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 77

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 77

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James Morris Chase, Sr., son of Moody and Lucy (Farnum) Chase, was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, April 4, 1800. He was prepared for college at Phillips' academy, Andover, Massachu- setts, under the preceptorship of John Adams, After graduating, he took charge, in the fall of 1827, of a private school in Shelbyville, Kentucky, which he taught nearly ten years, during which time he also studied theology, under the care of the Louisville presbytery, and, by that body, was licensed to preach in 1831. April 7, 1837, he was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church in Macomb, Illinois; which office he held until 1846. From that time until his decease, he resided near Macomb, cul- tivating a farm and supplying churches in the vicinity. He was also, for a time, ·professor of the Greek and Latin lan- guages in McDonough college at Ma- comb. He died at home, February 10, 1865, of typhoid pneumonia contracted by exposure, while acting as a delegate of the Christian Commission to the army in and about Chattanooga, Tennessee,

the cause of his death attesting that staunch excellence of character, and en- ergetic zeal for usefulness, which had characterized him through life. "He was a man of great energy, and of un- flinching integrity of character. He had a mature, vigorous and well cultivated mind; was a successful and excellent teacher; was much respected as a preacher; was a good and faithful pres- byter, and an able defender of the doc- trines of the Presbyterian church,"- He was married in 1832, to Salina A., daughter of Judge Venable, of Shelby county, Kentucky. She died September 29, 1851; and he was again married, in 1854, to Andrea C., daughter of Urban A. B. Lang, of Quincy, Illinois, and a native of Denmark. He had seven chil- dren by his first wife-Henry, who grad- uated at Dartmouth in 1859; Joseph Venable, who graduated at Dartmouth in 1861; James Morris, Albert . Moody, William Thomas, George Francis and Mary Alice. Of these seven, all are liv- ing except William Thomas, who died from exposure in the army near Knox- ville, Tennessee, about a year before the father's death. Rev. Moody Chase, who graduated in the class of 1829, George Clement, M. D., of the class of 1841, and Albert Chase. M. D., of the class of 1844, where his brothers,-presenting the rare case of four brothers graduating at the same college-Dartmouth.

James Morris Chase, son of Rev. James Morris and Salina Ann ( Venable) Chase, was born October 17, 1839, at Macomb, Illinois. He pursued his pre- paratory studies in the schools of his native town, and entered college at the beginning of the, freshman year, at the

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

fall term, August 24, 1860, at Dartmouth college, where he remained till Febru- ary, 1861, when he left and went to Knox college, Galesburg, Illinois, where he remained one year. In September, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the 78th regiment of Illinois volunteers, which belonged to the 2d brigade, 2d division, 14th army corps, commanded by Major- General Jeff C. Davis, of Indiana. The first general engagement in which the regiment participated was the battle of Chickamauga, at which he was taken prisoner, on September 21, 1863. He was sent directly from the field to Rich- mond, Virginia, where he was first con- fined in a prison called Scott block, then transferred to the Pemberton, and thence to Libby prison, where he remained till January 1, 1864. These prisons had formerly been occupied as tobacco ware- houses, but they were very comfortable quarters compared to Belle Isle, where he was next sent. Here there was no shelter of any kind, only the clouds above, and frozen sand beneath; it being in the midst of winter season, there was intense suffering among the prisoners, On March 15, 1864, he was started for Andersonville, Georgia, where he arrived on March 25, being 10 days on the rail- road. The stockade at this place com- prised 17 acres of ground, and contained 1,600 prisoners, and increased after- wards. He was confined there till Sep- tember 10, 1864, and was sent to Savan- nah, Georgia. He remained here only one month, when he was sent Millen, Georgia, where he remained till Novem- ber 10, 1865, when he rejoined his reg- iment at Goldsboro, North Carolina. He had been a prisoner nearly 14

months, and been an inmate of all the principal southern prisoners. He was mustered out of the service at the close of the war, on June 25, 1865. He re- turned immediately to his former home in Macomb, Illinois, where he has con- tinued to reside up to the present time, being engaged in farming and brick making, in which pursuits he has been very successful. His religious prefer- ences are Presbyterion. In politics, he is a democrat. He was married March 16, 1881, to Mary A. Smith, of Macomb, Illinois. Mr. Chase is a very affable gentleman, and considered one of the best citizens in the county. His pleas- ant home is about a mile west of Ma- comb, and in plain view of the city. Mr. Chase now fills the important office of township treasurer, having just been appointed to act as successor to W. C. McLeod.

