History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 57

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

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

DR. JOSEPH HUNTER.

DR. HUNTER was born in Morgan county, Virginia, September 2d, 1837. His grandfather on his father's side was an Irishman, and settled in Virginia, where Dr. Hunter's father, William Hunter, was born. On the formation of Morgan out of Berkeley county, Virginia, William Hunter was the first sheriff of the new county. The name of Dr. Hunter's mother was Nancy Cox. She was descended from a family which settled at an early date near Hagerstown, Maryland. His uncle, Hiram Cox, learned the shoemaker's trade, emigrated to Ohio, studied medicine by himself, and was made Professor in the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati. He was appointed state inspector to report on the purity of liquors sold in Cincin- nati, and wrote a famous letter, stating that there was not a gallon of pure liquor to be found in Hamilton county. His son, cousin to Dr. Hunter, became a prominent lawyer, and is now judge of one of the Cincinnati courts. Dr. Hunter was raised and obtained his education at Bath, in Morgan county. He began the study of medicine in Virginia under Dr. Joseph Brown, and attended medical college in Cincinnati. He came to Greenfield, Illinois, in 1858, and the same year located in the old town of Summerville, and began practicing. In the year 1860 he removed to Nokomis, in Montgomery county. August 9th, 1862, he enlisted in the 126th Illinois regiment. From Mattoon, the regiment proceeded to Alton, and thence to the seat of war. Soon after entering the service he was detailed as assistant surgeon, and served in different regiments and hos- pitals. He was stationed at Jackson, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Little Rock,

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Arkansas, and other posts. The greater part of the time he had charge of the refugee hospital at Jackson under Gen. R. J. Oglesby's command. He received his discharge from the service by reason of disability at Little Rock, October 20th, 1863. Returning to Illinois he began practice at Fidelity, in Jersey county, where he remained till March 1, 1872, when he moved to Medora. This was immediately after the opening of the Rock- ford (now Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) railroad. He established a drug store, which he has carried on in connection with his practice. During part of the year 1876 he was post-master at Medora; 1872 to 1875 he was school director, and in 1874 was elected clerk of Medora. Since April, 1878, he has held the office of police magistrate. His wife, whom he married July 5th, 1859, was formerly Miss Nancy E. Eastham, daughter of Albert Eastham, one of the old settlers of Chesterfield township, and for many years justice of the peace. In politics he is a democrat, and is known as a man of enterprise and energy, and of decided convictions on all subjects.

JOHN RICHARDSON

WAS born at Hamilton, near Selby, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Eng- land, January 30th, 1820 His father died when he was two years old, and his mother married again John Birkby, who came over to Quebec and Mon- treal in 1831, and not liking the country, returned to England, where he re- ceived letters from Zachariah Scott, who had settled in Morgan county, Illinois, urging him to come to that county. Accordingly in May, 1832, the family sailed again from England, and settled three miles west of Jacksonville. Mr. Richardson was about twelve years old when he came to Morgan county. He married, Martha, daughter of Thomas Ronksley, on December 26th, 1842; she was born in March, 1826, at Stilly Bridge, fifteen miles from Manchester, England, and came to America in November, 1841. In 1844 he came to Chesterfield township. He now lives on section twenty- two, and owns 318 acres of land. He has always been a democrat, and voted for Van Buren for president. His eight children are Thomas B. Richardson, Mary Ann, wife of Henry Doughty ; Genevra, who mar- ried James Searles, and is now dead ; William Richardson, Elizabeth Frances deceased, and Priscilla. He is an old citizen and a good farmer.

EDMUND WILSON,

ONE of the the farmers of Chesterfield township, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, May 28th, 1836. His father was born and raised in Pennsyl- vania, and moved to Ohio. He married Sarah E. Lewis, who was descended from a Virginia family. Her uncle was Col. Lewis, a prominent man in Virginia before the revolutionary war, who gained great notoriety by his achievements as an Indian fighter, for which service the state erected a statue in his honor, which to this day stands in the city of Richmond, as a lasting memorial to the bravery of this man, one of Virginia's true and valiant sons.

