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 30
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
of 1870, the state of Illinois was divided into nineteen districts, and the counties of McDonough, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Hancock and Schuyler were placed in the tenth district. The first election under this apportionment was held in November, 1872. In the 43d congress the new tenth district was rep- resented by William H. Ray, of Rush- ville, Schuyler county. He served one term of two years; and was succeeded by John C. Bagby, of the same town and county, who represented the district during the life of the 44th congress.
The 45th congress, during the two years succeeding March 4, 1877, con- tained as the representative of the people of this district, Benjamin F. Marsh, a citizen of Warsaw, Hancock county. He was re-elected to the 46th and 47th con- gresses.
In the fall of 1882, William H. Neece, was elected to fill the place of member of congress from this district and occu- pied a prominent place in the house of the 48th congress. He was re-elected in 1884, and is the present representa- tive in the national hall of representa- tives.
William Henry Neece, member of con- gress from the eleventh district, and a prominent lawyer in Macomb, is a son of Jesse and Mary D., (Maupin) Neece, and was born in Sangamon county, now a part of Logan, this state, February 26, 1831. In April of that year the family moved into this county. His father was a native of Kentucky; his mother of Virginia. They were members of the agricultural class, and reared their children in habits of industry, their farm being two miles south of Colches-
ter. Jesse Neece, the father of W. H., died in 1869; his mother, Mary A., 1837. The subject of this sketch was engaged in agricultural pursuits most of the time, until nearly of age, receiving meanwhile an ordinary English education, such as a country school could furnish. From 1850 to 1852 he had some experience in chopping in the valley of the Illinois; in pork packing at Frederick, and in break- ing prairie in this county. In the spring of 1852 Mr. Neece commenced teaching, and wound up his professional career in . this line in the spring of 1853. He then started for the Pacific coast with his older brother, George W. Neece and family, crossing the plains by ox-team, and reaching Portland, Oregon, early in the autumn of that year. The next month William went to California, and failing as a miner, became a cook in a restau- rant at Sacramento. In the spring of 1854 he engaged in mining with his brother, near Grass Valley, in Nevada county, California, and there remain- ing until the spring of 1855, when he returned to this county. In the au- tumn of that year he became purchas- ing agent for the firm of J. H. Baker & Co., real estate dealers in Macomb, and was thus employed for one year. On May 3, 1857, he was married to Janette Ingals, of this county, and the same year he commenced the study of law with Hon. John Simpson Bailey, since judge of the circuit court, and in 1858, was admitted to the bar. He still ap- plied himself very closely to his legal studies, and in a few years began to rise in his profession. In 1861 he was elected to the city council of Macomb. In 1864 and 1870 he was elected to the legisla-
270
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
ture. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of the years 1869-70. He was the democratic nom- inee for congress in the old tenth dis- trict; was elected to the state senate in 1878, serving four years, and in the au- tumn of 1882 was elected to congress in a strong republican district. He was re-elected in 1884 and was chairman of committee on enrolled bills. Mr. and Mrs. Neece have three children; Jesse T., William A., and Orson B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
When the county.of McDonough was organized in 1830, it was a part of a dis- trict, then without a number, composed of the counties of Pike, Adams, Fulton, Peoria, Schuyler, and Jo Daviess, and was represented in the senate of the seventh general assembly by Henry J. Ross, and in the house by Joel Wright. This general assembly con- vened at Vandalia, then the state capital, on the 6th of February, 1830, and ad- journed February 16, 1831.
The eighth general assembly met, at the same city, on the 3d of December, 1832, and adjourned March 2, 1833. The senatorial district composed of the counties of Schuyler, Fulton, Knox, Henry, Calhoun, Mercer, Warren, and McDonough was represented in the sen- ate by William McCreery, and in the house, by William Edmonston. The representative district was composed of the counties of McDonough, Calhoun, Warren, and Mercer.
The ninth general assembly convened for its first session, at Vandalia, Decem- ber 1, 1834, and adjourned February 13, 1835; its second session commenced
December 7, 1835, and. ended January 18, 1836. This county, which was asso- ciated with the same counties as the last was represented in the senate, by George W. P. Maxwell, and in the house by Peter Butler. The latter was a resident of the town of Monmouth, Warren county, and during the Black Hawk war, was the captain of the company of mounted rangers that went from this and the adjoining county. He has been dead many years, and is only remem- bered by the oldest settlers of this lo- cality.
