History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 72

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

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 72

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).

THOMAS B. RICE.

JUDGE RICE, one of the old settlers in the neighborhood of Medora, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, April 17th, 1806. His ancestors were residents of Virginia from the first settlement of the state. His grand- father, James Rice, resided in Culpepper county. His father, James Brown Rice, was born in Culpepper county, and was sixteen or seventeen years of age when he enlisted in the Continental army, during the Revolutionary war. He served during the closing years of that memorable struggle, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He had a distinct recollection of witnessing the landing of Lafayette and other French of- ficers on their arrival to assist the American army in the siege. After the Revolution Judge Rice's father and grandfather went to Kentucky when it was still a wild and unsettled country. His father returned to Virginia, and, in Culpepper county, married Susan Wallace, daughter of John Wal- lace. She was born in Culpepper county, on a farm which lay along the Rapidan river, at Raccoon ford, thirty miles above Fredericksburg. Thos. B. Rice was the fourth of ten children. His birth-place was at the little town of Millwood, within two or three miles of the Shenandoah river, and twelve miles from Winchester. His father was at one time a man of some property, but had become one of the securities on a delivery bond, a cir- cumstance which unfortunately swept away all his means. Judge Rice was obliged to work hard on the farm, and had but limited opportunities for getting an education. After reaching his majority he was employed for five years in overseeing and managing the farm of Bushrod Rust. April 17th, 1823, he married Mahala Farrow, who was born in Culpepper county, Vir- ginia, December 22d, 1807. Her father was William Farrow, and the fam- ily had resided for a long number of years near Flint Hill, now in Rappa- hannock county, Virginia.

He afterward carried on the saddle and harness business at Upperville, & little town lying near the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, in Fauquier county, Virginia. His shop burned down in the spring of 1835, and he determined at once on coming to Illinois. He settled at Rhoads' Point, and the next year (1836) moved to his present residence in section 6, township 8, range 9. He entered two hundred and forty-two acres of land, and began improving it. Part of the log house, which he built in 1836, is still stand- ing, and forms part of his present residence. His settlement was on a much traveled thoroughfare, and from the first he considered that at some future time a town would be built in the vicinity. When the Rockford & Rock Island Railroad was surveyed and graded, he filed the first plat of the town of Medora, and in 1871 on the completion of the road made a second addi- tion to the town. He was chiefly instrumental in building the first mill ever erected in Medora, and from that time has been more or less interested in the milling business. His ten children are all living. Susan C. married John Cleaver, and now resides in Oregon ; John W. Rice is engaged in the milling business at Medora; Elizabeth S. is the wife of Imri B. Vancil of North Palmyra township; James Washington Rice is farming in Chester- field township; Thomas Brown Rice, Jr., is a resident of Medora; Mary Virginia is the wife of H. W. Westbrook of St. Louis; Stephen F. Rice lives at Medora ; Amanda M. is the wife of John Payne. The other chil- dren are Emma A. and Charles A. Rice. Four were born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and the remainder in Macoupin county.

In politics he has been a democrat. As a private citizen he has com- manded the respect of the community, and is known as a man of personal honesty and undoubted integrity. He was elected county judge in 1862, and served two terms. As a public officer he advocated economy and freeing the county of debt, as rapidly as possible. When he first went into office county orders sold at from sixty-five to seventy-five cents on the dollar, and under the measures instituted by the new board of county judges they advanced to ninety-five cents. His administration received the popular approval, and

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

he was re-elected to a second term, but declined to be a candidate for a third election. He was post-master at Medora for a number of years. He is one of the old residents of the county, and one whose life has been beneficial in developing its resources and contributing to its prosperity. He and his wife have spent together over fifty years of married life, and have raised a large family, among the members of which not a single death has occurred. Since 1836 he and his wife have been members of the United Baptist church, in which he has held the office of deacon. He was clerk of the church at Rhoads' Point till within a few years, when his disability to do much writing caused his resignation of the position.

THOS. H. STRATTON

WAS born in Robinson county, Tennessee, October 6th, 1823. Robinson Stratton, his father, was a native of Virginia. On the paternal side the family were of English ancestry, and on the maternal Welsh. Robinson Stratton married Nancy Miles. She was a native of North Carolina. Six children were born to them, four of whom are living. The father died in Tennessee in 1834; the mother died in Macoupin county at the residence of her son Thomas in 1850.

