History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 76

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

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 76

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father was then in good circumstances; but he preferred out-door exercises and sports to going to school and poring over books. The result was that his physical frame grew strong, healthy and vigorous, while his mind was stored with practical education that perhaps did him more good, after he came to America, than any book-learning would have done. When he came to Macoupin county he purchased 315 acres of land, to which he afterwards added forty, then again 165 acres, and now has over 500 acres of fine land, well tilled and under good improvement, and all of it is the accumulation of his own toil and good management. In politics he is republican, when it comes to the election for state or national officers. In local elections he votes for the best man, regardless of politics. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. In 1859 he returned to England to attend to some busi- ness, and after its completion came back to his adopted home, where he has since remained. In 1871 Mrs. Crossland, in company with her two daughters, paid a visit to her childhood's home in Merry Old England, and after a pleasant sojourn there of several months, they returned. Annie, the oldest daughter, was married to William Wood, who is a native of Spring Head, near Runnel, Yorkshire, England, and whose acquaintance she made while on her trip to England. The marriage took place May 1st, 1873. Three children are the fruits of this marriage. Their names are Addie May, Viola Elizabeth, and Lawrence (. They are bright, sunny children, and are pets of their grand-parents.

HILYARD TOWNSHIP.

HIS township derived its name from the Hilyard family, who settled here about 1832. It is situated in the south-western part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Polk, on the west by Shipman, on the south by Bunker Hill, and on the east by Gillespie townships. It occupies town 8 north, range 8 west. The surface is a beautiful undulating prairie, and is partly drained by small tributaries of the Macoupin creek. The C. A. and St. L. R. R. enters the township in section 3, and traverses the north-west corner, passing out on section 19.

FIRST SETTLERS.

To David Coop and family belong the honor of being the first settlers, not only in this township, but also in the county. He built his cabin on a stream near the centre of the township, and the creek is now known as Coop's creek, named so in honor of the old pioneer .* In 1817 Mr. Coop was followed by John Powell and Abram Fulk, with their families, who settled in the north-east part of the township. In 1818 Thomas Smith settled in the south-west part, near a small stream, which is known as Smith's creek. The north-west portion was first settled in 1832 by William Jolley and Richard Skaggs. In 1834 there were fifteen families, representing seventy- five persons, residing in the township, among whom were the Gray's, Pruitt's, Hilyard's, Maxwell's, Leyarley's, Jolley's, Ray's, Skaggs', Lemey's, Miller's, and Thomas'.

The old settlers were all good marksmen, and fond of hunting the deer, turkey, and prairie chicken, all of which were abundant in those days.

The inhabitants of Hilyard township from the earliest settlement to the present time have been an industrious, hospitable, intelligent, and religious people, and no violent or disrespectful deeds of any note have darkened their history. In an early day, when the prairie was covered with a heavy growth of grass, fires frequently occurred in the autumn, which in a few in- stances burned dwellings and did considerable damage to property. During

* For further information in reference to Mr. Coop, see chapteron Pioneers and Early Settlers.

one of these fires, in the fall of 1833, a child of Aaron Leyarley was caught on the prairie and burned to death.

Churches .- The carly settlers were mostly Methodists and Old School Baptists, and a church of the latter denomination was organized by John Powell as early as 1820; Rev. William Jones was their first preacher. The services were held at the different dwellings up to 1854, at which time the first church was built. The second church was organized by the Methodist Episcopal denomination at the house of William Jolley, in 1833; Rev. Meldrum became the pastor. The third was a Presbyterian Church, organ- ized July 12th, 1851, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Platt. The fourth church organized was the Missionary Baptist, in 1851 ; Rev. Hopper, pastor. The United Baptist Church was organized in March, 1853; Rev. Jacob Rhoads was pastor. The first church edifice erected was in 1854 by the United Baptists, at a cost of about $1,000. The Missionary Baptist Church was built in 1855; cost, 8800. In 1856 the Presbyterians erected a church which cost $1,500. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1858, at a cost of $1,500. They are all still standing, and regular services are held in each of them at the present time.

The first school-house was erected in 1837, near the place of the first set- tlement, at a cost of $10. The first teacher was Aaron Leyarley.

The first post-office was established in 1846. Alfred Ellet was the first post-master.

Dr. C. Murphy located here in 1854, and was the first resident physician. The first mill was built by David Coop; it was a small, rude affair, pro- pelled by horse-power, with a capacity of grinding eight or ten bushels a day. There were several mills of this description built during the early settlements. At present there is a steam mill operated by Welch, Brown & Co., which has a capacity of manufacturing 175 barrels of flour per day.