On the 14th of January, 1836, a new apportionment was made by which Mc- Donough and Hancock were made one senatorial district and was represented by Thomas H. Owens. McDonough county itself constituted a representa- tive district and was served in the tenth general assembly by William Edmons- ton. This legislature convened at Van- dalia, December 5, 1836 and adjourned the first session, March 6, 1837; a sec- ond session met on the 10th of July, 1837, and adjourned, sine die, July 22, 1837. William Edmonston was a Ten- nessean by birth and came to this county in 1829, from Indiana, In about 1840 he removed to the western part of Mis- souri, where he died, during the rebel- lion. Mr. Edmonston was at an early date, the commissioner appointed by the county to have charge of the sale of the lots in the town of Macomb.
On the 3d of December, 1838, the eleventh general assembly met at Van- dalia for the last time and continued in 'session until March 4, 1839. The sec- ond session was convened at Spring- field, December 9, 1839, and adjourned
271
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
February 3, 1840. McDonough county, together with Hancock, was represented in the senate by Sydney H. Little, and still by itself, in the house by . William Edmonston. Sidney H. Little was a resident of Carthage, and was after- wards killed by a runaway horse.
The twelfth general assembly met in regular session, at Springfield, on the 23d of November, 1840, and adjourned December 5, 1840. A second session met December 7, 1840, and continued until March 1, 1841. S. H. Little in the senate, still represented this district. William W. Bailey, a citizen of this county, was present as the delegate in the house.
Col. William W. Bailey (deceased), was among the pioneers of this county. He was a son of William S. Bailey, a native of Virginia, who was born in Cul- pepper county, in 1768, and who emi- grated to Kentucky in 1816, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in Adair county, in 1829. The mother of the subject of this sketch was formerly Betsy Macky, daughter of John Macky, of Rockbridge county, Virginia. William W., was born in Breckenridge county, Virginia, November 25, 1796, and early in life removed with his par- ents to Kentucky, and there January 19, 1819, was married to Elizabeth Wal- ker, daughter of James Walker, of Adair county, Kentucky. He came to Mc- Donough county in 1833, and settled in Macomb, which was always afterward his residence. Here he engaged in mer- chandising, and his son George W., con- tinues the business so early established, a history of which appears elsewhere in this work. This was among the pioneer
stores of the place, as well as this part of the state, and the facilities for obtain- ing goods at that day, would now be con- sidered insurmountable by the mer- chants who have their goods brought to their very doors with little trouble or expense. Then Mr. Bailey bought goods in Baltimore, which were transported across the mountains to Wheeling, in wagons. He continued in the mercan- tile business until 1862, when he retired with a life competence. He was twice married. His second wife was Hannah A. Deane, to whom he was married May 5, 1864. She was a daughter of Philip Deane, of Hillingly, Connecticut. Of Mr. Bailey's family, James W., resides in Missouri, and William S. and George W., are in business in Macomb; Joseph A., died in New York city, in 1854; Samuel E., died in this county in 1852; Henry, a member of the 16th Illinois infantry, died March 16, 1862, from ex- posure in camp; Mary, wife of D. G. Tunnicliff, died April 21, 1865. As early as the spring of 1818, Mr. Bailey was elected captain of militia, and was subsequently advanced to the rank of major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel. He was a worthy gentleman, and a prominent business man, was quite active in all matters of public interest, and popular among the people. He was called upon to fill the office of county commissioner for two years, and in 1840, represented this county in the state legis- lature.
On the 5th of December, 1842, at Springfield, the 13th general assembly was convened, and Hugh Ervin repre- sented the county in the house. A new apportionment had been made in
272
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
February, 1841, and there seems to have been no senator upon the rolls credited to this county, or rather to the district in which this county was included.
