USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume II > Part 5
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James F. Davis, the father of Dr. Davis, was brought to this county by his parents when about six weeks old and here continued to reside until the time of his death. He became an agriculturist in Shaws Point township, owning and improving a tract of four hundred acres of land. His demise occurred on the home farm on the 8th of June, 1896, when he had attained the age of sixty-two years. He held various township offices and was a devoted and consistent mem-
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ber of the Christian church, to which his widow also belongs. The latter now makes her home with our subject. She has one other son, Jonathan S., who follows farming near Atwater.
James Henry Davis was reared on his father's farm in Shaws Point town- ship and obtained his early education in the district schools. When a youth of fourteen he entered Eureka College and subsequently began the study of medi- cine and surgery in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, remaining in that institution for two years. During the following two years he attended the Northwestern University Medical School at Chicago and was graduated from that institution in 1897. Subsequently he took a course of hospital work in the Chicago Lying-in Hospital and the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company Hospital at Pueblo and then located for practice at Trinidad, Colorado. Going to London, England, he spent three months in the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and later devoted sixteen months to work in a general hospital at Vienna, Austria. In 1905 he returned to the United States and opened an office at Carlinville, Illinois, which town has since remained the scene of his profes- sional labors. He keeps in touch with the advancement that is being constantly made by the profession through his membership in the Macoupin County Medi- cal Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Associa- tion.
On the 30th of September, 1908, Dr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Olive Gertrude Wilson, a native of Honey Point township, Macoupin county, and a daughter of John and Emma (Barnett) Wilson. They now have one son, James Wilson Davis. Dr. Davis gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Phi Rho Sigma, a college fraternity of Chicago. Both Dr. and Mrs. Davis enjoy an extensive and favorable acquaint- ance within the borders of their native county.
REV. JOHN W. RICE.
Rev. John W. Rice, who is now living retired in his eighty-first year at Medora and is widely known on account of his life of unselfish devotion to the welfare of others, comes of an old Virginia family. He was born near Culpeper Courthouse in Fauquier county, Virginia, October 21, 1831, and is a son of Thomas Brown and Mahala (Farrar) Rice, the former of whom was born in Fauquier county in 1806 and the latter in the western part of Virginia in 1807. The grandfather on the paternal side was James W. Rice, also a native of Vir- ginia. He was a Revolutionary patriot and served under General Washington. Thomas Brown Rice was reared upon his father's farm and a number of years after his marriage removed to Illinois with his wife and four children, arriving at Rhoads Point, now Medora, June 20, 1835. He entered government land which he cleared and proceeded to cultivate. He was quite successful as a
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farmer and at one time was the owner of about one thousand acres of good land in this county. He erected a mill at Medora which did not prove successful and was finally dismantled. He continued upon his farm until his death which oc- curred about 1891. Mr. Rice was a prominent man in the early days of Macoupin county and previous to the war served for eight years as associate judge. In his family were ten children: Susan, now the widow of John Cleaver, of Portland, Oregon; John W .; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Amri Vance, of Modesto, Illi- nois ; Amanda, who married John A. Payne, of Medora; Virginia, who is the wife of Harry M. Westbrook, of New Jersey ; Emma A., the widow of Van Hor- beck, of Medora; Washington, who made his home at Medora and is now de- ceased ; Thomas, who settled at Clinton, Missouri, and is also deceased ; Stephen F., who is a minister of the Baptist church and resides at Medora; and Charles A., who makes his home in Jersey county.
John W. Rice was brought to Illinois by his parents early in his childhood and has spent his entire life in this state. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and assisted upon the home farm until 1858, when he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Honey Point township, which he industriously cultivated for seven years. In 1865 he disposed of his place and became connected with a mill which his father had built at Medora, continuing there until 1874. He then went to Lamar, Barton county, Missouri, where he operated a mill for several years. About 1880 he returned to Macoupin county and operated a sawmill and thresher at Macoupin. As early as 1866 he began ministerial work and continued actively as opportunity presented along the same line while pursuing his various business enterprises. On March 9, 1884, he was regularly ordained to the ministry at Mount Pleasant Baptist church of Medora and from that time gave his entire attention to the duties pertaining to the minis- try, showing a zeal and efficiency that produced highly gratifying results. He retired from active labors in 1908, although he has since officiated on special occa- sions and is one of the most respected and beloved men in public circles of Macoupin county.
