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 9
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when, on account of failing health, he sold out his interest, and has since given his attention to the management of his large estate, and to the importation and raising of fine stock, and the banking business. In 1871, in partnership with other wealthy men of the county, he assisted in organizing a Farmer's National Bank, at Keithsburg, of which he is a large stockholder and president. Mr. Drury says he has made it a practice all his life, that at the end of each year his income shall be greater than his expenses. He thinks this accounts for his large estate, and not to any mental gift. This he would recommend to all young men starting in life. Mr. Drury was among the first settlers of the county. He was well acquainted with Black Hawk and Keokuk, the two noted Indian chiefs.
COURTNEY DRURY was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 23, 1820. IIe came to Mercer county, Illinois, with William Willits and family, in the fall of 1834. He remained with them for some time. and then sold goods for the firm of Drury & Willits. In 1842 he returned to his old home in Indiana, and went to school that fall and winter. He was married April 12, 1842, to Ruth Willits, and removed to Mercer county, Illinois, in the fall of the same year. That winter he bought eighty acres of land, partly improved. He sold his farm in the winter of 1845, and the following spring moved to the village of New Boston. Mr. Drury lost his wife February, 1847. He then returned to the State of Indiana, and spent the most of that summer there ; then returned to New Boston, and, with James S. Thompson, purchased the mercantile establishment of Drury & Willits. The new firm conducted the trade of this house for eight years, at the end of which time they sold out, and Mr. Drury bought land near the village of New Boston, which he improved, and has engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. Mr. Drury has made a specialty of breeding fine horses, and has had some of the best stock ever kept or owned in Mercer county. He has a passion for a fine horse, and gratifies it.
WILLIAM A. WILSON, farmer, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, August 18, 1831. The family removed to Mercer county in the fall of 1834, and settled in Eliza township. Mr. Wilson's education was limited to a common school, as in those early times the advantages offered were few and rude; however, he acquired considerable of a business education, especially in arithmetic, as that was a favorite study of his. When twenty-two years of age he commenced farming for himself on a small scale. His father wanted him to take a horse when starting out, but he refused to do so; but by persuasion he accepted a ten dollar bill. He rented three years, when he found he had money enough to buy eighty acres of land lying in New Boston
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township. He lived with his brother-in-law, Richard Shields, and tilled his small farm until 1857, when he was married to Miss Kate Woodward, daughter of Joel and Keziah Woodward. A year after his marriage he sold his farm for $2,500, and bought another in Mer- cer township for $3,500, where he lived until 1861. Mr. Wilson has always dealt considerably in live stock while farming. In 1861, in response to the country's call for troops, Mr. Wilson enlisted in the 102d Vol. Inf., and was elected second lieutenant of Company K, and before going into active service was promoted to first lieutenant. His first engagement with the enemy was at Gallatin, Tennessee, after which he was elected captain of his company by a unanimous vote. Returning home from the war in 1864, he sold his . farm in Mercer township for $7,000, and again bought a farm of 120 acres in New Boston township, which he has increased to 420 acres in New Boston township, and 402 acres in Eliza. They have had eleven children : Jay, Ed., Dick, Ressa, Gen. Phil. Sheridan, John S., Harvey, Louie, Grace, Bert. M. and Frank M. Grace and Lonie are deceased. The rest are in good health and at home with their parents. Mr. Wilson's mother still survives at the age of eighty-seven, and is in good health.
