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 66
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JOSEPH PINKERTON, farmer, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, Jannary 9, 1798. His father, William Pinkerton, was also a native of that state. Ilis mother's maiden name was Hannah Kennedy, also of
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Pennsylvania. His grandfather. William, was a native of London- derry. Ireland : his grandmother on his father's side was Elizabeth Criswell. also of Pennsylvania. The maiden name of his grand- mother Kennedy. was AAgnes McMahon, a native of Scotland. and his grandfather Kennedy was from Tyrone. Ireland. When the subject of this sketch was twenty-eight years old his parents removed to Trum- bull county. Ohio, and there his father died. at the age of eighty-two. and his mother. in her eightieth year. He purchased a farm in the town of Berzetta, in Trumbull county, and was married in Howland. in March 23. 1827. to Miss Violet Scott. a native of Chester county. Here he bad twelve children born to him. Their names, in the order of their ages, are : William M .. James S., Hannah L. (wife of Joseph Carnahan). John C .. Jane G. (wife of Richard Cabeen). Mary E. (wife of Robert Cabeen). George W .. Robert M .. Alice L. (wife of Hiram Dunlap). Thirza A. (wife of Newton Dunlap). Margaret R. (deceased in her fourteenth year), and Amanda V. (wife of Otis Morey). All of this number came to Illinois by teams. in 1850, and only the eldest daughter has removed from Mercer county, she being in Kansas. In Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton were connected with the Presbyterian church, and subsequently in Illinois, but that organization becoming extinct, they united with the Methodist church, at Viola. This ven- erable couple are widely known in Mercer county. and possess the respect of all. With them. the shadows of life are lengthening toward the east. and when the hour comes for them to lie down by the wayside. there will be many other mourners besides the sons and daughters they have reared. and to whom they leave a noble example.
JOHN C. PINKERTON. farmer. son of Joseph and Violet (Scott) Pink- erton, was born in Trumbull county. Ohio. September 27. 1833. In 1850 the family emigrated to Illinois, and located in Greene township. Mercer county. Mr. Pinkerton received his education in a district school. IIe remained at home. assisting his father on the farm, until twenty-one years of age. when he began breaking prairie with an ox team. which oc ation he followed for about five years. In 1-56 he bought eighty acres of land in sections 5 and 8. and began farming for himself. He remained here until 1875. when he purchased the farm formerly owned by D. Y. Cowden in section 17. By hard labor and good management he has accumulated 200 acres of excellent land and a beautiful home. Mr. Pinkerton was married in the spring of 1559 to Miss Mary J. Jackson, a native of Pennsylvania. The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are: Herbert W .. Robert G .. William J .. John S .. and Raymond. He is a prominent member of
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the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1870, having formerly been a Methodist.
JOHN C. GARDNER, farmer, son of Richard and Sarah Gardner, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1846. When John was seven years of age the family emigrated to Illinois, and located near Oxford, Henry county. He remained at home and assisted his father on the farm until March 23, 1864, when he enlisted in Co. C, 112th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was sent to join that regiment at Kene- saw mountain. He was with the regiment during the Georgia cam- paign. The regiment moved from Atlanta to Decatur, where they re- mained ten days, when Hood drove the union forces back to Columbus, where they held the rebels in check for a time. He also participated in the terrible conflict at Franklin and also the battle of Nashville. after which they marched to the Tennessee river, driving Hood before them. Here they took transports and went to Cincinnati, thence to Columbus, and thence to Alexandria, Virginia, by way of Washington. They remained eleven days, and were then sent to Fort Fisher, North Carolina. After this Mr. Gardner was with his regiment during the battles of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Fort Anderson. After a series of skirmishes the army arrived at Raleigh, and was there during the review. He was discharged in July, 1865, at Raleigh, with the 65th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., having been transferred to that regiment a short time previous. After his discharge he returned home, and began farming in Mercer. Mr. Gardner was married December 24, 1869, to Miss Rebecca H. Carroll, a native of Milbrook, Mercer county, Penn- sylvania. The names of Mr. Gardner's children, in the order of their ages. are as follows: William W., Edith B., and Harry C. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1869.