John W. Wilson is a son of Mark and Elizabeth (Naylor) Wilson, and was born in Yorkshire, England, March 8, 1836. The family emigrated to America in 1856, spent one winter in Boston, then removed to St. Louis, where they re- mained until 1863. In that year they came to this county, and located on the west half of the southwest quarter of section 33, Emmet township, where the parents are buried. John W. was united in marriage September 27, 1859, with Mary Ann Teasdale, a native of West- moreland, England. On his marriage the young couple set up housekeeping on their own account, John working in the foundry at. St. Louis, at the time. In 1863 he purchased a farm in this place to which he removed a few years later. In 1873 he purchased his present

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

homestead. Mr. Wilson is a moulder by trade, and followed that occupation in his native country, also in Boston and St. Louis, as above stated. His farm contains 160 acres of well-improved land, his residence and other buildings are well built and convenient, and his place is altogether a desirable one. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have a family of eight children-George, Mark, John, Albert, Willis, Mary, Laura and Frederick. Politically, Mr. Wilson is a supporter of the greenback party, and religiously, is an Episcopalian.

John Berry was born in Perthshire, Scotland, near the banks of the river Tay, June 8, 1820. In the fall of 1851 he came to America, locating in Ken- · tucky, near Haynesville. Two years later he moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he remained seven years, engaged in mining coal. He then came to Mc- Donough county, and settled at Colches- ter, lived there two years, then removed to Chester where he also remained two years, after which he purchased a farm of 80 acres, the east half of the north- east quarter of section 5, and later the west half of the same quarter, located in Emmet township where he now resides. Mr. Berry was engaged in mining many years, but now follows farming. He was married in September, 1852, to Isa- bel Wiley, a native of Scotland, born near Glasgow. She came to this coun- try in company with her brother, John Wiley, and settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Berry had three children -William J., now married to Ella Cale, and living on the farm, Mary and John.

William J, the eldest of these chil- dren, was brought up on the farm, which

occupation he has since followed. Mr. and Mrs. William J. Berry have had three children - William P., John E. and Samuel L.

Isaac Newton Flemming, deceased, came to this county in 1860, and bought the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34, Macomb township, which was then unimproved land. The place is now owned by William Neece, by whom all the improvements upon it were made. Mr. Flemming was a native of Virginia, from whence he removed to Ohio, thence to Indiana, coming from that state to McDonough county, where he died in 1868. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Cox, now lives at Industry.

John W. Flemming, son of Isaac N. Flemming, was born in Indiana. He made his home with his parents until his marriage, December 25, 1871, to Mary McNally, a native of Georgia. Her father came to this county in 1860. He, James McNally, and his wife, Rachel .(Fowler) McNally, are both de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Flemming set- tled, at the time of their marriage, on the farm where they have since (with the exception of one year) resided. They have three children-Lou Ellen, William C. and John O. Mr. Flem- ming is a democrat politically.

Thomas A. Brooking, deceased, a pi- oneer of McDonough county, came here in the fall of 1835. He spent one winter in Macomb, and the following spring lo- cated on section 30, Macomb township, where he built a log cabin, cutting the timber and making the bricks used in its construction himself. He continued living there one year, then concluded (having had a fit of sickness) to seek a

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

healthier location, and accordingly pur- chased the northwest quarter of section 7, Emmet township, of a squatter. This land he afterwards entered, and contin- ued to add to and improve it until he had six hundred acres in 1837. He fol- lowed farming till 1856, when he moved to Macomb. He died in that city Februry 25, 1858. Thomas A. Brooking was born in Richmond, Virginia February 25, 1795. In early life he studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar. He began the prac- tice of his profession in Kentucky, where he was united in marriage with Mary L. Threshley, a native of that state. Soon after his marriage, he returned to his native state, and lived for a time at Sul- phur Springs. He subsequently moved again to Kentucky, from whence he came to McDonough county. On his arrival here, the sum total of his earthly goods consisted of a pair of horses, a yoke of cattle, and $25 in money, but being a man of energy, economical and industrious, and a judicious manager, he accumulated a comfortable fortune. He cared nothing for money, except as a means for making his family and others comfortable and happy. He was a true christian, and a member of the M. E. church. He contributed liberally to the support of churches and was ever a friend to the poor and needy. He took an active interest in politics, but though often solicited to become a candidate for office, always declined, never holding any office save that of justice of the peace. His wife survived him until 1878. They had a family of christian children-Eliz- abeth, deceased wife of J. P. Updegraff; Lucy, wife of John C. Snyder, also de- ceased; Matilda J., Edward S., deceased;

