History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 59

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

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 59

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BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

MASONIC -* Grand Lodge No. 171, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation, May, 28, 1855.

First Officers were-Fountain Jones, W. M .; Alfred S. Mayfield, S. W .; M. C. Brelsford, J. W .; Thomas M. Metcalf, S. D .; B. A. Boston, J. D .: A. H. Corman, Secty .; Thomas W. McBride, Treas .; George C. Shackle- ford, Tyler.

This Lodge is prosperous and out of debt, and owns one half of the hall where its meetings are held. The hall is a brick structure 33 by 70 feet. It is said of this Lodge that it ranks one of the best working Lodges in this Grand Jurisdiction. There is also a CHAPTER in this place.

Girard Lodge No. 192, I. O. O. F., was instituted December 19, 1855.

Charter Members-Nathan Savage, N. H. Eaves, L. C. Collins, E. Smith, N. F. Horn and Geo. Harlan.

First Officers-N. Savage, N. G. ; L. C. Collins, V. G .; E. Smith, Treas. ; N. H. Eaves, P. Secty. ; Isaac Heaton, R. Secty.

Fidelity Lodge K. of H. No. 1069. The Lodge comprises a membership of 52; was organized May 17, 1878, with thirty-one charter members.

The present Officers at this writing are-C. E. Burnett, Dictator; J C. Beeby, Vice-Dictator ; W. W. Bristow, Asst. Dictator ; G. A. Post, Re- porter; C. H. Metcalf, Financial Reporter; B. F. Clark, Treas. ; W. T. Bristow, Chaplain ; G. B. Weed, Guide; Thomas Rollins, Guardian ; Robert Womach, Sentinel. The Lodge is in a healthy condition.

# For the above information we are indebted to the Secretaries.

We subjoin the following list of officers since township organization. :- SUPERVISORS.

J. D. Metcalf, elected in 1872; J. P. Wiley, elected in 1873; Michael Brown, elected in 1874; re-elected in 1875 and 1876; Wm. E. Eastham, elected in 1877 ; re-elected in 1878; C. C. Armstrong, elected in 1879.

TOWN CLERKS.

A. O. Bailey, elected in 1872; F. Rothgeber, elected in 1873, and re- elected in 1874; L. Huff, elected in 1875; F. L. Thompson, elected in 1876 ; F. J. Hoover, elected in 1877, and re-elected in 1878; J. King, elected in 1879.

ASSESSORS.

J. M. Mizner, elected in 1872; J. Heaton, elected in 1873, and re-elected in 1874, 1875 and 1876; G. K. Yerrington was elected in 1877 and by re- election has held the office since.

COLLECTORS.

F. J. Woolley, elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873 and 1874; H. C. Bradley, elected 'in 1875, and re-elected in 1876; G. B. Weed, elected in 1877, and re-elected 1878; H. H. Ross, elected in 1879.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

M. M. Duncan and F. J. Woolley, elected in 1873 ; W. F. Sprouse, elected in 1874; W. C. Thompson, elected in 1876; E. A. Eastham and J. F. Woolley, elected in 1877.

CONSTABLES.

F. J. Woolley, elected in 1872; G. G. King and H. C. Bradley, elected in 1873; W. D. Peck, elected in 1874; C. Leigh, elected in 1875; F. J. Woolley, elected in 1876; T. F. Wood and G. A. Byor, elected in 1877.

COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.

1872, Isaac Heaton, William Lancaster, W. T. Huff; 1873, W. T. Huff; 1874, Isaac Heaton ; 1875, S. E. Cripe, L. J. Bradley ; 1876, W. T. Huff; 1877, Jolin A Kime; 1878, C. W. Miner ; 1879, W. T. Huff.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN B. SMALLEY

WAS born in Somerset county, New Jersey, Sept. 26th, 1808. David D. Smalley, his father, was a native of the same state. He married Mary Blackford, who was also a native of New Jersey. The brothers of David D. were soldiers of the war of 1812. The subject of our sketch at- tended the common-schools of his native state. He remained at home until he was in his twentieth year, when his father died. He then went to Alle- ghany county, New York, where he remained one year, then returned home, and stayed one year. The next year he again returned to New York, and in the following spring went down the Ohio river to Cincinnati. In the spring of 1831 he engaged in general merchandize, and also kept a wood yard for boats. In the winter of 1831-32, the ice destroyed his boats, and the following spring, the freshets destroyed his wood-yard. From these causes he was compelled to suspend business. He then went to Greenville, where he attended school for some time, after which, he returned to New York and then to New Jersey, and remained there until 1838. During this time he was engaged for the greater part of the time in teaching school. In the year, last above mentioned, he came to Illinois and stopped in Greene county, where he taught school for a short time, when he in connection with his brother went into the hat business. He continued thus engaged for several years, when he sold out and went back to school teaching, at

which he continued until 1846.

