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 58
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Illinois, landing at Oquawka, June 10. They immediately took teams for what is now Ohio Grove township, Mercer county. Latter the other four children, Isaac, Eliza A., Mary J. and Julia, arrived after a journey overland of thirty days. Mr. Kimel entered 160 acres of congress land near the center of Ohio Grove township, also secured a quarter section of military land. There were but few settlers in the township at that time. No roads were laid out for travel but all was wild and unbroken from Oquawka to where they settled. The usual improvements were begun and carried out. Small crops were raised ; corn was at one time six and a quarter cents a bushel, and the postage on a letter twenty-five cents, thus four bushels of corn being required to pay postage on one letter. But Uncle Sam allowed an envelope to be filled without any extra due stamps for a long letter. One child, John Harvey, was born in 1842. A sad bereavement befell the family when, August 18, 1846, death claimed the wife and mother. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Kimel subsequently married Mrs. Catharine Case, of Rock Island county, who became the mother of four children : Anna, John H., Eddie, and Aseneath. She died July 5, 1871. Mr. Kimel, in 1848, sold the first purchase and bought what is known as the Lamar farm, which he im- proved. In 1863 he moved to Rock Island county, where he lived till 1878. He then passed his remaining years about two miles south- west of Viola, Mercer county, where he died October 10, 1880. Re- ligiously he was a Presbyterian ; politically an old line whig, and later a republican. When twelve years old he volunteered in the war of 1812, but was rejected on account of youthfulness. Shortly before his death he purchased the McBride and Stephens saw-mill, which he sold to his son, James W. James W. Kimel, the fourth child of the first family of Henry Kimel, was born February 27, 1831, in Trumbull county, Ohio, near Youngstown. His youth was spent on the farm, with but meager educational advantages. Several seasons he broke prairie with five and six yoke of oxen. In 1848, he spent a few months at school in Ohio, and in the following year returned to the farm in Illinois. In 1850, he was seized with the California fever. With a company from Moline, Illinois, April 4, he started overland for the far west, where he arrived in Sacramento August 17, following, after the experiences incident to such a journey. After remaining, with considerable suc- cess, financially, till 1853, he returned in January to Illinois. He purchased the McBride and Stephens saw-mill of his father, which he conducted for four years. In 1858, he displaced the saw-mill by a grist-mill, on the same site. The grist-mill he run till 1876, when he erected his present large structure, 36×46, three story and basement.
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Ilis attention having been called to the "wire transmission power." he visited several mills for examination and information. Satisfied as to its efficacy he determined to adopt it. He built his mill 300 feet from the stream and prepared for his new and lately invented " power." which the aged and knowing ones predicted would fail. Time and use have proven the success of this departure. The mill is generally in action. A small stock of groceries is kept to accommodate farm- ers. In 1854, Mr. Kimel purchased the quarter section of land on which he lives. In 1874 he added a quarter, and in 1876 an eighty. He was married May 4, 1854. to Mary B. Burnet, who was born in Salem, New York, August 7. 1832. Her parents, Andrew and Ma- hettable Burnet, were of Scotch descent. They emigrated from New York to Ohio Grove township, Mercer county, Illinois, in 1838. They were emphatically pioneers who dared the new and wild west for homes. He died here May 31, 1861. She died at Mr. Kimel's home January 30, 1881. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kimel lived near the old mill for nine years. In 1863, a house was built on the farm and occupied. In 1868 an addition was made, bringing the dwelling into considerable notice as a large and handsome building. Other improvements have added much to its beauty. It is enjoyed by a family of six children, comprising Lara, Lucy J., Abbie M., Jim B., Gussie C. and Bessie M. Mr. Kimel, politically. is republican, but meddles but little with politics. His business consumes his time entirely.
MARK CANNUM'S father emigrated to this country from England in 1852. and while on his way to Illinois died near New Orleans where the family landed. The subject of this sketch was born near Peterborough. England in 1843, and settled in Mercer county. near where he now lives, in 1853. He entered the army during the late war. enlisting for three years in August, 1861, and participated in the engagements of Fort Donelson, Belmont. Vicksburg. Corinth. Brittain's Lane, Meri- den, and the Atlanta campaign. He was mustered out at Chattanooga Tennessee, August 4, 1864. He was slightly wounded at Fort Donelson. After his return from the army he settled down to farming, in which occupation he is still engaged. Ile built his present handsome dwell- ing-house in 1876. Mr. Cannum was married in September, 1866. to Miss C. J. Smith of Mercer county, and they have four children living : one child is dead. The names of the living are: Addie May, aged fourteen ; Carrie E., aged thirteen : Lewis D., aged eleven : and Epl- riam, aged six years. Mr. C. and wife are members of the Christian church of Ohio Grove township. Mr. C. is politically a republican.
