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 134

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 134

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).

George A. Franklin, a son of William H. and Maria J. (Clarke) Franklin, was born in Macomb, McDonough county, Illinois, on the 11th day of December, 1857. He received a limited education in the Macomb schools, and has resided in that city up to the present date, with the exception of three years which he spent in the state of Kansas. George A. Franklin and Anna Pulford, a native of Hartford, Wisconsin, were united in marriage March 25, 1882. They are the parents of one child, a daughter-Maria. The I. O. O. F., claim Mr. Franklin as an honored member of their society.

Samuel Smith was born January 29, 1829, in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, and is of German extraction. His parents, William and Margaret (Kosh) Smith, removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, thence to Effingham county, Illi- nois, at an early day. William Smith was by occupation, a farmer. During their residence in Effingham county, Mrs. Smith died, and Mr. Smith after- wards returned to Ohio. He subse- quently came back to this state, and died in Fulton county. Samuel Smith came to Illinois and settled in Fulton county, where he resided eight years,

five years upon a place known as the Holmes farm, and three years upon another farm. He then removed to Blandinsville, and rented a farm of John Hagerty, where he lived till 1861. In that year he purchased 80 acres of land near Good Hope, to which he ad- ded 160 acres the following year. This property he sold and moved to the city of Macomb, and for one and a half years resided upon West Jackson street. He then purchased 20 acres in section 32, and property adjoining, within the city limits. He now owns 90 acres in sec- tion 32, 90 acres in Lamoine, 40 acres - in Schuyler county, and 130 acres in Page county, Iowa. Mr. Smith is now living a retired life, and has a pleasant home, with agreeable surroundings. He was married on Thursday, of the first week in March, 1850, to Mary Smith, who was born and reared in Pennsyl- vania, near the birthplace of her hus- band. She is the daughter of Jacob and Mary Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children- William H., who lived near Good Hope; John M., a resi- dent of Good Hope; Susan, wife of John A. Duncan, of Page county, Iowa; and Mary M., a teacher in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are consistent mem- bers of the M. E. church. Mr. Smith holds the office of church trustee, and is an active worker in the church.

Archibald McCandless, deceased, the father of the well known family of that name, was born, May 10, 1787, in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, and was of Scotch descent. He lived, most of his life, upon the farm which was his birth- place. He was married to Elizabeth Flannigan, a native of the same county,

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who died there. He came to McDon- ough county in 1856, and settled at Ma- comb, where he died. He was a sincere christian, and always active in christian work, being for many years an elder in the church, where he resided in Penn- sylvania, and also a leader of singing in the same church for 40 years. After coming to Macomb, he united with the Presbyterian church, with which he was connected until his death. He was buried at Oakwood cemetery. Mr. and Mrs.

McCandless reared a family of 13 chil- dren-William F., now in Washington, Kansas; John B., now living in Colum- bus City, Iowa; Alexander G., deceased, formerly a physician in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, where he died, in 1875; Wil- son, deceased, who came to this county in 1836, and died the following year; James H., who came here in 1852, and engaged in farming until 1883, when he moved to Kansas, where he now lives; Nancy N., wife of Matthew Trotter, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Mar- garet A., widow of R. E. Morgan, who emigrated to this county in 1853, and located at Macomb, where he was en- gaged in carpentering, and died a num- ber of years ago, leaving his wife and three children; she now lives in Colum- bus City, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife of S. J. Byers, of Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania; Joseph P., living in Macomb; Archibald B., a physician at Columbus City, Iowa; Moses A., who was killed during the late war, at the battle of Mis- sion Ridge, in 1863; Sarah Jane, de- ceased wife of William Davidson; and Mary B., deceased wife of John Hast- ings, of Ohio. Joseph P. McCandless was born in Allegheny county, Pennsyl-

