History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 123

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 123
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 123

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J. C. NELSON is son of George C. and Charlotte Nelson, whose history will appear in the biographical department of this township. He was born in 1849, in Pike county, Illinois. He was reared on the farm, and received no other education beyond the common school and fourteen months at Abington, Illinois. In 1872 he was married to Sarah Boyer, of Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Mary Boyer. In 1856 they emigrated to Henderson county, Illinois, and now reside in La Harpe, Hancock county. They are members of the Christian church. He is a farmer. Mr. Nelson has by this marriage two children : James S. and Jennie M. He has a well improved farm of 240 acres, and is a successful farmer.

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WILLIAM J. LOVITT (deceased) was not of the first settlers of Hen- derson county, but came when the country was comparatively new. The improvements of every kind which now are seen on every hand were in their infancy. IIe was born in 1810, and was a native of Maryland. His parents were Daniel and Mary Lovitt, who emigrated to Muskingum county, Ohio, when their son, William J., was only ten years old. This was their last location. Here they both died. They were, by vocation, farmers. Their religious faith was that of the Baptist church, of which they both were members. In 1857 William J. Lovitt located in Henderson county, in the southeast part of town- ship S, section 5, where he remained till his death, which occurred in 1876. In 1837 he was married to Lydia A. Grigsby, of Virginia, who was born January 1820. She was the daughter of John and Sarah F. Grigsby, both of Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio when she was five years old. They both died in Ohio; her father in 1870, at the age of eighty years ; her mother in 1830, aged forty years. They were married in 1812. John Grigsby was left an orphan when two years old. By this union William J. Lovitt had eleven children : Rue E., Elmus (deceased), Sarah F., Arthur (deceased), Epaminondas, Mary, Cordias, Marion, Manerva, John W., and Haney. His widow lives on the old homestead of 160 acres, which is well improved and a delightful home. She is a member of the Bedford Christian church, in Hancock county, as was her husband. Says one of his brother church members, "his death was looked upon as a calamity in the community. The uncontrollable grief of his stricken family testified how tenderly and dearly they esteemed his virtues as a husband and father. As an officer in the church he was practical, discerning and decided. He devoutly loved his God and his brethren. He was remarkable for both his humility and modesty. Highly respected as he was in the church, he commanded no less outside of the church.

Among the early settlers and pioneers of Henderson county was JOSEPH GENUNG, the subject of this sketch. He was a native of New Jersey, born in 1784. His father was the son of Josiah Genung. He was a farmer by vocation and a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Joseph Genung remained in his native state till he was thirty-five years of age. There he was reared to the vocation of farm- ing. His early education was that of the district school of his neighborhood. He married in 1807 Mary Coil, a native of Maryland, by whom he had five children, who grew up to manhood and woman- hood's years, three of whom are now living : Albert H., Mary and Stephen. Edmund and Hester A. are deceased. In 1817 he emigrated to Indiana and located near New Albany. In 1827 he moved to Vigo

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county, Indiana, locating near Terre Haute. In 1842 he came to Illinois, where he died in 1855. He was well respected by all who knew him, and left a large circle of friends to mourn his departure. His son, Stephen Genung, now resides on a part of what was his father's farm. He was born in 1821 in the State of Indiana, and came to Hen- derson county, Illinois, with his father. His early education was that of the pioneer schools of Indiana. He has always pursued the voca- tion of farming. He married in 1855 Mary Trainor, a native of New Jersey, daughter of John and Mary Trainor, by whom he had one child, Mary J. He has an adopted son, George G. He enlisted in the army August 7, 1862, in the 91st Ill. Vols., Co. B, and served three years as a private. He was in the following engagements : Bacon Creek, Kentucky, Morgan's Bend, Mobile and Whitter, two miles from the former place. The entire regiment was taken prisoner and he was held six months before they were exchanged. Mr. Genung has a farm of 110 acres located at Terre Haute and keeps a good grade of all kinds of farm stock. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Among the first pioneers to locate in this township was the Ed- munds family. OLIVER EDMUNDS, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio, and emigrated when eight years old to Henderson county with his parents, Obediah and Lydia (Moors) Edmunds. His father was a native of Rutland county, Vermont, born in 178S. Obediah Edmunds Jr.'s father, Obediah Edmunds Sr. was a native of Rhode Island, but was reared principally in Vermont. He married in Ver- mont, where he raised a family and died. He married Sarah Williams, a granddaughter of ·Roger Williams. He was a revolutionary soldier and belonged to the Vermont Minute Men. James Edmunds, father of Obediah Edmunds, Sr., was also engaged in the revolution and was taken prisoner by Burgoyne's scouts. About 1810 Obediah Edmunds Jr. emigrated to New York, where he resided till 1819, when he removed to Columbia county, Pennsylvania. In. 1825 he moved to Ohio, where he remained till 1837. He then came to Henderson county with his family, and located in T. 8, R. 5, near the south line of the county, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1853, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. His wife survived him six years, and died in her seventy-third year. They built the second house in the township. They raised a family of ten children, only two of whom are now living. Obedialı Jr. was in early life a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but died a Quaker. In politics he was a radical anti-slavery advocate. Oliver Edmunds, his son, lives on the old homestead, where he was born in 1825. His early educa-