In 1852 Mr. Rice was married to Elizabeth Jane Rhoads, who was born in Kentucky and came with her parents to Rhoads Point, Illinois, about 1835. To this union nine children were born, eight of whom died in infancy, the only one living being Mary V., the wife of John A. Flat, an engineer of Toluca, Illinois. They have two children : Myrtle A., who married Charles Carver, a carpenter, of Petersburg, Illinois ; and Maggie Virginia, who is living at home. Mrs. Elizabeth Rice died in 1874 and in 1898 Mr. Rice was married to Margaret (Dixon) Gil- werth, widow of Louis Gilworth. She died in 1901 and in the year following Mr. Rice was married to Mrs. Frances (Parker) Simpson, widow of William Simpson. Her parents were pioneers of Macoupin county, arriving from Ken- tucky in 1835.
Mr. Rice is the oldest living member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 152, A. F. & A. M. He was made a Mason in 1856 and has, therefore, been identified with the order for fifty-five years, a record which few have attained. He is also an Odd Fellow and is greatly revered by his brethren of both of those beneficent orders. His study of political and social problems led him years ago to regard prohibition as the great issue of the country, and he is an ardent advocate of its
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principles as a remedy for many of the gravest ills of humanity. A man of pleasing and straightforward address, he has been instrumental by his influence and example in leading many to lives of righteousness. He is justly regarded as one of the most interesting pioneers of Medora, the house in which he lived as a child in this place, which was built by his father in 1835, being one of the land- marks of the city. It is still occupied as a dwelling. Notwithstanding his ad- vanced age, Mr. Rice is blessed with a good memory and an unusual degree of physical strength for one of his years, and it is the earnest wish of his friends that he may be spared for many years in the enjoyment of peace and happiness that fittingly crown a well-spent life.
MARSHALL M. JENKINS.
Marshall M. Jenkins, a native son of Macoupin county and one of its highly esteemed citizens, was born on the old home place, April 12, 1870, and as a result of his industry and application is able in the prime of his life to give a good account of his stewardship. His parents are George W. and Letitia (Swift) Jenkins, the former of whom is a native of Kentucky and the latter of Macoupin county. The father for many years devoted his attention actively to agricul- ture and stock-raising, and he and his wife are now living in a very comfortable home in South Otter township. In their family were five children: Isabel, who married David O. Crawford, of Macoupin county, and is now deceased ; Luella, who is the wife of John Edwards, a farmer of this county; Marshall M., of this review; Janet, who married John C. Hart, also of Macoupin county ; and Fred Arlie, a resident of this county.
After receiving his preliminary education in the district schools Marshall M. Jenkins continued with his parents upon the old homestead, assisting his father in the various operations of the farm. At twenty-two years of age he began business upon his own account by renting seventy acres of land, which he cul- tivated successfully for nine years. He then purchased eighty acres on section 34, North Otter township, and subsequently acquired one hundred acres in North and South Otter townships. He is now the owner of one of the highly productive farms of this section and makes a specialty of raising fine sheep and Poland China hogs. He has been a thorough student of his business and as he possessed advantages of excellent training in his earlier years, he has secured substantial returns from his labors. A man of good business capacity, he has kept pace with the progress which is visible in all lines of industry, and his farm is provided with the best modern equipment. The keynote to his prosperity is careful attention to details and a lively interest in his calling-elements that seldom fail of success in any honorable undertaking.