vania, September 14, 1826. When 16 years of age, he began learning the car- penter's trade. In 1850, he came to Macomb, where he followed his trade until 1875. . He then removed to section 32, Mound township, where he owned a farm of 160 acres, being the northwest quarter, on which he resided until the spring of 1884, when he abandoned farming, on account of failing health, and returned to Macomb. Mr. McCand- less was married in this city, September 14, 1852, to Mary B. Maury, daughter of Abram and Nancy B. Maury. By this union there are two children-Archibald S., a graduate of Chicago Dental col- lege, now engaged in practicing his pro- fession at Marshalltown, Iowa; and Mattie, wife of F. H. Downing, a dentist at Rushville, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. McCandless have one adopted child- Hattie Wilson.

John D. Walker is a native of Athens county, Ohio, where he was born March 31, 1805. His father, John Walker, was a native of Yorkshire, England, but came to this country in the early part of the century. He was by trade a house car- penter, which occupation his son John followed for many years. He died at Athens about the year 1850. John's mother died when he was but five years old, and his father married again. At 21 years of age the young man left home, working at the carpenter's trade. He had charge of the building of the poor- house in Lancaster county. From thence he went to New Baltimore, where he had charge of the building of a school house. At Milford, in 1829, he was married to Catharine Rutan, and soon afterward moved to Shanesville, where

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY. 1151

he remained two years. He then sold out and went back to his father's house, and gathered up a drove of horses, which he took to Virginia and sold. He worked at his trade in Virginia about eight months, and then went to Pittsburg, and soon afterward his wife died. His sec- ond wife was Jane Sample. In 1832, Mr. Walker settled in Macomb, and his first work was to build a 14-foot log cabin, which was located on the lot where now stands the Universalist church. He afterward built a house on the same lot, which he sold for $500. He built the house which John Sim- mons now lives in. He afterward moved out upon a farm east of Macomb, which he improved. That farm was subse- quently known as the Kinney farm. Upon returning to Macomb, he took a house near his present home, where his wife died, leaving five children, as fol- lows: Matilda, Mary, Eliza, Jane and Martha, all living but Mary, who died as the wife of Jacob Miller. Matilda is the wife of William Binnie, and lives in Kansas City; Eliza is the wife of John E. Hendrickson, of Bardolph. Jane is the wife of Rudolph Winegar, living at Oneida. Martha is the wife of Albert Thayer, living at Edwards station. Mr. Walker built his present commodious house in 1880. Upon coming to Ma- comb he pursued the occupation of a tanner, but meeting a loss by fire, he turned his attention to butchering, and for 15 years he sold meat to the people of Macomb. In the meantime he culti- vated upon his farm an · extensive nurs- ery, and at length devoted himself wholly to farming. In 1858 his second wife died, and in 1864 he married Mrs.

Gash, a widow, who did not long sur- vive. He is now living with his fourth wife, who was Mrs. Martha Taylor, and they have two daughters-Lillian, wife of George E. Shimp; and Maud, who still remains at home.

Benjamin E. Simpson, deceased, was born in Menard county, Illinois, July 25, 1836. He moved to the city of Ma- comb in 1874, from Camp creek, Mc- Donough county, where he was engaged in farming and dealing in cattle. He was united in marriage with Flora Mont -: gomery Walker, a native of Burlington, Iowa, born April 26, 1853, who survives him. His death occurred, June 4, 1878. Three children were born to them- Maggie E., who was born February 15, 1871, and died July 3, 1879; Minnie A. . born November 17, 1872; and Cyrus Walker, born November 15, 1874. These children were all born at Camp creek. Mr. Simpson was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, with which Mrs. Simpson still holds membership.

