USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 110
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 110
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To the northwest Keithsburg may be seen modestly trying to con- ceal herself among the trees, which her tasty citizens have set along- side her thoroughfares. Here nature is more profuse in her display than for miles around.
" Here summer first unfolds her robes, And here the longest tarries."
Here is the favorite pleasure resort of the people for many miles around. From here the last remnant of Black Hawk's tribe, whose hands were reeking with the gory tribute of revenge, standing upon the point of this bluff, while its rounded crest is gilded with the glitter and glare of the rapidly sinking May-day evening sun, with heaving bosoms and tear-stained faces they bade a last sad adieu to their home of other days, and were soon gone across the Mississippi, to return -- never.
Here, July 4, 1851, occurred a very serious accident. A swing had been put up on the point of the bluff, so that in its sweep to and fro it went far out over the side of the bluff. Among others, in her turn, a Miss Nancy Van Eaton was in the swing when it broke, precipitating her a distance of forty feet, where she was picked up more dead than alive by W. H. Heaton. She recovered and is still living.
July 4, 1862, at a celebration occurred an event intensely interest- ing to the rude element, which formed so large a part of society of that time, being a desperate fist encounter between two rival devotees of the art of bruising. The conflicting statements of spectators, colored in many cases by prejudice, would lead us to the belief that the result was satisfactory to neither party. One of the combatants, St. Clair (Chane) Watts, afterward enlisted in the 50th Ill. Reg., of which he was chosen color-bearer, and his was the first flag planted on the walls
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of Fort Donelson, thus proving that his courage was not all of the lower order. He went through the war without a scratch.
This tract was nearly all military land. The precinct is one of the last settled in the county. Who the first settler was we have been unable to definitely ascertain. The earliest one of which we have any definite information is Moses Cowan, who settled on Sec. 18, about the year 1836; the farm is now occupied by W. H. Phelps. John P. Robinson settled one mile south of the bluff about the same date, and Isaiah Willetts on Sec. 8, Dr. Thomas Willetts on Secs. 4 and 5. James Fullerton was also one of the first settlers. He built a cabin on the S. W. ¿ of Sec. 8, known as the Heaton farm. James Halsey settled near where Belmont church now stands, in the year 1842, and in the year following built the first frame house in the precinct.
Charles Watson, who subsequently married a daughter of Mr. Halsey, came the same year, opening a farm near by, upon which he still lives. Luther Watson, a brother of Charles, came about the same time, and settled near. James Heaton and his sons settled on this quarter, and bought it in 1852. They also purchased the quarter south of it, and the N. W. { of Sec. 17, where they lived until 1870. They claim to have raised 100 bushels of corn to the acre on the part of this land, which adjoins the timber on the north side of the bluff. They also raised three tons of hay to the acre. When the land was new it was very productive, thirty bushels of spring wheat being an average yield.
Thomas Flack, a son of merry England, settled on section 9, and by dint of hard toil and careful economy he has gathered about him a competence.
William R. Green located at his present home, on section 16, in 1851. He was the first justice of the peace ever elected in the pre- cinct, and also was its first school treasurer. His son Charles, who helped his father change this virgin prairie into a highly productive farm, has, for nearly a score of years, been post-master at the county seat.
In 1852 John Cooper, a native of Pennsylvania, with his parents,' came to Wayne county, Indiana, soon after which his father died. He grew to manhood ; learned the trade of a carpenter. Thinking to better his fortunes, in 1852 he walked and drove twenty-five head of cattle and sixteen head of hogs across Indiana and through Illinois to Henderson county. In company with his brother, Moses, he bought a quarter section in Greenville precinct, and went to work on it. A few years subsequently he sold to his brother and bought in Bald Bluff, where he now owns a thousand acres of well cultivated land, with good buildings, which were built with his own hands.
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IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
William Morris, who subsequently entered the army and became a captain, settled in the southeast corner of the precinct in 1852, where he nows owns a splendid farm. He is also largely interested in cattle growing in the Indian Territory.
John Laird settled, about the same time, just across the river from Capt. Morris, and is still living there.
James Armstrong and John Rowley, brothers-in-law, came from Boston, Massachusetts, and settled on section 10, which was then an unbroken prairie, which they now own and have transformed into highly productive farms.