WM. McKEE. the subject of this sketch, and his brother Joseph, are
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the oldest settlers now living in Mercer township. They having lived in the township since 1841. The father of the McKee brothers bought the southeast quarter of section 28. from William J. Turner. the deed bearing date of May 20. 1840. Wm. McKee was born in Lawrence county. Ohio. March 9. 1829. He left Ohio with his parents at the age of six years, coming with them to Warren county. Illinois, where they stayed till 1841. when they moved to Mercer county. Mr. McKee has been a farmer all his life. and is unmarried. For several vears he has been director of school district No. 9, and politically is a democrat.
JOSEPH MCKEE was born in Lawrence county, Ohio. July 31. 1831. His parents were John and Nancy McKee. His parents settled in . Mercer county in 1841. since which time Mr. McKee has lived upon a farm. and has been a constant citizen of Mercer county. He enjoys. with his brother William. the distinction of being the only living pioneers of Mercer township. He was married July 8, 1858. to Miss Isabel A. Waddle. formerly of Marshall county. West Virginia. They have six children living : Ella J .. aged twenty : Sam- uel Elsie, aged fifteen : Orvill S .. aged eleven ; Roland H. ; Elsey Clyde. aged five : and Ralph Waldo, aged one year and a half. Mr. M. is a member of the Presbyterian church of Aledo, and politically is a republican.
CHARLES FREMONT CABEEN was born in Mercer county in 1851, being the second son of Thomas and Mary Cabeen. He spent the early portion of his life upon his father's farm and going to school. About the year 1879 he went to Aledo and for a time kept the Aledo House, and in connection with his brother. W. A., was engaged in an agricultural implement store. At the death of his father in 1880 lie took charge of the farm, which he still manages and controls. Politi- cally Mr. Cabeen is an independent democrat.
JAMES L. BENTLEY was born in Trumbull county. Ohio. February 27. 1832. and was the eldest son of Elim and Rachel (Dilley) Bentley. His father being a farmer. he was raised upon a farm. where his life was passed until his twenty-first year. He then emigrated to Mercer county and engaged in teaching school. at which occupation he con- tinned till eleven years had passed, mostly in Ohio Grove township, district No. 3. At the expiration of this time he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. in 1862 buying the place where he now resides, some three miles southeast of Aledo. This he has greatly improved and added to. and now, retired from active life to some extent, enjoys his well earned plenty. He was married September 23. 1853, to Miss Nancy Smith, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of
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Mercer county. He has three children : the eldest. Charles E .. twenty- four years of age. is engaged in teaching and farming. making his home at his father's; a daughter. Minnie E .. aged nineteen. and a son. George S .. aged fourteen. Mr. Bentley is a member of the masonic order. and by political faith is a republican.
MARTIN L. COFFLAND was born in Jefferson county. Ohio, February 11. 1851. being the youngest son of Launcelot and Eliza Coffland. Mr. Coffland spent his early life farming in Jefferson and Belmont counties, Ohio. In the year 1868 he came west. and worked upon a farm most of the time for ten years in Warren county. when he settled in Mercer county, where he now resides, five miles east of Aledo. He was married February 21. 1872. to Miss Phoebe J. Finley, of Warren county. and has three children: Mary Grace. aged seven years. Rose Anna, aged two. and Orion Finley. born April 10. 1852. Mr. Coffland and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church of Aledo. Mr. Coffland is a republican.
JACOB WILSON UNANGST was born in Warren county. New Jersey. May 13. 1819. Mr. Unangst passed his early life working on his father's farm. He left the farm and worked upon the Morris canal until 1845. when he was appointed as inspector of its west division. In this capacity he served till 1850, when he came to Mercer county and settled in Ohio Grove towhship, where he remained farming till April. 1882. He then bought the Bauer hotel in Aledo. over which he now presides, having changed its name to the Commercial House. Mr. Unangst was married in March. 1841. to Miss C. Gaston. of Warren county. New Jersey. and has three children. who are all grown and settled : Mrs. Margaret A. Pollock lives in Ringgold county. Iowa. and Daniel M., who is a carpenter by trade. resides in Aledo, making his home with his father.