The subject of our sketch had the advantage of a good education in his boyhood. He remained at home until after his father's death in 1834, when, in company with his mother, he came to Illinois the year following, and settled in the community in which he now resides. They were induced to come here on account of their relative, Colonel Miles. Thomas worked upon a farm for some time, after which he bought land, and continued the cultivation of the soil up to the present time. On the 6th of November, 1855, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Elworthy, who is a native of Somersetshire, England. She is the daughter of James and Nancy El- worthy. They emigrated to America and settled in Macoupin county in 1842. Nine children have been born to them, eight of whom are living- five boys and three girls. Nancy L. married Alonzo Florida, who is a farmer and a resident of Jersey county, Illinois. In politics Mr. Stratton is a democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk in 1844, and since that time has adhered to that party. He is not a member of any church organi- zation, nor does he subscribe to any of the formulated creeds. He has been successful in life so far as the accumulation of this world's goods are con- cerned, and he also has the proud consciousness of knowing that all was

secured by his own toil, industry and frugality. In the community he is re- garded as an honorable man and estimable citizen.

CHARLES EDWARD WALES

WAS born in Addison county, Vermont, on the 17th of September, 1825. Charles Wales his father, was also a native of the same state. On the pa- ternal side, the family are of English ancestry. The father married Ele- thier Brittell. She was of French ancestry. Six children were born to them ; five of whom are living. Five have survived the parents. In 1845 Charles Wales removed with his family, and settled in Greene county Il- linois, where he remained until 1849, when he came to Macoupin county, and settled in T. 8, R. 9, and remained here until his death, in December, 1865. The mother survived him two years, dying in 1867. Mr. Wales re- ceived an excellent English education in the schools of his native state. After his removal to Illinois, he taught school for fifteen terms. Since that time his principal business has been farming and stock-raising. He is a republican in politics. In 1872 he was elected supervisor of his township, and in 1873, was re-elected. He was re-elected, in 1878 and 1879, and is the present incumbent. During the war he was a member of company " H." 133d regiment, Illinois volunteers infantry, Col. Phillips commanding. He is at present president of the bank of Medora.

CHARLES C. RHOADS.

WAS the third son of Henry and Mary Rhoads. He was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, August 11th, 1824, and came to Illinois with his parents in 1830. They first stopped in Jersey county, where they remained until April, 1831. Then they removed to Macoupin county, and commenced farming. Charles C. Rhoads was married to Miss Emeline Dorr, on the 15th day of March, 1846.

Soon after their marriage they moved and settled on a farm on section 17, in Shipman township, where he still remains.

Mrs. Rhoads died September 15, 1872. He then married Mrs. Ellen Randolph, who was formerly Miss McDow. This marriage took place October 9, 1873. Mr. Rhoads has always been engaged in farming and stock- raising, in which he has been very successful. He and Mrs. Rhoads have been members of the Baptist church for many years. He may be properly classe i among the early settlers of Macoupin county.

SCOTTVILLE TOWNSHIP.

S COTTVILLE TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by Morgan county, on the east by North Palmyra township, on the south by Barr township, and on the west by Greene county, and is known as town 12, range 9. The surface is, undulating, and is composed of timber and prairie land. The soil is fertile and in a good state of culti- vation. It is drained by Apple, Panther, and Turner's creeks and their tributaries on the north ; the south-eastern is drained by Joe's creek and its branches ; the south-west by Big Nigger creek and its affluents .*

The first settler of this township was Andrew Hettick, a native of Penn- sylvania, who had previously lived in the American bottom in Madison county, Illinois. He, with his wife and six children, came here and settled at the head of Negro Lick in the year 1825, on the farm now owned by his son, Stephen Hettick. He erected a small log-cabin, which was the first building in the township. His nearest neighbor was Edw. Prather, of Greene

county, who lived eleven miles distant. Mr. Hettick occupied his spare hours in shooting deer, wild turkey, and prairie chickens, as well as trap- ping for mink, musk-rat, and otter, all of which were to be found in abun- dance along the waters of Nigger and Apple creeks; game of the above kind was found quite plentiful for about twenty years after the settlement. Rattle-snakes, of the large or timber kind, inhabited a den on the bluffs of Panther creek, and in the spring of each year much of the time of the early settlers was occupied in destroying them. After killing thousands and destroying their hiding-places during the winters for many years, they have succeeded so well in their work of destruction that scarcely a rattle-snake is to be found in the township at the present time, excepting those small prairie snakes found in plowing up old meadows. After Mr. Hettick and family had lived in their secluded cabin for three years, they were greatly rejoiced to find others settling around them.

