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 99

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 99

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George W. Mustain, a farmer in Bland- insville township, may properly be con- sidered an old settler, having come here in the fall of 1832, when but six months old. He has witnessed the development of this county, grown up within its bor -. ders, and here accumulated a competency. He is a native of Virginia, and was born in Pittsylvania county, March 2, 1832, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Glenn) Mustain. He lived with his parents on the farm, on section 16, until October, 1859, when he was married to

Rebecca Roberts, daughter of M. B. Roberts, of this county. The next year after this important event he moved to Sciota township. In the fall of 1864 he returned to the old homestead, where he has since made his home. Mr. and Mrs. Mustain have had 11 children, 7 of whom are now living: Arrilla F., now the wife of Samuel Brockway, of Han- cock county; Emma F., deceased; Ella J., at home; Owen G., Amanda E .; Sarahı E., deceased; Henry W., Willis E .; Minnie, deceased; Winnie I .; and George B., deceased. Mr. Mustain owns a good farm of 320 acres of land.

Charles P. Mustain, a resident of Blandinsville township, was born upon the place where he now resides, May 23, 1852. He is a son of Nathan and Han- nah Mustain. His early life was spent in attending school and working upon the farm. When 21 years of age he set- tled on a farm which he had purchased in Sciota township. It consisted of 80 acres located on section 17. September 30, 1874, he was married to Laura Clug- ston, daughter of John B. Clugston, of Macomb. For two years after marriage he continued to reside upon the farm, then moved to Macomb, where, January 17, 1877, he engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of L. Johnson. He subse- quently bought the grocery store of John B. Simpson, and for two and a half years, carried on a grocery and meat market. In December, 1881, he sold that business to Frost and Maury. The following February, he formed a partnership with A. B. Gilfrey and opened a restaurant. In May, 1883, the partnership was dis- solved and Mr. Mustain established the art gallery on the east side of the square,

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now owned by Patterson & Co. A few months later he bought the restaurant of G. S. Gumbart, and again engaged in that business, which he continued until February 1, 1884. Soon after he engaged as traveling salesman with Kendall, Bai- ley & Co., cracker manufacturers, of St. Louis, and Dodge & Steward's candy house. June following he discontinued that business and went to Quincy where he started Wishard & , Mustain's ice cream factory. August 15, of the same year he returned to Macomb and worked in the restaurant of Twyman & Johnson, with whom he remained a short time after which he removed to his farm on section 16, Blandinsville township. Mr. and Mrs. Mustain have had four chil- dren, three of whom are living-Arthur Rowen, born September 4, 1877; Glenn Ira, born June 11, 1879; and Fannie Alice, born November 14, 1881. Mr. Mustain is a staunch supporter of the democratic party and a member of the A. O. U. W., also of the A. O. M. A, and the I. R. Mr. Mustain and wife are members of the Christian church.

George D. Mustain; son of John F. and Elizabeth (Charter) Mustain was born October 20, 1852, in Blandinsville township. He resided in this vicinity until April, 1882, when he moved to Spink county, Dakota. He remained in that state only one year and returned to Blandinsville. He was married in 1871, to Winnie Heusley, daughter of Nathan Heusley. She died in 1872. Mr. Mus- tain was again married March 4, 1877, to "Katie Derk, daughter of Peter Derk, of Sciota township, and by this union has one child-Terry Glen, born August 5, 1884. Mr. Mustain owns 80 acres of

land on section 16, Blandinsville town- ship, also 320 acres in Dakota. He is a member of the Baptist church and his wife of the M. E. church. Politically, he is a democrat.

Martin Spiker, farmer and stock raiser in Blandinsville township, is a native of 'Ohio, and was born in Morgan county, January 24, 1819. He is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller ) Spiker, and came to this county in 1842. He was not among the earliest settlers, but came at an early day, and has witnessed the development of a fine section of country. He has seen many. farms, which, from nature's wildness, have been transformed, and made to yield their crops of abundance and plenty. In 1851 the important event occurred of his marriage to Mary Jane Duncan. They have had seven children-William, born January 19, 1847; Charles S., De- cember 9, 1850; Albert R., June 23, 1853; Francis E., Thomas F., James D., and Louisa J. He is the owner of a good farm, consisting of 130 acres. Mr. Spiker is a man who takes an interest in public affairs, and has been school director a number of years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has a good reputation for honesty and integrity. Politically, he votes with the republican party.