SNOWDEN K. WHITE was born August 2. 1855. in Greene county. Pennsylvania. His parents' names were Isaac and Lydia (Tustin) White. His father was a millwright. Snowden K. came to Mercer county from Pennsylvania in 1877. where he soon started quite exten- sively in the ditching and house moving business. Starting with his brother. he at this time ran his business alone, and during the year 1881 cut over 50.000 rods of ditch in Mercer and Warren counties, and moved upward of fifty houses. Mr. White is altogether a self-made man. and though young is a man of weight and standing, which his energy and business talent deserve. He is a member of the Baptist church of Aledo. and a worker in the choir and Sabbath school. Politically he is a democrat.
JOSEPH LAIR was born in Fayette county. Indiana, in 1825. His
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
father was a river man, taking his first trip up the Mississippi by steam from New Orleans. The subject of this sketch lived upon the farm of his father during boyhood, and spent his life upon the farm. He set- tled upon the farm on which he still lives in Mercer county, on March 1, 1856. The land was raw prairie at that time, but is now one of the fine farms of the many in the county. Mr. Lair was married August 26, 1847, to Miss Sarah E. Rose, of Fayette county, Indiana, and has had four children : Mrs. Emily Alice, wife of Richard Lemon, Millers- burg township, now deceased; a son, William W., who lives on the next farm to his father; a daughter, Martha A., born in 1854, now deceased ; and a daughter, Flora Luellen, married to Mr. Roe Vincent, of Mercer township. Mr. Lair has for many years held the offices of road commissioner and school director. He is a member of the masonic order and a republican.
HENRY NESBITT. Mr. Nesbitt was born in Indiana county, Penn- sylvania, October 5, 1834. His parents were Jonathan and Mary (McClure) Nesbitt. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and onr subject passed most of his life upon a farm ; emigrating to Illinois in 1855, and settling in Mercer county in 1857. He bought the farm upon which he lives in 1871, and by hard work and energy made it what it now is, one of the best improved farms in the county. His dwelling is second to none in the county for comfort, style, and choice of location, standing as it does upon an eminence which commands a view of the country for miles around. Mr. Nesbitt was married in 1861 to Harriet Smith, of Mercer township, and has five children : Mary J., aged seventeen ; Lula, aged thirteen ; Minnie, aged nine; Myrtle, aged seven ; and Harry, aged one year. Mr. Nesbitt is direc- tor of school district No. 6, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Aledo, and politically is a republican.
JOSEPHI OSCAR LUNDBLAD was born in Sweden, December 4, 1823, and landed in New York September 20, 1852. He came west to Princeton, Illinois, and soon after moved to Rock Island, and finally settled in Aledo in 1869. He learned the shoemaker's trade in the old country, and has been engaged in the boot and shoe business ever since coming to America. He was married April 27, 1848, to Miss Sophia Gustaver, of Sweden, and they have three children living: George Oscar, aged twenty-three, who is in business with his father, and two daughters, Hilma Maria, aged twenty-one, and Hulda Chris- tina, aged eighteen. Mr. Lundbland is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church of Aledo, and for many years was an officer of that . church, and is also a member of the masonic and odd-fellows' orders. Politically he is a democrat.
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WASHINGTON BOONE, grocer, was born in Medina county, Ohio, February 22, 1837. His parents' names were Hezekiah and Sarah A. Boone. He left Ohio with his parents in 1848, they settling in Illinois, in the southern portion of which they lived for some two years, when in 1850 they moved to Mercer county. At that time there were not more than a dozen families in the township. The subject of this sketch was raised upon a farm, but learned the shoemaking trade, at which he worked for many years, when he embarked in trade, being now engaged in the grocery business. He was married February, 1867, to Miss Belinda Baxter, and they have had two children : Wm., aged fourteen, and Lois, aged twelve years. Mr. B. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically a republican ; he cast his first vote for John C. Fremont.
