History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 58

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 58
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 58

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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after that was in the grocery trade in the firm of Atchison & McGuffin. The last sold out, and he soon started in business alone. Afterward M. E. McDonald purchased a half interest, and in May, 1881, was succeeded in the partnership by H. D. Marks, Mr. McGuffin's present partner. The subject of this notice was married, February 25, 1857, to Miss Maggie S. Harris. They have one son, William Rice, now preparing himself for the profession of medicine. Mr. and Mrs. McGuffin are Presbyterians ; and he is a republican.

JAMES C. WRIGHT, retired farmer, Aledo, is a descendant of revo- lutionary stock, both his grandfathers having been soldiers in the war for independence. Mr. Wright's parents, Arunah and Polly (Went- worth) Wright, lived in Oneida county, New York, where there were . born to them six sons, two of whom died young; those who grew up to manhood were Alphens W., Horace E., George W., and the subject of this sketch, who was born in the year 1817. The mother died in 1829, and the father in 1838. In the latter year Alpheus came to Mercer county from Ohio, to which state he had previously emigrated. The following year the three remaining brothers left their native state and came here, and the four settled at Warr's Corners, in Richland township. In the autumn of 1842 these brothers made the first settle- ment at Preemption Corners, four miles west of their original location, though some others had made homes in the neighborhood a few years earlier. In 1846 Mr. Wright rode back to New York on horseback, in company with Andrew Conant and wife, and led six horses. He had come here without means. He remained in New York till 1851, and directly on his return was married, March 17, to Miss Julia A. Stone. She was a native of Mansfield, Connecticut, but was raised in Mr. Wright's own county, where they became acquainted. Her father's family removed to Lee county in the fall of 1850, and then the next year he followed to Illinois, and this couple were married. They have two living children : Newell N. and Louie A. Mr. Wright was super- visor of Preemption township two terms. Ile was originally a demo- crat, but in 1856 joined the new republican party.

WILLIAM WINDERS, produce dealer, Aledo, son of John and Eliza- beth (Paden) Winders, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, September 25, 1836. In 1856 he came to Mercer county and settled in the country near Aledo, and worked at his trade of plastering and two years at farming. The war of the rebellion being in progress, on August 13, 1862, he volunteered as a private in company K, 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. On the organization of the company he was appointed third cor- poral, but always did duty as sergeant, and was mustered out as first sergeant. He was with his regiment during its whole term of service,

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except one week, when it was operating and fighting at Resacca. This embraced the Atlanta campaign, which Gen. Halleck pronounced the greatest of the war, the march to the sea, and the campaign of the Carolinas, to which may be added the march to Washington and the grand review. He helped to build the three hundred miles of breast- works and the same amount of corduroy road which Sherman's army made, fought in several battles, including Peachtree creek and Averysboro, and scores of skirmishes and small fights. His muster- out was at Washington, D. C., June 6, 1865. He was married June 12, 1862, to Miss Catharine E. Detwiler. In the spring of 1866 he removed with his family to Finley, Hancock countly, Ohio, where he clerked in a dry goods store. In 1867 he came back and remained a month or two, after which he again went to Ohio and stayed another year, then returned to Aledo, where he has since lived. He was butchering three years, the rest of the time he has been in his present business. Mr. Winder's children are: Julia E., George S., Thornton D., Willie M., Charles Henry, and Araminta Pearl. He has been town trustee one year, and is a mason, a workman and a republican.