The following are the first lands entered in this township : Pleasant Leuray entered 80 acres on section 12, December 15th, 1830; Henry D. Rhea, 80 acres on section 12, August 20th, 1831 ; Benjamin F. Edwards, 80 acres on section 1, October 18th, 1831.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Below we mention a few of the older settlers of the county, now living in this township : James P. Gray, settled in 1831; William and Leonard Hil- yard came in 1832 ; Charles Rhoads and William A. Thomas, in 1834; Calvin Reckard and John Huckelbridge, in 1835; John C. Brown and Abraham Cramp, in 1836; Job Huckelbridge, in 1838; and John O'Neil, in 1839.

The following statistics of the township are from the assessor's book for 1879: Number of acres of improved lands, 19,332, value $152,274; acres unim- proved lands, 3,444, value $11,046; total value of lands $163,320; value of town lots, 87,197. There are 604 horses, valued at $11,508; cattle 1,057, value 88,420 ; mules 103, value $1,913 ; sheep 725, value $669; hogs 1,587, value $1,213; 1 steam engine; wagons and carriages, 226, value $1,839 ; 114 watches and clocks, 102 sewing machines, 7 pianos, 15 organs. Total value of personal property $36.345.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

Supervisors .- William N. Thomas, elected in 1871; R. Crom well, elected in 1872, re-elected in 1873 ; Peter Coriell, elected in 1874; R. Crom- well, elected in -;- Joseph Waggoner in 1875; R. Cromwell, elected in 1876; Alex. Shultz, elected in 1877; Newell H. Brown, elected in 1878; James Hackney, elected in 1879.

Town Clerks .- Josiah C. Lemay, elected in 1871; J. Waggoner, elected in 1872; \J. F. Schultz, elected in 1873; J. C. Owens, elected in 1874; C. Davis, elected in 1875; W. H. Dye, elected in 1876; S. W. Anderson, elected in 1877 ; E. Hewitt, elected 1878; Wm. McDonald, elected 1879.

Assessors .- Alex. Schultz, elected in 1871, and re-elected in 1872 and 1873; B. F. Waggoner, elected in 1874, 1875, and 1876; B. Moore, elected in 1877, and re-elected in 1878 and 1879.

Collectors .- Ed. Fleming, elected 1871, and re-elected in 1872; J. C. Lemay, elected in 1873 ; A. Shultz, elected in 1874; A. D. Ruyle, elected in 1875 and re-elected in 1876; J. M. Foster, elected in 1877, and re-elected in 1878 ; W. B. Roberts, elected in 1879.

The following are the Justices of the Peace, since township organization : Richard Cromwell, elected in 1871 ; J. Waggoner and W. Hume, elected in 1873; Pruitt Smith, elected in 1874; N. H. Brown, elected in 1875; J. Lemay, elected in 1876; J. E. Campbell and G. Gerrick, elected in 1877; W. E. Ambrose.

Constables since Township organization : Smith Pruit and A. L. Grimsby, elected in 1871 ; S. W. Anderson and J. Owens, elected in 1873; G. Am- brose, elected in 1875; G. Ambrose and Wm. Roberts, elected in 1877; T. R. Anderson, elected in 1878.

Commissioners of Highways .- 1871, E. B. Meriwether, John O'Neil, Wm. N. Snider; 1872, Leonard Hilyard; 1873, Daniel Drew ; 1874, G. L. Meri- wether ; 1875, W. E. Ambrose ; 1876, M. Ruyle; 1877, James McKinzie; 1878, W. M. Coulter ; 1879, J. M. Foster.

PLAINVIEW.

The village of Plainview is situated on the line of the C. A. & S. T. L. R. R., in part of sections 4 and 9, of Hilyard township. Its lo- cation is on a slightly elevated tract of land, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country ; hence its name. The village was laid out in the year 1853. It contains a public school building, and one church, Presbyterian, in which regular services are held. Rev. W. R. Adams is pastor. There is a society of Methodists, who worship in the school building. The Rev. G. W. Waggoner is their pastor.

The following are the names of firms doing business at present in Plain- view: General stores-Samuel Brown & Son, and Shanner and Otwell. Grocery store-Michael Brassel. Flouring Mill - Welch, Brown & Co. Blacksmith and Wagon shop-A. W. Schultz. Shoe shop-Wm. H. Bartow. Carpenter and Builder-Peter Coriell. Cooper-Edward Potter. Physicians -Dr. W. J. Easley, and Dr. T. N. Burwash. Post-master-Samuel Brown. Notary Public .- N. H. Brown.