William Martin Miller is a native of Indiana, and was born in Monroe county, December 18, 1846. He is a son of Isaac and Martha Jane (Berry ) "Miller. In 1848, the . family left Monroe county, and went to Adams 'county, Illinois, from thence, in 1854, to this county and Blandinsville township, where the father bought the farm now owned by Preston

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Huston. He sold this place in 1858, and then bought the farm now owned by William Robinson. He there continued to live with his father for four years, then took up his abode on section 9, and continued until 1868, then moved to Nodaway county, Missouri, and there remained until 1872, then returned to Blandinsville township, and on October 31, of that year was married to Ellen Mustain, daughter of Nathan and Hannah Mustain. In the spring of 1873, he moved to Sciota township, and occupied a place belonging to his wife, on section 17. That was his home until 1878, when he removed to the southwest quarter of section 9, and he now owns a farm of 130 acres. This place was formerly the property of Dr. John Hardesty, and has been in cultivation for 53 years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had four children, three of whom are now living-Luna, born November 22, 1873; Frank O., born April 12, 1876, and who died June 3, 1877; Bessie, born June 2, 1878, and Edward, born July 9th, 1881. Mr. Miller, politically, is a member of the democratic party. He is, religiously, a . member of the church of Christ, com- monly known as Disciples.

Philip W. George, a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen of Blan- dinsville township, was born in Germany February 23, 1835. His parents, Henry and Dora E. (Schaffer) George, came to America in 1848, bringing with them their family of seven children-Henry, John G., Jacob, Catharine, wife of John Ulrich, of Hancock county, Illinois, Philip W., Elizabeth, wife of Henry Smith, of Hancock county, and Andrew. In 1855, Philip W. George came to

McDonough county, and worked upon a farm in Tennessee township, for William Allison, one summer, then one month for John Kirk, Sr., after which he was em- ployed upon the farm of Solomon Kious until the fall of 1856. He then rented land one season of James Welch. De- cember 21, 1856, he was married to Harriet Jane Welch, daughter of James and Mary (Sweasy) Welch, of Ken- tucky. After marriage he removed to section 29, Hire township, where he built a log house, in which they lived until 1863, when he built a frame house. In the spring of 1864, he moved to the southeast quarter of section 30, of the same township, where he resided till the fall of 1875. At that date he purchased of Alfred Coffman, a finely improved farm of 200 acres, located in section 18, Blan- dinsville township, his present residence. He has since purchased 105 acres more. His dwelling is commodious and com- fortable, and his barn and other build- ings are of the best class. His farm is well stocked and highly cultivated. Mr. and Mrs. George have had eight chil- dren, five of whom are living and three dead-Amanda E., deceased wife of J. H. Fowler; Maggie, wife of George W. Henry, of Stark county, Illinois; Albert, Mahala A., Hattie B., Charles C., Luther B., who died September 2, 1877; Henry, who died July 24, 1874. Mrs. Fowler's death occurred on the 26th of September, 1880. Mr. George owes his present pros- perity entirely to his own perseverance . and industry. At the age of 17 years · he left home, for which privilege he paid his father the sum of $36. He then, without means or material assistance from any source, commenced the battle

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

of life on his own responsibility. He is one example of what pluck, energy, and perseverance can accomplish, for thus early thrown upon his own resources, he has been successful, and may properly be considered a self-made man. He has held the office of road commissioner two years, and school director seven years. He has always taken an active part in educating his children. The three eld- est daughters, Amanda, Maggie, and Mahala have been engaged in school teaching. Mahala is still in that praise- worthy calling.

John T. James first came to this county, with his parents, in 1854, and settled upon section 20, Blandinsville township, where they lived upon rented land till March, 1856. At that date they removed to Sciota township, and located on a farm of 80 acres, which they purchased. He resided in that township till 1879, when he went to Kansas and took up a claim on the Kaw Indian reservation. He remained in that state till 1882, then returned to Mc- Donough county and purchased of A. Hungate, a farm located on section 17, Blandinsville township, which is his present residence. He owns 255 acres of valuable land, 35 acres in section 7, 80 acres in section 19, and 140 acres in section 17. Mr. James was born May 20, 1840, in Perry county, Ohio, and is a son of Aaron and Eliza (Brown) James. He was married July 16, 1865, to Samantha Hopper, daughter of A. P. Hopper, a native of New York state. Eight children blessed their union- Marvin H., Eliza A., Lucius, Anselm P., Mary L., Aaron T., Roy Harlin and Lena B. Mr. James is politically a re-

publican, and one of the substantial men of the township.

