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 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
On April 1, 1881, the Rev. I. T. Whitmore responded to a call from the congregation and entered upon his duties as pastor. This gentleman still has charge of the congregation.
On December 3, 1880, the name of the church was changed from North Henderson to Norwood. The present memberseip is 206. Since the organization of the congregation, four hundred and fifty-four names have been added to the list of membership. The names of the elders who have been successfully chosen by the congregation are as follows : James Boggs, R. W. Porter, and S. R. Boggs were elected on July 7, 1855 ; James C. Stewart, elected November 19, 1855 ; James C. Postlewaite, elected November 19, 1855; Robert Woods was elected January 18, 1860; Joseph B. Stewart, elected January 18. 1860;
634
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Robert Holloway, elected December 26, 1869: J. B. Laferty and M. S. Campbell were chosen in September, 1879.
THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
The society of the above name was organized December 20, 1873. by the Rev. P. R. Adams. The first trustees were : H. R. Peters. George W. Sedwick, and John Mclaughlin. Their church building was erected in the summer of 1875. The building and grounds cost- ing fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. The building was dedicated August 6 of the same year by the presiding elder, N. A. Walker. The membership at the time of organization numbered thirty-six, but now numbers only ten.
The present pastor is the Rev. Orin Dilley, who is located at Alexis. Warren county. The building is situated on section 10.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1875 a number of citizens of the above persuasion, with the liberal assistance of the enterprising people of other denominations. erected a neat church building two miles west of Suez postoffice. The building is 36×40 in size, and stands on the N. E. } of Sec. S.
Owing to the weakness of the society, no regular pastor is employed by them. The membership at present numbers ten.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
GEORGE A., son of Christian and Catharine Shearer, was born in Herkimer county. New York. April 17, 1828. When sixteen years of age the family came to Licking county, Ohio, where they resided nine years. In 1853 they removed to Moultrie county, Illinois, and remained one year, after which they went to Stark county, remaining until 1859, when they came to Mercer county, where they bought land in section 18, Suez township. The father died in June, 1861. The subject of this sketchi was first married, August 24, 1852, to Miss Sarah A. Whitten, who died in the winter of 1861. He was again married. May 27, 1862. to Miss Sarah J. Morgan. The names of his children are as follows: Mary C., Margaret H., Anna B., Fannie R., Cora B., Sadie (deceased), Nellie R., Blanche E., Fred. M., and George (). Of these the two former are by his first wife. Mr. Shearer now resides on the S. W. } of Sec. 17, which he purchased in 1865.
DAN. W., son of Washington and Elizabeth Sedwick, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1834. When twelve years of age he went to Lawrence county, where he was engaged two years as clerk in a dry goods and grocery store. At the end of that
635
SUEZ TOWNSHIP.
time he went to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he remained one year and a-half, where he was engaged in farming and sheep-driving. From here he returned to the town of Mercer, in Pennsylvania, where he was employed as turnkey in the county jail under Sheriff Mckean, in which capacity he aeted about six months, after which he went to Crawford county and located at Steuben, on Oil creek, where he remained a few months and then went to Centerville, where he remained about five years, doing general work around a store and saw- mill. In 1855 he emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, and located at Bridger's Corners. During the two following years his time was occu- pied alternately in teaching and clerking. On September 3, 1857, Mr. Sedwiek was married to Miss Frances A. Bridger, a native of Troy, New York, and daughter of Henry Bridger, one of the pioneer settlers of the county. The fruits of the union are six children, whose names in the order of their ages are as follows: Ida E., Cora A .. Henry D. (deceased), Edwin E., Bertram B., and Fannie M. In the spring of 1857 he was appointed postmaster at Pope Creek, which position he held until 1870. In the same year he purchased the stock of goods owned by his employers and embarked in business for him- self. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted as a private in Co. E. 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. When the company was organized he was elected first lieutenant, and on April 28, 1863, to the position of captain. In 1865 he received the following letter from the secretary of war :
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 19. 1865.
SIR,-You are hereby informed that the President of the United States has appointed you, for gallant and meritorious conduct during the war, a major of volunteers by brevet in the service of the United States, to rank as such from the 13th day of March, 1865. Should the senate at their next session advise and consent thereto, you will be commissioned accordingly.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Brevet-Major Dan. W. Sedwick, U. S. Vol.