In the spring of that year, he came to Woodburn, in Macoupin county, where he taught school for one season. In the spring of 1847 he married Sarah Wood, and the same year went to farming. His wife died in 1849. In 1852 he married again. His second wife died in September, 1854. In 1856 he married Sophreina Arnold. She died in April, 1878. Six children living by the last wife and one child, a girl, by his second wife. In 1850 he entered a quarter section in section 27- 12-6, and in 1858 moved into Girard, and engaged in general merchandiz- ing selling out a stock of goods that he had traded a farm for in Mont- gomery county. He removed the stock from Litchfield to Girard. He closed out the stock in 1859, after which, he commenced improving his farm. He lived on his farm temporarily until 1874, when he moved to his pre- sent residence.

The Smalley family are of Scotch descent, the ancestors of whom came to America as early as 1660. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a captain in the continental service under Gen. Washington, during the revolution. In politics Mr. Smalley is an old Jacksonian democrat. He voted for Old Hickory in 1832, and ever since has voted the straight demo- cratic ticket. Mr. Smalley is an old resident of the county. He enjoys the respect and esteem of his large circle of acquaintances and friends.

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FARM RESIDENCE OF J. B. SMALLEY, SEC. 27. GIRARD TP, MACOUPIN CO., ILL.

FARM RESIDENCE OF JOHN W. THACKER . SEC. 33. GIRARD TP. MACOUPIN CO., ILL

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

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W.E. Eusthum

WAS born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, in 1828. The Easthams were originally from Culpepper Court House, Virginia. The family on the ma- ternal side emigrated to Kentucky long before the state was admitted into the Union, and at the time when it was necessary to live in stations and block houses, in order to protect themselves against the Indians. They lived in what was then known as Carpenter's and Mckinney's station. Edward Eastham, the grandfather of Wm. E., emigrated to Kentucky in 1791, one year after the state was admitted into the Union. James Easthan, his son, and grandfather of William E., was born in Kentucky. He mar- ried Nancy Helm, also a native of the same state. She was a daughter of George Helm, and was born in 1799. Ten children were born to them ; six boys and four girls, seven of whom are living; all of them reached the age of maturity before dying. James Z. died from disease contracted while in the service, in the line of his duty during the late war. In 1851, James Eastham came to Macoupin county, and the next year he returned to Kentucky for the purpose of going into business at Louisville, and while there was taken with cholera, and died the same year. He was buried by the Masonic fraternity, of which body he was during life an influential and honored member. His wife, and mother of the subject of this sketch, still resides in Girard, a hale hearty woman, of four-score years. Wm. E. learned the carpenter trade in Danville, Ky., and worked at it from 1847 to 1851, when he left Kentucky and removed to Otter Creek, Macoupin county, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Girard, and engaged in the drug and clothing business. He opened the first drug store in the town of Girard. He afterwards engaged in general merchandize and trading, until April, 1861, when he enlisted under the ten regiment bill, and on the 25th of May, 1861, he was mustered into the service. He raised a company with

his private means. It became a part of the 14th Regiment, Illinois vols., as company C. The regiment was commanded by Col. John M. Palmer.

Mr. Eastham was twice elected Captain of the company, but twice refused the honor, in order that it might be bestowed upon a friend. Lieut. East- ham remained in the service nearly two years, when he returned home and engaged again in mercantile business and general trading until 1867, when he leased the Girard coal mines, and engaged in coal mining, for a time, since which time he has been settling up his business. As before stated, Mr. Eastham came to Girard in 1853. He has been more or less prominently identified with every enterprise having for its object the increase of the material wealth of his town or locality. He built some of the first houses in the town, and was also a member of the first town board, and assisted in drafting the first ordinance for the village of Girard. In 1877 he was elected to represent his township in the Board of Supervisors, and in 1878, was re-elected to the same position. While in the Board he was an influential member. He was chairman of the committee on funding Court House Bonds, and also chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He by his counsel and advice aided greatly in settling the Court House question. In offices of trust he is well known for his honesty and probity of character, and although a man of strong attachments for his friends, yet in matters of pub- lie concern he sacrifices personal friendships when they conflict with the strict line of his duty as a public servant. In politics he is an unswerving democrat, but was up to the breaking out of the war a Henry Clay Whig, when he joined the democratic party, and since 1860 has voted that ticket without a scratch. Mr. Eastham is a kind-hearted gentleman. All who come in contact with him, admire his sterling qualities.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

