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 35

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 35

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The next to fill the office for two years was John W. Siders, who was elected in the fall of 1875.

Mr. Siders is a native of Ohio, having been born in Highland county, of that state, on the 31st day of March, 1839. His father, Henry Siders, was born near Frederick, Maryland, but at an early age emigrated to Virginia, the native state of his mother, whose maideu name was Nancy Kidd. The young couple were

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

poor in this world's goods, but rich in faith, and with a will and determination to dare and do. Shortly after marriage they moved to Ohio, settling in High- land county, where they made their home for some years. Mr. Siders was a hard- working man, one that never shirked duty in any respect. It is said of him that he could clear more land of its tim- ber and brush than any man in the whole state. The first recollection of the sub- ject of our present sketch is in living in the timber, gathering together, piling up and burning the brush from the fallen trees. At the age of six years he was sent to the common schools of the county in which he lived, this being continued for four months in each year until he was 12 years of age, since which time he had only forty days' schooling. During this last period duties were placed upon him which the youth of our land at pres- ent would doubtless rebel against. With nine others he was classed off two and two, and one day in each week would have to cut the wood and build the fire in the old-fashioned fire-place, which was eight feet wide and which required for one filling a very large amount of wood. The school house was situated in a valley, and whole trees were dragged down from the top of the high hill and piled around the school house that they might be cut by the oldest boys.

In 1856, with his parents, he camè to McDonough county, settled in Emmet township, where he resided until he re- moved to Macomb on his accession to the office of county treasurer to which he had been elected the year previous. All the best years of his life have been spent on a farm, and for nearly 20 years

of that time he has worked on the farm in summer and taught school in the winter. As a teacher he has been emi- nently successful. Notwithstanding the short time spent in the schools of the county, he has at home studied hard to prepare himself for usefulness in life. He is a self-educated and a self-made man in every respect. At present Mr. Siders resides at Plymouth, Indiana, where he edits and publishes the Repub- lican, of that place.

John Neff, in 1877, was elected to this office by the democratic party, and en- tering upon the duties of the position, served his constituents in this capacity for nearly a year, when his death oc- curred. An election was ordered to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Neff, and Dr. B. R. Westfall and John W. Westfall were nominated respectively by the republican and democratic par- ties. The election resulted in the selec- tion of John W. Westfall by a majority of over 300 to supply that vacancy. About the year 1880 the latter removed to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he died in January, 1885.

After a closely contested campaign in 1879, it was found that W. M. Ragon, the republican candidate for the office of county treasurer, was ahead, and on the 1st of January following he took upon himself the duties of the office, and served for three years.

William M. Ragon, the present pro- prietor of the Eagle pottery works, was born in Hamilton county, Tennessee, November 5, 1838, being the son of David and Nancy (Faw) Ragon. Wm. M. grew to manhood in his native state, and in 1861 removed to Illinois, going

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

direct to Blandinsville, McDonough county, where he engaged in the black- smith and wagon-making business, hav- ing learned those trades in his native state. The following winter he removed to Henderson county, but one year later returned to Blandinsville, and, in the fall of 1862, was married to Nancy For- rest, a daughter of William F. Forrest. In the spring of 1863, William settled on a farm in Emmett township, and on the night of the 26th of August of that year his corn crop was destroyed by the frost. In February, 1864, he enlisted in company A, 16th Illinois infantry, and served up to the close of the war. He then returned to Blandinsville, and re- sumed work at his trade, but soon after- ward again engaged in farming, which he continued until 1879, when he was elected as county treasurer of this county and served three years. During his term of office he became interested in the Eagle pottery works, of which he is now the sole proprietor. Politically, Mr. Ragon is a staunch republican, and does much for the success of his party. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Ancient Order of United Workingmen societies. Mr. and Mrs. Ragon have been the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living-Ollie, Stella, Alta, Bertha, Corda and Willie.

Thomas I. Sorter, the present county treasurer, was elected in November, 1882, and has held it ever since.