No further comment is necessary concerning the bravery and fidelity with which he served his country. In 1866 Mr. Sedwick was elected to the legislature, where he represented his district for a terni of two years. In 1870 he sold out his store, purchased a farm south of Bridger's Corners, and since that time has devoted his entire atten- tion to tilling the soil. He is a member of the Mercer Country Agri- cultural Board, and during the year 1879 acted as president of that body. He is also president of the Soldiers and Sailors' Association, of Mercer county.
LORIMER JOHNSTON, a portrait of whom appears in this book, son of Andrew and Mary Johnston, was born in Richland county, Ohio, No- vember 20, 1820. He resided in that county until 1850, in which year
.
636
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
he went to California. crossing the plains with a wagon and a mule team. He located on the Middle Fork of the American river and there engaged in mining in company with his brother, William. After having accumulated a considerable amount of wealth his brother started back to their native state, but died on the way of " Panama fever," and their hard earnings stolen from his person after death. In the spring of 1852. Lorimer returned to Ohio and remained until 1857, when he came to Mercer county. In 1864, he bought land in section 13. Suez township. Hle now owns a farm of 415 acres. the results of economy and industry. Mr. Johnston was married July 3, 1849, to Miss Hannah Hayes, a native of Guernsey county, Ohio. The fruit of this union are five children, William S .. Park R., Michael II., Flora M. (deceased), and Laura A.
THOMAS LIKELY, whose portrait appears in this book, son of William and Agnes (Taylor) Likely, was born January 29, 1823, in Hunting- don county, Pennsylvania. The family on both the father and mother's side are of Irish origin. His father came from Ireland in 1791 and located in the Tuscarora valley. He had six sons and five danghters. Of these Thomas is the youngest but one. He was raised a farmer, assisting his father perform his labors. He was married September 26, 1844. to Miss Diana A. Doyle, also a native of Hunting- don county. The fruits of this union are ten children, whose names in the order of their ages, are as follows: Ann E. (deceased), Agnes J. (now the wife of E. L. Simpson, of Ringgold county, Iowa), Martha B. (wife of J. C. Foster, of the same county), William D. (deceased in infancy), Henry T. (deceased), Thomas D. (now residing in Buena Vista county, Iowa), Lyman L .. Samuel R. (also of Buena Vista county, Iowa), William M., and Mary J. For about three years he was engaged in landing general merchandise in Trough creek valley, Huntingdon county. In the spring of 1850 he came to Pike county, Illinois, and remained until fall, after which he went to La Salle by boat ; after arriving here he set out on foot to find a suitable place to locate. He traveled in this manner over Lee, Henry, Whiteside, Ogle, Bureau and La Salle counties, and failing to find a place to suit his taste, he came to old Mercer and bought land in the N. E. ¿ Sec. 32, in Suez township. In 1858 he was elected justice of the peace. At the beginning of the war he received authority from Adjutant-Gen- eral Fuller to organize a company, which he did in seven days, and was chosen captain. The company was afterward attached to the 102d Ill. Inf., and known as company E. He remained with that regiment until April, 1863, when he resigned on account of disabilities, and was succeeded by D. W. Sedwick. In the winter of 1863 he was elected
637
SUEZ TOWNSHIP.
major of the regiment by vote of the regimental officers. In 1873 he was elected county judge, in which capacity he served four years.
HARISON BROWN, whose portrait appears in this book, son of Samuel and Henrietta Brown, was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, March 17, 1808. When eight years of age his father removed to Breckenridge county, Kentucky, and remained until the fall of 1834, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in North Henderson town- ship, Mercer county. In the spring of 1836 he-bought land in section 1, Suez township, where he has since resided. Being one of the pioneers he has encountered all of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. By hard labor and economy he has accumulated a large property and in his declining years he is enjoying the fruits of his toil. He was married in the fall of 1830 to Miss Martha Greenwood. a native of Vir- ginia. Nine children are the fruits of this union, whose names are as follows : Mary 'A., Samuel (deceased), Thomas, Floyd (deceased), Sally, Benjamin, Peter, and Isabel. His second son, Thomas, was a member of Capt. Sedwick's company in the 102d Ills. Inf.
