History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 44

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 44
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 44

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GEORGE MCPHERREN (deceased) was born in County Down, Ireland, February 1, 1781. He emigrated when eighteen years of age on account of the military commotion of those times. He settled in New Jersey, near the western line. There he learned the cooper trade, which he followed most of his life. He was married to Susannalı Walker, by whom he became the father of ten children : Mary, James, Susannah, Easter, Daniel, Nancy, Fannie, Sarah, George, Jr., and Andrew. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and while in the campaign viewed different parts of the country. He determined to locate in Ohio, and moved to Muskingum county about 1814. There he followed his trade for about twenty-one years, also overseeing his farming interest, but is believed never to have plowed a furrow him- self. In Ohio, June 8, 1824, he buried his wife: a severe stroke to him. She lies in the cemetery at Rich Hill church. Mr. McPherren moved his family westward in 1835, starting September 21st, and settled in Mercer county, Illinois, in that part that afterward became Ohio Grove township. He died June 23, 1848, and was buried in the MeClure graveyard. He forms a prominent figure in the history of the township ; hence we dismiss him here by saying that in politics he was a strong whig, in religion a Methodist, at his trade a good work- man, and at heart a true man. His namesake and ninth child, George McPherren, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, August 22, 1820, hence was a pioneer youth of Mercer county, and still lives to aid in chronicling the events that go to make the history of Mercer county.

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His life since his fifteenth year has been synchronous with the pulse of the country. His hand has done its share toward making the county what it is, but will soon leave his children to carry on the work he has so well impelled thus far. Mr. MePherren has 460 acres of land, well improved, and has given farms to his sons. He was first married October 1, 1844, to Harriet O. Williams, who died February 11, 1870, leaving seven children : Oliver, Nancy J., Henry, Sophia, Emma, Hannah, and Anna. He was next married April 5, 1871, to Mary J. Williams, a sister to his former wife. She was the first postmistress of Sunbeam, and held the position many years, thus supporting her invalid parents. She died March 31, 1882. Both she and her sister, together with Mr. MePherren, have been for many years members of the Methodist church, uniting with that church about 1844. George II., son of George and Harriet McPherren, was born in Mercer county, Illinois, June 19, 1853. His life has been spent in Mercer county, mostly on the farm. He received a common school education. In 1877 he became a resident of Aledo. In 1882 he engaged in the meat business. May 1st of same year he associated himself with Samuel Brown, but has since sold to his partner. Mr. MePherren also has a farm of 160 acres of land, which he oversees. He was married December 24, 1871, to Miss Eliza A., daughter of Samuel Price. She was born in Pennsylvania, September 9, 1851. Her mother is now Mrs. E. J. Moore, but whose maiden name was Emily Klinefelter. Mr. McPherren has four children living : Emily O., William H., Maggie M., Frank and Freddie E. (twins), Freddie E. having died at the age of seventeen months.

JAMES McBRIDE (deceased) was one of the earliest and most honored of Mercer county's pioneers. His ancestry was Scotch, Irish, Welch and German. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was there raised. The war of 1812 found him a member of the light horse company. He was engaged at Fort Meigs. There was a ditch before the fort, and into this bombs were rolled for the purpose of blowing up the fort. Mr. McBride accidently fell into the ditch, and a bomb was precipitated on him. Fortunately the captain rescued him just previous to the explosion, but he suffered afterward from the accident. He returned to Pennsylvania and married Mary Houseman, then sixteen years of age, also a native of Pennsylvania and of Dutch descent. In 1816 they settled in Muskingum county, Ohio, ten miles east of Zanesville. His chief business was flat-boating, and he made six trips to New Orleans. He was captain for some time. In 1836 he emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, coming from Wheeling, Virginia, to Rock Island, via Ohio and Mississippi rivers, on flat-boats. He

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arrived in Mercer county May 10th, and camped on the N. W. } of Sec. 4, T. 13 N., R. 3. He bought two claims, $175 being the price paid for half a section with a little log house on it. His family con- sisted of wife and five children : John H., Almeda, James C., Elvira J., and Sarah E. He died November 14, 1847, leaving his wife to survive him till March 17, 1879. Both were members of the Methodist church. In Illinois he confined himself to milling and farming. His life was quiet and unostentatious, loved by those who knew him, little educa- tion, but with a wonderful memory, careful and successful in business, democratic in polities. Of his children, James C. is in Colorado, but has his home in Aledo. John HI., born April 8, 1821, has spent his life on the farm, mostly in Mercer county. He owns the old home- stead of 486 acres, on which he erected a handsome residence, and is a thrifty farmer. He is democratie and a single man. Elvira J. was born September 20, 1828. She was married June 27, 1850, to Dr. A. B. Campbell, a native of Ohio and a graduate of Columbia Medical College, where his brother was professor of surgery. He settled in Keithsburg, being the second doctor of that place. He practiced fifteen years, and died June 4, 1860, leaving wife and two children : Mand, and Jake H., who live with her brother, John H.