GEORGE A. WRIGHT, the only son of Horace E. and Harriet (Jewel) Wright, was born August 10, 1849, in Rock Island, Illinois, being the first male child born in that city. He has lived in Mercer county nearly all his life, attended common school, and spent most of his life upon a farm. The last five years he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. In February, 1882, he embarked in the flower and seed trade in Aledo. Politically he is a republican.
Hon. JOHN C. PEPPER was born in Cambridgeshire, England, Sep- tember 21, 1829. His parents were Charles A. and Susan Pepper. He left England when seven years of age with his parents in a sailing vessel, and after being seven weeks and three days out of sight of land landed in New York. His parents settled in Amboy, Oswego county, New York ; his father was a silversmith by trade. Mr. Pepper's boy- hood was passed at home with his parents until his sixteenth year, when he entered Vernon academy, at Vernon, New York, where he attended two years. He then went to the Wayne county institute, where he attended three summers, teaching school in the winter, until 1848, when his health failed to such a degree that he came west with no expectation of ever regaining it. He staid one year in Peoria, and then came to Mercer county, first settling in Keithsburg, where he was admitted to the bar. He then came to Aledo, where he has since remained in the practice of his profession. Mr. P. was married in January, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Martin of Mercer county, and they have four children living : Helen, married to Frank Martin, an attorney of Falls City, Nebraska, three other daughters, Bertha, Norma and Mabel being at home ; three children died when young. Mr. Pepper is the president of the Illinois state temperance union, and an active worker in the cause. By political faith he is a democrat.
WILLIAM B. FREW was born in 1829 in Allegheny county, Pennsyl-
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'vania. His father's name was David Frew, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Jordan. His father was a mechanic. Mr. F. spent his youth until his seventeenth year chiefly in attending the public schools and St. Clair academy. At the age of seventeen he began to teach the public school at Noblestown, Allegheny county, which occu- pation he alternated with attending college, first at Duquesne at Pitts- burgh, and afterward at Jefferson at Cannonsburg, till 1854, when he became principal of the South Pittsburgh public schools, where he remained one year. For four years, from 1855 to 1858, he was princi- pal of the Birmingham public school. In the summer of 1855 he made a trip west and bought the land which he subsequently improv- ed, which is situated in Greene township, Mercer county, five miles east of Aledo, and which he still owns. At the close of 1858, on account of ill health, he was obliged to resign his school and spent the summer of 1859 at the seashore trying to regain his health. In the spring of 1860 he came to Mercer county, and, after spending a year as tutor in a family, was elected to the office of county surveyor, which office he held for fourteen years. In 1879 he was appointed deputy county surveyor, which office he still holds. From 1862 to the present time he has been engaged in engineering, surveying and attending to his farm, which he uses chiefly for stock raising. He was married in 1870 to Miss Lydia J. Taylor of New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, at that time locating in the home he now occupies adjoining the town of Aledo. Mr. Frew is a member and a trustee of the United Presby- terian church of Aledo, and politically is a republican.
ALEXANDER M. Woons was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, in December, 1849. He came to Mercer county with his parents at the age of seven years. His parents settled on a farm about ten miles south of Aledo, where they remained about two years and then moved to Aledo. Mr. Woods attended the public schools, and learned the painter's trade, which occupation he still follows. With the exception of one year passed in the west, Mr. Woods has lived in Mercer county. He is a prominent man in musical circles. He has been leader of the Congregational church for nearly ten years. He was a member of the Aledo cornet band for several years, and was a member of the Woods Bros'. male quartette during the existence of that organization, and has been the recognized leader of vocal music of Aledo for many years. Politically he is a democrat.
C. F. THEDE, carriagemaker and blacksmith, was born in Ham- burg, Germany, in April, 1832. He landed in New York in 1852, and shortly afterward settled in Michigan, where he had relatives. In 1856.he moved to Rock Island and went into business. He lived
LORIMER JOHNSTON.
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there till 1870, when he came to Aledo, where he still remains, carry- ing on the carriage-making business with his son Christian. Mr. Thede was married in 1854 to Miss Laura Herbst, a native of Berlin, Prussia. They have had twelve children, ten of whom are living and two dead. Mr. Thede and wife are members of the United Presby- terian church of Aledo, and politically Mr. Thede is a democrat.