JAMES D. METCALF

WAS born in Hawkins county, Kentucky, May 12th, 1834. William Met- calf, his father, was a native of Virginia. The family is of Scotch ancestry. William Metcalf married Huldah Davis, who was born in Kentucky. Ten children were born to them, six of whom are still living. Mr. Metcalf left Kentucky in the spring of 1835, and settled in the western part of Macoupin county ; here he purchased land and remained for two or three years, when he removed to Greene county, and remained until the spring of 1857, when he came to Girard, 1874; from here moved to South Otter town- ship, where he and his aged wife still reside. The subject of our sketch re- ceived a fair education in the common schools of Greene county. At the age of eighteen years he entered Shurtleff college, at Upper Alton, where he remained one term, after which he taught one term of school in Greene county, and the next winter following taught one term in Arkansas. In 1853 he returned to Greenfield, where, in connection with his brother, T. M. Metcalf, he engaged in general mercantile business, at which he remained until the summer of 1855, when he tried farming one year in Western Mound township. In November, 1856, he came to Girard, and opened up a drug store, at which he continued, by himself and in connection with others, until 1868, when he sold out and engaged in the lumber business. One year later he went back to the drug and grocery business, at which he continued until 1875, when he was elected president of the Girard Banking Company. Since that time he has devoted almost all of his attention to the banking business, and under his skillful and safe management the Bank has done a thriving business, and become one of the safest in the county. On the 1st of June, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Brunette, daughter of Dr. G. B. Mason, of Greene county, Illinois. Eight children have been born to them, five of whom are living. Charles, the eldest son, is married and engaged in business in Girard, and the rest are still beneath the parental roof. In politics Mr. Metcalf is republican. He cast his first vote for Fill- more, in 1856. In his township and town he has been frequently elected to positions of trust. At the first election held under the township organiza- tion, he was elected to represent his township-Virden-in the Board of Supervisors. During that term he succeeded in getting the township of Virden divided, and the next year was elected supervisor of Girard township. He has held the office of president of the town board of trustees and school director, for several terms each. In 1876 he was a candidate for the office of representative of legislature for this district, but was defeated in the nominating convention. Both he and his excellent wife have been mem- bers of the Christian church, since 1856. He has been an elder in that church for the last eight years.

Mr. Metcalf is an old resident of Girard. In fact, he came to the town when it was in its infancy. He was a member of the first village board, and a director when the first school-house was built. He has been since then identified with every enterprise that had for its object the increase of the material wealth and progress of Girard and vicinity. In the business of life Mr. Metcalf has been more than ordinarily successful, which he attri- butes to certain rules he adopted for business life, and to which he has rigid- ly adhered, and those were, never to contract beyond his ability to pay, and always to meet obligations promptly. A rigid adherence to these simple rules will, in the end, bring success.

In his manners Mr. Metcalf is a plain, quiet, unassuming gentleman. He has many warm friends in the community where he is best known, all of whom vouch for his personal integrity and character as a man and citizen.

HORACE E. RUTHERFORD

WAS born in Girard township, Macoupin county, Illinois, December 9th, 1852; his father, Julius Rutherford, was also a native of Illinois. He mar- ried Malinda Landon, who was a native of the state of Vermont. . The Landons settled in Jersey county, and are an influential family. Four children were born to them, two boys and two girls. The father died in 1856; after his death, his wife, and mother of the subject of the present sketch, married David McGee. Five children were the fruits of this latter mar- riage, two of whom are now living. Horace E. Rutherford spent his boyhood days in the common schools, and when at the age of sixteen years, he entered the Normal school at Normal, Illinois, where he remained a year and a half, after which he entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, remaining one and a half years. His object was to fit him-

