History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 119

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 119

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parents of four children-Daniel H., Eugene Ross, Charles and Clarence A. Mr. Pittinger owns 236 acres of fine land, all under cultivation, and devotes consid- erable time to stock raising. In the summer of 1884, he built his present fine residence, which is not surpassed in the township. It is a frame, two stories in height, with basement, cemented and tiled. He is a prominent member of the Anti-Horse Thief association.

John Henry Snapp, now deceased, was born in East Tennessee, in 1809. He was reared in Tennessee, and in 1834 left that state and came to McDonough county, and located in Macomb township, about two miles north of Bardolph. He was married in East Tennessee to Mary Ann Kepple, a native of that state. They were the parents of nine children-Mar- garet, who married John Gibbs, died in this county; Elizabeth, married Darius Jones,resides one mile northeast of Bush- nell; Alexander, the subject of the fol- lowing sketch; William, enlisted in the 55th Illinois infantry, and while serving under Grant, at Vicksburg, took sick and died, just after the city was taken; John, living in Mercer county, Missouri; Mary, married John Gibbs, resides three miles south of Bushnell; Lucy, married William Rhodes, resides in Mercer county, Missouri; two others died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Snapp were among the early settlers. Mrs. Snapp died in this county in 1848, and Mr. Snapp re- moved to Missouri in 1854. He died in that state, in Mercer county, in 1872.

Alexander Snapp, son of John Henry, was born in East Tennessee, on the 26th day of January, 1834. Late in the same year his parents removed from Tennes-

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see to McDonough county, Illinois, and located in Macomb township. Our sub- ject was reared in this county, and has spent his life within its limits, with the exception of three years spent in Mercer county, Missouri, making a residence in McDonough county of nearly half a cen- tury. In 1864, he returned from Mis- souri, and located on section 21, Walnut Grove township, where he has continued to reside ever since. He was married in this county, January 1, 1856, to Bar- bara Arthur, a native of Blair county, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. Snapp are the parents of nine children-James Nelson, died in infancy; John Henry; Elizabeth, died, aged five years, in September, 1866; Clara, died in May, 1866, in infancy; Mary Ann, married to Moses Gallahue, residing in Sciota township; Marion, Nora May, Clara Ellen, and Franklin. Mr. Snapp has 282 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. He pays particular attention to stock raising, mak- ing that his business. He raises mostly cattle and hogs, of good quality.

J. B. Pearce was born in Blount county, Tennessee, November 3, 1808. His pa- rents were David and Sarah (Bartlett) Pearce. His father was born in Vir- ginia, and his mother in Maryland In 1811, his parents removed to Madison county, Illinois, but returned to East Tennessee during the same year. The subject of this sketch was reared in Tennessee until the winter of 1829-30, which he spent in Madison county, this state, and in the spring of 1830, re- moved to Morgan county, in that part now known as Cass county, where he

resided until. the spring of 1850. At that time he came to McDonough county, and located where he now resides, on the northwest quarter of section 26, which he purchased of Hugh Ervin, now a resident of the city of Macomb. He completed the residence he now oc- cupies, in the fall of 1868. It is con- structed of brick, 28x36 feet in ground area, two stories and a basement in height, and was the first brick house erected in the township. The brick were burned on the place and are of good quality. Mr. Pearce was married in Cass county, August 14, 1831, to Ann Clark, a daughter of William M. and Margaret Clark. Her death occurred February 21, 1884. They were the pa- rents of 12 children, eight of whom are living-Emeline, wife of Robert Dun- can, and died in Arkansas; Ellen, Vic- toria, wife of Jarrett Orrohood, living in Madison county, Iowa; Jackson, died at the age of 14 months; Hester A., wife of James McGee, and died in this county; Sarah M., wife of Charles Cline, and resides at Macomb; Lucinda J., wife of John Dixon, and resides in Greene county, Missouri; George C., married Addie Ingalls, and resides at Oskaloosa, Iowa; Florence; David F., married Lizzie Amos, and lives near Macomb; Lula Frances, died in this county, and Esther Isabel. Mr. Pearce has 320 acres of land, two-thirds of which is under cultivation. He has been assessor of Walnut Grove town- ship. His mother died in McMinn county, Tennessee, in 1858, at the age of 75 years, and his father's death occurred in the same county, March 4, 1885, at the advanced age of 102 years.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Jacob Baumann, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, February 1, 1832. In 1854, Mr. Baumann bade adieu to the fatherland, and kindred, and departed to try his for- tunes in America. He landed in New York, and after remaining in that state two years, concluded to go further west. He finally located in Walnut Grove township, where he now owns a fine farm, comprising 404 acres, nearly all of which is cultivated, April 6, 1858, he was married to Catharine Schumann. By this marriage 10 children were born -- Mary, John, Anna, George, Christina, Jacob, Joseph, Christian, Frederick, and Samuel Tilden. Mr. Baumann is a member of the Lutheran church, and is an earnest supporter of its doctrines.

