History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 28

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 28
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 28

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LAKES.

In the bottom lands west of the bluff and near the Mississippi river is nestled numerous small lakes, all linked together by a chain of tributaries extending from one to another from north to south, the currents in these outlets being strong in places. The lakes are all fed by the under drainage of the river and from numerous springs along the summit of the bluffs, in consequence of which the water is fresh and clear. In many places the lakes are shaded by large trees, and the sun's silvery rays shining through the tree-tops on the face of the water gives it a picturesque beauty. Fish and wild game are plentiful, and the angler and hunter find enough to occupy them pleasantly for a short stay. Late in the summer season these lakes become thickly matted along the edges with a tall green moss growing from the bottom to the surface of the water. At the time of the first settlement here, these lakes, with the exception of Glancy lake, were much wider and deeper than at the present time, owing to the accumulation of decayed vegetation and continual washing from the bluff. Glancy, however, still maintains its usual depth, owing to a swift current passing through it from the river in seasons of high water. At the present time the depth of Glancy lake is from twenty to twenty-five feet in places ; Eliza, three to five; Swan, four to six. All along these lakes was the favorite hunting ground of the Indians.

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

SCHOOLS.

The first school-house in the township was built on top of the bluff, a short distance from where D. F. Noble now lives. The house was built of logs, and the first school taught in it was presided over by Miss Mary Ann Delabar, and afterward by Miss Emily Cawkins. The school was kept up for many years by subscription, until the legislature passed a law authorizing such townships as desired to lery a tax for the maintenance of schools, soon after which a meeting was called to discuss the merits and demerits of changing to that system. It being determined at that meeting to accept the provisions of that act, the schools have thus been kept up ever since. Before the change was made the township had but one district, which was com- posed of what is known now as districts 1, 2, and 3, since which the town has been divided into six school districts, as follows: Center, No. 1; Boruff, No. 2; Glancy, No. 3; White Eagle, No. 4; Eliza Creek, No. 5; Winter Creek, No. 6. The following, as shown by Mr. A. B. Swisher, present school treasurer, are the amounts received and disbursed by him for school purposes for the year 1880 :

Amount levied for 1881

$1,600 00

State funds received. 364 62

Interest received from town fund.

161 65

$2,126 27

RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.

Many of the early settlers here were church members, and re- ligious meetings date from 1836. At the request of Mr. Daniel Noble, the first. was held at his son's (D. F. Noble) house which, at the time, was the largest house in the neighborhood; and afterward at David Shaunce's and other places in the township, until the first log cabin was built on the bluff, which was then used for all meetings, public and religious. The Methodists were the most numerous at that time, but the meetings were of a union character, and were partici- pated in by members of all other religious sects. The Methodists afterward became a regular organized body here, which has since been broken np owing to many of its members having joined churches located elsewhere outside of the township. They, however, as well as the Baptists and Christians, still continue to hold meetings at the several school-houses in various parts of the town. Neither denomina- tion being strong enough to support a regular minister, the services are conducted by transient preachers. Asa McMerter and Samuel Pinkly were the first preachers, who were at that time termed ex- horters. Soon after the first log cabin on the bluff was built, a regular

MARTIN BEAR

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ELIZA TOWNSHIP.

camp-meeting ground was established near the site of it, where the people of the whole neighborhood congregated to worship and talk to familiar friends and acquaintances.

In 1842 a kiln of brick was burned in the township, on the premises of Samuel Strauss, from which several houses in the neighborhood were built the same season.

Eliza township has never yet sent a man to state prison for crime.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