self for the profession of teaching. After he left the Normal school in Kirksville he went to Texas and taught school one year ; he then returned home and went to Greene county and taught school for one term, after which he abandoned teaching and engaged in farming. He found this more profit- able, and it suited him much better. In the spring of 1874 he commenced farming on section five ; in 1876 he purchased his present residence and five acres of land, near the town of Girard, where he at present resides. On the 31st of August, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Mima King. She was born in Palmyra, Macoupin county. The King family were natives of Kentucky; Mrs. King was a Stidley before her marriage, and was a native of Ohio. Two children have been born to Horace and Mima Rutherford- Cecil and Daisy. In polities Mr. Rutherford is a democrat, and cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden, in 1876. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows' order. His mother, Mrs. McGee, is still living at the old homestead. Addie and Drueilla Rutherford, his sisters, remain with her, and Edgar J., his brother, is a merchant in the western part of Kansas. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch is still living, and at present is a resident of Jer- sey county, Illinois; he has nearly reached one hundred years of age. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was a large land owner in this county, and is now possessed of large landed property in Jersey county. Mr. Ruther- ford's step-father, McGee, died in June, 1876. He was one of the first set- tlers of Girard township ; he was known as Squire McGee. He was widely known and respected, and was Justice of the Peace for many years.

C. C. ARMSTRONG

Is a native of Illinois. His grandfather, Joshua Armstrong, was one of the pioneers of the state who came here some years before Illinois was admitted into the Union. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the war of 1812, and was ranger in Illinois from 1812 until the Indians were driven from the southern part of the state. Prior to his coming to Illinois he had removed to Kentucky, and in the year above mentioned he settled in what is now known as Madison county, Illinois. His son Maurice, and father of the present sketch, was born in Kentucky in 1800. Joshua Arm- strong remained where he first settled, in Madison county, until 1824, when he removed with his family to Jersey county, near Fielding, where the old pioneer and soldier remained until his death. Maurice married Elizabeth Sims, while he was yet a resident of Madison county. She is still living, a resident of Girard, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. There were twelve children born to them, seven boys and five girls, four of whom are living. The subject of our sketch is the youngest one living. The father was a farmer by occupation. He remained in Jersey county until 1855,

when he removed to Girard where he remained until his death in 1876. C. C. Armstrong was born in Jersey county, January 2d, 1837 ; he attended the common schools of his native county during the winter months, and re- ceived the rudimentary parts of an education which he has since improved by extensive reading and a close observation of men and things. On the 13th of November, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Fanny B. Weed. She is a native of Alton, Illinois. Her father was a native of Connecticut, and her mother of Pennsylvania. Six children have blessed this union, four of whom are living. In 1859 he entered the mercantile business in Girard, and has continued without interruption in business up to the present time. He is the oldest merchant in the town, having been continually in business for twenty years. In 1870 he added drugs to family groceries, and since that time has carried on both branches of the business. In politics he is a democrat. He has been honored with offices of trust in the local gov- ernment of his town, and at the present represents his township in the Board of Supervisors. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is now high-priest of the Chapter at Girard. As a man and a citizen Mr. Armstrong is universally respected.

ROBERT J. WALKER

WAS born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of November, 1840. Wm. Walker, his father, was a native of the same state. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He married Miss Shoup, who was of German an- cestry. There were three children by this marriage, two boys and one girl. Robert J. is the eldest in the family. The sister died when she was in her seventeenth year. George S., the younger brother, is still a resident of Pennsylvania. The mother died in 1845. After the death of his wife the

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

father married Elizabeth Hartswick. From this union there has been three children. He was a ship carpenter, and worked at his trade in Phila- delphia. In 1837 he removed to Lock Haven, and died in June, 1878. After the death of his mother, Robert J. went to his uncle, Robert Walker, and remained with him until he was fifteen years of age. He spent his boyhood days in going to school and working upon the farm, and at the age of fifteen he went to work in a flouring mill as an apprentice, where he remained one year. When he was eighteen years of age, he came west to Dayton, Ohio. He remained there but a short time, and then went to Osborne, in Greene county, where he entered as an apprentice, and served four years. This brings the life of the subject of our sketch up to the breaking out of the war.

