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 74

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 904

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 74

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Hon. ALSON J. STREETER, one of Mercer county's most prominent citizens. was born in Rensselaer county. New York. January 1s. 1823. His father. Roswell Streeter, was born in Massachusetts in 1799. and his mother. Eleanor Kenyon. was born in Westerly. Rhode Island. August 20. 1798. There were six sons and two danghters the offspring of this union. of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest, and the only one living in this county now. His sister. Mrs. Shumway, living in Oxford. Henry county. is the only member of the family living near him. Mr. Streeter came to Illinois in 1836. when only thirteen years old, with his father. who settled at that early day in what is now Lee Centre. Lee county. Illinois. His father died April 11. 1850. in Iowa. en route for California. His mother survived until June S. 1871. when she died. in the seventy- third year of her age. at her son's residence near New Windsor. His youth was spent on the farm and in trapping, hunting and fishing. which were his favorite employments at that time and at which he was very successful. The furs and pelts of the wolf. mink. otter. muskrat. etc., being about the only medium of exchange obtainable at that time. He has treasured up many interesting incidents connected with his early pioneer life, when the settlers who had endured the hardships to which they were subjected at that early day were obliged to form societies for mutual protection. to prevent by the force of might the greedy speculator from entering their homes, which the set- tlers could not purchase. there being no money in the country with which to buy. He also relates how they used to burn charcoal and haul it fourteen miles to Grand Du Tour. on Rock river. where one John Deere (now of Moline plow fame) had a blacksmith shop with two forges in it. He would sometimes get fifty cents and sometimes a dollar in cash on his load. the balance would be taken in blacksmith- ing as it was needed. It was when making one of these trips that he first saw a steel plow that would scour. Mr. Deere having just begun

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the manufacture of a diamond-shaped steel plow, the only plow then in use having a wooden mold-board, with a piece of iron fastened on the lower edge for a share. Returning home he reported to his father what he had seen, and they concluded they must have one of the new plows. So, taking a load of charcoal, he went to the shop and traded for a plow. Repairing to a neighboring sand-bank he hitched his oxen to the plow and drove, while Mr. Deere held the plow, to scour it, not having any implement to grind with at that time. While living in Lee county he attended two terms of school in an old log school-house. At the age of twenty-three, with an ardent desire to improve his edu- cation and $12 of hard-earned savings in his pocket, he went to Gales- burg to attend Knox college. By the industrious use of the frower and knife riving and shaving hard-wood shingles, he maintained him- self two and one-half years at school. In 1849 he went overland to California and spent two years in the mines, returning in 1851. In 1853 he went across the plains with a drove of cattle, and repeated the trip again in 1854. On his return from this last trip he bought 240 acres of land in section 11, Rivoli township, to which he has continued to add until his farm at present spreads over 3,100 acres, about one- half of which is in pasture at present and on which he raises large numbers of hogs and cattle, having one of the finest herds of thorough- bred short horns in the county. Farming and stock raising has been his business, and although his private affairs have grown to such large dimensions of late years, he has always kept himself posted on the course of current politics, taking deep interest in everything affecting agriculture and education.

Though having business interests that would seem to require all his time, he has always held himself in readiness to serve his neighbors in any position they have called upon him to fill. He has represented his town several years on the board of supervisors. In 1872 he was elected by the cumulative system the minority representative to the state legislature from the twenty-second senatorial district, composed of Knox and Mercer counties, serving two years as a member of the twenty-eighth general assembly to the satisfaction of his constituents and honor to himself. Serving on the committee on agriculture and education, he helped to shape all the legislation upon those two subjects, in which he takes so great interest. A democrat until about 1874, he deemed that neither of the two lead- ing parties was serving the people's interests as it should, and since that time he has identified himself with the national greenback labor union party. Standing for that party as candidate for congress from the tenth congressional district in 1878, he received over 3,600 votes. Again in 1880, the candidate of the same party for governor of the