William T., Mary V., deceased; Alexan- der V., Louisa, deceased; Augusta, Ma- ria R., deceased; Robert S., in Dakota; and Juliette E., wife of James Ran- dolph.

One son, Alexander V. Brooking, was born in Kentucky, February 25, 1829. He lived with his parents until his marriage, then engaged in farming on his own account, purchasing a half interest in his father's farm. He after- wards bought the whole estate, owning then 640 acres, and was largely engaged in wheat growing. He moved from the farm to the city of Macomb and there ran a hotel and livery stable until 1882. In October, 1883, he returned to his farm. He still owns two good houses in Macomb. Mr. Brooking has been twice married, first to Elizabeth Ran- dolph, a native of Ohio, who came to this county with her father in 1840. She died in August 1861, leaving three chil- dren-Melville R., Thomas A. and Nel- lie, deceased. Mr. Brooking was again married, in 1864, to Mary E. Butler, of Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois. Five children have blessed this union-Fred. V., Amy E., Brainerd B., Estella and Minnie V. Mr. Brooking is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the A. O. U. W.

Allen A. Walker, deceased, settled on Camp creek in Scotland township in 1835. He came here with considerable money and purchased a large amount of land in Scotland, Walnut Grove and New Salem townships. He improved a farm in Scotland township, where he resided un- til the time of his death. He was en- gaged principally in stock raising, and was highly prosperous in his financial

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY. 683

undertakings. He was born in the state of Kentucky in 1802, and in his youth, received a fair education. He was mild and genial in disposition, and much be- loved by all. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and politically, belonged to the whig party. His death occurred August 30, 1858, in Scotland township. His wife was Ame- lia Rice, a native of Kentucky. She was born in December 1803, and died Febru- ary 7, 1866. They were married June 18, 1825. Ten children were born to them, of, whom five are living, and three are residents of this county. They were- Lucilla, born January 30, 1826; Benja- min R., born November 20, 1827; Mary A., born November 14, 1829; Margaret P., born August 19, 1831; Nancy J., born October 20, 1834; Allen A., born Novem- ber 16, 1836; Sarah E., born April 29, 1839; Amelia C., born April 14, 1841; Theophilus G., born May 4, 1843, and Joseph A., born June 25, 1846. Of these, Benjamin R., Margaret P., Nancy J., Amelia C. and Sarah E. are deceased.

Allen A. Walker staid with his par- ents till his marriage, September 8, 1864, to Mary L. Savage, a native of Cass county, Illinois, and a daughter of Spen- cer and Louisa Savage. After marriage, Mr. Walker settled on a farm of 120 acres, near the old homestead. In 1867, he re- moved to his present home on section 12, Emmet township, where he owns 210 acres. He has a finely improved and val- uable farm, and makes a business of raising, buying and feeding stock. Mr. Walker is a republican in politics, and, with his wife, a member of the Presby- terian church. They are the parents of two children-Spencer A., born August.

30, 1864, and Elmer T., born March 24, 1867.

Abraham B. Stickle, one of the most extensive farmers of McDonough county, resides upon the homestead farm form- erly owned by his father, Abraham Stickle. He owns, including the home- stead of 160 acres, upwards of 1,000 acres of land, and is very extensively engaged in the stock business. His residence is a commodious and handsome structure, erected at a cost of $7,000. The sur- rounding grounds and garden are beau- tifully laid out and well kept, displaying the fine taste and care of their owner. His barn and other buildings are models of convenience, and the place and im- provements altogether, are among the finest in the county. Abraham B. Stickle has always lived upon his present farm. He was married August 10, 1853, to Sarah Duncan, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of William and Catharine Duncan, who were early settlers in this county. William Duncan died in 1859; his widow is now living with her chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Stickle had two children-Amanda A. and William H. Mrs. Stickle died February 7, 1857. Amanda A. is now married to George Currier, and lives in Kansas. William H. also lives in that state, where he is engaged in the stock business. January 1, 1860, Mr. Stickle was again married, to Sarah Metcalf, daughter of William and Deborah Metcalf, of Carthage, Han- cock county, Illinois. The latter was an early settler in that county, and partici- pated actively in the Mormon war. Mr. Stickle has had by his second marriage, eight children, six of whom are living- Mianna, wife of Oscar McElvain; Arthur

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

R., Delia, Walter, Edwin, Fred, Frank, deceased; and Mary, deceased.

