History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 43

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 43

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The subject of our sketch spent a small portion of his younger years in the subscription schools of his native state, and the balance of the time was employed in cultivating tobacco, which was the principal product of that sec- tion of Kentucky, as it was exchanged for all the necessaries of life. He re- mained at home until October, 1845. He was then twenty-one years of age, and determined to go out in the world and do for himself. He left his native state and came to Illinois, and into Chesterfield township, where he found work in a saw-mill. He was a stout, rugged young man, possessed of a fine physical frame, capable of almost any amount of endurance. He worked all through the following winter in the saw-mill, and received as compensation ten dollars per month and board. His uncle, Simpson Cherry, was the proprietor of the mill. At the end of four months he went to Mor- gan county, in this state, and worked on a farm, for which he received twelve dollars a month. The next fall he returned on a visit to Kentucky, and remained but six weeks, when he came back to Macoupin county and engaged with Daniel L. Peebles to superintend his farm, for which he re- ceived sixteen dollars per month. He remained with Mr. Peebles until August, 1848. During the time he was with Mr. Peebles he was taken sick with typhoid fever, and lay for six weeks in an extremely critical con-

dition. During his sickness he made the more intimate acquaintance and found out the gentle and amiable qualities of Mrs. Peebles, who like an angel ministered, nursed, and took care of him when he was lying helpless on his bed of pain. The friendship then formed ripened into love, and they were married December 16th, 1848. She was the daughter of Horatio and Cynthia Adams. Her former husband, Jesse HI. Peebles, died eighteen months after their marriage. By this marriage there was one child, a boy, whose name is Horatio B. The fruits of the latter marriage have been nine children, six boys and three girls. Their names are Preston, Charles E., Harriet (wife of Cicero Solomon), Cynthia A. (wife of James Sells), Man- ford H., William Solomon, Loretta, John P., and Manning Kesinger.

After his marriage he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in sec- tion 16, Bird township, and moved into a little log-house that sat in the high grass. It was a very common log house, with cracks wide enough through which came the rude blasts of winter, and the snow would often lay thick upon the floors in the morning. It was a rough beginning; but both he and his wife were possessed of that kind of spirit necessary to brave che hard- ships and discomforts of life in those days in order to get a start in the world. His wife died Nov. 20th, 1878. She was a fond and patient wife, a kind and gentle mother, and a true helpmeet. Mr. Kesinger remained on section sixteen for fourteen years, when he moved south to a farm, where he re- mained a short time. He then moved again to a farm in the same section, where he remained for some years, and still to another farm, where he re- mained twelve years, and in the spring of 1876 moved to the place where he now resides, and where he expects to remain the balance of his days. He has the entire section, thirteen, and eighty acres in section fourteen. All of it has been the accumulation of his own toil and industry. He started in life unaided; in fact, all of his worldly possessions when he came to Illinois consisted of a horse, two suits of clothes, and two dollars and fifty cents in money. Both he and his late lamented wife were members of the Methodist . Episcopal Church.

In politics he is a pronounced democrat. He voted for James K. Polk for President in 1844, and since that time has given his adhesion to the party of his first choice, and voted the ticket without scratch or blemish. He is also a consistent member of the Ancient Order of Masons.

Mr. Kesinger is a large, warm-hearted, and kind gentleman. He has hosts of friends wherever he is known. His character for strict honesty and fair dealing with his fellow-men is well known. The word of John Kesinger is just as good as his bond, and both are number one in the scale of excel- lence in Macoupin county.

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THE STOCK FARM & RESIDENCE OF R.W. HUDDLESTUN, SEC.35. BRUSHY MOUND TP, MACOUPIN CO, ILL.

ate acquaintance sof Peebles, who like an le was lying helpless d into love, and ther chter of Horatio and cebles, died eighteen "as one child, a ber, riage have been nine Preston, Charles E., 'James Sells), Man- ing Kesinger. heres of land in ser- that sat in the high de enough through Id often lay thisk g; but both he snů o brave che hard- start in the world. atient wife, a kind mained on sectico arm, where he re the same sectico, .rm, where he re- he place where be of his days He fourteen. All of 7. He started in : came to Illinois nd fifty cents in of the Methodis

James K. Polk adhesion to the .tch or blemish. ons man. He has iet honesty and John Kesinger scale of excel-

RESIDENCE & FARM OF JOHN KESINGER, SEC. 13, BIRD TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL.