JOHN H. BROWN (deceased) was one of the most sturdy pioneers of Mercer county. He was born in Seneca county, New York, January 3, 1797. He is said to have aided in the battle of Niagara in the war of 1812, assisting in guarding the bridge over Niagara river. He received a recompense for these services. His father was a revolu- tionary soldier, receiving a land warrant for his services. The Browns were early settlers of Ohio. John H. was raised on the farm, but for some time was a brick moulder with his brothers. In 1815 he was married to Mary McPherren. In 1836 he moved to Mercer county, Illinois, where he became well known before his death, which ocenrred August 11, 1871. He was warm in the advocacy of his political doc- trine, always ready to talk whig and, later, republican principles. He came to Mercer county a poor man, but before his death he owned at one time a thousand acres of land. His wife Mary (McPherren) was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and lives with her daughter, Mrs. McCaw. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were long members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Mrs. Brown is now connected with the Chris- tain church. In their family are thirteen children : Alexander, George, John, Sarah J., James M., William, Daniel, all born in Muskingum county, Ohio; and, born in Mercer county, Illinois, viz : Hugh, Benjamin L., Josoas F., Francis M., Mary, Johannah. William Brown was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, May 6, 1832. He has

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spent his life on the farm, having risen from poverty in a log cabin to a farmer and owner of 265 acres of land. He was married June 29, 1854, to Drusilla Libby, daughter of Rev. Thomas Libby, of Maine. She was born in Maine, June 3, 1832, and came to Mercer county, Illinois, about. 1843. Her parents died here, and are buried in Suez township. Her father was a Baptist minister. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown settled on forty acres in section 1, Ohio Grove town- ship. This Mr. Brown sold, then bought 200 acres in Suez township, which he also sold, and bought his present farm. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living : Warren. George, Hiram L. (dead), Alva C., William F., Joseph F. S., Marion W., Josiah F., Freddie M., and Thomas J. Alexander Brown, one of the wealthiest farmers of Ohio Grove township and the oldest son of John H. and Mary Brown. was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, June 23, 1821. When a youth of fifteen he came to Mercer county. His labor was such as general farm work, but especially in driving ox-team, hauling saw logs in an early day, etc. That hard toil has proven a success is evident from the fact that he now owns 591 acres of Mercer county land, well improved. In 1847 he visited his native place, and later Indiana, returning in 1849. For many years he kept bachelor's hall, not marrying till 1855, when Lucinda Saunders became his wife. She is a daughter of George Saunders, of Knox county, Illinois, and a native of Ohio. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived in a hewn log cabin on the eighty acres on which his present house stands. They have ten children, living.

WILLIAM I. NEVIUS (deceased) was so identified with the history of Mercer county and is so often mentioned in connection with its history that it is necessary to give but few facts in a special sketch. His father, John W., and his mother, Mary (Roland) Nevius, were natives of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and were there married. They made their homes in Mercer county, Illinois, in 1837, living with their son William I. till the following year. In 1838 Mr. Nevius bought prop- erty in Millersburg, where he buried his wife, her death occurring April 14, 1847. He then made his home with his son till his death, October 12, 1854. Both rest in Millersburg cemetery. Mr. Nevius was for several years probate judge. His daughter, Mrs. Eliza Brady, resides in Millersburg. His son William I. was born August 9, 1801, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. When young his parents moved to Greene county, Ohio, 1818. December 12, 1822, he was married to Miss Mary A. Currie, who died, leaving four daughters and one son. He was next married March 1, 1830, to Mary A. Pierce. She was born in Greene county, Ohio, April 25, 1807. William I. Nevius was but

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meagerly educated in books, but his hands were taught to do what mind might dictate. With tools he was handy. He learned the car- penter's trade, and this furnished him employment when not otherwise engaged. In 1832 he moved to Warren county, Illinois. In 1835 he settled in New Boston township, Mercer county, Illinois. In 1837 he changed his location to Ohio Grove township, where he improved land and lived till his death, June 10, 1877. "Peace hath her victories no less than war." In the conflict of life, as a man, as a pioneer, Mr. Nevius closed his life in victory. He was active in the welfare of his county. During the war he was deputy provost marshal. In politics he was whig and republican. He was a member of the United Presby- terian church at his death, but in earlier years was connected with the old school Presbyterian church. His sons Henry, John, and David M. served their country in the civil war, and William D. gave his life at Shiloh that his country might live, while David was drowned while crossing the Cumberland river at Clarksville, Tennessee. Mr. Nevius was the father of five children in his first family and nine children in his second family. Mrs. Nevius lives, an active, strong-minded woman, and interesting to all around her.

