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 65
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MOSES K. FLORY, wagon manufacturer, son of Jonas and Catharine Flory, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, March 1, 1832. In 1839, the family removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and located in what is now North Henderson township. For a few years after locating here his father ran a saw-mill, located on Pope creek. While operating this mill, he did work for the settlers for many miles around, his being the only mill from the eastern part of the county to the Mississippi. Moses received his education in an old log school-house that stood about a mile south of the residence of James Bridger. This building was one of those traditional structures, with a puncheon floor, clapboard roof. and hewn seats. In 1844 Moses, then a mere lad. went to Galena, Illinois, and worked a season in the lead mines. In 1848 he went to Ohio, and worked two years at carpentering, near Toledo. Returning in 1850, he began working his sister's farm, which he con- tinued three years. In 1854 he again resumed carpenter work in company with John Longley, of Rivoli township. In August, 1861, Mr. Flory enlisted in Co. A, 30th Ill. Inf., and was with that regiment in the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Donelson, Raymond, Jackson (Mississippi), Fort Gibson and Champion Hill. He was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862, and was taken to Memphis, where he was kept twenty-eight days, thence to Tuscaloosa. where he remained three months. after which he was removed to Macon. Georgia, where he was kept four months, and was then taken to Rich- mond, where he was paroled October 19, 1862, and sent to Washing-
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ton. thence to Springfield, Illinois, and from there to Benton barracks. St. Louis, whence he was sent to rejoin his regiment, at Memphis. During a part of his imprisonment, he was under the care of the notori- ous Captain Wirtz, whose name will go down as the archfiend of American history. After doing duty at Rock Island eight months. he was discharged. and again returned to his old home, having faithfully and bravely discharged the duty to which his country called him. In 1866 Mr. Flory located in Viola. where he built a wagon shop. Being naturally endowed with an inventive genius, he invented a revolving hay rake, upon which he received a patent in 1872. He began manufacturing for the wholesale trade in that year, and has no trouble in selling all he has the capacity to make. Mr. Flory is a prominent member of the A.F. A. M. lodge, No. 577, at Viola.
JOSEPH A. GODING, son of Amos and Lucinda Goding, was born near Farmington, Franklin county, Maine, February 2, 1848. He received his education in the public and state normal school at Farm- ington. graduating from the latter institution June 4. 1868. In October. 1869, he came to Chicago, and taught school six months near Dunton. in Cook county. In the summer of 1870 he came to Mercer county, and began teaching in the "Brickyard " school-house in New Boston township. He was married May 14, 1872, to Miss Sarah E. Noble, dangliter of E. J. Noble, one of the pioneer settlers of New Boston township. After his marriage he returned to his native state, and farmed two seasons on the old homestead, teaching in the winter. In 1874 he again returned to Mercer county, and was employed as princi- pal of the Millersburg public schools. He taught two years and three months in that village and then came to Viola, having been made principal of the schools in that village. After teaching two years he bought an interest in the dry goods firm of H. B. Frazier & Co .. and has been engaged in that business until the present time. The names of Mr. Goding's children in the order of their ages are as follows : Lena, Clara, Bertha, Della, and Maurice R. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in the fall of 1876.
VAN R. HARRIOTT was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1831. When he was ten years of age the family removed to Laporte county, Indiana, where they remained until 1846. In that year they removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and located near Norwood. Van worked on a farm in Greene township two seasons and then went to breaking prairie with an ox team, which he continued for several seasons. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Harriott, in company with a number of acquaintances, started across the plains with an ox team,
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and arrived at Pike's Peak in July, after a long, tedious journey. Soon after arriving there a company was formed. of which Mr. Harriott was a member, and the party began work in the mines. Not being fortu- nate in locating their claims, a part of the company returned to Illinois in September. In 1864 Mr. Harriott enlisted in the 140th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf .. which regiment enlisted for a hundred days. From Dixon they were sent to Springfield; thence to Memphis, where they did guard duty on the Memphis & Charleston railroad for about three months. At the expiration of that time the regiment came to Chicago. and from there were sent to Missouri, where they remained two weeks. after which they returned to Chicago and were mustered out. Mr. Harriott was married in 1852 to Miss Mary R. Frazier, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. The fruits of the union are four children : Jesse C. (now of Sherman county, Nebraska). Lillian A. (wife of .Frank E. Kitzmiller), Salina M .. and Arthur V. Mr. Harriott united with the Congregationalist elmurch in 1877, and is also a Mason, having been initiated into its mysteries in 1865, and has twice been master of the Viola lodge. In 1865 Mr. Harriott embarked in the dry goods and grocery business in Viola, in company with his brother-in-law, H. B. Frazier. In 1869 the firm dissolved, and Mr. Harriott entered the hardware and grocery business in the brick hotel building. In 1871 Mr. Harriott closed out his business and engaged in farming on land half a mile south of the village, which he had bought in 1868. During the years that followed he was engaged in various pursuits until the fall of 1880, when he again embarked in the dry goods and grocery business in company with M. K. Flory. He is now in the grocery business in company with John Ashenhurst, and the firm is doing a lucrative business. Mr. Harriott is the present postmaster at Viola, and discharges his duties in that capacity to the entire satisfaction of the people.