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THE FARM & RESIDENCE OF WM M. CHILES, SEC. 12, BIRD TP., MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILL.

THE FARM RESIDENCE OF THOMAS JOINER , SEC. 5. BIRD TP, MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

THOMAS JOINER.

MARTHA JOINER.

THOMAS JOINER

WAS born in Anderson county, Kentucky, March 7th, 1821. George Joiner, his father, was a native of Virginia. The parental ancestry is of English and Scotch origin. George Joiner married Polly Pullem. She was also from Virginia. He was a farmer by occupation. In 1825 he left Kentucky and came to Illinois, and settled in Jacksonville, Morgan county. That city contained then two cabins. He remained there about ten years, when he died. The wife and mother of Thomas survived him, and came to Macoupin county, and then removed to Logan county, where she died in 1855, at the residence of her son, William Joiner.

There were seven children in the family, six of whom have sur- vived the parents, four girls and two boys, all of whom live in Ma- coupin county, except Nancy, wife of Thomas Daggert, now a resident of Kansas. In the pioneer days of Illinois there were few schools, consequently Mr. Joiner had poor opportunities for receiving an education. The early settlers of Illinois were more concerned in getting that which supplied life and contributed to their bodily comfort than they were about getting book- learning, as they termed it. Schools came in due season as the country set- tled up. The Joiner family remained in Morgan county until 1842, when they came to Macoupin, and settled in what is now known as Palmyra town- ship. Here the subject of our sketch remained until 1864. During the pro- gress of the Mexican war, Thomas enlisted in Captain Weatherford's com- pany of Morgan county. The company rendezvoused at Alton, where they were mustered into the service. Captain Weatherford was elected Lieut. Col. of the regiment, and Captain Wyatt, of Franklin, was made captain of

company "G" 1st regiment, Illinois volunteers, Col. Hardin commanding. The regiment was attached to Gen. Wool's brigade, and became a part of the forces under command of Gen. Taylor. The regiment participated in the hard-fought battle of Buena Vista. The subject of our sketch was wounded in the leg in that battle, and he carries the ball there yet 88 & souvenir of the enemy's regard. His enlistment expired July, 1847, when he returned home to Macoupin county and engaged in farming. In June, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Pullem. She is a native of Madison county, Kentucky but was a resident of Palmyra township at the time of her marriage. Her father came to Illinois about the year 1820, or soon after the state was admitted into the union. Seven children have been born to them ; three only are now living.

Mr. Joiner remained in North Palmyra until November, 1864, when he sold out his farm and removed to Bird township, where he purchased 260 acres of land in section 5, and built his present large and commodious resi- dence. He has added considerable more acres to his original purchase. He and his inestimable wife are both members of the M. E. church. He was formerly an old line whig in politics, but at the formation of the republican party, he joined that organization, and has been a warm supporter of its principles ever since. This in brief is an outline of the life of Thomas Joiner. He started in life poor, but by hard work he has made himself comfortable, and is now in possession of enough of this world's goods to make his life and that of his wife's pleasant and peaceful as they journey together down the vale of years. Mr. Joiner is respected by his neighbors and friends as an upright citizen.

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JOHN WHEELER.

MRS. JOHN WHEELER.

