History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 33

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 33
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 33

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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PERRYTON TOWNSHIP.

of Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Raleigh, Bentonville, and Goks- borough, and then went to Washington by way of Richmond. He was commissioned captain of his company October 27, 1864, which commission he held till the company was mustered out of the service. Following the siege of Vicksburg he was promoted to the office of orderly sergeant from the office of commissary sergeant. At the battle of Atlanta he received a wound in the head. His parents located in Ohio Grove township when they came to Mercer county, and continued to reside there till 1856. IIis mother died in 1871, at the age of seventy-five years. His father, Thomas Candor, was married a second time, to Mary L. Boardman, and died in 1874, aged seventy-five years. Capt. Candor's parents, Margaret and Thomas, were both natives of Pennsylvania. Capt. Candor was married in 1868 to Emma J. Girton. a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1842, and daughter of Baltis and Anna E. Girton, both of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. They came to Illinois in 1872, and now live in Hamlet. Mr. and Mrs. Candor have three children : Graham L., born in 1868, Thomas G., 1870, and Edna, in 1879. He has a well improved farm of 175 acres, adjoining Hamlet. HIe keeps a good grade of all kinds of stock. He and his brother Josiah were partners in the mercantile business in Hamlet from 1867 to 1SS1. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Hamlet.

Of those who look to Mercer county as their birth place and home is the subject of this sketch, W. C. VANDALSEM. IIe was born in 1850. His parents were John and Hannah M. Vandalsem, both of Ohio, and came to Mercer county with the carly settlers with their parents. They were married here. Ilis mother's family located as early as 1832 in Warren county, and afterward came to Mercer county and settled near Pope creek. W. C.'s parents emigrated to Kansas in 1879, where they yet remain. His father is now fifty-nine years old, his mother fifty-seven years. They are both members of the Presbyterian church. His father served in the army in company B, 83d III. Vol., and was out three years, lacking one month. He was in the second battle fought at Fort Donelson, after which his company was detailed to fight bushwhackers and guerillas. W. C. was educated in the common school and reared on the farm. IIe was married in 1876 to Deborah Dunn, native of Illinois, born in 1852, and daughter of John G. and Lydia (Winans) Dunn, the former of Ohio, the latter of Kentucky. Her father died in 1857, at the age of thirty-five, her mother in 1864, aged about forty-four years, a devoted christian and member of the Methodist Episcopal church. W. C. has by this marriage three chil- . dren : Glenn, Charley, and Bessie. His wife's people came to Mercer

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

county in 1851, where they lived till their deaths. Mr. Vandalsem owns a fine farm of 128 acres, on which he keeps a high grade of stock.

GEORGE GRAY is a native of Switzerland county, Indiana, born in 1851, and is a son of Robert and Mary Gray, both of Indiana. His father came to Illinois in 1867, then went to Iowa, and now resides in Barton county, Missouri. His mother died in Indiana. George came first to Rock Island county, Illinois, and lived with his uncle for some time. His educational training was such as he could get in the common school. He began life for himself with nature's capital. energy and muscle. HIe now has a farm of 120 acres, located two miles southeast of Hamlet, in Perryton township. He keeps a good grade of stock. In 1879 he came to Mercer county and located. The same year he was married to Arabella Vandalsem, daughter of John and Hannah M. Vandalsem. They have one child, Grace.

Of those whom we may term old resident settlers of Perryton town- ship is Mr. J. M. DUNN. He located here as early as 1851. He was born in the state of Kentucky in 1824 .. His parents were James and Sarah Dunn, both of whom were natives of the "corn cracker state." His father died in his native state in 1823, his mother emigrated with her family in 1831, to Clermont county, Ohio, where she died in 1852, at the age of sixty-two years. She was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. J. M. received only a meager education, such as the pioneer schools could give. He was reared a farmer, which busi- ness he has always followed. He returned to Ohio in 1855, where he was married to Elizabeth Huntington, born in 1826, and daughter of Abner and Rebecca Huntington, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The former died in 1877 at the good old age of seventy- seven years, the latter in 1876, aged seventy-one; both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Dunn has by this marriage seven children : James A., John H., Benjamin F., George W., Emma C., Thomas H., Sarah (deceased), and Rebecca (deceased). He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a farm of 200 acres located one mile southeast of Hamlet, fairly improved.

