History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 101

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 101
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 101

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JOHN CAROTHERS, Jr., son of Andrew Carothers, Jr., and Lydia Fickes, was born August 31, 1844, in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania. He grew up on his father's farm in the same way as the average farmer's boy. The years from September, 1864, to September, 1868, he spent variously, in attendance at Monmouth College, farming sum- mers and teaching winters. In September, 1868, he bought the N. } of N. W. }, Sec. 27, T. 9 N., 5 W., his present home. He still made his home at his father's, however, until March 23, 1871, at which time he was married to Mary C., daughter of Judge R. W. Gaddis. Up to 1874 he continued to teach winters; since then he has given himself exclusively to farming. Mrs. Carothers is also a school-teacher of several years' experience. Both are connected with the United Presby- terian church, holding their membership at. Olena. They have four children : Merle Robert, born January 18, 1872; Mary Eva, Decem- ber 3, 1873; Laura Ethel, November 23, 1877; and a babe, born March 14, 1882.

ROBERT W. MARSHALL was born in Granger county, Ohio, February 15, 1832. His parents, Robert Marshall, Sr., and Polly Reasoner, were originally from Pennsylvania. His father was born in West- moreland county, July 4, 1792. He was twice married and had eleven children, of whom Robert W. was the seventh. The subject of this sketch remained with his father until his marriage, December 23, 1856, to Hannah Jane Galliher. The following year he came to Illinois and settled on his present farm. His wife died November 10, 1870, leav- ing to him the care of three children. Two years later he married Anna, oldest daughter of George Retzer and Catherine King. Mrs. Marshall's father was born in Maryland January 3, 1808. When he was twelve years of age his father removed to Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania. Here he came to manhood, married March 9, 1837, and settled on a farm. June, 1855, found him in Henderson county, liv- ing near La Harpe. But the next February he purchased the home which he held till his death, the S. W. # of Sec. 29, T. 9 N., 5 W. He was the father of nine children, five of whom are living. Of the four buried, three died of cholera during Mr. R.'s first summer in Illinois. He died December 21, 1881, and on March 17, next, his wife followed him. Mr. Marshall is in politics an ardent republican ; in religion an adherent to the creed of the United Presbyterian church.

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He keeps all his children about him, five in number, the youngest two the children of his present wife.

JOHN B. FORT, was born July 25, 1811, in Warren county, Ken- tucky. His parents, Frederick Fort and Lucy Moore, were the first couple married in the territory of Kentucky. They removed to Illi- nois some years later than their sons, in 1840, settling on the Menden- hall place. Here they both died, Mr. Fort September 15, 1845, his wife August 20, 1846. At the age of twenty-three, Mr. J. B. Fort left home, the last to leave the parental roof, and came to Henderson county. For some time he worked out by the month in saw-mills, at Warren, and at other points. Later he bought the W. { of the N. W. 4 of Sec. 3, and lived here till 1868, when he removed to his place on Sec. 26. He now owns, in all, several hundred acres, comprising some of the choicest land in Henderson county. Mr. Fort has paid intelligent attention to stock. Formerly he kept some sheep, but he has given more particular time and thought to fine cattle. At present he is interested in introducing the Holstein breed. In 1848 he married Sarah J., daughter of Andrew Carothers and Mary Hays. They have seven children, all of whom are living in Henderson county : John Marion (married to Anna Gaddis), Caroline V., Mira, Charles Edward (married to Anna Marshall), Mary E., Florence, and Anna B. Mr. Fort is an active democract, the faith in which he was raised. He holds a membership in the masonic lodge at Gladstone. Coming to Henderson county among the very first with no capital but a clear head and a pair of willing hands, Mr. Fort finds himself the possessor of broad, fertile farms, and a home whose elegance and comfort con- trast no less significantly than pleasantly with the rude wilderness he found here a half century ago.

THOMAS NICHOLS was born near Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia, January 10, 1799. He is the oldest of the children of Thos. Nichols, Sr., and Martha Carty, both of southern descent. After marriage his father removed to Ross county, Ohio; thence, in 1812, to Highland county, where he buried his wife ; thence, in 1833, to Allen county, where two years later he also died. While still but a youth the care of the home farm fell on the eldest son, Thomas, of whom we write. After his father's death he remained for a few years in Allen county, whence he removed in 1840 to Abingdon, Illinois. After re- maining here a year and a half he bought his present home in Hender- son county, and built him a small frame house, which he replaced about 1845 with a more commodious dwelling. This he had the mis- fortune to lose by fire in 1859, losing with it nearly all its contents. He then erected his present residence, the frame of which he brought

