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 34

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 34

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J. B. Nickel was elected the successor of Mr. Simmons in the fall of 1869. He served the county four years. Joseph Brandon Nickel was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on July 4th 1808, and there resided during his youth, remov- ing when in his eighteenth year with his parents to Shelbyville, Shelby county, Indiana, where he lived until 1843. During his residence in Indiana he rose to considerable political prominence. He was three times elected county sur- veyor of Shelby county, and represent- ed his district two terms in the lower house of the Indiana legislature and once in the- state senate, being elected each time on the democratic ticket. The second time he was a candidate for representative being in the year 1837, he was opposed by the father of Vice President Hendricks, who was the whig candidate and whom he defeated by a handsome majority. Mr.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Nickel remained in Shelby county until he was 35 years of age, when he re- moved to Savannah, Andrew county, Missouri. Here he soon became a lead- er of the anti-Benton democracy, and was in 1845 elected a member of the state constitutional convention from Andrew county. One year later he was elected to the state senate of Missouri, representing a district composed of the four counties of Andrew, Atchison, Holt and Nodaway. He served the people faithfully in this capacity for four years, with great credit both to himself and to his constituency. He was afterwards elected circuit clerk of Andrew county, a position which he satisfactorily filled during four years. In 1862 he removed from Savannah, Missouri, , to Macomb, Illinois, and the next year and again in 1864 he was elected county surveyor of McDonough county on the democratic ticket. In 1869 he was nominated by the democ- racy for county judge, and elected by the people to fill this place of responsi- bility. Since the expiration of his term he has continued to reside here, passing his declining years in the quiet way suited to his nature. For two years past his health has failed him, and during the past few months he has suffered from disease until he could calmly await the death angel and welcome his com- ing. He passed away peacefully while sitting in his chair, preserving unim- paired all his mental faculties to the last, on Thursday morning, April 23, 1885, aged 76 years, 9 months and 19 days. He leaves behind a wife who has been a worthy and faithful help-meet to him, and who has the heartfelt sympathy of

an entire community in her bereave- ment. He was in the highest and truest sense, one of nature's nobleman. A faithful democrat, he always was true to his party as long as his party was true to his own ideas of right and wrong. He was a man of conscientious principles and of severe convictions of duty; and his strict sense of honor guided his every action toward his fellow men. His loyalty to his friends was a marked char- acterietic of his nature. All through his life, he preferred one honest friend to a dozen acquaintances of the hour, and to his friends only did he reveal the truest inner nobleness of his nature. Many times, and in three states, had he been selected by the people to fill official positions of great honor and responsi- bility, and each time he accepted the trust, and, like a man and worthy citi- zen, carried with him into legislative halls and into the other stations, all of that moral probity which characterized his dealings with his fellow man. In him the loss of one is felt who will always be remembered for the good he has done. The funeral took place from the family residence, and was under the auspices of the Masonic lodge, of which order deceased was an honored member, His remains repose in Oakwood ceme- tery.

James Irwin was the next county judge, having been elected to that office in 1873. He is a native of the state of Ohio, having been born in Knox county, of that commonwealth, on the fifth day of September, 1814. His father, James Irwin, Sr., was a native of New Jersey, while his mother, Susan (Holt) Irwin, was born in Pennsylvania. They were

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

in very moderate circumstances at the time of the birth of James, who, when but five years of age, was sent to a com- mon district school, remaining there un- til old enough to become useful on a farm, when he was given his daily task with the rest of the family. When six- teen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carpenter, which bus- iness he afterwards followed for twenty- five years; endeavoring, as a mechanic, to do his duty in a manner to receive the approval of those for whom he labored. In 1842, he espoused the anti-slavery cause, and for 30 years, until the ques- tion ceased to be one of national import- ance, he was an earnest advocate of the principles pertaining to the abolition of slavery and the enfranchisement of the enslaved race. At the time he took his stand upon the side of freedom, the measure was not popular in this country, and even in the free states of the nation, an abolitionist was regarded as an unfit associate of decent people. No one could advocate the measures of that party without doing so at the risk of his life; he was liable to receive the attack of an angry mob, his property destroyed, and either to be driven from his home or suf- fer death. On more than one occasion was the home of Mr. Irwin attacked, the lights in the windows broken out, and the life of his wife and children endan- gered by those who professed to be vir- tuous and the salt of the earth. In pass- ing along the street he was pelted with eggs and other missiles in the name of constitutional liberty. In April, 1850, he came to this state, settling in Ver- mont, Fulton county, where he worked at his trade for about five years. He