The first land entry was made by Isaac E. Pruitt, on the W. N. W. and E. N. E. eighties, section 28, on March 21st, 1828; the second entry, by

* For many of the facts in this sketch we are indebted to the recollections of the Hon. Sargeant Gobble and Stephen Hettick.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Jacob S. Gibson, E. S. W. eighty of section 12, January 8th, 1829 ; and the third by Andrew Hettick, the W. S. W. eighty of section 27, March 28th, 1829. Among the early settlers who came in 1828 and 1830 we find the names of William Thompson, Lawrence McManus, John Record, Col. Powell H. Sharp, James H. Cherry, William Watson, John Redfern, and Mr. Sego, mostly all farmers and men of families.

The first school-house was built of logs on the south side of Negro Lick, in the summer of 1829, since which time the township has been divided into eight school districts. The first school was taught by Mr. Scruggs, in 1829.

The first mill was a horse-mill for grinding corn, and was erected in 1828 by Hugh Connoway, on the south side of the township; this mill was soon followed by another, built by Fountain Land on the same section. About the same time James H. Cherry put up a tread-mill, and Thomas Lutrell built a water-mill on Apple creek. Before any mill was built the facilities were unfavorable and inconvenient, the settlers having to go to Allen's mill, on Apple creek, four miles north of Carrollton, in Greene county. Those mills have all long since passed away, and steam mills have taken their place.

The first sermon was preached by Rev. Stephen Coonrod, a Baptist minister, who resided in Greene county. He organized a small church in the south side of the township, holding his meetings occasionally at the residences of the first settlers and at the private houses of others, who were most anxious to advance the cause of Christianity in their midst. After a time ministers of other denominations, belonging to either the Methodist, Presbyterian, or Christian churches, preached from house to house and in school-houses for years, until church edifices were provided. The first in the township was built in the town of Scottville by the Christian denomination.

The first marriage in the township was that of Samuel Thompson to Miss Artemecia Hettick, in 1828. She was the daughter of Andrew Hettick.

The first child born in the township was Alexander Thompson, in 1829, son of Samuel and Artemecia Thompson.

The first physician was Dr. W. H. Palmer. Intermittent and remittent fevers were the principal diseases.

The township has improved very rapidly, and is settled by a thrifty class of people. To give a correct report of its wealth, we gather the following statistics from the assessor's book for 1879 : Acres improved land, 15,031 ; value, $97,926; acres unimproved lands, 6,981 ; value, $17,643; total value of lands, $115,569; value of lots, $9,665. Horses, 564; value, $9,926; cattle, 1,484; value, $10,518; mules, 122 ; value, 81,577 ; sheep, 555 ; value, $528; hogs, 2,168; value, $1,623; carriages and wagons, 203; value. $1,599; 164 watches and clocks, 94 sewing machines, 2 pianos, 17 organs, Total value of personal property, $35,576.

OFFICERS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Supervisors .- James H. Rohrer, elected in 1871, '72 and '73 ; James B. Angelo, elected in 1874 and '75 ; David Elder, elected in 1876; James B. Angelo, elected in 1877 ; James H. Rohrer, elected in 1878 and '79.

Town Clerks .- W. A. Westrope, elected in 1871 and '72 ; G. H. Hancock, elected in 1873, '74, '75, '76, and '77; B. P. Vawter, elected in 1878 and '79.

Assessors .-- C. M. Edwards, elected in 1871; F. M. Owens, elected in 1872; D. Dugger, elected in 1873; D. N. Howser, elected in 1874, '75, and '76; D. Dugger, elected in 1877; E. Eades, elected in 1878 and '79.

Collectors .- S. W. Capps, elected in 1871; P. W. Clark, elected in 1872 . W. M. Gray, elected in 1873; S. W. Capps, elected in 1874, '75, '76, and '77 ; D. Dugger, elected in 1878 ; W. A. Clark, elected in 1879.

Justices of the Peace .- W. M. Gray and P. W. Clark, elected in 1871; P.

W. Clark, elected in 1873; S. Gobble and D. Howser, elected in 1874; M. Hart and J. P. Clark, elected in 1876; J. Marlan and D. Dugger, elected in 1877 ; J. Evans, Wm. Carling, and J. Brannon, elected in 1878.