MARTIN BOYD, farmer, Aledo, oldest living child of Miles and Catherine (Fisher) Boyd, was born in Madison county, Indiana, Feb- ruary 12, 1834. In 1839 his father emigrated to Mercer county and settled in what is now Eliza township, and four years afterward died in Indiana, while there on business. His mother married again to James Turner, and is living on the old homestead. April 6, 1856, Mr. Boyd was married to Miss Lydia, daughter of Martin Bear, one of the original settlers of Eliza township, and the same spring settled on the N. W. { Sec. 16, Duncan township, and lived there twenty years. In 1876 he moved to Aledo. He was generally and quite ex- tensively engaged while on his farm in feeding cattle. For a number of years he was supervisor and assessor of Eliza, and held, besides, other offices in his township. In 1880 he was elected by the democrats to the legislature, where he attended the regular session of 1880-81, and the recent special session convened the present year (1882) by Gov. Cullom. He has served on the committees on county and town- ship organization, library, and miscellanies. Mr. Boyd has never been identified with any other than the democratic party. He was actively associated with his friends in the farmers' movement from 1873 to 1875, was master of a grange, and delegate therefrom to the state grange. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have three children : Catharine, Lenore and Bertha. Catharine is the wife of Minor Miller.

CHARLES F. DURSTON, deputy circuit clerk, Aledo, second child of James and Philadelphia (Bridger) Durston, was born in Mercer county,

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August 14, 1837. His parents emigrated from New York to this county in 1836 and settled in Rivoli township, where they lived till their death. The mother departed this life in 1866, and the father, an Englishman by birth, in 1878. This subject attended school one year at Wheaton College. Combining his studies there with other instruc- tion which he received, he secured a very good English education. He was married in 1865 to Miss Sarah Gould, of this county, and by her has had three children : Lizzie, Alice and Adelphia. Both parents are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Durston lived by farming until 1873. In that year he was elected county clerk, and filled that office with acceptance to the people till his successor was elected in 1877. He has been deputy circuit clerk the last three years. Politically he is a republican.

JOSEPHI B. MOORE, cabinet maker and furniture dealer, Aledo, was born March 14, 1827, and is the youngest living son of Foreman and Anna (Worley) Moore. He followed carpentering, farming, under- taking and boating in Ohio, and was several years justice of the peace. In 1865 he emigrated to Mercer county and for ten years worked an eighty-acre farm adjoining Aledo. In 1875 he gave up farming and engaged in his present business. In 1850 he celebrated his nuptuals with Miss Margaret McCall. Their family has comprised three child- ren : Robert K., music teacher ; John W., died in infancy ; and Mary Ellen, who married O. P. Arthur, and is now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are communicants in the Methodist church. He is church trus- tee and has been steward and class leader. He has filled the office of trustee of the town of Aledo five years and was president of the board part of the time. In politics he is a democrat, as a rule, though he has voted for republican candidates for president, and does not adhere strictly to party lines. Mr. Moore's father was the son of Joseph Moore, and was born in Mason county, Kentucky, June 20, 1792. He came with his parents to Scioto county, Ohio, when six years old and lived in that county, except a year or two he was in Adams county when first married, until he came west with his son Joseph in 1865. He lives in Aledo, and at the advanced age of ninety years retains goodly health and activity. He was married in 1814 to Miss Anna Worley. They had nine children : Patience, Rebecca, Leroy, Charles. Scienda (dead), Joseph, John (dead), Jedediah (dead), and Asbury (dead). The mother of these children died about 1849, and a year afterward the father married Mrs. Rebecca Hoobler, who is still living. Mr. Moore united with the Methodist church at the age of twelve and has always been a steadfast, zealous laborer in the Master's vineyard. He has been a licensed exhorter over forty years, and has held official

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connection with the church at different times as trustee, steward and class leader. He is pensioned by the government for service in the war of 1812. He was mustered as a soldier in his own county and after marching to Sandusky was discharged.