D. J. NOBLE is the ninth child of a family of twelve children. Ile was born May 1, 1818, in Fayette county, Indiana. His parents, Lewis and Elizabeth (Burgess) Noble, came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1835, and settled on Sec. 16, in New Boston township, where they lived until their death. His father gave D. J. seventy acres of Sec. 16, and to this he added the N. W. } of See. 22 and the N. E. } of See. 21. He has a large and commodious residence and is comfort- ably situated. Besides making a competency for himself he has helped each of his sons to a good home. He has the benefits of only a common school education, owing to the many disadvantages afforded in youth. He has been engaged in farming from boyhood up. Hle has always taken an active part in temperance, and has been a mem- ber of the Methodist church since 1840. He has held all the offices in his church at various times. In politics he has always been a republi- can. He was married July 5, 1840, to Miss Sally Rader, daughter of Abraham and Catharine Rader. She was born March 4, 1818. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living : Melissa, married to Frederick Fleming ; John N., married to Mary Hill, and lives in Da- kota ; Leroy, married to Miss Rachel Hollingsworth ; David L., dead ; Harvey, married to Miss Luella Bowden ; Nathan, married to Miss Alida Pryne ; Sarah E., married to J. A. Goding ; Dora, married to Melvill Danford ; Robert, married to Miss Iola Holingsworth, and James, who lives at home with his parents.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
MILTON L. WILLITS, farmer, son of Reuben and Mary Willits, was- born in Wayne county, Indiana. November 13, 1826. He came west with his grandfather, Isaac Willits, in the spring of 1836, and settled in New Boston township, where he has lived ever since, with the ex- eeption of three years spent in California. He crossed the plains in the summer of 1850, and returned in the spring of 1853 to New Bos- ton, and started a lumber yard in partnership with Anderson Kirlin. They continued business until fall, when they dissolved, and Mr. Wil- lits started a grocery store, which he continued till the spring of 1854, when he traded his grocery in part payment on seventy-six acres of land five miles northeast of New Boston, where he has been engaged in farming ever since. He was married October 25, 1854, to Miss Sarah J. Kirlin. They have had ten children : Horace G., born July 31. 1855 ; Mary L .. December 23, 1856 ; Homer C., January S, 1858 ; Lavina H., March 25, 1859 ; Elias M., December 13, 1860 ; William R .. September 23, 1862 ; Minnie D., March 3, 1864 ; Frede- rick. June 22, 1866 ; Ruth, November 6, 1867 ; Sarah J., February S, 1869. His wife died February 13, 1869 ; Mary L., October 31, 1857; Sarah J., March 17, 1869; Ruth, August 26, 1869 ; Frederick, Jan- uary 5. 1873 ; William R., October 25, 1879. His oldest son, Horace G., married Miss Ida McGrew ; Clinton, to Miss Adda Kiddoo ; La- vina. to Levi Lewis. The other two remain at home with their father. Mr. Willits' education was limited in youth but improved by study in later life. He was one of the pupils of Simeon P. Smith, one of the first and best teachers of the county. His early youth was spent in farming until eighteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for six years. He has always been an active temperance man. In politics he is a republican. He has at present 513 acres of Mercer county's best land situated in New Boston township.
We cannot expect in a short sketch to do justice to one who has re- sided in the county near forty six years, but glean a few facts in which the readers of this work will feel a deep interest. Such a person is JAMES M. MANNON, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, Septem- ber 16, 1823. He resided in his native state until thirteen years of age and then came west to Mercer county, and with his parents settled in Eliza township. where he lived until he attained the days of manhood. He took such chances as were offered in those early times for acquiring a common school education. By much reading and general study he has become well informed on all the leading questions of the day. April 6, 1849, he was married to Miss Rebecca daughter of Patrick Shirkey. After being married some nine years, his companion was called away to
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the silent tomb, September 5, 1857. He married his present wife, Sarah J. Moore, January 6, 1859. She is a daughter of George and Jemima Moore, of New Boston township. Their children are Bertha B., George M., James M., Levi E., and Charles N. Mrs. Mannon's grandfather, Robert Moore, served in the war of 1776-and he and his- two sons, Thomas and James, served in the war of 1812. Colonel Man- non started out in life as tiller of the soil which business he followed some fifteen years, when he was elected sheriff of Mercer county on the re- publican ticket. In 1858, after serving his term as sheriff. he was elected circuit clerk and county recorder, which positions he held for two years. In response to the call of the government for troops to put down the re- bellion of the southern states, he enlisted in the 102d III. Vol. Inf., and was elected captain of company K, afterward major, and later, lieu- tenant colonel. He was in all of the fighting in Sherman's march to the sea coast, until the siege of Atlanta, when pressed by home interests he resigned and came home. Soon after joining his family he com- menced mercantile business in New Boston in partnership with Anthony Burdick under the firm name of Burdick and Mannon. They did a large business for some three years when Mr. Mannon purchased the interest of Mr. Burdick and continued the business two years longer. He then sold off his stock of goods and bought a farm five miles northeast of New Boston, where he resides at present, comfortably situated. He commenced his business life with only eighty dollars. Mr. Mannon has always been an active republican and taken considerable interest in advocating its principles, and carrying into effect the doctrines advo- cated by that party.