JOHN G. GILBERT, son of Henry and Sally A. Gilbert, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 12, 1845. In 1856 the family came to Illinois, and bought land in section 35 in Greene township. John remained at home, working on the farm, until seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in Co. F, 140th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was discharged October 27, 1864. In 1866 he began working at the carpenter trade with E. J. Morgan, with whom he learned the trade. In 1869 he em- barked in business for himself, the first contract being the residence now owned by A. Park. Since that time he has erected buildings in Mercer, Warren, Knox, Henry, and Rock Island counties. His supe- rior workmanship is testified to by all who have secured his services. In the winter of 1869-70 he erected a business house on the corner of Shepard and Eighth streets in Viola. Since that time he has con-
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streted extensive additions to the original corner building, and is now the owner of three handsome store-rooms, forming a building 64× 64 feet. In 1878 he erected a handsome residence in the eastern part of the village, where he now resides. Among the silent testimonials of his mechanical skill, are the residences of Robert Park (two miles north of Viola), Mrs. Mauk (at Suez), also those of S. E. Russell, Mrs. Bissell, and the Presbyterian church at Viola; also the school building and two churches at Cable, the former being the finest of its kind in the county. Mr. Gilbert was married in December, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Ramsey, a native of Tennessee, and is the father of two children, Vinnie R. and Harvey. B., aged eight and six years. He is a member of the masonic lodge, No. 577, at Viola, with which he united in 1869, also a member of Horeb Chapter, No. 4, at Rio.
JACOB, son of John P. and Christine E. Krause, was born in Baden, Germany, near Munheim, June 3, 1842. In 1844 the 'family emi- grated to America, and located in Bennington, Wyoming county, New York. Jacob remained at home assisting his father on the farm until the fall of 1861, when he turned his face toward the setting sun and landed in Richland Grove township, where he farmed until August S. 1862, when he enlisted in Co. C, 102d Ill. Inf., and was with that gal- lant regiment at Resacca, Cassville, Newhope church, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Chattahoochee Heights, Peachtree creek, and in the Atlanta campaign in all its marches and hardships while defending the integrity of the country's flag. IIe was discharged June 14, 1865, at Chicago. July 4, 1866, Mr. Krause was married to Sarah L. Tenney, a native of Mercer county, by whom he is the father of six children : Millie M., William S. (deceased), Ora L., Jennie L., Maud M., and Clara A. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1869, at Oxford.
SAMUEL E., son of William and Ann (Stuart) Russell, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 11, 1819. At the age of twenty-three he came to Illinois, and entered land in section 23, Greene township. For fifteen years after locating in Greene township, Mr. Russell worked at wagon making, having erected a shop near the site of his present residence. In 1857 he abandoned that business and commenced im- proving his farm, and since that time has devoted his entire attention to farming and stock raising. Mr. Russell was married in 1844 to Miss Ann Collins, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of John Collins, one of the pioneer settlers of the county. In 1852 his first wife died, and in September, 1854, he was again married to Miss Effie Cabeen, of Ohio Grove township. The fruits of the latter union are seven children : Annie C., Maggie J., Mary (deceased in her ninth year),
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Eunice, James E., Richard, and William C. Mr. Russell is a member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1846, at what is now known as Sunbeam. When the Viola congregation was organized, he united with them and has since been prominently iden- tified with that society, and has been one of the pillars of the church. During the rebellion Mr. Russell used all his influence toward promot- ing the union cause, and has always been a staunch republican. Through economy and industry he has accumulated a respectable por- tion of the world's goods, and is a citizen of worth in all respects. He is not an office seeker, but on the contrary has refused being a candi- date when his numerous friends have urged him so to do. His deeds of good are done in a quiet, unassuming way, as he does not care to win the approval of the public, but derives his satisfaction from the . consciousness of having done his duty.