Joseph Smith Dodds, son of Joseph and Mary (Smith) Dodds, was born in Yorkshire, England, April 25, 1839. He came to this county in 1864, and for one year was engaged in mining at Colches- ter. He then purchased land in section 18, Blandinsville township, upon which he opened a coal bank. He has resided here since that time, and is still engaged in mining coal. He employs eight men the entire year, and takes out from 25,- 000 to 30,000 bushels of coal annually. His coal is of excellent quality. He has still 30 acres of coal land undeveloped. He was married in 1861 to Isabel Camp- bell, daughter of John and Jane Camp- bell, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Dodds have had 10 children born to them-Mary, born in England; John, Jane, Ann, P. Talmas, William, Robert, Joseph, Isabel and Flora. Mr. Dodds casts his vote with the democratic party. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and a man of intelligence and enterprise.

William B. Kirkpatrick, a farmer of Blandinsville township, is a native of Iowa, and was born in Lee county, that state, March 18, 1839. He is a son of Joseph and Maria (Pratt) Kirkpatrick. He came to this county with his parents in 1855, and settled on section 25, Blandinsville township. William B. remained at home engaged in the mul- tifarious duties incident to farm life, until the sound of war was heard through the land. Moved with feelings of patriotism, he could not sit by idly and witness the attempted disruption of the union, consequently in the fall of 1861, he enlisted in the army in the 11th

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

regiment of Illinois cavalry, and re- mained in the service three years. He participated in many engagements, among them,the battle of Pittsburg land- ing, Corinth and Jackson, Mississippi. In the month of December, 1864, he returned and again engaged in farming. He was first married in 1868, to Ruby Bailey, daughter of Harrison and Harriet Bailey. By that union were three children-Caroline S., Mary and Fred S., all of whom are now living. His first wife died in August, 1879. He was married the second time to Viola Hew- ett, January 6, 1881, and they have had one child, named Clara. He is now en- gaged in general farming and raising fine stock. His mother, who was born in 1799, lives with him on the old home- stead. . He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. His place is a desirable farm of 160 acres, well im- proved and in good condition.

William L. Woodside may be properly classed among the earliest settlers of this county, having come here with his parents November 16, 1833. They set- tled on the northwest quarter of section 9, Blandinsville township, where Mr. Woodside now resides. He was born February 2, 1833, in Washington county, Virginia. He obtained his education in the public schools, and has always lived in Blandinsville township. He was married April 10, 1859, to Mary I. Fritz, a daughter of Captain James Fritz, a native of Virginia. Her mother, Julia A. Fritz, was a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Woodside have six chil- dren, T. Frank, born April 1, 1860; Emma J., born January 1, 1862; Sarah

L., born July 23, 1864; Mary Ella, born January 11, 1868; Jennie M., born May 14, 1870, and Mina A., born October 18, 1874. Mr. Woodside and his entire fam- ily, except Mina, are members of the Christian church. He is a prosperous farmer and an influential citizen. His farm contains 240 acres of land in sec- tion 9, 60 acres of pasture land in section 5, and 20 acres of timber in section 6, all well improved and highly desirable land. His dwelling is a handsome and commodious structure, erected'in 1872, at a cost of $3,000. His barn and other farm buildings are of a good class. T. Frank Woodside teaches school a por- tion of the time, the remainder he is en- gaged in farming. One daughter, Emma, is also engaged in teaching, for which occupation she is well qualified.

T. Franklin Woodside is a native of McDonough county, born April 1, 1860, and is the son of William and Mary I. (Fritz) Woodside. He attended the dis- trict school of his native township and completed his education at Abingdon col- lege. Since then he has engaged in teaching school. Mr. Woodside is well fitted both by nature and education, for a his important duties, and as a teacher is well liked. He possesses in a marked degree, that necessary requisite of a good instructor, the faculty of imparting knowledge to others, which combined with his other qualifications insure his success. He is an active working mem- ber of the Christian church, also a mem- ber of LaHarpe lodge, No. 195, A. F. & A. M.