JOHN PRATT, butcher, was born in Union county, Indiana, in 1829. He is the oldest son of Regin and Mary (Long) Pratt. His parents came to Mercer county in 1836, and are therefore among the earliest settlers of the county. IIe was engaged in farming and carpentering until 1876, since which time he has been engaged in the butcher's trade. In 1869 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which body he has been a member ever since. IIe has held numerous offices in his lodge at various times. In politics he is a democrat. His father lived in Mercer county until June 6, 1880, when he was called away to a bet- ter land. His mother is still living at the age of seventy-five, and maintains good health.
Of the representative men of Mercer county the name of none occupies a more honorable place in the list than that of DR. THOMAS. WI.LTrs, of New Boston. He was a pioneer in his profession as well as a pioneer settler, and has been a practitioner fifty-six years. His nativity was in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1805. It was there
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
his parents, James and Amy (Allison) Willits, who had emigrated from Pennsylvania, were married. At the age of twenty he started out from home with the design of going to St. Louis, but stopped at Montezuma, Parke county, Indiana, where he began the practice of medicine. In three or four years he returned to his father's home, which had meantime been removed to Richmond, Indiana. He remained there till 1837, and then came west and settled in Warren, now Hen- derson, county, this state, on the line between that and Mercer. There he entered 500 acres of land, which property is now known as the Mickey farm. Having enclosed a large tract, he gave his attention for a few years to raising stock for market ; but after hauling to New Boston he could obtain only $1.50 per hundred for the hind quarters of neat animals and $1 for fore quarters, while pork brought but $1.25, all in store pay, and corn could not be sold at any price. Not pleased with this state of things, in 1840 he decided to quit farming, and moved to. New Boston and continued his practice. In 1850 he was elected a representative to the legislature from Mercer county and served one term. While a member of that body the charter for the Illinois Central railroad was passed, and he made a strenuous but futile effort to fix the percentage which the company should be obliged to pay into the state treasury at ten per cent of their gross earnings, instead of seven. The doctor voted first for president for John Quincy Adams, but fell into line with the opposite party in the Jackson cam- paign of 1828, and since that time has been an old school democrat. In controversy he has upheld the principles of his party, but never with hope of office or aspiration for it. With the exception of a division of the Sons of Temperance, which he organized in New Boston, he has not been connected with any of the secret orders which are now so com- mon. To the extent that his example could give force to his convictions, he has encouraged the temperance cause, and under no circumstances could he ever have fallen to such depths of humiliation as to counte- nance or tolerate drunkenness or any patronage of the rum traffic. Dr. Willits was married in early life to Mrs. Catherine Libby, formerly Miss' Ainsworth, and five children were the fruits of this union. The eldest, Elmira, died in infancy ; Leroy lives in New Boston township : Viola, who was the wife of Russell Scudder, died over twenty years ago; Celeste is now Mrs. William A. Anderson, of Chicago; and Kate is the wife of Thomas Manning of the same city. We regret our ina- bility to give a more extended notice of one who has figured so largely in the useful affairs of this locality, and who, by universal consent, has been of so much service and benefit to the public at large as Dr. Willits. A man of liberal education and correct understanding, whose
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knowledge covers a wide range, Mercer county has never had a better type of the old school practitioner and gentleman than he. As a con- versationalist he is fluent, entertaining and instructive, with pleasing powers of description.
JACOB H. SWOFFORD was born in Henry county, Indiana. April 8, 1829. His parents were born in North Carolina. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, August 10, 1837. He was a common laborer for a time, and then learned the printing business, which he followed for ten years. Since leaving off the printing business he has engaged in various avocations. He was married November 16, 1854, to Annie, daughter of John and Mary Shuff. They are the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living. The family have resided in the village of New Boston for many years.