WILLIAM C., son of James and Hannah Gillespie, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1829. In January, 1853, he came to Illinois and located in Mercer county. In 1854 his father came and bought land in section 12, Mercer township. In the spring of 1860 William went to Colorado where he engaged in the mining business, in Russell's gulch, near Central City. He remained there until December, 1861, when he returned to Moline, Illinois. He desired to enlist but the quota of Illinois being full at that time he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and enlisted in Co. H, Sth Kan. Inf. IIe remained with that regiment about sixteen months, when he was discharged on account of having very sore eyes. He returned to Illinois, and his eyes becoming better under medical treatment, he again enlisted in the 140th Ill. Inf., and was with that regiment until they were mustered out. Mr. Gillespie was married February 22, 1871, to Miss Sarah M. Decker, a native of Mercer county. The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are: Hannah M., John C., and Ida E. He in a member of lodge No. 252, A.F.A.M., with which he united in 1865, at Aledo.
AMMI BISSELL (deceased) was the son of Porter and Margaret Bissell, and was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1833. In 1854 the family, consisting of the father, mother and six children, came to Mercer county. Ammi first bought land of John Geiger in section 1, in Greene township, and began farming for himself. During the war he availed himself of the excellent opportunities the prices then afforded to either make or break, and began dealing in stock. During the remaining years of his life he dealt largely in live stock, and added every year to his large tracts of land. Mr. Bissell was married in May, 1857, to Miss Mary McKennan, and the couple had five children born
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to them, whose names in the order of their ages are: William H., Cleon (deceased), John L. (deceased), Ethelbert, and Frank. Mr. Bissell was an excellent financier, and by shrewd management he accumulated a large amount of property, having at the time of his death nearly 1,100 acres of land. besides a great deal of stock. He was a man who would trade for anything, and, although a close dealer, was never accused of dishonesty, or of taking advantage of the poor. He died from the effects of injuries sustained by being thrown from a horse, and was buried November 26, 1873. His death was deeply mourned by the entire community. Mrs. Bissell now resides in Viola, where she recently erected a handsome residence, and where she has a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM C. BRECKENRIDGE, merchant, Viola, was born in Mahon- ing county, Ohio, February 18, 1843. Here the family resided until William was fifteen years of age. In 1854 his father died, leaving a family of six children, William being the second oldest. In 1858 the family came to Illinois, and bought land of John Geiger in sections 1 and 12, Greene township. In January, 1862, William went to Kansas, and soon after enlisted in a brigade that was being made up to send to New Mexico ; but that expedition being abandoned, they were consoli- dated with the Stlı Kansas at Fort Leavenworth. They first went to Fort Riley and then returned to the city of Leavenworth ; thence down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to Columbus, Kentucky, where they landed and marched to Corinth and joined the main army. This regiment participated in the battles of Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Franklin, and Nashville. Mr. Breckenridge did excellent service for his country, and was twice wounded. He was discharged in January, 1866, after which he returned to Mercer county and resumed his labors on the farm. Ile was married in 1868 to Miss Ella Gardner, and is now the father of five children, whose names in the order of their ages are : Frank O., Ina (deceased), Almy, Edna, and Sue. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1866. In 1877, he began business in Viola, first putting in a stock of groceries, but is now a member of the dry goods firm of H. B. Frazier & Co.
BENJAMIN F., son of Charles F. and Polly Morey, was born in the town of Mckean, Erie county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1822. At tho age of nineteen he came to Warren county, Illinois, where he landed with $4 in money in his pockets, and an old suit of clothes, which constituted his entire stock of worldly possessions. He began working in a brick-yard in Monmouth. While in that city he was present at the trial of the notorious Jo. Smith, who had been arrested
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for being accessory in the murder of Gov. Boggs, of Missouri. He remained in the vicinity of Monmouth about three years, working at various pursuits in the summer and teaching in the winter. He was a member of the first board of supervisors in Warren county in 1854. Mr. Morey was married March 12, 1844, to Miss Philetta Higgins, a native of Vermont. He was a resident of Warren county until the spring of 1861, when he removed to Mercer county and bought land in sections 26 and 27, Greene township. In the spring of 1864 he was elected supervisor of the township, and since that time has acted in that capacity for twelve years, the last two terms being chairman of the board. In the winter of 1864 Mr. Morey was appointed by the town- ship to attend to filling the quota of troops, in order to prevent a draft. He went to Quincy vested with the proper authority and arranged mat- ters so that no draft was made. The names of Mr. Morey's children in the order of their ages are as follows: Otis R. (now a resident of Audubon county, Iowa), Orinda O. (wife of W. L. Smith, deceased in her thirty-fifth year), Ella (wife of Charles Park, now residing in Cloud county, Kansas), Orlin, Oscar, Cornelius, Eunice, Lettie, and Dollie. Mr. Morey is a member of lodge No. 577, A.F.A. M., at Viola, of which institution he was one of the first members. He is a member of no church ; but his wife and five of his children belong to the Methodist denomination. During his residence in Mercer county Mr. Morey has taken a prominent part in public affairs, and honesty and integrity have ever characterized his actions.
