USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 42
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. JAMES HAYES,
WHO has been in charge of the Mount Olive coal mines as " pit boss" ever since the mines were opened in 1875, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Eng- land, January 2d, 1841. He has followed the coal mining business all his life, and has the reputation of understanding it thoroughly. His father, Joseph Hayes, was a coal miner at Newcastle, and was "deputy" or " assistant superintendent," and had charge of a number of men in the coal pits. Newcastle is the great centre of the coal mining business in England.
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served at different tiques w Id other positions. Hebt arch, and a citizen who beso tegrity.
ines, has been living in Me- )pperhausen, Herzogthua, is the youngest of six chol- ose maiden name was 0y fage. While in Germany He left his native coco- old, and wished to be fre New Orleans he came st Illinois, where he went to for thirteen years Fur g and coal company, le 1 on business for himself' native of Ahlshausen, in came to America on the ne, 1869, and west of the the building of the Wi- n B. Panhorst, now de railroad. Commencing coal the following Os , 1877, since which date nes. He had six child- 1 Mina, is now living, arried June 29, 1879, 10 politics. He begun life present position by his coal business in all its -page illustration of his re and successful bosi- le first step toward the
near Eschershausen, arned the carpenter's Ie and his brother, grated to America, orked on a farm in his father and the came to Madison id four miles south sa Miller, who was who also came te at the interests of ming for himself t farm in Staun- ne farm, and 100 gust Sievers, but ermann Sievers. nd a view of his een a demoerst,
HOTEL & SALOON OF HARBERT DE BUHR , MT OLIVE, ILLINOIS .
RESIDENCE OF JAMES HAYS , MT OLIVE, ILL .
HOTEL
DE BUHR'S
pit boss" ever in-Tyne, Eng- siness all his His father, "deputy" or in the coal in England
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RESIDENCE & WORKSHOPS OF FRITZ BEHRENS, MT OLIVE, ILLINOIS
BLACKSMITH SHOP.
F. BEHRNS
HOTEL & SALOON OF HENRY J. ARKEBAUER, MTOLIVE, ILL.
HOTEL & SALOON.
H. J. ARKEBAUER
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THE FARM AND RESIDENCE OF AUGUST SIEVERS , SEC . 33 , STAUNTON TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL.
THE FARM RESIDENCE OF JESSE OLIVE , SEC. 35 , STAUNTON TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL.
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Mr. Hayes went to school for a few years, and when twelve years old first . went to work at coal mining on top of the pits, and afterwards was promoted to a place in the yards. At Newcastle coal mining is carried on extensively, and he had opportunities for learning many practical details of the business. In 1859 he came to America when eighteen years old. Landing at New York he came directly to Alton, where a gentleman lived with whom he had been acquainted in England. He found employment at once at repairing cars for the Madison county coal company on Wood river, and worked for that company till he went into the army.
In 1862 he enlisted for three years in Company "K," Eightieth Illinois regiment. His regiment was in the Army of the West, and served in Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. He was in the battle with the Confederate General Morgan at Perryville, eight miles from Murfreesboro', and was on the raid through Georgia against Gen. Forrest. This raid was made by a brigade of picked men, and the whole brigade was captured six miles from Rome, Georgia. He was taken with the others to the celebrated Belle Isle prison at Richmond, Virginia, but was exchanged after staying there twelve days. He rejoined his regiment at Nashville, Tennessee, and was next in the battle of Lookout Mountain. He had held the rank of second sergeant; but after that battle, it being ascertained that he had some knowledge of the mining business, he was detailed to the quartermaster's department to superintend the construction of shutes and the mining of coal at Chattanooga for the boats on the Tennessee river. He was in the quarter- master's department mining coal, and attending to the shipment of goods till the close of the war. He came back to Illinois after the war and worked a while for the Madison county coal company, and then went to ('Fallon, in St. Clair county, where he was building cars and laying switches till 1873. From that date he was in the mining business at Moro till 1875, when he came to Mount Olive.
In 1868 he married Ida Sathoff, of Montgomery county, Illinois. She died in 1875. He has four children. He is a republican in politics. His long experience in coal mining has made him a competent man for the posi- tion he now occupies. He has learned his business in all its details, and under his direction the Mount Olive mines have been worked with a high degree of success and efficiency.