HARLEY IVES, farmer, was born in Connecticut, January 15, 1803. He is the third child of Caleb and Sarah (Booth) Ives. He came over- land, and settled near Oquawka, in Henderson county, in 1836, where he lived two years, when he moved to Mercer county, and settled one mile east of New Boston, where he has lived ever since. During the early part of his life he was engaged in farming, and working at the cooper trade, being the first cooper in the county. In 1827 he was married to Miss Ruth Ives, daughter of Gideon and Charlotte (Hall) Ives. They have had five children born to them : Gilbert II., who is married to Miss Mary A Scudder, a daughter of Ennis Scudder ; Mar- tha W., dead ; Gideon, at home with his parents; Emery K., married to Miss Mary E. Hartsock ; Caroline, married to John W. Histed. Mrs. Ives has always been a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Ives has always been an active temperance man. In polities he is a demo- crat. At present, Mr. Ives is seventy-nine years of age and in splen- did health and very active. Financially he is in good circumstances.
THOMAS ALYEA, druggist, was born at Miamitown, Ohio, Septem- ber 21, 1821. His father, Joseph Alyea, from New Jersey, was three times married. By his first wife he had two children ; by his second, Margaret Love, mother of our subject, four were born ; and by the last, eight : three sons and five daughters. The family moved from Mr. Alyea's birthplace to Fairfield, Franklin county, Indiana, where his mother died when he was eight years old. In 1838 a second removal brought them to New Boston where Mr. Alyea has resided continuously until the present time. In 1845 he went to Mount Morris Seminary in Ogle county and attended school there one year. He was the second vender of drugs in New Boston, and opened in 1853 the first exclusive drug store, which he has conducted since. From 1847 to 1853 he was selling dry goods, and from 1854 till now he has been
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
engaged in the ice business. On the 28th of June, 1849, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A., daughter of John and Amelia C. Signor. The same year he was elected county surveyor, and held that office one term of two years. He still devotes a little attention to surveying, and has- in his possession the old field notes procured by Judge Gilmore nearly fifty years ago. He was the first town clerk after the adoption of town- ship organization, and has filled the same position in the town of New Boston. A leading member of the Methodist church for many years, he has held official connection in the responsible positions of trustee thirty years, class-leader twenty-five years, and sexton, recording steward and Sunday school superintendent, also, for long periods. He was the first treasurer of the American Bible Society in this county. He has shown himself active and useful in the temperance movement, and has belonged to about all the organizations in New Boston. He was bred politically in the whig party, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844. He has maintained his fidelity to the republican party since its organization. Mr. and Mrs. Alyea have been the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are dead. The survivors are: Thomas. Edmund, a physician, living at Princeville ; Willard Henry, Florence Luella, and Lily Belle.
SIDNEY CIDSTER, farmer, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 1, 1816. He is the fourth child of Hezekiah and Lyda Chidster. He worked with his father at the carpenter's trade until twenty-two. years of age, when he came west and settled in Mercer county, where he has lived ever since. Being one of the early settlers of the county, he had to endure all the hardships connected with pioneer life. His edu- cation was limited to a common school course. In politics Mr. Chidster had always been a republican until 1875, when he joined the party known as the greenback party, of which he has since been a member. He- was elected school trustee in 1845, and served twenty-five years consec- ntively. In 1847 he was elected justice of the peace, and served three years. In 1849 he was elected county associate justice for the term of three years. He was the first supervisor of New Boston township, and served as chairman of that board. In later years, he has served ten years as township collector. He has always been an active temperance- man. In March, 1842, he was married to Miss Rachel Stewart, daughter of William and Nancy Stewart. She was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, August 10, 1823. They have had three children : Wil- liam and Lyda, who are at home, and Rachel, who is married to Milton F. Weeden. August 10, 1853, Mr. Chidster was called to mourn the loss of his beloved wife.
HENRY H. ROBERTS, lumber merchant, was born in England,.
.