Richard D. Tate is a native of Ken- tucky, being born in Greenup, now called Carter county, on the 5th of July, 1831. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm where he was born. In the fall of 1845, his parents, David and Nancy ( Wilson) Tate, removed to Illinois, lo- cating in Henderson county, where they remained but a short time. Coming to McDonough county, they purchased a farm a few miles south of Macomb. His parents afterward removed to Arkansas, his mother dying at Hico, that state, on Friday, October 18, 1871, aged 68 years. His father now lives near Cincinnati, Washington county, Arkansas, with a son John. The subject of our sketch did

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

not go to Arkansas, but has lived in Ma- comb, or near by, ever since his removal to the county. He was united in mar- riage with Emiline Hall on the 20th day of December, 1855. She was a daughter of Joel and Mary ( Clark ) Hall, and was born near Maxwell, Washington county, Kentucky, October 17, 1837. Her par- ents removed to Illinois when she was two years of age, and settled in McDon- ougli county, where she has continued to reside ever since. Her mother died August 26, 1844. Her father died No- vember 15, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Tate have had five children born to them, two of whom are now living-Albert and Effie. Mr. Tate received but little edu- cation and it has been by hard labor and the closest economy, that he and his wife have managed to secure a comfortable home in which to spend their declining years. Mr. Tate has been a life long democrat, and enjoys to the fullest ex- tent the rise of that party to power.

Albert K. Tate was born February 28, 1861, in Macomb, and is the son of Richard D. and Emeline (Hall) Tate. His early life was passed in Macomb where he attended school until 14 years of age. He spent one season on a farm, and August 10,.1875, began to learn the mysteries of the typographical art in the office of the Macomb Eagle. He worked for the Eagle four years, and then went to Chicago, where he remained a few months, and then traveled for three or four years, working at his trade in var- ious towns. In September 1883, he con- nected himself with the Union Publish -. ing Co., of Springfield, Illinois, and for nearly a year was in Iowa in the inter- est of his employers. He located in

Springfield, and was made secretary of the company, and remained with it until it collapsed, in the fall of 1884. He, for a time after this, worked in the State Journal job rooms, until he removed to Macomb to accept the foremanship of the Eagle office. He was married Septem- ber 25, 1884, to R. Bertha Farr, daugh- ter of John and Nina Farr of Astoria, Fulton county.

Edward Hobart, deceased, was born in Dublin, Ireland, January 4, 1797. At the age of 13 he had mastered the common English branches, after which he entered a naval academy, and soon after enlisted in the English navy, where he served as midshipman three years. Before he was 21 years old, he owned and commanded a vessel that plied between some of the British Isles. After a year or two, becoming tired of that sort of life, he sold his vessel and engaged in the mercantile business, ex- porting goods from Liverpool to New York City. About the year 1828, in company with his brother William, he came to America for a permanent resi- dence. Settling in Oswego county, New York, they engaged in the milling busi- ness. While there, in 1830, he was uni- ted in marriage with Miriam McCall, with whom he lived in happy union for more than half a century, and who still survives him. Fourteen children were born to them, of whom seven sons and one daughter are living. The daughter is the wife of William Champ, Colches- ter, this county. Of the sons, John H., the oldest, and Albert, the youngest, re- side at Kansas City, Missouri; Richard and Frank at Beloit, Kansas; Lewis at Humboldt, Kansas; Nelson, at Napier-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ville, this state; and Wesley, in Macomb, A few years after marriage, Mr. Hobart sold his mill and engaged in farming. which he followed until he retired from active business. In the spring of 1848, he moved with his family to Illinois, settling in this county, which was his home till the time of his death, which occurred March 4, 1885. In 1872, he sold his farm and moved to Macomb, where he passed his latter years, un- vexed by the trials of active business life. When he retired from active life, his sons and daughter all grown and do- ing for themselves, Mr. Hobart found himself the possessor of a sum sufficient to support himself and wife in frugality, during their declining years. In 1879, however, fortune, which had been alter- nately for and against him, made an- other revolution in his favor. A wealthy relative (second cousin) died in Ireland, leaving no will. Mr. Hobart was one of eight legal heirs; his portion of the per- sonal estate was $38,000, which he re- ceived in the summer of 1880. Two years later a sister died in Ireland, and she, by will, bequeathed him $4,000. Thus was the evening of his life sur- rounded by an ample competency, and his mind relieved from all financial cares. His creed in religion was the same as his business and social rule; he believed that a man who was fit to live was ready to die. He did his duty, as conscience dictated, to his government the community, his neighbor and his family, and left his future to the hands of a just and merciful God.

