History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 133

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 133
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 133

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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purchase sixty acres of land in Sec. 31, T. 11, R. 4. On this he per- manently settled in 1860. To his first purchase he soon after added more land, and is now comfortably settled on a good farm with his wife. Ann M. Winslow, to whom he was married in 1855, and his four interesting children : William N., Emma B., Anna M. and Laura Eva. Mr. Thomas and wife are members of the Baptist church. he having joined before he left his native state.

IIUGH R. REYNOLDS, farmer, Biggsville, son of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Milligan) Reynolds, was born in North Carolina in 1812. His father being both a farmer and miller, he was reared and trained to both branches of these industries. Though his education was only such as the pioneer log-cabin schools would afford, he has by reading and observation become well posted in all that pertains to the business of agriculture, which he now follows. In 1836 he emigrated to Warren county. Illinois, and for a number of years engaged as a hand at farm labor. He was married in 1845 to Barbara Gordon, a daughter of George and Flora (McKaskill) Gordon, who died Deeem ber 7, 1869. His second marriage was on April 25, 1872, with Mrs. Sarah McDill, formerly Miss Sarah McQuiston, who came to this county in 1853 from Ohio, where she was born February 1. 1832. Mr. Reynolds has but one child, Margaret J., aged nine years, Octo- ber 20, 1882. By her former marriage Mrs. Reynolds has an only daughter. Miss Martha E., who still resides with her mother. Her father, James (. McDill, was the eldest son of Samuel McDill, whose sketch also will be found in the history of Biggsville township. He was killed June 19, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain, on the skirmish line. His remains were brought home and buried in the South Henderson cemetery of the United Presbyterian church, of which he was a mem- ber. Mr. Reynolds and family are members of the United Presby- terian church.

WILLIAM WIEGAND, farmer and stock raiser, Biggsville, was born Philipssthal, Province of Hesse, Germany, August 15, 1828. During his early youth he learned the trade of blacksmith, and in the mean- time to some extent attended school. In 1848, on September 15, he sailed from Bremerhaven (on the ship " Eliza," commanded by Capt. Kolik) for America, and in due time (without incident) landed in New York. He remained in York state till the following antumn, when he removed to Illinois, and after a short stay at Nauvoo went down the river to St. Louis, Missouri, and there worked at his trade till 1852. when he removed to Oquawka, where he for a number of years done a very successful business in his line. In 1867 he came to his farm on Sec. 16. T. 10. R. 4. adjoining the village of Biggsville, with a ,

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view to doing a large business in farming, stock raising, feeding and shipping, making a success in that industry for several years, and only when disabled by a broken limb, which rendered him a cripple for life, did he cease active operations in that direction. August 18, 1850. he was married to Elizabeth Goempler, a sister of Peter Goempler, of Oqnawka, and native of Germany. They are the parents of four chil- dren, as follows : Minnie L .. wife of Edward Fleigh ; Christena, wife of Wilson B. Jamison ; August A. and William A. When Mr. Wie- gand started in life in America he was entirely destitute of means. but his motto was to work for whatever he could get ; so he began by entting wood for three bits a cord. In St. Louis he worked at heavy work in a shop for $14 per month, and finally attained to independence. In April. 1852, while working on a steamboat at Pekin, Illinois, the boiler exploded, killing every man (18) on board but himself. He was thrown into the water, but swam ashore.

WILLIAM B. WALLACE (deceased) was born in Kentucky in 1816, and emigrated to what is now Henderson county, Illinois, when this section of the state was but sparsely settled. He first located in Ellison, in T. 9, R. 4, with his father, where he resided for a number of years. March 27, 1845, he married Miss Ann McFarland, a native of Ohio. In 1866 he bought a farm in Sec. 23, T. 10, R. 4, of A. Y. Graham, onto which he moved, and there continued to reside till his death in 1873. She died in 1880, on March 4. Their surviving chil- dren are : William R., Nancy J., wife of Frank P. Morton ; Martha E .. John M., Anson G. and George S., the second son, who was born in Ellison February 15, 1848. He was married July 19, 1871, to Miss Elvira Brouse, a native of Ohio and daughter of Charles W. Brouse, spoken of elsewhere in this work. To them since their marriage were born four children : William W., Florence M., Ralph A. and George W. With the exception of four years spent in Jowa. Mr. Wallace's residence in Henderson county has been continuous. Ilis business, like that of his father before him, is farming.