When Mr. Wilson was a small child his father removed from Pickaway county to Franklin county, Ohio, and dealt largely in horses ; buying them up in the adjacent country, then taking them to eastern markets. They were generally sold in Philadelphia or Baltimore, as prices were better in these cities than in Cincinnati ; they were herded, and with the aid of a few young men to lead or drive, made their way tediously, and by casy stages through the forests and over the mountains intervening between the points of starting and destination. Mr. Wilson's father died when Edmund was only 14 years of age, in Urbana, Ohio. Edmund resided in Franklin county until he was 18 years of age, and then, in 1854, he moved to Christian county, Illinois, and employed himself at farming. On January 7th, 1857, he married Louisa Bell, who was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, and moved to Christian county, Illinois, and settled where is now the town of Palmer. After his marriage Mr. Wilson went to farming for himself, being so engaged for two years, when he went to Springfield, Illinois. In 1859 he began farming again in Christian county, and was at it when the late war

broke out. Being of a patriotic spirit, in July, 1861, he enlisted at Taylor- ville, and on the 5th of August was mustered into the service at Decatur, in company G, 41st Illinois Infantry volunteers. He reached St. Louis, August 12th, and from that city started for Bird's Point, Missouri, where after remaining some time he went to Paducah, Kentucky, and remained there until February 5th, 1862. On that day he left Paducah, and the next day he camped near Fort Henry. He took part in the famous battle which resulted in the capture of that stronghold. On the 12th of the same month the regiment was ordered to Fort Donelson, and was engaged in the battle in front of that fearfully stubborn array of breastworks, for three days and nights, commencing on the 13th. Even though fatigued, and having fought hard for nearly a week, the troops behaved nobly, and on the third day Fort Donelson's colors came down. On March 8th, the regiment was ordered back to Fort Henry, and on April 6th and 7th they participated in the battle of Shiloh. Mr. Wilson had passed through all the other battles un- scathed, but his good fortune here waned. On the first day of the battle, about 5 P. M., a flying piece of shell struck him on the elbow, completely shattering the whole lower arm ; it was amputated on the field, and he was moved to a temporary hospital at Savannah, Tennessee, twelve miles from the battle ground, where he remained until the middle of April, when he was sent to the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa. It took some time to re- cover, and he was honorably discharged June 14th, 1862.

Mr. Wilson then went back to Christian county, and lived there until the fall of 1863, when he bought out a grocery store at Carrollton, Greene county. When Carrollton was incorporated into a city, he was elected city marshal, and held that office for eight years. In 1875 he came to Macoupin county, and went to farming in Polk township. In the spring of 1879, he moved to his present location on section 26, in Chesterfield township. He has nine children, six boys and three girls. He has always been a republi- can in politics, and his first vote cast for president was in 1860, for Abra- ham Lincoln. His children are Nathan E., Hiram L., Francis M., Ulysses Grant, Lillie B., Edgar J., Frederick, Emma and Eva. The last two are twins. Mr. Wilson is a good citizen, and a man who in years to come, when this history comes to be read by children of future generations, will receive credit for his services in battling for his country, and in the loss of an arm, in one of the severest struggles of the entire war. He was elected justice of the peace in Polk township in 1877, but did not serve on account of his in- tending to leave the township. While at Carrollton he organized the firm of " Edmund Wilson & Co., Independent Detectives," and transacted a large amount of detective business ; arresting many criminals and traveling over a considerable portion of the country. At the present time he is a member of the Secret Service Company at Cincinnati.

THOMAS HODGSON

WAS born at Crowle, in Lincolnshire, England, November 25, 1826, son of John Hodgson and Mary Martindale. His grandfather, Thomas Hodgson, was of Scotch descent. He was raised on a farm in the vicinity of his birth- place. At Hull, England, April 30, 1851, he married Elizabeth Cawood, born in 1830, five miles from Goole, in Yorkshire. In the spring of 1852 he and his wife came to America, the voyage across in a sailing vessel requiring fifty-three days. He farmed fifteen months in Oxford county, Canada, then moved to Whiteside county, Michigan, where he bought eighty acres of land, nine miles from Toledo; in 1854 he removed to Ogle county, Illinois ; and in the fall of 1859 to Chesterfield township. When he came to the county he did not have enough money to pay for the forty acres of land be bought, but was industrious and economical, and now owns two hundred and fifty-five acres and the undivided one-fifth of three hundred and twenty acres additional. He has six children living and three deceased. Those living are Mary Ann, Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas Norton, Lois, Martha and Eunice. Sarah Elizabeth is the wife of Joseph Hightchew. He attends closely to his own business affairs and takes little interest in politics. When he votes he votes for the man rather than for party. He keeps his word, meets his obligations, and is a peaceable and useful citizen.