On the 4th of May, 1892, Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Eliza A. Dorks, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Slow) Dorks. The union has been blessed by the birth of one child, Mildred Lucile, whose natal day was October 23, 1899. She is now attending the public schools. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Dorks were seven children, namely: James, a resident of Greene county, Illinois ; Eliz-
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
abeth, who married Ross Nettles, of Maxwell, Illinois; Mary Jane, who is the wife of Charles Trill, of Rockbridge, Illinois; George, who makes his home in Carlinville; Eliza, now Mrs. Marshall M. Jenkins; Florence, the wife of D. W. Pitchford, of Modesto, Illinois; and Charles E., of Palmyra.
In politics Mr. Jenkins supports the principles and candidates of the dem- ocratic party, believing that in so doing he is best advancing the permanent wel- fare of the country. He is an earnest believer in the Christian religion and his faith is indicated by membership in the Baptist church, of which he is a liberal supporter. He has never sought the honors of office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his farm, and judging by the result, he has chosen the wiser course, as he possesses an independence which an office-holder can scarcely hope to attain. As a prosperous farmer and a public-spirited citizen he occupies an enviable place in the community and can confidently look forward to many years of increasing usefulness and responsibility.
RICHARD WELCH.
Few residents of Macoupin county have attained a greater measure of success than Richard Welch, who during his active connection with business interests in this county was identified with various enterprises, all of which felt the stimulus of his keen business sagacity. He is one of England's contributions to the citi- zenship of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Dorchestershire, England, on the 5th of March, 1834. His parents were Joseph and Precilla (Reader) Welch, also natives of that portion of England, where the mother's death occurred. The father, however, crossed the Atlantic to America a few years prior to his demise. In their family were six children, namely: John and Mary, both deceased; Rich- ard, of this review; William, residing at Primghar, Iowa; Hannah, who has also passed away ; and Elizabeth, of England.
Richard Welch attended the common schools of England in the acquirement of his education, remaining a pupil therein until twelve years of age. He then be- gan earning his own livelihood, his initial step in the business world being in connection with agricultural pursuits. He engaged at farm work until 1857 and then, desiring to find better opportunities for advancement than were afforded by his native country, he sought the opportunities of the new world, coming to the United States when about twenty-three years of age. He located first at Alton, Illinois, where he remained until 1861 when, at the opening of hostilities between the north and south, he joined Company I, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and for three years was at the front, serving in the thickest of the fight. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge, and soon after was wounded in a naval en- gagement in Louisiana. Up to the time he was wounded he had participated in fifty important skirmishes. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service and upon returning to civic life located at Woodburn, Macou- pin county, and there for many years was identified with a general merchandise enterprise, his efforts in that direction resulting in unusual success. He was like- wise interested in real estate in Woodburn and Bunker Hill and various other en-
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
terprises which yet engage his attention although about a year ago he retired from the mercantile field and took up his residence in Bunker Hill, where he now makes his home.
In 1864 occurred the marriage of Mr. Welch to Miss Grace E. Eddington, a native of England who came to the United States when only one year old, her parents taking up their abode on a farm in Macoupin county. Unto this union have been born nine children, as follows: Richard Eddington, a merchant of Bunker Hill; J. H., engaged in the merchandise business at Benld, this county ; L. M. and Stella, both at home; Olive B., the wife of C. A. Wood, of Shipman ; A. T., a merchant of Woodburn, Illinois; C. A., engaged in teaching in Bunker Hill; J. A., a farmer of Madison county ; and R. R., a railroad fireman. The parents hold membership in the Congregational church while the political support of Mr. Welch is given unfalteringly to the republican party. Although he has never cared to figure prominently in the public life of the community, he served as postmaster at Woodburn for thirteen years. Nevertheless he has ever felt deeply interested in those matters which engage the attention of public-spirited and progressive citizens of today, and at all time casts the weight of his influence on the side of those projects which tend toward advancement and improvement in civic affairs. Progress and patriotism have been the keynote to his career and the success which today ranks him among the most prosperous citizens of Ma- coupin county has come as the result of a life characterized by the most honorable methods and high ideals.
LAFAYETTE HAMPTON.