ASA W. RANSOM, another of the pioneers, son of James and Phoba Ransom, was born in the town of Camillus, Onondaga county, New York, May 6, 1818. When seventeen years of age he turned his face toward the setting sun and started to Illinois by way of Buffalo and Ashtabula, thence by stage across the state of Ohio to Wellsville. From here he went by steamboat to Cairo, then up the Mississippi, landing at New Boston, June 10, 1837. On the following day he, in company his brother, started on foot toward the eastern part of the county and located on N. W. # of Sec. 3, in Suez township. In the fall he returned to Ohio, remaining until the spring of 1838. On his return he came as far as Michigan with his uncle and walked from there to Mercer county, a distance of about 300 miles. He states that at that time settlements were as high as sixty miles apart. He stopped for a short time in Chicago, and while there was offered a lot on Washington street in payment for a month's work. Mr. Ransom was married in February, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth S. Edwards, a native of Kentucky. The names of their children, in the order of their ages are as follows : Althea F., Charlora C., Chester L., Adra- enna, Marcilla C., Vesta, Asa S., and Olive. In 1866 Mr. Ransom removed to Chicago and engaged in the commission business. Hle remained in the city four and a half years, during which time his chil- dren availed themselves of the excellent educational advantages the city affords. In the spring of 1870 he returned to his farm in Suez town- ship, and, excepting a few months, has resided there since that time. Mr. Ransom arrived in Illinois with nothing in the way of worldly
638
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
wealth, but by hard labor and judicious management he has become one of the largest land owners in the county. He furnishes an exam- ple of pluck and perseverance, which the rising generation would do well to follow.
WILLIAM, son of Jefferson and Tabitha Fuller, was born in Millers- burg township, Mercer county, October 27, 1843. He remained at home until July 26, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. II, 84th Ill. Inf., and was with that regiment until June 9, 1865. He received a wound at the battle of Stone river, from the effects of which he was confined in the hospital eleven months. He was married February 20, 1867, to Miss Joanna Brown, a native of Ohio. The names of his children are Elmer and Edgar C.
JAMES W. PAGE, son of James and Susan S. Page, was born in Sussex, England. December 15, 1840. In 1841, the family emigrated to America, and located at Hudson, Summit county, Ohio. In August, 1856, he came to Mercer county. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 30th reg. Ill. Inf., and remained in the service of his country until August, 1864, when he was discharged. On the bottom of his discharge we find the following :
" Private James W. Page has sustained an unblemished character in the army: has been a faithful soldier, and is entitled to the gratitude of his adopted country and the confidence of all.
Signed, CHARLES TURNER, Colonel, 108th Ill. Vol."
December 20, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie E. Bridger, daughter of Henry Bridger, one of Mercer county's pioneers. Five children are the fruit of this union, four of whom death has claimed as his victims ; Nina G. alone remains to brighten the home. Mr. Page is now located at Suez, engaged in the grocery business. He has many friends, and is highly respected by all.
ANDREW TRASK was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1813. When thirteen years of age he experienced a desire to go to sea. and accord- ingly obtained a position on the Trident, of New Bedford, and was on the ocean three years, being most of that time on the Pacific. He was married in 1845, to Miss Ellen Weld, who died in eighteen months after their marriage. He was again married in 1848, to Miss Lucinda Ramsey. The names of his children are as follows: Edward, Harriet, Lucina, and George. His second wife died in 1862. Mr. Trask came to Mercer county in 1850, and located on section 16. Suez township, where he still resides.
THOMAS, son of Thomas and Martha (Wilson) Spicer, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 2, 1823. The Spicer family are of English, and the Wilson of Irish, origin. Mr. Spicer was married in
.
639
SUEZ TOWNSHIP.
1846, to Miss Rebbecca D. Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Spicer was born December 15, 1828. The names of the children born to the couple are as follows: Oliver W., born October 26, 1848, in Ohio ; Mary C., born August 30, 1851. in Ohio : James C., born December 9, 1854, in Ohio, and Thomas II., born June 9, 1858, in Illinois. In 1856, Mr. Spicer came to Warren county, Illinois, where he remained until 1859, when he removed to Mercer county, and. located on section 8, in Suez township.
WILLIAM A., son of John and Grizelle (Stewart) Lafferty, was born in Suez township, December 13, 1850. The log cabin in which he was born, still stands, and is situated near his present residence. He was married in 1870, to Miss Mattie Edie, a native of Kentucky. The names of their children are as follows: John H., George G., Minnie. William L., Charles, Harry A., and Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Lafferty are members of the United Presbyterian church.