Wesley Hobart was born in Chalmers township, October 22, 1852. He went to Quincy in 1870, and engaged in a broom

factory with his brother, where he worked until 1873, when he came back to McDonough county, and started a broom factory in Macomb, which he run for some years. He was married April 2, 1884, to Rosa Fugate, of Schuyler county.

The Hobart family were mostly raised in Chalmers township. The following is the order of their birth-John, Richard, Martha, Lewis, Frank, Wesley, Horatio, Albert. John, Richard, Lewis, and Frank served in the war for the union. .Albert was born upon the old homestead January 27, 1857. He was educated in both the country and the city, and at- tended commercial college in Kansas City. In 1877, he was in the employ of the C., B. & Q. railroad. In the sum- mer of 1879, he traveled abroad through England and Ireland. In 1880, he was deputy sheriff under his brother, in Mitchell county, Kansas. He is now a resident of Kansas City, and engaged in the cracker and candy trade.

· William McClintock, deceased, a pioneer of 1843, was a native of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, and was born in the year 1800. His father, Rob- ert McClintock, was a native of Scot- land, and a weaver by occupation, while his mother, Rebecca (Karr) McClin- tock, was born in county Tyrone, Ire- land. William McClintock was the sec- ond of five sons, was reared on a farm, and, with his parents, removed to Mus- kingum county, Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Nancy Decker, a native of Jersey county, that state. While a resident of that county, he fol- lowed farming, and, under contract, built one mile of the Wheeling turn-

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pike. In 1839, he removed to Illinois, locating in Fulton county, from whence, in 1843, he came to McDonough county, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 14, in Eldorado township, where. he tilled the soil until 1855, at which time he sold his farm and removed to the city of Macomb. During the fall of 1855, and the summer of 1856, he fur- nished all the stone for the mason work on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, between Colchester and Kepple creek, a distance of some 15 miles. He owned a stone quarry near Macomb, and. thus for several years furnished the stone used in the mason work in and around that city. In March, 1863, he returned to Eldorado township, but hav- ing previously contracted the disease known as "stone-cutter's consumption," he was unable to perform any manual labor, and in 1862, died from said dis- ease. His wife survives him, and now makes her home with her eldest daugh- ter, in Eldorado township. Mr. and Mrs. McClintock reared nine children -- Elizabeth Ann, wife of William D. Fos- ter, of Eldorado township; Karr, of Ma- comb; Frances Jane, wife of Jolin N. Foster, of Eldorado township; James S., in the restaurant business, at Eldo- rado, Kansas; Catherine M., wife of H. H. Smith, of Nebraska; Richard H., who enlisted in company B, 84th Illinois infantry, and was killed during the bat- tle at Chickamagua; Margaret, wife of Mark Ullery, of Galesburg; Rebecca L., of Macomb, widow of E. Hill; and Wil- liam W., of Leadville, Colorado. Mr. McClintock was an elder in the Cumber- land Presbyterian church, of which he was a member for at least 35 years.

Karr McClintock, son of William and Nancy (Decker) McClintock, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, April 14, 1832, and came with his parents to Illi- nois in 1839, and to McDonough county in 1843, where lie -has since resided. From the time he reached a suitable age until 1859, he followed agricultural pur- suits, and then learned the carriage and and wagon-maker's trade. His father was an excellent mechanic and always had a good kit of tools, with which Karr became familiar during his younger years, thus enabling him to make very rapid progress at his trade. During the montli of August, 1862, he enlisted in company I, 78th Illinois infantry, and was with said regiment until it was mustered out, in June, 1865. He par- ticipated in all the engagements in which that company took part, and returned. home without a wound. During' one year of his service he was engaged as brigade wagon carpenter, and subse- quently was train master of the 2d brig- ade, 2d division, 14th army corps, from Atlanta, Georgia, to Washington City. Returning to Macomb, he resumed his trade and followed the same until 1873, at which time he was elected city mar- shal, the duties of which office he ful- filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the citizens for five years. He again resumed work at his trade, but one year later the people again called upon him to serve as city marshal, which office he filled for three years more, since whichi time he has been en- gaged in dealing in agricultural imple- ments, and attending to collections. In politics he is a republican, is a member of the I. O. O. F .; both subordinate and