Hugh Ervin came to this county in April, 1836, from Sangamon county. He is a native of Augusta county, Virginia, born August 13, 1810. His life was mostly spent upon a farm until Novem- ber 11, 1834, at which time he was mar- ried to Sarah R. Black, also a native of Virginia. Soon after marriage he went to Sangamon county, Illinois, remained a short time, then came here as before stated. He first rented land, but subse- quently purchased a farm, upon which he lived until the spring of 1848, when he removed to Macomb, and engaged in general merchandizing until 1861. In July of that year, he enlisted in the 28th Illinois volunteer infantry, and re- ceived the appointment of quartermas- ter, and remained in the service until February, 1862. He then returned to Macomb, and at this time (1885) resides with his daughter, Mrs. Wilson.
The 14th general assembly convened at Springfield December 2, 1844, and ad- journed March 3, 1845. The district composed of the counties of McDon- ough, Warren and Henderson was, rep- resented in the senate by William McMillan, and in the house William H. Randolph served the people of McDon- ough county as representative.
At the election held in 1844, William H. Randolph was chosen to represent this district in the lower house of the general assembly, and was re-elected to the same in 1846. He was born in War- ren county, Ohio, August 20, 1813, near the village of Lebanon. He was the son
of David and Rebecca (Sutphen) Ran- dolph, who were natives of New Jersey, but who removed from the state of their nativity to Kentucky, where they re- mained but a short time, when the mi- grated to Ohio.
The early years of his life were spent with his parents on a farm, and in atten- dance on the common schools of the neighborhood. When 16 or 17 years of age he went to learn the trade of a fuller or manufacturer of woolen goods, con- tinuing with the firm until he reached his majority, when he determined to seek other and greater fields of labor, and came to Rushville, Schuyler county, in this state, where he remained for a few months, and from thence came to Macomb, in this county, where he resid- ed until the day of his death. His par- ents desired that he should pre- pare himself for one of the learned professions, for that purpose having him take a regular collegiate course, but William thought a trade preferable, and therefore learned one, as stated. When he arrived in Macomb he had between $300 and $400, which he invested in a small stock of groceries. Continuing in that branch of business until elected to the office of sheriff of the county, in 1838, to which office he was twice re-elected-in 1840 and 1842. In 1844 he was elected as a member of the house of representative of the Illi- nois legislature, and re-elected in 1846. In 1848 he was elected to the office of circuit clerk of the county and re-elected in 1852, serving until 1856. Thus for eighteen years without intermission he held public offices in the county, on each occasion of his election running ahead
-
273
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY. -
of his ticket, being always popular with the people. He was never beaten for office.
In 1854, in company with. Joseph M. Parkinson, Joseph W. Blount and M. T. Winslow, he opened the first banking house in McDonough county. For two years, or over, this institution prospered greatly, butin an evil hour the company was persuaded into an arrangement with T. L. McCoy,of Galesburg, by which they. invested some $20,000 in the Nehama Valley bank,issuing a certain per cent. of the amount in notes, for which part only they were to be held responsible, the, ar- 'rangement being that any banking in- stitution investing in the enterprise should be compelled to redeem only its own issue; but a further arrangement was made with the different parties that all notes presented at either of their banking houses, whether of the series issued by themselves or not, might be redeemed and sent to their respective banks for final redemption. When the crash came in 1858, when the Nemaha Valley bank bubble burst, Messrs. Ran- dolph & Company redeemed their whole issue, and over $5,000 of the notes of other parties, for which they never ob- tained value received. This firm would not suspend until they found it was ut- terly impossible ever to recover from the other parties, and then, and not till then, did they close their doors. The loss of Mr. Randolph alone, by reason of the failure of others to make good their promises, was over $100,000. To his honor be it said, not a man ever lost a dollar by him. He did not compromise with his creditors for a few cents on the dollar, and then open out in grander
style than ever, but continued, as fast as it was possible, to pay off his indebted- ness, and when death called him away, he was almost clear before the world. One year more would probably have placed him in the same position he oc- cupied before the crash came.
Mr. Randolph was a man of great public spirit, and his means were used not only to increase his own wealth, but for the public good. In 1856 he began the erection of the well known Randolph hotel, and finished it in the following year. This stands to-day a monument of the public enterprise of the man. As a pecuniary investment it never paid, but stands an honor to the city, and a free will offering to the pride of the people.