W. W. BRADFORD, the subject of this life sketch is a native of Swit- zerland county, Indiana, born in 1830. His parents were Eli and Mary A. Bradford ; the former of Canada, died March, 1876, at the age of seventy years ; the latter of Pennsylvania, died in 1872, at the age of sixty-two years and ten months. They were pioneer settlers of Indi- ana, having located in Switzerland county while the Indians were vet , plenty. They were people of high moral integrity and members of the Baptist church. W. W. came to Mercer county in 1855, and located

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east of Hamlet, where A. Kindall now resides. He returned to Indi- ana the following year and was married, and again came to Illinois where he lived till 1869, when he went to Henry county, and there remained till 1877, when he came to Mercer where he yet resides. His wife was Miss Maria P. Stephens, a native of Indiana and daughter of Reuben and Mary Stephens, both of whom are natives of New York. They were early settlers of Switzerland county, Indiana. Her mother died in 1881 at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Her father still lives in Switzerland county, and is now ninety-three years old. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and well res- pected by all with whom they dealt. By occupation they were farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Bradford have by this marriage eight children : Bruce, Perry (deceased), Eddy (deceased), Elijah (deceased), Ida, Guy S., and William F. He and wife are members of the Free Methodist church. He has a well improved stock farm of 320 acres.

ALFRED H. SMITH is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1828, son of Charles and Margarette A. (Sungrain) Smith. IIis father was a native of Pennsylvania, and served in Capt. Brady's United States volunteers in the war of 1812. He died in 1828. His mother was a native of Philadelphia, born in 1804, and died in Mercer county in 1874. Her parents were, one from Switzerland, the other from Holland. She came to Mercer county in 1849. She was a member of the Presbyte- rian church. Alfred II. came to Mercer county with his mother. He was reared on the farm in which business he has continued. IIe was married in 1855 to Margaret Catchcart, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Mary (Brown) Catchcart, who came to Rock Island in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have ten children : Emma, Charles, Artlıur, Adella, Dora, Retta, Harvey, Frederick, Charles, and Ulmer. He has a well improved farm of 240 acres and good grades of stock. He and wife are members of the Baptist church. His wife's father is a native of Pennsylvania, her mother of Donegal county, Ireland.

Among the early settlers of Perryton township who have passed from this seething and ever-changing world of mingled bliss and joy to that more quiet home above is JAMES GORMAN. He located in Perry- ton township in 1842, where he resided till his death, which occurred in 1877 in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was born in Ire- land in 1800 and came to America in 1837, locating in Pennsylvania. where he remained till 1842, when he emigrated to Illinois. By trade he was a linen weaver but farmed in America. IIe was married in Ireland to Sarah McAdam, daughter of Samuel and Sarah McAdam. James Gorman had by this marriage eight children : John (deceased), William, and James were born in Ireland; Andrew, Sarah, and Samuel

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

(deceased), were born in the "Quaker state;" Elizabeth and Nancy were born in Perryton township. James and William enlisted in the army. the former in company C, the latter in company G, 102d Ill. Vol. ; both went out in 1862 and returned at the close of the war in 1868. James Gorman was a member of the Presbyterian church from early life till his death. His widow is a member of the same church. She now lives on the old homestead in the south half of Perryton township where they located in 1842. Sarah and Andrew remain at home to comfort her in her old age. She is now seventy-seven years old