WILLIAM T. PATTERSON, farmer, was born April 13, 1808, in parisli of Ray, county Donegal, Ireland, nine miles from Londonderry. His father, Joseph Patterson, was owner of some of the Glebe land. He died there, aged eighty-seven years. Mr. Patterson's mother, Eleanor (Teas), was a native of parish of Teboyne, county Donegal, and her father, William Teas, was a tenant of Marquis of Ebercorn. William Teas Patterson left Ireland March 8, 1840, via London and Liverpool to New York, in the Robert Fulton steamboat and vessel Sheridan. He was four weeks on the journey. He came to Chicago, there hired a teamster for Henry county, Illinois, and then went to Nauvoo, where he staid over Sunday. He visited Joseph Smith, the Mormon, at his home, and heard Sydney Rigdon preach, and saw the sacrament administered. He peddled some time through this section. After remaining about two years in this section, he bought eighty acres of land, which he paid for largely in building sod fences. He subsequently sold and bought and improved a number of farms. July 19, 1846, he was married to Mrs. Sarah M. Brownlee, widow of Samuel L. Brownlee. Mrs. Brownlee had a family of four children by her first husband : Lemon, dead ; Oliver F., in Iowa ; Samantha, now Mrs. J. L. Henderson, of Kansas ; and Agnes M., now Mrs. John Lawton, of Pennsylvania. Since her last marriage three child- ren have been born : Joseph H., dead ; David B., in Iowa ; Mary M., now Mrs. William Maxwell, of Kansas ; Letitia E., now Mrs. James

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C. Spicer, of Mercer county. Mr. Patterson has given each child of age, eighty acres of land, or its equivalent, and owns 150 acres well improved himself. He is a republican, and was first a freesoiler. He and wife are connected with the United Presbyterian church.

JONATHAN DUNCAN (deceased) was born near Baltimore, Maryland, November 19, 1791, and was a son of Andrew and Ann (Smith) Dun- can. He received a liberal education for his time, supplemented by healthy toil of the farm. He thus became vigorous in both mind and body. He became a carpenter by trade, and was the builder of the large hotel of fifty rooms at Mineral Springs, Pennsylvania. He also became extensively engaged in the wool business. He was at one time a large stockholder in a number of stage lines in Pennsylvania, owning a large farm where he fed his horses for the line. It was in 1815 when he moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania. He is familiarly known as Col. Duncan, having enlisted in the war of 1812, as lieutenant, and later, being promoted colonel. Very many of the colonel's best years were actively spent in Pennsylvania. There he lived till the year 1854. He had made a trip to Illinois in 1853, purchasing 260 acres in sections 26 and 27, Ohio Grove township, Mercer county, Illinois. In 1854 he moved his family via the river to Keithsburg and thence to his farm. Here he lived till 1874. He improved his farm and became a factor in the county's progress. He was on intimate terms with the lamented Judge William M. Hayes, and made many friends by his good nature and industry. In politics he was always democratic, but sought no political emolument. In religion he was of the United Presbyterian faith. He aided in build- ing Sunbeam church. Mr. Duncan moved to Monmouth in 1874, to live in retirement. On September 10, 1876, while visiting his son, Dr. J. K. Duncan, at Des Moines, Iowa, death claimed him. He was buried at Monmouth, Illinois. Mr. Duncan was first married to Miss Letha Swearengen. She died, leaving four children. He was next married June 29, 1835, to Miss Agnes Leeper. daughter of Robert and Nancy Leeper, both of whom were born in York county, and died in Washington county, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Duncan was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1815. She now resides with her son in Mercer county. Mr. Duncan's first family are : Wil- liam Duncan, of Mercer county ; Thomas, of Des Moines, Iowa ; Sarah, now Mrs. William McCanless, of Crescent, Iowa. Mr. McCan- less was a prominent man of Mercer county, having owned the land on which Aledo is built ; also, laid out the town. He was lieutenant in company A, S4th Ill. Vol., and was killed at the battle of Chattanooga. Dr. Bazil Duncan was army surgeon one year. He