Thomas I. Sorter, a son of John and Margaret (Sweazy) Sorter, was born in Kentucky, and when a mere boy came with his parents to Illinois, and in 1849 settled in McDonough county, locating

on a farm in what is now Hire township. They had near neighbors, but on the north of them there were but two houses between them and Blandinsville, a distance of six miles. They soon re- moved to Blandinsville, and continued tilling the soil, their principal trading point being Warsaw, a distance of 40 miles. To take a load of grain to said market required four days, and four dol- lars was considered good compensation, but to earn this amount it was necessary - to bring back a load of merchandise for merchants at Blandinsville. Mr. Sorter followed teaming for several years, and hauled corn during one winter, for his father, to Blandinsville, a distance of three miles. At that time corn was not weighed or measured, and when it was all hauled, the purchaser estimated the amount delivered, and concluded that he had received about 1,000 bushels, and allowed him 10 cents per bushel for the same, at which price corn was not worth weighing. Mr. Sorter learned the wagon making trade, but on acount of poor health was compelled to give it up. He engaged in the grocery business, and in the fall of 1872 removed his business to Bushnell. In 1874 he engaged in the manufacture of cigars, in which business he continued until the fall of 1880, when he was elected county treasurer, and re- moved to Macomb. At that time he had a large stock of cigars on hand, which were destroyed by fire June 1, 1884, by which he lost $2,500. He is a democrat in politics, and held several local offices previous to his election to the office of county treasurer. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. of P. lodges. On the 1st of

James look

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

March, 1863, he was married to Clarinda E. Cherry. Her parents died when she was very young, and she was then reared in the family of her uncle, Thomas 'Cherry. Mr. and Mrs. Sorter have one son, William L. Mrs. Sorter has been a helpless invalid since Sep- tember, 1870, caused by rheumatism. Mr. Sorter has always been prominently identified with McDonough county, and, in his present position, has proved him- self to be an efficient and trustworthy officer, and one who is deserving of the respect and support of the citizens of the county, without regard to party.

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.

On the organization of the county, in 1830, John Baker was appointed clerk of the circuit court, pro tem., by Richard M. Young, then judge of the fifth judi- cial district, and he acted as clerk of the first term of the circuit court ever held in this county. The first regularly ap- pointed clerk of the circuit court, how- ever, was James M. Campbell, who re- ceived the appointment to that office from Richard M. Young, judge of this, the then fifth judicial district, in the spring of 1831. Mr. Campbell held this office for more than 15 years, to the in- finite credit of himself and the satisfac- · tion of all concerned. A sketch of this old pioneer and able man may be found in a previous part of this chapter, under the heading of general assembly, he having been honored by being sent by the people of this district to represent them at the state capital.

William H. Randolph was the next to fill this important office, having been elected in 1848, and re-elected both, in

1852 and 1854. He was one of the most prominent men in the county, and largely identified with the official life of the county. In 1844 he was elected as a member of the state house of represent- atives, and re-elected in 1846, and in connection with that office is written up at length.

In 1856, William T. Head was elected to the office of circuit clerk by the peo- ple of the county, and served them in this capacity for four years.

Mr. Head was born in Washington county, Kentucky, on the 16th day of February, 1816. He emigrated to Mc- Donough county Illinois, in the fall of 1834, and on the fifth day of November entered the office (or rather offices ) of James M. Campbell, who then held the office of clerk of the circuit court, clerk of the county court, postmaster and county recorder, as assistant clerk, in which position he remained until elected county recorder in August, 1839.

On the reorganization of the judiciary in the spring of 1841, he met the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, one of the judges of the supreme court, performing circuit duties in the fifth judicial circuit, being the first court at which he presided as judge. At that time a very large amount ' of business had accumulated upon the dockets in every county in the circuit, to an 'extent that it required great labor to dispatch the business of the courts, con- sequently it required more than an ordi- nary clerical force to make up the rec- ords, and as there had been the year-be- fore (1840) the most exciting political contest that the country had ever exper- ienced, it was expected that a general re- moval of the opposition clerks would be

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

made by the court, and such was the case, In anticipation of this, Mr. Head accepted the invitation of the judge to accompany him on the circuit and make the record for the new appointees, and assist such of those who were not re- moved; as needed assistance. In conse- quence of this, he had charge of the records in McDonough county, where he still remained as deputy, and of Han- cock, Henderson, Warren and Schuyler. The arduous duties of this he continued to perform, until relieved by his brother, who was for many years afterwards clerk of the circuit court of Hancock county, but is now deceased ..