LEVI COOPER was born in Staffordshire, England. in 1810. His parents were Thomas and Ann (Hashley) Cooper, both of England. His father was born in Staffordshire, September 3, 1774, and died at Hamlet, October 10, 1857. Ilis mother was born October 1, 1787, and died October 20, 1838. They were married in their native country and emigrated to America in 1832, and located in Canada, where they remained five years, when they moved to Lewis county, New York. In 1840 they emigrated to Michigan, and came to Illinois in 1846 and located in Perryton township, Mercer county, where they spent their declining years. Thomas Cooper was a tailor by trade. IIe and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, both in England and America. Levi Cooper came to America with his father, and made the same removals. He was by trade a brick and tile maker, which busi- ness he followed in England, and in America one year, after which he engaged in the business of well-digging, till he located on the farm. This last business he pursued till he retired from active life. IIe now owns a farm of 320 acres second to none in location and quality in Perryton township. He was married in 1839 to Lucy Sproston, of England, who was born in 1807, and was the daughter of John and Sarah Sproston. They came to America in 1832, located in Canada, and emigrated to Perryton township, Mercer county, in 1866. Her father died at Hamlet, April 21, 1864, aged eighty-five years, her mother in England, about 1808. By this marriage Mr. Cooper has four children: David H., Sarah, Betsy E., and Hiram L. His wife, Lucy Sproston, died in 1876. He is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church ; his wife was a member of the same. Since the death of his wife he has left his farm and now lives with his son-in-law, C. Taylor. His two sons live on his farm. Mr. Cooper is a man who is well respected by all who know him.

H. W. FISK, the subject of this sketch, a native of Orange county. New York, was born in 1833, and is the son of Jonathan and Susan (Williams) Fisk, both of Massachusetts. His father was a mechanic

yours Truly Samuel Mickey

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and died in 1853 at the age of sixty-three; his mother died in 1841 at the age of fifty-one; both were members of the Presbyterian church. His father was one of the ruling elders in the society of which he was a member. The Fisk family is of Saxon descent. They came to America soon after the Mayflower brought the pilgrims to the rocky coast of Massachusetts. II. W. Fisk gradnated at Waveland, Indiana, in the class of 1859. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed till 1864, when he was licensed to preach, by the Vincennes presbytery. In 1866 he was ordained a minister of the gospel by the same presbytery. He was appointed home missionary, in which position he labored till 1870, when he was called to the Bue- lah charge in Rock Island county where he remained two years. In 1872 he was called to the Hamlet charge, where he has since labored, preaching both at Hamlet and at the Perryton church four miles south. Ile was married in 1862 to Miss Mary Stevenson, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who was born in 1834, and is a daughter of John and Susan C. (Myres) Stevenson. Her father was a native of Ireland and her mother of Pennsylvania. Her mother died in 1857 at the age of forty- seven. Her father is now living and is in his seventy-second year. Both were devoted members of the Presbyterian church. Rev. Fisk has by this marriage three children : Charles E., Susan, and Emma.

MICHAEL DAMP, deceased, and subject of this sketch, was born in 1814, in New York, and was a son of Philip and Susan Damp, both of Germany. He came to Illinois about 1852, and first located at Milan, where he engaged in the milling business. In 1854 he went to Moline, where he run a mill, and paid the farmers of Rock Island county the first cash for wheat received in that section. Previous to his locating there they received their pay in goods. In 1858 he sold his mill at Moline and moved to Pope creek, where he again engaged in running a mill for about four years, when he quit the milling business and came to Perryton township and engaged in farming. This he followed till his death, which occurred in 1865. He was married to Eliza Kemp, of New York, who was born in 1818, and was a daughter of Michael and Sarah Kemp. Her parents were reared, educated, married, raised a family and died withont emigrating from their native state. The Kemp family came to America from Germany, and located in New York in the early settlement of the state. By this marriage he had eight chil- dren : Edward C., Emily, Amos (deceased), Julia (deceased), Melonia (deceased), Charlotta (deceased), and Cicero R. Of the three living children two are at home. Emily, now Mrs. Gaunt, lives in the east part of Perryton township. Edward C. was married in 1875 to Eliza Johnson, who died in 1879, leaving three children : Arthur, 'Elmer.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

and Isaac F. Cicero R. was born in 1860, and was married in Decem- ber, 1881, to Julia A. Howard, of Illinois, born in 1858, and daughter of John and Mary Howard. Mr. Damp left his family in good circun- stances. His widow now resides about two miles south of Hamlet. Few, if any farms in Perryton are better improved.