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tion was limited, because of there being but few schools here during his boyhood. He was reared on the farin where he has since lived. In 1854 he was married to Eliza Spiker, of Ohio, born in 1834, daughter of Henry and Rachel (Hekle) Spiker ; the father of Maryland, the mother of Virginia. In 1839 they came with the early settlers and located in Hancock county, where Henry Spiker died in 1846, at the age of thirty-four years. His wife yet resides in Hancock county, where they first located. Oliver Edmunds has by this marriage four children : Marilda, John A., Charles S. and Bertie H. He has a well improved farm of 555 acres and keeps a good grade of all kinds of farm stock.

GEORGE W. CHANDLER is one of the prominent farmers in the town- ship. His farm is located in the N. W. corner of T. S, R. 5, and consists of 500 acres of fine farming land well improved. He was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. His parents were Jesse and Rachel Chandler, whose history will appear in connection with the sketch of John T. Chandler, of this township. George W.'s early education was that of the district school and one winter at Henry, Illinois. He came to Illinois with his parents. When he set out to do for himself, his capital to begin business with was such as nature had provided for him, namely, energy combined with good business judgment. He labored for several years as a hired man. In 1860 he bought the farm where he now lives, and was married the same year to Estel Retzel, of Pennsylvania, who was born in 1841, in Lancaster county, and a daughter of George and Catharine Retzel. Her father was a native of Maryland, and came to Pennsylvania with his parents when a small boy. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania, where they were married. In 1855 they came to Illinois and located in Henderson county. Her father died in December, 1881, aged seventy- three years ; her mother in March, 1882, aged sixty-seven years. They were highly respected in the community, and all mourned their departure. The Retzel family is of Scotch-Irish descent. George W. Chandler has by this marriage one child, George E. He keeps a good grade of all kinds of farm stock.

WILLIAM H. MARSDEN is a native of Cheshire county, England. He was born in 1837, and is a son of Thomas A. and Elizabeth (Hardman) Marsden. In 1839 they came to America and located at Dayton, Ohio, where they remained till 1844, when they came to Henderson county, and returned to Dayton the following year. In 1867 they came again to Henderson county, and now live at Carman, this county. His wife, Elizabeth, died soon after he located at Dayton the first time. In Dayton he carried on a livery stable until 1865,

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when he engaged in the lumber trade. William H. was reared to the vocation of farming, which he has always followed except three years ; during that time he was in the service. In 1862 he enlisted in the army, in Co. B, 91st reg. Ill. Vols., and served three years. He was in the following battles : Bacon Creek (Ky.), where he was taken prisoner; Athafayla (Ga.), Spanish Fort, Blakely, Whistler and Mobile, besides numerous skirmishes. He passed through the war without receiving any injury. In 1859 he was married to Laurena J. Volentine, of Ohio, born in 1835, daughter of Stephen and Mary Volentine. Her father was a native of New York; her mother of Connecticut. They came to Ohio in 1845, where her father died in 1879, aged seventy-five; her mother died in 1877, aged sixty years. William H. Marsden, by this marriage, has nine children living: Thomas W., Stephen HI .. Mary H., Ulyses L., John E., Isaac R., Louella, Lourinda V. and Ernest A. He has a fine farm of 380 acres, and keeps a good class of farm stock. He and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he of the masonic lodge at Carman. William H. Marsden's grandfather, William Marsden, located in township S, range 5, where the widow Kirby now lives, and opened a farm in the then wilderness. He was a native of England. He died in 1864, in Hancock, at the age of seventy-four years.