then engaged in the mercantile trade for about four years, changing the same for that of a miller, purchasing a half inter- est in the East mill, which business he followed for four years more, when he purchased a farm on section 16, Eldor- ado township, McDonough county, where he has since continued to reside, except when attending to his official duties in Macomb. In 1872 he was elected super- visor of Eldorado township and re- elected in 1873. During this year the "farmer's movement" under the name of the "anti-monopoly party," had attained considerable prominence in this county, as elsewhere, and coinciding with the views of that party he was urged by his friends to permit the use of his name on the ticket, and consenting, he was nomi- nated to the office of county judge and elected by a handsome majority. He held the position for four years, dis- charging the duties of the office to the satisfaction of all having business to transact with him. On the 13th day of August, 1835, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, he led to the marriage altar Elizabeth Smith, and for fifty years they have traveled the journey of life together, having been blessed with three children, two of whom are now living, the other having passed on to that home beyond the rolling river.

Jonathan H. Baker, the present incum- hent of this office; was first elected in 1877, and re-elected in 1882.

Jonathan H. Baker was born May 8, 1817, at Walpole, Cheshire, New Hamp- shire, and is the son of Edward and Anna (Haskell) Baker, both natives of Massachusetts. Jonathan was left father- less when only seven years of age, and

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

was then bound out to a farmer named Edmund Walker. At the age of 17, his guardian permitted him to enter the employ of a merchant as clerk, whom he faithfully served until he came west, then the "far west," as it required 27 days to make the journey. Upon com- ing to Macomb, in 1838, he worked one month in a brick yard, after which he engaged as a clerk with James M. Campbell, with whom he stayed two years. January, 1841, he engaged in the grocery business, in company with J. P. Updegraff, and in 1845 was ap- pointed postmaster at Macomb, which position he held for four years. In 1846, he was also engaged in the general mer- chandise business with Charles Chan- dler, and continued in the business with him until 1855, in which year he en- gaged in the real estate business. In 1858 he was appointed county clerk, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Isaac Grantham, and the following year was elected to that office and served one term, during which time he also con- tinued his real estate business. In 1865 he engaged in the practice of law with Mr. Neece, under the firm name of Neece & Baker, and in 1877 was elected to the office of county judge, and served until 1882, when he was re-elected to the of- fice and is the present incumbent. Mr. Baker is a democrat in politics, casting his first vote for Stephen A. Douglass, who was a candidate for congress in 1838. Religiously, he is a universalist, being a member of that church in Ma- comb. He was united in marriage March 2, 1843, with Isabella Hempstead, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hempstead. She was born in Missouri,

but removed with her parents to Illi- nois when but a child. They have four children-Clara A., now the wife of C. V. Chandler; Mary C., wife of E. L. Wells; Isabella and Joseph P. As a citizen, Judge Baker stands high in the community in which he lives, or has ever resided, being a good neighbor and a kind-hearted, benevolent gentleman, while, as a jurist, he is possessed of much ability and other qualifications, which fit him, in an eminent degree, for the position he now occupies.

COUNTY TREASURER.

The first treasurer of McDonough county was John Huston, who was ap- pointed to that office by the commis- sioners' court in September, 1830. He was required to give bonds in the enor- mous sum of $800. He discharged the duties of the office until the 17th day of March, 1831, when he resigned, it being incompatible with his business interests longer to hold it. A sketch of this em- inent gentleman appears under the head of members of the general assembly, he having been honored by the citizens of this district by election to that dignity.

Upon the resignation of Mr. Huston, the county commissioners, upon the 6th of December, 1830, appointed Resin Naylor to the vacant office. He entered upon the duties of his office at once and gave universal satisfaction. He was re- appointed to the same office in 1831, 1832 and 1833, serving this time four years. At the March, 1834, term of the county commissioners court, William Willis was appointed treasurer, but he re- signing shortly after entering the office, the same court, in May following ap-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

pointed Mr. Naylor to fill the vacancy. He was again re-appointed in 1835 and 1836. In the fall of May, 1837, the office having become elective, he was nominated for the same office by the whig party, and elected without opposi- tion, and served two years longer. Resin Naylor was a native of Adair county, Kentucky, where he resided until com- ing to this state. He, at first, located in Sangamon county, but in 1830 came to McDonough county and to Macomb in 1833, where he entered upon his busi- ness of harness making, which he fol- lowed when not holding official position. He was made postmaster of Macomb in 1852, and served several years. He died in Macomb during the year 1859.

