USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 130
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 130
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are : Charles E. Senica, who was killed at the battle of Lookout Moun- tain, in Georgia, during the war of the rebellion, Mary E., wife of William R. Toll, Nancy, now Mrs. S. J. Moose, Alexander Jacob, George, Frank, Flora and Fannie. The publishers of this work are under obligations to Mr. B. for valuable information furnished.
JAMES GIBB, farmer, Biggsville, was born in County Antrim, Ire- land, in 1817. Before the age of twenty he had learned the trade of a weaver, but soon after was engaged by Lord Templeton as over- seer and time-keeper on his large estate near Belfast. In the winter of 1849 he canceled this engagement, and on March 9 of the same year, with wife and four children, left Liverpool for New Orleans, in the sailing ship "Waldron." The trip was made without incident to the port of destination, and they soon after embarked, via the Mississippi, for Biggsville, and when opposite St. Louis his wife and three children died with cholera and were buried there. He, with one remaining child, arrived in Biggsville May 12, and for the next eleven months worked by the month at farm labor. He purchased an outfit (a yoke of oxen and wagon) and started for an overland trip to California, and there engaged in mining. After two years' successful labor he returned to Biggsville and bought a farm of 160 acres, in Sec. 28, T. 10, R. 4, and at once began to make improvements. But in a few years he grew tired of a lonely life and determined to visit the land of his birth, and accordingly, in November, 1858, shipped for the city of Belfast, and was soon after united in marriage with Miss Jane Steven- son. In May, 1860, after a full and satisfactory sojourn among kin- dred. and friends, he, with his young wife, again sailed for America and landed safely in Biggsville in due season and permanently located on his present home farm in Sec. 28, T. 10, R. 4, where he is now spend- ing his declining years in comfortable circumstances, which is the sure reward of faithful labor and honest industry. Though Mr. Gibb began life for himself without means, yet he looked forward to a comfortable home in old age. He has an interesting family of eight children: Eliza II., now the wife of Mr. Paul Reed, of Kingston, Canada, by his first wife, and Agnes, William J., Annie J., David A., Rose, James and Mary. The parents and three of their children are members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Gibb's parents were John and Agnes (McMasters) Gibb. The former died in Ireland and the latter in Biggsville.
JOHN McDILL (deceased), one of Henderson county's early pioneers, was born in Chester county, South Carolina, November 8, 1807. Early in life he removed with his parents, George and Margaret (Duglas) MeDill to Newton county, Georgia, where they resided for many years.
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In 1835 Mr. McDill made a trip on horse to Illinois, prospecting with a view to settling in this new but growing country. Being favorably impressed with the land and advantages in Henderson county, the following year the family, consisting of his parents, brothers, Robert and James, sisters, Jane Kerren II. and Nancy, and himself emigrated here and settled in T. 10, R. 5. where the parents lived till the time of their death. April 24, 1842, Mr. McDill was married to Miss Christen S. Gordon, who was born in North Carolina, January 21, 1815. Soon after his marriage he moved upon land he had purchased in Sec. 4, T. 10, R. 4. where he continued to reside till the spring of 1876. . He then, with his daughter Nancy, went back to Georgia with a view to improving his already impaired health. For a time he apparently grew better, but in the spring of 1881 it became visible that his days were about numbered, and his son at Biggsville accordingly notified by tele- graph. He at once went to his side to take care of him, and if possible return with him to his old home, which he did late in April ; on May 9, 1881, he died. He was buried in the United Presbyterian church cemetery at South Henderson. His wife died December 12, 1864, and were buried in the same place. They had born to them one son, George, born in Henderson county, July 31, 1843. His educational advantages were confined to the common schools of this county's early history. Though he was reared on the farm, he was a boy of very delicate health. In 1865 his father purchased a stock of goods and engaged in merchandising in Biggsville, and George was called in soon after to take charge of the store. This he did but a short time, when ill health compelled him to return to the farm. In 1879 his father sold the farm and the son again turned his attention in a mercantile direction, first as a clerk, but in the spring of 1882, with Mr. A. W. Graham, embarked in a general mercantile business in Biggsville. December 17, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda D. Bell, daughter of Mr. S. W. Bell, of Biggsville, a native of Georgia. She was born in 1849, and came with her parents to this county in 1855. They have one child living, Clara B. and Minnie (deceased). They are members of the United Presbyterian church.