Solomon Clark had settled, in 1854, on Sec. 12, T. 12, R. 5, and in the same year James D. Clark, now a leading grocer in Keithsburg, opened a farm in the same vicinity. Two years subsequently to this, in the spring, Henry Clark built the house now occupied by T. J. Moffett, on section 7, and moved his family from Fountain county, Indiana, into their new home in the autumn following. About this time the Spees, another family of Clarks, and a man by the name of Taylor, settled to the west and farther sonth in section 12, range 5. The first school taught in the precinct was taught by Mary Bool Glancey, now Mrs. Thomas J. Moffett, in 1851. The school-house was built of logs and stood on section 18, on the west slope of the bluff. The principal patron of the school was Isaiah Willetts, Esq., now of Keithsburg, with whom the school mistress boarded. Mrs. Moffett now lives near the scene of her early labor. There are now seven schools in the precinct, known as Centreville and Sunny Grove, in section 12, range 5, and Belmont, Douglas, Harmony, Cornstalk, and Sixteen, in section 12, range 4-all in a flourishing condition with the exception of No. 2, Douglas, which seems to be a bone of contention among those who should be its most ardent supporters.
CHURCHES.
There are but two churches in the precinet, the Belmont Episcopal church and the Wesleyan Methodist, of Bald Bluff, both of which are in a flourishing condition. When the Belmont church society was organized, is a date in its history which we have not been able to rec- oncile, on account of conflict of authority, but prior to the building of the church edifice, the society held meetings at different places, among them Belmont school-house, which were officiated at by itinerant ministers. Early in 1860 the people resolved to have a church build- ing and immediately took the necessary steps to do so, as the following exhibit will show :
Henry M. Weiterman
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BALD BLUFF TOWNSHIP.
STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF HENDERSON. S Is.
We do hereby certify that at a meeting of the society of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, holden at the Belmont school-house, in Dist. No. 6,T. 12 N., R. 4 W. of the 4th P.M., on the 14th day of March, 1860, for the election of trustees. We, the undersigned, were duly elected under the name and title of the Trustees of the Belmont Methodist Episcopal church, and that the term of service of said trustees expires when they shall be removed by death or a vote of said society.
Given under our hands and seals this 26th day of March, 1865.
CHARLES WATSON, ROYAL RANNEY,
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM MORY,
LUTHER WATSON, JAMES H. HULECK,
JEREMIAHI BIVENS, GEORGE SLOAN,
JAMES HOLLINROKE.
The congregation is now under the leadership of Rev. Cole ; has a membership of about fifty. The Belmont church has been a power in the upholding of the cause of Christ in its vicinity. The building is a frame structure, 28×40, and was built in the year 1860.
BALD BLUFF WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.
BY REV. A. R. BROOKS.
This church was organized March 15, 1868, Rev. J. A. McGilvra, pastor ; R. E. Cassel, class steward. The following is a list of the church members at the time of organization: R. E. Cassel, Perry Cooper, Francis Ann Cooper, William Goff, Mary Goff, Francis Pat- tern, Lycurgus Cooper, Leroy Cooper, Harriet Crawford, Christian Edwards, Judith Miller. This little band worshiped for a long time in Sixteen school-house, but in the year 1878 they erected a commodious house of worship. This work was due in a great measure to the untir- ing labors of the Rev. Joseph Campbell. The following is a list of the pastors who have served the church since its organization : Revs. J. A. McGilvra, organizer, from March 15, 1867, to September, 1868 ; S. G. Cheny, April, 1868, to April, 1871 ; F. Barton, April, 1871, to September, 1871 ; A. D. Manly, September, 1871, to September, 1872 ; H. Breckenridge, September, 1872, to September, 1874; L. Davis, September, 1874, to September, 1875 ; Joseph Campbell, September, 1875, to September, 1878; W. W. Stewart, September, 1878, to Sep- tember, 1879; A. R. Brooks, present pastor.
This church has passed through severe trials, being strictly reform- atory in its organization and discipline, and holding definitely to the doctrine of vital holiness as a distinct christian attainment in personal.
65
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
experience. Many souls have been converted to the Saviour through the instrumentality of this organization. Some of its original mem- bers have now passed over to the silent majority ; some have gone to distant lands and are still laboring to build up the Master's kingdom there. The church is striving amid much opposition to advance the cause of true religion. It maintains regular services, has two out- stations, and carries on a union Sabbath school. The church building is now owned in part by the said Wesleyan Methodist church and in part by a joint stock company. List of present members : A. Patten, Frances Patten, Mary Ball, Reuben Ball, Louisa Ricketts, James Smith, Croyse, Richard McCullen, A. R. Brooks, M. E. Brooks, Hattie Brooks, William Speck, Olive M. Speck, Louisa Staley. The church membership at present scarcely exceeds in number the original charter members. Its membership has been greatly diminished of late by emigration and removal of members.