Lafayette Hampton, a farmer and merchant of Macoupin, who has prac- tically demonstrated his ability as a business man and his worth as a citizen, is a native of Tennessee but has been a resident of Macoupin county since his boy- hood. He is of English descent on the paternal side and was born near Knox- ville, in Blount county, Tennessee, April 19, 1848, a son of William M. and Martha Caroline (Alberson) Hampton. The father was born in North Caro- lina and the mother in South Carolina. He removed to Tennessee when a young man and was there married, subsequently coming with his family to Macoupin county, Illinois. He was engaged in farming in Brushy Mound town- ship at the outbreak of the Civil war and, although a native of the south, he was a stanch Union man and offered his services to his country, enlisting at Chicago in the One hundred and thirteenth Illinois Infantry. He participated with his regiment in the siege and capture of Vicksburg but, on account of the hardships and exposures incidental to army life, he was taken with typhoid fever and died at Corinth, Mississippi. The mother passed away about thirty years ago, while making her home with her son Lafayette. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hampton were five children : Emeline, who married Charles Fones, of Polk township; Lafayette, of this review; Allen M., who is engaged in farm- ing at Ironton, Iron county, Missouri; William Irvin, who is living upon a land claim in South Dakota; and Nancy E., who is deceased.
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
In the district schools of Macoupin county Lafayette Hampton secured his early education. His opportunities for mental training in youth were limited, as he was obliged to work in a woolen mill in order to assist in the support of the family and thus early became acquainted with long hours of labor. He con- tinued with his mother until twenty-five years of age and then began farming in Polk township, later removing to Brushy Mound township. In 1900 he pur- chased forty acres on section 23 of Bird township, upon which he established his home. He also owns twenty-six acres of valuable farming land in the same township and a store building which he erected at Macoupin. He carries a well selected stock of groceries and, as he is a man of good address and excellent business judgment, the venture has proved successful. He also cultivates his farm and makes a specialty of blooded hogs for which he finds a ready market.
In 1872, Mr. Hampton was married to Miss Emily Davidson, a native of Macoupin county, and to this union eleven children have been born, namely : Joseph Edward, who is deceased; Mary, who is living at home; Albert Wes- ley, who is now engaged in farming in Hilyard township; Allen, a blacksmith of Woodburn, Illinois; Melvin E. and Raymond, both of whom are at home; and Julia, Thomas, Anna, Herbert and Edward, all of whom are deceased.
Mr. Hampton is a stanch advocate of the republican party and, while he has not urged his claims for public office, he has served as constable for five years. He takes a great interest in religious affairs and is a valued member of the Missionary Baptist church. From his youth he has been identified with agriculture and stockraising and has always been enterprising and energetic in his business and thoroughly reliable in all his dealings. All who know him speak in terms of praise, and no man more worthily merits the gifts of fortune.
GENERAL JOHN I. RINAKER.
The story of General John I. Rinaker's life is one of eastern thrift and busi- ness sagacity grafted on western energy, enterprise and adventure. The early death of his parents threw him upon his own resources and not one in a thou- sand who have enjoyed his modest advantages have turned them to such excel- lent account. The wisdom, energy and success with which he pushed his way along are a study for American youths. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1830, and in 1837 became a resident of Illinois, residing in Sangamon county until 1840. Agricultural pursuits next claimed his attention through the sum- mer months in the vicinity of Franklin, Morgan county, while in the winter sea- sons he attended the public schools. Thus time passed until he reached the age of nineteen years and, thinking that he could make no better use of his earnings than by using the sum for the attainment of better educational advantages, he matriculated in the Illinois College at Jacksonville. While farm labor at a pre- vious date enabled him to partially meet his expenses, he added to his financial resources by teaching school ere his college course was completed. In 1850 he enrolled for the scientific course in McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, and was graduated in 1851. In the fall of the succeeding year he came to Carlin-
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ville and took up the study of law with John M. Palmer as his preceptor. In the year 1854 he won admission to the bar, permitting him to practice in all the courts of Illinois, and from that time until the inauguration of hostilities between the north and the south his undivided attention was given to a growing law practice, his work in the courts demonstrating his ability and the thoroughness with which he prepared and handled his cases.