William Wiley Young was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1810, and is the son of Jesse and Margaret (Wiley) Young. When William was three years of age, the family removed to what was then the backwoods, Brown county, Ohio, about 45 miles from Cincinnati. Here our

subject resided until he had reached his eighteenth year, when the family re- moved to Johnson county, Indiana, and here he lost his mother by death, in 1840. In October, 1840, Mr. Young decided to locate in Illinois, and settled on a farm on section 2, Walnut Grove township, where he has continued to reside until the present time. His father was of Eng- lish descent, and was a near relative of Commodore Barney, and was a strong adherent of the American institutions, and although his country turned against the United States, he fought for this country in and during the Revolution-

ary war. When he landed in Illinois, his fortunes were at a low ebb, he only having $12 and one cut ninepence. Al- though poor in purse, he was rich in en- ergy, and now owns 210 acres of fine farming land. Previous to coming to Illinois, he had married in Indiana, to Nancy K. Hoback, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky. His wife died June 25, 1854, having borne him seven chil- dren-Milton, who married Etta Dan- iels; Jesse, deceased; Sarah A., who married John Buckstone. She and her husband resided in Prairie City, where Buckstone still resides; her only daugh- ter teaches in the high school; William K., married Margaret Thurman, resides at Mankato, Minnesota; Martha J., mar- ried Hamilton Cable, and resides in Page county, Iowa; Elizabeth, who died Aug- ust 5, 1853, and John C., who married Elizabeth Cole, and resides in Fremont county, Iowa. Jan. 30, 1855, Mr. Young was married to Margaret Campbell, who died July 21, 1869, having borne five children-Mary A., Nelson Wiley, Mar- garet E., James G. and David H. The fruits of his marriage with his first and second wives, was 13 children, and after the death of his second wife, Wm. W. Young married Mrs. Nancy Cole, widow of John Cole, deceased. This last marriage was the 22d day of Decem- ber, 1870. The present Mrs. Young was the mother of 10 children, as the fruits of her marriage with her former hus- band. She resides with her husband, William W. Young, on the farm where her husband settled, in the year 1840, which was then unsettled, except by Quin- tus Walker, an old, respected citizen. Mr. Young never cared to hold office, for

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

he could find more profitable and con- genial employment in looking after his farm. He has always taken a great in- terest in church and Sunday school mat- ters, and has acted as class-leader and superintendent. He aided in organizing the Mound church, and gave consider- able money to the building fund, In the early days of the settlement, he has hauled grain to Oquawka and Warsaw, and after traveling this distance, has sold oats for 15 cents per bushel. Josiah T. Young, secretary of state, of Iowa, is a nephew of Mr. Young, and served with distinction as a soldier during the rebel- lion. The parents of the present Mrs. Young were of Scotch descent. The father lived to be 102 years old, and the mother died at the advanced age of 87. Her grandfather on her mothers side was Col. Stubblefield, one of the heroes of the Revolution, and Mrs. Young's father died at an advanced age, in Cham- paign county, in the state of Ohio, where he had resided for more than 60 years.

Jacob Detrick the son of John and Juda Detrick, and the subject of this sketch, was born in Rockingham county Virginia, August 24, 1827, and resided in that county and state until he had reached the age of 27. Leaving Virginia he settled in Indian Point township, near Abingdon, Knox county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. In March, 1866, he removed to McDonough county, locat- ing on a fine farm. Mr. Detrick was married in Rockingham county, Virginia, to Rebecca Swecker, October 18, 1849. They are the parents of 11 children- Mary Catherine, married James H. Her- ring, and resides in Bushnell township; Elizabeth Abigail, John Benjamin, Lucy

Jane Bell, and Jacob Daniel Sebastian, deceased. Lydia Frances Jida, married John D. Herring, and resides in Walnut Grove township; Josephine E. married Thomas Herring, and resides in Macomb township; William A. D. married Sarah E. Rutledge, and resides in Walnut Grove township; Emma Ann Florence married James A. Rinker, and resides in Macomb township; Herring J. and Sarah E. are single yet. Mr. Detrick owns 200 acres of land which he has acquired by indus- try and business like qualities. He is a successful stockman. In the years of 1874, 5, 6 and 7, he held the office of as- sessor, and has served two years as trus- tee of schools, and has been a director for 13 consecutive years. Mr. and Mrs. Detrick are members of the Spring Run German Baptist church, were among its first members, and he now serves as a deacon, and is one of the trustees of the church.