In the year 1843, Mr. Head was again elected county recorder of McDonough county, and was by the county court ap- pointed a commissioner to transcribe the records of the military lands in McDon- ough county; recorder at Edwardsville and Pittsfield, and in the state recorder's office, and completed the work in the fol- lowing year.

In 1847 he was again elected recorder, which office he held until the abolition of the office by the constitution of 1848. In the fall of 1849, he was elected county treasurer, but which office he resigned, and in 1850 was elected sheriff of the county. In 1852 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of circuit clerk, but in 1856 was more fortunate, being chosen to fill that responsible office by the people of the county. In 1860 he was a candidate for re-election for the same office, but was defeated, as is said, by unfair means. In 1864, Mr. Head entered the office of J. H. Hungate, as deputy to that gentleman who had just been elected clerk. In 1867, Mr. Head

emigrated to Sabine county, Missouri, where he engaged in business, and re- mained until January, 1874. During his . stay in that locality he had the honor to serve as mayor of the beautiful city of Marshall., At the date last above writ- ten he moved to Quincy, to accept a po -. sition in the office of the circuit clerk of that county, where he still remains.

J. B. Cummings was elected to fill this office in 1860, and held it for one term of four years, to the satisfaction of all. He was born in Cecil county, Maryland, January 17, 1824, and is the son of James and Rachel (Hall) Cummings, both natives of that state. His early life was spent upon a farm, and in the private or select schools of his native state and Ohio, to which latter place the family removed on the death of his father, which occurred in the early part of the year 1837. The family settled in Harrison county, of that state, where they remained three years, going from thence to Butler county, Pennsylvania. After settling up affairs, on the death of his father, but little was left, and the support of the family fell upon John and an older sister, the latter engaging as a teacher, while John secured a place as clerk in a dry goods and grocery store, which occupation he followed for some years, or until enabled to go into busi- ness for himself. Mr. Cummings has been twice married; first to Evaline W. Pearson, of Butler county, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1847.

By this union, there were six children five of whom are still living-Clarence P., born December 27, 1847, now en- gaged as a book-keeper and dealer in real estate, in Rio Grande county, Col-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

orado; Leonidas B., who married Georgie Westgate, of Quincy, and now resides at Bushnell; James E., who mar- ried Matilda J. Perrine, and is now a resident of Bushnell, where he con- ducts a job printing office; Chas. C., who resides at home, and is a shareholder and bookkeeper for the Bushnell Fire. Clay tile and brick works; Eva, the wife of C. W. Dickerson, of Chicago, at present cashier for Lord, Owens & Company, wholesale druggists; Minnie, the sixth child, died in infancy. Mrs. Cummings departed this life on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1862. Mr. Cummings was again married, April 19th, 1864, to Mrs. Mary E. Parkinson, nee Chambers, a native of Kentucky, and who was born near Lexington. Her parents removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, in the month of October, 1844 .~ By her first marriage, Mrs. Cummings was the mother of two children, now deceased- Charles Henry and Ann Elizabeth. Her father, William Chambers, was one of the early settlers of Macomb, and a sketch of whom will he found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Cum- mings are the parents of one child- William C., who was born on the 16th of January, 1865, and resides at home.

In 1851 Mr. Cummings came to the "Great West," as then called, and took up his residence at Macomb, in this county, where he resided until his re- moval to the city of Bushnell in 1865. Shortly after coming to Macomb, in company with Mr. John B. Pearson, he purchased the stock and good will of Messrs. Randolph & Parkinson in the dry goods and grocery trade, continuing the same, with some changes, until 1857,