Prominent among those now living who had an early residence in Henderson county may be mentioned ROBERT MODILL. Mr. McDill was born in Chester county, South Carolina, September 20, 1803. In 1809 his father and family removed to the State of Ohio, and settled in Preble county. He took an active part in the war of 1812, and died in 1813. His wife in 1845 removed to Bloomington, Indiana, where she died at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. Growing up in a new country as he did, Robert was favored with only a limited means of
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BIGGSVILLE TOWNSHIP'.
education, which, however, did not hinder his providing for himself a competency before being overtaken with old age. In 1825 he married Miss Mary Porter, a native of South Carolina, who was born in 1806. After his marriage Mr. MeDill gave his entire attention to farming on the old home in Preble county in Ohio, till 1844, when he decided to remove to HIenderson county, Illinois, a move he had contemplated since he was here on a prospective tour in 1835. After looking around a short time for a location he finally located on Sec. 25, T. 10, R. 5, and actively engaged in farming and stock raising. This he followed till 1868, when on account of the loss of vision he removed to Biggsville, where he might spend his declining years in rest and quiet. Of his ten children but six are living ; two of his sons enlisted in the war for the union in the late rebellion, and suffered capture and imprisonment. Mr. McDill and his noble wife are, their great age being considered, enjoying a good degree of health. They are members of the United Presbyterian church. James C., the son of the family, was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1830, and came with his parents to this county in 1844. Ifis educational advantages were only fair, but they were well improved. He followed farming till 1866, when he went into the grain trade at Biggsville. Soon after he sold out here and went to Iowa, where he extensively engaged in the grain trade along the newly constructed line of the Burlington & Missouri railroad. In 1879 he permanently located in Biggsville and begun a mercantile business in the grocery, hardware and implement line. In 1853 he married Miss Elizabeth R. Pinkerton, a native of Preble county, Ohio. She died January 18, 1866.
JAMES SLOAN, farmer, Biggsville, is a son of William and Margaret (Rea) Sloan, and was born in 1839, in County Antrim, Ireland. He was reared on a small farm, where his time during early youth was principally devoted to agriculture. At the same time he learned from his father the trade of boot and shoe maker, and improved occasional odd hours in the school-room. On April 26, 1857, with a heart full of hope for future plenty and independence, he left the home of his birth and friends with a view to renew them in America, on the sailing vessel "Neptune," and landed at Castle Garden, New York, May 26 of the same spring. From there he went to Knoxville, Illinois, where he engaged to work on a farm for his uncle, John Sloan. He remained there on the farm till the fall of 1858, when he removed to Biggsville, Henderson county, Illinois, where he went to work at his trade, which he followed till the fall of 1861. When the honor of his adopted country was assailed by traitors he offered his services to pro- tect the national flag, and at once volunteered as a member of the 11th
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Cav., at Peoria, Illinois, under Col. R. G. Ingersoll. He participated in all the battles and marches of that noble and heroic regiment ; veteraned with the regiment and was with them honorably discharged. In September, 1862, he was captured by the rebels, but by hiding in the cane-brake made his escape during the night, and after a walk of fifty miles joined his comrades near Corinth. October 30, 1868, he married Miss Elizabeth Tolcott, of Pike county, Illinois, a daughter of Albert and Rhoda (Daniels) Tolcott, natives of Massachusetts .. She was born July 30, 1851, in Pike county, Illinois. After his marriage Mr. Sloan turned his attention to farming and stock raising. He now owns, besides his home in Biggsville, 260 acres of land near Biggs- ville, and all earned during his few years' residence in this county, besides over three years of the best part of his life devoted to his country.