D. W. Lantz was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, October 10, 1816. Mr. Lantz comes of patriotic stock, his grandfather having served in the Revolutionary war, enduring all the trials and hardships of that period, which tried men's souls. Our subject remained a resident of New Jersey until 1846, when finding small chance for preferment in his native state, he resolved to join the tide of emigration which was setting in for the west. In June, 1846, he located on a farm in Ful- ton county, and remained there 12 years and removed to a farm located. on section 22, Walnut Grove township, McDonough county, where he still resides. In 1860, Mr. Lantz was joined by his parents, who made their home with him until their death. Mr. Lantz was married

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

January 1, 1842, to Malinda Heminover, prior to his departure for the west. To them, eight children have been born- Delphine, married Edwin Dewey, resid- ing in Farmer City, Illinois; Margaret, married Emanuel Hageman, residing near Leavenworth, Kansas; Watson,mar- ried Lina Buck, residing in Walnut Grove; Mary, married William Lofton, residing in Hancock county; Martha, married Alvin Berber, residing in Kan- sas, Thomas county; Selma and David Edgar. A son, Albert, born in 1847, died when an infant. Mr. Lantz owns 185 acres of fine land, all of which is under cultivation, and pays some attention to stock raising.

Elisha Fargusson was born in Adair county, Kentucky. January 29, 1814, and is a son of Stephen and Nancy Fargus- son. There Elisha was reared until he reached the age of 19 years, when he re- moved to Illinois, locating in Morgan county, where he farmed for two years, being a resident of that county during the winter of the deep snow. On many occasions during that bitter and dreary winter, he plowed his way through three feet of snow to gather the topmost ears from the corn field for food. In the fall of 1832, he came to McDonough county, settling at Wolf Grove, in Macomb township. At that time there were but three cabins in the settlement. He re- sided here until 1843, when he removed to Galena, where he engaged in mining lead for seven years. He then went to California, where he continued to en- gage in mining some nine years, when he returned to McDonough county. He took up his residence in Macomb town- ship once more, where he resided until

his present house was erected, just across the line into Walnut Grove town- ship. Mr. Fargusson was married in McDonough county, April 11, 1861, to Isabel Duncan, a daughter of William and Catherine Duncan, who came from the state of Kentucky to this county in 1842. Her father died in 1860, but her mother is still living, and makes her home with her daughter, Isabel. Mr. and Mrs. Fargusson are the parents of six children-William, Walter, Mary, Bertha, Arthur and Ernest. Mr. Far- gusson has over 500 acres of land, all under cultivation, and part of which is underlaid with tiling. His present res- idence was erected in 1876 and '77, and is 16x32 feet in size, two stories high, with a basement and L, the latter of which is 16x18 feet.

John Allison, Jr., was born in Scot- land township, McDonough county, and is the son of John and Maria (Provine) Allison. Our subject resided in Scot- land township, where he received the rudiments of an education, and attended two terms of the Normal school, at Ma- comb. He was married November 10, 1874, to Anna M. Munson, and located on a farm in section 32, Walnut Grove township, where he remained until 1883, when he removed to another farm, which he had purchased in the same township, and where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Allison were the parents of two children-Bertha Eudora, and Mabel Maria, who died January 29, 1885. Mr. Allison owns 273 acres of fine land, all of which, save 20 acres, is cultivated. He also devotes considerable time and attention to stock-raising. He is a member of Good Hope lodge, A. O. U.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

W., has been overseer two terms, and now serves the brethren as guide. His parents are living, and are residents of Scotland township.