JAMES GINGLES, deceased, is justly entitled to the honor of being one of the pioneers of Perryton township. He came at the same time as did the MeHards, in 1838, and settled south of Camp creek. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1801, in Columbia county, where he was reared and educated to the business of farming. He remained in his native state till 1838, the time of his emigration to Perryton township. He resided here till his death, which occurred when he was in his seventy-second year. He was married in 1822 to Elizabeth Lackard, of Pennsylvania, born in 1805, and daughter of Robert and Jane Lackard, both of Pennsylvania. James Gingles, by this marriage, raised a family of eight children : Martha, Jane, Eliza- beth, Washington, Margaret, Harriet (deceased), John, and Clinda, all of whom are married except Washington, and he remains at home with his mother, caring for her in her old age. She still resides on the old homestead, where they located when they first came to Perryton township. To use the language of a friend of the family: "Mr. Gin- gles was energetic and industrious. His character for sobriety, honesty, and integrity, was above reproach. Coming to this country when it was in its infancy, he endured every privation and hardship incident to a new country in its early settlement; these he bore with manly forti- tude and Christian resignation. His well matured opinions and advice were sought for and readily given to the more recent settler. In times when money was scarce he often lent a helping hand to those who were in need or distress, thus fulfilling the Christian maxim of doing good while we have time. . His door was ever open to the wayfarer and traveler. No one in need was turned away without being recipients of his hospitality. During the last hours of his earthly existence he had the sweetest solace and consolation of human existence by being surrounded by the children of his love, whom he had nurtured in the way of religion and truth, thus depriving death of more than half its terror, and illustrating the truth of that beautiful stanza :

" Jesus can make a dying bed As soft as downy pillows are."

Ilis preference in religion was that of the Presbyterian teaching. He and his wife so impressed their earnestness and faith in christianity upon their children, that they are all following in the footsteps of their parents.

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PERRYTON TOWNSHIP.

Of the citizen soldiers now residents of Mercer county, whom the county claims as her own by birth and education, is J. B. FELTON. He was born in Millersburg township, in 1842, and is a son of David and Lucinda Felton. He has lived in Mercer county all his life except ten years. He received most of his education in the schools of Mercer county. In 1866 he was married to Charlotte A. Howe, daughter of L. B. Howe. She was born in 1847 in Mercer county. They have two children: Jenney F. and Clara E. He enlisted in the army in 1862, in Company G, 102d Ill. Vol., and served till June, 1865. He was in the battle at Resacca, where he was wounded. He was in the hospital at Nashville from May, 1863, till November, 1864. During the remainder of his term of service he was in numerous skirmishes. He has not yet recovered from his wound and draws a pension. He has a nicely improved farm of eighty acres.

ROBERT DOOL, a native of Ohio, was born in 1850, and is the son of Henry and Mary Dool, Ireland, who came to Ohio, where they remained for some time, when they came to Mercer county and located in Perryton township in 1853, where they resided till 1881, when they moved to Aledo to live a retired life and enjoy their declin- ing years. Both are members of the Presbyterian church. Robert was reared on the farm and educated in the district school. He was married in 1873 to Therssa Hayes, danghter of Henderson and Olive Ilayes, both of Pennsylvania, but afterward of Ohio, settling in that state in 1848. His mother died in 1852. ITis father is now living and a resident of Belmont county, Ohio. Mr. Dool has two children : Gertrude B. and Henry C. II. His wife's parents were members of the Presbyterian church, as are he and wife, and hold their member- ship at Millersburg. He has a fine farm of 234 acres, well improved, and keeps a good class of farm stock, and feeds cattle for the market.

GEORGE WALTER, the subject of this sketch, was a native of Penn- sylvania and was born in 1812. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth Walter, both of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where they died. George was married in his native state in 1836, where he remained till he emi- grated to Illinois and located in Perryton township in 1859, where he died in 1872 on his farm, at the age of sixty-one. Ilis widow now resides on the old place. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. They had ten children : Charles C., Henry J., David M., George D., Sarah E. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), Martha R., William A., Hannah J., and Samuel W. (deceased). The homestead farm consists of a quarter section, which is undivided between the heirs. Henry J. was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, in 1841,

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND IIENDERSON COUNTIES.

and came to Illinois with his parents and now lives with his mother on the old homestead. He enlisted in the army in 1861 and served till November, 1862, when he was wounded at Brittin's Lane, and dis- charged from the service. He belonged to company C, 30th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was in the battles of Belmont (Missonri), Fort Henry, and Fort Donelson. the siege of Corinth and Brittin's Lane. William A. was born in 1852 and resides on the old homestead with his mother. David M. enlisted in 1862 in company II, 84th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was transferred to the marine brigade, served three years, and now lives in Ringgold county, Iowa. George D. enlisted in company HI, 84th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was transferred to the 21st Ill. Vol. Inf. He now lives in Burlington, Iowa.

