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 62

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 62

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in him was that he ever kept his prom- ise to the very letter. On one occasion he left his two little girls at home while he went to Macomb on some business. While there he was so unfortunate as to be taken as a juryman. When night came he told the judge he must return home. The judge replied that he could not excuse him. "But," he said, "1 must go; I promised my little girls that I would be at home to-night, and I never break my promise to them." And home he went, trudging his way along on foot, spending the night with his little ones, and returning to town the next morning before court was called. Until the formation of the republican party, in 1854, Mr. Tyrrell had always been a democrat, but not approving the position of the democratic party on the slavery question, he refused longer to act with it. He had always been a strong anti-slavery man, and in 1824, when the effort was being made to con- vert Illinois into a slave state, he voted against calling a convention to amend the constitution for that purpose. When the Republican party came into exist- ence he found the principles enunciated by its leaders were in accordance with those he had long held, and therefore acted with it until he was called away. During the dark days of the war he was intensely loyal, and although too old to enter the service of his country, as he did 47 years previous, his heart was with the "boys in blue" upon the tented field, and many acts of kindness did he perform for the dear ones they left behind. No wife, sister,or mother of a soldier would be allowed to suffer if in his power to minister relief, and numberless little

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

deeds of kindness might be recorded in this connection wherein he figured as the principal party. No man ever stood higher in the community than he, and even his most bitter enemies · never doubted his honesty. However much they might doubt the truth of a political statement, they would invariably remark, " Well, he is honest in what he says." It is said there was never but one case heard of where his word was ever doubted. A stranger, with whom he was conversing, charged him indirectly with falsifying, when he quietly responded, as if his feelings were hurt greatly: " Mister, you don't know me, or you wouldn't say that." It was his pride to make his word respected by every one, and none knowing the man ever doubted his sincerity. He had a heart overflow-' ing with love for humanity, and to the poor he was ever kind and considerate. The cabin which he erected in 1830, it is said, was the first home of nearly every family in the Hill's Grove settlement, and not a cent of rent was he ever known to receive for its use. If the family was poor, or in need of any necessaries of life, Uncle Roswell was ever ready to supply their wants. A sack of flour or meal, a ham of meat, or whatever might be the object of their need, was dropped quietly at their door, and not a word spoken. If he should be so fortunate as to secure some choice venison, he was ever ready to divide with his less fortun- ate neighbors. Such being the charac- ter of the man, it certainly is no wonder his memory is held in grateful remem- brance by hundreds of old citizens of the county. Roswell Tyrrell departed this life on the 13th day of April, 1872, being

at the time 72 years, 11 months and 20 days old. He left but one daughter- Mrs. A. G. Owen-to survive him, and her grief was sincerely shared by numer- ous friends and neighbors, and the citi- zens of the county in general. Probably no man's death was more greatly regret- ted than Roswell Tyrrell, the old pioneer.

Another early settler is found in the personage of the deceased Joshua Hunt, who came to McDonough county in 1831, and settled about a mile west of the town of Colchester, on the farm now owned by John Myers. Here the family re- mained until 1839, when Mr. Hunt en- tered 370 acres of land, located in Hire and Tennessee townships, erecting his house on section 3 of the latter town- ship. That house now comprises part of the residence of his son, Simon W. Valentine Wilson, a Methodist divine, delivered one of the first sermons of the township in this house, and James King, another well known minister of the same denomination, held services in the house for several years thereafter, there being no churches in the settlement at that time. Both Joshua and his wife died at the old homestead, on section 3, and are interred in the Bean cemetery, one mile east of the town of Colchester. Joshua Hunt was a man of intelligence and con- siderable intellectual capacity, and was a much respected citizen of McDonough county.

Joshua Hunt, deceased, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, in 18 -. His parents were natives of England, and from there came to America, where Joshua was reared. He was married to Nancy Bacon, by whom he had 11 chil- dren-Abbie, Isaac B., Samuel A., Mary,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Sarah, Thomas J., John B., Simon W., Harriet, deceased, Wancy, deceased, Manda C., deceased. Mr. Hunt died in this township.