Frederick Cruser, deceased, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, Jan- uary 23, 1820. He was the son of Ma- thias VanDyke and Sarah Ann (Ten- broek) Cruser. His father died in Mid- dlesex, New Jersey, February 15, 1885. aged 97 years. His mother is still liv- ing. The early life of our subject was passed in New Jersey, where he was educated, being for some years a stu- dent of Princeton college. Mr. Cruser was a relative of the VanDykes, one of the oldest and best families of New Jersey, and whose history dates back to colonial days. In 1848, our subject removed to Illinois, and located at Fair- view, Fulton county, where he taught school and worked on a farm. He re- sided at Fairview for eight years, when he removed to McDonough county, and settled on the farm on which he was living at the time of his death. He was married February 13, 1841, by the Rev. Jacob Spears, in Somerset, New Jersey, to his wife, who is now his widow. The fruit of this union was nine children- Helen Ann, Nicholas, Frederick, and Edward L., deceased; the surviving children are-De Witt Tenbroek, who married Margaret Campbell, of Ma- comb, they reside in Macomb, and Mr. Cruser is a mail agent on the C. B. & Q .; Mathias VanDyke, who married Martha Lemon, and resides in Sciota township; Caroline, married Rev. T. H. Hench, who is pastor of the Presby- terian church at Connersville, Indiana; Margaret V., married James A. Coch-

ran, and resides with Mrs. Cruser. Mr. Cochran is school treasurer of Walnut Grove township, and a prominent mem- ber of the Odd Fellows lodge. Of his three children, two, Carrie Marjorie and Blanche, died in infancy, leaving one son, Edward Cruser, to gladden their home. Josephine, another daughter, married Henry H. Smith, and with her husband resides at Macomb, where Mr. Smith is engaged in mercantile pursuits. Mr. Cruser, at the time of his death, in 1872, owned considerable property, which, with the exception of 160 acres deeded to his wife, was divided among the children. During his life time he held many offices of trust, having at various times been elected collector, clerk, treasurer, assessor and justice of the peace. Mrs. Cruser's maiden name was Margaret Robinson. Her father died in 1846, and her mother in 1843. She has seen many sorrows, but now surrounded by children and grandchild- ren, on the farm where she lived with her husband, hopes to spend the remain- der of her days in peace.

Alexander Crane was born at Eliza- bethtown, New Jersey, April 5, 1809. Alexander remained with his parents at Elizabethtown until he had reached his 23d year, enjoying meanwhile the best educational facilities of the town. He then decided to go west for a short time. He resided with a sister in Missouri until the family settled in McDonough county, Illinois, on the farm where he died, and where his family now reside. He was married, in Peoria county, Illi- nois, January 20, 1846, to Rebecca A. Hand, who was a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Crane were the parents of

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

eight children-Margaret E., married F. M. Park, and resides in Warren county; Alvah, resides on the home farm; Henry, married Mary E. Corey; Wm. Asa, married Etta Harris, lives near Ashland, Saunders county, Ne- braska; Fred Oliver, Mary H. and Maria A. Mr. Crane died, April 25, 1875, and is buried in the Sorghum Grove ceme- tery. He had filled several offices of trust, and had been township trustee and school director. He left, at his death, a farm of 320 acres of fine land, well improved and valuable. Of this, Mrs. Crane received 80 acres as a home, and the remainder was divided among the children. In 1846, Mr. C's widowed mother came west to make her home with her son. She died in October, 1864.

Thomas B. Stites, a resident of section 30, came to the township and county in 1880. He was born in Brown county, Illinois, January 8, 1856, his parents be- ing Jonathan J., and Elizabeth (Barton) Stites. His father was an early settler of that county, where he died in 1867. His mother also died there in 1865. Thomas B. was the third, in order of age, in a family of three children and is also the only surviving member, the two elder children being deceased. He was mar- ried in Brown county, September 20, 1877, to Mary L., a daughter of V. C. and Catherine Vincent. Four children have been born to them-Lena, Harold, Ethel and Lela. Mr. Stites is the owner of a fine farm, of 60 acres, which he purchased of John Austin, at the time he came to the county. The farm is all under cultivation, nicely fenced and im- proved, upon which stands a fine, large two-story residence.

James Hudson was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, January 16, 1839. He was married October 8, 1863, to Louisa M. Green, and in the spring of 1868, lo- cated on the northeast quarter of section 10, Walnut Grove township. The result of this union was four children-Zalmon E., Eva M., Mary Lucretia, and Rosie M. When Mr. Hudson located in McDon- ough county, he had $1,000 which he gave in part payment for 80 acres of land. Since then he has by industry and the exercise of good business quali- fications, added largely to his original possessions. He devotes much time and attention to stock raising, in which he has been very successful. For many .years he has served the public as school director, and takes a great interest in ed- ucational matters. He is the clerk of the board of directors of the school dis- trict and commissioner of highways, in which office he gives general satisfac- tion.