During the year in which the erec- tion of the hotel was began, he laid off for a public cemetery a tract of land just north of the city, comprising eleven acres, which he christened Oakwood cemetery. For years the town had felt the want for a suitable place for the burial of the dead. The old cemetery, west of town, was too small and very in- convenient to the citizens of the place, and with his accustomed liberality and public spirit, Mr. Randolph selected the prettiest and most eligible spot adjoin- ing the town for this "City of the Dead."
On the 26th day of January, 1837, he led to the marriage altar Matilda Jane Brooking, daughter of the well-known old pioneer, Thomas Brooking, with whom he happily. lived until the day of his death, No children ever blessed their union.
In 1853, Mr. Randolph engaged in the real estate business, in company with J.
1
274
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
M. Parkinson, under the firm name of Randolph, Parkinson & Co., continuing the same until November 3, 1856, when the firm disposed of their interests to McLean, Randolph & Co. The opera- tions of this company were confined to the region known as the Military Tract, comprising some 16 counties, lying be- tween the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and, for a time, were very extensive. Several very fortunate ventures were made, in which were realized a hand- some sum of money, adding materially to the wealth of Mr. Randolph. Having an extensive acquaintance throughout the section, and knowing well the geog- raphy and topography of the country, he was always qualified to judge of the amount of risk that could be taken. In this work he unearthed several huge frauds that had been perpetrated upon the people, and restored to the proper persons their rights.
In 1858 he took charge of the Ran- dolph hotel, having failed in securing a suitable tenant, and continued in charge until the day of his death, although the duties of a landlord were rather oner- ous, on account of the vast amount of other business to which it was necessary that he should give his personal atten- tion.
In politics Mr. Randolph was always radical. No one ever doubted his posi- tion upon any of the great questions of the day. In early life he affiliated with the whig party, and the measures of that party received his undivided support. As a whig he was elected to the various county offices which he held. On the .organization of the republican party, in '1854, he at once embraced the principles
proclaimed by its leaders. "Free press, free speech and freedom" had ever been with him a leading thought, and he en- tered heartily and zealously into the work of moulding public opinion for the adoption of the new principles.
His business affairs on the organiza- tion of the party were such as to pre- vent him from taking the more active part to which his ardent nature prompt- ed him, but notwithstanding, the success obtained in after years was greatly the result of his labors.
In the presidential campaign of 1856, notwithstanding his party was greatly in the minority, he labored hard, and in' 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was at the head of the ticket, when victory was as- sured from the division in the ranks of the opposition,he ceased not to labor un- til the announcement was made that the favorite son of Illinois 'should be the nation's chief for the term of four years.
When the southern states rebelled, and the call to arms was made by the president, the private business of Mr. Randolph was such he could not, without too great personal sacrifice, go forth to the tented field, as he in his heart desired; but no man labored more to secure en- listments; none, of their private means, expended more to further the cause than he., The soldier going to or from the field was ever a welcome guest at his house, and if they were possessed of no. means to pay their bills, it mattered not. Whole companies were at times lodged and fed by him without a cent being paid.
On the 15th day of June, 1863, without solicitation or previous notification, he received the appointment of deputy pro-
275
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
vost marshal for the district of McDon- ough county, and on the 28th of Septem- ber, 1864, he was re-appointed. His friends all advised him not to accept the appointment, as the duties required were dangerous to perform, and there being those in the county who were his deadly and sworn enemies, they might seek a pretext to take his life. The very rea- sons urged for non-acceptance were such as to determine him not to decline the appointment; he would do nothing that would show even a semblance of fear: It was his desire to serve his government, and he believed it was his duty to do so, and the opportunity was here offered; the duties were such as to require a man of nerve, and he would not flinch. His first duty was to make an enrollment of the militia, reporting the names to the provost marshal at Mt. Sterling. At this time McDonough county was short in the quota, and a draft was ordered; and upon a certain day the number deficient was drawn, and among the number was one John Bond, of Hire township. Mr. Randolph at once notified him of the draft, and ordered him to report at Mt. Sterling, which not being done, he pro- ceeded to Blandinsville for the purpose of arresting him. Here the two met; a few words passed between them; Bond endeavored to escape, when Mr. R., plac- ing his hand upon his shoulder, told him he was his prisoner. Bond then drew a revolver, and, retreating a pace or two, fired at Randolph and then fled, followed by Mr. R., who returned the fire. Dur- ing the firing of the first shots they were in the hall of the hotel, from which emerging, several more shots were ex- changed, two of them taking effect upon
Mr. Randolph, mortally wounding him, and causing death within 24 hours. Everything that could be done by the best medical talent in the county was done to save his life, but without avail; and thus passed from earth one of Mc- Donough county's most honored sons.