Simon W. Hunt, who was the eighth son of Mr. Joshua Hunt, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, on the 29th day of May, 1825. He came to Mc- Donough county with his parents, and has since remained a resident of the county. He was married on August 18, 1857, to Rebecca Stookey, a daughter of Elijah and Jane ( Harper) Stookey, both natives of Ross county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Stookey were the parents of six children, all of whom grew up: Cather- ine, wife of William Lyons; Allen, mar- ried Susan Lowderman, now living in Washington Territory; Alfred, married Mary Wooley, also living in Washing- ton Territory; Thomas, now residing in Hire township; Marietta, wife of Marion Bean, now living in Montana; Benton, married George Williams, living now in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Hunt have been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are now living. Henry Frank- lin, Amanda Elsie, married Franklin Welch, living now in Hire township; Charles A., Marshall Lee, Estella, Otto, Kerua, died December 10, 1878; Reverdy. Mr. Hunt has about 600 acres of good land, and divides his attention between farming and stock raising.

Hugh McDonough, deceased, came to this county in the fall of 1831, locating on section 31, where surviving members of this well known family still reside.

Hugh McDonough, Sr., was a na- tive of Owen county, Kentucky, and was born October 14, 1823. His father, Hugh McDonough, Sr., a native of Ire-

land, came with his wife and family to McDonough county, in 1831, and located on section 31, Tennessee township, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the 25th of August, 1849. He was the father of five children: Cor- nelius, now residing in Ottawa county, Kansas; Hugh, Leo, now a resident of Chalmers township; John, also a resi- dent of this county, having over 300 acres of fine land, and raises some stock; Edward, of Macomb.

Hugh McDonough, Jr., the subject of this sketch, came to McDonough county, with his parents, and remained at home until April 25, 1849, when he was married to Mary Moore, a daughter of . John and Maria ( Beard ) Moore,and a na- tive of Yorkshire, England. She came to America, with her parents, in 1831, and located in Toronto, Canada, where they remained until the spring of 1840, when they came to Illinois, and settled in Hancock county, where they remained the rest of their days. Mr. and Mrs. McDonough were the parents of six children, four of whom are now living. Their names are: Leo, married Carrie Saunders, of St. Joseph, Missouri. . He is a graduate of the business college, at Jacksonville, and from there went in the business of publishing atlas maps and historical works. He is now living in Nebraska on an extensive stock ranch; Adolphus, married Sarah Morrow, now residing in Tennessee township; George H., now residing in Tennessee township, and Charles. Hugh McDonough died on the 23d day of February, 1870, leav- ing his widow a farm of 186 acres of good land, about 130 acres of which are under a state of cultivation. Mr. Mc-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Donough - was a man of great integrity, and was much respected by the pioneesr and prominent men of the county.

James Fulkerson, a native of Tennes- see, emigrated from that state to Jack- sonville, Illinois, in the winter of 1831- '32, and in the spring of that year came to McDonough county, and entered land on sections 28 and 29, where he re- mained until his death. Several surviv- ing members of the family still reside in this township. James Fulkerson, de- ceased, was a native of Washington county, Tennessee, and was born in 1797. His parents were John and Eliza- beth (King) Fulkerson. They were na- tives of Virginia, and after a number of years in that state, they moved to Ten- nessee, and made that their permanent home, and on its soil they died. James was reared in his native county, and re- mained there until the winter of 1831, when he removed his family to Illinois, and spent the winter in Jacksonville, Morgan county, and in the spring of 1832, they came to McDonough county, locating on section 28 and 29, Tennessee township. On their arrival here, they pitched a tent, and one morning a bear made its appearance before their hut, which was soon captured, and the family received 200 pounds of meat, and a fine bear skin overcoat. Mr. Fulkerson was married in Washington county, Tennes- see, to Elizabeth H. Waddill. They were the parents of seven children: Elizabeth K., married Isaac Webb, now living in Galesburg; Charles W., mar- ried Levina Owen, now living in Ten- nessee township; Margaret K., married Rev. William Owen, of Tennessee town- ship; Thomas; Mary A., married Isaac

Lord, now residing in Texas; Martha W., died July 4, 1873, aged 30 years; and two children died in infancy. Mr. Fulkerson died on the 3d of July, 1867, aged 70 years. He was a man who gave much of his efforts to education and church matters, and also was successful in the accumulation of a good share of this world's goods. Mrs. Fulkerson died in February, 1880, aged 84 years.