Bald Bluff precinct was a part of Oquawka until its separate organi- zation, September 8, 1858. Commeneing on the line dividing Warren and Henderson counties, where the Henderson river crosses said line, thence following said river west to where it crosses the east and west lines through center of Sec. 29, T. 12. R. 4 W. ; thence due west to the Mississippi river : thence with the river to the Mercer county line ; thence east to the line between Warren and Henderson counties. September 10, 1874, by order of the county board, the following terri- tory was added : all that part of T. 12 N., R. + W. formerly belong- ing to Greenville precinct, except the west half of section 33, and that part of sections 31 and 32 lying south and east of Henderson river. Fifty years ago there was not a white inhabitant in the precinct. The census of 1880 showed it to have a population of 964 souls.
Below is a list of justices of the peace and constables, with the date of their qualification, after the separate organization of the precinct :
Justices of the peace: John Rowley, November 31, 1857 ; Will- iam R. Green, November 2, 1858 ; William R. Green, November 5, 1861 ; James Kile, November 7, 1865 ; William R. Green, November 31, 1868 ; James Kile, November 2, 1869 ; William R. Green, November 2, 1869 ; James Mitchell, November S, 1870 ; James Kile, November 4, 1873 : John H. Rice, November 7, 1876; William E. Smith, November 6, 1877 ; John H. Rice, November 6, 1877 ; John H. Rice, November S, 1881 ; John Home, June 5, 1882.
Constables : James H. Halsey, November 21, 1858 ; Andrew L. Morris, November 3, 1859; Andrew L. Morris, November 5, 1861; Arthur Roberts, June 14, 1862 ; Merit R. Green, November 3, 1863 ; Elisha, N. Kile, November 27, 1867 ; Levi W. Armstrong, December
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19, 1868 ; Merit R. Green, November 2, 1869 ; Henry Hodson, November 4, 1873 ; James Z. MeCurdy, November 4, 1873 ; Merit R. Green, November 4, 1874; William Morris, November 6, 1877; F. M. Scott. November 6, 1877 ; Henry Hodson, November 4, 1879 ; Merit R. Green, June 8, 1881 ; Merit R. Green, November 8, 1881.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN COOPER, one of the largest landholders in this section of the county, was born July S. 1817. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Jennings) Cooper, were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. In 1817 they moved to Wayne county, Indiana, where he. (William Cooper) died a few years later, and is buried in the orthodox Quakers' graveyard. His wife is still living (1882) at the advanced age of ninety-six years. William Cooper was a soldier in the war of 1812. He became the father of nine children : Perry (died in Kansas), Moses (of Henderson county), John, Sarah (now Mrs. Lewis McClain), Bald- win (of Wayne county, Indiana), Anna, Ephraim, Matilda (dead), and Eunice. All came to Illinois except Sarah. John Cooper was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He was but three months old when his parents removed to Indiana. His life thus far has been sixty- five years of rural surroundings and experiences. His schooling was acquired in the log school-house, with its slab benches, mud chimney, etc. His youthful arm wielded the axe that felled tree after tree till the Indiana farm was cleared. At the age of eighteen years he engaged at the carpenter's trade, which he followed fifteen years. He became owner of a large part of the Indiana homestead. In 1852 he sold his property and started for Illinois. He drove about fifty head of cattle and ten or fifteen head of hogs from Indiana to Henderson county, walking all the way himself. The journey was a tedious one, so muddy was it. Mr. Cooper, in company with his brother Moses, bought 160 acres of land in T. 11 N., R. 4 W. In two or three years lie sold his interest to his brother and purchased in Bald Bluff precinct. He has continued adding till he now has 1,014 acres of land. He has done his own building. Industry and economy of time by expenditure in machinery, etc., have marked his career. Although Mr. Cooper has been town trustee and has filled some minor offices, vet he meddles but little with politics any more than to vote his republican principles. Mr. Cooper was married March 6, 1845, to Martha Smith, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana. She died leaving two children : Rauseldon, born December 24, 1845, now state's attorney for Henderson county, and Martha Elnora, born June 21, 1847. Mr. Cooper was next married, October 27, 1864, to Mary A.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Crawford, daughter of Jacob and Sophia Crawford, then of Henderson county. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana. This union has been blessed with nine children: Frank, born September 6, 1865; Carleton, born January 10, 1867: Emma, born December 15, 1868 : John, born October 16, 1870; Eva, born August 16, 1872; Ada, born April 30, 1874 ; Sophia, born March 4. 1876 ; Howard, born August 15, 1879; and Jennie, born April 10. 1882. Mr. Cooper's portrait is found in its proper place.