Daniel Keister, deceased, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1820, and was the son of Conrad and - Catherine Keister. While Daniel was a child his parents removed to Stark county, Ohio, where they remained until their death, the mother dying in 1866, and the father in 1869. In 1856, our subject came to Illinois and located in McDonough county, on the farm where his family now reside. Mr. Keister was married in Stark county, Ohio, Novem- ber 21, 1846, to Helena Huber, who was a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, Mr. and Mrs. Keister were the parents of five children-Catherine, Jonathan, Samuel, Jacob and Lucy. Mr. Keister died in March, 1875, leaving his widow

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

160 acres of land, on which she now re- sides. Samuel was born in McDonough county, 1852, and December, 1875, was married to Isabel Patekin. They were the parents of two children-Nellie and Jacob. Mrs. Samuel Keister died Au- gust 10, 1880.

William Wesley Shoop was born in Washington county, Maryland, February 14, 1835, his parents being Henry and Rebecca (Casey ) Shoop. He remained iu Maryland until he had reached his 20th year, when he decided to join the throng moving westward. Before starting on the western trip he visited Pennsylvania, and on the 29th day of March, 1855, was united in marriage with Susan Wishard, a na -· tive of Welsh Run, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He located, soon after his marriage, in Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, where he remained for some years, working during the summer in a brickyard, and in a packing house dur- ing the winter. In the fall of 1856, he left Canton and located on a farm in Fulton county. He remained there 10 years, after which he went to Walnut Grove and settled on the farm which he now owns. He engaged for a time in outside pursuits, and returned to the farm in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Shoop are the parents of eight living children- Florence, married John B. Griggs, of Warren county; Lydia Ann, married to George W. Taylor, of Walnut Grove township; William Henry, Emma Cath- erine, Alva, Frederick, George Edward and Maggie. The children, Mary Lizzie and John Wesley are now dead. When Mr. Shoop located in this county he bought 89 acres of land. He has added

thereto until he now owns 380 acres, all under cultivation. He is a lover of fine horses, and owns two fine ones-one an imported Clyde and one a French and Morgan. He also grades to short- horn cattle. Mr. Shoop is a member of Golden Gate lodge, No. 248, A. F. and A. M., and now holds the office of senior warden; he is also past master. He has served as collector of Walnut Grove township.

James A. Brown was born in Arm- strong county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1828, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Marshall) Brown. The early years of our subject were passed in Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. He re- ceived the rudiments of an education in the common schools of Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1858, when he removed to Missouri. In 1861, he de- cided to locate in Illinois, and selected Walnut Grove township, where he pur- chased a farm, as his future home. He was married in 1855,in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, to Ellen Spence, daughter of Robert and Catherine Spence, and 13 children have blessed their union-James A., married Emma Moore, resides in Rossville; John Allison, resides in Good Hope where he is engaged in the tile business; Frank L., married Addie Clark and he is a merchant in Good Hope. The remaining children are-William L., Nettie, Thomas S., Alice, Nellie, Edna, Carrie, Addie, and Velasco C. One son Elmer Ellsworth, died in 1867, aged three years. Mr. Brown owns 380 acres of land and is a fine type of the success- ful farmer. He has devoted considera- ble time to stock raising and is a good judge of the better breeds of cattle and

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

hogs. He has always taken a great in- terest in educational matters and for many years has served as school direc- tor. He has also been elected road com- missioner several terms. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic, Odd Fellows, and A. O. U. W. orders. He has served the Odd Fellows as guide, chaplain and in- side guard, and is now recording secre- tary for the A. O. U. W. The family are members of the Presbyterian church at Good Hope.

John A. Carlin, a prominent man of Walnut Grove township, was born May 3, 1844, near Table Grove, Fulton county, Illinois. His parents, Steplien and Sophia (Dolan) Carlin, are natives of Ireland, but came to this country at a very early age. Mr. Carlin, after receiv- ing a preliminary education, entered Lombard university, at Galesburg, but before he had completed the course, his health failed, and he was obliged to leave school. September 2, 1872, he was united in marriage with Rosa R. Sapple, daughter of Robert T. and Louisa Sap- ple, at St. Augustine, Knox county, Illi- nois. Mr. and Mrs. Carlin are the par- ents of two lovely children-Albert Jus- tin and Adrian Francis. In the year 1872, Mr. Carlin moved to McDonough county, and located on section 29, where he owns and cultivates a splendid farm of 160 acres. In politics he is a demo- crat, and has taken a great interest in the fortunes of his party, being regarded as a safe and shrewd leader, one whose counsels are always safe, and generally attended by success. It is claimed by many that to Mr. Carlin's influence is largely due what success has attended the democratic party, not only in Walnut

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History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 119

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150