FRANCIS A., son of Henry and Sarah Hoagland. was born in New Bedford, Pennsylvania. April 5. 1838. In 1846 the family emigrated to Mercer county and located in Greene township. His father was the first justice of the peace in the township, and, with the exception of a few months, held the position until the time of his death, which occurred in 1880. Frank remained at home with his parents until September. 1861, when he enlisted in Co. G. 30th Ill. Inf. He was with that regiment during the battles of Belmont. Brittian's Lane, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Corinth, Grand Gulf. Champion Hill, Ray- mond, siege of Vicksburg, and in the Atlanta campaign. He states that during the siege of that city the picket lines were only about forty vards apart, and the boys in blue and those in gray exchanged remarks
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as familiarly as though they had been neighbors and friends instead of foes. He also participated in the battle of Jonesboro and many other severe skirmishes. He was discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in August, 1685, after which he returned home and resumed his labors on the farm. For many years after he was engaged in breaking prairie. He was married September 21, 1881, to Miss Jane A. Storey, and now resides on a farm he recently purchased in section 23 in Greene township.
JOHN W. McCREIGHT, son of Matthew and Elizabeth McCreight, was born in Adams county, Ohio, December 29, 1828. In 1851 Mr. McCreight came to Mercer county and located at Sunbeam. In 1854 he purchased land in Section 31, Greene township. In February of that year he was married to Miss Rebecca E. Nevius, daughter of William I. Nevius, one of the pioneers of Mercer county. It is sup- posed by the early settlers that Mrs. McCreight was the first white female child born in the county. The names of the children born to the couple are : Joel S., Walter E., William S., Henry A., Effie L. (deceased in her infancy), Lora N., and Louisa B. Mr. and Mrs. McCreight are members of the United Presbyterian church, having united with that organization early in life.
ROBERT GUTHRIE, son of Andrew and Susan Guthrie, was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, August 16, 1844. In 1849 the family emi- grated to Canada, where they remained until the fall of 1864, when they removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and settled in the southern part of Preemption township. He was married March 1, 1870, to Miss Isabella Stewart, a native of Scotland. . The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are as follows : Jennie S. (deceased), Susie A., Minnie B. (deceased), Andrew W., and Charles S. Mr. Guthrie is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1869 at Viola. He owns a fine farm of 350 aeres in sections 4 and 5 in Greene township.
ROBERT M. PINKERTON, son of Joseph and Violet (Scott) Pinkerton, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1841. In 1850 the family re- moved to Mercer county, and located on section 6 in Greene township. In 1859 Robert was afflicted with a severe attack of the gold fever, and consequently started for Colorado territory, with an ox team ; the party, consisting of several wagons and men, arrived at the foot of the Rocky mountains after a long, tedious journey of sixty-three days. Mr. Pinkerton first entered the Gregory mines, forty-four miles west of Denver, and joined in the great struggle for wealth. He remained in the mountains until the fall of 1862. During his stay there he traveled over the ground where Leadville now stands, little dreaming of the
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fabulous wealth hidden under his feet. On returning home he turned his attention to farming and coal mining on his father's farm, which he continued until 1863, when he bought a farm in section 5 and began business for himself. Mr. Pinkerton was married in 1863 to Miss Caroline J. Breckinridge, and is now father of six children : Archie M., Cecil, Guy, Robert C., Allie V., and Maggie Z. In 1877 he removed to Viola, and embarked in the grain and lumber business. Since that time his brother William joined him in business, and the firm pur- chased the elevator formerly owned by E. J. Morgan. Mr. Pinkerton is a member of the I.O.O.F., lodge No. 336, at Aledo, with which he recently united, and also a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, to which he has belonged since 1866. April 4, 1882, he was elected supervisor of the township, and being a man of excellent judgment will make an efficient officer.