JOSIAS R. RIPLEY,
THE present police magistrate of Staunton, was born at Alton, July 18th, 1836. His father, George Ripley, was born in Virginia, and when a boy (his parents having died) came to Illinois with an uncle, Tilman West. He grew up in St. Clair county near Belleville. At Edwardsville, he married Martha P. Randle, who was born in Georgia, near Savannah, and was the daughter of the Rev. Josias Randle. Her father settled at Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1818, and was the first recorder of Madison county after its or- ganization. In 1837 he moved from Edwardsville to St. Clair county, and in 1848 came to Staunton, Macoupin county, and in 1849 moved to a farm in Madison county, two miles south of Staunton, where he died August 5th, 1855. Josias R. Ripley, was the second of five children. He attended school at the various places where his father lived, and in the winter of 1856-7 was a student at Marshall College in Clark county, Illinois, to which part of the state his mother had removed in the fall of 1856. In the fall of 1858 the family came back to the farm in Madison county. Mr. Ripley was living there till March, 1864, when he entered the Quartermaster's de- partment of the Seventh Army Corps, as clerk in which capacity he served till August, 1866. During this time he was stationed at Little Rock, and at Duvall's Bluff on the White river in Arkansas. The last year of his term of service he acted as Quartermaster's agent.
After his return from the army in 1866, he was farming in Madison
county till 1873. He was in south-east Missouri till January, 1875, when he became a resident of Staunton, where he has since acted as agent for the United States express company. April, 1878, he was elected Police mag- istrate, and the following November, received a commission as Notary Public. He is also the representative of several insurance companies. He was married August 6th, 1868, to Miss Sarah M. Sturges, of Montgomery county, Illinois, a daughter of Isaac Sturges. He has four children. He has been a republican in politics. On the construction of the Toledo, Wa- bash and Western railway in 1870, he was appointed one of the commis- sioners to condemn the right of way through Madison county. He is a member of Staunton Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No. 170, and Staunton chapter, No. 116.
DR. GEORGE BLEY
WAS born at Dettingen, in Wittenberg, Germany, Jan. 12th, 1821. He is the son of Geo. Bley and Sophia Müller. His father emigrated to America and settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1832. Dr. Bley left home when twelve years of age, and when fifteen was apprenticed to the drug business in Philadelphia. He opened a drug store on his own account in that city as soon as he became twenty-one.
He determined to become a physician ; attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in 1845; during 1848-9 and 1849-50 was a student at the Philadelphia College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1850. He began practice in Philadelphia ; removed to Scott county, Iowa, in 1855 ; to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1858; to Monroe county, Illinois, in 1859; and to Staunton, in October, 1861, where in 1869 he opened a drug store, and is now known as a skilful physician and good citizen.
He married Elizabeth W. Lavis, October 1st, 1846. He has six children, Nellie, wife of D. C. Wurtz; Lizzie W., who married Thomas Blair ; George Bley, David L. Bley, Robert E. Bley, and Mary L. Bley. The two youngest sons graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, the former in 1875 and the latter in 1877, and are now practicing medicine at Staunton. Dr. Bley is a republican in politics.
JOHN H. DE WERFF,
WHO is now a resident of Mount Olive, was born in Hesel, Prussia, June 16th, 1843. In 1846 his father, Henry De Werff, emigrated with the family to America. They settled in the city of St. Louis, and his father kept a milk dairy on Geyer avenue. Mr. De Werff attended the public schools, and when sixteen years old went to work in a brick-yard. He fol- lowed the business of making brick for several years in St. Louis. In 1864 he had a short experience as a soldier. He enlisted in the State militia in company D. of Col. Walcamp's regiment. He was in active service about five weeks in Central Missouri, and was at Franklin, Jefferson City, and other places. He worked in St. Louis till 1875, and then came to Mt. Olive and started the first brick-yard ever in existence in that town. He has also followed to some extent the business of mining coal. He was married on the 19th of December, 1878, to Margareta Gerhards. His wife was born at Respel, Hanover, and came over to America in the year 1874. With considerable liberality, he has furnished for publication in this work an il- lustration which gives a representation of his brick-yard at Mt. Olive. He is known as an industrious, energetic and honest man, and a peaceful and good citizen. He is not a politician, and has had enough to do to attend to his own private business matters, but generally votes the republican ticket. He began life without any means on which to rely, except his own strength and industry, and has been obliged to work hard to succeed as well as he has. He possesses considerable enterprise, is still a man young in years, and will doubtless make his mark among the business men of Mt. Olive.
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BIRD TOWNSHIP.
B SIRD township occupies the congressional Town 10 N., Range 8 W., and is bounded on the north by South Palmyra, on the east by Carlinville, on the south by Polk, and on the west by Western Mound township. It is drained in the north-west by Otter creek, through the centre by Lick creek and Bear creek, and the south-east by Silver creek.