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I.S.

pirit, in July, 1861, he enlisted at Tarke- as mustered into the service at Decatsz. ntry volunteers. He reached St. Louis, started for Bird's Point, Missouri, where ut to Paducah, Kentucky, and remained In that day he left Paducah, and the Der: He took part in the famous battle which inghold. On the 12th of the same mosch Donelson, and was engaged in the bottle array of breastworks, for three days sud Even though fatigued, and having fought behaved nobly, and on the third day Fat n March 8th, the regiment was ordered ril 6th and 7th they participated in the I passed through all the other battles un- waned. On the first day of the battle. hell struck him on the elbow, completely it was amputated on the field, and he ws Savannah, Tennessee, twelve miles from inel until the middle of April, when be kuk, Iowa. It took some time to re arged June 14th, 1862.

"hristian county, and lived there until the t a grocery store at Carrollton, Greete corporated into a city, he was elected cir ight years. In 1875 he came to Macoupin olk township. In the spring of 1879, be section 26, in Chesterfield township. He ree girls. He has always been s republi- rast for president was in 1860, for Abra- athan E., Hiram L., Francis M., Ulpees rick, Emma and Eva. The last two are n. and a man who in years to come, when hildren of future generations, will receive r his country, and in the loss of an arna, in w entire war. He was elected justice of 7, but did not serve on account of his in- ile at Carrollton he organized the firm of ·lent Detectives," and transacted a large "ting many criminals and traveling over ry. At the present time he is a metaler Cincinnati.

$ HODGSON ry, England, November 25, 1826, som of le. His grandfather, Thomas Hodgeso. wed on a farm in the vicinity of his birth- ), 1×51, he married Elizabeth Camel, in Yorkshire. In the spring of 18523e "vage across in a sailing vessel requiring months in Oxford county, Canads, then wan, where he bought eighty acres of 54 he removed to Ogle county, Illinois; ield township. When he came to the y to pay for the forty acres of land be «ical, and now owns two hundred and -fifth of three hundred and twenty sores ug and three decensed. Those living mas Norton, Lois, Martha and Eunice Hightchew. He attends closely to bis interest in politics. When he votes be arty. He keeps his word, meete his til citizen.

"GREEN WOOD COTTAGE" THE PROPERTY OF J.R. CUNDALL, SEC.9. CHESTERFIELD TPMACOUPIN COILL.

THE FARM AND RESIDENCE OF MICHAEL SWANK , SEC. 12, SHIPMAN TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL

THE FARM & RESIDENCE OF THE LATE B. C. RHOADS, SEC. 15. SHIPMAN TP, MACOUPIN CO, ILL.

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DORCHESTER TOWNSHIP.

ORCHESTER township is bounded on the north by Gillespie, on the east by Staunton, on the south by Madison county, on the west by Bunker Hill township, and is described as town 7, range 7.

The principal streams are the Cahokia creek and the west fork of the Cahokia and its tributaries, which runs through the central part of the township from north to south ; there are also other small streams in the western part of the township, which run almost due south.

The land along these streams was formerly heavily timbered, consisting of the different kinds of oak, also hickory, cottonwood, etc. Although many acres have been cut off for fencing and other purposes, there is yet considerable timber in the township, and the excellent grass growing along the streamis affords an excellent opportunity for stock husbandry. The sur- face slopes southward.

Early Settlers .- The first settler was a man by the name of Williams, who came here in the latter part of the year 1818. He was a " squatter," and it is not known that he ever owned any land in the township. He moved to Missouri about 1833, as the country was becoming too thickly settled to suit him. His near neighbor was Tallamachus Camp, who lived in what is now known as Staunton township.

The first land entries are Oct. 9th, 1820, Richard Wilhelm, 80 acres in section 24; March 11th, 1829, Charles G. Spence, 40 acres in section 11; the third entry was made by Tallamachus Camp, January 25th, 1830. It was nearly eleven years after Mr. Williams came, before he had neighbors in the township besides the Indians.

In 1829, the following settlements were made: William McKenney, on section 11; Thomas Grant, section 35; John Funderburk, located on section 23; and, in 1830, they were followed by others, among whom were, Valen- tine Sawyer, who settled on section 13; William Davis, on section 22; Abra- ham Smith, on section 34; and, in 1831, Daniel B. Sawyer, settled on sec- tion 10; in 1832, Thomas Hart, on section 23; in 1833, Abraham Isaacs, on section 1; in 1834, John Walker, on section 16; in 1835, Joseph Walker, on section 35, and Cleveland Walker, on section 5; in 1836, David Bentley, on section 27; and, in 1837, Pana R. Hayden, on section 4, and Wm. Purdy, on section 23. At first, the settlers were confined to the tim- ber ; but, in time, the new comers began to push out upon the prairie.

The first settlers of this township experienced great hardships. The woods were full of wild beasts; and many times they would besiege the home of the pioneer, and often do serious damage. It is related, that, when Mr. Camp was coming home from mill, on horseback, with a bag of meal, he was overtaken by wolves; and, in jumping for him, they tore the bag with their teeth or claws to such an extent that he lost almost all his meal, and it was with the utmost difficulty that he protected himself and horse from a fearful death.