Abraham Stickle, deceased, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1787, and was a son of Peter and Mary (Hollipeter) Stickle. Abraham grew to manhood in his native state and was there married to Susanna Bentzley who was born May 24, 1789. They were married October 11, 1810, and in 1839, came to McDonough county, Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They intended on coming here to settle in Macon county where he owned some land, but while on their journey to , the (then) far west, they heard of the . beauty and fertility of McDonough county, and resolved to visit it, which he did, and being satisfied that the county had not been misrepresented, purchased 160 acres on section 11, Emmet town- ship. He afterwards purchased other large tracts of land in the township, and resided here until his death, September 30, 1872. He was an energetic and in- dustrious man, and prosperous in busi- ness. He was a whig as long as that party had an existence, he then affiliated with the republican party. He was a sincere christian and much esteemed by all. Mr. and Mrs. Stickle were the par- ents of 10 children-Mary, Matilda, de- ceased; Susan; Jacob; George; Rachel, deceased; William; Abraham B., Robert N., deceased; and Sarah J. Mary re- sides in Pennsylvania, Susan in Michi- gan City, Indiana; Jacob in Brown county, Kansas; George, William and Abraham B., in Emmet township, and Sarah J., in Abingdon, Illinois.

George Stickle, second son of Abraham Stickle, resided with his parents until

1849. He was married May 17, of that year, to Julia George, a native of North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, born in January, 1829. Her parents, John and Mary (Barrett) George, died in that state. Mr. Stickle settled where he now lives, on section 10, Emmet township, soon after marriage. He has a fine farm, 80 acres of which lies in section 10, with 147 acres adjoining on the north. His improvements, which are valuable, have been made by himself. Mr. and Mrs. Stickle have six children living-Sadie, wife of Thomas Champion, of this town- ship; Ella, who is an artist; Frances, wife of Harvey Oatman; Emma, Alice and Ernie B. Their oldest child, William H., died at the age of two years. Mr. Stickle is a public spirited man, and takes an active interest in the course of , education. He is a republican politic- ally, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

William Stickle is by birth, a Penn- sylvanian, having been born in that state, January 31, 1824. In 1839 he came with his parents to this county. In 1850 he left home and went to Califor- nia, where he remained eight years, en- gaged in mining and ditching. He re- turned home in the spring of 1858 and, March 16, 1859, was married to Amanda J. Miller, who was born October 25, 1839. Soon after marriage he again went to California and continued there, engaged in the same occupation as be- fore, until October 1868. He was fairly successful, accumulating considerable property. He settled on his return, on section 2, Emmet township, where he now owns 123 acres. He also. owns 80 acres on section 11, and a timber lot of

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

26 acres on section 16. His present residence is on section 11. He. has a . desirable farm, with good improvements, and is engaged in general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Stickle have three children living-Charles W., born February 7, 1860; Kittie May, born September 25, 1863; and Edgar Carson, born January 31, 1875. William E., was born Octo- ber 16, 1861, and died in September 1882; Frank L., was born May 21, 1873; and died October 13, 1877. Their oldest son, Charles W., is now a tele- graph operator in Nebraska. Mr. Stickle has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1841, and has held the office of school director 14 years.