Charles A. Blandin, a son of Joseph L. Blandin, the founder of the village of Blandinsville, is a native of Vermont,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

being born in Windom county on the 30th of December, 1829. With his par- ents he came to Illinois, in June, 1837, settled on land which now forms a part of Blandinsville. He resided with his parents on a farm until reaching his 18th year, and attended school as the oppor- tunity offered. At the age of 18, he en- gaged as a clerk in a store in the town, and one year later, in company with an elder brother, he bought out his employer and engaged inbusiness for himself, the firm name being J. C. Blandin & Bro. Two years later, Charles bought his brother's interest, and one year later he sold to George W. and C. R. Blandin, who continued the business. In the spring of 1855, Charles went to Wiscon- sin, on the Black river, where a brother had some lumber interests. He became a partner in the business, and engaged in cutting logs and rafting them down to Oquawka, where they built a saw mill. He continued in that business two years, then sold out to Brooks & Co. He then bought a half interest in another mill and lumber yard at the same point, and soon afterward sold at a profit. Then in company with his brother, he built a large saw mill at East Burlington, which continued to run for two years. In con- nection with their mill, the brothers bought a steamboat, which they used for transporting lumber. Charles was captain of the boat, and continued run- ning it on the river for some time, carry- ing passengers and freight. He then sold the boat and returned to Blandins- ville in October, 1860, and engaged in farming. He was one of the four heirs to the family estate, and he purchased the interests of the otlier heirs, thus

leaving him a nice farm of 210 acres. On this he continued to live for two years, then sold part of it, and traded, in 1863, for the Keithley farm, in Hire township, on which he resided for three years. In the meantime, he had bought of C. Chand- ler two quarters adjoining this land, and in 1866, sold all that was left of that farm and bought the Boughman farm of 140 acres, on which he resided one sea- son. This he sold in 1877, and removed to the village of Sciota, built a mill and elevator, which he operated one year and then traded for a farm of 120 acres in Sciota township, selling the same in 1884. In 1879, Mr. Blandin returned to Bland- insville and occupied and managed the Edel house for a short time. He also engaged in the grain and stock business. On giving up the hotel he moved into his present residence, which is situated on part of the old homestead where his father settled upon coming to the county. His father departed this life on the 21st of December, 1854, and his mother on the 19th of February, 1865. They left a family of four children, all of whom are living-Charles A., the third child was united in, marriage, March 16, 1858, with Lydia A. Wadleigh, of Oquawka, Illinois. Their union has been blessed with seven children, all living-Samuel, Alice J., the wife of Ed. G. Mustain, of Beebe, Ar- kansas; Ada M., the wife of Marion Hus- ton, of Blandinsville; Phoebe, Nellie, Grace and Charles L. . Mrs. Blandin and three of her daughters are members of the Christian church. Politically, Mr. Blandin is a consistent republican, and is a member of the I. O. O. F.

Mathias Fisher is a native of Illinois, having been born in Hancock county, on

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

the 24th of September, 1840. He re- mained on a farm in that county until eight years of age, his parents then re- moving to McDonough county and mak- ing a settling in Blandinsville township, on section 29, near the present site of the village of Blandinsville. His father rented at first, and remained there until 1856, when he removed to Henderson county, and seven years later to Hancock county, where he remained a number of years, following, as he did in each of the other county's, agricultural pursuits. He again came to McDonough county, and settled near Blandinsville, where he died in 1874. Up to the time of his father's death, Mathias resided in Hire township, he having been married on the 17th of October, 1876, to Eliza A. Cotton, a na- tive of the state of Kentucky. They re- moved from Hire township, in 1877, to their present quarters, which constitutes 76 acres of well improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are now the parents of one child-Francis M., who resides at home. Mrs. Fisher's mother, at present, lives in Hire township, at an advanced age. As a citizen, Mr. Fisher is highly respected for his many good qualities.