WARNER CORNS, a native of Ohio, born 1821, is the son of Henry and Mary Corns, the former of Pennsylvania, the latter of Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio where they were married, and afterward came to Illinois in 1842, located in Rock Island county, where they remained one year. They came to Mercer county in 1843, and located where their son Warner now resides. The father died in 1880, aged eighty- three. The mother lives on the old homestead with her son Warner, and is now in her eighty-seventh year. Warner came to Illinois 'with his parents with whom he has always lived. IIe and his father together laid a claim on the farm where he now resides, and both improved the same. IIe enlisted in 1862 in company D, 33d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served three years. He was in the second battle of Fort Donelson and at Resacca. The remainder of his term of service the company was detailed to fight bush-whackers and guerillas. He was married in 1854 to Amelia Gingles, daughter of Robert and Catharine Gingles. They came to Mercer county in 1839 and located in Perry- ton township. The former died in 1875, at the age of seventy-six years; the latter in 1880, aged seventy-nine years. Mr. Corns has four children : Mary C. (now the widow of James Huffman), Ellen M. and Thirza C. (twins). Ellen married Charles Fencedemancher and Thirza married Charles Snow, and Amanda is at home with her parents. Mr. C. has a farm of 120 acres and keeps a good grade of stock.

Among the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of Perryton town- ship is G. D. MILLER. He was born in 1824 and is a native of Kentucky, and son of William and Elizabeth Miller, of Kentucky. His father died in his native state in 1832, at the age of thirty-two years. In 1833 his mother emigrated to Crawford county, Ohio (now Wyandot county), where G. D. was reared on the farm, receiving such educational instruction as the pioneer schools could furnish. His

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mother died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five, on the old homestead in Ohio. His great-grandparents on his father's side came to America from across the sea: one from Germany, the other from Ireland. Mr. Miller came and located in Perryton township in 1852 where he now resides. Previous to his locating here he herded and fed cattle in the neighborhood of De Witt county, this state, for several years. In 1852 he returned to Ohio where he was married to Sophia Brady, born in 1827, and daughter of Samuel and Sarah Brady, the former of whom died in Ohio in 1842, at the age of fifty-six years, and the latter in 1870, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Miller has ten children : Helen S., Minor D., Dow (deceased), Olive L., Calista, Sue, Emma, Iva M. (deceased), Clay, and Lonie. He has a fine stock farm of 700 acres located in the southeast quarter of Perryton township. He feeds and ships cattle and hogs. He raises shorthorns, draft horses, and the best grades of hogs and sheep. He is a member of the masonic lodge at Aledo.

Among the early settlers of Perryton township was Austin Wood, the father of our subject (W. A. WOOD) and his family. He located in Perryton township as early as 1837, having come to Peoria county in 1836: W. A. Wood was born in° 1820, in the state of New York. His parents, Austin and Louisa Wood, were natives of Connecticut. His father died in 1864, at the age of seventy-seven years; his mother in 1874, aged seventy-three years. They were both members of the . Methodist Episcopal church, and highly respected by those who knew them. W. A. was reared on the farm. His early education was received at the common school. He has pursued the business of his father all his life. He owns a fine stock farm of 290 acres, fairly improved and well stocked. He was married in 1843 to Harriet S. Smith, of New York, daughter of Jesse Smith, who came to Mercer county in 1840. Mr. Wood has eight children : Saphrona, Walter, Louis, Burdick, Emerson, Charles, Bell, and Lena. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He lives in the south half of Perryton township, four and a half miles southeast of Hamlet.

The veteran pioneer, WILLIAM DOAK, of Mercer county, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1816, and was brought up on a farm. His education was received in the pioneer log cabin school- house, with its slab seats and desks. In the fall of 1837 he emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, first settling in Greene township, where he remained till the fall of 1839, when he removed to Perryton, where he permanently located on section 27, and actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, following the business successfully till the spring of 1882, when he gave up active labor and removed to Aledo, with a view

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 33

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