MATTHEW B. KENNEDY, butcher, son of John and Margaret Ken- nedy, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1839. When ten years of age, the family emigrated to Morgan county, Ohio, where they resided until the spring of 1856, when they removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and bought land in sections 19 and 20 in Greene township. In 1857 the father died, leaving a family of four children, Brice being the eldest. The old gentleman was the first to be buried in the Viola cemetery. Brice remained at home with the family until May 3, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. F, 17th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was with that regiment at Fort Donelson. Shortly after this battle he was taken sick, and was sent to Cairo, Illinois, where he was detailed at the soldiers' home for a time, and then made provost-guard. He remained here about five months, when he again joined his regi- ment, then at Lake Providence, Louisiana. He went with the regi- ment to Vicksburg, and was again taken ill and sent to Memphis, where he remained about two weeks, when he and a friend stole away, got aboard of a boat and again joined the regiment. He was dis- charged November 3, 1863, and returned home and resumed his labors on the farm. He contracted heart-disease while in the service of his country, from which he has not yet recovered. Mr. Kennedy was married in 1866 to Miss Bell J. Carnahan, a native of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and is the father of six children, whose names, in the order of their ages, are as follows: Nannie A., Maggie L., David C., George M., John C., and Ralph W. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1859.
FRANK E. KITZMILLER was born in Mansfield, Ohio, July 19. 1848. When he was five years of age the family emigrated to Williams county, Ohio. Frank remained home with his parents until February
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22, 1863, when he enlisted in Co. B. 38th Ohio Vol. Inf .. and was with that regiment in the battles of Mission Ridge, Jonesboro, and Raleigh, also the Atlanta and Carolina campaigns, and the siege of Savannah. Mr. Kitzmiller came to Illinois in 1867, and located in Morris, where he remained until the spring of 1869. when he came to Viola and opened a paint shop. He remained in the painting business until 1879. when he was employed as clerk for the firm of H. B. Fra- zier & Co., in Viola. He was married June 7, 1870. to Miss Lillian Harriott, daughter of V. R. Harriott, of Viola. The names of his children. in the order of their ages, are as follows : Leland V. (deceased), Ray, Bert. and Harry. He is a member of the Congregational church with which he united in 1870. Also a member of I.O.O.F., lodge No. 236, at Aledo.
EDWIN T. CROSBY, son of Carlos and Emily Crosby, was born in Peoria, Illinois, October 21, 1847. When Edwin was two years of age the family removed to Pekin, Illinois, where his father was engaged in the drug and jewelry business until 1856, when he removed to Viola, and. in company with his brother. Delos, embarked in the dry goods and grocery business. The firm of Crosby Brothers was one of the first in the village. When Edwin was seventeen years of age his father died, and he was thrown upon his own resources to make his way in the world. He began clerking, and worked for different parties in that capacity until 1870, when he, in company with Martin Phares. now of Galesburg. embarked in the grocery business. He was made postmaster in that year and held the office until 1875. His business career has been one of success and prosperity. Although compelled to contend with many disadvantages, he has gradually worked to the top, and through his financial shrewdness and energy has placed him- self among the foremost business men of the county.
THOMAS LEARY, farmer. son of Dennis and Mary (Downey) Leary. was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 1822. When twenty years of age Thomas emigrated to Canada West, where he remained two years, after which he went to New York. After remaining one year in that state. during which time he worked in a brick-yard in Buffalo, he removed to Ohio, where he assisted in laying the track on the Sandusky & Mans- field railroad, which was the first road built in the state. In August, 1845, he turned his face westward and arrived in Chicago in the latter part of that month. At that time the city was but a struggling village. and little did he dream that he would live to see a great city of 600,000 inhabitants rise as if by magic on the ground that was then covered by water, rushes, and prairie grass. Mr. Leary worked three years on the Illinois canal. after which he went to Indiana, and remained about
WILLIAM STUART.