JESSE MARKEE was born in Allegany county, Maryland, in 1820; his father was a farmer. When Mr. Markee was a small child his parents moved to Muskingum county, Ohio, where they lived a few years. The elder Markee then moved to Behnont county, Ohio, and a few years after the subject of this sketch moved back to Muskingum county, upon the farm his father had occupied. Here he stayed till 1842, when he came west and stayed about a year and a half in Iowa, when he returned to Ohio. He remained in Ohio till 1853, when he came to Mercer county, Illinois, which was then very thinly settled. When in Iowa, about 1843, Mr. Markee witnessed, at an old trading house near Eddyville, the last treaty with the Indians, there being 2,700 red men present. Mr. Markee, though raised upon a farm, worked for about ten years at the carpenter trade. When he came to Illinois he bought 240 acres of land in Ohio Grove township, which he farmed till 1872, when he came to Aledo and engaged in buying and shipping stock. About 1875 Mr. Markee, together with Mr. Richey and Mr. Spicer, built the Aledo machine shops, and started to manufacture farm implements. He was afterward for several years engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Markee and Mr. Dunlap, while in the grocery business, bought the lot and put up the building known as Union Hall, together with its store rooms. Mr. Markee then went out of trade, and has since been engaged in looking after the interests of his farm. He was married in 1849 to Miss Sarah Bevin, of Mus- kingum county, Ohio, and they have had five children, the eldest of whom are dead. Of the living, Mary E. is married to Rev. M. C. Bolon, of Carthage, Illinois ; Nira L. is married to Prof. Silas Montz, of Dixon, Illinois ; and the youngest, a son, J. N. Markee, is employed in the drug store of Dr. Johnston, of Aledo. Mr. Markee is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church of Aledo; is a member of the masonic fraternity, and politically is a republican.
DR. GEORGE IRVIN was born December 25, 1825, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was the son of John and Mary (Young) Irvin. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and received an academic education. In 1852, he commenced reading medicine with Dr. Thomas Maybon, at Jacksonville, Pennsylvania, and attended lec- tures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from 1853 to 1855 ; 35
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taking his degree as M. D. in March of the latter year. After graduat- ing he practiced at Prospect, Butler county, Pennsylvania, for a year and a half; at Plumville, Indiana county, for over a year ; and at Jacksonville, where he had studied medicine, for about a year and a half. In May, 1859, he removed to Aledo, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice, enjoying the confidence and esteem of all. He owns and occupies one of the best and most commodious residences in town, and has surrounded himself and family with all the modern conveniences and luxuries. He also owns a large farm near town, besides other town property. He has been twice married, and has, by his first wife, four children : Anna, Frank, Jessie and George. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has been for many years a deacon or elder therein. As a physician and surgeon he holds a de- servedly high reputation throughout the country tributary to Aledo and among the brothers of his profession. He is the oldest resident physician in practice in Aledo.
Among the many citizens of other states who formerly resided in this county there are a few who desire to live over their early life by perusing the pages of this history, and of the number is JESSE W. McPHERREN, of Little Rock, Arkansas. IIe was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, February 1, 1847, and is the son of James McPher- ren, who still resides in this county. His father was born June 7, 1808, in Pennsylvania ; his mother, April 1, 1805, in Rockbridge county, Virginia. The family removed to Ohio Grove township, this county, in 1855. His mother died August 18, 1858, and was buried in the Candor cemetery, in that township, leaving a husband, four daughters and six sons. Jesse was educated in the public schools, principally at winter terms. His youth was spent in Grant county, In- diana, Mercer county, Illinois, and Muskingum county, Ohio, mostly on a farm, until the age of fifteen, when he enlisted in Co. K, 87th Ohio Vol. Inf., for three months ; was captured at the surrender of Harper's Ferry, Virginia, September 17, 1862 ; was paroled and returned to Ohio ; was discharged October 3, 1862. He returned to Mercer county, and spent the next summer on a farm near Aledo, and on No- vember 4, 1863, enlisted in Co. C., 11th Ill. Cav., at Quiney, Illinois, for three years ; joined his regiment in the rear of Vicksburg in the following December, and remained with it in Tennessee and Missis- sippi until the close of the war, when it was mustered out of the service at Springfield, Illinois, October 13, 1865. He is one of six of one family who served in the late war ; His father, James MePherren, en- listed in Co. A., 30th Ill. Inf., in 1861, and was discharged for disa- bility in 1862. His four brothers served as follows : James C., in Co.
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