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is now dead. In the second family are : Robert, who served in the civil war in company F, 17th Ill. Vol., and was promoted second lieu- tenant ; Dr. J. K. Duncan, who was in the naval service ; he was cap- tain of a gun on the gunboat "Fort Hyman ;" seizing an enemy's hot shell, thrown on board and endangering the lives of his men, he threw it into the river, suffering his hands and arms to be severely burned by the operation. For this feat he was promoted captain of the gun-boat. He took sick and was sent to Pensacola hospital, Florida. Being there at the time of the yellow fever scourge, and having studied medicine, he was retained as surgeon and physician three years, on a salary of $2,000. He is now of Nebraska. The other children are : Isophena, James, Andrew (dead), Nettie, Arnett, Charles, Frank and Ida. Arnett was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1850. He was married to Carrie, daughter of J. B. Gilmore. She was born near Oxford, Ohio. Arnett now owns 100 acres of the old homestead ; also, 160 acres besides, well improved.

THOMAS S. ROBB, farmer, is a son of William and Mary (Livingston) Robb, the former of whom was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, 1775, and emigrated to America when a young man ; and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, and whose parents were Scotch. Both died in Penn- sylvania in 1845. In their family were nine children, who are now widely scattered. James and Thomas became identified with Mercer county, Illinois, interests in 1851 and 1852 respectively, and are to-day among the well to do. Thomas S. was born in Pennsylvania, August 16, 1825, and there married Martha A. Campbell, daughter of James Campbell. She is also a native of Pennsylvania, the date of her birth being May 10, 1830. In 1851 Mr. Robb was appointed by Gov. Johnson, of Pennsylvania, as commissioner to the World's Fair, held in London, England, in the year 1851. Besides performing his duties in London, Mr. Robb visited the principal cities of England, Scotland and France, before returning to his own country. Mr. Robb has served Ohio Grove township, as supervisor, for four different terms.

JOHN MCCLELLAN was born December 20, 1826, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His father was Francis McClellan, also a native of Washington county, but whose father came from Donegal county, Ireland, about 1813, and died in Pennsylvania at the age of ninety- eight years. Margaret Brownlee, the mother of John, was also a native of Pennsylvania, but her parents were from Scotland. In the family of Francis and Margaret McClellan were eight children, all Pennsylvanians, of whom but three are living in Mercer county, viz. : Thomas, Francis and John. John emigrated to Illinois in 1850,

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buying 100 acres of the land on which he now lives, being in sections 33 and 34, Ohio Grove township, Mercer county, Illinois. Mr. McClel- lan has improved the farm mostly himself, and owns 150 acres of land. He was married January 12, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Brownlee, daughter of William and Catharine (Hutchison) Brownlee, both Penn- sylvanians, but of Scotch descent. The Brownlees came to Mercer county in 1852. Mrs. McClellan was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1831. They have had five children : Francis, died August 22, 1866; Margaret, Renorick, Clara and Lawrence.

WILLIAM McCREIGHIT (deceased) was born November 27, 1818, in Adams county, Ohio, and was a son of Ephraim and Sarah (Cummins) McCreight, both from South Carolina. Mr. McCreight was raised on the farm. He acquired a very good education for his time and taught to some extent. He was somewhat a genius, able to use many tools and execute. In Ohio he was captain of a company of state militia. He drilled for the Mexican war, but was not called out. In the spring of 1851 he emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, landing at Keiths- burg, April 1. He first rented from his brother-in-law, Judge William M. Hayes. About 1856 he purchased sixty acres of land which he improved. He afterward added another eighty acres. Mr. McCreight died July 11, 1869, and is buried in Candor graveyard. He had taught school here. He was a leading member of the United Presby- terian church from youth. In politics he was whig. abolitionist, and republican. He cast the only abolition vote cast in Ohio Grove town- ship at one election. He was honest, straightforward and of strong convictions. This made him perhaps second to none in influence among men. Mr. McCreight was married in 1843 to Polly Hayes, daughter of John and Martha Hayes, both natives of South Caro- lina. Mrs. McCreight was born in Adams county, Ohio, March 2, 1822. Three children were born in Ohio : Ira S., Leslie D., and Sel- don J. The family own the old homestead. Mr. McCreight's broth- ers, E. P. and Samuel, served in the civil war in company A, 30th Ill. Vol. John S. in company G, 30th Ill. Vol., and A. O. in company D, S3d Ill. Vol.