Thomas Fulkerson is a native of Mc- Donough county, Illinois, and was born on the 22d day of February, 1834. He is the son of James Fulkerson, one of the pioneers of Tennessee township. Thomas was reared on the farm upon which his father settled, and at an early age commenced his education at Isaac Holton's seminary, at Hill's Grove, and was an attendant there, with the excep- tion of a short time, for the whole 15 years that Mr. Holton taught. He at- tended the McDonough college at Ma- comb for three years, being a classmate of George Bailey, Tom Gilmore and Ed. McDonough. He then taught three terms of school at Hill's Grove, and at that time he attended the county teach- ers' institute, of which he has held the presidency. He was secretary of the Hill's Grove grange when it was on its boom, and was engaged in keeping a grange store, which did a very large business for some six or seven years. He sold about all the lumber within a radius of ten miles of Hill's Grove, and also sold large quantities of agricultural implements. Mr. Fulkerson is a man who takes great interest in the educa- tional affairs of his county, and has been connected with the schools of his town- ship a great many years.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Charles W. Fulkerson, a native of Washington county, Tennessee, was born on the 14th day of October, 1822, and is the son of James and Elizabeth Hannah (Waddill) Fulkerson. When nine years of age, Charles came to Illinois with his parents, and stopped over winter in Mor- gan county, and in the spring they came to McDonough county, and located in what is now Tennessee township. They erected a small log cabin for the family, and there lived until the township had increased a great deal in growth. Charles W. has resided in the county ever since coming here with his family. He re- ceived his education at the school of Isaac Holton, at Hill's Grove, attending five winters. He now owns 106 acres of good cultivated land, and pays some at- tention to the raising of stock. He was married on the 1st day of January, 1846, to Lavina Owen, a native of Cham- paign county, Ohio, and a daughter of Asal and Elizabeth (Cowan) Owen. They came to McDonough county in 1840, where Mr. Owen practiced medi- cine for some time, and was afterwards ordained as a minister in the Methodist church, and so continued until his death, which occurred in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson are the parents of five chil- dren, four of whom are now living: Asal, married Annie Rigg, now living in Tennessee township; James, married Mamie Reynolds, and is now living in Kansas City, Missouri; Elizabeth H., now teaching school; Mary L., died on the 6th of March, 1882; and Charles. Charles W. was orderly sergeant in the company that went out from Hill's Grove in the Mormon war.

In the fall of 1833 John Waddill came

with his parents to McDonough county, and settled in Tennessee and Lamoine townships. The family were well known throughout the county, and a sketch of them is appended.

John Waddill, deceased, was born near Jonesboro, Washington county, Tennessee, October 3, 1800, his parents being Charles and Margaret (King) Waddill, both natives of Tennessee. There John was reared, and there the family remained until the fall of 1833, when they resolved to move to Illinois, and in pursuance of that purpose they came to McDonough county, and entered land in Tennessee and Lamoine town- ships. While given to the pursuits of agricultural duties, he also found time to amuse himself, while providing game for his family use, by the use of his rifle, in the handling of which he was an expert. After coming to this county he killed numerous deer, which could be found but a short distance from the house. Mr. Waddill was married in Washington county, Tennessee, to Eliza- beth Roisten. They were the parents of seven children-Sarah, wife of Thomas Sammons, she died in Hancock county, Illinois ; Margaret, married Marvin Cook, now residing in Missouri; Rachel, married Thomas Griffitts, died in Car- thage, Hancock county; Charles W .; Susan, married William Cook, residing in this township; Benjamin; John Wes- ley, died in McDonough county, in 1858. Mr. Waddill died on the 9th of Jannary, 1877. He was well and favorably known in this part of the county, and lived re- spected to the age of 76 years.

Charles W. Waddill was born in the state of Tennessee, near Jonesborough,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

on the 26th of January, 1830. He is the son of John and Elizabeth ( Roisten) Waddill. When three years of age his father's family moved to this county, and since that time has never been a resi- dent of any other county. In 1860 he purchased 77 acres of good land on sec- tion 32, Tennessee township, which is now the home of C. W. Waddill. He is. now the possessor of 237 acres of land in Lamoine and Tennessee townships, all being under cultivation, except a few: acres of brush land. He pays attention to both farming and stock raising, and has some of the finest stock and one of the best farms in this township. Mr. Waddill was united in marriage in May, 1860, with Wancy Lawyer, a daughter of Michael Lawyer, who is a resident of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Waddill are the parents of three children, whose names are: James Milton, John Wes- ley and William Michael. Mr. Waddill is a man of great ability and highly respected and esteemed by his many friends.

