History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 114

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 114
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 114

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Mr. WILLIAM J. CHARD, son of William and Mary Chard, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, emigrated from Scioto county, that state, to Warren county, Illinois, in 1845 ; but after a residence of one year there came to Walnut Grove township, Henderson county, and settled near where Mr. Chard now resides. Cast upon his own resources and compelled to make choice of an occupation, the independent life of a farmer was chosen by Mr: Chard. Beginning life with nothing, he has now about him all the comforts of life, having for many years given his attention to stock raising and farming. On November 30, 1854, he was married

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to Miss Louisa Jane Duncan, daughter of Charles Duncan, of McDon- ough county, Illinois. Of this marriage there are seven children, the eldest of whom, Calvin D., died when but two years of age. All the rest, Alfred M., Luella J., Ola E., Charlie D., Dennis A. and Harry L., are at home with their parents. In 1878, after a tour through the west to Walla Walla, Washington Territory, where he is planning to remove soon, Mr. Chard returned to his home, where he has exceed- ing happiness in his home relations of his six interesting children.

The subject of this sketch, RICHARD H. CORRELL, farmer, of Walnut Grove township, was born December 18, 1847, near Lancaster, Han- cock county, Illinois. His father was a native of the State of Tennes- see, where he was born in 1823, and when yet a child his parents removed to Hancock county, Illinois, where their eldest son, Richard H., was born. Here, too, he passed his childhood and early youth, receiving his education in the common schools of the immediate vicinity of his home. After his parents removed to Henderson county Mr. Correll met Miss Elizabeth Weaver, to whom he was united in mar- riage on June 18, 1878. Mrs. Correll is the daughter of Jacob and Ann Eliza (Dobbin) Weaver, both of whom are natives of Washington county, New York, and residents of Walnut Grove township. Of this marriage two children have been born : the elder, Clinnie Lorena, and the younger, William. Mr. Correll's father's name was Jacob Addison Correll, and his children are : Richard H., Mary Elizabeth (wife of William Duncan), Cincinnattus, and Alice (wife of Daniel Galbraith). Our subject now resides on the old homestead of 180 acres, on section 11, where he gives his attention to farming and stock raising.

WILLIAM G. PENDARVIS, farmer, Walnut Grove township, was born May 21, 1838, in Schuyler county, Illinois. His father, Samuel F. Pendarvis, who was an honored resident of Henderson county, died on March 1, 1875, leaving seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, to mourn their loss. All of them save one, who resides in Alma, Harlan county, Nebraska, are residents of this state. The subject of this sketch, Mr. William G. Pendarvis, passed his early days in Schuyler county, where he grew up and received his early education. When he was sixteen years of age, in 1854, his parents came to Henderson county. Ten years after, in 1864, he was married to Miss Sarah Salisbury, daughter of Seneca Salisbury, of Warren county. Of this marriage five children were born, four of whom are still living : Mary Ettie, Emma J., Alice I. and Lewis M. On August 27, 1876, Mrs. Pendarvis passed away, leaving behind four interesting and promising children to mourn their loss. On October 3, 1878, Mr. Pendarvis was married to Miss Mary E. Noakes. Their offspring are Ollie May and

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Sydney A. Save a good constitution, Mr. Pendarvis began life with but little. He now has 160 acres of land in sections 26 and 35, on the latter of which he resides. Here he gives his attention to farming and stock raising.

LEMUEL A. PENDARVIS, farmer, Walnut Grove, a son of Samuel F. Pendarvis, was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1843. So far as the name is concerned he would seem to be of French extraction, though the place from which his forefathers emigrated would point to Scotch descent. After the emigration of his parents to Henderson county, Mr. Pendarvis received his education in the common schools. On April 1, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Richardson, daughter of Emanuel Richardson. To these parents have been born three children : the eldest is named Perry P .; the second child, also a son, Albert R .; the youngest is called Earle A. Up to the time of his father's death, which occurred in 1875, Mr. Pendarvis remained with him on the old homestead. After his father's death he added to his farm eighty acres, so that he now has 160, upon which he resides, paying attention chiefly to farming and stock raising.