WILLIAM S., son of John and Martha (Wright) McClannahan, was born in Adams county, Ohio, January 26, 1836. His parents resided in that state until 1855, when they removed to Monmouth, Illinois, where they located a farm part of which was within the corporate limits of the city. William assisted his father on the farm until 1856 when he began a course of study in the Monmouth College, from which institution he graduated in 1860, and in the fall of that year entered the theological seminary at that place. After having attended a term in that institution he was employed as principal of the West ward school. About this time he became convinced that duty called him to another field of action where muskets instead of ferrules were in vogne, and consequently after teaching a week he enlisted in the 17th Ill. Inf., and set out for the theatre of war. He acted as orderly in in that regiment until August, 1863, when he was promoted to second lieutenant. Shortly after his promotion he returned to Monmouth, and resumed his studies in the seminary, which he continued until the spring of 1864, when a company was organized, composed principally of students, and of which Mr. McClannahan was made captain. This
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company entered the 138th Ill. Inf., and were mustered out in Sep- tember of 1864. In the winter of 1864 he again resumed his studies and completed them in the spring of 1865. He was then sent as stated supply to Dayton, Ohio, where he had charge of a congregation one year, when he returned to Grandview, Iowa, where he took charge of two congregations, and for two years was principal of the Grandview Academy. After remaining in Iowa four years, his services were engaged by the United Presbyterian congregation at Viola. He has been pastor of that church since 1870, and during that time has won the love and respect of his entire congregation. Mr. McCannahan was married April 23, 1868, to Miss Mary J. Potter, whose father resides near Wapello, Iowa, and the fruits of the union are six chil- dren, whose names in the order of their ages are : Victor A., Zenis H., May M. (deceased), Enoch Potter (deceased), Amy, and Paul II. It is well to add that four members of the McClannahan family enlisted in the service of their country. The father, Capt. McClannahan, and three sons, the youngest of which was the junior member of a family of seventeen children. The father fell at Fort Donelson, where pre- vions to his death he had conducted himself with heroic bravery, and among all the dead who fell in that terrible conflict under the shadow of the banner they made free, none were more deeply mourned than the gray-haired captain.
JOHN B., son of Edward and Rebecca (Reasoner) Smith, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1818. In 1848 the family removed to DeKalb county, Indiana, where they resided eight years. In 1856 his parents removed to Mercer county and bought land in Mercer town- ship. Mr. Smith was married December 26. 1839, to Miss Margaret Boyle, a native of Knox county, Ohio. The names of his children are : Edward, Nancy Harriet (wife of Henry. Nesbitt), Randolph D., Jane (wife of Mark Cannum), John E., Ephriam B., Louisa (wife of David Robb). Perry A., Henry, William (deceased), Mary Elizabeth (de- ceased). Two of Mr. Smith's sons enlisted in the service of their conn- try, Edward in the early part of 1862 in the SSth Ind. Inf., Randolph D. in 1864 in the 45th Ill. Inf. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1842, and is also a member of the A.F.A.M. lodge, No. 577, at Viola. Mr. Smith has been constable in the different localities where he has resided for the past twenty-five years. He is a citizen of worth, respected by all who know him.
WALLACE W., son of William and Rachel Pinkerton, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, May 6, 1842. When an infant his father came to Illinois and entered a claim on section 18, in Greene township.