With the outbreak of the Civil war, however, all other interests were put aside and in 1862 General Rinaker raised a regiment of men, which was organ- ized in August of that year at Camp Palmer and became known as the One Hun- dred and Twenty-second Regiment of Illinois Infantry. He was elected and commissioned colonel and on the 4th of September, 1862, with his regiment was mustered into service and ordered to report for duty at Columbus, Kentucky. Thence he proceeded to Trenton, Tennessee, and in December following with his command moved to the defense of Jackson against Forrest. A contempo- rary biographer has given the following account of his military service :
"The command marched in pursuit of the enemy to Lexington, Tennessee, after which they returned to Jackson. On the 27th of December they went in pursuit of Forrest, who had attacked the hospitals at Trenton, and captured the sick and about sixty enlisted men of the regiment. At Parker's Cross Roads they met the enemy and a fight ensued, in which they, in connection with other troops, drove the enemy from the grounds, and captured seven pieces of artil- lery and five hundred prisoners. In this engagement Colonel Rinaker was se- verely wounded. The command to which the regiment belonged moved in Feb- ruary, 1863, to Corinth and from that time to the close of the war it constituted a part of the Army of the Tennessee and shared the fortunes of the Sixteenth Army Corps, either with the right or left wing. In January, 1864, a part of the regiment was stationed at Paducah and a part at Cairo. Colonel Rinaker was then assigned the command of the post at Cairo and remained there until June, 1864, when he was ordered with his regiment to Memphis and thence to La Grange, where it joined the forces under General A. J. Smith, who was then commanding two divisions of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and became a part of The First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. Colonel Rinaker commanded the regiment in the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, on the 14th of July, 1864, where his regiment lost nine killed and twenty-four wounded. His regiment held the most advanced and exposed part and center of the federal line and held it successfully against repeated attacks of the rebel enemy under S. D. Lee and N. B. Forrest. The rebels were utterly defeated at Tupelo. After the battle he went with his regiment to Missouri and took part in the hardships of the campaign against Price's command in the fall of 1864. After the campaign closed in Missouri the command returned to St. Louis and em- barked for Nashville, Tennessee, where they arrived November 24. They were still a part of General Smith's command, then known as a detachment of the Army of the Tennessee. In December following they fought and assisted in annihilating Hood's army and followed in pursuit of the enemy as far as Eastport, Mississippi. In February, 1865, he was placed in command of the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, and with his brigade embarked for New Orleans and then took part with the forces in the campaign
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against Mobile. In April they were a part of the command that stormed the works of Fort Blakely. And here it would be proper to state that the respon- sibility of making the assault on the works was thrown on General Rinaker. As Canby, the general commanding, had given orders that no effort should be made to assault, General A. J. Smith, commanding the Sixteenth Army Corps, desired that General Garrard's division should assault the enemy's works, yet was not in a position to issue an order to that effect; so it was agreed that if that division would attack General Smith would back it up with Carr and McAr- thur's divisions if necessary ; and at General Garrard's headquarters it was agreed that if Rinaker would make the attack with his brigade he should be supported by the rest of the division. Rinaker held a position nearest the en- emy's works, so led the assault, and his brigade carried the works in its front and broke the enemy's line, capturing twenty-two pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners, when the movement was taken up by the rest of the line and Blakely fell, and a way was thus opened so that, without firing another shot, our ships moved unvexed into the wharves of Mobile. For this meri- torious service he was recommended for and received promotion. From Blakely the command was ordered to Montgomery and thence to Mobile, where the One Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment was mustered out of the service July 15, 1865, and was finally discharged at Springfield, Illinois, August 4, 1865. General Rinaker was breveted and promoted brigadier general for gallant and meritorious conduct to date from March 13, 1865. During his career in the army he made for himself an honorable record, being distinguished for that cool courage that always wins. Well may the soldiers of that war who bravely defended the stars and stripes look back on their military record with pleasure. They have done a noble service; and, living or dead, a grateful country will honor them."
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