THOMAS R. EDWARDS, farmer, Biggsville, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, November 29, 1820. His youth and the greater part of his life was spent in his native county on a farm ; beginning almost with the beginning of settlement in the Buckeye State. February 25, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Cook, also a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born August 1, 1827. In the fall of 1860 he removed to Henderson county, Illinois, and four years later perma- nently located on his farm in Sec. 22, T. 10, R. 4, where he now enjoys the comforts of a pleasant home, and honored by six interesting chil- dren, whose names, in the order of their birth, are: John W., Orloff D., Stephen C., David B. and (twins) Charles H. and Emma F. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His parents were John and Prudence (Booth) Edwards ; the former born in Wales in 1792, and when but a small boy was brought to the United States with his parents, John and Elizabeth (Watkins) Edwards. He died in Bel- mont county, Ohio, in 1830. The latter was the daughter of Edwin Booth, who was born and educated in London, England, and came to America as a British soldier during the war of the revolution, and died here a true patriot to the colonial cause, in his ninety-sixth year, in Holmes county, Ohio. Thomas R. Edwards is one of a family of five children : Edwin, Elizabeth, Rachel and Rebecca. His father was one of a family of four sons, Walter, John (himself) and Thomas born in Wales, and David born in America in 1803. The three eldest were born in 1790, 1792 and 1795 respectively. Their father was a prominent educator both in Europe and America.
GEORGE W. Snook, farmer, Biggsville, was born in Casey county, Kentucky, August 8, 1824. His parents, Dykeman and Mary (Conkright) Shook, were born November 22, 1800, and August 4, 1799,
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respectively ; and were married May 17, 1821. In the fall of 1830 they left their native state and emigrated to Hancock county, Illinois, where he entered land and lived till the spring of 1836, when they sold out and removed to Henderson county and entered a piece of land, the N.E. ¿ of Sec. 34, T. 10, R. 4, and thus he became known as among the early pioneers. This farm they bought when it came in market and on it made their home and reared their family. They died November 12, 1876, and January 30, 1876, respectively. Major Shook, a name by which he was familiarly known, was a staunch member of the Christian church, and a short time before his death willed $1,000 to further its financial interests. His name stands to-day in this county without blemish, which is more to be appreciated by his posterity than large endowments of bonds or gold. George W., the second son, was, like his father, reared on the farm, and early in life was trained more par- ticularly to honest toil and industrious economy than in the district schools, which in his school years were of a very primitive character. November 4, 1858, he married Miss Mary A. Bartness, a native of Clark county, Illinois. They are the parents of six children, whose names in the order of their birth are : Eliza J., Angeline, John F., Cora A., William L. and Mary M. Mr. Shook is now the owner of over 400 acres of good land, including the old home of his father, and is residing on the N. W. { of Sec. 35, T. 10, R. 4. They are members of the Christian church.
DYKEMAN SHOOK, farmer, Biggsville, was born in Kentucky in 1828. He is the third son of Dykeman and Mary (Conkright) Shook, who were also natives of Kentucky. In 1830 emigrated to Hancock county, Illinois, where they lived till 1836, when they removed to Henderson county. They endured all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. Coming to this state as he did in an early day, young Dykeman was deprived of all the advantages of an education enjoyed by the young of the present generation. He was, however, thoroughly trained to industry and honest labor. December 14, 1849, he married Miss Sarah E. Worden, a native of New Jersey, born in 1833. She was also a very early settler, and well remembers the hardships of settling in a new country. They have an interesting family of seven children : Charles, John W., Daniel H., James A., Emeline, Sherman and Mary E. Mr. Shook moved onto his present farm in Sec. +, T. 10, R. 4, in 1878. They are member of the Christian church.