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state, he received 28,808 votes. He is always found on the side of the masses, battling against the encroachments of the great moneved cor- porations, and believes most firmly in enforcing our railroad and ware- house laws. He is a member of the Congregational church of New Windsor, and is also a Royal Arch Mason. On his place is one of the curiosities of this section of country : a crows' roost. Near his house is a patch of brush land densely covered with a young growth of black oaks. In this the crows assemble every evening to roost. departing early in the morning on their daily foraging expeditions. When they are all congregated in the evening they cover about five acres, sitting so closely together that they completely cover the trees, making each a veritable quercus niger. Mr. Streeter says they were there when he came, and he does not see that they have either increased or dimin- ished in number during the now nearly thirty years of his acquaint- ance with them. He does not allow them to be disturbed, and they have never done any damage on his place. He has never heard of but one other roost in the state, and that is in the southern part. He thinks his erows range over a circle whose radius is more than one hundred miles. During the brooding season they do not return to the roost, but as soon as the young can fly they take them there. His children, in the order of their ages, are: George A., Frank W., Mary, Nellie May, Fannie Rose, Minnie Grace, and Charles Dallas. The four last-named are children of his second wife (Susan Menold), to whom he was married in August. 1861. George A. married a daugh- ter of Joshua Goddard, of Viola. Frank W. married a daughter of Samuel Park, near Viola, and now lives on the place, having charge of the farm and stock. Mary is the wife of Thomas Burling, and lives in Nebraska. Minnie Grace died January 23, 1882, from the effects of diphtheria, deeply mourned by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She was a girl of more than ordinary promise, for whom a very brilliant future seemed just opening. February 22, 1882. Nellie May was married to Mr. Frank Crane, of Osco, Henry county, Illinois. Fannie Rose and Charles Dallas are all that remain at home. By energy and perseverance he has wrested from the soil his present ample means, and has earned a justly merited reputation for honor and probity that is worth more than money or lands. Mr. Streeter resides on his original purchase in section 11, two and one-half miles northwest of the village of New Windsor.

CORNELIT'S L. PETRIE was born in Richland Grove township, in Mercer county, Illinois, September 25, 1849, son of William Petrie. [For family history see biography of Hon. Alexander P. Petrie]. His youth was spent on his father's farm in this county. October 6, 1880.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

he married Sylvina B. Coleman, daughter of John Coleman, of this township, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1850. He then settled on his present place in the southeast of section 12, and has been engaged in farming. His farm comprises 215 acres in excellent cultivation. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church of New Windsor, near which village they live.

JOHN G. SEXTON, the subject of this sketch, though not one of the pioneers, has been prominently identified with the township during the comparatively short period of his residence here, which dates from the spring of 1868, when he came here from Ohio and settled on the W. 3 of S. E. of Sec. 7, this township, where he now resides in a good, commodious frame house, built in 1879, his farm comprising eighty acres. He has held numerous local offices in the township. Five years ago he was elected justice of the peace, and although he has been called upon to adjudicate several suits, brought before him on change of venne, he has not yet issued an original summons, having succeeded thus far in getting the parties to compromise or agree to an arbitration in all cases that have been brought to him to commence suit. In November, 1880, he was appointed supervisor vice A. P. Petrie, resigned. In 1881 he was elected to the same office, and reelected the spring of 1882. He was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, December 2, 1833. His father, Stephen Sexton, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, in 1801. Ilis grandfather, Stephen Sexton, was an only son and was born in New Jersey in 1762, and went to Ohio in 1800 and bought a farm in Mahoning county, to which he removed his family in 1802. From the purchase of this farm in 1800 the deed to his son Stephen was the only transfer of the property until sold by the heirs in 1879. He died in 1856 when ninety-four years old. His grandfather's family consisted of four sons and three daughters, of whom one son only survives. His father married Miss Sarah Gibson, who was a native of Ohio. They had nine children, eight sons and one daughter, all of whom survive, one residing in Connecticut, one in Pennsylvania, one in Iowa, and the other five in Ohio. Mr. S. married Miss Eliza C. Hogg, in Ohio, April 29, 1856, born in that state March 25, 1837, her father, James Hogg, being a well known resident of Viola, Illinois, having been collector of his town for several years. They have had three children : James G., born in Pennsylvania December 20, 1857 (married Miss Nettie Jobes April 13, 1881), lives in Preemption town- ship; Lizzie E., born March 10, 1860, died October 21, 1863 ; and D. Findlay, born August 20, 1866. In politics Mr. S. is republican. His educational advantages were confined to the common school.

SIDNEY DURSTON, the subject of this sketch, is the third son of

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James and Philadelphia (Bridges) Durston, pioneers in this township, and was born here September 14, 1841. His oldest brother, Charles F., was born Angust 14, 1837, on section 36, in Greene, being the first birth in that township. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D, 83d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and served with his command until it was mustered out after the close of the war. September 18, 1866, he married Miss Mary L. Edgerton, daughter of S. C. Edgerton, born in Galesburg, Illinois, May 2, 1843. In the spring of 1867 he settled on his farm in the northwest of section 10, which comprises 160 acres. Having no children, in March, 1880, they adopted two boys, Harry and Bert, twin sons of Henry J. Piper, who were born March 11, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members of the Hopewell Wesleyan Methodist church. In politics Mr. Durston is republican.

