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 31

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 31

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

that were said were direct to the point, the meaning being plain and manifest to all. Common sense was characteristic of the man in all that he said or done. In politics he was a democrat of the Jackson school, but his politics never in- terfered with the discharge of his duties as a public officer. When Mr. Huston settled on section 3 there were only about six or eight families in the neigh- borhood, and probably not more than twenty-five in the whole county. The first winter passed in his new home was the one in which occurred the ever memorable and never to be forgotten big snow, of which mention is frequently made in this work. The hardships en- dured by the family were such as were common to all, serving to strengthen them for the trials that should come af- ter. Mr. Huston was the father of eight children, seven boys and one girl, the latter being now the wife of Strawther Givens, of Abingdon, Ill. Of the boys, it can be said, all now living occupy hon- orable positions in society, two having been called to their reward. John Hus- ton departed this life on the 8th day of July, 1854, being 46 years and two months old. His loss was deeply felt by friends throughout the whole state, and his memory is yet held in grateful remem- brance, and will be while the life of those living who were intimate with him shall last.

The 18th general assembly convened for its first session, January 3, 1853, and continued until February 14, of the same year; a second session met February 9, 1854, and adjourned March 4, 1854. J. M. Campbell, of McDonough county, was the senator from this district.

James M. Randolph was the repre- sentative from the 38th district. Mr. Randolph was the owner of the mill in Lamoine township, which he operated for. years. A very active, enterprising man, to whose exertions a part of the credit of the location of the Northern Cross railroad through this county in due. In later years he removed to Car- thage, Hancock county, where he died.

James Morrison Campbell, the oldest settler in Macomb, still living there, is a native of Frankfort, Kentucky, and was born August 22, 1803. His parents were John R. and Margaret F. (Self) Camp- bell. His grandfather, Robert Camp- bell, came to this country with his wife, Nancy Campbell, from Argyleshire,Scot- land, in 1773, and when two years later, war with England commenced, he took up arms against the mother country. Robert Campbell settled in Virginia, where both parents of James were born. They moved to Kentucky, about the be- ginning of this century, and when the son was about four years old, the family moved from Frankfort to Mecklenburgh county, where they remained about two years.

In 1809, John R. Campbell, who was a blacksmith by trade, came into this state and settled at Shawneetown, and while there in 1812 and two years subse- quently, was a lieutenant of rangers, fighting against the Indians, whom the British had instigated to raise the war whoop. When peace was declared Lieu- tenant Campbell did not return imme- diately, and his wife supposing him to be dead, returned with her little family of three children to the old home in Frankfort. Toher great joy her hus-

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band soon joined her. The Frankfort seminary was then a popular institu- tion, and in it James was kept for four

years, under a first-class disciplinarian,

Professor Keene O'Hara. In 1820, when only seventeen years old, Mr. Campbell was appointed deputy post- master at Frankfort holding that posi- tion between five and six years under James W. Hawkins. Resigning his place in the post-office, our subject went to Lexington, and not long after- ward received a mail bag with a suit of clothes in it from his friend, the post- master, Not being successful in finding a situation in Lexington, Mr. Campbell returned to Frankfort, and in the spring of 1828 went to Shelby county, Ken- tucky. The next winter he started for Galena, Jo Daviess county, this state, but spent that winter at Nashville, Ten- nessee, reaching the lead mines in Aug- ust, 1829. His uncle, William Camp- bell, was then the general agent of the government as receiver of the rents of the mines at Galena, and the nephew was with him a few months, and then went into the office of the circuit and county clerk, remaining in that situa- tion until the spring of 1831. On the first day of April of that year, he reach- ed Macomb, which then had a popula- tion of four persons-Rev. John Baker, a Baptist minister, wife and two little daughters-Mr. Campbell swelling the population to five. Where the public square now stands, ornamented by a fine and substantial court house, the last year's grass aud rosin weeds were six feet high, and except the cabin of Mr. Baker there was not a building of any kind within nearly a mile of where Ma-