JOHN A. BROOK, farmer, Walnut Grove township, son of Isaiah and Jane Brook, of Gladstone township, was born December 14, 1839. He received his early education in the common school near his father's home, and afterward spent some time in the United Presbyterian College at Monmouth, completing his studies. While still young he was attacked with rheumatism, which rendered him almost helpless for a time, from the effects of which he has never recovered. On August 27, 1867, Mr. Brook was married to Miss Sarah A. Carothers, daughter of Andrew Carothers, an old resident of Henderson county. Of this marriage five children have been born, the second of whom died in infancy : Anna Jane, born September 16, 1868; John Cecil, born April 18, 1872; Lydia, born June 16, 1874; Nellie Myrtle, born No- vember 18, 1877. Mr. Brook is the owner of about 440 acres of land, lying in three farms, his residence being on Sec. 6, T. 9, R. 4. IIe has served one term as assessor and treasurer of Henderson county, and in 1878 he was appointed school treasurer of the township in which he resides, and still holds that office. Mr. Brook is an elder in the United Presbyterian church at Olena, of which church he has been a member for several years.

The subject of this sketch, FRANCIS MARION DAVIDSON, was born on December 15, 1830, in Gibson county, Indiana. His parents were Frederic and Elizabeth Davidson, who were of Scotch descent. Mrs. Davidson's father served during the whole of the revolutionary war, and was with Gen. Morgan. In 1835 Mr. Davidson's parents removed

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to what was then Warren county, since become Henderson. Here he passed his youth obtaining his education in the common schools, and has since carried on his studies in private. On January 29, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary Ann Rankin, daughter of Aleck Rankin, of Walnut Grove township. Mr. Davidson was a mechanic by nature, and in 1850 he began to buy books on mechanics. When the old chaff pilers, which were so hard on horses, came around, Mr. David- son began to figure and plan to invent an engine that would take the place of horse power. After working on the subject about a year, in 1856 he sent to Chillicothe, Ohio, and had a new engine made for him according to his patterns. On this engine he added two improve- ments, one as to the copper tubes, another as to the stroke. In 1858 he drafted a new engine, changing the cylinder so as to increase the power. This engine, which was not completed until 1861, Mr. Davidson named the John C. Henan. After three or four years' study and examination of the best engines in the country, Mr. David- son drafted the Monarch engine, which he completed in May, 1882. This engine has a complete steering apparatus and headlight, and runs on the road from six to ten miles an hour. In addition to other improvements the Monarch has a tender which carries wood and water. This engine is a complete success, and is a model in its way, being able to do the work of a half dozen teams in the field per day. The eldest of Mr. Davidson's family of six children died in infancy ; five are still living: Darius John, Dion, Francis Marion, Annis and Sarah Elizabeth, and are all at home. Mr. Davidson is a democrat in his politics, and was at one time up for a state office, but was on the wrong side and was not elected. In addition to his milling and stock interests, Mr. Davidson has over 2,000 acres of land. He now resides in Kirkwood.

JOSEPH MATHERS, eldest son of Samuel and Jane (Greer) Mathers, may be ranked as one of the influential men of Walnut Grove town- ship. His father, Samuel Mathers, of Ireland, ran away from home in youth and took ship for America. The ship having gone down in a storm off the coast of the "New Land," he was carried ashore by a sailor and afterward went to Quebec, where he was married to Jane Greer. After residing in Pennsylvania for some years he removed with his family to Henderson county, Illinois, where several of his sons still reside. Here he died on August 19, 1859. His estimable wife is still living and resides on the old homestead, Sec. 28, T. 9, R. 4. Joseph Mathers, his eldest son, began life with nothing, working for five dollars a month once, but now has a large and exceedingly beau- tiful farm of 500 acres. On May 16, 1850, he was married to Mary

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Ramsay, daughter of David Ramsay. Nearly three years later, accom- panied by his wife and brother, Mr. Mathers set out, in a wagon drawn by five yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows, for the gold regions of Cali- fornia. Here he remained two years, returning by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Although Mr. and Mrs. Mathers have no children of their own, yet they have raised one, George Gilmore by name, now married and living in Kansas. One day, while in Gibsonville, California, a mining town, Mrs. Mathers, having heard of a child born over the mountains whose mother had died, rode a mule to Rabbit creek and brought the child home, but raised it with difficulty, for milk was fifty cents a quart, and it was hard to get at that. Since returning to his home Mr. Mathers has given his attention to stock raising and farming, and by persevering industry and careful economy he has made for himself a large competence.