Constables .- J. Mccollumn and I. Owens, elected in 1871; I. Owens, elected in 1872 and '73; J. Faith and Perry Hill, elected in 1874; H. White, elected in 1875; H. White, E. Booker, S. W. Capps, elected in 1877; J. Carling and C. Moon, elected in 1878; J. A. Owens, elected in 1879.

Commissioners of Highways .- 1871, M. M. Weaver, W. Fletcher, L. Ban- ning ; 1872, Wm. Crayne; 1873, David R. Mansfield; 1874, N. A. Nigh- bert; 1875, John Tucker; 1876, D. Dugger, James H. Rohrer ; 1877, John Hick ; 1878, Wm. Hoggett ; 1879, W. R. Fanning.

THE VILLAGE OF SCOTTVILLE

Was laid out by Benjamin Stephenson in 1835. It is on sections sixteen and twenty-one. The proprietors were Jefferson Weatherford and Tristram P. Hoxsey. The first house was built by James McFarlan. Its present population is about 350.

The first post-office was kept by Sargeant Gobble. Dr. John Candle kept the first hotel. The first blacksmith, Alfred Ruyle. The present black- smiths, are Alvy Auston and son, R. T. Patterson and R. H. Dowell.

Rev. Samuel B. C'ulp of the Baptist denomination was the first regular preacher.

The first doctor in the village was Wesley Goode, who came in the year 1835.

The first school was taught by James Howard. In 1854 the first mill was built by Wm. M. Evans and John and Isaac Mansfield.

The first child born in the village was Robert McFarlan.

The present business houses of the village are as follows : Dry-goods- A. M. Green and E. Israel. Drug stores, Groceries and Hardware-John P. Gobble, Wheeler and Hancock, and I. N. Gobble. Wagon Makers-L. B. Smith and J P. Clark. Furniture and Undertakers-W. A. Clark and L. L. Hungerford. Shoe Makers-John Hoychen, A. J. Strahan and John Schermer. Harness Makers - W. and J. Strahan. Restaurant - S. W. Clapps. Barber and Painter-Gustave Holtkott. Feed Stable and Livery-J. W. Brannon. Carpenters-Powell and Neighbors, and J. J. Dillon. Justices of Peace-Sargeant Gobble and J. W. Brannon. Consta- ble-Samuel W. Clapps. Attorney-at-Law-L. B. Smith. Town Board of Trustees-J. M. Strahan, M. L. Wheeler, C. M. Edwards, W. W. Hewitt and John Harding. Milliners and Dress Makers-Miss Lizzie and Julia Tucker, and Mrs. A. Angelo. Masonic Hall-22 by 46. Fifty members. Odd Fellows' Hall-20 by 50. Twenty-six members. Physicians-Peter L. Bostick, A. G. Kinkead, W. A. Dalton and David Elder. Churches-there is one Christian and one Methodist. Post-master-George H. Hancock.

There is a good public school building in the village, built of brick, two stories high, and arranged for two departments.

Masonic Lodge-Scottville Lodge No. 426, A. F. & A. M., was or- ganized October 4th, 1865. The following were the charter members : P. L. Bostick, L. J. Thompson, J. W. Ballinger, W. C. Thompson, J. H. Hale, G. W. Hill, John Tucker, Isaac Hill, S. McCurley, S. B. Woolfolk W. L. Wilson, W. Carling, S. L. Boyd, J. A. Boyd, Benj. Fanning, W. A. Westrope, Wm. Fletcher, Jos. B. Liston, H. B. Hanshaw, Gideon Hoskins. Jas. F. Hedges, James Walker, J. F. Woodman, Joseph Liston. First oficers-P. L. Bostick, W. M., J. B. Liston, S. W., J. H. Hale, J. W. Present officers .- James Walker, W. M., J. H. Rohrer, S. W., W. R. Williams, J. W. David Elder, treasurer ; A. J. Drum, secretary ; W. L. Powell, Tyler. Number of members 46.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