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encampment, as is he also a member of the I. O. M. A., and the G. A. R. On the 6th of October, 1854, Karr McClint- ock and Samantha Ann Mathewson were united in marriage. She is a native of Hancock county, Virginia, was born Au- gust 6, 1835, her parents being William and Susannah (Kirk) Mathewson, and, with her parents, became a resident of McDonough county in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. McClintock have been the parents of six children, two of whom are still living-Susannah and Richard Frank.

Robert Wakefield Norris was born five miles from Bushnell, in Cumber- land county, Kentucky, March 15, 1850. He is a son of William W. and Mary (Ewing) Norris, who in 1852, removed to Warren county, of the same state where Robert W. spent his childhood, and at the age of 15, made a public pro- fession of religion, uniting with the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He began preparing himself for the minis- try at Auburn, Kentucky, and subse- quently took a regular theological course at Lebanon college, Lebanon, Tennes- see. He entered the institution in 1880, and graduated in June 1883. He began his ministerial labors at Bloomfield, In- diana, having charge of a church there. He came to Macomb in November, 1884, after spending several months of the summer of that year in evangelical work.

FIRST ITEMS.

The first birth in the town of Macomb was that of a son of Moses Hinton, who was born during the year 1832. It did not live a great while.

The second birth was that of Mary Eliza, daughter of James M. and Clar-

issa' H. Campbell, who was born Janu- ary 4, 1833.

The first death was the infant son of Moses Hinton, mentioned above.

The first marriage in the village took place upon the 18th of October, 1831, when David Detherow and Ruth South- ward were joined in wedlock under the ministration of Rev. Samuel Bogart.

The first stove owned in Macomb, was brought to the town in 1834, by a man by the name of Lovell, of whom James M. Campbell purchased it, paying for it the sum of $80 for the naked stove. The furniture was made by Matthews, who . settled very early at Foster's Point.

The first house on the site of this town was built by John Baker and Oliver C. Rice, in 1829.

The first store in the town was opened in 1831, by James M. Campbell.

The pioneer blacksmith in the town of Macomb, was undoubtedly John Price, who came here about the year 1832, and set up a shop near the site of A. K. Lodge's new building.

- The first carpenter was John Perry Head, who located here in 1833, and en- tered upon his trade.

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES.

The following sketches came in too late for insertion in their proper places.

William W. Sandidge, of Walnut Grove, deceased, was born near Eliza- bethtown, Kentucky, December 13, 1839, and was the son of Joshua and Mary Sandidge. Some time in the forties, the family removed to Illinois, and located in Eldorado township, McDonough county, where they reside at this time. Our subject was reared in this county,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

and educated here. He was married February 20, 1862, to Samantha Lind- say, whose parents came to this county, in 1858. Mr. Sandidge died in October, 1867. Four children were born of this marriage-Philena, Anna, George and Araminda. Philena and Araminda, are school teachers, in this county. Mrs. Sandidge owns 166 acres of fine land, all well improved.