GEORGE C. NELSON, one of the most extensive land owners and stock raisers in the township, is a native of the Buckeye State; born in 1823. His parents were Elisha and Mary Nelson, both of whom were born in Maryland, where they were reared and married. They emigrated to Ohio with its early settlers, where they farmned and kept hotel. In 1842 they emigrated from Ohio to Pike county, Illinois, where they both died at the ripe old age of about eighty years. The mother was a member of the United Presbyterian church. The father served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Burges R. Nelson, father of Elisha Nelson, lived in Maryland all his life. IIe was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal faith. He was a successful financier ; a pro- prietor and director in a bank corporation. He lived to the extreme age of ninety-eight years, and then was murdered for his money. He was a man that was highly respected for his good qualities and high integrity. He frequently visited his son, Elisha, in Ohio, making the entire distance to and from on horseback. He served in the revolu- tionary war. George C. Nelson came to Pike, Illinois, with his parents, and remained there till 1848, when he eame to Henderson county. He has since resided in Henderson county. He was reared on the farm. His early education was such as he could obtain during the winter months in the district school. He was first married in 1842 in

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Ohio, to Charlotte Carnes, native of Ohio, born in 1822, and a daughter of Reason and Elizabeth Carnes, both of Maryland. By this marriage G. C. Nelson had five children : Matilda J., Elisha R., John C. and Elizabeth. The mother of these died in 1850. In 1852 he was married a second time, to Sarah A. Irvin, of Ohio, born in 1833, daughter of James and Martha Irvin. They emigrated in 1854 to Pike county, Illinois. Her father is yet living, and is seventy-eight years old ; her mother died in 1882 at the age of seventy-six years. They were by occupation farmers, and old soldiers of the cross in the United Brethren church. By this marriage Mr. Nelson has twelve children : William S., Joshua, Abraham L. (deceased), Melissa J. (deceased), Comelia (deceased), George O. (deceased), James L. (deceased), Charles H., Richard E., Isaac M., Bessie S., and Quincy W. James and Martha Irvin were both of Ohio. His parents were James and Eliza- beth Irvin. They emigrated from Virginia to Ohio in early times, and made the journey on horseback. He was a farmer, and died at the age of eighty years. His wife came to Pike county, Illinois, where she lived to the age of eighty years. Mr. Nelson held the office of county supervisor one term. He has 1,580 acres of fine farming land, on which he keeps the best grades of sheep, horses, cattle and hogs. He lives at the county line between Henderson and Hancock counties.

JOSEPH H. MAYGIE is a native of New Jersey, born in 1831, son of Abraham and Pheobe (Tunis) Magie, both of New Jersey. His father was born in 1799, at East Madison, and died in 1869. His mother was born in 1819, and died in 1874. In 1856 they emigrated to Illinois, and lived the remainder of their days at Terre Haute, where they were farmers and kept hotel for several years. He also engaged with his son, Joseph H., in the broom business from 1856 to 1868. His wife was, at the time of her death, a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He was, in his early life, a member of that denomination, but at the time of his death was a Free-Will Baptist. In 1855 Joseph H. came; located in Terre Haute, Illinois, where he has since lived. He was reared on the farm, which he has always followed, except the time from 1856 to 1868, when in the broom manufactory, and even then carried on the farm. He has made corn and hogs a specialty. He has a fine farm of 112 aeres. He sometimes feeds cattle for the market, and keeps good grades of farm stock. He was married in 1858, to Martha A. Averett, of North Carolina, born in 1831. She is the daughter of Simeon and Nancy Averett, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. Her father now lives with his daughter, Mrs. J. II. Magie. He was in the Mormon troubles at Carthage, Hancock county. He was relieved from

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the duty of guarding the jail at ten o'clock in the morning and Joseph Smithi was killed the following evening. He is now seventy-six years old. He first located in Hancock county, where he remained for a few years. In 1857 he moved to Henderson county, then to Woodford county, Illinois, where he remained some four or five years. He then moved to Indiana, where his wife died in 1875, aged seventy-two years. Since that time he has lived in Terre Haute. J. H. Magie, by this marriage, has three children : Albert H., Lillie J. and Florence M. He and wife are members of the Baptist church. He has, at various times, been a member of different lodges. In addition to his farm he has a nice town property.