comb now stands. In 1831 there were not more than 80 voters in the county. Mr. Campbell came here with commis- sions in his pocket from Judge Richard M. Young, for clerk of the circuit court, and was appointed by governor John 'Reynolds to the offices of judge of pro- bate, county recorder, and notary pub- lic, and was appointed clerk of the county commissioners' court by the county commissioners in 1831, but there was not much county business just then to be done, and he built a log-house on what is now Jefferson street, and opened the first store in .McDonough county. He was also appointed the first post- master of Macomb. He was also ap- pointed the first notary public and the first judge of probate, but these two of- fices he refused to accept. The offices of circuit and county clerk, recorder and post-master he held for 16 years, except one interim of three months in the post-office. Not long afterward he became clerk of the county commission- er's court, and held that office 15 years. During the Black Hawk war (1832). Mr. Campbell was in Major Bogart's battalion, and served to the end, the pay being 86 cents a day, for himself and horse for 86 days. In 1846 he was ap- pointed assistant commissary, and as- signed to the third regiment, Illinois in- fantry, but he did only three months service in the Mexican war. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1847; was elected to the state senate, in 1852, and was a member of the fin- ance committee during the four years that he served in that body. Mr. Camp- bell was originally a whig, but took ex- ception to Mr. Clay's speech (1832)

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

against the pre-emption of lands to act- ual settlers, and has since voted with the democratic party, serving many years on the county and state central committees. He was a delegate to the national convention in 1856, when Mr. Buchanan was nominated, and again in 1860, when Mr. Douglas was nominated was a member of the national democra- tic convention at Charleston, South Carolina, and at Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Campbell has done a good deal of valuable work in the city council, and in the board of supervisors, and in many ways as is here seen, he has served his constituents, always with faithful- ness and marked ability.

A few months after coming to Ma- comb, in August 1831, Mr. Campbell was married at St. Charles, Missouri, to Clarissa Hempstead, who died in 1842, leaving one son and four daughters, three of whom, the son and two daugh- ters, are still living. In 1843 he was married to Mrs. Louisa F. Berry, a daughter of John Farwell and a sister of Captain G. L. Farwell, of Macomb, he having by her three sons and one daughter. Mr. Campbell's oldest daugh- ter, Mary Eliza, was the first female child born in the city of Macomb. It was Mr. Campbell's pen which drew the original plat of the town, which was adopted by the county commissioners, and he named every street in the town. He is thoroughly identified with the his- tory of this city and county. He built the first store, the first frame house, the first three school houses and the first public hall in Macomb; was the first post-master in the county; the first county clerk, recorder, and has been

the first and foremost man in many im- portant enterprises. Although more than 80 years old, his mind is clear, and he has a vivid recollection of early times and pioneer days in this county, and the historian has been able from him to obtain many facts of much im- portance, no where else obtainable. McDonough county was extremely for- tunate in her early history, in having such a man to plan and execute, whose ability was well known, and whose hon- esty was unquestioned. He has witnes- sed the development of this county from a state of natural wilderness, to a thrifty and well peopled land, and in its transfor- mation he has contributed more of time and brains, and money directly and in- directly, than any other man, and can to- day with a good degree of commendable pride, point to his record, and have the satisfaction which comes only from a life well spent, an honored name so fairly won.

The 19th general assembly convened at the state capital January 1, 1855, and adjourned February 15, 1855. McDon- ough county having been changed to a place in the tenth district, was repre- sented in the senate by James M. Camp- bell. Louis H. Waters represented the 32d district in the house. A sketch of the latter gentleman will be found in connection with the history of the bar of the county, a profession which he graced and ornamented.

On the 5th of January, 1857, the 20th general assembly of the state met at Springfield and continued in session un- til February 19, 1857. William C. Gou- dy, of Fulton, was the senator, and George Hire represented the county of

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McDonough, then the thirty-second dis- trict, in the house.

George Hire came to McDonough county in 1851, his son Jesse having set- tled here some four years previously. He never owned any real estate in the shape of farm land. Being a man of means, he lived on the interest of his money. He was born in West Virginia, but when quite young his parents, who were of German descent, removed to Ohio. He was, on attaining the age of manhood, united in wedlock with Cath- erine Bryant, a native of Virginia, by whom he had five children; Jesse, Mary A., Jefferson, Margaret and Elizabeth. He was a man of superior abilities and took a prominent part in the politics of this his adopted county, being one of the leaders of the democratic party in this locality. Hire township was named after him.