Plainville Lodge No. 461, A. F. & A. M .* was constituted October 23d, A. L. 5,866, with the following officers, Newell H. Brown, W. M .; John Tunnell, S. W .; Frank W. Stover, J. W .; James Anderson, Treasurer ; Samuel Brown, Secretary ; John A. Shanner, S. D. ; Levi R. Darby, J! D., Emanuel W. Young, Tyler.

Charter Members .- John Tunnell, Samuel Brown, Newell H. Brown, Frank W. Stover, Levi R. Darby, Jesse W. Julian, Eli W. Taylor, Jas. P. Alter, James Anderson, William Dorman, Emanuel W. Young, Lawson J. Dickson, John M. Haycraft.

The following have been masters since the organization of the lodge : John Tunnell, William J. Easley, Josiah C. Lemay, Abraham W. Schultz.

Present Oficers .- Newell H. Brown, W. M .; Henry Morrison, jr. S. W .; Josiah C. Lemay, J. W .; John A. Shanner, Treasurer ; Gilbert S. Brown, Secretary ; John Tunnell, S. D. ; William B. Roberts, J. D. ; Abraham W. Schultz, S. S. ; Zachariah, J., Gibson, J. S .; John P. Vandyke, Tyler.

The lodge comprises nineteen members.

* For information relative to this lodge we are indebted to the secretary, Mr. G. S. Brown.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

BENJAMIN F. WAGGONER.

MR. WAGGONER comes of German ancestry. His great-grandfather, Adam Waggoner, emigrated from the vicinity of the Rhine in Germany, to America, in the year 1765. He settled in Montgomery county, Virginia, where David Waggoner, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born, raised, and married. In the year 1816 David Waggoner removed to Allen county, Kentucky, and afterward to Grayson county, where he died. Mr. Waggoner's father, William Waggoner, was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, August 4, 1798, and was about eighteen years of age when he moved with his father to Kentucky. He subsequently went to Grayson county in the same state, where in April, 1823, he married Sarah Goforth. She was of Irish descent, and was born on Duck river, in Tennessee, of which part of the state her father was an early settler. William Waggoner, in the year 1828, emigrated from Grayson county, Kentucky, to Greene county, Illinois, and settled on Link's branch, three miles south-east of Carrollton. The family were among the pioneer settlers of that part of the county.

Four or five years after their arrival Benjamin Franklin Waggoner was born, February 9, 1833. He was the fifth of a family of eleven children, consisting of six boys and five girls.

His educational advantages were limited to the subscription schools held in log school-houses, after the manner of pioneer times forty years ago. While these opportunities were necessarily narrow and limited, and he never went to school a single day after he was sixteen years of age, yet he obtained a fair English education. His father moved with the family to Macoupin county in 1851, and died in December, 1853. After his father's death he carried on farming operations in partnership with his five brothers. They bought land on time and devoted themselves to its improvement and cultiva- tion with such energy and perseverance, that they were soon free from incumbrance. The names of his brothers were David C. Waggoner, Will- iam Waggoner, John V. Waggoner, Christopher C. Waggoner, and Joseph Waggoner. All are now deceased with the exception of Joseph, who resides at Carlinville. David C. died of typhoid fever in 1857 ; Christopher died

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

in 1858; William in 1860, leaving a wife and one child; and John V. in 1865. The three latter died of consumption, and all are buried at the old Hilyard graveyard, near the Waggoner farm in Hilyard township.

Since 1865 Mr. Waggoner has carried on farming operations by himself, and he owns 560 acres of land in Hilyard township. He was married August 29, 1855, to Mary E. Davis. Mrs. Waggoner was born near Wood- burn, September 1, 1838; her father, Samuel Davis, was one of the early settlers of Bunker Hill township; her mother was Zerelda Gore, a sister to David and Michael Gore. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have had seven children : Alla E., William C., Edgar, John V., Mattie, Benjamin F., and Mary E. Alla E., Edgar, John V., and Benjamin F. are deceased.

He first became old enough to take an active part in political matters at the time of the Kansas-Nebraska troubles, when the question as to whether these territories should be admitted into the Union as states with free or slave constitutions, was an important one to the American people. He em- braced the " popular sovereignty" doctrines of the Douglas branch of the democratic party, though in sentiment he had always opposed the further extension of slavery. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he saw the necessity of giving all sympathy possible to the Republican administration, and he has since been an active supporter of the principles of the Republican party. His failing health of late years has prevented him from undergoing the vigorous work to which he was accustomed in early life, and he has also on this account in the hope of finding relief, undertaken extensive travels in different years to California and the Southern states. An illustration of his farm and residence occupies the whole of another page. His unassuming tastes have inclined him to lead the quiet and retired life of a peaceful farmer, but as much as any one in Hilyard township, he deserves mention in this work as a man who combines in himself the qualities which make a good neighbor, and a useful and enterprising citizen.