when he retired from the firm that he might accept the position as clerk in the newly established banking house of Charles Chandler & Co., which position he retained until his election to the office of clerk of the circuit court of McDon- ough county in 1860. At this election he ran for the office against William T. Head, one of the most popular men in the county, receiving a small majority, notwithstanding the county had never previously given a majority in favor of the party to which Mr. Cummings be- longed. Mr. Head, not content with the result, contested the election, but the court before whom the case was tried, decided in Mr. Cummings' favor. At the expiration of his term of office he removed to Bushnell; and in company with Charles Chandler, started a private banking house under the firm name of Chandler & Cummings. Mr. Chandler residing in Macomb and being engaged in a similar enterprise, the business of the Bushnell firm was conducted by Mr. Cummings alone. In 1871 a charter was obtained for a national bank, the firm in- vested their means in the same, and, to- gether with other parties, organized the Farmer's National bank, with Mr. Cum- mings as cashier and general manager. On his removal to Bushnell, with his accustomed zeal, Mr. Cummings at once entered upon the work of promoting the interests of that go-ahead town-no pub- lic enterprise but what secured his hearty and active co-operation. On the organization of the town as a city in 1869, he was elected its first mayor, was several times re-elected to the same of- fice. While in the office of clerk . of the circuit court he gave the greatest

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

attention to the details of that office. Having business to transact with hun- dreds throughout the county, he treated all in a way to secure their friendshtp and good will. Although beaten for the same office in 1864, it was not on ac- count of the loss of any personal popu- larity, but from causes resulting from the war. In the discharge of his duties as mayor of the city of Bushnell he always endeavored to be impartial in everything, working for the best inter- ests of that place.

In 1878 he was a candidate before the republican state convention for state treasurer, and although making no can- vass whatever of the state, and making no special effort for the nomination, he received unanimous support of the dele- gates for the 10th and 11th congressional districts, and held the balance of power in the convention, and it was by turning his support to Hon. J. C. Smith that gave that gentleman the nomination.

John H. Hungate was the next occu- pant of this office, having been elected at the general election of 1864, although running against J. B. Cummings, one of the most popular men in the county. He served the county for four years.3

John H. Hungate was born in Han- cock county, Illinois, on the 2d day of June, 1838. He was admitted to the bar in 1862, and commenced the practice of law. He was elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court as above. In. 1876 he.was the democratic nominee for congress, in the tenth congressional dis- trict, and the nominee of the same party in 1880, for state senator from the twenty-fourth district. He is, at pres- ent, a banker at LaHarpe, Illinois.

The next incumbent of the office of clerk of the circuit court was Benj. F. Pink- ley, elected in November, 1868, and serv- ing one term of four years.

At the November election of 1872, Isaac N. Pearson was the successful contestant for the official honors and emolument arising from the position of clerk of the circuit court. He entered upon the discharge of his duties and fulfilled them so well, that in 1876, he was re-elected to the same office, serving in all, eight years. Mr. Pearson is noticed at length in connection with the Thirty-third general assembly.

Joseph E. Wyne was elected to tliis onerous and responsible office,in Novem- ber, 1880, and served his constituency admirably for one term of four years.

Joseph E. Wyne, one of Macomb's prominent retired citizens, is a native Kentuckian, and was born February 13, 1820, being the son of B. F. and Mary Ann (Doyle) Wyne, both deceased, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Ireland. Joseph E., was left an orphan when but a small boy, and, in April, 1834, with the family of Joseph McCrosky, he came to Illi- nois and settled in the northern part of Industry township, McDonough county. Here he tilled the soil for about four years, then removing to the city of Ma- comb, where he commenced mercantile life as a clerk in the store of N. P. Tin- sley, with whom he remained some seven years. He then entered into a partner- ship with C. A. Lawson, and, under the firm name of Wyne & Lawson, carried on a general store until 1848, at which time Mr. Wyne bought the interest of his partner, and continued in the busi-