JOHN WHEELER

WAS born in Mason county, Kentucky, four miles from Maylick, September 16th, 1806. Benjamin Wheeler, his father, was born in Virginia, June 4th, 1782. John Wheeler, his father, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Virginia, and was a personal friend of George Washington. He was a soldier of the revolution, and fought four years to free his country from British rule. His brother Joseph was also a soldier of the revolution, and was a noted man in that memorable struggle, and one upon whom Gen. Washington personally called when he wanted a brave and cautious man to un- dertake some perilous enterprise. It is related that on one occasion, Gen. Washington called upon him to pick off a British officer, who was viewing and spying the camp. Notwithstanding the distance was great, Joseph Wheeler leveled his trusty rifle, fired, and laid the proud Briton low in the dust. Three days after this incident, brave Joe Wheeler was shot by the enemy. Gen. Washington per- sonally superintended his burial. The Wheeler family come from a patriotic and fighting stock. The family contains the heroes of three wars. The family emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, about 1790, where the old re- volutionary hero died. Benjamin Wheeler, the father, re- mained in Kentucky until 1825, when he removed to Clare- mont county, Ohio, where he stayed until 1832. Then he

came to Rush county, Indiana, and in 1834, came to Illin- ois and settled in Pike county, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 26th, 1840. He married Mary McCarter. She was a native of Virginia, she died October 14th, 1840. There were four sons and three daughters, of whom John Wheeler, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. He married Mary C'amerer on the 28th of August, 1828. She is a native of Kentucky, and was born October 22d, 1803. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have passed the time allotted to man to live, yet they are hale and hearty, and bid fair to live many years. In 1833 John Wheeler came to Illinois, and stopped in Greene county, where he remained until the following spring, when he entered land in what is now known as Bird township, Macoupin county. Here he made a home, and has resided up to the present time. The names of his children are William, Barbara A., Francis Marion, Huldah and Calvin Wheeler. All are married and have families growing up about them. Mr. Wheeler is an old Jacksonian democrat. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and since that time has been a firm believer in the teachings of the democratic party. He is now enjoying the fruits of former years of toil, and self-denial in being able, in his declining years, to lead a life of leisure and comfort. And thus we close the record of one of the old and industri- ous citizens of Macoupin county.

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THE FARM RESIDENCE OF THOMAS LEACH, SEC. 32, BIRD TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL.

THE FARM RESIDENCE OF FREDERICK REINEKE, SEC. 31, BIRD TP., MACOUPIN CO.IL.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

JAMES W. LUMPKIN

WAS born in Bird township, Macoupin county, November 15th, 1836. John Lumpkin, his father, was a native of Kings and Queens county, Virginia, and was born in 1808. The Lumpkins are of English descent on the paternal side, and on the maternal Scotch. John Lumpkin married Emily A. Raf- furty, a native of Kentucky. He moved with his brother William to Jefferson county, Kentucky, about the year 1815. He afterwards moved to Davis county. In 1835 he came to Illinois, and settled in section thirty-one, town ten, range eight, Macoupin county, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the 15th of February, 1879. He was a brick mason by trade, and followed it at such times of the year as he could spare from labor on his farm. He laid the foundations of the old court-house that stood in the public square in Carlinville. His wife died June 1st, 1876. There were but two children born to John and Emily A. Lumpkin, one boy and a girl. The girl died in infancy. The subject of our sketch is the sole survivor of the family. Both the father and mother were members of the Baptist Church, the father being a deacon for many years. James W., spent his boyhood days in the schools of his native township, and attended the select schools in Chesterfield. When at the age of nineteen years he entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, where he remained one year, then re- turned home and went to work upon the farm. On the 22d of December, 1857, he was married to Miss Elzina Bates, daughter of James and Martha Bates. Mrs. Lumpkin was born in Macoupin county. Her parents were natives of Jefferson county, Tennessee, and came to Illinois in 1833. Two children, a boy and a girl, have been the fruits of this union. Their names are Clement J., and Mattie E. Lumpkin. Both Mr. Lumpkin and his wife . are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a democrat, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860. In his township he has held various offices.

He was elected justice of the peace ; in which office he remained for twelve years. He has also been collector of his town since the county has been under township organization. He is also a member of the Masonic order, and has been the presiding officer of the Chesterfield Lodge, No. 445, for the past five years. His name has been used before the county democratic conventions for county offices. In 1868 his friends presented him for sheriff, and in 1876 for circuit clerk, and in 1877 for county clerk, but they failed to secure for him the nomination. In any of these he would bring intelligence, honesty, and reflect credit upon his constituency. The greater portion, in fact all of his life has been passed upon the farm or in stock- raising and dealing, in all of which he has been successful.