GEORGE H. VOGT was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 9, 1836. He is the son of Frederick and Caroline Vogt. The elder Vogt carried on the tanning business, and George learned the trade and worked at the business at Chandlersville, Ohio. At the age of twenty- two Mr. Vogt reached the conclusion that it was not good for man to be alone (he felt that way about himself at least), and on November 1, 1858, he was married to Miss Sarah S. Few, daughter of Thomas and Harriet Few. Mr. Vogt removed from Ohio to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1867. and after a residence of four years in Mercer he located in Henderson county, where he now resides. He considers farming his legitimate business, but still he has such a fondness for live stock that he does a great deal of buying and shipping of cattle and hogs. Mr. Vogt has been a member of the I.O.O.F. since 1864, and a member of the masonic fraternity since 1857. The first ballot that Mr. Vogt had the honor of depositing for President was given to the " Little Giant" of Illinois ; but he is now, and has been for a good many years, a mem- ber of the republican party. When Mr. and Mrs. Vogt started up the steps of time together, they had the misfortune to have their residence consumed by fire and all their goods destroyed; but their hearts did not fail them because of their misfortune; it rather nerved them for a more earnest battle with life's cares. Mrs. Vogt was born in Muskin- gum county, Ohio, March 10, 1839. They have three children : Durward F., Fannie M., and Lewis S. Mr. Vogt has an excellent farm of 160 acres under a good state of cultivation. The parents of Mr. Vogt were natives of Germany. Mr. Vogt is a genial, big-hearted, companionable gentleman, and has a strong sympathy for all mankind.
REUBEN S. WOLFF was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1832. IIe is the son of Christian and Steinner Wolff. They were born, respectively, October 30, 1791, and March 6, 1781, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He went with his parents to Cum- berland county in the spring of 1870. He is a carpenter by trade and followed the business for some years. He came to Henderson county in the spring of 1871. Here he is engaged in farming. He was married in 1852 to Caroline Mellinger, daughter of L. Mellinger. He is a Universalist in religion.
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Mrs. NANCY HARRIS, daughter of Richard and Anna Gregar, was born in Kentucky, February 12, 1817. She married Nelson Harris ; came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1861. They lived in the village of Joy about four years ; they then moved to Henderson county, Illinois. where she lives at present. She was married in April, 1838. He died February 1, 1870. She is an Episcopalian.
A. RUSSELL was born December 5, 1827, in the State of Ohio. He came to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1835, and located near where Gladstone now stands. Here he followed farming and stone quarrying until 1858, when he bought a farm in the northeast part of Henderson county, where he resided until his death, which occurred June 2, 1879. He left a wife and two children to mourn his departure. The elder child of the two is Williani L., who was born August 24, 1857 ; and the other is Park, born August 29, 1860. Mrs. Russell, to whom Mr. Russell was married September 22, 1856, was Miss Elmira Cowan, daughter of John and Sarah Cowan, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Russell was born in Warren county, Ohio, September 24, 1824. In 1829 she went with her family to Indiana, and resided there until 1836, when they removed to HIender- son county, Illinois, where Mrs. Russell's home has ever since been.
GEO. W. DITro was born in Shelby county, Ohio, March 29, 1820. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1836, where he remained until 1840. He then removed to Texas, where he resided until 1849, when he returned to Mercer county. He was married March 9, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of John F. and Nancy Davis. She was born July 13, 1834. She was the sixth daughter. Her parents came to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Pike county, near the Fall river. Mr. Ditto bought a farm here and put improvements on it, and in 1852 he came to Henderson county, and improved the farm on which he now resides. Mr. Ditto has been school director of Douglass district for thirty years. He owns 667 acres of land. He is a strong green backer politically.