On the 9th day of May, 1834, Benja- min Waddill was born, who is the son of John and Elizabeth (Roisten) Wad- dill. His birth place was the farm now owned by D. V. Gilchrist, which was the residence of the family for nearly a year after coming to McDonough county. The following fall the family removed to section 5, Lamoine township, where Ben- jamin was reared, and received his schooling .· In October, 1861, Mr. Wad- dill was married to Margaret Lawyer, a daughter of Michael and Sarah (Parker) Lawyer, an extended sketch of whom appears in the history of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Waddill are the parents

of four children, whose names are Caro- line, Mary Ann, Emma Jane, and Sarah Ellen. In the year 1862, Mr. Waddill removed to his present location on sec- tion 32, Tennessee township, and began cultivating and improving some land, which is now as nice a farm as can be found in the township. His farm now consists of 270 acres of good land, about all of which is cultivated, and he is en- gaged also in stock raising, having some of the finest breeds of cattle. Mr. Wad- dill has held the position of school direc- tor of Union district, No. 2, for nine years.

The settlement of Colonel Charles Wesley Waddill, now deceased here. comes in. He was born in Washington county, Tennessee, on the 16th of July, 1813. His father, Charles R. Waddill was born in May. 1771, in Virginia. He was married in November, 1798, to Mar- garet King, a native of Pennsylvania, and who died on the 12th of November, 1865. Charles R., died in Tennessee township on the 4th day of June, 1852. In November, 1833, the family were on their way to their new home in Illinois, and while camped near Beardstown, on the 12th day of that month, they wit- nessed that wonderful metoric display, which will ever make that night remem- bered. The family on coming to Mc- Donough county, located on section 32, Tennessee township, where Michael L., still resides on the place his grandfather picked out for a home, over 50 years ago, in the then wild country which forms the prosperous county of McDonough. Charles Wesley was reared in his native state, and there spent his early days on the farm with father, and with the latter

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

came to McDonough county. He was married on the 2d day of December, 1845, to Mary E. Lawyer. They had four children-Sarah S., wife of James D. Tabler, of Lamoine township; Charles R., now living in Tennessee township; Michael L., and Thomas Wesley. Mr. Waddill made his home on the old home- stead until his death which occurred on the 9th of April, 1857. He was a prom- inent and highly respected man among the citizens of his time, and held the office of assessor of taxes of McDonough county. Mrs. Waddill survives her hus- band, and makes her home at present, with her daughter, Mrs. Tabler, who re- sides in Lamoine township. Mr. Wad- dill, was generally known as Col. C. W. Waddill, having been commander of a company of riflemen, who met at Hill's Grove for drill. This company was armed by the state government. Mr. Waddill was at first, captain of this mili- tia, but was afterwards promoted to col- onel. He also made his mark as a phy- sician, and in his latter days he was very successful in his practice.

Michael L. Waddill, a son of Charles Wesley and Mary E. (Lawyer) Waddill, was born in McDonough. He was reared on the home place on which his parents settled on coming to McDon- ough county, and has ever remained on that farm. He received his schooling in the schools of the township, and has never attended any other, but has a com- mon school education, of which he may be proud. He was married in Jessa- mine county, Kentucky, on the 5th of October, 1876, to Joe A. Hughes, a daughter of John M., and L. J., (Mor- rcw) Hughes. Her father was the son

of Merritt and Mary (Craig) Hughes. He has in his possession a family tree, distinctly tracing the family, back through the Craigs to the time of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mr. and Mrs. Wad- dill have been the parents of three chil- dren: Jennie May, born December 8, 1877; Wesley Hughes, born November 19, 1881; Sarah Luella, born in July, 1883. Mr. Waddill owns 150 acres of fine land, all improved, with the excep- tion of 25 acres. He also raises fine stock, having a farm well adapted to that occupation.

John Kirk, one of the early settlers of Tennessee, settled on section 4, in the spring of 1834,, where he remained un- til his death. His son, John J., now oc- cupies the old homestead.