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from Oquawka. In 1829 he was married to Lavina, daughter of James and Mary Milligan. After a lingering illness, his wife died April 7, 1872, aged seventy-two. Mr. Nichols has always been inter- ested in politics, working first with the whig, afterward with the republican party. In youth he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, but later transferred his membership to the United Presby- terian church, with which his wife was also connected. His children are six in number, four of whom are living. Of the two whom he has buried, one was an honored soldier during the rebellion. Thomas Vance Nichols enlisted in 1862, and served until the close of the war, passing through some of the severest battles unhurt. He received promotion to the rank of lieutenant and adjutant. Returning from the army he settled on a farm, marrying Miss Barbara Thompson. After successfully seeking health by medical treatment and travel, he died April 2, 1882, of a tumor in his right side, leaving his wife and two children. His worth was recognized by several successful appointments to the office of township treasurer, and his election to be deacon of the Olena United Presbyterian church.

ROBERT W. GADDIS, seventh child of Adam Gaddis and Catharine McKee, was born in Delaware county, New York, December 23, 1817. His parents were originally from county Down, Ireland. They landed in New York in 1800, and the following year settled in Delaware county, New York. In 1836 they removed to Morgan county, Illinois, where they died, the mother in 1840, the father two years later. About 1838 or 1839, Robert W., the subject of this sketch, left home, and began to do for himself, giving his energies to carpentering, black- smithing, farming, and surveying, in turn. In 1847 he came to Hen- derson county, and settled on the S.W. } of Sec. 23, T. 9 N., 5 W., upon which he has since continuously resided. March 10, 1842, he was married to Ann L. McCoy, daughter of David McCoy and Mary McClellan, the former originally of Virginia, the latter of Pennsyl- vania. They have had six children, of whom they buried the youngest when it was but seven years of age. The others are still living: Minerva, now Mrs. Wm. Pollock, in Ringgold county, Iowa ; Mary C., wife of John Carothers, Jr., in Henderson county ; Annie, wife of John M. Fort, in Henderson county ; Clara M., wife of John Reasoner, also in Henderson county; John N., married to Elizabeth Brook, in Fulton county, Illinois. Mr. Gaddis has been quite active in the interests of the democratic party. He has been in public office for a number of years, having officiated as justice of the peace for fourteen years, and as county judge four years. Both he and his wife are con- nected with the United Presbyterian church.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

JAMES WILLIAM BROOK, born August 29, 1843, is the son of Isaiah J. Brook and Jane T. Marshall. His father came from Licking county, Ohio, in 1837, settling on Sec. 34, T. 10 N., R. 5 W. William Brook grew up on the home farm, and at the age of seventeen set out for Monmouth, to enter the college at that place. He continued here until the spring of 1864, when he left the classic college halls for the rude life of the camp. He enlisted in Co. A, 138th reg. Ill. Inf., har- ing previously completed his college course and earned his degree of B.S., and was appointed corporal. His company did garrison duty in Kansas and Missouri and were mustered out October 17, 1864, at Springfield. In deciding upon a career, Mr. Brook seriously thought of the law and of medicine. After returning from the army he taught for two years, giving his extra time to reading law under Hon. C. M. Harris, now of Chicago. In 1867, however, he turned himself to farming and bought the W. ¿ of the N. W. # of Sec. 1, T. 9 N., R. 5 W. To this eighty he has kept adding until he now owns 340 acres of excellent land. During the past ten years he has given much atten- tion to fine cattle, and at present has a herd of eighty shorthorn Dur- hams. Clydesdale horses have also received his attention. On Feb- ruary 24, 1867, he was married to Mary C., daughter of A. G. and Eliza Pearce, of Berwick, Illinois, the Rev. Dr. Wallace, lately of Monmouth College, officiating. To Mr. and Mrs. Brook five children were born : Frances Luella, December 16, 1867 ; William Marshall, February 11, 1870; Andrew Renwick, October 2, 1872; Charles Alfred, May 8, 1875 ; Ina Amelia, June 6, 1877. Mrs. Brook was buried in July, 1881, lamented by all for her consistent life and her helpful ministries to the sick, the unfortunate and the erring, a service for which her devout nature, refined by literary and musical culture re- ceived at Abingdon especially fitted her. Reared in the Methodist Episcopal church, Mrs. Brook afterward found a home with her hus- band in the United Presbyterian church of Olena. Mr. Brook holds a membership in the masonic order and also in the G. A.R.