MARTIN BEAR, a retired farmer, now residing in Aledo, was born in Northumberland county, Catawissa township, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1808, and moved with his father at an early date, to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he was raised and educated at a common school, and resided till his marriage with Miss Catherine Dodson, September S,' 1831. In the same month they were married they emigrated to Cov- ington, Fountain county, Indiana, and after a residence of four years there they came to Mercer county in 1836, arriving May 10th and settling near Eliza creek, in what is now Eliza township. Jacob Bear, his brother, then a single man, accompanied and settled near him. In 1835 Mr. Bear first came out to look at some land, and traveled pretty much all over northern and central Illinois, and bought a claim from Thomas Morgan. In 1836 he went to Galena and entered the tract, with some other pieces to which he had obtained the choice number. When Mr. Bear came out here in 1835, somewhere about the head of the Edwards river, night overtook him, and the darkness was not relieved by moon or stars. No house could be seen, so without anything to eat, he slipped the reins over his horse's head and sat down in the tall grass to hold his horse while he was grazing. He fell asleep, and in the morning when he awoke found that his horse had gotten away from him. After finding his horse he journeyed on and the following night reached Major Lloyd's at Camp creek a little below Millersburg. That was the only house around. Mr. Bear felt at home here. The major was bragging about the fat of the land, which the good housewife illustrated with a very fat coon for supper, the first Mr. Bear had ever tasted. In early times Mr. Bear used to go to Spoon river to get his milling done, and to Knoxville to get his plows sharpened and general smithing done. When Mr. Bear first came here he found the following persons living in the neighborhood : Isaac Dawson, Esq., John Drury, Daniel Noble, D. F. Noble, Aaron Mannon, Elisha Essley, Jolin Shaunce, Isaac Drury, William Fisher, Jesse L. Adams, all from Indiana ; David Shaunce, from Carolina; Abijah Wilson, from Connecticut ; John Shaunce and Thomas Morgan, from Ohio;

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

Martin Fisher (father of William Fisher), Jacob Bear and John Pratt, all from Indiana, in 1836. Thomas Miller came about 1837; William Retherford, in 1840; James Larne, about 1842; J. J. Huston arrived about 1847; Edwin Bishop, in 1850; William Irvin, about 1849. A. B. Chilas, still residing in the township, settled here June, 1838, at which time there were residing in the northern part of the township, John Glancey, William and John Fisher, Valentine Boruff (and his sons, Felty and John), Miles Boyd, and Martin Bear. In the northern part of the township was Daniel Strauss, who fell from a tree while gath- ering hickory-nuts, and was partly devoured by hogs before found. John Shaunce lived near Boruff's. Mr. Chilas was a blacksmith, and worked at his trade there; was a smith in New Boston ; he sharpened , plows and shod horses for twenty miles around.

FRANCIS LAMBERT Was born in the southern part of Ireland, in 1816, and moved to America with his father's family in 1840, landing first at St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he resided for two years, and then went to New York, in which city he resided for ten years. Being of a roving disposition, he next went to Pennsylvania, where he staid one year ; then went to Tazewell county, Illinois, where after a short stay he started back to New York, but changed his mind when arriving at St. Louis, and started north for Galena, at which place he resided ten months. He then came to Rock Island, and from there to Buffalo, Iowa, and from there to Eliza, settling on section 10, where he made a farm and now resides. He was married in Iowa in 1844 to Miss Nancy Moore, who was a native of Ohio. Mr. Lambert was educated in this country, and has followed farming as an occupation. He began life poor, but by industry and close attention to business has attained an easier position in life. In politics Mr. Lambert is a democrat.

GEORGE MOORE, of New Boston township, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, October 5, 1807. He moved with his parents while young, from that state to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1814, where he was educated at a common school and afterward worked at the car- penter and wheelwright trades until his marriage, when he moved to Mercer county, settling in Eliza, near where D. F. Noble now lives. Since his residence in the county he has followed farming. In April, 1852, Mr. Moore crossed the plains to Oregon, and was five months making the journey, in company with other parties. They stopped first at Yam Hill county, Oregon, and went from there to the southern part, where they stayed until February 20, then went back to Yam Hill county, where they stayed until October 7, and then started for home. Leaving Port Louis, Oregon, on board a steamer they went by way of San Francisco and the Isthmus of Darien to New York, then

ELIZA TOWNSIIIP. 289

up the Hudson to Buffalo, and from thence to Chicago, reaching home December 8, 1853. George Moore's great-grandfather was born on December 19, 1732. His grandmother was born February 24, 1766. Mrs. George Moore, wife of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio September 27, 1813. They have seven children, one of whom, Leslie G., died a soldier, at St. Louis, January 14, 1862. He was a member of the 2d Iowa cavalry. Sarah Jane, Helen L., Araminta E., Cara, Robert C., are living. Ella Clarissa is deceased. In religion Mr. Moore is a Universalist, and in politics a republican.