ROBERT MATHERS, son of Samuel and Jane (Greer) Mathers, was born August 18, 1827, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. In his early youth he emigrated with his parents to Henderson county, where, in 1860, he was married to Alzora Z. Powell, daughter of Nathan Powell, since deceased. Of this marriage seven children have been born, the fourth of whom, Robert E., is dead. All the rest, Eugene Wesley, Dora Mary, Lois Effie, Joseph James, Samuel Nathan and Ethel Sarah, are at home with their parents. It is a truism that indus- try and perseverance bring sure success. To this rule Mr. M. is no exception. Beginning life with nothing but his hands, and laboring for eight dollars a month, Mr. Mathers has steadily accumulated prop- erty until he has a farm of 320 acres' and become the possessor of a good name, whose price is above rubies.

DAVID W. MCCARTNEY, next to the youngest son of John McCartney, was born July 2, 1826, in McMinn county, Tennessee, and emi- grated with his parents when fourteen years old to what is now Henderson county, Illinois, and settled in T. 9, R. 4. His father was born August 24, 1787, and his mother, Margaret, in 1789. After their. marriage they removed from Tennessee in 1840, and after a short residence in Warren and McDonough counties, Illinois, they finally settled in Henderson county in 1847. As a volunteer under the com- mand of Gen. Jackson, his father served in the war against the Creeks in 1812-13, and was at the capture of Pensacola, Florida. Four years after his father's death, Mr. McCartney was married on September 10, 1851, to Miss Rachel Moore, daughter of Andrew and Margaret Moore. Of this marriage five children have been born. In 1870 the eldest son, John A., died at the age of nineteen, just in the beginning of his young manhood. The second son, William M., after marrying Miss Celia

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Burchell, moved to Mills county, Iowa. Albert E. and David Ells- worth have also removed to Iowa, and now live in Pottawatamie county. The youngest. Nettie, is at home. Of Mr. McCartney's character and worth it is enough to say that he has been three times appointed deputy assessor, besides holding several terms of office in connection with the school. At the organization of this district Mr. McCartney's father was the secretary, the minutes of that meeting still remaining, and the first school-house also was erected by Mr. McCart- ney. Though he began with nothing, Mr. M. has now a beautiful home and farm, and has gained the confidence and esteem of his fellows.

Among the early prominent settlers of Henderson county is to be found the name of WILLIAM P. THOMPSON, son of Joshua Thompson, who served in the war of 1812. Mr. Thompson was born October 16, 1811, in Washington county, Indiana, in which state he was raised, and in whose common schools he was educated until about twenty years of age, when he attended a Quaker seminary near Salem. In 1838 he was married to Miss Sarah Moore, daughter of Abram Moore, of which marriage five children were born. The eldest, Greenbury Calvin, volunteered in Co. B, 91st regiment. He afterward went to Colorado, where he served one hundred days in the Indian campaign on the Big Sandy. When on his way from Atchison to Colorado he was taken sick and died. His body was brought to South Prairie cemetery by his father and there interred. Mary J., who married Mr. H. Garrett, is also dead. Robert M. is now engaged in farming for himself, near his parents. Emma A. is now married to Thomas Gar- rett. The youngest, Walter J., is now (1882) in Iowa, feeding stock and shipping. In the days of Mr. Thompson's early pioneering there were many privations to undergo. Deer covered the prairies, turkeys, wolves, bears, and a few panthers, were in the woods. It was miles to mill, to the postoffice, and the nearest doctor was out near Monmouth. Yet though he began with little, Mr. Thompson has now S50 acres of land and a competent fortune, and has also gained the better inherit- ance of his neighbors' respect and esteem.

Prominent among the early pioneers of Henderson county is Mr. JOHN BARNETT. He was born in Northumberland county, Virginia, on December 14, 1812. His father, John B. Barnett, and mother, Mary Hayden Barnett, were both natives of Virginia, the former having been born in Matthews county and the latter in Lancaster county. On April 2, 1834, Mr. Barnett was married to Alice Moore, daughter of Charles and Mary Moore, whose grandfather fought in the revolutionary war, and whose father served during the war of 1812. In the spring