ABNER DAVIS, one of the earliest settlers in T. 9 N., R. 5 W., was born in Windom county, Vermont, September 21, 1794. Hardly six- teen years of age, he entered the army in the war of 1812, enlisting in Capt. Goodrich's company, 10th United States Infantry. He partici- pated in the battles of Chippewa Plains, Lundy's Lane and other bloody engagements. At Lundy's Lane he had a very narrow escape. His company went into the battle with 110 men and came out with only six. In 1821 he married Lucy Oaks, daughter of John and Lydia Oaks, of his native county. Soon after marriage he removed to Sara- toga county, New York. Thence he removed to Kirkwood, Warren

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county, Illinois, in 1835, again removing the next year to the N. W. } of Sec. 33, T. 9 N., R. 5 W., the first to settle on the prairie. Here he built his cabin and raised his family. The land was claimed by him under a soldier's warrant. Not long after he settled here an incident occurred that will illustrate the prominent traits of his character, promptness and decision. One evening a gentleman came to his door and said to Mr. Davis : "I have a claim on this land." Mr. Davis told him he must be mistaken. Still the stranger insisted on his claim. " Well, then, sir," said Mr. D., "I fought for this land onee, and ex- cept you leave I'll fight for it again." [Exit stranger. ] Events proved that he had mistaken the township, his claim being located in T. 9 N., R. 4 W. He extended his farm and built a commodious dwelling upon it in course of years, and was well known as a prosperous farmer. In the morning of December 10, 1874, he went to the residence of his daughter, Mrs. John Evans, Jr., and assisted at some work there. Later in the day he complained of feeling ill and went to the house, and soon after was in convulsions. He survived but a few hours, dying before medical aid could reach him. October 9, 1876, his wife was laid beside him in the cemetery on the home farm, aged seventy-nine.

ANDREW J. DAVIS, only son of the preceding, was born October 28, 1826, in Saratoga county, N.Y. He remained with his father unti. in 1850 he was carried with the tide of gold seekers to California. He returned to Illinois in the winter of 1851, and bought the Hiram Brooks farm the next year, on which he still resides. December S, 1853, he married Clarissa, daughter of Ira and Priscilla Miller. They began their housekeeping in the house built on the place by its former owner. Here Mrs. Miller died Jannary 7, 1870, and was buried in the homestead cemetery. She left five children, and one sleeps beside her : Ella Rosette, born July 8, 1856, and deceased September 29, 1865. The other children are : Charles H., born March 13, 1855 ; Francis Miller, August 18, 1858 ; Elmer A., April 22, 1862 ; Bertha Celia, October 10, 1863. Mr. Davis was married a second time Feb- ruary 28, 1872, to Mrs. Allen Hendryx, daughter of Allen and Mar- garet Taylor, of Burlington, Iowa. In 1876 he built his present resi- . dence, one of the evidences of his general thrift and prosperity.

CHARLES E. DREW was born in Steansted, P. Q., September 27, 1821, the eldest of six children of Abel Drew and Abigail Blake. His father was born in New Hampshire; removed to Canada in 1812, on account of excessive taxation, and there died July 1, 1878. Ilis mother, of Irish descent, is still living at the age of eighty-four years. Of their children, four are living: one son and two daughters in Canada, and the eldest, the subject of this sketch, in Henderson

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IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

county, Illinois. The last-named left home in 1837, and entered the army, enlisting in the heavy horse dragoons. Upon receiving his discharge he went to Boston, and remained there a year. Returning to Canada, he continued there until his removal to Burlington, Iowa, in 1848. Here he spent three years, clerking for Parsons, Copp & Parsons (succeeded by C. B. Parsons). Since 1851 he has been engaged in farming, with the exception of one year. For several years he rented, occupying the F. J. C. Peasley and various other farms ; then, in 1858, he bought a half interest in the Copp farm, and lived upon it until he purchased his present property in 1868, then unimproved, now one of the finest farms in this section. October 7, 1851, he married Harriet E. Brown, daughter of James H. Brown and Betsey A. Copp, both born in Canada. Mrs. Drew was born in Hatley, Steansted, P. Q., March 4, 1835. Her parents lived in T. 9 N., R. 5 W., until 1858, in which year they removed to their present home in Bur- lington, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Drew have had nine children, the fifth of whom, Dalnmn Ulysses, they buried November 5, 1876. Of the other children, Charles E. lives at Ottumwa, Iowa; Hattie M. (now Mrs. Benj. Johnson) in Macedonia county, Iowa; the remaining chil- dren, Addie E., Frank P., Lewis H., Willie W., Annis C., and Nettie V., are still under the parental roof. Mrs. Drew holds a mem- bership in the Olena Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Drew is a Freemason, belonging to the Carman lodge. He is a staunch repub- lican, who believes in letting his light shine. At present he holds the office of assessor for his township.

