law, G. F. Fanning, in the establishment of a clothing store, which they have since conducted under the firm name of Fanning & Ross, and theirs is one of the rep- resentative mercantile concerns of the city.
On the 6th of June, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ross and Miss Rosa Solomon, a daughter of Francis M. and Margaret (Lowery) Solomon. She was born on the parental homestead in North Palmyra township, where she grew to womanhood, attending the Palmyra high school. The course therein pursued was later supplemented by further study at Blackburn University. Mrs. Ross belongs to one of the old families of the county, her paternal grandfather, Lewis Solomon, having many years ago been judge of the court of Macoupin county. Francis M. Solomon passed away in 1910, at the age of seventy-two years. He
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had a number of brothers and sisters, among those surviving are John and La- Fayette Solomon ; Mrs. D. Smith, of Palmyra ; and Mrs. Lou Mills, of Modesto; Allen D .; and Mrs. Gatchell. Mrs. Ross is also quite widely connected in this county through the maternal grandparents, who had a large family. Her mother is still living and now makes her home in the village of Palmyra. There are only two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Francis M. Solomon, Judson and Mrs. Ross. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have one son, Wendell Erastus.
They are both active and earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Ross is the treasurer, while fraternally he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias. His political prerogatives he exercises in support of the principles of the democratic party, for whose candidates he always casts his ballot. He is one of Macoupin county's capable business men and a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.
GEORGE C. WALTON.
George C. Walton, now deceased, who for many years was well known as a farmer of Macoupin county, was born in Honey Point township, March 12, 1855. He was a son of George Walton, who was born in Staffordshire, England, and on the 4th of January, 1829, married Anna Lippitt at Birmingham, England, both of them being of good English stock. They emigrated to America in 1831 and for two years Mr. Walton engaged in the gold refining business at New York city. Believing that more favorable conditions existed in the west, he came to Illinois with his wife in 1833 and took up eighty acres of government land in Honey Point township, Macoupin county, east of Carlinville. Later he purchased three hundred acres in Shaws Point township and in 1872 acquired eighty-four acres on section I, Brushy Mound township, where he established his homestead. He died May 1, 1884, and is buried on the old home farm. He was for more than fifty years a resident of Macoupin county and gained acknowledged stand- ing as one of its most respected citizens. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Walton were seven children: Harriett, who married Thomas Morgan, a farmer of this county, both of whom are deceased; Jane, who married Peter Rose, who also engaged in farming in Macoupin county, both having passed away; Sarah, of Carlinville, the widow of Samuel Huddleston, a farmer of Brushy Mound town- ship; William, who is deceased; Emmer, the wife of Dennis Murphy, who is engaged in farming near Nilwood; Cecelia, who married James Rose, a farmer of Palmyra, both of whom died seventeen years ago within a week of each other ; and George C., of this review.
After completing his preliminary education in the district schools, George C. Walton attended Blackburn University at Carlinville and then gave his atten- tion to the home place, remaining with his parents until after his marriage. He was then presented by his father with the farm of eighty-four acres on section I, Honey Point township, and took up his home there, showing an energy and efficiency in his business that produced substantial annual returns. He was a general farmer and, as he had been thoroughly trained in the most acceptable
O
GEORGE C. WALTON
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methods of agriculture and stock-raising and took a lively interest in his work, he gained a place as one of the most progressive men in the township.
On November 4, 1878, Mr. Walton married Miss Mary Emma Lawrence, only daughter of James P. and Elizabeth (Kell) Lawrence, and by this union eight children were born. James Herbert married Cecelia Slutts, of Belleville, Kansas. They have two children: Leland, who was born October 24, 1907; and Mary, born October 9, 1909. Elizabeth May is the wife of Fred C. Bangert, a farmer of Carlinville township. They have one child, George Philip, who was born April 8, 1908. Luella is now living with her mother. Mary is the wife of David Oller, a clerk in a mercantile establishment of Litchfield. They have one child, David Francis, who was born June 9, 1909. Viana and Carrie both died in infancy. George W. has arrived at the age of twenty years and is living at home. Mckinley is seventeen years old and is also living at home. He was named after President William McKinley, of whom the father was a great admirer.
Mr. Walton died at the home place September 28, 1901, being then in the forty-seventh year of his age and in the height of his usefulness. His demise occasioned general regret in a wide region with which he had been familiar from his boyhood. Politically he gave his support to the republican party. He took an active part in public affairs and served as highway commissioner two terms, township supervisor two terms and for thirteen years as member of the board of directors of district No. 72, Brushy Mound township. He was a sincere believer in the Bible and an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Shaws Point township. . Fraternally he was identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor of Womac. After the death of her husband Mrs. Walton moved to Carlinville with her children, but five months later re- turned to the farm, where she has since lived. On December 3, 1904, she was married to John Kelly, a son of a veteran of the Civil war, who was born in Ireland. Mr. Kelly has charge of the home farm, which he is cultivating to ex- cellent advantage. Mrs. Kelly and her daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Shaws point township except Mary, who belongs to the Christian church at Litchfield. The mother is also connected with the Mutual Protective League of Womac and can claim a host of friends in a region where she has been favorably known for many years.
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