The 21st general assembly convened at Springfield, January 3, 1859, and ad- journed February 24, following. William C.Goudy was again in the senate from this district, and in the house the county was represented by William Berry. The lat- ter named gentleman came to McDon- ough county from Indiana, and resided at Macomb. The "colonel," as he was called, died at this place a few years ago, honored and respected by all.

The first session of the 22d general assembly met at Springfield, January 7, 1861, and adjourned February 22, and a second session commenced April 23, 1861, and continued until May 3 of the same year. In the senate William Ber- ry, of McDonough county, represented the district. In the house of represen- tatives S. H. McCandless was the dep-

uty from this county, and filled the place with credit and honor to himself and friends.

The 23d general assembly of Illinois convened at Springfield, January 5, 1863, and adjourned February 14, 1863, until June 2, 1863. On the latter date it again met, in pursnance to the adjournment, and was, on the 10th of June, prorogued by the governor until December 31, 1864, on which day it convened and ad- journed. In this assembly McDonough, then a part of the 14th senatorial dis- trict, was represented in the senate by William Berry, of this county. Lewis G. Reid was the member of the house from this county.

In mentioning the prominent men of McDonough county in this volume, we will not fail to speak of Lewis G. Reid, attorney, who has served the people in an official capacity, a number of times, giving supreme satisfaction. He is a native Kentuckian, and was born in Mason county on the 16th day of April, 1813, his parents being Lewis E. and Elizabeth (Peyton) Reid, both of whom were natives of Virginia state. Lewis G. was the eldest child of a family of seven children, and was reared and edu- cated in his native county. In April, 1834, he started for the west, on horse- back, and located in Sangamon county, Illinois, returning to his Kentucky home in the fall, and bringing his father's family to the home he had picked out for them. In 1838 he removed to Win- nebago county, Illinois, and from there to Stephenson county, same state, three years later. In 1853 he returned to Kentucky and remained till 1858, at which time he removed to Lamoine

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township, McDonough county, and loca- ted on the northwest quarter of section 28, where he improved a farm, which he still owns. In 1869 he located on the northwest quarter of section 31, where he lived until October, 1882, when he re- moved to Colchester, where he at pres- ent resides. In 1862 Mr. Reid was ad- mitted to the McDonough county bar, but has never made a specialty of this profession. He was elected county super- visor in 1860, and served as such for 21 years. He served the people of his dis- trict as representative in the general as- sembly one term, being elected in 1863. When the county court house was being built he served as superintendent of construction. The structure was finished in 1872, and gave entire satisfaction to the people of the county, thus speaking volumes for Mr. Reid. At present he holds the position of notary public. His marriage with Sarah A. Moore, a native of Kentucky, was solemnized on Sunday, January 1, 1843. Her death occurred in the month of March, 1843. Two chil- dren of that marriage are still living- - Anna C. and Louis N. Mr. Reid was again married, in September, 1857, to Mrs. Cyrena Tristo, a widow, Three children by this union are still living- Lucien, Edward and Harry L .- but Mrs. Reid died in 1865. Lewis G. Reid and Lucy Tandy were married on the 29th day of January, 1879. Mrs. Reid is a native of the state of Kentucky, but was reared in Missouri,

On January 2, 1865, the 24th general assembly met in regular session, at Springfield, and adjourned the 16th of February following. The 14th district was represented in the senate by James

Strain, a resident of Monmouth, Warren county. This district consisted of the counties of McDonough, Henderson, Mercer and Warren, The 29th repre- sentative district, comprising the county of McDonough, was represented by Wil- liam H. Neece, of Macomb. A sketch of the latter named gentleman can be found in connection with the record of congressmen.

The 25th general assembly held three sessions, the first commencing January 7, 1867, which adjourned February 28; the second convened June 11, and ad- journed June 13; and the third com- menced June 14, and adjourned June 28, 1867. In the senate, James Strain con- tinued to represent this district, and in the house, Amaziah Hanson was the member from McDonough county.

