USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 56
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Geo. P. Graham, W.M., James L. Bentley, Sec .; December 30, 1873, Geo. P. Graham, W.M., M. L. Marsh, Sec .; December 15, 1874, D. F. Brock, W.M., A. B. McCandless, Sec .; December 7, 1875, Geo. P. Graham, W.M., Luke Strong, Sec .; December 26. 1876, J. M. Willson, W.M., Joseph Boyd, Sec .; December 18, 1877, J. M. Willson, W.M., Alex. McArthur, Sec .; since which election James M. Willson has held the office of W.M., and the same officer was secretary till the election of September 14, 1880, when Fred Clark was elected. The present officers of the lodge are as follows: J. M. Willson, W.M .; R. E. Patrick, S.W .; Philip Killey, J.W .; J. F. McBride, Treas .; F. Clark, Sec .; Alex. McArthur, Senior Deacon ; K. M. Whitham, Junior Deacon; A. E. Mead and Joseph Boyd, Stewards; M. L. Marsh, Tyler. The lodge now occupies a commodious and neat hall in the Aledo bank building. They are comfortably situated and in a very flourishing condition. In talking over the history of this organization some very pleasant memories are revived, not the least of which was the presentation in 1880 to Wor- shipful Master J. M. Willson, who had served the lodge for many years as its principal officer, of a magnificent cane to support the declining years of him who, "as a Master Mason, enjoys the happy reflection of a well-spent life."
Aledo Lodge, I.O.O. F .- This lodge was instituted July 1, 1857, by virtue of a charter issued under the seal of the Grand Lodge of the United States, bearing the signatures of Augustus C. Marsh, G.M., and Samuel Willard, G.S. The charter members were: O. C. Allen, John S. Moore, J. E. Harroun, Jacob Cool, and William Detwiler. The present officers of the lodge are: C. S. Bramkamp, N.G .; Win. Shiver, V. G .; G. B. Morgan, Rec. Sec .; M. L. Marsh, Per. Sec .; J. O. Lundblad, Treas .; C. T. Cunningham, G. Rep.
J. S. Pinkerton, of Aledo, a member of this lodge, was the first member of the order initiated in Mercer county; his initiation took place in New Boston Lodge, No. 188, in November, 1855. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, has forty-four members, and net assets of $626.31 in the hands of the treasurer. They meet in Abercrombie hall.
A. O. U. W .- A lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workingmen was instituted in Aledo, December 20, 1878, with twenty-five charter members. The officers of the original organization were as follows : P.M. W., A. R. Morgan; M.W., Wm. N. Graham; F., James M. Macy; Overseer, Jas. A. Cummins; Receiver, J. I. Edwards; Re- corder, W. A. Lorimer; Financier, W. C. Galloway; Guide, D. T. Hindman ; I. Watch, A. R. McDonald ; O. Watch, Ben. Warlow. There has been only one death in the order since its organization, that
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of James M. Macy in January. 1882. There is a present membership of sixty-four, and the order is on a sound financial basis and is other- wise prosperous. The order meets every Thursday evening in Aber- crombie's hall. The present officer's are: P.M.W., S. M. Evans; M.W., W. A. Lorimer; F., James Bickets ; Overseer, J. H. McPher- ren ; Recorder, A. R. McDonald ; Receiver, W. C. Galloway ; Finan- cier, R. J. MeDonald ; Guide, Jas. A. Cummins; I. Watch, J. H. Abercrombie ; O. Watch, Wm. Winders.
TOWNLEY'S TILE AND BRICK MANUFACTORY.
This enterprise was started by Mr. Townley in 1874, by his buying a block and a half of ground just east of town, from which he procures a good article of brick clay. The clay for his tile he procures from soil about a mile north of Aledo. Since starting his works, Mr. Townley has been making about 700,000 brick, and about 400,000 feet of tile per year. He finds a good market for his entire product from local trade, and is running his works to their full capacity.
"WEST END" CREAMERY, MILLERSBURG.