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ten years. In the fall of 1856 he came to Mercer county, and bought land in section 12, Greene township. Mr. Leary was married in 1848 to Miss Mary Dwyer, a native of Ireland, who died in 1864. The names of the children, in the order of their ages, are as follows : Mary A., Joseph P., Daniel (deceased), Catharine, Cornelius (deceased). John, Bridget, and Ellen. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church, with which he united very early in life. Mr. Leary is one of the leading farmers in the township, and is highly respected by the entire community. He furnishes an example of energy, resolution, and hard labor; of how a young man with nothing but a pair of strong hands and a firm will may carve himself a heritage and a good name.
WILLIAM M. PINKERTON, dealer in lumber and grain, son of Joseph and Violet (Scott) Pinkerton, was born near Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1828. When twenty years of age William came to Mercer county. In the winter of 1848-9 he made his home with Judge Gil- more and taught school in that district. In the spring of 1849 he bought land in section 16, in Greene township, and began farming. He was present at the organization of the township in 1854, and remained in the township until 1877, when he removed to Mercer township and located on land he had bought in 1856. Mr. Pinkerton was married October 30, 1850, to Miss Eliza Carnahan. The Carna- han family have been in the United States since 1770, when the grand- father of Mrs. Pinkerton emigrated to the "new world" and located in Adams county, Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the war of the revolution. Mrs. Pinkerton's father was born February 2, 1792, in Allegheney county, Pennsylvania. The names of Mr. Pinkerton's children, in the order of their ages, are : Willard S., John Ward (deceased), James and Julian (both deceased), Mary L. (deceased). Maria M., Alice M., Abraham L., and Jennie V. Willard married a daughter of Jeremiah Boyer, and the eldest living daughter, Maria, married John Neff, now a resident of Bayard, Iowa. Mr. Pinkerton is a member of the Congregational church, with which he united in 1875 in Aledo. In 1862 Mr. Pinkerton enlisted in the 83d Ill. Inf. and was with the regiment when it made the gallant fight in defense of Fort Donelson. The last eighteen months of his service was spent in detached service in a corps of topographical engineers connected with the headquarters of Gen. Thomas, at Nashville. During his absence Mrs. Pinkerton took charge of financial affairs at home and conducted them skillfully and successfully. On his return he entered more largely into stock raising, and success has ever attended his efforts. He has one of the finest farms in Mercer county and is now enjoying
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
the fruits of his toil. In November, 1881, Mr. Pinkerton removed to Viola, where, in company with his brother Robert, he entered the grain and lumber business, having purchased the elevator owned by other parties, and the firm of Pinkerton Brothers are doing an exten- sive grain and lumber business.
Dr. EBENEZER L. McKINNIE, physician, was the son of Ebenezer and Ruhamah McKinnie, and was born in the village of Cadiz, Harri- son county, Ohio, February 24, 1848. The family resided in that county until 1856, when they emigrated to Ogle county, Illinois, where they remained about nine months, and then removed to Millersburg, Mercer county, where they resided a year and removed to Crawfords- ville, Iowa. Ebenezer received his education in the high school at that place and immediately after completing his studies he began teaching in the adjacent country, which he continued until 1869, when he came to Viola and began a course of medical study in the office of his brother, Dr. P. L. McKinnie, now of Moline. In 1871 he purchased the stock of drugs owned by Park & McKinnie and embarked in that business. In 1880 he received his diploma from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, and began the practice of medicine at Viola, where he has since had a very lucrative practice. The doctor was married in October, 1870, to Miss Mary E. Moore, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, having united with that society at Crawfordsville, Iowa, in 1865.
OLIVER ELLIS, farmer, son of Manoah and Deidema Ellis was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1808. The family on the father's side are of English origin, his great grandfather having emi- grated from that country at an early day and located on Cape Cod. He had five sons, one of whom was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch who spent his younger days on the sea. When Oliver was six years of age his father emigrated to Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Here Oliver resumed his education in a log school house two miles distant from his father's cabin. Mr. Ellis was married in 1830 to Miss Mary Hill, a native of Pennsylvania. The pair had four children born to them, namely : James, Olive (now Mrs. Wilson), Calkins, Phæbe (wife of Jerry Mathews), and Amelia (wife of George Griffin), who re- cently died from injuries sustained from being kicked by a horse. In 1850 Mr. Ellis emigrated to Illinois and bought land in section 12 in Greene township. For many years he performed his labors with oxen. By hard labor and economy he has accumulated a respectable portion of the world's goods to maintain him in his declining years.