Jesse M. Chapman was elected to this responsible office at the fall election of 1839, and served two years.

Iverson L. Twyman was the next to fill this position, having been elected thereto in the autumn of 1843, and, being re-elected in 1845, served four years.

Iverson Louis Twyman, deceased, came to this county in 1836 from Hardin county, Kentucky, where he was born in December, 1814. He was therefore among the early settlers, and witnessed the development of this county from a state of natural wilderness to one of improved farms and desirable homes. Upon his arrival here, he first clerked for William R. Bell in a general store in Macomb, and continued with him a number of years, or until Mr. Bell went out of business. His next business was ths drug trade, in which he was engaged a few years, then sold out and formed a partnership for general merchandizing

with D. P. Wells. Meanwhile, in addi- tion to his business, he was called upon to fill the position of county assessor and collector; and when the Northern Cross railroad (now the C., B. & Q.) was being built, he was collector for that corporation. He had executive ability of a high order, and was twice elected to the responsible office of county treasurer, once in 1843 and again in 1845. He was also interested here in real estate business, in partnership with different parties. In company with D. P. Wells and John D. Hail, Mr. Twyman laid out the town of Bushnell, in 1854. He subsequently engaged in the life and fire insurance business, which he con- tinued until the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1882. Mr. Twy- man was a self-made man, was brought up on a farm, and during his youth was employed in the various duties incident to agricultural life. His education was limited so far as obtained at school, but by personal application he mastered the various branches sufficiently to have a fairly good business education. He was married in Macomb, February 4, 1841, to Mrs. Nancy Means, formerly Nancy W. Smith, also a native Kentuckian. By this marriage there were nine children, seven of whom are now living-four boys and three girls: Willis I., married to Mary Harding and now living in Ma- comb, and has three children, one boy and two girls; Eva, the wife of C. S. Churchill, present circuit clerk, who has had three children, one daughter and two sons, the daughter having died on March 4, 1885; Dillard T., also married and living in Macomb, has two children; Zachariah T., married to Mag-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

gie Cochrane, living in Macomb, has three children, all boys; Frances M., married to Robert J. Gilbert, has one son; they are living in Macomb; Ira B., now living in St. Louis, employed in a railroad office; and Martha H., living with her mother at home, in the city of Macomb. Mr. Twyman during his life was at one time a member of the Odd Fellows' order, and together with his wife was a member of the Christian church.

John W. Westfall was the successor of Mr. Twyman, in the treasurer's office, having been elected in 1847, and serving the people in that capacity for two years.

William T. Head was elected, in 1849, to the office of county treasurer, and held it for about a year, when he re- signed it to accept the office of sheriff. A reference is made to this gentleman, to be found under the caption of clerk of the circuit court, an office which he filled at a later date.

At the regular election of 1850, the people of the county were called upon to choose a treasurer to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr. Head, and their choice fell upon Samuel E. Taylor, who filled the office for one year.

J. E. Wooley, the next incumbent of the office of county treasurer, was elected in 1851, and served one term of two years.

T. B. McCormick was the successor of Mr. Wooley in this office. He was elec- ted in the fall of 1853, and served but a part of a year.

Theodore B. McCormick was born February 22, 1818, and is a son of John McCormick, who came to McDonough

county in the fall of 1835, and settled on section 33, Chalmers township. John McCormick was a native of Carroll county, Maryland, where he was born August 21, 1789. When John was four years old, his brother, Robert McCor- mick took the family to Fayette county, Kentucky, where John grew to man- hood. He located, when a young man, in Sullivan county, of the same state, where he resided until he came to this county in 1835. He was married to Nancy Cox and by this union had seven children. His wife died, May 31, 1838. He survived until December 18, 1880. The subject of this sketch, Theodore B. McCormick, came with the family to McDonough county. In 1843, he locat- ed on section 28, Chalmers township. The following year he removed to his present farm on section 17, of the same town, where he owns 130 acres of well improved land. In 1853, he was elected treasurer of McDonough county, and served one year in that capacity. He has held the office of town supervisor, two terms, and that of town treasurer. several terms. He was married Decem- ber 28, 1843, to Emily Stevens, daugh- ter of William Stevens, of this township. They have two children living, Nancy J. and Florence L.