Among the prominent farmers of this township is CHARLES T. PAINTER, subject of this sketch. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1831, and is son of Joseph T. and Jane Painter, both of Pennsylvania. His mother died in 1834. His father came to Han- cock county with its early settlers, and located near the north line, where he lived till 1875, when he died, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a farmer. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He held the office of constable several years, and was assessor of his township fifteen years in succession. Charles T. came with his father to Hancock county, where he remained till 1850, when he moved to Henderson county, where he now lives. In 1856 he was married to Sarah A. Evans, of Indiana, born in 1850, and came to Illinois in 1865 with her brother. Her parents were Benjamin T. and Ellen Evans. Her father was born in Kentucky, and died in 1861, at the age of sixty-six years, in Indiana. Her mother died in 1865, at the age of forty-nine years. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Painter has by this marriage four children : Joseph, Engeane, Frank, Ralph and Clara. He has a farm of 480 acres, well improved, and well stocked with good grades. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Terre Haute. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the army, in Co. G, 118th Ill. Vols., and served till the close of the war. He was mustered out October, 1865. He was second lientenant of his company at its first organization, and in 1863 was made first lieutenant. He was in the following engagements : Chickasa Bluff's, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River, siege at Vicksburg from its beginning to its close, Jackson, (Miss.), Brookhaven, Carioncrow Bayon, Grand Cotton, near Iberia, Grose Bayou, which was a hand to hand fight, Plains Store (La.) and Liberty (Miss.). He escaped without a single wound.

THOMAS F. PENCE, subject of this sketch, is a native of Pennsylvania,

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Lycoming county, born in 1811. He is son of John and Sarah Pence, both of Pennsylvania. His mother died in 1843, at the age of sixty-five years. His father emigrated in 1847 to Henderson county, and located near Lomax, where he resided for some time. He then moved to T. S, Sec. 5, where he died in 1861, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. He was a farmer. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church at Pine Creek, Pennsylvania. Thomas F. was reared in his native state on the farm, where he remained till 1846, when he emigrated to Huntington county, Indiana, where he remained two years. In 1848 he moved to Wabash county, where he remained three years. In 1857 came to Illinois, and located in Peoria county, where he remained until 1853. He then came to Henderson county, locating in the N.W. ¿ of T. S. Sec. 5, where he has since resided. He was married in 1834 to Mary White, of Pennsylvania, born in 1809, and died in 1851. She was the daughter of Abraham and Rachel White, both of New York, where they died members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Pence had by this marriage nine children : Mercy A., Clarrissa, Susana and Maria, who are now living. The deceased ones are: Malinda J. and Sarah B., who died in Pennsylvania ; Daniel S. died in Peoria county, Illinois ; John W. was killed on the farm, where his father now resides, by the overturning of a wagon loaded with wood while he was driving the team ; and one child died in infancy. In 1852 he was a second time married, to Mrs. Sarah A. Merris, born in 1814, and reared near Columbus, Ohio. She is the daughter of James S. and Eliza White, both of Virginia, the latter of Westmoreland county. Her parents, James S. and Eliza White, emigrated to Ohio when young, where they were married, and resided till 1840, and came the same year and located in Fulton county, Illinois, where the mother died a few weeks after their arrival, aged fifty-three years, the father in 1852, aged sixty-nine years. They were farmers and members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Pence has a well improved farm of 480 acres. He raises Durham cattle, horses, mules and hogs of the best breeds.

The subject of this sketch, JESSE BUTLER, was born in Ohio in 1826. He is the son of Henry and Charity Butler, both of whom were natives of Maryland and emigrated to Virginia, where they were married, then to Ohio, near Zanesville. There they reared a family. The father died in 1855 at the age of eighty-five; the mother died at the age of eighty-two. His business was that of a farmer. He was teamster in the war of 1812. At the time he located in Ohio the land was not yet in market. He held the office of justice of the peace twenty-four years. He and wife were members of the old school Bap-