JAMES E. Kxox is another of those men who, although of humble birth and rearing, and with but very limited means of gaining an education, has by industry, economy, and the aid of a faithful wife. not only succeeded in keeping the wolf from his door, but has made for himself a good property in real estate. He was born in Wayne county. Ohio, in 1833, and emigrated to Henderson county, Illinois. in 1854. He brought with him to this county, as he supposed, a little money, the savings of a few years' hard labor, but soon after his arrival learned to his sorrow that wildcat money in Illinois would not « even buy bread. After working here till 1856 he went to Minnesota,

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where he soon after bought 160 acres of land. In 1859 he returned to Henderson county, with a view to bettering his condition as to climate. On April 10, 1861, he enlisted for one hundred days, but was at once enrolled in Co. F, 16th Ill. Vol. Inf., for a term of three years. In 1865, in Henderson county, on January 5, he married Miss Catharine Caldwell, a native of east Tennessee, born August 17. 1840. After his marriage Mr. Knox followed farming, as a renter, eight years, on the farm of Nathan Jamison, in Bald Bluff town- ship, after which he bought land in T. 11, R. 4, where he now owns 480 aeres. Besides buying and paying for this fine property, he suffered the loss of $1.000 worth of fat cattle, stolen out of his pasture.

HENRY L. KELLY, hardware and agricultural dealer, Biggsville, was born in Windsor county, Vermont, June 26, 1837. In 1843 his par- ents, Henry H. and Susan (Cox) Kelley, removed to the State of New Hampshire. where they engaged in hotel keeping till 1851, when they emigrated to Illinois. They first settled on land in La Salle county, which they afterward sold, and removed to Warren county, bought a home and permanently located in Cameron, where they still reside. They are also natives of Vermont and are of Scotch-Irish ancestors. Henry L. first began for himself in the fall of 1856, merchandising in the grocery line,-building a large store and adding dry goods to his trade in 1868. In the fall of 1874 he removed to Biggsville and opened up a hardware store, soon after adding to his trade a full line of agricultural implements and farm machinery. July 4, 1857. he was united in marriage to Miss Miriam Parker, a native of Warren county, Illinois. Their children's names, in the order of their birth, are: Edmond, George, Emma, Lurena and Clark. Mr. . Kelly has, since the organization of the village, been identified with its interests and government.

Among those who deserve special credit from their fellows on account of the struggle made to attain their present position in life is ELI REZNER. His parents were Nicholas M. and Mary A. (Miller) Rezner. He was born on April 25, 1825, in Monroe county, Tennessee. He was reared on a farm until 1847. When he was eighteen years of age he removed to Henderson county, Illinois, where he began life by working out among the farmers, continuing until he settled down on Sec. 14, T. 10, R. 4. November 8, 1854, he was married to Miss Jane J. Stanley, daughter of John and Lureny (Poe) Stanley. She was born in Gilford county. North Carolina, on November 11, 1828. To them were born six children, only three of whom are living, namely, Lurena, Leroy and John N. Mr. Rezner's family are Presbyterians,

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in faith, being prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian congregation at Biggsville. Although Mr. Rezner was left an orphan at the age of five years, his father having died at New Orleans from injuries received on a boat, yet by untiring industry he has succeeded in making for himself a large competence. He now gives his atten- tion chiefly to stock raising, on his farm of 530 acres, near Biggsville.