This new enterprise was projected in November, 1881, by Messrs. Stratton & Lunn, of Millersburg, who began making butter on a large scale, and readily finding a good market for their product, increased their facilities to what they are at present. They run a churn of the capacity of 250 gallons by a four-horse power engine. They use the common Settle cans of which they have in use 400, and have 500 more on the way from the manufacturer. Since starting the enterprise they have made on an average 100 pounds of butter per day, employing four men to gather cream. The proprietors now expect to run twelve or thirteen different routes in gathering their cream, covering a scope of over twenty miles square. About the first of March they will put up two more vats for cream, which will make their capacity 1,000 gal- lons, at which time they expect to make 500 pounds of butter per day. They find a good market for their butter in Chicago, and have recently had an offer from Pueblo, Colorado, for their entire product for the coming year. Messrs. Stratton & Lunn are thorough business men, and will doubtless make this enterprise a successful one.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
LEVI WILLITS (deceased), is one of Mercer county's noblest dead. His life was full of good works which in his death stand out in bold relief in honor to the doer. Mr. Willits was born May 31, 1808, in Pickaway county, Ohio, on a farm. His parents, William and Mary
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Willits, moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and in after years to Indi- ana. Levi spent his youth on the farm, enjoying but few school advantages, vet he early manifested peculiar mathematical ability. When about of age he began the trades of carpentry and cabinet mak- ing, which he followed some years. He was married December 1, 1832, to Miss Clarinda Drury, daughter of Edward and Jane Drury, born in Wayne county, Indiana, July 20, 1811. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Willits resided in Raysville, Indiana, for four years, when it was decided to move to Illinois. Accordingly, in the fall of 1836, with ox-team, the journey was begun. Mrs. Willits became sick with the measles, having to keep her bed in the wagon. Arrived near Mud creek, not far from Blue river, the day being warm, the oxen seeing the water were uncontrollable by the driver and rushed toward the muddy element. In their race the wagon was upset, precipitating Mrs. Willits, sick as she was, into mud and water, completely drenching her and piling the heavy goods on her. In extricating her she was further bruised. She was then taken on horseback by a passing woman to a poor hovel and there treated as well as the circumstances would allow. The dirt and squalor of the hut could not be mentioned. As soon as able the party pushed on with their ox-team to Indianapolis, where they remained some time. While there Mrs. Willits' sister was taken ill of the measles and died. They buried her there in the bloom of her youth. It was then dicided to return to Wayne county for the winter, at least, which they did. In the following spring the journey was again undertaken. Mr. Willits purchased three cows and consid- erable young stock, one horse and the ox-team. Mr. Willits was to ride the horse and drive the cattle, while Mrs. Willits should drive the ox-team, the man hired for the purpose being sick. Mrs. W. rode the horse for a time which, becoming scared at the cattle whip the driver carried, jumped, throwing the rider, but causing no dangerous injury. Slowly and interruptedly was the journey made. The three cows and much of the young stock were lost on the way. Arrived at New Boston, they found three or four log cabins and more Indians than white men. An old log cabin was occupied by them, necessitating, so dilapidated was it, the hanging of bed clothes, ete., over eraeks and holes in the walls. With the ox-team Mr. Willits hauled all the lumber he could get at Millersburg and with it built one small room for a dwelling, with a sort of loft above for sleeping apartment for men employed. Below a bed and a trundle bed occupied one corner. Across one corner was hung a sheet, partitioning off a little room for flour and smoke room. Hired men slept up stairs and on the floor down stairs, while the "guid " couple occupied the bed. In that house was born the first
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child to the Willits. In that house court was held when New Boston was the county seat and there the court and jury were boarded and lodged. The beds, etc., served as seats and the floors were their beds. Mrs. W. did her cooking in a cabin near by. The young cattle brought with them were slaughtered for food, a scarce article that year. A small stock of goods had been brought with them, such as groceries, paints, medicines, liquors, etc. With these merchandising was begun, which grew into a very lucrative business. Win. Drury was for years Mr. Willits' partner. Soon Mr. Willits added to his home and with differ- ent additions the house became large. The frame is now owned by Henry Denison. During these early days Mrs. Willits, to aid in for- tune, did washing and ironing for the young men of that day ; also made pants, vests, etc. A man and a woman had been hired to do the baking for the trade, but they quitting, Mrs. Willits undertook it. She had an oven