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of 1837, April 20, Mr. Barnett and his wife left their early home, and having placed all their worldly effects in a wagon, started for the far west. After a journey of two months they came to what is now Hen- derson county, Illinois, and settled on section 12, Walnut Grove town- ship, on June 22. As the woods at this time were filled with game of all kinds, they obtained plenty of food and soon had a start in life. By persevering labor and careful economy Mr. B. has amassed quite a fortune, now owning three farms, one in Iowa, a second near Kirk- wood, besides the homestead, in all over 880 acres. Some idea of the early privations of those pioneer days may be gained by saying that their cooking utensils consisted of a skillet, six tin plates and a kettle in which they boiled water for coffee, made corn bread, fried their meat and boiled their clothes. In addition to these earthly treasures, Mr. B. has been blessed with a large family of ten children : Lucy Ann, Peter, Mary C., Charles R., Elizabeth F. (long since dead), Eliza, John Wesley, Catharine, Anne Maria and Ellen Josephine, the youngest. Among those lofty souls who fought for their country was the second child, Peter, who served during all the rebellion. He was shot twice, the second time through the hip, a wound that in his last days troubled him much, and probably helped to shorten his life. He never asked for a pension, but had nearly completed arrangements to do so, when he died at his home in Kansas at a time when least anticipated. Mr. Barnett was originally a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his family are members. He resides, together with his excellent wife and youngest daughter, on the old homestead where he settled some forty-five years ago, and retains the respect of all who know him.

N. R. MARTIN, farmer, Walnut Grove township, son of James H. Martin, of Warren county, was born June 20, 1851, near Sugar Tree Grove, in Warren county, Illinois. In this county Mr. Martin passed the days of early youth and manhood, receiving his education in the common schools of Monmouth, and in the Business College of Gales- burgh, Illinois, of which his brother is at the head. In 1876 he was married to Miss Aggie Rankin, daughter of James Rankin. Of this marriage one daughter was born, Maudie Agnes, on March 14, 1878. When she was but three and a half months old, on July 1, her mother passed away, near Rockfort, Missouri. Shortly after the death of his wife Mr. Martin removed to Henderson county, Illinois, where he at present resides. During the late war Mr. Martin's father was elected to the Illinois legislature, where he did the state good service and gained the reputation of a loyal patriot and able legislator. Nor did he permit his polities to interfere with his duties as a christian gentle-

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man, for he was an elder in the United Presbyterian church, and also the clerk of the session for more than fifteen years. He also acquired quite a reputation as a Sunday school worker in Warren county. On the 30th of March he deceased, leaving his family the rich legacy of a good name. His son, R. Martin, was married on December 30, 1880, to Mrs. Mudd, of Raritan. He now resides in Walnut Grove township, and though young, is already known as a man of real worth and character.

ADONIRAM EDWARDS, son of David and Eliza J. (Bell) Edwards, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 29, 1843, and emigrated with his parents to Henderson county, Illinois, in October, 1853. He was reared on a farm, with only the common schools of this county to attend. He served as a soldier in Co. H, 11th Ill. Cav., in the war of 1861-5. August 1, 1872, he married Miss Nancy E. Robinson, a daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Hobough) Robinson, of Warren county, Illinois. She was born February 15, 1844. They have but one child, Arthur R., born August 24, 1873. Mr. Edwards now resides and is farming on the N. E. ¿ of Sec. 1, T. 9, R. 4, where his parents first settled when they came to this county in 1853. They were both born and married in Belmont county, Ohio, where their eight children were born and four of them buried. He died here in March, 1868, and was buried in the cemetery in Salter's Grove. She is still living. Her home is with her children.