RUSSELL PARK, farmer, son of John H., and Elizabeth (Gottshall) Park, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, October
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23, 1831. His father was born in Pennsylvania August 19, 1803. He and his wife were both members of the old school Presbyterian church and their remains now lie in the cemetery at Farlow's Grove. The old gentleman was at one time a merchant in Milton, Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, but in 1839 decided to try his fate on the broad prairies of the west. Hle accordingly loaded his earthly possessions into a country wagon and set out on his journey toward the setting sun, arriving in Mercer county in August of that year, and bought a claim near Edwards river for $150, erected a cabin thereon and began the laborious task of improving his farm. By the aid of his sons he had accumulated and was, at the time of his death, the owner of 520 acres of land. The first coal known in the county was discovered on his farm, in 1840, and in 1845 he began to develop a mine. The Farlow's Grove postoffice was removed to his residence in an early day, and he was the first postmaster in Greene township, which position he held until the office was established at Viola. Russell Park when twenty-one years of age purchased eighty acres of land from his father in the S. W. } of Sec. 3, built a house. and was married November 17, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander and Margaret Henry. They are parents of the following named children : James, Russell, Mary, Elizabeth, Maggie, William A., Joseph D., Mary, Emma, Rachel, William Henry, John Alexander, and Julia E .; of the these William A., John A., Mary E., and Joseph D., are dead. James is married to Miss Agatha Budlier, and Maggie to Stephen Farwell of Preemption township. In 1865 Mr. Park sunk a coal shaft near his house, and in 1873 a second shaft, opening up a four-foot vein of very fine coal, from which he has taken as high as 50,000 bushels per year. Mr. Park has increased the original size of his farm to 300 acres, which he and his son carry on in connection with his coal business. He is a member of the masonic order, and with his wife united with the old school Presbyterian church. Miss Elizabeth Collins was his first school teacher. Without any educational advan- tages more than was afforded by the district school, he has made him- self an intelligent and successful business man. He has been four times elected to the office of supervisor, and was recently appointed to fill the place of the incumbent, who is about to remove. Mr. Park is a man of worth in the community; kind, sociable and fair in his dealings, he is respected by all.
WILLIAM STUART (deceased), the subject of this sketch, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, in 1814. In 1844, he came to America. making the voyage from Liverpool to New Orleans in a sailing vessel. From New Orleans he came up the river to New Boston,
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thence eastward across the country. Being attracted by the fertile prairies of what is now Suez township. he purchased a claim and located on section 19. Mr. Stuart was married in 1846, to Miss Jane Patterson, also a native of county Donegal, Ireland. Three sons were born to the couple. all of whom are living. and whose names, in the order of their ages. are as follows: Joseph. A. C., and Amzi. The subject of this sketch died August 6, 1881. of dropsy of the heart. The funeral ceremonies were performed at his residence, and the remains interred in the Norwood cemetery. The large tract of land accumulated by the deceased, during his industrious life, is now under the supervision of his worthy sons.
GEORGE L. F. ROBINSON, attorney and teacher, son of William C. and Fanny (Bouene) Robinson. was born in Stockbridge, Berkshire county. Massachusetts, September 27th, 1832. His father had, in his younger days, been a teacher by profession, having been a precepter in the Attleboro academy, Massachusetts. He removed from there to Rutland county, Vermont, in about the year 1810, and engaged in the manufacturing business and continued about four years, and subse- quently removed to, and remained in, the birth place of the subject of this sketch. who. having received the advantage of a New England academical education, commenced teaching among the Berkshire hills, when a mere youth, and having had the advantages of parents highly accomplished in both music and literature, and also inheriting a gift of nature in that direction, early sought, with precocious intention, the favored vocations, for which he seems to have been so admirably adapted. Coming to Illinois when the school system of the west was in its infancy, he has for long years been prominently identified with those interests, and having enjoyed first grades from every superin- tendent in the county. also having acquitted himself with great credit in adjoining counties, and although a pioneer teacher, is live, progres- sive. and awake to the advancement that has, and is being made, in our present admirable school system. When the war broke out, Prof. Robinson, although denied the privilege of becoming a soldier, was none the less active in furthering, by every means in his power, the triumph of right over wrong, as his record fully shows. It is no won- der, when we see his standing on the superintendent's record. that his services are being sought in this and adjoining counties, where he is teaching for the third term with the same success that has ever attended his effort.
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