SAMUEL BROWN,

WHO has been engaged in the mercantile business at Plainview for more than a quarter of a century, is a native of North Carolina, and was born in Robeson county, of that state, November 15th, 1824. The Brown family is of Scotch origin. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch came to America before the revolutionary war, and settled in North Carolina. His father, Peter Brown, was born and raised there, and on growing to manhood married Catharine Baker, daughter of Archibald Baker. Her grandfather was a Scotchman who settled in North Carolina at an early date. His grandfather Baker took part in the struggle of the colonies for their independence, as a soldier in the Continental army. Another of Mr. Brown's grandfathers, McCallam by name, was also a soldier in the revolutionary war. Samuel Brown was the oldest of a family of eight children, of whom four are now living. In 1826, when he was a year and a half old, his father moved to Giles county, Middle Tennessee, where the younger children were born. The family resided in Tennessee till 1839 and then emigrated to Illinois, and settled near Carrollton, in Greene county. In 1844 the family came to Macoupin county, and settled in Chester_ field township, north of Medora.

The elementary part of his education he obtained in the old subscription schools of Greene county. The schools of that day were of course of a very ordinary character, and little to be compared to the thorough educational facilities of the present time. Boys then could obtain a good education only under considerable difficulties. His time was principally employed in working on the farm till 1846, when, at the age of twenty-two, he entered Illinois college, at Jacksonville, in which he was a student till the spring of 1848. He subsequently taught school in Brushy Mound and Chesterfield townships. In the spring of 1849 he became a clerk in the store of Z. B. Lawson, at Chester- field. At that time Chesterfield was one of the best business points in the county, and commanded the trade of a large scope of country. He remained · there two years and three months; the latter part of this time the store had passed into the possession of Miller Huskey. In August, 1851, he went to Alton, and for nearly two years was a clerk in the store of George Booth. He left Alton with the intention of entering into business at the present town of Plainview, but the opening of the store was postponed, and meanwhile he went to Carlinville, and was there employed in the store of William M. Maddox, then one of the largest mercantile establishments in the county. He

was in Carlinville from May, 1853, to January, 1854. The latter date marks the time of Mr. Brown's coming to Plainview. With David Gore and Samuel Welch as partners, he erected the building which he still occupies, and established a mercantile business which has continued to the present day. Various changes have taken place in the firm. The business was first started under the firm name of D. Gore & Co. In September, 1854, in company with R. C. Bullman he purchased the interest of Messrs. Gore and Welch, and in January, 1858, bought in turn Mr. Bullman's interest. During the late war of the rebellion his brother, Newell H. Brown, was in partnership with him, and William H. Otwell was also a member of the firm. His brother afterward retired to go into the milling business, and Otwell remained as partner till January, 1875. Since April 1, 1877, the firm has been com- posed of himself and his son, Gilbert S. Brown. He is now one of the oldest merchants of Macoupin county, and has sustained a reputation for honest and fair dealing second to that of no other business man.

He was first married July 11, 1854. to Sarah Smith, a native of Swansea, England. She was living at Carlinville at the time of her marriage. Her father, Joseph Smith, was one of the early settlers of Macoupin county. She died in March, 1856. His second marriage occurred May 20, 1858, to Mary J. Brown, daughter of John J. Brown, who settled in Chesterfield township in 1832. She was born in this county. He has one child by his first marriage, Gilbert S. Brown.

In his politics he was formerly a whig, and, in 1852, cast his first vote for president for Gen. Scott. His father, although opposed to the doctrines of the early abolitionists, was an anti-slavery man in sentiment, and from early boyhood Mr. Brown himself was in sympathy with free-soil principles. Con- sequently, when the whig party went to pieces and the republican party came to the front he became one of the first members of the latter organization; voted in 1856 for Fremont, the first republican candidate for president, and has been a republican ever since. Since 1854, both under republican and democratic administrations, he has been postmaster at Plainview. From the time he entered into business at Plainview he has been school treasurer of Hilyard township. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church the greater part of his life, and for twenty years a member of the session. He is a man temperate in his views on all subjects, and has commanded the respect of all who have known him, both as a business man and a private citizen.