Samuel Hanson, grandfather of Ama- ziah Hanson, one of Mound township's leading citizens, was reared on the east- ern shore of Maryland. He removed from there to Mason county, Kentucky, where James, father of Amaziah, was born November 17, 1799. Samuel re- moved to Ross county, Ohio, when James was but nine months old. In that county Samuel lived the remainder of his days, dying in February, 1832, aged 82 years. James was married in Ross county, Ohio, to Elizabeth Mackey. She was a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, born in 1803, and daughter of James W. and Hannah (Powell) Mackey. She re- moved to Ross county, Ohio, with her father in 1820, and was there married. There their son Amaziah, the subject of this sketch, was born, on the 25th day of April, 1825. He was reared there, and was married May 10, 1855, to Keturah

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Clark. While on a visit to her sister, in Missouri, she died, August 26, 1858, Mr. Hanson arriving in time to witness her death. Her remains were interred at Chillicothe, Ohio. Mr. Hanson was married again near Circleville, Ohio, on the 17th of September, 1861, to Eliza Fryback. The fall previous Mr. Hanson had come out to this county and pur- chased land on section 10, New Salem township. On the day they were mar- ried he started with his wife for this county. They decided not to locate per- manently on the farm just then, and coming to Macomb they lived there until March, 1862, when they removed to the farm. In December, 1874, Mr. Hanson went with his family to Bates county, Missouri, where he lived until October, 1877, when he returned to McDonough county and located on his present farm, which is on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 30, Mound township. The names of Mr. Hanson's children, who are all the issue of his second marriage, are as follows: Emerson, born December 12, 1864; Ralph, born December 2, 1866; Grier, born June 24, 1870; Myra, born October 24, 1873; Lettie, born in Mis- souri, February 14, 1875, died' August 27, 1875; Ivan Mackey, born September 9, 1876, in Missouri; Edmund, born August 15, 1879; Katie, born December 5, 1881; and Anna Marie, born August 2, 1883. In 1866 Mr. Hanson was elected representative of this county in the house of representatives, and attended the ses- sion of 1867. It was in this year that the 14th amendment to the constitution was ratified, Mr. Hanson recording him- self in favor of it. He also helped elect Lyman Trumbull to the United States

senate. He studied law in Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1852, at Delaware, Ohio. He practiced his pro- fession at Chillicothe, and was elected clerk of the court there two terms. In 1867 he received a license from the su- preme court of Illinois to practice law in this state, but has never followed the legal profession since coming to Illinois. He was twice elected justice of the peace in New Salem township; he has served as school treasurer, and is now holding that position in Mound township. In religious matters he is also prominent. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Bardolph. He was three times lay delegate to the Central Illinois conference, and is now president of the county Sunday school convention. So it will be seen that Mr. Hanson's life has been one of action and usefulness. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been twice a representative to the grand lodge. His two oldest sons are teachers in the county. When Mr. Hanson was a young man he taught school six years, and fol- lowed this vocation while studying law. He is a man highly respected, and enjoys a large and wide acquaintance among the people of McDonough county.

The 26th general assembly, which con- vened at Springfield the 4th of January, 1869, contained as the representative of this district Isaac McManus, of Keiths- burg, Mercer county, in the senate, and Humphrey Horrabin, of Blandinsville, in the house. The assembly adjourned April 20, 1869.

Humphrey Horrabin was born in Al- lerton, near Liverpool, England, on the 15th of December, 1817. His parents,

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James and Frances (Sharpless) Horra- bin, were poor in this world's goods, and gave him the.Oportunity to attend the subscription school of his native country only a few months. But he was in- structed well in the doctrines of the church, its discipline, etc. In 1829, when 13 years of age, he was bound an apprentice to learn the trade of shoe- maker, the time of his service to be seven years. Completing the required time as an apprentice, he continued at the trade as a journeyman until his re- moval to this country, and for 10 years thereafter. On the 3d day of October, 1836, he was married to Elizabeth Smalley, of England, by whom he had six children, only one of whom is now living. Mrs. Horrabin died at her home near Blandinsville, on the 25th of July, 1870, in the full assurance of faith, hav- ing been a servant of Christ for many years as a zealous member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. After working at his trade in the old country for 18 years, Mr. Horrabin was forced to the conclus- ion that no opportunity was offered there, even to the most industrious, for any very rapid advancement, and turn- ing his eyes toward the new world, he determined on emigrating and endeav- oring to build up a name and home for himself and family. In the spring of 1847 he sailed for America, and on the 1st of May arrived in New Orleans, from which place he proceeded to Lew- istown, Fulton county, Illinois. Here he engaged as a journeyman, and as such worked for some months. In com- ing to this country he had not the means to bring his family, therefore it was his first thought to accumulate sufficient