made, constructed of straw, shavings, mud, etc., and plastered with mud, then burned, as there were no brick. She paid for this from her own earnings. She also paid for her first cook stove by her own efforts. Mr. Willits, two years after opening his store, declared he would sell no more liquors to his neighbors, making them drunk, but would put in a supply of dry goods instead. He con- tinued in trade many years. He also became engaged in mer- chandising in Millersburg a short time. He was extensively and many years engaged in the lumber business, trading in land. buy- ing grain, packing pork, contract building, erecting a number of buildings in New Boston. It is unnecessary to speak here of his laying out the town of Aledo; of his founding, in connection with Judge John S. Thompson, a college for the Presbyterians and one for the Methodists, the foundation of the latter being laid and material ready, at his death ; of his building the Barton hotel, and various other buildings. All this will be found in the history of Aledo. No doubt his exposures to water in laying out the town at the time he did, caused, in some degree, the rheumatism that brought on his sickness. He spent much of his time in Aledo the last year or two of his life. He returned to his home in New Boston to entertain friends, and while there was taken ill. IIe recovered somewhat, but moving about too much, he took a relapse, had a chill on Thurs- day, and on the following Tuesday died of inflamatory rheumatism, March 2, 1858. On the following Friday evening a large concourse of people gathered at the court-house in Aledo and passed resolutions of respect for him and admiration of his character. He was not a church member, yet was considered a good man. His house was always open to ministers and christians generally. The evening before his death
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
he called for a glass of water and holding it up, beautifully remarked : " Before to-morrow morning I shall be drinking purer water than that." He died before morning. He was always interested in the educational and general good of the people. In politics he had been a whig, but was a republican before he died. Five children had preceded him to the grave, all he had. One child of James Thompson, at its mother's death, had been taken to raise. It had died. Four children of Har- riet Willits had also found a father and mother in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Willits. One died in her fourteenth year. The others were well educated and provided for in his will. Mr. Willits' good works live after him, but not as they would had he been spared to fur- ther prosecute his designs. Disease deprived the people of a noble mind, warm heart and willing hands. His works cannot be individu- alized in the space allotted here.
JOHN GEIGER. The frosts of sixty-eight winters have whitened the hair of Mr. Geiger, but in mind and body he is still vigorous and capa- ble. His maternal grandparents were German. His father's people were of South Carolina, but of German extraction. His father, John Geiger, was born and raised in Martinsburg, Virginia, but became a resident of Maryland. He became a soldier in the war of 1812. Shortly after the war closed he removed to the southern part of Bed- ford county, Pennsylvania. Exposure and hardships incident to army life brought on pleurisy, progressing with consumption, and terminat- ing in death about 1825 or 1826. He was not a strong man at any time. His wife, Elizabeth Kable, sons and daughters, after remaining in Hancock, Maryland, a few years, settled in Marion county, Ohio, where she, her sons (but John) and one daughter, have since died. John Geiger was born in Williamsport, Maryland, January 15, 1814, while his father was yet fighting the British. He was quite young when his parents moved to Bedford county. There, on the Little Licking river, under the shadow of one of the high eastern ridges of the Allegheny mountains, he passed his youth till seventeen years of age. He says, in speaking of his school days : "Naturally studious and of a somewhat retentive memory, I led my friends and teachers to think me precocious. So I was unmercifully pushed deep into the intricate parts of arithmetic before twelve years old. But by the im- perfect methods of teaching that prevailed at that time, I understood nothing of consequence beyond the operations of the ground rules." He further says : "Aided by some adverse circumstances, I escaped further attendance at school until nineteen years of age." In 1831, young Geiger, in company with his oldest sister and her husband, Daniel Linn, crossed the Allegheny mountains via the national turn-