The first birth was one of Mr. Camp's children, in the year 1820. The first marriage took place between Daniel B. Sawyer and Miss Minerva Scroggins. The ceremony was performed by John A. Funderburk, justice of the peace.

The first deaths were the two children of Tallamachus Camp, from 1824 to 1826. They were buried on the farm, which was the commencement of the first cemetery in the township. Afterwards a few other persons were buried there, making in all twelve or fourteen. It has not been used as a burial-place for many years.

The first sermon was preached at Mr. Camp's house, in 1829, by a travel ing missionary of the Baptist church. There are now in the township two Christian and one Baptist church. Peter Long organized the first Baptist church in 1836. The first church edifice erected was the Christian church, at Round Prairie, on section 32, in 1852; and the first preachers were Robert Foster and Jonathan G. Wood. The first Sunday-school was organized about 1870, and was held in a school-house.

The first mill was built in 1839, on section 7, by Valentine Sawyer. It was a horse-mill. Every man did his own grinding, and gave one-eighth of the grain for toll.

The first school-house was built about 1839, on south-east quarter of see- tion 11. It was built of logs by the mutual consent and labor of the neigh- borhood. The first teacher was Jeremiah Wilcox. The first school trustees were Daniel B. Sawyer, Alexander Ness, and John Vincent.

The first post-office was kept by Wm. T. Keas, in the village of Dorchester. The first steam saw-mill was on section 24, erected about 1850.

The first improved cattle brought to the township was by Henry Bowers. In 1855 and '56 the Indianapolis and St. Louis R. R. was built, running through the north-west portion of the township, running cars in the fall of 1856 as far as Pana, and opening an avenue by which the farmers could ship their produce. A large amount of wheat and other grain, as well as live stock, are now shipped almost daily.

To show the resources of the township, we give the statistics from the assessor's book of 1879: Number of acres of improved lands, 13,988; value, $73,251 ; acres unimproved lands, 9,038; value, $25,682; total value of lands, 898,933; value of lots, $1,510. Of horses there are 495; value, 86,142; cattle, 715; value, 85,309; mules, 72; value, 8994; sheep, 671; value, $657 ; hogs, 1,192; value, 8833; 2 steam engines; 172 carriages and wagons, value, $1,244; 109 watches and clocks, 77 sewing machines, 5 pianos, 3 organs. The total cash value of all personal property is $19,378.

OFFICERS SINCE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

Supervisors .- Thomas J. Lukens, elected in 1871, and re-elected in 1872 and 1873; John R. Sawyer, elected in 1874, and re-elected in 1875, '76, '77, and '78; Josiah Sawyer, elected in 1879.

Town Clerk .- J. Sawyer, elected in 1871, and by re-election has held the office up to 1879.

Assessors .- D. Sawyer, elected in 1871, and held the office until 1876; J. W. Turk, elected in 1877, and by re-election held the office up to 1879.

Collectors .- J. R. Sawyer, elected in 1871; D. R. Hawkins, elected in 1872; J. A. Ward, elected in 1873, and re-elected in 1874, and held the office up to 1879.

Justices of the Peace .- P. Conrad and I. W. Hutchinson, elected in 1871; P. Conrad and W. B. Spruill, elected in 1873; W. B. Spruill and T. Swain, present incumbents.

Constables .- I. K. Wayne and J. H. Walker, elected in 1871; I. K. Wayne and T. Swain, elected in 1873; T. J. Sawyer, elected in 1876; T. J. Sawyer and S. Mize, elected in 1877 ; I. K. Wayne, elected in 1878.

Commissioners of Highways .- 1871, Nathan Smith, Schuyler Isom, Richard Hawkins; 1872, Samuel Pence; 1873, John Williamson; 1874, Nathan Smith; 1875, Jacob Perine; 1876, Absalom Digmon ; 1877, Henry K. Isaacs ; 1878, Nathan Smith, Peter Conrad; 1879, R. Lee.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

THE VILLAGE OF DORCHESTER

Is situated on sections 4 and 5 in Dorchester township, and sections 32 and 33 in Gillespie township. Wineman avenue is the principal street, and is on the township line. It was called Dorchester in memory of Dorchester Heights ; the township of Dorchester took its name from the village.