ROBERT K. N. GLENN, farmer, Biggsville, son of James and Nancy J. (McDonald) Glenn, was born in Monroe county, Indiana, August 10, 1839. He was reared on a farm, with only the advantages of the subscription school for education. At the age of ten years he was left fatherless by death, and at the age of fifteen on him devolved the care of his mother, the younger members of the family and the farm. In March, 1861, he came to Henderson county, and for a year worked on the farm for Mr. John McDill; after which he worked with George McDill for a fifth of the crop. The summer of 1863 he spent in Indi- ana, on the farm of his mother, she being without help on account of her other sons being in the army. It was while here that he took part in driving Morgan out of Indiana with his band of guerrillas. The same fall he returned to Henderson county and again engaged in farm- ing, as a renter. February 9, 1865, he married Miss Esther MeCrery, daughter of David and Kerren H. (McDill) McCrery. She was born in Warren county, Illinois, August 24, 1845. In the fall of 1868 he removed to a new farm he had previously bought in Ford county, this state, but only remained there two years, when he sold out and came back to this county and bought a farm in Sec. 32, T. 11, R. 4, where he permanently settled and now (1882) lives. His children are : James A .. David O., William P., Flora A. and Robert S. They are members of the South Henderson United Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM A. FOSTER (deceased) was born in South Carolina, Novem- ber 16, 1816. In 1838 he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Warren county. near Little York. April 28, 1841, he married Miss Jane McDill, daughter of George and Margaret (Douglass) McDill, who was born in Chester county, South Carolina, September 16, 1816, and with her parents came to Henderson county, Illinois, in 1837. The spring following his marriage, or in 1842, Mr. Foster permanently located on Sec. 32,T. 11, R.4, and there lived, engaged in farming and stock raising, till the time of his death, September 1, 1855. Mr. Foster lived a con- sistent christian life, and in his death the settlement lost an estimable citizen and his family a kind husband and an indulgent father. Three children survived their father, only two, of whom are now (1882) living, John R. and George C. The latter, born August 11, 1855, was reared on a farm, where he received a common school education.

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He was married November 29, 1876, to Miss Sarah E. Cochran, daugh- ter of John D. and Sarah P. (MeGaw) Cochran. She was born in Indiana, April 18, 1851. They have two children, John A. and Her- man C. Mr. Foster is engaged in farming. His mother, Mrs. Jane Daugherty, after the death of her first husband, was married to Mr. Samuel Daugherty in 1857, by whom she reared one child, Nancy J .. now Mrs. Thomas Moore. Mr. Daugherty died April 15, 1868. Mrs. Daugherty's home is with her son.

The present practicing physician of Gladstone, HARRISON BREDSFORD, M. D., was born in Miami county, Ohio, March 15; 1836. At the age of sixteen he began reading medicine with Dr. G. V. Dorsey, one of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of Ohio. During the terms of 1856, 1857 and 1858 he attended lectures at the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. From 1859. to 1867 he practiced medicine in Missouri, then removed to Malcom, Iowa, where he practiced eight years; after which he spent a short time in Iroquois county, and in 1880 removed to Gladstone and permanently located, and here successfully follows his profession. In the summer of 1882 he was by acclamation unanimously nominated by the republican party for the position of county coroner of Henderson county. September 1, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy A. Whitsitt, a native of Miami county, Ohio, by whom he has reared an interesting family of five children.

JOHN E. PEARSON, son of Pear and Kaisa (Olson) Erickson, was born August 29, 1844, in the town of Torp, county of Langserud, state of Wermeland, Sweden. He was partly reared on a farm, but in youth, besides attending school, learned the trade of boot and shoe maker. On May 8, 1871, he left his native home for America in the steamship "Virginia," and after some delays on account of storm and fog landed in New York, being nineteen days on the ocean. From New York he went direct to Iowa, and soon after engaged in working at his trade in Burlington, and followed his business there till January 4, 1872, when he removed to Biggsville, where he permanently located and continued in the boot and shoe manufacture and sale. In 1877 he quit the mechanical part of the business and placed in stock a full line of groceries, and immediately added to his growing trade a full assort- ment of all the leading sewing machines in the market. He also deals in foreign exchange and sells tickets to all points in Europe. September 5, 1874. he was united in marriage with Miss Mary S. Erickson, a daughter of Erick Anderson ; she was born March 17, 1850, in the town of Stenarsboll, county of Gillberga, state of Wermeland, Sweden. At the age of twenty years a spirit of independence induced her to leave the parental roof and become self-supporting. She accordingly engaged

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as a servant in the house of a millionaire, where she remained till August 7, 1874, when she sailed for America on the steamship Egypt to meet her affianced husband. Mr. Pearson has now four children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are: Albert W .. John R .. Laura S. and Herbert H.