To fill the vacancy in the treasurer's office at the election in the fall of 1854, the people elected Francis D. Lipe, county treasurer for one year.

Among the 1840 settlers of McDon- ough county was F. D. Lipe, a native of Hawkins county, Tennessee. He after- wards became a resident of Kentucky, and was married there to Lucinda Shu- mate, a native of that state. Upon com-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ing to McDonough county he engaged in farming in what is now Chalmer's township, which occupation he followed until about 1846, when he engaged in general merchandizing at Middletown, and resided there until 1854, when he was elected county treasurer as above and in 1858, was elected to the office of sheriff of the county. He removed to Macomb, where, after the expiration. of his term of office, he engaged in the grocery business. He was again elected was again elected as sheriff in 1864, and served one term. He then engaged in the hotel business, in what was known as "Brown's" hotel, and afterwards changed to the "St. Elmo." His wife died in 18-, leaving seven children- W. M., Elizabeth, who married Gilbert Cheatam and has since died; Eliza, who married Sydney Garrett, removed to California, where she died; Martha, now the wife of James K. Campbell of Bushnell; Mary, who married Harry Gordon, and died in Peru, Illinois; David, who died in Macomb; Anna, the wife of Miles L. Berber, of Minneapo- lis, Minn. Mr. Lipe subsequently mar- ried Mrs. Wall, and now resides in Chi- cago.

John Knappenberger, at the election of 1855, was the choice of a large ma- jority of the qualified voters of the county, and was duly inducted into the office of treasurer. The people of Mc- Donough, duly appreciating true worth, and official integrity, when allied with great financial ability, re-elected him four several times, in 1857, 1859, 1861 and 1863, he serving in this position for ten successive years.

John Knappenberger is a native of

Pennsylvania, having been born in West- moreland county, on the 13th of October, 1829. He came to McDonough county in March, 1851, and settled at Blandins- ville, where he followed the business of carpentering and building until the fall of 1855, when he was elected as above. In 1857, he removed his family to Ma- comb, where he made a residence until July 14th, 1866, when he removed to Brunswick, Chariton county, Missouri, where he is at present engaged in the in- surance and real estate business. He was married in Blandinsville to Mary J. Ross, January 11th, 1853.

The next to fill this responsible office of treasurer of the county, was W. H. H. Hainline, who was elected in November, 1865. The biographical sketch of Mr. Hainline is given in connection with the Macomb Journal, of which he is editor, in the chapter devoted to the history of the press of the country.

Sydnor H. Hogan, was the successor of Mr. Hainline in the treasurer's office, having been elected in the autumn of 1867, and occupying that position for two years.

Sydnor H. Hogan came to McDon- ough county, in October, 1849, locating then, in Eldorado township. He was born June 15th, 1821, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and was a son of Richard Hogan, a native of the same state. Syd- nor was reared and educated in Ohio, where he resided until 1849. In 1852, he was elected sheriff of this county and served one term, after which he served one term as deputy sheriff. In 1867 he was elected to the office of county treas- urer, which he held two years. He re- moved from Eldorado to Macomb, in

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

1852, and in 1860, located on section 5, Scotland township, ten years later, he moved to the farm where his son Frank now lives, located on section 19 of the same township. Mr. Hogan was mar- ried October 24, 1844, to Rebecca Davis. By this union there were four children, three of whom are living. He died Feb- ruary 9, 1875. His widow survived un- til February 18, 1884. Frank P. Hogan, a well known farmer of Scotland town- ship, is a son of Sydnor H. Hogan, and was born January 4, 1854, in McDon- ough county, where he has always re- sided. He has made farming his sole occupation and for the past 15 years has lived upon his present farm. He owns 160 acres of well improved land. He was married May 5, 1875, to Alice B. Kelly, a daughter of John M. Kelly of this township. They have one child, George P.