money to send for them. In order to do this, he thoughit best to only draw so much of his wages per week as would be necessary for his individual wants, and leave the balance until it should be suf- ficient for his purpose. When the sum had reached $200, he concluded to draw it, but on calling for it, he was informed by the firm that they could not pay, as they were bankrupt. This was a sad blow to him. After working hard for

months, and stinting himself in the en- joyments of the many comforts of this life, to be deprived of all his hard earn- ings and the privilege of again behold- ing his family for many months. He was now thrown out of employment, but right here, some of the prominent citi- zens of the place came to his assistance, purchasing for him a stock of leather, tools, etc., and giving him his own time to pay for them. He was thus enabled to go on, and soon had the satisfaction of gathering around him his loved family. Mr. Horrabin remained in Lewistown five years, when, thinking to better him- self, he purchased of Charles Chandler, of Macomb, the southeast quarter of sec- tion 14, Blandinsville township, where he yet resides. He paid for the quarter $300, and has since repeatedly refused $10,000 for it. Without any previous experience in farm life he began its im- provement, and now has one of the best farms in the county. In 1859, becoming somewhat pressed financially by the fail- ure of many of the banks of the country, and in order to relieve himself the more speedily, he rented his farm, and mov- ing into Tennessee, this county, he again returned to his trade which he continued for five years, at the expiration of which

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time he returned to the farm. In the county convention in 1868, he received the nomination for representative to the general assembly, to which position he was triumphantly elected, and where he served with honor to himself and con- stituents. Mr. Horrabin's mother died in England, December 31, 1876, and was buried in St. Michael's churchyard, Garston. Mr. Horrabin, althoughi a poor man when he landed in this country, lias succeeded, by energy, thrift and ability, in amassing a fine competence and is noted among the foremost citizens of the county. In 1872, he paid a visit to his native land, and while there was united in marriage with Mary Ockle- shaw, the daughter of James and Jane (Branhill) Ockleshaw, of Lancashire, England. They are the happy parents of one child, a boy, whose name is Hum- phrey James. He is a briglit and indus- trious boy, and at school is noted for his assiduity in study.

The first regular session of the 27th general assembly began on the 4th of January, 1871, and on the 17th of April following it was adjourned until Novem- ber 15,1871. A special session commenced May 4, 1871, and lasted until June 22, and a second special session met October 13, and adjourned October 24. It again met in regular adjourned session November 15, 1871, and on the 9th of April, 1872, adjourned sine die. This was the first assembly under the constitution of 1870. This instrument made the senate to con- sist of 50 senators, and the house of 175 representatives. McDonough county, as- sociated with those of Henderson, Mercer and Warren made up the 14th senatorial district. In the house, the minority

representation system having been adopted in the constitution, by which three members from each? district were entitled to seats, the county of McDon- oughi, now the 59th district, was repre- sented' by two gentlemen, William H. Neece and James Manly, both of Macomb. B. R. Hampton, of Macomb, McDonough county, and Harvey S. Senter, of Aledo, Mercer county, were the senators. A sketch of Mr. Hamp- ton may be found in the chapter on the press of the county.

James Manly, a representative man of Macomb city, is a native of Ohio, and was born January 29, 1813. His par- ents were of Irish, Dutch and Scotch extraction, and native Pennsylvanians, his father having been born in York county, and his mother in Washington county. His father emigrated to Ohio, in 1804. In 1843 he came to Fulton county, where he improved a fine farm and made that his home until 1856, when he came to Mound township, took up government land on section 22, 320 acres. He was at that time in limited circum- stances, and could not for some time make much improvement on this land. He traded in lands to a considerable ex- tent, owning at one time 500 acres. He succeeded at length in improving a place which made a beautiful home. In 1862 he rented his farm and moved to Buslı- nell. In 1872 he removed to Macomb, where he now has a pleasant home. Meanwhile in 1860, March 3, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent. She came to Schuyler county, in 1841, and in Vermont, Mr. Manly formed her acquaintance. Her

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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 31

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