ABRAHAM WAGY was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1805, the son of Jacob and Barbara Wagy. The same year. the family removed to Pike county, Ohio ; thence, after a brief sojourn, to Ross county. Here they resided until 1849, when they removed to Adams county, Illinois. In May, 1855, the father died at the great age of ninety-seven years, at the time the oldest man in the county. His wife had been buried in Ohio twenty-five years before him. At the age of twenty Abraham left home and married. His wife is Louisa, daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Cooper. They settled first in Ross county, Ohio, but removed to Illinois with Jacob Wagy in 1849. Abraham Wagy, however, came to Henderson county, and bought near the vil- lage of Olena. At this village he worked at wagon-making and coop- ering until, in the year 1854, he purchased his present home. Mr. and Mrs. Wagy have had eight children, two of whom died at an early age. Of the other six, Sarah, wife of John Evans, Sr., is living at Gladstone, Illinois ; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Albert Mark, at Ottumwa, Iowa ; Philip, in Bourbon county, Kansas ; Jeremiah, in Oregon ;

Joseph Dipson

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OLENA TOWNSHIP.

Lemuel, in Warren county ; Abraham, near Raritan, Illinois. For nearly fifty years Mr. Wagy has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife are now connected with the church at Olena. In politics he was originally a democrat, but except his voting for Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, he has acted with the whig and republican parties.

LEMUEL WAGY, son of the preceding, lived with his parents until 1869, when, on the 29th day of March he married Sarah A., daughter of Kinzey and Eliza Hill, of Terre Haute, and made his home in Mt. Pleasant township, Warren county, Illinois. His wife departed this life in February, 1879, shortly after the birth of her youngest child, and is buried at Raritan. She left six children: William Sher- man, born in 1870; Lemuel F., in 1872; Elzey, in 1874; Grace, in 1876 ; Lovisa, in 1878; and Sarah A., in 1879. Mr. Wagy is con- nected with the masonic lodge at Raritan ; also with the order of United Workmen.

PETER NICHOLS was born in Forquer county, Virginia. In the year 1795, while still but a lad, he removed to Ross county, Ohio, with his parents, Samuel and Mary Nichols. Here his parents died, and here he was married, in 1812, to Elizabeth, daughter of Maj. Isaac Dawson and Sicha Williams. He lived in Ross county and various localities in Ohio until 1830, when he removed to Vego county, Indiana. Six years later he again removed his family, this time to Henderson county, Illinois. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Sandusky, Ohio. In 1857 he died at the age of seventy-seven, having buried his wife six years previously, at the age of fifty-seven. Mr. Nichols was by trade a miller and distiller, and followed his trade till he left Ohio ; after that he farmed until his death.

ISAAC NICHOLS, eldest son of the preceding, was born in Hocking county, Ohio, October 30, 1805. The first thirty years of his life he spent at his father's. At about the age of twenty-one he purchased the N. E. Į of Sec. 8, T. S N., 5 W. This he improved and afterward sold to Dr. Shaw, and in 1846 bought, under mortgage to the school district, of Wilson Kendall, the N. E. ¿ and the E. { of the N. W. { of Sec. 25, T. 9 N., 5 W. The previous year he married Nancy, daughter of Henry and Bethenia Carter, then of Warren county. Have had four children, two of whom were buried at the age of four years. Of the two living, Mary, the eldest, is the wife of William Wilsher, residing in township 9 north, 5 west, Henderson county : Amanda, the younger, with her husband, Henry King, resides with her parents. Mr. N. belongs to the fraternity of Freemasons, lodge No. 732, Carman, Illinois.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