SAMUEL L. DURSTON, son of James Durston, was born in this town- ship June 10, 1847, was brought up on his father's farm with such common school advantages as the country afforded. to which he added a course in a commercial school in Monmonth. April 23. 1874. he married Miss Emma Morton, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois. August 22, 1855. . Her parents were natives of the Isle of Man. Her mother and one sister reside in Galva, Illinois, another sister in Aledo, Illinois, and a brother resides in Joliet, this state. They have two children, Lora, born March 19, 1875 ; and Jeanie, born April 19, 1880. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church of Hopewell, his father being one of the original members of the church when it was organized at Oxford in 1847. His farm consists of 100 acres and em- braces the old homestead that his father improved forty years ago. In politics he is republican.

WILLIAM C. GARRETT was born in Knox county, Illinois, October 18, 1845, and came with his parents to this township in 1850. Ilis father. James M., was born in Indiana in 1815, and came to Illinois with his father, George Garrett, as early as 1835, and settled near Abington, in Knox county ; his older brothers, William F. and John S., having come to the state still earlier, being here to participate in the Black Hawk war in 1832. His mother (Mary M. Cullison) was born in Knox county, Ohio. August 4, 1824, and came to Knox county, Illinois, with her parents in the spring of 1842, settling first on Haw creek, near the present town of Gilson ; moving to the vicinity of Victoria, in the same county, in 1845. She was married to James M. Garrett, in Knox county, in December, 1844. The subject of this sketch was married November 25. 1869, to Miss S. Augusta Spicer, daughter of Ilon. R. HI. Spicer, of this township. She was born in Greene town-

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

ship April 11, 1840. Until March, 1872, they lived in the old home- stead with Mrs. M. M. Garrett, at which time they removed to a farm which they owned in section 16, this township. By partition and exchange in 1876 they came into possession of the old homestead again, where they now reside. His farm consists of 220 acres. They have three children : Georgia (born February 24, 1873), Mortimer S. (July 6, 1877), and E. Roy (January 8, 1880). They are members of Zion Methodist Episcopal church. William C. is the oldest of the family. His next brother, George, died when a youth; the next, J. Arthur, married Miss Lizzie Harbour, and lives on E. ¿ S. E. Sec. 17, in this township. His only sister, M. Ella, who is a graduate of Hedding College, lives with her mother in Abington.

CLINTON SHAW. Among the pioneers to this county were Levi and Martha (Metzlar) Shaw, who settled in what was then called Berlin (now Swedona), May 31, 1836. The former was a native of Trenton, New Jersey, and the latter of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Coshocton county, Ohio, February 22, 1831, and came thence to Illinois. Mr. Shaw was married twice. Almond, the only child by his first wife, is now a resident of Kansas, but was form- erly a merchant at Swedona, in this county. IIe enlisted in Co. C, 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., in 1862, and was made first lientenant of his company, and afterward, upon the resignation of Capt. Shedd, he became captain of the company. By his second marriage Mr. Shaw had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all of whom are living except the youngest daughter. Clinton was reared on the farm, with the common school advantages of that early day, taking his start in life September 8, 1843, at Berlin. When in his sixteenth year he was crippled by the accidental discharge of a shot-gun, the charge passing through his right arm, nearly severing it. Five years later he had the misfortune to lose the use of his left eye. He left the farm at the age of eighteen and clerked in a store. In 1865 he took a course in a commercial school in Chicago, after which he clerked three years for his brother Almond at Swedona, and then, with George W. Gregg as partner, became proprietor of the store. In 1870, having sold out his business, he began clerking for Stephens & Gibson, of New Windsor, becoming a partner in 1872 under the style of Gibson & Shaw, after- ward becoming Gibson, Shaw & Halberg, from which latter firm he has just withdrawn, the spring of 1882. July 4, 1866, he married at Swedona Miss Ellen L. Bell, sister of J. D. Bell, since a prominent merchant of Woodhull. She was born near New Albany, Indiana, October 17, 1846, and came to Illinois in 1865. They have had four

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children, three of whom are living: Minnie H .. Genoa V., and Cleo N. Mr. Shaw is a member of the masonic order.