WILLIAM J. VAN DOREN, farmer, Raritan, is a son of Stephen and Susan (Nevins) Van Doren, and was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1830. His father was the proprietor of a hotel, and conse- quently the early life of our subject was spent in town, where he received what might be termed a liberal education. In December, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Munson, the daugh- ter of Mr. James Munson. She was born in the city of New York in 1832. Early in 1851 Mr. Van Doren emigrated to Illinois, first settling in Fulton county, where he remained till 1856, when he removed to Henderson county and permanently located on Sec. 33, T. 9 N., R. 4 W., where he has since resided, successfully engaged in farming. In 1865 and in 1882 he realized what is to every human heart a great pleasure, that of visiting (after many years' absence) the scenes of his childhood. He was accompanied on the last trip by his excellent wife and little daughter. They are the parents of six children, whose names in the order of their birth are : Caroline (wife of L. Whitier), Susan (now Mrs. Isaac V. D. Perren), Charles B., Sarah (wife of J. Milliken), George and Annie. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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The subject of this sketch, SAMUEL C. GIBSON, of T. 9, R. 4, son of John and Martha Gibson, was born near Xenia, Ohio, January 31, 1819. His father, though not quite of age at the time, enlisted in the war of 1812, going to take his father's place, who was unable to go. When Mr. Gibson was yet but a child, his parents emigrated from Ohio to Sangamon county, and, in 1831, to what is now Henderson county, being among the earliest of the pioneer settlers, and settled near Olena. In the Black Hawk war, Mr. Gibson's father served as a ranger six months. On April 14, 1844, Mr. Gibson was married to Miss Margaret Ann Laut, daughter of Michael Laut. Of this marriage but one child, David, is now living, who is married and runs the home- stead. Catharine, Elizabeth, Henry, John and Alexander are dead. Although Mr. Gibson began with but little, he now owns 240 acres of land, upon which he resides, in Sec. 21, T. 9, R. 4. When Mr. G. came to Henderson county he had to go forty miles to mill, on Spoon river, and at one time, when the water was low, went three weeks without flour, and pounded his corn in a mortar. At one time his father's fire went out, and he was compelled to go six miles to get more. Such were the privations of the early settlers of this county.

WILLIAM DELANY, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Delany, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky. His father was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and his mother in Kentucky. Mr. Delany studied in the primitive schools of those days, and acquired a knowledge of the three rudiments of reading, writing and ciphering. On January 4, 1832, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Knokes, daughter of George and Nancy Knokes. Of this marriage six children were born, of whom three, Nancy Jane, Mary Jane and George Washington are now dead. Of the living, Eliza Ann is now wife of Richard Enfield ; Martha Ann is married to Daniel Meredith ; William Thomas, the only living son, was in the late war. Being a large, strong boy, he at last succeeded in getting the recruiting officer to take him, though but fifteen years of age. After marrying Katharine Ross, William removed to Cherokee county, Kansas, where he at present resides. He is at present engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Delany began life a poor boy, but has made for himself and family a beautiful home on Sec. 26, T. 9, R. +.

Mr. GEORGE D. LAUT, deceased, was born February 13, 1825, in the town of Greenwich, Washington county, New York. When he was about sixteen years of age he emigrated to Henderson county, where he was destined to pass through the most important stage of his life and die. On October 14, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Gibson, daughter of John Gibson, who emigrated to

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Henderson county in 1833, and settled near Olena. She was born on September 9, 1822, in Greene county, Ohio. Of this marriage have been born seven sons, six of whom are living, one having died in infancy. Two sons, Charles A. and Jolin B., are now married, the former residing in Henderson county, the latter in Pottawatamie county, Iowa. Two, William M. and George E., are living in Lake City, Colorado. James Henry and Samuel C. are unmarried, and the former has charge of the old homestead, residing with his mother. His father, who was a most worthy member of the United Presbyterian church, died on August 15, 1871, at his home, aged forty-six years, six months and two days.

EDUCATION IN HENDERSON COUNTY.

The educational system that obtains in this county rests for its support upon the common school law of the state. There are no colleges in the county. Prior to the year 1849 Henderson county, like all other counties in the state, depended mainly upon private bounty in sustaining her schools. A small sum was annually received from the state, but was wholly inadequate to meet the expenditure in keep- ing up district schools for the proper education of all the scholars in the county ; as a consequence education languished, and those results which flow from a perfected system of education were almost entirely wanting. Our state seemed to slumber, and little general interest could be aroused in the minds of our grave law-makers on the subject of common schools. Canals could be dug, railroads built, and party interests cared for, but a strange indifference was manifested in this important question. Engrossed in the accumulation of the dross of wealth, they seemed to forget that more important subject, the educa- tion of our youth. I have characterized it as the pursuit of dross ; for what are all our lands, and flocks, and herds, and gold, but dross, with- out that cultivation of the mind which shall elevate the soul of inan and point out to him the true end of his being. The law, as it stood before 1849, authorized the levy of a school tax by district directors for all school purposes, not to exceed fifteen cents on the one hundred dollars of valuation of property, provided that two-thirds of the legal voters of the district voted for the tax. In 1849 twenty-five cents on the one hundred could be levied by a similar vote. In 1851 the law was so amended that a majority could by vote authorize the levy of one per cent on the property of the district for school purposes.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 114

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