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tist church. His wife's father, Samuel Baxter, emigrated to Ohio at the same time as did Henry Butler, where he died, a member of the Baptist church, in his eighty-fourth year. Jesse Butler was reared on the farm. His early education was that of the common school. In 1856 he emigrated to Wisconsin ; in 1864 to Hancock county. In 1874 he located in Henderson county, where he now resides, on a fine farm of 160 acres. He was married in 1848 to Elizabeth Tatham, of Ohio, born in 1829, and daughter of John and Mary A. Tatham, both natives of England. They came to New York state when young. They were married in New York and emigrated to Ohio about 1822. By trade he was a weaver. He was born in 1800 and died in 1857. His wife died in 1859, at the age of forty-nine years. They were members of the old school Baptist church. Mr. Butler has by this marriage eight children : one died an infant, Sylvester, Harry, Virginia (deceased at the age of twelve), Mary A., Charity, William L., Arthur V. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. He is a member of the masonic lodge at Raritan, of the I.O.O.F. at La Harpe, where he is a charter member.

The subject of this sketch, JAMES M. WILLIAMS, is a native of Ohio, born in 1822, son of Joseph and Margaret (Harper) Williams. They were married in Ohio at Zanesville, settled near that town, and raised a family withont emigrating. The father died at the age of seventy- seven years, the mother died when abont the same age. He was by trade a blacksmith. He served in the war of 1812. James M. was reared to the business of the farm, which he has always followed. His early educational training was such as he could get in the common schools of his neighborhood. In 1852 he came to Illinois and located in Hancock county, where he remained three years, when he moved to Henderson county and located where he now lives. In 1860 he was married to Sarah J. Mace, of Ohio, born in 1831. daughter of Simeon and Nancy (La Mar) Mace, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They came to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1851. Her mother died in 1852; the father now lives in Kansas. James M. Williams by this marriage has seven children : Marion J., Margaret A., Mary, Hannah M., James U., Cora J., and Harvey M. He has a fine farm of eighty acres and keeps a good grade of stock. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Among those living here at the present, who have witnessed the progress of improvements now visible in Henderson county, is MELZAy C. PAUL, the subject of this sketch. He is a native of the State of Vermont, born in 1815, resided in his native state until he was sixteen yeas old, when he emigrated to Jefferson county, New York, with his

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parents, Jeremiah and Polly (Parker) Paul, both of whom were of Vermont. They were married and lived in their native state till they emigrated to New York, where they died; the father in 1851, at the age of fifty-seven ; the mother in 1842, aged about forty-eight years. In 1836 M. C. Paul was married to Mary A. Wescott, of Jefferson county, New York, born in 1812, daughter of Henry and Amy D. (Cushing) Wescott, both of Massachusetts, and emigrated to New York when young. In 1855 they came to Illinois, where they both died ; the father a few weeks after their arrival, at the age of seventy-seven ; the mother thirteen years after, at the age of eighty-four years. He was a man highly respected for his integrity; she was an ardent christian and a member of the Close-Communion Baptist church. The last eight years of her life she was blind, but was never heard to complain of her lot. By this marriage Mr. Paul has six children : Cyntha M. (deceased), Alvah W. (deceased), Anna D., Rhoda B., Melzar A., and an infant (deceased). The first died fourteen months after her marriage. In 1861 Alvah W. enlisted, at the first call made by the President, in the 1st Ill. Vols., for ninety days. He served out his time. Ill health compelled him to remain home for a spell. Upon the call of President Lincoln for 600,000 men, he again enlisted in Co. B, 91st Ill. Vols., against the advice of his many friends. He was first appointed sergeant, afterward promoted to the office of second lieutenant. He was a faithful officer. During the last few months of his service he acted as adjutant of the regiment. He was detailed captain of the company a part of the time. His gallant conduct at the siege of Spanish Fort won the admiration of all, carrying orders through showers of balls and exploding shells whenever ordered. His bravery and fearlessness was the theme of praise by both officers and men. He was at Bacon Creek, Brownsville, Texas, Mobile and Whistler. The company was all taken prisoner and paroled at Bacon Creek. When his friends urged him not to enlist again in the army he was heard to remark that all the friends of the country were going to the army and only the rebels were remaining: he said with these he could not associate. He enlisted forty men in the service of his country. At the close of the war he returned home, having lost his health in the army. He engaged in mercantile business at Sagetown. There he remained with a good trade till his death which occurred in 1876, in his thirty-seventh year. He married Mattie E. Russel, by whom he had one child, Jessie A., whose mother died in 1882. Mr. M. C. Paul was elected associate judge and served four years. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Terre Haute. He has formerly farmed, but because of his age has moved to the village of

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 123

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