William Campbell, a successful farmer of Blandinsville township, is a native of North Carolina, and was born in Rowan county, October 13, 1823. He was brought up on a farm, and received a limited education in the old log school houses with puncheon floors, and various similar accessories, common at that period in his native state. Subsequently about the year 1834, the family moved to Indiana, and in that state William at- tended school, as he had opportunity. He continued farming until the time of

the war with Mexico, when he enlisted in the army and served until its close. He had various experiences during these years, and among them an occurrence on his trip home, is worthy of mention. He was coming up the river, and with feel- ings of pleasure contemplating a meet- ing at home with relatives and friends, when the boat sunk in 72 feet of water, and it was sink or swim, for all on board. Twenty-six of the passengers were drowned, but fortunately Mr. Campbell could swim, and thus saved his life. He boarded the next boat that came along and subsequently landed near Blooming- ton, Indiana. The following spring he went to Missouri, and secured some gov- ernment land to which he was entitled by a land warrant, received for service in the army. He spent one summer in that state, near Gentryville, and then re- turned home. The following fall he drove a team to Adams county, Illinois, for William Berry, to whose daughter, Amanda, he was married, January 28, 1848. He remained in that county en- gaged in farming for three years, and in 1851, came to this county. He here en- gaged in farming. Two years afterward he purchased the farm upon which he now lives. He has been successful, and now owns considerable property, consist- ing of real estate in various localities, and town property in the village of Blan- dinsville. Although Mr. Campbell was not an early settler, yet at the time he came, this section of the country was in' a state of natural wildness. The virgin sod was yet unvexed by the plow, and the wolves held high carnival on all sides, but he was an industrious, ener- getic man, and went to work with a will

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

to make himself a home. He mowed down the hazel brush where his house and barn now stand, and now has a de- sirable home, with fine improvements. He has had two sons, the first was born in 1851, and called John T .; he died in 1881. The other was born in 1856, named George F., who is now living at home with his father. His wife, Amanda, died December 23, 1884. The family are all members of the Christian church.

Lawson G. Carter came to this county October 22, 1854, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 8, Blandins- ville township, where two years later he made permanent improvements, building a two story house at a cost of $1,800, a good barn and other smaller buildings. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Muskingum county, January 31, 1841, to Sarah Lovit. By that union were two children-Mary Jane, born in 1841, and Franklin G., born in 1856. Two years after the birth of the last child, his wife without just cause or provocation, left his bed and board, in consequence of . which he subsequently obtained a divorce, and in April, 1884, he was married to Josephine Panyburn, of Lyons county, Iowa. Mr. Carter was elected justice of the peace in 1856, and served for more than three years. He is by trade, a carpenter, and to a considerable extent, is at present engaged in that business. His daughter, Mary Jane, died January 30, 1884, and was buried at Hillsborough cemetery. Mr. Carter is a christian gen- tleman, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. Politically, he is a democrat.

William T. Hardesty, a resident of Blandinsville township, was born in Mc- Donough county, Illinois, December 21,

1848, and is a son of William and Susan (Hainline) Hardesty. William T. Har- desty was married in January, 1871, to N. J. Mustain, a daughter of John T. Mustain. By this union there was one child. Mrs. Hardesty died in January, 1874. Mr. Hardesty was again married in 1876, to Mary E. Wilkins, of Kentucky. Two children have been born to them- Nora J. and William H. Mr. Hardesty is an enterprising and public spirited citizen. He is politically, a democrat, and in 1878, was elected to the office of constable, which he resigned before the expiration of his term. He is engaged in farming.

Reuben R. Harris was born in this county in 1846: His parents, Reuben and Allie (Wolf) Harris were among the earliest settlers here and were from Ten- nessee. Reuben Harris, Sr. died August 15, 1870. He was a resident of this county at the time of the Mormon war, in which he participated. His widow, Allie (Wolf) Harris, is still living at the advanced age of 80 years. The subject of this sketch was married January 12, 1865, to Jane Severns, a daughter of James Severns, of Ohio. Eleven chil- dren have blest their union-Lizzie, Ida, Allie, Nettie, Alta, Alva, Jennie, Nellie, Dellie, Laura and Charlie. Mr. Harris owns a highly desirable farm, containing 130 acres, located in section 31, Blandins- ville township. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising, and is a successful farmer and a good citizen. His politics are democratic.

H. H. Duncan, of Blandinsville town- ship, is a son of John and Mary ( White) Duncan, natives of Tennessee. H. H. Duncan was born in this township De-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

cember 11, 1844, and here grew to man- hood. October 22, 1875, he was united in marriage with Mahala Hamilton, a daughter of James Hamilton, of Ken- tucky, and by this union has four chil- dren-Albert, Alfred, John Riley and Clarence E. Mr. Duncan is the owner of real estate in this township, and is a worthy and respected citizen. He is po- litically, a democrat.

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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 99

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