EDWIN BISHOP was born in New Jersey October 29, 1815, and moved with his parents to this state November 13, 1850. They made the journey through by canal and steamboat up the Mississippi river, landing first at Muscatine, Iowa, where he stayed until December 2, 1850, when he settled in Eliza. He received a common school educa- tion in the former state, and learned the blacksmith trade, which he has followed during his residence in Eliza. He was married in Penn- sylvania August 31, 1837, to Miss Sallie Meeker, who was born in Crawford county, that state, in 1819. Mr. Bishop's father was an American and his mother Scotch. They left New Jersey in January, 1816, and moved to Pennsylvania. Mr. Bishop has from time to time filled all the various offices in this town, and has served as justice of the peace for twenty-four years, and is at present postmaster. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His family of children consists of Delilah, Isaiah, Harrison, Barbara A., Levi A., and Sarah (deceased).

SILAS DRURY was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1808, and moved with his parents to Wayne county, Indiana, in 1811, and from Wayne county to Morgan county in 1820, where he received a common school education and was brought up to farming. Ilis father was English and his mother Welch. His grandfather was also English, and was born in London (Drury Lane, which bears the name of the family), where he was educated for a lawyer. After this he turned Quaker and moved to America, settling in Baltimore, Mary- land, where he followed legal writing as a profession. Silas Drury, the subject of the sketch, came from Indiana to Mercer county in the spring of 1834, just after serving as a soldier in the Black Hawk war, which service he entered in 1832. He first settled in Eliza township, and was the first sheriff elected in the county, April 6, 1836, after which he moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he now resides. He has, since his residence in that county, held the office of justice of the peace, assessor, and several minor offices, for twenty-six consecu- tive years. Mr. Drury is a member of the masonic fraternity, and a

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

member of the Illinois City Lodge; also a member of the Old Settlers' Association, of Rock Island county. In politics he is a national. His business is farming and trading along the river. He was married in Rock Island county in 1843 to Miss Malinda Bentley, by which marriage they had four children : Silas, Sarah, Oscar, and Byron.

J. Y. MERITT, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, January 5, 1828, and is the third child of a family of eight, all of whom are living except Aaron J., who died a soldier at Bardstown, Kentucky. He was a member of the 36th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. Moses, a merchant, resides in Appanoose county, Iowa. Eliza, wife of A. C. Reynolds, whose husband is a farmer, also resides in that county. Mary, wife of Samuel Spangler, a farmer, resides in Whitesides county, Illinois, near Port Byron. Sarah Free also lives in that county. Mary M. Kirlin lives in Mercer county, Illinois. John, a farmer, lives in Wayne county, Indiana. J. Y. Meritt's mother's maiden name was Margaret Trindall, and of Scotch-Irish descent ; was raised in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His father, E. J. Meritt, was born and raised in Belmont county, Ohio, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. J. Y. Meritt received a common school education in Indiana, and was there raised to farming. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1848, and for the first few years worked at the carpenters' trade, which he picked up after coming to the state. He bought the land where he now resides in 1856, and on December 25 of that year was married to Miss Mary Prine, and in 1858 moved upon the place. His residence is marked by a large elm tree, the largest tree in Mercer county. J. Y. Meritt enlisted in the three years' service in the late war in 1862, as a private in company K., 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was afterward promoted to the captaincy of the company, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. He was wounded at Averysborough, North Carolina, in March 1865. Unlike many who enlisted at that time, he served until the close of the war, in 1865, when he was mustered out of service after participating in the grand review at Washington, D.C. In politics Capt. . Meritt is a republican.

D. F. NOBLE was born in Fayette county, Indiana, February 9, 1813, and is the son of Daniel and Sarah Noble. His father is Scotch-English, and was born in North Carolina, August 22, 1787 ; his mother is German, and was born in Pennsylvania, January 20, 1788. His father left North Carolina with his parents at the age of six years, and went to Tennessee, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he moved to Ohio, where he was married in 1810 to Miss Barbara Fruit, soon after which he went

291

ELIZA TOWNSIIIP.