John Kirk, who was one of the prom- inet men of this county, was a native of Washington county, Kentucky, and was born on the 17th of November, 1791. His father, James Kirk, was in the Rev- olutionary army and in that war, he par- ticipated about three years. He was on the body guard of General Washington, and in one of the battles in which he participated, his two brothers were shot dead at his side. After the close of the war, he emigrated with his family to Kentucky, and as he lived to the age of 97 years, his grand-children have heard from his own lips the recounting of the scenes, incidents, trials and successes, of their grandfather in the war that made the American republic. . He spent the balance of his days in Kentucky, and died in the year 1856. His son John, who appears as the subject of this sketch, was reared at the old home in Kentucky, but on reaching manhood's

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

estate, he left his home, and went to Cincinnati to learn the tanning trade. After learning that occupation, he went to a small place about three miles from Cincinnati, and was there about four years. While in Cincinnati he was mar- ried on the 9th day of November, 1815, to Nancy Coe, a native of Virginia. Her father was also in the Revolution- ary war, and among others, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk were the parents of 11 chil- dren, four of whom, died in infancy; Melinda, was born in August, 1816, and married Benjamin Welch; Paulina, born 1818, married William Archer, and died in 1848; Julia Ann, born in 1828, mar- ried Samuel Millington. of Crawford county, Kansas; John J .; Harriet, born July 17, 1830, and married Samuel K. Pedrick, now living in Knox county; Marietta W., married Robert Campbell, who is now dead, his wife is now resid- ing in Peoria; Lucy Ellen, born May 9, 1840, married Richard Hayes, now re- siding in Nodaway county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk came to this county in the spring of 1834, and located on section 4, Tennessee township, where their son John J., now resides. In 1856 they removed to Blandinsville, and there lived until the angel of death called them away. Mr. Kirk died in Novem- ber, 1856, and his wife in August 1863.

John J. Kirk, who is now the leading representative of this prominent early settler family of the county, was born on the 10th day of December, 1828, his parents being John and Nancy (Coe) Kirk. When but a little over five years of age, the family removed to McDon- ough county, and located on section 4,

Tennessee township, where John J., now resides, and where he has spent his en- tire life, having been identified with the county over half a century. He divides his attention between stock raising and farming. He owns 330 acres of land, nearly all improved, and highly cultiva- ted. The house which the family lived in when first coming to this county is still standing near the new residence, which John J., built in 1880. The body of the old structure is of logs, and on coming to the county, the father weather-board- ed it and built a frame addition. John J., was married on the 16th day of Aug- ust, 1853, to Margaret Ann Allison, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of William and Margaret Allison. Her parents left Virginia when she was quite young, and removed to Ohio, and from there to McDonough county, in October, 1852. She died on the 21st of January, 1861, leaving three children: Virginia, Allison, and Olive. Mr. Kirk was married again on the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1862, to Amanda Allison, a sister of his first wife. By this marriage, there were three children: Elizabeth, Sherman, and John.

Larkin C. Bacon . (decaased) was among the best known of the early set- tlers. He was a son of Joseph B. and Agnes (Couch) Bacon, both of whom were native Tennesseeans. Larkin him- self was born in Washington county, that state, on the second day of May, 1818. The circumstances of the senior Bacon, at the time of Larkin's birth, were good, but through unfortunate spec- ulation in the grain and stock trade, he met with severe reverses and was con- siderably injured in property. Soon

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

after, Larkin moved to Missouri; and, after a few years' residence in that state, came to McDonough county, where he arrived in March, 1834, settling upon section 22, Tennessee township, and where he continued to reside until death called him away. He passed his early life upon a farm, having to labor from the time he became physically able. His education consists in that derived from' the common schools of the community in which he lived, and instructions re- ceived from the hands of Isaac Holton, who, for a number of years conducted a high school at Hill's Grove,in this county. Larkin's general character in youth was excellent. He then possessed moral qualities which ever adhered to him afterwards, through all the vicissitudes of life. It is said of him that he never uttered an oath-never took the name of his God in vain. He always followed farming; but in addition to the ordinary duties of farm work, for 25 years dealt in stock. All the grain that he raised upon his farm was consumed in feeding hogs and cattle for the market. He chose agricultural pursuits because he had been reared to them, and never had any disposition to engage in any other business. In the cause of education Mr. Bacon always took great interest, and did much to advance its interests in the community in which he resided. For

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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 62

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