Jonx B., son of William and Louisa Lafferty, was born in Suez township, Mercer county, Illinois, October 19, 1847. He was married August 30, 1870, to Miss Ada A. Brownlee, daughter of D. S. Brown- lee, Esq., of Suez township. The fruits of this union are five children, whose names are as follows : Harry S., Maggie L., Annie M., William E., and Olive C. Mr. Lafferty owns a fine farm of 320 acres, situated on sections 15 and 27. Hle and Mrs. Lafferty are both members of the United Presbyterian church, with which they united in 1867.
MATTHEW S., son of John and Mary Campbell, was born in Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, December 27. 1848. The family are of Scotch-Irish decent, the early ancestors having fled to Ireland during the covenanters' rebellion. In 1863 Mr. Campbell came to Illinois, and located in Warren county, near the Mercer and Warren county line. A few years after he removed to Suez township and located on section 26. He was married in 1866 to Miss Annie Watt, a native of MitHin county, Pennsylvania. The names of their children are as follows : Willie R. (deceased), Clyde R., and Clarence W.
WILLIAM F., son of Arthur and Hannah (Postlewaite) Graham, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, March 13. 1833. In 1839 the family came to Warren county, and located near Little York. Mr. Graham's early days were spent in the wilderness, and roaming through the trackless forest constituted the amusements of his boyhood. Hle was married in 1858 to Miss Margaret Hutchison, also a native of Pennsylvania. The names of their children are as follows: Mildred L .. Mary II., Arthur II., Daniel HI., Maggie E., and Mattie E.
JAMES R., son of Henry and Jane (Latta) MeLaughlin, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. Ilis family are of Scotch and
640
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Irish origin, and came to this country at a very early date ; his grand- father, John Latta, served as major in the revolutionary war. He was married in January, 1850, to Miss Jane Lossell, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio; she died May 15, 1862. In 1864 he married Miss Louisa Sedwick, a sister of Captain Sedwick, of Suez township. The names of his children, in the order of their ages, are as follows: Oscar. Eliza J .. Ella, Amanda, Charlie, Maggie, Alice, Lewis, Dora, and Roy. The five latter are by the second wife. In 1854 Mr. MeLaughlin came to Illinois and bought land in section 2, in Suez township. He now owns about a section of land in Mercer county, and 160 acres in Iowa, situated about twenty miles north of the city of Davenport. Mrs. McLanghlin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Mclaughlin started out in life without anything to aid him, but by perseverance and an untiring energy, he lias made his life a success. He has many friends and is highly respected wherever known.
WILLIAM H., son of James A., and Anna Simpson, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1835. He was reared a farmer, and followed that pursuit until April 19, 1861, ten days after Fort Sumter was fired on, when he responded to the call of the gov- ernment and enlisted in Co. H. 15th Pa. Inf., acting as second lieu- tenant. At the expiration of three months, the time for which the regiment was enlisted, he returned home and remained until August, 1862, when he raised a company, which was attached to the 125th Pa., and designated as Company F. In the battle of Antietam he was struck by a fragment of a shell which made a severe flesh wound in the side of his face. He was discharged in June, 1862, and returned home. He was married in December, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Smith also a native of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. The names of the children in the order of their ages are as follows : Carrie, Charles E., Archie E., Mary E., Earl and Pearl, who are twins. In the spring of 1865 he emigrated to Mercer county and located on the S. E. + of sec. 28, Suez township. Mr. Simpson and his family are kind and hospitable. Their home is a happy one, and we hope the future through whose misty veil none can see may smile as brightly upon him and his loved ones as the past has done.
JOHN A., son of William and Martha Marrow, was born in Guern- sey county, Ohio, December 8, 1828. He was reared a farmer. When twenty-three years old he left his native county and went to Eldorado county, California, where he remained about five years, during which time he was engaged in mining and various occupations. In the spring of 1856 he returned to Ohio, and in the spring of the following year came to Mercer county, Illinois, and located on section 32 in Greene
-
641
SUEZ TOWNSHIP.
township. In January, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G. 30th Ill. Inf., and was with that regiment at Fort Donelson, Siege of Corinth, Brit- tain's Lane, Raymond, Champion Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, and Kene- saw Mountain. He was taken prisoner at Peach Tree Creek, and was in the hands of the enemy about two months, when he was exchanged. He was discharged January 22, 1865. In 1869 he opened a coal mine on his farm in Greene township.