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August 11, 1819. He is next to the youngest child of James and Elizabeth Roberts, who came to America in 1828, landing at Boston, Massachusetts, where they lived until 1836. Mr. Roberts lived in Indiana two years before coming to Mercer county. He built a card- ing machine in New Boston township, which was the first in the county. This he ran for two years, when he removed to Eliza township, entered 120 acres of land and bought eighty acres more, and went to farming. He remained in this business until 1856. when he went to New Boston and built a large three-story brick carriage and wagon factory in part- nership with Joe Graham. forming the firm of Graham & Roberts. They continued business until 1860, when Mr. Roberts bought Graham out. In 1861 Mr. Roberts went back to his farm, and farmed until 1865, when he went to Monmouth. Illinois, and started a sash, door and blind factory and planing-mill, which he ran until 1869, when his mill was burned down. Returning to New Boston. he refitted the building he had formerly occupied as a factory. for a hotel, the Roberts House, which he ran until 1875. since which time he has been engaged in the lumber trade. On March 20, 1845, he was married to Miss Mary Baker, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Baker. She was born December 7, 1826. and died June 16, 1858. He was married again September 29, 1859, to Miss Maria J. Dnnn, daughter of Thomas and Naney Dunn. By his first marriage he had six children : Eliza- beth HI. (married to Albert Denison), Marshall, Albert (dead). Harriet (dead). Clarence (dead), Charles S. (dead). By his last marriage he has two children : Richard H. and Ernest. Morally speaking, he has always been an active temperance man. Politically he was a republi- can until 1872, when he joined the greenback party, to which party he has ever since strictly adhered.
MARY D. WILLITS was born in Butler county, Ohio, May 31. 1823. She is the sixth child of Joseph and Margretta (Love) Alyea. She came with her parents to Franklin county, Indiana, where they lived until 1838, when they came to Mercer county, settling in the town of New Boston. Her father was one of the first to start in business. She was married to William Danford September 13, 1845. Mr. Dan- ford was born March 21, 1807. He was the third child of Enoch and Mary Danford. They had four children : William B., married to Alice Kesler; Melville C., to Dora Noble; Joseph A., to Fannie Strong ; Mozart, to Clara Mannon. William B. was born June 29, 1846 ; Mel- ville C., September 22, 1847 ; Joseph A., December 5, 1848 ; Mozart, March 16, 1850. William Danford, Sr., died July 27. 1850. Mrs. Danford married again March 10, 1852, to William Willits, who was the seventh child of Jesse and Susannah Willits. He was born
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sionally as far as Preemption. He was always present at the annual camp-meetings at Sugar Grove, where he worked incessantly, ardu- ously and willingly in the grand cause. He would frequently start from home early on the Sabbath, preach at 11 A.M. at one point, at 4 r.M. at another, and at early candle-light at a third, driving home, twelve or fifteen miles, at the close of the latter service, and all from a love for the work, with no thought of reward in this life. He was very frequently called upon to perform the marriage ceremony and to preach funeral sermons, often riding fifteen to twenty miles in response to these calls, and receiving only the thanks of interested parties as payment for his services and loss of time. In the spring of 1850 his second wife went to her reward, closing a life of earnest, active and efficient christian work, loved and mourned by all who knew her, yet leaving the memory of her pure nature to be fondly cherished by all. In October, 1851, he was again married, his wife being Mrs. Rachael Salvin, of Warren county. On the night of his return to New Boston with his bride his residence was burned to the ground, and as it was his all, he removed what little was saved from the flames to the farm of his wife, lying in the northwest corner of Warren and the northeast corner of Henderson counties, adjoining the Mercer county line. Here he continued his pastoral labors, having regular appointments at Sun- beam, Bald Bluff, Little York, Pleasant Green and other points. For three years he rode the Camden circuit, Rock Island county, as a "supply," and for one or more hie supplied the Oquawka circuit. Hen- derson county. He organized what is now known as Belmont Church, in the latter county, and it was largely through his influence that the church building was erected. In the winter of 1865, after a life of earnest work and usefulness, he passed " over the river " to meet the Master whom he had so faithfully and conscientiously served, well assured of the welcome, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thon into the joy of thy Lord." His remains were interred at Bel- mont, but in 1872 were removed to the New Boston cemetery, where a small but appropriate stone marks his grave. His wife died in 1872. Not one of the early settlers of the county was more widely known, more highly respected, or more sincerely mourned than Father Donghty. Politically Father Doughty was identified with the demo- cratic party, particularly the Douglas wing, until the breaking out of the rebellion, after which he voted with the republicans. His sympa- thies were all with the Union, and the enlistment of his youngest son, Lucien B., and two step-sons, F. J. and Benjamin Sarvin, deepened his interest and solicitude in the movements of the Union army. In answer to a letter announcing the enlistment of his son, he wrote :
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