ALEXANDER P. NELSON, M.D., Biggsville, was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 5, 1828. In 1836 his mother died, and in 1839 his father removed to the State of Missouri, and in 1844 to Warren county, Illinois. While back to Ohio, in 1850, he died of Asiatic cholera, on
1
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
board of a steamboat on the Ohio river. In 1850 Alexander P. went with Capt. Robert Pence, in his company of fifty-two men, seventy cattle. nine wagons, one horse and two dogs, to California. He there engaged in mining, but only remained seven months, when he returned home and engaged in reading medicine and teaching school. In 1853 he entered the hospital and infirmary at St. Louis, Missouri, and was at the same time a student in the medical college at that place. In 1854 he began the practice of medicine at Terre Haute, Henderson county, Illinois, and three years later removed to Oquawka, where he continued to practice his profession. In 1859 he removed to Kirk- wood, Warren county, where he was engaged in business as physi- cian and surgeon at the outbreak of the late war. Soon after the call for men as soldiers he enlisted in Co. K, S4th Ill. Vol. Inf., and on the organization of the company was elected first lieutenant. At the close of the Kentucky campaign was appointed assistant surgeon on the field. October 26, 1863, he resigned and returned home. Soon after his return he entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, from which he graduated January 27, 1864. He then returned to Kirk- wood and permanently engaged in the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1877 he removed to his farm on Sec. S, T. 10, R. 4, Hen- derson county, which he had previously bought of Thomas Records. where he is now (1882) engaged in farming, stock raising and practic- ing medicine successfully. September 26, 1854, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah A. Jamison, a daughter of James and Mary (McKinney) Jamison. She was born in Perry county, Indiana, January 28. 1830, and with her parents removed to Henderson, Illinois, in the spring of 1830. Their children are : Delia J., William T. and Cora A. Dr. Nelson's father, William Nelson, was a native of Pennsylva- nia, born of Irish parents, was in the war of 1812, under Col. Lewis D. Cass, and was present at Detroit when that post was surrendered by Gen. Hull. His mother was also of Irish ancestry and born in Penn- sylvania.
ROBERT J. MARTIN, son of Judge Preston and Elizabeth A. (Taylor) Martin, was born in Henderson county, Illinois, February 14, 1837. He was reared on the farm and received during his youth a fair com- mon school education, to which he added one term of studies at Mon- mouth College. Following this he entered the Galesburg "Democrat " office and there learned the printer's trade. His health failing at this on account of confinement, he turned his attention to outdoor life, and accordingly went to railroading. At the outbreak of the war he was engaged in farming, but at once took his place as a volunteer in Co. K, S4th Ill. Vol. Inf. A few months after enlistment he was
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detailed for special duty in the engineer corps during his military career. He also served in the pioneer and pontoon corps. When the time for which he enlisted was drawing to a close he re-enlisted as a veteran in the engineer department, where he creditably served his country till honorably discharged from the 1st U. S. Vet. Engineer Corps. Soon after his return home he made an engagement as engineer in the grain warehouse of Biggsville, where he was retained nine years. In May. 1876, he entered into an engagement with a gentleman named Richardson to go to California and superintend the heading and threshing machinery on a wheat farm there of 3.200 acres. On the fulfillment of this contract he went into the Sierra Nevada mountains and put the machinery into the Blue Lead mines for Hep- . bun & Co. He then went to Mariposa county and built a saw mill, which he soon after sold, and returned home in July, 1877. The fol- lowing spring he bought the " Biggsville House " and engaged in the hotel business. In the spring of 1882 (leaving his family to run the hotel) he went to Dakota, where he is now improving a farm. Decem- ber 19, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Mahala M. Camp- bell, a daughter of the Rev. William S. and Lorina T. (Hendrix) Campbell. She was born in Monroe county, Tennessee, August 1, 1840, and emigrated with her parents to Iowa in 1841. Here her mother died in 1842 and is buried at Mt. Pleasant. In 1852 her father with his family removed to Oquawka, where he remained as pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of four children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are: Luther S., Leila A., Mary C. and Katie F. They are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
DANIEL M. GORDON, retired farmer, Biggsville, was born in North Carolina April 15, 1809. His father, George Gordon, was a native of the Scotch Highlands and emigrated to the United States prior to the revolutionary war. He finally settled in North Carolina, where he was married to Miss Flora MeKaskill, who was also of Scotch ancestry, and with whom he usually conversed in Gaelic tongue. They became the parents of a large family, with whom they removed to the State of Georgia in 1818, whence their son Daniel removed to Illinois in 1837 ; he first settled in Oquawka, where he remained about two years engaged in the business of his trade (that of tailor). While here, in 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane P. Magaw. The consolation of her companionship, encouragement and help only lasted ten short years, when she died, leaving him with three children to finish rearing, which he honorably did, remaining unmarried the following twenty years. In 1839 Mr. Gordon left the little trading
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post of Oquawka and bought land near where Caloma now stands, and remained there farming till 1850, when he sold and again bought land, sold and bought his present farm on See. +, T. 10 N., R. 4 W., and in 1851 permanently located on the same, and continued to reside there till 1870, when he retired to his pleasant little home in Biggsville. September 1, 1868, he married Mrs. Rachel Graham, a daughter of David W. Davis, a native of Augusta county, Virginia, who emigrated to Ohio in 1820 and to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1833. Mr. Gordon's three children, John A., Sarah A. and Mary E., are still living. Sarah A. is now the wife of John Millen and Mary S. is now Mrs. Harper Maley.