The producing capacity of which is forty thousand bushels a year. In 1870 he removed to his farm in section 5, in Suez township. Mr. Marrow was married in 1865 to Miss Mary Ogden, a native of Fountain county, Indiana. The names of his children in the order of their ages are as follows : Samuel O., John W., Mary J. (deceased), and Estella. He and his wife are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church.
HENRY BRIDGER. A portion of the early ancestors of the Bridger family were driven from France during the religious persecution. The other branch of the family came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, and cast their lot in England. One of the descendants of this family was Henry Bridger (deceased), who was born in Sussex county, England, near the town of Hastings, October 25. 1798. In October, 1820, he came to America and located in Albany; after re- maining a year he went to Troy. He was married in that city to Elizabeth Terrey, October 7, 1822. Miss Terrey was a native of Suf- folk county, Long Island. In the spring of 1836. Mr. Bridger emi- grated to Mercer county, Illinois. In November of that year he entered a claim on the N. E. { of Sec. 35, Greene township. In June, 1841, he removed to Suez township and bought land in section 2, where two of his sons now reside. The names of his children, in the order of their ages, are as follows: William H., Mary E., Julia M., Barbara A. (deceased), Henry T., Frances A. (wife of Hon. D. W. Sedwick, of Suez), James C., Philip T. (now residing in Chari- ton county, Missouri), and Annie E. (wife of James Page, of Suez). The death of the father occurred December 17, 1873, and he was buried in the family burying ground, situated on the N. E. ¿ of Sec. 2.
GEORGE M. EVANS, son of George D. and Mary (McCague) Evans. was born in Ripley, Ohio, March 9, 1830. Left an orphan at an early age, he was reared by relatives in Adams county. At the age of sev- enteen he began attending school at South Salem, where he remained about two and a half years. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty he taught school about six months. He was married June 22, 1853, to Miss Ruhama MeIntire, a native of Adams county. Shortly after his marriage he embarked in the mercantile business in Ripley, which he continued until the spring of 1355, when he came to Mercer
642
HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
county, Illinois. In the fall of that year he engaged in business at Norwood; since that time he opened a store in Aledo. In 1880 he removed to his farm northwest of Norwood, his business being con- ducted by his partner. His first wife died December 1, 1854. IIe was again married February 19, 1863, to Miss Barbara J. Allison, a native of Pennsylvania, who died December 23. 1873. His third
marriage occurred June 6, 1876, Miss Mary W. Carson, a native of Ireland, being the next connubial partner. Mr. Evans has two children living, both of whom were born to him by his second wife. Their names. in the order of their ages. are as follows: Mary E., aged eighteen, and Robert A., aged sixteen years. He is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1853 at Ripley, Ohio. Mr. Evans is a man of kindly manner, and the stranger being thrown upon his hospitality is treated with great courtesy.
JOHN LAFFERTY, whose portrait appears in this book, son of John and Ann Lafferty, was born July 28. 1816, in Trumbull county, Ohio. In the spring of 1840, he, in company with his brother, William, emi- grated to Illinois and bought land in the N. E. ¿ Sec. 21, Suez town- ship. Mr. Lafferty was married June, 1843, to Miss Grizell Stewart, a native of Indiana. The fruits of the union are eight children, whose names are as follows : James II., Harriet A., Nancy A., William A., Jolin S., Susan E., and Mary E. He is a member of the United Pres- byterian church, with which he united in 1850. Mr. Lafferty is spoken of by his neighbors as an excellent citizen, and possesses the love and esteem of all. A spirit of liberality has ever chacterized his actions, and to all charitable. educational, and religious purposes he has given with a willing hand.
JOIN MAUK, son of Peter and Catharine Mauk, was born in 1814, in the picturesque valley of the Shenandoah, Virginia. His father, Peter Mank, was born January 4, 1775. His family are of German origin. For many years Mr. Mauk was employed as an engineer on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. In 1836 he emigrated to Warren county, Illinois. In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Amerett Tinkham, a native of Windom county, Vermont. The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are as follows : Martha A., Benja- min (deceased in his fourteenth year), Mary E., Anna L., Alice, Peter, George B. In 1838 he came to Mercer county, and settled in Suez township. In 1841 he removed to Davenport, Iowa, and was em- ployed as an engineer on the ferry boat plying between the cities of Davenport and Rock Island. In 1841 he returned to his farm in Suez township. He was for several years engaged in the dry goods business
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.