Samuel M. Burtis, of Walnut Grove, the subject of this sketch, was born May 26, 1858, in Schuyler county, Illi- nois, and is the son of Samuel and Lo- rilla Burtis. His father was a native of New York, and his mother of Virginia. They located near Rock Island, while the Indians of the Black Hawk tribe held possession of the country, and re- turned after a time to Schuyler county. Our subject attended school at the Sol- dier's Home, an institution for the chil- dren of Illinois soldiers, at Normal. He then went to Lawrence, Kansas, and Kansas City, and then visited Denver, finally returning to Normal, where he at- tended one term of school, and ran a ` stationary engine. After some traveling he finally settled in his present location and engaged in business. He was mar- ried January 5, 1882, to Florence E. Hewitt, and one child-Winnifred, has been born to them. He is an Odd Fellow.

John Miller Jackson, one of the prominent men of Macomb township, was born in Orange county, Virginia, October 11, 1825. He attended school, before he was 11 years of age, and re- ceived a fair common school education. He remained at home until he was 28 years of age, learning the carpenter's trade meanwhile. October 11, 1853, he

was married to Harriet Head. Three children were born of this marriage, and all died in infancy. Mrs. Jackson died September 4, 1862, and in 1869, he mar- ried Mary J. Evans. Mr. Jackson owns real estate in Macomb and Mound, and has retired from active business. He is a consistent member of the M. E. church, and has held a number of important of- fices in the township.

Simon Spangler, of Macomb township, settled in McDonough county, Decem- ber 1, 1840, locating in Mound township. He came to Macomb township, in 1845, where he bought 80 acres of farming land and seven acres of timber, in Wal- nut Grove township. He improved his land himself, and made rails enough to fence the whole tract, and had the best corn in the neighborhood. He built his residence in 1852, after he had conquered the wilderness. For the first seven years he lived in the log cabin on the farm. He was born December 6, 1800, and died December 4, 1878. He was one of the ideal pioneers, honest and faithful. His father, G. F. Spangler, was of Ger- man descent, and was a soldier in the old colonial Indian wars. He was a noted marksman and wrestler, and on one occasion he was captured by the sav- ages, but escaped after being a prisoner six months. Our subject was married February 22, 1827, to Hannah Jane Johnson, and nine children were born to them-Mary Helen, who lives on the old homestead; Orlando, Theodore, Laura Rufus, Asahel, Emeline, Julia, Ann and Elizabeth. Mrs. Spangler died May 19, 1884, and her remains rest beside her husband, in the Good Hope cemetery. James W. Jackson, of Mound town-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

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ship, son of William H. and Ann Jack- son, was born December 6, 1830, in Vir- ginia. He married Margaret E. Kepple, and lived on his father-in-law's farm for some time, purchasing from him 80 acres of land. He for the first years of his married life, lived in a small frame house which he built, and in 1873, erected his present dwelling. They have had 12 children -- Franklin P., Ann, Charles W., Laura J., Margaret A., Conwell, Lewis A., Harriet Eva, Ida May, Nina C., John M., Mary Lizzie and James Eben. Mr. Jackson joined the M. E. church when 15 years of age, and has always been an active church worker. He has served as school director off and on for 25 years.

D. B. Keith, of Walnut Grove town- ship, was born in Lewis county, Virginia, May 26, 1829. He was the son of James and Phebe Keith. In 1858 our subject removed to McDonough county, and lo- cated in Walnut Grove township. His parents followed in 1862. His father, who was born in 1791, died March 5, 1863, at the home of his son, D. B. After the death of her husband, his mother went to Kansas to live with her children there, and died, January 24, 1875. Mr. Keith was married, June 30, 1859, to Parthena Vaughn, whose par- ents are yet living, and who celebrated their golden wedding on July 18, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Keith are the par- ents of seven children, viz: James P., George W., Franklin J., Edmond E., Mary E., and Martha P. Mr. Keith owns a tract of good land and town lots. He was postmaster for two years, and has been justice of the peace eight years. He is a member, and has been president of the Anti-Horse-Thief Ass'n.