THOMAS MADDUX, farmer and stock raiser, Aledo, is a native of Fleming county, Kentucky, where he was born July 19, 1820. His father, George B. Maddux, was three times married, and the subject of this was the third child among four sons and five daughters by the second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Green. Mr. Maddux's father was born and reared in Fauquier county, Virginia. He married for his last wife Elizabeth Hill and by this union became the father of two sons, making twenty-one children of his own. He died in Ken- tucky, and his wife in Aberdeen, Ohio, in 1875. Mr. Maddux learned the tinner's trade in Maysville, Kentucky, with Joseph Frank ; in 1843 he removed to Laurel, Franklin county, Indiana, and lived there, en- gaged at his trade and carrying on the hardware business, till June, 1857, when he located his family in Aledo. He continued the same business here till 1868 and then sold out to W. H. Holmes. On his settlement in the place he erected the first building ever put up on the business lot now occupied by Mr. Holmes on College avenue. In 1873 Mr. Maddux resumed his old business on the corner of Seventh and Maple streets under the name of Maddux & Son. In March, 1876, he sold to Detwiler & Son and retired from trade. He had previously become interested in farming and is now the owner of two good farms near the county seat. He started a poor boy and has made a success of his undertakings. After serving his apprenticeship he had $114 with which he began business. He has been twice married ; first in 1846 to Miss Mary E. Williams, of Laurel, Indiana. The issue of this marriage were three children : Elizabeth (died in infancy), Lewis S., and Frank L. Mrs. Maddux died July 25, 1855, and on January 5, 1862, Mr. Maddux was married to Mrs. Phebe Whitelaw, of Franklin county, Indiana. They have had a little daughter, Kate A., who died when three years old. Mr. Maddux is a Mason, an Odd-Fellow and a republican.

CHARLES C. WORDIN, county clerk, Aledo, oldest son of Joseph J. and Sophia (Brown) Wordin, was born in Keithsburg township, Sep- tember 25, 1840. He enlisted August 5, 1861, in Co. E, 9th Ill. Inf., and served with credit in that command until the expiration of his term, in August, 1864, when he was sent back from before Atlanta and mus- tered out at Springfield, Illinois. He fought at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862, and after his regiment was mounted, in March, 1863, was continually on scouting service, and

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participated in numerous small fights. He was also engaged in the arduous service of the Atlanta campaign. He enlisted a second time March, 1865, in Co. F, 4th reg. U. S. Vet. Vol., an organization formed by Gen. Hancock, to which none were admitted who had not seen at least two years service. One year was spent in garrison at Columbus, Ohio, Washington city, and Louisville, Kentucky. In March, 1866, he was mustered out at the latter city. After the war he kept books in Keithsburg five and a half years ; then he was running a hotel two and one-half years ; and in November, 1877, he was elected county clerk, and is still an incumbent of the office. Mr. Wordin has been an Odd-Fellow since 1868. December 18, 1872, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Jennie MePhee. In 1876, they lost their only child, a son, who was three years old. Mr. Wordin's father was born in Rensselaer county, New York, in 1815. He came to this county from Ohio, in 1837, and settled in Keithsburg in March, 1838, living at the landing till 1840. Moving out two miles, he lived on a farm three years ; then he returned and has since had his home in the town. He followed his trade of wagon-making till 1862; since that he has been a house painter. He is one of the few venerable pioneers left as monuments whose shadows link the present with the aboriginal period in Mercer county.

WILLIAM HENRY HOLMES, hardware and stove dealer, Aledo. oldest son of William and Hannah (Lantey) Holmes, was born in Hull, Eng- land, February 15, 1847. His father emigrated with his family to Brantford, Canada West, in 1850; and in 1857 he removed to Wiscon- sin. The next year they came to Aledo, where they have all since lived. After coming here, Mr. Holmes attended school and worked at farm labor until the spring of 1864, when he commenced to learn the tinner's trade. At the end of two months he volunteered in the one hundred days' service in Co. F, 140th Ill. Inf. He was mustered into the service at Dixon, Illinois, and after five and one-half months spent in doing guard and garrison duty in Missouri and Tennessee, he was mustered out at Camp Fry, Chicago. He returned to Aledo and fin- ished his trade, with Thomas Maddux, Esq., and in 1868 bought out his employer, and has been in business on the same ground since. He was married in 1874 to Miss Mary C. Hause. The fruits of this union have been two children, Clyde W. and Fannie May. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are both members of the Methodist church. He has been steward in the church, trustee of the town, is a member of Aledo Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and a republican in politics.