FORTY-FIFTHI ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

Company I was recruited at Millersburg from Mercer and adjoining counties, by Oliver A. Bridgford. On October 20, 1861, the citizens turned out with their teams and took the men to Camp Blackhawk, near Rock Island. They remained there until November 20, when they were taken to Camp Donglas, Chicago, and there, on December 24, mustered into service in the 45th Illinois, known as the Wash- burn Lead Mine regiment, Col. John E. Smith, of Galena, command- ing. The company was organized with 95 men and the election of the following officers : O. A. Bridgford, captain ; James Balfour, first lieutenant ; and H. H. Boyce, second lieutenant. These officers were commissioned by Gov. Yates December 24, 1861. The regiment was ordered south Jannary 17, 1862, and was conveyed by rail to Cairo, where it remained in camp till February 3, and having been assigned to the brigade of Col. W. H. L. Wallace, and Gen. McClernand's division, moved and landed at Camp Halleck, below Fort Henry, on the 4th. The following day all able-bodied men were ordered to march with three days' rations, and the same evening they arrived at Fort Henry, just in time to see the rebels fleeing toward Fort Donelson. On the 12th it marched to Donelson and took a conspicuous part in the siege and capture of that stronghold. The flag of the 45th was the first on the rebel works. The regiment had several killed and 26 wounded. Among the latter was Lieut. Boyce, of Co. I. On March + it moved to the Tennessee river and embarked on the trans- port Silver Moon for Savannah, Tennessee, where it encamped a few days.

While there Oscar J. Duncan, of Co. I, mysteriously disap- peared. Ile was not feeling well and one night about twelve o'clock said he would go to get a drink. He left the tent and was never after- ward heard of. The Pinhook raid, lasting two days, was one of the diversions of the regiment while lying at Savannah. On the 25th it went to Pittsburg landing and camped near Shiloh church, and on the 6th and 7th of April fought on that ground, losing 26 killed and 199 wounded and missing, nearly one-half of the regiment. Company I lost 54, including the captain and first lieutenant, who were wounded, the latter mortally. The remaining 13 were commanded by the third corporal. The regiment remained on the battlefield until May 30; then it took up the line of march for Corinth and was present through- out the siege. It next marched to Jackson, Tennessee, and a part of the regiment, including Co. I, was stationed on the railroad to

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guard bridges. On the 31st of August the rebels, 4,000 strong, made an attack on Medan, where Co. I was encamped, but after four hours' hard fighting were forced to retire. The loss in the regiment was 3 killed, 13 wounded and 43 prisoners. Second Lieut. William L. Green, Co. I, was killed. Immediately afterward the regiment marched to Memphis and embarked for Vista plantation, where it re- mained until the movement was begun against Vicksburg from the rear.

Between the 1st and 15th of May it fought five memorable battles, and with distinguished bravery sustained the honor of our flag. These were Thompson's Hill (Port Hudson) on the 1st, Bayou Pierre the 3d, Raymond the 12th, Jackson the 14th, and Champion Hill the 15th. On the 30th of June McPherson's corps made an assault on the rebel works. Fort Hill had been mined, and the +5th was selected to charge into the breach when it should be blown up. A wide opening was rent in the massive earthworks, and into it the regiment went like an ava- lanche. A desolating storm of missiles thinned its ranks, but without faltering for a moment it planted its flag in the fort and held the posi- tion. This has been pronounced one of the grandest acts of the war. Three were killed and 54 wounded. The 23d, 25th, 31st, 56th and 124th Illinois regiments also took part in the action and shared the glory. In honor of its splendid condnet Gen. McPherson appointed the 45th to head the army on its entrance into Vicksburg, and ordered that its regimental flag be hoisted over the court-house of the city. It was sent in a few days to Black river, where it remained till the winter of 1863-4, when, having re-enlisted, it went home on veteran furlough of thirty days. Meantime it had been on the famous Meridian raid, and done lighter service, with some skirmishing.

On the expiration of furlough the regiment reassembled at Free- port, Illinois, where it received a large number of recruits. Co. I was increased to about 80. In the month of April the command went by rail to Cairo, thence by steamer to Clifton, Tennessee, and from there it marched across the country and joined Sherman's army at Cartersville, Georgia. It remained there about two months, gnard- ing the bridge across the Etowali and patroling the railroad, and then took its place with the army in front of Atlanta. After the fall of the city the regiment followed Hood back nearly to the Tennessee river ; then returning to Atlanta, went on the march to the sea. About the middle of January it was transferred by water from Savannah to Bean- fort, whence it started, about the 1st of February, on the campaign of the Carolinas. At the crossing of the Salkahatchie, at River's bridge, the regiment was engaged a whole day. Again at Orangeburg it met

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

the enemy, and also at Bentonville. It proceeded with the rest of the army to Washington and took part in the grand review. Then it went by rail to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out July 12. 1865, and arrived in Chicago the 15th for final payment and discharge. The 45th achieved a high reputation for gallant service. When first mustered in it had 960, rank and file ; when it returned on veteran fur- lough its ranks had been thinned by disease and battle to 231. They were recruited to 705, of whom 393 men and 17 officers were all who returned on the final muster-out.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 101

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424