The call for six hundred thousand men was made by President Lincoln in 1862. Mr. Walker responded to the call, and enlisted in Company " A," 94th Regiment Ohio Volunteers, under command of Col. Frazee. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Riqua, and from there was ordered to Covington, Ky., thence to Lexington. The regiment was first under fire at Richmond, Ky. Mr. Walker was not in this engagement. He rejoined the regiment at Louisville, where it was brigaded with the 38th Indiana, 2d and 33d Ohio, and 10th Wisconsin regiments. The brigade formed a part of the First Division, under command of Gen. Rosencrans, and was attached to the Fourteenth Army Corps, under command of Gen. George H. Thomas. The regiment took part in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Pigeon Moun- tain, and Chickamauga. At the last battle the brigade was so terribly cut up that it lost its identity as a brigade, and was re-brigaded with the 104th Illinois, 21st Wisconsin, and 42d Indiana regiments. The command still remained in the Fourteenth Army Corps. The regiment afterwards engaged in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, and Resaca. In the latter battle the regiment sustained a loss of fifty-two men killed in almost an instant. At the battle of Chattanooga the regiment also lost heavily. After that it was engaged in almost a continued skirmish up to the siege and capture of Atlanta. At the latter place Gen. Thomas was relieved, and Gen. Sherman took command of the forces. The regiment was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and participated in the battles of Black River, and Bentonville, and was mustered out in August, 1865, at the close of the war, at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Walker was in the service three years and fourteen days, and escaped unscathed, but received a shock by the concussion of a shell.

After the war closed, Mr. Walker went to Leavenworth, Kansas. He soon afterward returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained a short time, and then came to Bellville, Illinois, and in the fall of 1866 came to Carlin- ville, and worked in a mill for six months, and then came to Virden, where he was similarly employed. He afterwards worked at the carpenter trade, and. tried farming for several years. In February, 1868, he was married to Miss Lucy Williams, daughter of James Williams, Sr. She is a native of Greene county, Illinois. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and an old settler of the state. Four children have been born to them; three boys and one girl. In 1875, Mr. Walker came to the Girard mills, and fifteen months later was made Superintendent, and on the 29th of March, 1818, he became half owner of the mills. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abe Lincoln in 1864. He was formerly a democrat, but after he went into the service he became a republican, and . has remained a member of that political organization up to the present time.

He also is a member of the Masonic order. Mr. Walker is regarded as a thorough and honorable business man, and as such enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

JESSE W. WOODROOF

WAS born in Bedford county, Virginia, January 17th, 1819. Edmund Lee Woodroof, his father, was also a native of the same state. He married Mary Reynolds, who was a near relative of the Lees, a family famous in the history of Virginia. The subject of our sketch is the eldest in a family of nine children, five of whom have survived the parents. The elder Wood roof remained in Virginia until the fall of 1834, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Macoupin county, near where the town of Gillespie now stands; where he remained until October 8th, 1858, when he was killed by the kick of a horse. His wife, and mother of Jesse W., remained there until about five years ago, when she removed to Girard, where she at present resides.

The subject of our sketch spent a small portion of his boyhood days in the schools of his native state, and received about nine months' schooling all told. This was the sum total of all his educational advantages. He re- mained at home until 1843, when, on the 27th day of December, of that year, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara H. Hartwell. She was a native of Boston, Mass. Her parents came to Illinois in 1835, and settled at what is now known as Dry Point. In 1843, he entered eighty acres of land in Gillespie township, and the same year commenced its improvement ; and built a house on it, and moved into it in the spring of 1845. He after- wards added two more eighties to it, and cultivated it until the summer of 1850, when he removed to Carlinville, where he built a store-house, and then went to St. Louis and purchased a stock of general merchandise. He re- mained in Carlinville until 1853, when the Chicago and Alton railroad was completed to the place where Girard now stands. Here he also erected a store-house,-which was the second building in the town,-and commenced again the merchandizing business. He also built the first warehouse in the town. In 1856, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Nil- wood township, and opened it up and improved it. In 1854 and '55, he commenced dealing in grain, and continued it for several years. In 1855, he sold out his stock of goods, and continued farming and purchasing grain for about seven years. In 1861, he moved on his farm, and remained there until 1868, when he sold out and came to Girard. He afterwards pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Montgomery county, which he still retains. In 1869, he erected the Farmers' Mills and Eleva- tors, and commenced operating them January 1st, 1870. This has been his principal business up to the present time, in which he has been very suc- essful. One child, a daughter, Emily, has been born to them. She is still beneath the parental roof.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 59

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

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