to Indiana, where he resided until 1836; he then moved to Mercer county, Illinois. He was drafted for a soldier in the war of 1812, but did not serve, owing to the termination of the war soon after his enrollment. His father was a soldier in the revolutionary war. On coming to this county Daniel Noble first settled in Eliza township, where he remained until the time of his death in 1880, his wife having preceded him in 1875. They were buried side by side in Eliza ceme- tery, which place is marked by an appropriate monument. They had lived together sixty-five years. D. F. Noble, the subject of this sketch, is widely and favorably known, having from time to time served in all the various offices in this township. Soon after township organization he was elected supervisor of his town, which office he held for several years in succession ; he also served as justice of the peace, and was postmaster for twenty consecutive years when the salary of the office amounted to one dollar per year. After serving in that office for twenty years he received his twenty years' salary, amounting to $20 and a few cents. During the late war of the re- bellion he was appointed enrolling officer for Eliza and Millersburg townships. He has also served as school director for thirty-six con- secutive years. Mr. Noble received a common school education in Indiana, and moved with his parents to Eliza in 1836, since which he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married in Union county, Indiana, January 26, 1836, to Miss Sarah Pratt, who died in 1881 and was buried in Eliza cemetery. Eight children have been born to them, six of whom are living. Miss Avarilla married Elisha L. Essley, to whom four children were born; Essley having died, Mrs. Essley married Michael Shannahan. Ira Noble married Miss Caroline Reed, who also died. The result of that marriage was ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Ira lives just a mile north of his father's place. David Noble married Eliza Hampton, of Rock Island county, and they had five children, one of whom died while young. Miss Barbara E. lives with her father on the home place. J. F. Noble also lives at home. Edward H. was married to Miss C. A. Bean in 1881, and lives with his father and farms the place.

WILLIAM SHIELDS was born in Wayne county, Indiana, January 9, 1819. He there received a common school education, and was also raised to farming. His father was a native of Westmoreland county, Virginia ; and his mother, of Kentucky. They moved to Hamilton county, Ohio, where they were married. William Shields came to Mercer county in the spring of 1840, and first settled in New Boston township, after which he moved to Eliza and settled on section 33, which land was then owned by Abijah Wilson, whose daughter Lucy

292

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

he married April 12, 1849. His father and mother following in the same fall, settled in New Boston township, in sight of their son's resi- dence. William Shields has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also a Mason for thirty-two years; he is a mem- ber of New Boston Lodge, No. 59. Out of a family of eight children only three are living: Mariah Willits, Ira, and Jo. The two last named are living with their parents.

JOHN GLANCEY, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1800. He moved with his brother from that state to Indiana in 1820, where he received a common school education, and for a while after followed wool carding and cloth dressing. Joseph Glancey, his father, was Irish; and his mother, whose maiden name was Maith Willits, was English and the second wife, his father having been twice married. Mr. Glancey was the sixth child of that family. His father's third wife was Lura Chambers. Mrs. John Glancey's father's name was Robert Moore, Scotch-Irish ; his mother's maiden name was Deborah Willitts, of English descent, and having formerly lived in York county, Pennsylvania, moved from that state to Ohio, and then to Indiana in 1812. Mrs. Glancey's father was married twice, and Mrs. Glancey is the seventh child of the second family. John Glancey, the subject of the sketch, came to Illinois and settled in Eliza in 1837, and still resides where he first settled. Mr. Glancey's name has been familiar to the public for many years. The most striking points in his character are his disposition to help others in their life struggles ; his generosity ; his animated and kind nature ; his earnestness in his neighbors' success ; and these have made for him friends everywhere, and he lives to see his bright dreams realized at the golden age of eighty-two. Mr. Glancey was elected first super- visor of his township; he was also one of the first county commis- sioners.

JOHN MASON was born in Switzerland, December 8, 1812. Casper Mason, his father, was born in the same parish in 1787, as was also his grandfather, Casper, July 11, 1762. Jacob John Mason, son of Casper, was born in the same parish, October 28, 1722. Susana, wife of John Mason, was also born in the same parish, May 3, 1816. They were married January 10, 1834, by which marriage they had eight children : Jacob, Henry, Albert, August, Jacob John, and John. Two not named died in infancy. John Mason received a high school educa- tion in the parish, which school was controlled by the family. He also served as a soldier in the Zurich war before coming to this country. He left his native country for America June 20, 1847, and arrived at New York city July 21. After his arrival in this country he spent

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several years traveling from place to place, finally settling in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he remained six years, from which place he moved to Wayne county, Indiana, where he stayed ten months. He then came to Illinois, settling on the Essley place. After a resi- dence of five years he moved where he now resides. Like many others of the first settlers, Mr. Mason's circumstances in life were exceedingly limited, but by industry and economy in his business he has managed to acquire a good farm, with plenty around him.