WILLIAM McMILLAN, M.D. (deceased), of Biggsville township, was born on July 6, 1803, in York county, South Carolina. His parents were natives of this state, and there his father fought during the revo- lutionary war. Inspired with an earnest love for knowledge, he spent his early youth seeking to obtain a thorough education, and having chosen medicine as his profession he took one course of lectures in Charleston prior to his emigration to Henderson county in 1836. After remaining in this county one year he went to Cincinnati, where he completed his medical course, returning to Henderson county in the spring of 1837. From this time Dr. McMillan continued actively in the practice of his profession for many years up to 1861, when he became deaf and partially blind through excessive labors and exposure in behalf of his fellows. For many years he was the only doctor for miles around, and he used to ride all over Henderson and Warren counties, and often into Mercer and Hancock. For a large amount of his work he received no compensation, doing it as a work of charity and labor of love. To many of his poorer patients who were sick and disheartened he used to bring medicine, accom- panied it with some little gift, and on going away would leave a receipt in full for his services. During many years he was the only physician in the county, and as he was a noble, courteous gentleman and a thorough christian man, his influence for good is beyond all human measurement. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Graham, daughter of Marcus Graham, died in 1861. Though they had no children, yet their home was always filled with youthful faces, as they adopted two children and had for many years a brother's orphan children in their home. As a fitting reward for his labors, the people of the county once sent Dr. McMillan to the legislature, where he did the county good service. On May 27, 1836, at the second communion of that church, Dr. McMillan united with the South Henderson United Presbyterian church, in connection with which he remained up to the time of his
. FRANKLIN GALBRAITH,
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death, which occurred on November 20, 1881. His property was willed to his brother James' children, over whom he had oversight for many years. As a self-made, genial man, Dr. McMillan was almost universally beloved. Further account of him may be found on another page.
Prominent among the enterprising farmers of Biggsville may be mentioned MR. SAMUEL STEWART. He was born in Belmont county. Ohio, March 8, 1833. His parents were James S. and Jane (Gibson) Stewart, both natives of York county, Pennsylvania, and born in 1808 and 1800 respectively. The former died in Belmont, Ohio, June 15, 1842, and the latter in Henderson county, Illinois, in March, 1860. Samuel, like his father, was reared a farmer, and early in life learned those principles of industry and economy so characteristic of his Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was the third son and favorite of the fam- ily, and after the death of his father on him devolved the task of man- aging the farm and caring for the family. In April, 1854, he removed to Henderson county, Illinois, bought land in Sec. 33, T. 10, R. +, and there permanently located and successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. To his first SO-acre purchase he has kept adding till he is now the owner of a fine farm of 320 acres, the most of which has been earned by his own intelligent industry. March 26, 1856, he was married to Miss Eliza Rankin, a danghter of James and Elizabeth (Brown) Rankin. She was born in Henderson county, Illinois, May 30, 1837. They are the parents of eleven children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are: James C., who died at the age of eight years. Margaret J., Jane A., William A., Elizabeth C., John C., Mary E., Francis M., Charles R., Ralph B. and Dulcie L. They are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church, and for many years Mr. Stewart has been officially connected with both church and school interests. His father and youngest brother are both buried in one coffin in the old Unity United Presbyterian cemetery, in Belmont county, Ohio.
SAMUEL G. PLUMMER (deceased), who in his lifetime was an lion- ored citizen of Henderson county, was born in Pennsylvania, Jnne'1. 1828. Early in life he was left an orphan, and in about 1838 came with Mr. Samuel Gordon to this county. He was married on September 18, 1851. to Miss Frances M. Martin, a daughter of Judge Preston Mar- tin, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. She was born in Morgan county, Illinois, January 5, 1832. Mr. Plummer had born to him six beautiful and interesting children, and enjoyed the full fruition of home and married life up till the dark days when treason and rebel- lion threatened in common the fair homes of our beloved country. He soon responded to his country's call for men, and enlisted on August
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