JOHN W. WILLS,

Is a native-born citizen of Macoupin county. He first saw the light of day in Palmyra township, July 31st, 1839. Elijah Wills, his father, was a na- tive of North Carolina. His father emigrated to Kentucky when Elijah was yet young. The father, John W., married Decilla Solomon, a member of the Solomon family of this county. She was also born in North Caro- lina, but grew to womanhood in Kentucky. Twelve children were born to them, seven of whom survived the parents.

Elijah Wills emigrated to Illinois in 1829, and settled in Morgan county. He made one or two improvements there, and then sold out and came to Macoupin county, where he made also some improvements. He afterward removed to and entered land in Sec. 6, South Palmyra township, where he re- mained for a number of years, and then went to Texas, and after a short time returned to Macoupin county ; purchased land, remaining on it two years. Sold out and returned to Texas ; stayed there three or four months. Came to Macoupin again and remained until 1867, when he again disposed of his property and removed to Southwest Missouri, where he died about two years later. His wife survived him ; she was born in 1801. She died in Cali- fornia in 1875 at the residence of her eldest son, Thomas Wills. John W's. boyhood days were spent in working upon the farm, and a small portion of the time in the common schools of his native county. He also spent considerable time in hunting. In his younger years game was very plentiful, and John, like his father, was very fond of hunting, nor has he forgotten it now in his maturer years. He takes his annual hunt regularly, but is forced, from the scarcity of game in his old favorite resorts, to make trips to the swamps of Arkansas, where game of all kind that delights the enthusiastic hunter abounds.

He was married on the 25th of November, 1858, to Sarah, daughter of Uriah and Sally Smith. The Smiths are natives of North Carolina. They are among the oldest settlers of Macoupin county. They came here in 1828. After his marriage, John W., went to work upon land that he had leased. On the 10th of March, 1864, he moved to Sec. 19, T. 10, R. 8, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and to which he has added considerable more. He attended strictly to the business of farm- ing until he was elected treasurer of the county. In politics, Mr. Wills is most soundly indoctrinated in the tenets and principles of the democratic party. He is a believer in its principles as enunciated by Jefferson, Jack- son, Douglas and the leaders of to-day. He cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, and since that time has been a strong adherent of the party. His intelligence and constancy has received at different times suita- ble and.honorable recognition from his party. In 1871 he was elected the first township collector under the township organization. In 1873 he was nominated for the office of county treasurer by the democratic party, in convention assembled, and in November following, was elected, although there was a determined effort made by the opposition to defeat him. In 1875 he again received the nomination at the hands of his party, but was defeated owing to the union of the regular republicans independents, or greenbackers, who united upon L. B. Corbin, who was elected by a small majority. While in the capacity of treasurer, he conducted the financial affairs of the county in the most satisactory manner, and his accounts were always square. It can be truthfully said that no man ever occupied the office who gave it more attention, or who was prompted more by a desire to use the county finances in the in- terests of the whole people, and for the good of the whole county, than John W. Wills. He is the happy father of four interesting children, all of whom are yet beneath the paternal roof.

He is a live, energetic man, full of western push and enterprise, and keenly alive to any enterprise that has for its object the increase of the ma- terial wealth of old Macoupin.

JOHN H. BROWN

WAS born in East Tennessee, Knox county, May 6th, 1826. His father, Francis G. Brown, was born in West Virginia, January 8, 1802. He emi- grated with his mother to East Tennessee about the year 1810. His father, and grandfather of John H., was born in Ireland, but came with his father's family to America when he was but six weeks old. Francis G. married Mary Bell. She was a native of Knox county, Tennessee. Nine children were born to them, all of whom are yet living. The father of the present sketch emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois in 1838, and settled on section 4 in Bird township, where he raised a crop, and in November of the same year purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 18, where he remained until 1851, when he removed to the village of Chesterfield, where he died October 15th, 1878. The wife and mother of John H. died in 1864. John H. is the eldest son, and the second in the family. In his youth he had limited opportunities for receiving an education. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age. On the 20th of September, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Husky, daughter of James and Rhoda Husky. They were natives of Alabama, and emigrated to Illinois in 1834, and settled on section 5 in Bird township. James Husky died in September, 1845, and his wife in 1855. There have been six children born to John H. and Martha E. Brown, three of whom are living. Rossetta, the eldest, is the wife of F. M. Bates, a farmer, and resident of Bird township. Samuel Newton Brown, the son, also a farmer, and living in Western Mound township, and Daisey, the youngest child, who is at home.