Among the representative men of McDonough county, none stand higher in the estimation of the people, or of those who were intimately acquainted with him, than did John Montgomery Walker. He is a son of the well-known Cyrus and Flora (Montgomery) Wal- ker, the former a Virginian, the latter a Kentuckian, the daughter of Thomas and Polly Montgomery. John M. was was born at Columbia, Adair county, Kentucky, April 29, 1820, where he re- sided until 1833. When a lad of 13 years of age, he came to Macomb with his father, where he went to school, and finally graduated at the McDonough college. He was a thorough student. Soon after he entered the office of his father, Cyrus Walker, and read law with him. In 1841, he applied for, and ob- tained, a license .to practice law in Illi- nois and Iowa. He opened a law office in Burlington and subsequently prac- ticed in that city, and also Fort Madison, Iowa, and for many years had an exten- sive practice. He was characterized as a gentleman of fine qualities and a lawyer. He returned to Macomb after several years, and again entered upon the practice of law. On the 13th of July, 1845, he was united in marriage to Margaret Sample, at West Point, Iowa. She was noted as the belle of Lee county. After a companionship of over 18 years, she departed this life August 2, 1863. She was a devout christian woman, a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and was universally respected by all who knew her. A son and two daughters had passed on before to the better world above.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Aaron Bennett was born December 1, 1800, in New London county, Connecti- cut. He grew to manhood there, and in 1823, went to Albany county, New York, where he engaged in farming, and was married soon after to Rosella Burroughs. Two sons were born of this marriage, one of whom, Jefferson, lived to be 26 years of age, dying at his father's home in Albany county. After farming in Albany county for a considerable time, Mr. Bennett removed to New York city, living for a short period there, and in Brooklyn and New Jersey. He next removed to Staten Island, where he fol- lowed farming for a number of years; here his wife died. Returning to Al- bany county, he was again married, No- vember 5, 1838, to Rosella B. Fish. After this marriage, Mr. Bennett pur- chased his father's-in-law farm, and re- sided there 17 years. In the spring of 1855, the family removed to DesMoines county, Iowa, where they lived one season. In the fall of that year Mr. Bennett visited McDonough county,Illi- nois, and, liking the country, bought a farm there, on which the family have since lived. By the second marriage there were four children, two of whom, Albert and Dayton, lived to be grown. Albert enlisted in August, 1862, in com- pany I, 78th Illinois infantry, and died at New Boston, Kentucky, November 12, 1862, aged 19 years and 9 months. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Presbyterian church.

Patrick O'Meara, although he may not be what is termed an old settler, yet the subject of our present sketch has spent 30 years of his life in Macomb. Pat- rick O'Meara is a native of Ireland,

having been born in the county Tipper- ary, on the 17th day of March, I817. His parents were Patrick and Fannie (Hendee) O'Meara. He obtained the education his country afforded, and at the age of 15, learned the shoemaking trade, serving an apprenticeship of seven years. Knowing the chances of obtaining a livelihood in his native country were very poor, he determined to come to America, the Eldorado of the world. In 1845, he landed in New York city, and from there went to Springfield, Massachusetts. Two years later he came to Chicago, but finding that the bulk of humanity was still pushing westward, he resolved on trying his chances in Macomb, then a sparsely pop- ulated village. On the 28th day of Sep- tember, 1853, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Brophy, at Canton, Illinois The fruit of this union were six child- ren, two of these, William and Mary, joining the better throng while yet in infancy. The four surviving are-Car- roll T., at present engaged in the whole- sale paper business at Chicago; Michael J., now in Winfield, Kansas, where he is engaged in the boot and shoe busi- ness; William P., who enjoys the repu- tation of being a most efficient sales- man in the dry goods house of G. W. Bailey, at Macomb, and Fannie, the youngest, who recently graduated from the convent school in Quincy, Illinois. Mr. O'Meara is a firm believer in the Catholic dogmas, having been born and raised in that faith. Patrick O'Meara has earned his living by the "sweat of his face," idleness being a repulsive trait in his nature, and to-day, although not wealthy, is very comfortably situated.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 003273106

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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 134

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