Mrs. Randolph was born in Logan county, Kentucky, in 1819, and, with her parents, came to McDonough county, where she was afterward married to W. H. Randolph, now deceased. She is now the owner of the Randolph House, as also of a store building, livery barn, and her present commodious dwelling.
The 15th general assembly met at Springfield December 7, 1846, and ad- journed March 1, 1847. William Mc- Millan continued to serve this district in the senate. In the house, William H. Randolph, returned by a grateful con- stituency, represented McDonough county.
Before another general assembly had met, the constitution of 1848 was adopted, and under it a new apportionment of the state was made, and McDonough county, together with those of Schuyler, Brown and Highland, were made the 16th sena- torial district, while the county still con- stituted a representative district. The 16th general assembly convened at Springfield, January 1, 1849, and ad- journed February 12, 1849; a second ses- sion met October 22, 1849, and continued until November 7, 1849. This district was represented in the senate by John P. Richmond, a citizen of Schuyler county, and McDonough county was represented in the house by Josiah Harrison. The representative district was numbered 38.
The 17th general assembly met at
276
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
Springfield, January 6, 1850, and ad- journed February 17, 1851; a second ses- sion convened June 7, 1852, and contin- ued until June 23, 1852. The 16th sena- torial district was represented by John P. Richmond, a resident of Schuyler county. McDonough county, then con- stituting the 38th representative district, was served by John Huston.
John Huston was born near Sparta, White county, Tennessee, May 17, 1808. His parents were Walter and Nancy (Bradshaw) Huston, the former being a Virginian by birth and the latter a Ken- tuckian. Both were hard-working, in- dustrious people, poor in this world's goods, and therefore the advantages af- forded their children were but few to at- tain anything like a fair education. John Huston had only a limited knowledge of his mother tongue, together with the sciences taught in the schools of the day, having the opportunity of attending only such schools as gave instruction in the simple rudiments of the language. Be- fore reaching his majority, Mr. Huston led to the marriage altar Ann Melvin, with whom he happily lived until sep- arated by death. They were married in his native county, on the second day of October, 1828, and twelve days thereaf- ter the young couple, with all their worldly goods, departed for the great West, intending to make Illinois, with its beautiful prairies and grand groves, their home for the future. On the eleventh day of November, 1828, they ar- rived in Morgan county, where they re- mained some sixteen months, when they came to this county, arriving here on the fourteenth day of March, 1830. When they arrived in the county, all they pos-
sessed of worldly property was one horse, an old-fashioned one-horse cart, a few household goods and fifty cents in money. Selecting their claim, a log house was erected, into which the family moved. There being no door cut, a log was re- moved, and all crawled in. This was the beginning of their life in McDonough county. When Mr. Huston arrived in the county it was unorganized, and in the work of organization which occurred some months after, le bore an honorable part, and was appointed the first treas- urer of the county, which office he held but a few months, the duties requiring his presence in Macomb, and therefore could not be attended to by him, without the loss of more time than he could spare from his private affairs. Other officers of minor importance were thrust upon him, which he filled to the satisfac- tion of those by whom he was elected. He never sought office at any time in his life; his personal feelings requiring to be sacrificed in accepting public position, but in 1847, he received the nomination of his party for member of the consti- tutional convention called for the pur- pose of amending the constitution of the state, and was triumphantly elected. His services in that body were such as to se- cure his nomination in 1850, for the of- fice of representative in the general as- sembly. Being elected thereto he served his time and again was re-nominated in 1852, but was defeated on local grounds. He was no orator, never having given any special attention to public speaking, the labors of life being in tilling the soil, and whatever talent he may have had for oratory was never cultivated. He was a man of but few words, but all
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.