Near the creeks there is some timber, and the land is undulating; but the greater part of the township is a beautiful prairie, now under a high state of cultivation. The farm buildings are good, and the farmers intelligent and enterprising. It is classed among the best townships of Macoupin county.
Of the first settlers within the limits of what is now Bird township, we may mention, Samuel Love, now a resident of section 7, who was born in Ma- coupin county in the year 1824, and is without doubt the oldest living native born citizen of the county ; a portrait of the venerable pioneer is shown elsewhere in this work ; G. M. McGinnis, a farmer on section 18; he was a native of Missouri, and became a resident of the county in 1829.
About the first settlers in the township were Green Lane on section 6, and a Mr. Boatman on the same section in the year 1830.
About the same time a man by the name of Mayberry " squatted " on the south side of Otter creek on section. 6, where Boatman first settled. Boat- man entered the land, and set Mayberry adrift. This caused much bad feeling between the two families and the settlers in the neighborhood, and more than one knock down sprang out of it. In reference to this matter, Lane and a man by the name of Odel had a misunderstanding, which led to a fight, in which Lane lost his upper lip, and Odel his eye. Odel was a squatter, and settled south of Bear creek, on section 22, about the year 1832. He left soon after the above occurrence. Peter Brown settled in the neigh- borhood of Charity. Isaac Moore, Mace Moore, Jerry Odel and John Smith came about 1834. Mr. Horatio Adams settled on section 4 about 1832; the Adams living in the township at the present day are descendants of his. In the spring of 1834 James Husky settled on section 5, near the present resi- dence of Thomas Joiner. He improved a large farm, and accumulated con- siderable property. He built the first brick house in this part of the county in the spring of 1835. He made the brick on his farm. The house stood on the road opposite the residence of Thomas Joiner. Mr. Husky lived the remainder of his life on the farm he improved. One year before a man whose name is now forgotten settled on Bear creek, near where the late George Denby lived. He was a "squatter," and did not remain long in the township.
About this time a man who had lately come from Ohio was going to Mr. Love's. He met an old bear and cubs near Love's place. He sprang to a tree to escape from bruin. Mr. Love's girls heard some one halloo. Love went to his rescue, and drove off the bear. The man was very happy to find himself released from his dangerous situation. After he recovered suffi- ciently from his fright, he and Love succeeded in catching two of the cubs, and tied their legs together, and threw them across the back of a horse to carry home. The next morning they killed the old bear. The friends were called in to Mr. Love's to eat bear meat, and have a good old-fashioned time. The first settler in the south-east part of the township was Mr. Gates, about the year 1834.
James Husky and Lewis Edwards settled on the north side of the town- 136
ship about 1832 Wm. A. Brown on section 3 came to the county in 1832. He was a Virginian.
John Wheeler, who lives on section 7, is a native of Kentucky, and be- came a resident of the township in 1834. The same year William Wheeler, who lives on section 8, became a resident of the county ; he was from In- diana. Thomas Leach, a native of Yorkshire, England, and a resident of section 29, came to the county in 1835. In 1834 Wm. J. Bates, a native of Tennessee, became a resident of the county, and now lives on section 22.
Rev. James Solomon, now a resident of this township, and one of the pio- neers of the county, is a native of North Carolina, and came with his father, Judge Lewis Solomon, Sr., and family, to this county in the year 1827, and first settled in North Palmyra township.
George W. Arnett, who lives on section 9, is a native of Tennessee, and came to the county in 1834. Wm. Morfoot on section 35 is a native of this county, and was born in the year 1833.
R. H. Barrick lives on section 22, and is a native of Kentucky ; became a resident here in 1836. Thomas Joiner, a Kentuckian by birth, came to the county in 1842. He has a fine, improved farm on section 3. Among those of Yorkshire, England, we find the name of Robert Whiteley, who came to the county in 1844. He has one of the best farms in the township.
Among the sons of old Kentucky, we find the name of John Kissinger. He is one of the largest farmers of the township, and came here in 1846. John H. Brown is a native of Knox county, Tennessee ; became a resident of Macoupin county in 1838. While Germany has given up so many of her noble sons to the United States, Macoupin county very fortunately has received a few ; and of the well-to-do farmers of Bird township, F. Reineke,' who came in 1849, and now lives on section 31, well deserves mention.
Joseph Bird, the gentleman from whom the township derives its name, is a native of Pennsylvania ; came here in 1851. He is not only one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of the township, but also of the county.