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The subject of this sketch remained at home until the fall of 1856. In 1859 he went to Colorado and engaged in mining in Russell Gulch, near Central City, and remained there until the fall of 1861, when he returned to Illinois, where he farmed until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. D, 83 Ill. Inf. Was with the regiment but one year, after which he did detached duty, until the close of the war. In Sep- tember, 1863, he and his three companions rode up to a house in which were hidden seven guerrillas. A skirmish followed in which Mr. Pinkerton was shot in the hand, tearing one finger from the socket. They succeded in dispatching six of them and the company that was coming up behind captured the seventh. Mr. Pinkerton was discharged June 15, 1865, after which he returned to Illinois. During his residence in Illinois he has been engaged in farming and coal min- ing. He was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Carroll, who died in 1875. He was again married in 1878 to Miss Nancy Dilley. He is father of two children, whose names in the order of their ages are : Kate and Myrtle. Mr. Pinkerton is, at the present writing, still a resident of Illinois, but is making preparations to start on a long jour- ney toward the setting sun, and intends to cast his lot among the mountains of the west.
ROSWELL C., son of Roswell and Elizabeth Sexton, was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1803. His parents resided there until he was nine years of age, when they removed to Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. His father and mother were both natives of Connecticut. During their residence in Meadville his father was the proprietor of a hotel at that place, and it was here that the subject of this sketch received his education. In 1832 he went to Centerville, in the same county, and was married there in 1833 to Miss Mary Peck, a native of New York. He remained in Pennsylvania over twenty years after his marriage.' In 1857 he came west and located near Ox- ford, Henry county, where he remained until 1860, when he came to Viola and began keeping hotel in the Perkins building. The names of Mr. Sexton's children, in the order of their ages, are: William H., now county clerk in Warren county; Prior B., who resides on a farm near Viola; Amelia, deceased in her eighteenth year; Dora, wife of H. Southwell, present superintendent of schools in Rock Island county; Theodore F., who resides in Viola ; and Dora, wife of L. Menold, also of Viola. Two of Mr. Sexton's sons enlisted in the service of their country, in defense of the principles they ever held dear. William enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. D, 83d Ill. Inf., and Theodore in March, 1865, in the same regiment and company. William was quar- termaster of his regiment, and acted in that capacity until the close of
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the war. The family are all prominent members of the Presbyterian church, with which the father united in 1828. Mr. Sexton and sons are all citizens of great worth, and are universally respected. The old people are well advanced in years, and can look back over the pathway of life with pleasure, and console themselves with the thought that for their sons and daughters they leave as a legacy a noble example, a spotless name.
GEORGE W., son of Joseph and Violet (Scott) Pinkerton, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, January 3, 1839. When eleven years of age his father's family emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois. George re- mained at home on the farm until Angust, 1861, when he enlisted in a company at Rock Island which was attached to the 14th Mo. Inf., and was sent to Lexington. In the battle of that place the company was taken prisoners, and shortly afterward were paroled and sent to St. Louis where they were discharged. Mr. Pinkerton returned home and remained until July, 1862, when he again enlisted in Co. D, 83d III. Inf., and was with that regiment until it was mustered out in July, 1865.
URBAN D., son of Merritt A. and Betsy G. Lathrop, was born in Chenango county, New York, December 5, 1848. When two years of age his parents emigrated to Waukegan, Illinois. After remaining here about three months they removed to Bureau county. Soon after his father began work in the ministry, as a local preacher, in the United Brethren church, and since that time has devoted about twenty- five years of his life to ministerial labor. Urban remained at home on the farm until February 6, 1865, when, although a mere lad, he left school and enlisted in Co. A, 151st Ill. Inf., and was discharged in February of the following year at Springfield, Illinois, after which he returned home and resumed his labors on the farm. The following winter he went to Linn county, Iowa, where he began a course of study in the college at that place. In February, 1872, having received his license from the Wesleyan Methodist church, he took charge of a cir- cuit in Bureau county. In 1878 he received a call from the Hopewell and Hamlet circuit in Mercer county, and he accordingly located in the parsonage at Bethel three miles west of Viola. Mr. Lathrop was married October 15, 1871, to Miss Sarah C. Cartwright, a native of Indiana. The fruits of the union are five children, whose names, in the order of their ages, are as follows: Arme R., Eliner R., Urban C., John M., and Ora E. Mr. Lathrop is president of the Illinois confer- ence, to which he was elected the third term, in the fall of 1881.
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