NEWELL H. BROWN

WAS born in Giles county, Tenn., Jan. 14, 1835. His ancestors, both on his fa- ther's and mother's side, were Scotch people, who settled in North Carolina be- fore the Revolutionary war. Some particulars of the history of the family in North Carolina will be found in the biographical sketch of his brother, Samuel Brown. His father was Peter Brown, and his mother's name before mar- riage was Catharine Barker. They were married in North Carolina, and in the year 1826 removed to Giles county, Tennessee, where they lived till 1839, and then came to Illinois and settled in Greene county near Car- rollton. In 1844 the family moved to the south-west part of Chesterfield township in Macoupin county, and in 1850 to Hilyard township, half a mile west of Plainview. His father died in 1864 in Shipman township. Mr. Brown was four years old when he came to Illinois, and nine when his father became a resident of Macoupin county. The elementary part of his education he obtained in the subscription schools, and in September, 1855, he became a student in Shurtleff College at Alton. He left college in the spring of 1858, and for a couple of years afterward was employed in the store of his brother, Samuel Brown, at Plainview. He was a partner in this store from 1860 till October, 1868, when he went out of the mercantile business to become a member of the firm of Welch, Brown & Co., who have been carrying on the Plainview mill. He was married, November 13, 1862, to Miss Lizzie Otwell of Carlinville. He has six children living. He has been a member of the republican party from the time he was old enough to cast a vote. He was chosen to fill a vacancy in the office of Justice of the Peace, and held that position for two years. In the spring of 1878 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors from Hilyard township, and is the only republican ever elected to that office in the township. He is the youngest of three brothers living in the county, all of whom have been among our best citizens ; the oldest, Samuel Brown, is a merchant at Plainview, and the remaining brother, John Brown, resides in Shipman township.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

JOHN M. HILYARD, (DECEASED),

Is one of the pioneer settlers of Macoupin county, and settled in Hilyard township in 1831. He was born in Cabell county, Virginia, January 30th, 1798. When only about eighteen years old, in the year 1816, he married Mary Gray, also a native of Cabell county ; she was born in the year 1801, and was only fifteen years old when she was married .. He lived in Virginia till 1823, and then emigrated to Illinois and settled on Lick Creek, about sixteen miles south-west of Springfield, in Sangamon county. At that time only a few settlements had been made in Sangamon county, and their neigh- bors on Lick Creek were mostly relatives and connections from the same part of Virginia. In 1831 he came to Macoupin county and entered eighty acres of land in section 22, of what is now Hilyard township. His father . had moved to Gillespie township three or four years previously. When the Hilyards settled in township 8, range 8, there were only two other families living in the township. John M. Hilyard, his father-in law, James P. Gray, and Erred Maxwell, all came down from Sangamon county together and settled within a short distance of each other. At that time the settlements in the county were few in number, and Mr. Hilyard was obliged to go to Belle- ville, in St. Clair county, to mill. The early pioneers had hard work to make a living, and were obliged to get along with the bare necessities of life. The timber and prairies furnished plenty of deer and wild turkey, but bread was made from flour of the commonest description. Before he had any land under cultivation he made rails at twenty-five cents a hundred, and with what he thus earned bought corn in St. Clair county at a dollar a bushel, going all that distance after it, and using the corn-meal for bread. The wheat was trodden out from the straw by horses, and wheat flour was such a rarity that it was used on extra occasions and for making a batch of biscuits for the Sunday dinner. The first school ever held in Hilyard township was taught in a room in John M. Hilyard's house. He was a teacher, and his own children and those of his neighbors were the scholars. He was the first justice of the peace in the township, and filled that office for several different terms. He also, for two or three terms, held the office of county commissioner, as will be seen by a reference to the list of the officers of the county in a previous part of this work. He was a man of excellent business capacity and superior judgment, and one who enjoyed the confidence and respect of the people. All his life he had been connected with the democratic party, and was one of its leading members in Macoupin county. He and his wife were originally strong members of the Baptist church, but toward the close of his life he became a believer in the doctrine of universal salvation, which he maintained with great earnestness and sin- cerity till his death. He died December 23d, 1872, having been a resident of the county for forty-one years. When the township in which he lived came to be named, "Hilyard " was bestowed upon it in his honor. He was over six feet in height, and of well-proportioned stature. He was a great hunter, and few men could excel him in the use of a rifle, or meet with better success in hunting deer. Soon after coming to the state he served in the campaign against the Indians at the time of the Winnebago outbreak. He was a man of peaceable disposition, of upright character, and undoubted honesty.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 76

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

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