The first church building was erected by the Methodists, about 1836, on the old Husky place. The congregation at one time was very large.
The first preacher was Dr. Vance, who preached there as well as in other parts of the county for a number of years. The first school was taught in the church-building. .
The First Marriage was Robert MeGregory to Lucinda Edwards in the year 1833.
The First Physician was Dr. Lightfoot, who remained for some time. He left for the west years ago.
The only manufactory of any kind in the township was a blacksmith, wagon and general repair shop built in 1859 by C. E. Masters, who is still carrying on the business.
To give the valuation of the property, as reported by the assessor of 1879, we copy the following : Acres of improved lands, 18,650; value, $143,909; acres of unimproved lands, 4,394; value, $12,278: total value of lands, $156,187. Horses, 727; value, $12,032: cattle, 1,548; value, $11,738: mules, 110; value, $2,133: sheep, 805; value, $679: hogs, 2,837; value, $1,567 : carriages and wagons, 251 ; value, 81,917; 167 watches and clocks, 95 sewing machines, 3 pianos, 31 organs. Total value of personal property, $43,241.
We also anuex the list of officers of the township since township organization*
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MARY A. WHITELEY.
SARAH O.WHITELEY.
ROBERT WHITELEY, JR
ROBERT WHITELEY.
MRS. ROBERT WHITELEY.
to the county in 1822 of Kentucky, and be ear William Wheeler, ty; he was from La nd, and a resident of . J. Bates, a native df ves on section 22 ), and one of the pio- came with his father, the year 1827, and
e of Tennessee, and 35 is a native of this
Kentucky; became 1 by birth, came to section 3. Among vert Whiteley, who ms in the township. of John Kissinga. ame here in 1846, became a resident n up so many of ry fortunately has ship, F. Reineke, ves mention. rives its name, is only one of the of the county. . about 1836, 00 ery large. well as in other | was taught in
Edwards in the for some time
a blacksmith, 3, who is still
essor of 1879, ue, $143,909; lue of lands, ue, $11,738: 2,837; ralne, s and clocks, sal property,
organization
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Supervisors .- Samuel L. Loveless, elected in 1871; re-elected in 1872. John Craggs, elected in 1873. J. F. Culp, elected in 1875. J. H. Arnett, elected in 1876. Henry Craggs, elected in 1877. Samuel L. Loveless, elected in 1878. George W. Arnett, elected in 1879. [Not represented in 1874.]
Town Clerks .- James F. Culp, elected in 1871, and re-elected in 1872. J. H. Arnett, elected in 1873, and re-elected in 1874 and 1875. J. Waters, elected in 1876. J. H. Arnett, elected in 1877, and re-elected in 1878 and 1879.
Assessors .- Geo. W. Arnett, elected in 1871. Z. Waters, elected in 1872. G. W. Arnett, elected in 1873. E. P. Deeds, elected in 1874. A. D. Comer, elected in 1875. L. Johnson, elected in 1876. P. L. Arnett, elected in 1877. A. D. Comer, elected in 1878. J. W. Wills, elected in 1879.
Collectors .- John W. Wills, elected in 1871. G. W. Arnett, elected in 1872. P. C. Waters, elected in 1873. J. W. Lumpkin, elected in 1874.
J. Maize, elected in 1875. G. W. Arnett, elected in 1876. F. M. Bates, elected in 1877. G. Duckles, elected in 1878. E. Denby, Jr., elected in 1879.
The following are the justices of the peace since township organization : John Waters and Henry Craggs, elected in 1871. M. C. Carr and J. W. Lumpkin, elected in 1873. J. C. Waters, elected in 1876. J. W. Lumpkin and R. H. Barrick, elected in 1877.
Constables since Township Organization .- W. C. Carr and Abe Woods, elected in 1871. J. M. Moore, elected in 1872. J. M. Moore and W. F. M. Rogers, elected in 1873. E. C. Lorence, elected in 1874. C. C. Courtney and J. Raffurty, elected in 1877. D. C. Bricker, elected in 1879.