GEORGE W. HOLMES, son of Jacob and Sarah (Worden) Holmes, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, March 3, 1846. He was reared on a farnı, where he enjoyed the advantages of a fair common school educa- tion. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Co. A., 2d O.N.G., bnt was discharged within one year. In the fall of 1865 he came to Henderson county, Illinois, and engaged in working out by the month, first on a farm but later in lumber business, then being carried on at Biggsville. In the spring of 1871 he returned to Ohio and engaged in farming till 1875, when he again came to Biggsville and permanently located. He first worked as clerk a year for Mr. R. C. Graham in a general store. In 1876 he, in company with A. W. Graham, bought out the store, which Mr. Holmes in 1880 purchased and became sole owner. He has now (1882) the best arranged general store in Biggsville if not the county, and is enjoying a good degree of prosperity. November 10, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Catharine L. Baxter, the daughter of James and Mary (Smith) Baxter, a native of Maryland, born October 26, 1845. They are the parents of four children living, Sarah E., John A., Viola and Minnie L. and Mary E. (deceased). Mr. Holmes and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was one of the first town board elected, and served till the spring of 1882. Mr. Holmes is one of those men who is ever ready to aid in any enterprise which tends to the mutual improvement and building up of the com- munity.

JOHN A. BAILEY, M. D., practicing physician, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, August 17, 1853. His parents, Benjamin and Dorothy (Patterson) Bailey and their parents were early pioneers of Ohio, and his grandfather Bailey was of Scotch-Irish blood and a soldier in the revolutionary war. The doctor's mother died in 1861, and in 1862 his father with his children removed to Washington county, Iowa, where he died in 1873. In 1872 the doctor came to Henderson county, Illinois, and began the reading of medicine with Dr. T. J. Maxwell at Olena. During the winters of 1875, 1876 and 1877 he attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Keokuk, Iowa, graduating February 13, 1877. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Olena as a partner with Dr. Maxwell. In October, 1881, in order to perfect himself in the science of medicine, he took a post graduate course in that study at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where

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he received a second diploma March 30, 1882. In the same spring he formed a partnership with Dr. Mekemson, bought out the property and practice of Dr. Maxwell at Biggsville, and entered on the duties of his profession. The doctor is a member of the United Presbyterian church.

HEZEKIAH WATSON, florist and gardener. Biggsville, was born in Albany county, New York, November 29, 1822. He was reared on a farm and enjoyed only the educational advantages of the common schools. In the month of September, 1837, his father, Elisha, with his wife and four children, left their native home, Owego, New York, for a home (to be made) in the Far West. The trip was made via lake and canal to Buffalo; thence by steamer to Cleveland, by canal to the Ohio river, where they took steamer via the Ohio and Mississippi to Oquawka. Mr. Watson Sr. bought near Olena, in T. 10, R. 5, where he lived till the time of his death, 1859. His venerable pioneer wife is still (1882) living, at the honored old age of eighty-seven years. Her maiden name was Marilla Johnson. They were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their home was always the home of the early pioneer preachers. They always left the latch-string hang- ing out. Their four sons were: Lewis, Hezekiah, Elisha and Lambert. Lewis, the eldest, was drafted and sent South during the late war and was never heard from since. He left a wife and family of small chil- dren. Hezekiah, the second son, was married in Henderson county. May 30, 1850, to Miss Sarah A. Jackson, a daughter of the celebrated hunter Abel. She was born in Kentucky in 1833, and emigrated to Henderson county, Illinois, with her parents in 1842. After his mar- riage Mr. Watson engaged in farming and improving land up till about 1867, when he removed to Biggsville and turned his attention to his present business. Their own three children are deceased, and they are raising an adopted daughter, Leota. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The parents of WILLIAM BELL, of Biggsville, were both born and married in Scotland. His father was born October 15, 1809, and his mother on October 14, 1805. They were married at Kelsey, May 29, 1834. Soon after their marriage they emigrated to the United States, first settling in Vermont, but soon after removed to north Argyle, in Washington county, New York, where they resided till the time of his death in 1848. They reared a family of five children : George, born in Vermont, and Jeanette, Thomas, William and James S., born in the State of New York. William, the third child and second son of Thomas and Margaret (Tinline) Bell, was born at north Argyle, Wash- ington county, New York, January 1. 1842. In 1857 he came to

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Henderson county, Illinois, and spent the first summer in attending school. Being a careful and industrious student he early in life had acquired a good education, and in his fifteenth year commenced teach- ing school. This he followed till 1863, when he engaged his services as clerk to a Biggsville merchant. In 1870 he began business for him- self as a general storekeeper. Sold out in 1873 and went as traveling salesman on the road. July 1, 1880, he was appointed as assistant railroad postoffice clerk on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, between Chicago and Burlington. August 11, 1864, he married Miss Martha S. Jamison, daughter of Mr. John C. and Sarah (Stice) Jamison, of Biggsville. She was born in Henderson county, Illinois, August 27, 1843. Their children are : Caroline F., William C., Charles H., Harry, Olive L. and Oscar C. His two brothers, George and Thomas, were soldiers in the late war of the rebellion. The former was wounded severely at the battle of Stone River.