John H. Brown has been a resident of Bird township for forty-one years, and in all that time has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, stock-raising and grazing. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a democrat, and cast his first vote for Lewis Cass for President in 1848, and has voted with that party.

JOSEPH BIRD.

PROMINENT among the farmers, stock-raisers and business men of Macou- pin county stands the name of Joseph Bird. He was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of May, 1828. His father, William Bird, was a native of the city of London, England. He married Mary Wilson, who was also a native of the same place. He emigrated to America in the year 1818.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

In May, 1834, he came with his family to Illinois, and settled in Bluffdale, Greene county, where he died in October of the same year. Joseph, being the eldest son, was at an early age called upon to support himself and help provide for the family. He therefore had no opportunities for attending the schools or receiving such an education as falls to the lot of most boys of this country. During his boyhood he worked by the month, and assisted his mother on the farm. January the 9th, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ann Lasater; she was a native of Greene county, Illinois, and was born October 17th, 1833. Her parents were natives of Tennessee. After his marriage he rented for two years. In 1851 he came to Macoupin county and purchased 315 acres in section four, town ten, range eight, receiving some assistance from his mother. He has added tract after tract until at the present he is the possessor of (1026) ten hundred and twenty-six acres, and every acre of it has been acquired by active industry, united with shrewd common sense and good management. In August, 1879, he purchased the elegant residence, known as the Dubois property, in Car- linville, where he intends in the future to make his home.

In his family he has been blessed with seven children, four of whom are living. His only son, Morris Edwin, died February 6th, 1878, in the 20th year of his age ; he was a young man of great promise and gave evidence of future usefulness. His daughters, Carrie Isabel, Ida Alice, Mary Olive, and Daisy Mabel are yet at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bird are members of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Bird is a democrat, but his life has been too actively engaged to take much part in political matters. In the county where he has resided for nearly thirty years he is respected for his sterling qualities as an honest, upright and influential man. As an evidence of the respect in which he is held, it may be mentioned that the township of " Bird " was so named in honor of him at the time the county adopted the township organization act.

SAMUEL LOVE.

IT is with pleasure that we introduce to the readers of this book the oldest native-born citizen now living in Macoupin county. Samuel Love was born in what is now Palmyra township, March 7th, 1824. His father, John Love, was a native of Alabama, and came to Madison county, Illinois, in 1812. In 1813 he, in company with Seth Hodges, came up to Macoupin county and put in a crop, laid it by, and then returned to Madison county and brought up their families. Mr. Love thinks these two families were the first that settled in what is now known as Macoupin county. They were the pioneers that came here, and braved the hardships and paved the way for the future settlement of this part of the state. John Love married Cynthia Seymour, of Alabama. Two children were born to them before they left their native state. The journey to Illinois was made on horseback. When they arrived in the state they had but very little household goods, and only fifty cents in money. With this he commenced a new life, pioneering in the wilds of Illinois. His son, John Jefferson Love, was born April 19th, 1819. There were four boys and two girls born to them, none of whom are living except the subject of our sketch. John Love remained in Palmyra town- ship until 1829, when he removed to Morgan county, where he stayed until 1835, when he sold out and removed to Greene county, where he died in 1844. His wife died in Morgan county about 1833. John Love was a stout, rugged man, with a strong constitution, and was peculiarly fitted by nature to endure the hardships and fatigues incident to the life of a pioneer. He and Seth Hodges almost lived and supported their families on the game in which the country abounded at that time.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 43

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440