WILLIAM PEPPER is a son of Charles and Susan Pepper; was born in Cambridgeshire, England, May 2, 1822. His grandfather was butler to Pembrook College, Cambridge, and his father was also en- gaged in the same institution, and William Pepper spent many days with his father at the college. In 1832 the family set sail from St. Catharine docks, London, in the ship Thames, and after five weeks and three days, arrived in New York. They spent six weeks in New

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York city and six weeks in Utica, New York, then settled in Oswego county, New York, where they resided eighteen or nineteen years and cleared a farm of forty acres from the big timber. In 1849 William Pepper came West to Mercer county, Illinois, but spent the following year in Wisconsin. He then returned to Mercer county and worked for Samuel Cabeen. March 3, 1852, he was married to Jane Martin, daughter of William and Susan (McClellan) Martin. The Martins were very early settlers and are noticed elsewhere. Mrs. Pepper was born in Ohio, near Goshen, Indiana. After marriage Mr. Pepper lived one year in Keithsburg, then settled his present home farm of eighty-nine acres, March 1, 1853. He has improved his place, build- ing and re-building till he owns a pleasant place. Mr. and Mrs. Pep- per are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a free voter, voting for Lincoln's second term.

WILLIAM HENDERSON (deceased) was born in Greene county, Penn- sylvania, April 18, 1811. His parents, John and Margaret (Moore) Henderson, were natives of Pennsylvania. They moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, in the fall of 1811. John Henderson died about 1845, and his wife in 1859. They are buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery. Mr. H. was justice of the peace for twenty-one years, with the excep- tion of two odd years. He was in the war of 1812. William Hen- derson, the subject of these memoirs, was the third child in a family of seven. He was but a few months old when his parents settled in Ohio. He was educated in the common schools of his time, but the farm occupied largely his life. As an additional means for gaining an honest and competent livelihood, he learned the shoemakers trade, which busied him when other labor was wanting. In 1834 he was married to Amelia M. Henderson. His wife died in 1840, leaving two children : Susannah C. and Margaret A. IIe was next married December 29, 1842, to Rose A. Dool, daughter of Robert and Mar-

garet Dool. Her parents were natives of county Antrim, Ireland. Mrs. Henderson's birth occurred on board vessel in Belfast Bay May 3, 1819, before the vessel set sail that was to bring the family to America. Robert Dool died in Harrison county, Ohio. His wife lives at the age of ninety years. Mr. Henderson emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1860, renting a farm between New Boston and Aledo. In March, 1862, he purchased the farm in Ohio Grove town- ship of 160 acres, being the S. W. { of Sec. 10. This he improved somewhat. He died March 20, 1877. He was buried in the United Presbyterian graveyard. Mr. Henderson was a man of life and good will to men. In politics he was whig, in whig times, then became a northern democrat. In Ohio he was several years deacon in the

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United Presbyterian church. In his second family are nine children : Robert enlisted in company A., 30th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was trans- ferred to the engineer corps. He served the last sixteen months of the war. He was not nineteen years old when he enlisted. John and Jane received their educations at Monmouth Academy, and hold first grade certificates and command highest wages in teaching. William R. owns forty acres of the home farm. The other children are: Mattie, Bell (dead), Elizabeth, Henry and Mary.

WILLIAM DILLEY, farmer, is one of the very few pioneers left to tell the story of the county's young days. Mr. Dilley was born October 4, 1801, in Sussex county, New Jersey. He is the third in a family of nine children. His father and mother, Aaron and Jane (Storey) Dilley, were natives of New Jersey, and resided there till about 1818, when they removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, where they died. William Dilley worked on the farm till grown. He then worked in a woolen factory, carding, spinning, fulling, etc. May, of 1836, a desire for the west attracted him hither, and in that year he arrived in Mercer county, Illinois. He had shipped a carding machine to Oquawka via the river for his future use. He lived in Green town- ship till 1848, when he removed to his present home in Ohio Grove. Mr. Dilley was married in 1837 to Eliza Moorehead, daughter of John and Elenor Moorehead, early settlers of Mercer county. She was born November 24, 1816. Mr. Dilley owned 120 acres in Green township, which he sold. He bought 320 acres in Ohio Grove. He now owns 165 acres. Mrs. Dilley died April 18, 1877. She was the mother of nine children : Aaron S., John W. (dead), Celesia, Mary, Samtha, Cyrus, Seth, Nellie, (infant dead). Cyrus left home several years ago and has not been heard of since. Aaron S. enlisted in the 9th Ill. Vol., and John W. enlisted in the 84th Ill. Vol. Each served about three years in the civil war. Mr. Dilley has been whig, abolitionist, and republican in politics.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 44

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