JOHN A. MAXWELL was born in Ireland May 22, 1835. Came to America in the fall of 1852. Lived one year in St. Louis and one year in Rock Island. Was traveling most of the time until his marriage with Mary J. Baker, born February 11, 1845, daughter of William Baker, of Swedona, in this county, who was a native of Pennsylvania, which event occurred January 1, 1867. He then established himself in mercantile business in Swedona. Two years later, when the railroad was completed to New Windsor, he removed to the latter place and continued the business until November, 1875, when he sold his store to C. Cole, who conducts it at the present time. Mr. Maxwell was raised on a farm until eighteen years of age, and owns a farm of 160 acres, the S. E. ¿ of Sec. 8, in Rivoli township. They have three children : James B. (born July 1, 1870), Flora J. (born December 1, 1873), and Grace G. (born October 16, 1876). Politically republican.

ANDREW J. ROSENBUM was born in Wythe county, Virginia, Sep- tember 4, 1828. His father, Anthony Rosenbum, was also a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky about the year 1829, settling in Barren county. He moved thence to Monmouth, Illinois, in 1835, opening the first blacksmith shop in the place where he continued to work at his trade for fifteen years. He died in Monmouth in 1851. His mother, whose maiden name was Hoffman, had two brothers in Monmouth, who were wagon makers, and Mr. Rosenbum did their iron work. Ilis mother died in Henry county in 1874. Mr. Rosenbum attended school ten years in the first school-house built in Monmouth, which stood on the present site of the Methodist church. The old school-house was lighted by two windows, one in the east and one in west ; the bottoms of the windows being nearly as high as the top of the door. He remembers going to school there when he had to part the tall, blue stem grass that waved away above his head to make a path to reach the school-house. In 1852 Mr. Rosenbum crossed the plains to California, where he remained five years, returning to Illinois in 1857. After his return from California he located in Henry county, where he resided until September, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. G. 112th III. Vol. Inf. He was engaged in all the battles and skirmishes in which that regiment took part, and they were many. While operating as mounted infantry he had a horse shot under him at Philadelphia, Tennessee. After three years and three months' ser- vice he was mustered out at Goldsboro, North Carolina. After his return home from the army he resided in Oxford, in Henry county, until 1869, when he removed to New Windsor and engaged in the drug

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

business which he has continued to the present time. He had one brother. James, who died in 1876. At Oxford he married Sarah Criglar, who was born in Ohio in January, 1843. They have no chil- dren, but an adopted son. Is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 367, A.F.A.M .; also of Horeb Chapter, No. 7, R.A. Masons ; also of New Windsor Lodge. No. 578, I.O.O.F. In politics he is a democrat.

WILLIAM B. CULLISON was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 17, 1831. Ilis father, Jeramiah Cullison, was a native of Maryland, and a farmer. He emigrated to Ohio in 1810, and there married Rebecca Coulter, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He moved to Illinois in 1842, settling on Ilaw creek, near Gilson, Knox county. In 1845 he removed to the vicinity of Victoria, in the same county. The subject of this sketch was engaged in farming until 1852, when he crossed the plains to California where he was engaged in mining and packing until 1856, when he returned to Illinois, arriving home in December of that year. In the spring of 1860 he again went to California where he remained until 1862, arriving in Illinois, on his return, in February. The following summer he enlisted in company E. 102d Ill. Vol. Inf .; was with the regiment through all its varied experiences until the 17th of July, 1864, at the Chattahoochie river in Georgia; he was sent to the hospital at Nashville, thence to Evansville, Indiana, thence to Quincy, Illinois, where he was discharged at the close of the war. September 16, 1868, he married Ellen Bradford, daughter of A. B. Bradford, of Greene township, this county, who was a native of Pennsylvania, but lived some time in Ohio before coming to Illinois. Her mother, Margaret Hall, was a native of Ohio, where Ellen was born January 11, 1840. After his marriage Mr. Cullison settled on a farm, the E. ¿ S.W. Sec. 21, in Rivoli township, to which he has added from time to time until his farm now comprises three hundred and twenty acres. In 1879 he built a new house, which is very finely finished, on the N. W. } of Sec. 27 where he'now resides. The chil- dren are Sadie, born June 4, 1872, and Arthur, born May 9, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Cullison are both members of Zion Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Cullison is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 377, A.F.A.M. Mr. Cullison engages quite largely in stock raising, feed- ing, and in buying and shipping stock.