Samuel A. Hunt, was the successful candidate for the office of treasurer at the general election of 1869, and filled the office for two years.

Samuel A. Hunt was born on the 31st day of May, 1818, in Washington county, East Tennessee, and is the son of Joshua and Nancy (Bacon) Hunt. In 1831, his parents removed to McDonough county and made a settlement in what is now Colchester township, on section 14. Samuel was elected to the office of county surveyor in 1838, to fill a vacancy, and continued in that office until 1846, when at the request of his democratic friends he resigned to accept the nomination for sheriff, but David Lawson, his opponent for the office, was enabled to capture the position. In the spring of 1847, Mr. Hunt removed to the village of Milton, Pike

county, where upon the 21st day of November, 1848, he was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Heaton. The fol- lowing year he returned to this county and located at Middletown, where he re- mained until August, 1852. He, then, moved on a farm. the southwest quarter of section 34, in Hire township. In 1857, receiving the nomination for the office of county surveyor on the democratic ticket, he was elected and continued in office for six years, being re-elected twice. In 1869, he was elected county treasurer as above stated, he being at that time a resident of the town of Bushnell, whither he had removed in 1864. In 1879, he removed to Kingman county, Kansas, where he now resides, and is filling the position of county commis- sioner having been elected to that office in 1882. In the married relation Mr. Hunt was to be envied, until the death of the faithful partner of his joys, on the 20th of December, 1882. He was the father of seven children, of whom four are living, They were named Cave J., John M., Maryette, Cornelia, Samuel R., Enolia G., and Lewis O.

William M. Lipe was the immediate successor of Mr. Hunt in this office. His service was for two years, also, from his election in the fall of 1871.

W. M. Lipe, one of the leading grocery merchants of Macomb, is the oldest son of F. D. Lipe. He was born on the 25th day of September, 1840, in southern Ill- inois, his birth taking place in a mover's wagon while his parents were on their way from Kentucky to McDonough county, Illinois. When the family set- tled in Macomb, W. M., then a small boy, commenced mercantile life in the capac-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ity of a clerk in a grocery store. When the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail- road was being built, Mr. Lipe went to Wataugua, Illinois, and there learned the art of telegraphy, and, soon took charge of the office at Macomb, he being the second operator at that point. He held this position until 1868, at which time he engaged in the grocery business. In 1871, he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and served one term, after which he again resumed the gro- cery business, in which he has met with deserved success. William Lipe and Harriet Leach, a daughter of Rufus Leach, were united in marriage. They are the parents of three children-Louie, Ada and Ruth. Mr. Lipe is a democrat in politics, and is a member of the An- cient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both subordinate and encampment.

The election of 1873 resulted in the elevation of Anthony Thornton to the position of county treasurer. He, too, served two years. Anthony Thornton has been a man of considerable promi- nence in McDonough county. Among other matters of public interest in which he has been particularly interested was the " grange movement." Indeed, such was his popularity, by virtue of his con- nection with that order, that in 1873 he was elected county treasurer, entirely unsolicited by himself. He served in that capacity until 1875. He has had consid- erable experience in this county in teach- ing, having been thus employed from 1858 till 1862. During the latter year he moved to Blandinsville and remained six years, engaged in manufacturing and selling furniture. In 1869 he returned

to his farm, on section 36 of Hire town- ship, and there lived until 1873. In 1875 he engaged in the book and stationary business, and continued until 1881, since which time he has been living a compar- atively retired life. He is a native of Kentucky,and was born in Marion county, March 19, 1827. His father was Harri- son Payton Thornton, a native Virginian, of English origin, who came to Kentucky when two years old. His mother was formerly Elizabeth Chamberlain, a na- tive of Kentucky. She died in 1852, and his father in 1881. Anthony Thornton's settlement in this county bears date April 6, 1858. He was married Septem- ber 19, 1864, to Amanda M. Welch. They have had seven children, only one of whom is now living, Mary E. The fam- ily are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which organiza- tion he is an elder. He is a strong tem- perance man, and an earnest worker in the cause. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Good Templars. Of the latter fraternity he was representative to the grand lodge, in 1861, at Decatur; in 1862 at Springfield; in 1863 at Quincy; in 1864 at Chicago; in 1867 at Decatur, and in 1878 at Abingdon, and was at one time state deputy, to organize lodges.

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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 34

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