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ness until 1856, when he sold out and entered into the lumber trade, continuing the same for three years. In 1861 he received. the appointment of postmaster of Macomb, which office he held until 1865. He again engaged in the lumber business in 1866, which he followed until 1869. In 1870 Mr. Wyne was appointed census-taker of McDonough county, and soon afterwards became deputy circuit clerk, serving as such until 1880, in which year he was elected clerk of the court, which office he held one term, four years. In 1845 Joseph E. Wyne and Laurinda Hays, a daughter of Dr. · Charles Hays, were united in marriage. As a result of this union, they had 10 children born to them, eight of whom are yet living-Elizabeth, wife of James A. Hungate, of Washington territory; J. W., H. C., Lewis E., a lawyer at Kansas City; Frank P., Chicago, Burlington & Qunicy station agent at Peoria; George H., with American Express Company; Annie, and Walker, a book-keeper at Macomb. In politics Mr. Wyne is a staunch republican, and, besides the offices named above, has held numerous local offices. In fact, his friends have kept him in some office of trust about all the time, thus showing his personal popularity. He is a Royal Arch Mason:

Cadwallader S. Churchill, the present incumbent of the office of clerk of the circuit court, was elected to that position in November, 1884.

C. S. Churchill, the present clerk of the court, was born in the town of Ma- comb, April 25, 1834, being a son of Richard H. and Sarah A. (Brown) Churchill. His father died in 1837, af- ter which the remainder of his family

returned to Kentucky, their former home. The early life of C. S., was spent on a farm, and he received his ed- ucation in private schools, as they were the only schools in existence in the south. In 1856, he returned to his nat- ive county and engaged in the dry goods trade, and subsequently also, en- tered into the lumber business. He af- terwards engaged as traveling salesman for a wholesale liquor house. In the fall of 1884, he was elected to his pres- ent office. He was married April 3, 1860, to Mary E. Twyman, a daughter of Iverson L. Twyman. They have three children-Nannie, Alfred B., and Iverson L. Nannie, the eldest, died in March,1885. Mr. Churchill is a democrat in politics and is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Burchard H. Churchill, father of C. S., was a native of Kentucky, and while yet a resident of that state, he was mar- ried to Sarah A. Brown. In 1833 they came to Illinois, and settled in McDon- ough county. Mr. Churchill died Octo- ber 14, 1837, and his wife with her fam- ily returned to Kentucky, where she died in 1872. They had six children, two of whom are now living in this county-C. S., and John W.

SHERIFFS.

As has been already said, the first election in the county was held at the house of Elias McFadden, on the 3d of July, 1830, at which time the officers to perfect the organization of the county were duly elected. Among these was William Southward, the first sheriff of McDonough county. These officers

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were chosen to fill these places until the next election, which was in August, fol- lowing, when Mr. Southward was re-el- ected. He was again re-elected in 1832 and 1834. Mr. Southward was one of the early settlers at what was then known as "Job's settlement " now Blan- dinsville, coming in the spring of 1826. After his term of office as sheriff had expired, he left this country and moved to Missouri and has been lost sight of.

Daniel Campbell was the second sher- iff of the county, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1836. He was a native of Tennessee, where he resided until 1828, when he removed to this state and located in Sangamon county. He remained there but one year when he came to this county, landing in Ten- nessee township on the 10th of Decem- ber, 1829. In the spring of 1830, he lo- cated on section 10, where he made some. efforts to open up a farm, but in the fall of the same year he moved to section 3, where he resided until 1832. In that and the succeeding year, he was a vol- unteer in the Black Hawk war. In 1836, he was elected sheriff of the county as above stated and served two years. During the year 1841, he left his home and made a trip through parts of the south, especially the Red River country, and while returning from thence was taken sick and died in Green county, Illinois, on the 9th of Apnil, 1842.

William H. Randolph was the next incumbent of this office, being first elec- ted in 1838, and re-elected in 1840 and 1842, filling this office therefore, for six years. Mr. Randolph has been men- tioned at length in connection with the position of member of the general as-

sembly, an office which he filled at a later date.

David Lawson, the next sheriff of McDonough county, was elected to that office in 1844, and twice re-elected, in 1846 and in 1848, serving in all six years.

David Lawson came to this county from Kentucky, in 1838, bringing his family with him. He engaged in the gro- cery business in Macomb and after- wards added dry goods to his stock. In 1844 he was elected to the office of sher- iff and was re-elected as above. He took quite a prominent part in the Mor- mon war, and was with the volunteers from this county. He is at present at Fort Worth, Texas, where he is engaged in running a flour and feed depot and is interested in stock matters. His family are resdents of Macomb.

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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 35

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