Commissioners of Highways .- 1871, Robert Whiteley, Joseph Bird, O. Miller ; 1872, Joseph Bird ; 1873, B. F. Selsbey ; 1874, Robert Whiteley ; 1875, John Kesinger; 1876, Samuel Comer; 1877, Robert Whiteley ; 1878, Thomas Joiner ; 1879, Samuel Comer.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
J. H. ARNETT
WAS born in Bird township, Macoupin county, Illinois, September 28th, 1838. . Thomas Arnett, his father, was a native of North Carolina. The family is of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side, and on the maternal Eng- lish. Thomas Arnett removed from North Carolina and settled in Overton county, Tennessee, where he remained until 1834, when the family removed to Illinois, and settled in Morgan county, where they remained one year, and then came to Macoupin county and settled in section 18, town 10, range 8. He bought land there and remained two years, and then moved to sec- tion 20. In 1850 he purchased school lands in section 16, and re- moved there and remained until his death, which occurred February 24th, 1874. He married Elizabeth Reeder, who was a native of Tennessee. She died in 1864. There were twelve children, five of whom have survived the parents,-four sons and one daughter, all of whom are residents of Macou- pin county, except William, who is a school teacher, and at present is in Lake county, Oregon. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days at work on the farm, and attending the common schools in the winter season. In 1863 he in company with his brother William and a man by the name of Gilmore, crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in mining, at which he continued for several years. He returned home via New York. After his arrival at home he purchased the farm on which he now resides. On the 21st of May, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah, daughter of John and Mary Mills. She was born in Macoupin county. Her parents are natives of England. Harrison is the maiden name of the grandmother of Mr. Arnett. She was closely related to Wm. H. Harrison, President of the United States. In politics Mr. Arnett is a democrat. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas, and since that time he has been a strong adherent of the party. He has held the office of town clerk since the organization of the county under township organization. He was also elected justice of the peace in 1868, an office he held for several years. He is the father of three children, two girls and one boy.
ROBERT WHITELEY.
AMONG the many prominent foreign-born citizens, and leading farmers of Macoupin county, stands the name of Robert Whiteley. He was born in Yorkshire, England, on the river Ouse, fifteen miles from the city of York, in August, 1819. The Whiteleys are an old family in England. The homestead has been in their name for over five hundred years, and still continues in their name. Robert Whiteley, his father, was twice married. The mother of Robert died while he was quite young. By the first mar- riage there were two children, and by the last three. Ann, the sister of Ro- bert, is married to William Thompson, and is a resident of Marysville, California. Robert is the oldest son. In 1844 he came to America, and landed in New Orleans, and came up the river to St. Louis, and from there to Alton, and then to Chesterfield, where he stopped with Captain Gelder. He stayed with the captain from spring until the following fall, when he hired to Mr. Rocklington, with whom he remained for two years, receiving one hundred dollars per year. After this he went to New Orleans, and spent the winter in draying. During the hot summer months he came north, and worked upon a farm, returning in the fall to New Orleans. He continued thus for seven years. He found the draying business in New Orleans very lucrative. In 1852 he went to work upon his farm that he had purchased the year before. He put in a crop that year, and in the spring of 1853 he was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide Morris. She was a native of Macoupin county. Ten children were born to them, three of whom are now living. His wife died December, 1869. The place he purchased in 1851 originally contained two hundred and sixty-five acres, to which he has added two hundred more, making in all over four hundred acres of as fine improved land as there is in Macoupin county. He also raises stock, and has been very successful in his dealings in that direction. He was raised in the Presbyterian faith. He is a republican in politics. In the community where he has long resided none are more respected than Robert Whiteley. He is a large-hearted, free-handed English gentleman, whose acquaintance it is a genuine pleasure to make, as the writer of this article can testify.
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Schu Kosinger
AMONG the many prominent and leading agriculturists of Macoupin county stands the name of John Kesinger. He was born in Hart county, Kentucky, March 27th, 1825. His father, Lynn Kesinger, named so after a river and also a great hunter who was lost on the river, was also a native of the same state. Solomon Kesinger, his father, and grandfather of the present sketch, was a native of Pennsylvania. He removed with his father's family to Kentucky, a short time after the state was admitted into the Union. Solomon, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on the Rhine, in Germany. He came to America when eighteen years of age. There were two brothers who came over, and from them have sprung a numerous family. Lynn Kesinger married Betsey Peebles. She is a native of South Carolina, but was reared in Kentucky, and was married to Mr. Kesinger while a resident of that state. Her mother's name was Welmoth Owens, and she was a native of South Carolina. John Peebles, the grand- father, was born in England. He was a soldier of the revolution. The Owens were also of English and Scotch ancestry. There were born to Lynn and Betsey Kesinger ten children, seven of whom are living. Lynn Kesin- ger left Kentucky on the 15th of November, 1847, and came to Illinois and settled in Macoupin county, four miles west of Chesterfield, where he re- mained one year, when he removed to Bird township, where he resides with his son. He is yet a hale, hearty man, although in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His wife also lives with her son John.
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