J. WARREN REYNOLDS was born in Canada, June 30, 1840, and came to the United States with his parents in June, 1841, and settled near Lafayette, in Stark county, Illinois. Removed to Mercer county April, 1855, settling on the southwest of section 26, in Rivoli township, where he now resides, his farm comprising eighty acres. May 31, 1868, married Harriet E. Armstrong, of Berwick, Warren county, Illi-

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nois, who died April 4, 1873. They had two children : a boy, Orvie E .. born April 29, 1869, and a girl, who died in February, 1873. May 14, 1874, married Miss Alice Summers, daughter of Joseph Sum- mers, of Viola, Illinois. She is a native of this state, born August 17, 1849. They have two children : Esther, born June 4, 1875, and Jessie B., born November 24, 1879. Ilis father, Alanson Reynolds, was a native of Canada, and died here August 17, 1879, at the age of eighty-seven. Ilis mother died September 10, 1879, at the age of seventy-seven. One brother, Peter Reynolds, lives in Kansas, and served in a Kansas regiment during the war, and carries in his person two bullets received from Price's men at Osawatomie, Kansas. In 1881 Mr. R. built a neat and commodious residence on his farm, where he can enjoy the fruits of his industry. Mr. R. can relate many amus- ing incidents connected with his early life in this state, having driven a team to Chicago in company with his father on several occasions, when it was common to haul wheat from this part of the country to that city. In politics Mr. R. is a democrat. Ile is also a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 367, A.F.A.M.

MATTHEW F. POSTLEWAIT was born in Huntingdon county. Penn- sylvania, August 22, 1817. His father, John Postlewait, was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1776; came to Illinois in 1855, and died in February, 1861. Mr. P. spent his boyhood on the farm, but learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked until he came west. and for a short time after his arrival in this state. August 24, 1841, he married Miss Mary J. Yocum, born in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1823, daughter of Jesse Yocum, of that state, who died in the spring of 1877. Mr. P. came to Illinois i : 1845, by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, landing at Oquawka. It took four weeks to make the trip. His first settlement was on the northwest of section 28, in Suez township, where he continued to reside until 1857, when he sold his farm and removed to his present place, the southwest of section 26, in Rivoli township, where he has 134 acres. He also owns eighty acres in North Henderson township. For some time after he came here he did all his trading at Oquawka, but after Keithsburg was established, he transferred his trade to that place. Their children are : Hannah G., born August 15, 1842 (deceased); Calvin W., born Octo- ber 8, 1843, now in mercantile business at Alexis ; Martha E., born August 12, 1845 (deceased) ; John M., born April 21, 1848, on a farm in North Henderson township; William G., born December 20, 1850, farmer, lives in Missouri; Amy E., born April 8, 1853 (deceased) ; Jessie Y., born October 22, 1855, in hardware and grocery business in Cable, Illinois ; Olivia B., born November 4, 1857 ; Blanche A., born

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

June S. 1860, is one of Mercer county's successful teachers; and Ralph J., born April 13, 1864. The three last named reside at home. Mrs. P. is a member of the Congregational church, of New Windsor. Mr. P. is an old Jeffersonian democrat.

JOHN COLEMAN was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1824. ITis father, Samuel Coleman, was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1800, and died in the fall of 1875. His mother, Sarah Alvin, was of Irish descent, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1803, and still lives, six miles east of Victoria, in Knox county. His father came to Illinois in 1854, by wagon, from Pennsylvania. He raised a family of fourteen children, eight boys and six girls, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. Twelve of these still live, seven boys and five girls. Two of the brothers live in Iowa; the rest all live in this State. In 1847 Mr. Coleman married Elizabeth Ghost, born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and died in 1875, in the fifty-fifth year of her age. They had four children : Vinie (wife of C. L. Petrie, of New Windsor), Samuel, Susan, and John G. In January, 1877, Mr. Coleman was again married to the widow of David Ramsey, nee Josie M. Gasney. Mrs. Coleman has three children: Mand Ramsey (twelve years old), Emma R. (ten years old), and Edith P. Coleman (born January 14, 1878. Mr. Cole- man was brought up on a farm, and has always followed that avoca- tion. His present farm contains 210 acres of the very best land in the township, and lies adjoining the plat of the village of New Wind- sor. In 1881 Mr. Coleman erected a fine large residence on his farm, which he did not get entirely finished, but expects to complete during the present season. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of New Windsor, he being one of its most active members and leader of the class for a number of years.

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Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 904

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 904