Tobias George Painter, deceased, was among the pioneers of this county, came here at an early day, and endured the privations and hardships incident to a settlement early in the thirties. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in West- moreland county in December 1798. He was of German extraction, and spent his youth in his native state, receiving there a limited education, and had early in life the principles of industry, and fru- gality, thoroughly instilled into his mind. This kind of education served him well in later years, when thrown en- tirely upon his own resources, without money or property of any amount. He was married in his native state, and start- ing for a new country, arrived in Beards- town, on the Illinois river, in 1831, thence by team came to this county, spending the first winter with William Pennington. Subsequently they moved to Spring Creek, where a son named Marion was born. They settled first on section 8, of Industry township, where he afterwards

bought a farm, built a log house sixteen feet square, remained about three years, then selling out to William Pennington, removed as before stated to Spring creek. They there occupied an unim- proved farm, went to work and continued 18 months, then purchased a place where the son Marion now lives They brought up seven children-Isabel, now the wife of Thomas Head of Sciota; Henry A., John F., Francis M., George B., Jacob L., deceased; and Mary Ann.

F. Marion Painter is a native McDon- ough county man, having been born within its borders November 15, 1835. When he was one year old, the family moved a short distance, to section 9, which place has since been his home, and where he now owns a large and well improved farm. His father, whose biog- raphy appears above this, was an early settler in the county, and gave Marion a start in life by presenting him with 80 acres of land. He seemed to, in a meas- ure, inherit the thrift and enterprise of his father, and has accumulated a good property. He was married June 25, 1880, to Josephine Kitch, a native of Ohio. By this union there are two chil- dren-Alice B., born January 6, 1882, and Hazel Dale, born November 4, 1884. His lands are rented out, but to them he gives his personal attention and super- vision. He was assessor for the year 1875. Politically he is a democrat, and boldly advocates and works for the prin- ciples enunciated by that party.

Eliphalet Hickman came to this county in 1861, and settled on section 4 of Em- met township, where he has since lived. He bought 230 acres within a short per- .

iod, and now owns 305. His improve-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ments are situated on the southwest quarter of the section, and the place is in good condition. He is a native of Indiana, born in Floyd county, March 13, 1831. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Sisloff) Hickman, natives of North Carolina. They both died in the state of Virginia. The year after his arrival here, he returned to Indiana, from whence he came, and enlisted in the army August 12, 1862, in company A, 81st Indiana infantry. After a service of six months, he was discharged on account of sickness, returned to New Albany, and thence came again to this county. He was married February 3, 1864, to Tacy Wilkinson. They have eight children-Elizabeth J., wife of Patrick Hickman, and living in Emmet; Ruby A., Ella, Lillie May, Charles L., Onie, Frederick E. and Grace. Mr. Hickman is a democrat. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, feeding all the corn he raises.

Michael Callahan, a prosperous farmer of Emmet township, settled where he now lives, in 1866. He owns a large and valuable farm, upon which he has made all of the improvements. His residence is located on section 27. He makes a business of raising stock. Mr. Callahan was born in county Donegal, Ireland, about the year 1830, and came to America about 1851, landing at New York city. For two years after his arrival he worked at brick making in Athens, Greene county, New York. From there he went to Savannah, Georgia, after which he spent some time in different southern cities, Atlanta, Montgomery, Mobile, New Orleans and St. Louis. From the latter city he went to Muscatine, Iowa,

then to Iowa City, from whence he came to Illinois. He was married in Macomb August 8, 1862, to Norah McCahan, who was born in county Down, Ireland, and came to America in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Callahan have four living children- Mary E., John P., Anna E. and Joseph James. One son, Michael, is deceased. Mr. Callahan and his wife are members of the Catholic church.

Philip Henry Elting, deceased, for- merly the owner of a large amount of land in this county, was born in Dutchess county, New York, February 14, 1814. His father was a native of Holland and his mother of France. The former was a wealthy merchant, and also owned a line of steamers on the Hudson river, plying between New York and Albany. They subsequently removed to Quincy, Illinois, and, after a short time, to Peoria, where Mr. Elting, senior, died, in 1860. He was an Episcopalian. Mrs. Elting died while on a visit to New York. Philip H. Elting received a lib- eral education, and engaged in keeping books in his father's store. In 1834 he came to this county for the purpose of taking charge of lands which he had purchased, and which were scattered through different portions of the state. He was the owner of the land upon which the present city of Bushnell stands. He accumulated much land by buying up tax titles, and in other ways. He died July 22, 1876, and is buried at Oakwood cemetery. He resided, at that time, on section 12, Emmet township. At the time of his death he owned 560 acres of land. Philip H. Elting was married January 24, 1834, to Margaret McSpiritt, daughter of Francis McSpir-

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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 77

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