JOHN ROWLEY was born in Connaught county, Ireland, September 4. 1818. He removed with his parents to New Brunswick in 1839, and remained there until 1844. He then removed to Massachusetts, where he remained until 1854, and then came to Henderson county, Illinois. He formerly worked at the tanner's trade; but since he has been a resident of Illinois he has devoted his time to farming. He was married in 1849, to a daughter of William and Mary Armstrong. They have four children : William J., born January 11, 1850 ; Janney R., December 26, 1858; George H., August 12, 1867 ; Samuel, August 24, 1868. He has a farm of 420 acres of good land,
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
all well improved, with good buildings. He organized the first school district ever organized in the township. He was formerly a repub- lican, but is now a greenbacker.
JOHN LAIRD was born in Scotland in 1826. He was educated in Ireland in the common schools. He came to Henderson county, Illi- nois, in 1850, where he has since resided. IIe has always followed farming as a business. He was married July 3, 1848, in New York, to Elizabeth Mason, who was the daughter of James and Margaret Mason. She died at the age of twenty-seven years, and Mr. Laird again married, this time selecting the daughter of James and Ellen Venable. The names of their children are : George, born August 18, 1858: Jennie, born November 10, 1860; Ralph, February 15, 1862 ; Joseph, born January 13, 1865; Charlie, born October 15, 1867; Levi, born January 15, 1880 ; and Staley, born March 1, 1881. Mr. Laird owns a farm of 500 acres.
He is a democrat politically.
THOMAS S. FLACK was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1821. IIe removed with his father's family to Virginia in 1837. He received only a common school education. He followed teaming from Columbia to Baltimore from 1843 to 1853. He then removed to Oquawka, Henderson county, Illinois, remaining in that town but a short time, and then removing on the farm on which he now lives. IIe has been very successful in his efforts in life. He now owns a fine farm of 400 acres of good land, and it is all under a good state of cultivation. His buildings are all good and he has plenty of all kinds of stock around him.
SAMUEL MICKEY was born in Richland county, Ohio. He came to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1851. He received a common school education. He came to Illinois with a team, the trip being long and tedious in those early days. Mr. Mickey learned the blacksmith trade, which business he followed for ten years, in partnership with James Cunningham in Oquawka, at the end of which time he removed to Bald Bluff township, and engaged in farming in the spring of 1865. Mr. Mickey is a member of the Odd-Fellows order. He is a Methodist in his church relations. He was married in 1852. He is in good circumstances.
WILLIAM MORRIS was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, October 20, 1820. 1 His parents were Virginians. He received a common school education. and came to Illinois and located in Henderson county in 1846. Mr. Morris took a trip overland to Colorado in 1850 and re- turned in 1851 to Illinois. In 1861 Mr. Morris enlisted as a private soldier in the Union army and took his place in the Blackhawk cavalry. At the battle of Independence he received a wound in the head from a
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musket ball on August 11, 1862. He was confined to the hospital until September 29, when he returned home. Mr. Morris was married January 9, 1843, to Eva A. Carpenter. They have been blessed with three children : John, Myrin C., and George N. Mr. Morris has a fine farm of 317 acres, well improved. Mr. Morris is an earnest green- backer, casting the only vote for Peter Cooper for President which that distinguished philanthropist received in Bald Bluff township. In two years from the time named, when the one vote for the greenback cause stood sad and alone, 401 votes were cast for the greenback candidate for congress, and Mr. Morris felt proud, as he had a right to, over the large accession to his political ranks in his own precinct. Mr. Morris is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been since 1857. He is also a member of the masonic fraternity and stands high as a citizen.
JAMES H. HALSEY was born in Ohio, August 15, 1833. His parents were natives of New York. He received a liberal education in the schools of Oquawka and then removed to his farm, twelve miles north- east of Oquawka, where he has ever since resided. He was a soldier in the Union army from August 15, 1862, until the close of the war. He was in Co. C, 91st Ill. Vols. He was married March 5, 1857, to Ellen M. Armstrong, daughter of William and Nancy Armstrong. They have four children : Ellen N., Sarah E., Mary L., and Jennie R. He has a farm of 160 acres. . He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
EPHRAIM COOPER was born in Wayne county, Indiana, December 18, 1825. His parents were Pennsylvanians. He was married Sep- tember 15, 1862. to Ruth Malady, daughter of John and Ruth Malady. They have two children. Mr. Cooper owns 173 acres of land. In the earlier part of his life Mr. Cooper followed the business of carpenter and joiner.
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