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pike road to Ohio, assisting at times in caring for the team or driving. At that time the northwest and much of the interior of the state was wild and thinly settled. A new country presented dreary prospects to a lad seventeen years old, with naught of wealth to assist. But the love and good counsel of his mother were free. IIe began to plan and do for himself. He worked at whatever might offer, farming principally, although alternated with work in the stone quarry. Means of transportation were meager, oxen furnishing the larger part of the motive power. Wages were low, so that money making was tedious. His love for study continued unabated. He attended school part of two or three terms, near Caledonia, Ohio, finishing arithmetic and gaining a fair knowledge of grammar and geography. His study of school-books was interspersed with perusal of such works as natural philosophy, chemistry, astronomy, Goldsmith's Greece and Rome, Wal- son's Institutes, Playfair's Euclid, Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding, Good's Book of Nature, Butler's Analogue, Watts on the Mind, and other solid reading. In 1836, after five years' labor and economy, he had saved $200 in silver. This he expended in a quarter section of heavily timbered congress land, in Whitley county, Indiana. During the ensuing winter he taught school in Huntington, remaining in the county one year, making improvements on his purchase. Land speculation at the date of his buying was at its height, but the crash of 1837 depreciated values leaving much land nearly worthless. After keeping his farm thirteen years and expending much labor on it, lie sold just before the rise in prices caused by the railroad excitement. Mr. Geiger still made his home in Ohio, where he was muel em- ployed as an accountant in auditors' offices for a series of years, and in some four different counties. Feeling the necessity, from experi- ence, of some tables for computing taxes, he, in 1847, compiled and printed a small book of tables. This was sold almost exclusively in Ohio. In 1854 he prepared a much fuller work. This being too expensive for his limited means he memorialized the Ohio legislature, obtaining an appropriation of $3,500, to enable him to publish his work with dispatch, the state taking 300 copies in consideration of the appropriation. The edition of 800 copies was sold mostly in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Minnesota. Mr. Geiger's other literary work has embraced a few lectures, essays, poems, etc., some of which have appeared in the columns of the press. In politics he has been an unfaltering democrat through life. His first political activity was corresponding for Sam. Medary's "Ohio Statesman," in 1840, when he had the opportunity of seeing and hearing some of the greatest platform orators known to the public. In 1850 he became
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IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
editor-in-charge of the "Monnt Gilead Messenger." continuing a short time during the compromise session of congress of 1849 and 1850, and the canvass for the Ohio constitution of 1850. Prosperity crowned the efforts of the industrious, so that in 1852 Mr. Geiger was able to purchase 1,000 acres of land in Mercer county, Illinois, buying in a . body in Greene and Preemption townships, to which several hundred acres were added in 1853. In 1854 he planted five or six miles of osage orange fence, built plank fences, tenant houses, and made other improvements looking to its occupation as a grain and stock farm. May 27, 1858, he was married at Wabash, Indiana, to Mrs. Martha P. Arthur, widowed daughter of the late Judge Parish, of Columbus, Ohio, a union that has ever been happy. With his wife and her two children, O. P. Arthur and the present Mrs. James H. Connell, he moved to his Illinois farm in October of the same year. He carried on the grain and stock business till 1858, when he settled in Aledo. He still owns part of his farm. Since his residence in Aledo he has been successfully conducting the Aledo "Banner" and the Aledo "Democrat," some account of which appears in the history of Aledo. He also superintends his farm. Officially he has occupied a few local positions, but has more frequently declined than accepted opportunities as candidate for such honors. Without intending any special laudation it is but proper to say that Mr. Geiger's life has been one of success, and may teach to poor boys the lesson so often repeated, that even though poverty may be their lot in youth, they may, if willing to try, rise and become useful citizens.
THE GILMORE FAMILY .- Among the few white families who consti- tuted the first permanent settlers of Mercer county, and who have taken prominent and active parts in its history and development, is that of which Judge Ephraim Gilmore is a member. He and his father, Col. Robert Gilmore, arrived in Warren county as early as 1833, and the following year the judge moved into that part afterward set off' as Mercer county. Mr. Gilmore was born February 7, 1810, hence was in full manhood when his career became blended with that of Mercer county. After a residence of two years in New Boston he settled at a point about half way between Aledo and New Boston, on a farm subsequently owned by the Hon. John McGinnis. Here he lived and labored from 1837 to 1871, when he changed his residence to Aledo and embarked in the banking business. November 4, 1834, he married Miss Julia Ann Denison, daughter of William and Rachel Denison, who were the first white settlers of the county. Miss Den- ison was the only single white lady of the county at the time of this marriage. Seven sons and two daughters have been born to them:
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William, Robert N., John A., James E., Edwin, Erastus E., Lyman C., Annie E., and Mary. William and Mary are dead, Robert is a resident of Johnson county, Missouri, and Annie E. (now Mrs. James Kiddoo) is of Rice county, Kansas. John A. enlisted August 6, 1861, in company E, 9th reg. Ill. Vol., and served three years and one month. ITis regiment was mostly recruited from St. Clair county, and was commanded by Col. Paine. John A. as a soldier was engaged at the first battle of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth. He then became a mounted infantryman, and accompanied Sherman to Atlanta, but in the meantime aided in guarding the Memphis and Charleston railroad. He was mustered ous at Springfield. March 22, 1865, he was married to Miss Allie Pryme. She died June 28, 1866, leaving one child (Charlie). He was next married February 17, 1870, to Miss Sarah McGinnis, whose parents (John T. and Margaret McGinnis) are prom- inent in Mercer county history. Jolm A. has spent many years on the farm, but is now in the bank. Robert N., James E. and Edwin were in company K, 102d reg. Ill. Vol., which regiment is so fully noticed in the history. Robert was discharged on account of ill-health incurred in Buell's famous forced march. James and Edwin served through the war. Judge Gilmore's history is so intimate with that of the county. that a review of the one includes that of the other. He was the first postmaster of New Boston, first circuit clerk and first surveyor of Mercer county, once probate judge, once county treas- urer, and twice a member of the state legislature. During his official career his condnet was marked by a courtesy of manner. an honesty of action and a purity and patriotism of motive to such a degree that there is not now in the county a single man to be found who does not honor and feel proud of his record and relations with his people. The Gilmore family are of Scotch-Irish descent. The ancestry came to the United States when they were dependent colonies, and were during the revolutionary war active patriots. Mr. Gilmore's grandfather, Ephraim Gilmore, being a continental soldier, who. after the close of the war, continued to reside in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, where he raised four sons : Robert. Ephraim. John and Thomas. Robert afterward served as captain in the war of 1812. He was twice married, first to Miss Elizabeth Collins and then to Miss Maria Pil- grim. By his first wife he raised Ephraim (the subject of this sketch), John, Arabella, Ann, and Joseph; and by his second wife, James, Thomas, Elizabeth Rachel, Lawrence H .. Benjamin F., and Robert C. The first marriage took place in Jefferson county, Ohio, and the second in the city of Columbus, he being at that time a member of the legis- lature of Ohio from the same county. Immediately after coming to
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Warren county, Illinois, he was elected one of the commissioners for this county, which position he held two or theee terms. He died about 1856, and was buried at Monmouth. He was 75 years old and was a man of strong force of character. He died in the fellowship of the Presbyterian church.
NICHOLAS EDWARDS, farmer and lumber merchant, Aledo, is a native of Crawford county, Indiana, where he was born October 23, 1816. His father, Isaac Edwards, died of small-pox before he can remember, and his mother, whose maiden name was Rachel Rice, married again. Mr. Edwards lived on the old homestead till 1834, when he engaged in flat-boating to New Orleans, working at first for $15 per month. In 1838 he quit the river, came to Illinois, and in the spring of 1839 settled at Henderson, Knox county, and merchandised there until 1843. In September, 1839, he attended the land sales at Galena, but being obliged by previous engagement to return before he made his purchase, he left his money with friends who bid off for him the tracts he had selected, the same being the S. W. } Sec. 18 and the N. W. } Sec. 19, T. 14, R. 3, which land he still owns. Arriving home he celebrated his marriage with Miss Lydia Ann Edwards, of Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 6th of October. In 1843 he settled at the mouth of the Edwards river, below New Boston, where he ran a saw-mill in connection with William Willit, now of Keithsburg, and Isaiah Brown, who died in California. He was elected the same year to the office of justice of the peace. At that time there was no voting precinet at Keithsburg, and elections were held at what is at present known as Glancey's mills. The death of his wife in 1850 broke up his family ; and the next to the oldest child, Sydnie Elizabeth, and the next to the youngest, Isaac Edward, were taken and raised by their uncle, William Edwards, of Hamilton county, Ohio. They still live in that state. The other children were Emily Frances, Rachel Elvira, John W., Mary Eliza, and Nancy Jane, both of which died in infancy. Immediately following this change in his domestic affairs, he went to trading on the river between Cincinnati and New Orleans, and was thus engaged for five years. In 1856 he returned to Mercer county, and from 1857 to 1860 lived in Aledo. Between the last date and 1869 his home was in Keithsburg and Oquawka, and the rest of the time until now in Aledo, where he has been carrying on trade in lumber. In politics Mr. Edwards is a republican. He was formerly a whig, and relates as an incident of the early political history of Keithsburg township that his party once held a primary meeting to elect delegates to the county convention, and that himself, William Willett and John McH. Wilson composed the attendants. Willett presided, Edwards
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