SARGEANT GOBBLE

WAS born in Washington county, Virginia, February 4th, 1811, the son of Isaac Gobble and Annie Sargeant. He was raised in Virginia, with the exception of five years, during which the family lived in Claiborne county, Tennessee. The part of the state in which his father lived was rough and mountainous. The schools which had been established were of a primitive character. A good idea of the improvements may be obtained from the statement of Mr. Gobble that never, except in some town, did he see a frame building in that country. The school-houses were log structures with pun- cheon floors ; slabs for benches ; fire-places which occupied the entire end of the room, while the teachers were sometimes of a description to correspond with the building. To such a school he was obliged to go a distance of three miles ; and six months' schooling was all he obtained while living there. The education he received was mostly by his own efforts, without the benefit of much instruction. On growing up he determined to come West. In the fall of 1831 he started from Virginia in company with a neighbor named William Johnson, and his family. The journey to Greene county, Illinois, where Johnson settled, required about six weeks. He remained in the vi- cinity of Carrollton the next winter and summer, and in September, 1832, married Amelia Johnson. The fall of 1835 he established a store at Athens-

ville in Greene county, which he carried on till 1838. He sold dry-goods, groceries, and everything generally required in an Illinois settlement at that date. In the fall of 1838 he settled in Scottville, which had been laid out three years previously. He carried on the mercantile business till 1860, and was widely known as a successful and popular merchant, He became the owner of three hundred acres of land adjoining Scottville, and made two additions to the town. His first wife died in 1862. He was married to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Vanwinkle (formerly Miss Elizabeth A. Weatherford), May 15th, 1866. She was born in Kentucky. He has had twelve children ; two died in infancy, and his youngest daughter at the age of twenty; nine are now living. He is one of the old democrats who voted for General Jack- son in 1832, and has voted for every democratic candidate for President since. In Greene county he was captain in the old militia organization. He filled the office of justice of the peace in Greene county, and also after coming to Macoupin. He was elected to the legislature on the democratic ticket in 1844, and in the fall of 1864 was again chosen to the same position. He is now acting as justice of the peace at Scottville, and is also notary pub- lic. He is known as a man of public spirit and enterprise; has been liberal with his means, and has done a great deal toward the building up of Scott- ville and the development of the north-western part of the county.

VIRDEN TOWNSHIP.

HIS township received its name from the village of Virden; it occupies the north half of what is geographically known as town- ship 12, range 6, and is bounded on the north by Sangamon county, on the east by Montgomery county, on the south by Girard township, and on the west by North Otter township.

This land is very level, and was most all prairie, being very flat and wet but as farms were improved and drains and tiles put in, it became dry ; it is now well cultivated by a class of thrifty farmers. It is drained in the north- west by Sugar creek, and in the north-east by Brush creek.

EARLY SETTLERS.

It is claimed that the first settlers in this township were Robert Smith and Joseph Davidson, with their families, who came from Ohio and settled in the timber on Sugar creek, in the north-west part of the township,. in the fall of 1829. The first land entry was made November 9th, 1829, by M. David- son and Robert Smith, on north-east quarter of section 6. Among the old set- tlers of Macoupin county, now living in this township, are John Gelder, who was born in Chesterfield township in 1837, and is the son of Captain Thos. Gelder, subsequently settled in this township. Thos. G. Duckels, also a native of the county, first lived near the village of Chesterfield, and after- wards settled in Virden township in 1838, and John G. Smith in 1852. Among the early settlers were Abner Kent, William Gibson, Noble Walters, Samuel Hullet, Preston Wright, and John G. Smith.

The first sermon preached was by Rev. Edward Rutledge, a pioneer Metho- dist, at the dwelling of one of the settlers.

The first church edifice erected was the Methodist, in 1853; for the time it was a very respectable structure, thirty by forty feet. About twenty years after a very handsome building, thirty-two by seventy-four feet, with a lofty spire was built. The old church has been converted into a blacksmith shop. First birth was Robert Davidson ; he was born in 1831, but as to the day and month we are not informed.

The first marriage was on the 22d day of April, 1846, when Greene B. Haggard and Eliza Smith were united in the holy bonds of wedlock.

The first school-house was a little log cabin on section 18, built in the fall of 1841 near the residence of Abner Kent.

The first teacher was Mrs. Rebecca Kent, who taught for a term of three months ; receiving fifteen dollars for her services.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

Supervisors .- Jonathan Plowman, elected in 1872; re-elected in 1873. * * * not represented in 1874. J. G. Smith, elected in 1875 ; 1876; 1877; 1878 and 1879. Toum Clerks .- L. Cowen, elected in 1871; S. L. Newman, elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873, 1874, 1875, and 1876. F. W. Silloway, elected in 1877, 1878 and 1879.

Assessors .- J. M. Mizner, elected in 1871; L. N. Roland, elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873, 1874 and 1875; L. M. Hess, elected in 1876, and

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 72

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

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