Alonzo Cuttler was the original proprietor of the town, through whose efforts it received a railroad station, on the Indianapolis and St. Louis R. R. The survey was conducted by Fletcher H. Chapman in 1859. In the spring of 1861 was laid out what is known as P. R. Hayden's first addition, which joined the south-east side of the town. In 1866 Hayden's second addition was added. The depot was built in the spring of 1861. The first building was a small warehouse ; the second building, and first used for a dwelling and store, was built and occupied by Wm. Whitfield in the spring of 1861, and is the house where Terteman Myer now lives. In the summer of 1860 Mr. Hayden built a side-track on the south side of the railroad, and put up a small warehouse for buying grain, and it was rented to B. F. Williamson, who occupied it until the spring of 1861, when Mr. Hayden took possession of it. The first car-load of produce was delivered by Mr. Hayden in the fall of 1860.

The first hotel was erected by Thomas Potts, in 1866.

The first marriage celebrated was that of Mr. Duncan to Miss S. Grant. The Methodist Church was erected in 1868, and the first preacher was Rev. Morris ; and Mr. Gill the first Sunday-school superintendent.

The Christian Church was erected in 1874. The first preacher was Rev. David Davis, and the first Sunday-school superintendent was Jas. Masters.

Before either of the churches were built both denominations held service in a hall owned by P. R. Hayden.

A comfortable school-house was built in 1869. It contains two recitation rooms, two side rooms (now used as clothes-rooms by the children), and Masonic Hall upon the second floor, which occupies about two-thirds of its space. The first teacher was James Avers.

The population of the town is about 350. The present business places are,-

Dry Goods .- Meyer & Bro. Notions .- Joseph Melligan. Hardware,- William Smith. Wheelwright .- Charles J. Thuer.

Those just mentioned are in Gillespie township. Of those in Dorchester township we find,-

Post-master and Station Agent .- William Keas. Grain Merchant .- H. H. Beach. Hotel and Saloon .- Nicholas Henrion. Drug Store .- Dr. Black. Boot and Shoe Store .- Charles F. Ostermeyer. Blacksmith .- Charles A. Hoffmann. Grocery Store .- Tibold Schnieder.

The present preacher at the M. E. Church is Rev. Massey. The Sunday-school contains about 45 scholars. Mr. W. Scarritt is superintend- ent. The present preacher at the Christian Church is Rev. Groner. The Sunday-school numbers about 70 scholars. The superintendent is Snoden Simmons.

The town is built on high prairie. A lasting supply of water is obtained in digging from 15 to 30 feet. The buildings are all frame, except five dwelling-houses, which are of brick. The town is surrounded by a good farming community, and its people are intelligent and enterprising.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THOMAS J. LUKEN.

THE Luken family is of German descent. The first member of the family to emigrate to America settled in Pennsylvania in the neighborhood of Phila- delphia, and afterwards some of the Lukens removed to a broken region of country in Mifflin county in the same state. In the neighborhood of Mifflintown, David Luken, father of the subject of this biography, was born. He married Prudence Macklin, who was of Irish ancestors, and in 1830 moved to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, to a farm on the summit of the Allegheny mountains, where he lived till 1837 and then brought his family to Illinois. They reached Alton, April 19, 1838, and in a few months afterward bought a small farm in Madison county, about five miles south of Bunker Hill. Mr. Luken's father moved to Dorchester township in 1854, and died February 19, 1862. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and while living in Pennsylvania was an officer in the militia service.

Thomas J. Luken was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1835, and consequently was about two years of age when he came to Illinois, and nineteen when he became a resident of Macoupin county. He began farming where he now lives in 1857. In the spring of 1860 he went to Col- orado, where he was engaged in mining gold about one year, and then return- ed to Macoupin county, and resumed farming. April 4, 1861, he married Margaret Muir, daughter of Andrew Muir. Mrs. Luken was born in Ayr- shire, Scotland, in 1840, and came to America in 1842. At the time of her marriage she was living with her grandfather, John Patrick. Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Luken five are living, viz: Mary P., Ida Viola, Fernando B., Jennie E., and Thomas Howard. Maggie L. was the name of the one deceased. Mr. L. owns two hundred acres of land in Dorchester

township and one hundred and sixty in Honey Point township. He is known as a public-spirited man, and is one of the influential Democrats of his part of the county. He was elected in 1871 the first supervisor from Dorchester township, and served as such for three successive terms, and on being elected a fourth time resigned the position. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors during the period when the United States Courts attempted to compel a levy of a tax with which to pay the Court-house bonds, and with other members of the Board resisted every movement looking to the payment of that debt. He was one of the seven- teen members of the Board who refused to obey the mandamus of the United States Circuit Court requiring a levy of a tax, and in consequence were fined one thousand dollars each.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 57

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

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