THOMAS BEVERLIN was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 10, 1843. His father was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, and his mother in Virginia. They were married in Indiana, and moved to this state in 1846. Thomas Beverlin received a common school educa- tion in this state, having come with his parents while young. His occupation is that of farming. He enlisted in the three years' service in the late war in 1862, in company K, 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., commanded by Capt. J. Y. Meritt, and after serving for nearly three years was mustered out of the service in 1865, having been engaged in all the battles with his regiment. On arriving in Illinois Mr. Beverlin's father first settled in Rock Island county and afterward in Eliza, Mercer county, on the place where Henry Brockett now lives, at which place he died August 8, 1878. His family consisted of eight children, of whom only two are now living. Thomas Beverlin was married July 16, 1866, to Miss Mary L. Denison. Four children born to them are all living : Emaranda, Fannie E., Estel, and Carrie. Mr. Beverlin is a member of the republican party, and also a member of the Masonic fraternity, Illinois City Lodge, Rock Island county.

AUGUST SCHRADER, a native of Germany, was born in King county, Hanover, December 27, 1830. He was educated at a common school, and afterward learned the wheelwright trade, which he followed until he came with his parents to America. The family first landed in New Orleans, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Mercer county, settling at New Boston, where August followed his trade for a while. After a residence of twelve years at New Boston he moved to Eliza, settling on the old Martin A. Cook farm, which he improved and still resides upon. Mr. Schrader was married in New Boston in 1851. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also of the masonic lodge of that city. In politics he is a republican.

JACOB BEAR was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, November 29, 1812. Peter Bear, his father, was a German, a native of Hamburg, who on first coming to America settled in Pennsylvania, after which he moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, about the year 1811. Catharine, his mother, was a native of Pennsylvania also. Jacob Bear is the third

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

child of a family of eight, six of whom are still living. He came to Mercer county in company with his brother Martin in 1836, and immediately began improving a farm, upon which he broke ten acres the first year. He was married in 1844 to Miss Jemima Carson, of Morgan county, Ohio. His family are Clinton, Carlton, and Rolland. Clinton is at home. Carlton is at present absent from home. Rolland is deceased. Mr. Bear received a common school education in Indiana and was brought up to farming. He is now engaged in farming and stock raising.

JOHN HUMPHRIES LEECH was born April 8, 1811, in Monroe county, now West Virginia. His parents were Chichester and Margaret Leech. His mother's maiden name was Humphries. Chichester Leech was born in Culpepper, Virginia. His parents were Andrew and Elizabeth Leech. Chichester Leech was of English origin, his grandparents being among the first early settlers of America. Losing his father very young, his mother married one Burns and moved west to Monroe county. He had two uncles in the revolution, George and Valentine Leech, who entered that service at the age of sixteen and eighteen. They went to Georgia and were never after heard of. Margaret Humphries was the daughter of John and Catharine Hun- phries, whose name before marriage was Dickison. Her parents were from Ireland, but raised in America, near the Cow Pasture river in Virginia. John Humphries was raised in Ireland, near Dublin. His mother was the only daughter of Sir Toby Butler, lord mayor of Dublin. Young Humphries first landed in Pennsylvania, and from thence went to Virginia, where he became acquainted with and married Catharine Dickison, after which he moved to West Virginia. He there laid a warrant on 1,000 acres of land, had the same surveyed and recorded at Richmond. He there made his home, and raised a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, namely : John, James, William, Samuel, Richard, Robert, Elizabeth, Isabel, Margaret, and Martha. John was a miller by trade, Robert a shoe- maker; the rest were all farmers. Samuel and Robert were in the war of 1812. Robert was present at the surrender of Hull in Canada. After the war he moved to Calloway county in 181S. Richard, follow- ing in 1820, settled in the same county where, after a short time, they were followed by their grandparents, accompanied by Isabel Carlton and husband, the rest of the family remaining in Virginia, where they died. William was elected high sheriff of the county where he was raised. Richard was elected county judge in Missouri, and was also there elected to the legislature of that state. In 1832 Chichester Leech and a family of nine children, all single but Samuel, started for. Madi-

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 28

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