GEORGE W. MATHERS, son of Samuel and Jane (Greer) Mathers, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1840. In 1842 his parents emigrated to Henderson county, Illinois, and settled in T. 9, R. 4. A notice of them the reader will find in the history of that town. Finding themselves in a new country, and with but very little means, the family assidously devoted their time to agricultural rather than educational pursuits, and accordingly George's education was of a necessity much neglected. His training, however, in the way 'of industry and economy was ample and has been well improved, inasmuch as he is now the owner of a very pleasant home in the village of Biggs- ville, and a farm within eighty rods of Kirkwood, in Warren county, Illinois. The latter, for which he paid cash $7,875, was purchased in the spring of 1882. Mr. Mathers has not, however, devoted all his life to money making, as he spent three of the best years of his youth in the service of his country as a member of Co. K, 84th Ill. Vol. Inf., during the war of the rebellion. He was married on May 7, 1868, to Miss Sarah J. MeMillan, a native of Henderson county, Illinois.

AARON HI. MELAIN is the third son of John and Elizabeth (Mc- Cartney) McLain, and was born in MeMinn county, Tennessee, Novem- ber 23, 1828. Moving, as did his parents, from one county to another, his early education was of a necessity much neglected, though by much reading, close observation and careful home study he has gained a good business knowledge, and has made up in this way what was denied him in school. In 1838 he (with his father and family) emi- grated to Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois, and in 1841 removed to Henderson county. October 11, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia W. Curry. the daughter of Samuel Curry. She was

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born in Somersetshire, England, September 29, 1826. Their children are: Mary E., wife of Stephen P. Holmes; Martha M., wife of Fletcher Marston ; Frances E., wife of Albert Brouse; Lydia E., wife of Daniel Shook; George, married to Miss Ella Staley ; Hattie J .. wife of James D. Baird, and three deceased. In January, 1855, Mr. MeLain bought on the raw prairie the S. ¿ of the N. W. } of Sec. 14. T. 10, R. 4, which by industry, good taste and hard work he made into a pleasant home. He is engaged in stock raising as well as farming. He, his wife and family are members of the United Presby- terian church, and his family were industriously raised and educated. His father, John McLain, was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, May 22, 1803, and was married in 1824 to Miss Elizabeth McCartney, also a native of Tennessee. In 1834 he loaded all his worldly effects, with his wife and family of six children, in a wagon, and left MeMinn county, Tennessee, for Indiana, and settled in Gibson county, which he left for Warren county, Illinois, in 1838.

JOSEPH HI. MILLIGAN. operator and agent, Biggsville, is the son of William and Mary (Kiernan) Mulligan, and was born in Kentucky September 7, 1855. In 1856 his parents removed to Warren county, Illinois, and settled at Monmouth, and one year later to Kirkwood, where they still reside. They raised an interesting and intelligent family of three sons and four daughters, who are now living lives to cheer them in their old age. Of their three sons, John W. and Peter, the youngest, are night operators at Kirkwood and Biggsville respec- tively, while the subject of this brief sketch, the eldest, is agent, operator and express agent at Biggsville, and all on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. Mr. J. H. Mulligan worked his way up to his present position of trust by prompt and careful management, being found to be a man of honor and integrity. He was married Decem- ber 5. 1879, to Miss Marilla Dixon, daughter of Wiley Dixon, of Biggsville, and has now two children, Frank II. and Charles E. They are all members of the Catholic church of Monmouth, while Joseph is a young man whose prospects promise a bright future.

JOHN H. MCDOUGALL, farmer, Biggsville, is the son of James and Ellen (Bain) MeDougall, and was born in Washington county, New York, May 4, 1829. His youth, till the age of seventeen years, was spent on a farm, after which he engaged in steamboating on the Hud- son river. In 1855 he came to Henderson county, Illinois, and went to work on a farm as a day laborer. After three years thus engaged he was able to purchase an outfit, which he did, and rented land and begun farming for himself. Being successful in renting, in 1860 he bought a farm east of Biggsville, where he actively engaged in farming

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 133

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