DANIEL T. HINDMAN, county treasurer, Aledo, was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 22, 1839. His parents were Dr. Andrew and

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Margaret (Trembly) Hindman. The former died in Union county, Indiana, in 1852; and the next year the mother came with her five sons to Rock Island county, Illinois, and in 1854 settled with her family in New Boston. The subject of this sketch received an academie education; in 1857 he went to Richmond, Indiana, and attended school one year; afterward he studied medicine a year and a half; and in 1860 returned to Mercer county. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. I, 17th Ill. Inf., and was in the military service over five years. He fought at Frederickstown, Missouri, Octo- ber 21, 1861, at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, the Hatchie, and Vicksburg. In November, 1863, he came north to Springfield, and then to Mercer county, as recruiting sergeant, and during the winter obtained twenty-one recruits for his regiment. He returned with them to Vicksburg, and by order of the commanding general, Slocum, organized these recruits and the veterans of the 17th into a battalion of two companies. These were allowed to elect their officers, and Mr. Hindman was chosen captain by the "veteran " company. By order of Gen. MePherson, commanding the Army of the Tennessee, this detachment was consolidated with the Sth Ill. Inf., in June, 1864, and owing to the resultant change in the line officers, Mr. Ilindman accepted a second lieutenant's commission in Co. E, to which the "veterans" from the 17th were assigned. He was in command of this company during the remainder of his service, and drew pay as commanding officer. After the consolidation he fought at Jackson, Mississippi, in July, 1864, and at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, Mobile. After that he was stationed a year at Shreveport, Louisiana, and in Texas, and was mustered out at Baton Rouge, May 4, 1866. He soon after went into business in New Boston, which he continued till the fall of 1875, when he was elected on the republican ticket to the office of county treasurer, to which he has been successively elected and is now serving his third term. He is a member of the A.O.U. W., and has been a Mason since 1866. In the latter year he was mar- ried to Miss Viola J. Willits. They have a son and a daughter.

HENRY KIMEL, (deceased), was born in Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, August 6, 1800, and was a son of Isaac and Mary J. (Musser) Kimel, both natives of Germany. In 1808, the family emigrated to Trumbull, since Mahoning county, Ohio, where the old people lived till death. Henry Kimel was there married to Miss Anna M. Hirst, whose father was from England and whose mother was from Ireland. Nine children were born in Ohio. In 1840, Mr. and Mrs. Kimel, with five of the children, James W., Thomas K., Jonathan T., Chauncey L. and William P., emigrated via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to

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Illinois, landing at Oquawka, June 10. They immediately took teams for what is now Ohio Grove township, Mercer county. Latter the other four children, Isaac, Eliza A., Mary J. and Julia, arrived after a journey overland of thirty days. Mr. Kimel entered 160 acres of congress land near the center of Ohio Grove township, also secured a quarter section of military land. There were but few settlers in the township at that time. No roads were laid out for travel but all was wild and unbroken from Oquawka to where they settled. The usual improvements were begun and carried out. Small crops were raised ; corn was at one time six and a quarter cents a bushel, and the postage on a letter twenty-five cents, thus four bushels of corn being required to pay postage on one letter. But Uncle Sam allowed. an envelope to be filled without any extra due stamps for a long letter. One child, John Harvey, was born in 1842. A sad bereavement befell the family when, August 18, 1846, death claimed the wife and mother. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Kimel subsequently married Mrs. Catharine Case, of Rock Island county, who became the mother of four children : Anna. John H., Eddie, and Aseneath. She died July 5, 1871. Mr. Kimel, in 1848, sold the first purchase and bought what is known as the Lamar farm, which he im- proved. In 1863 he moved to Rock Island county, where he lived till 1878. He then passed his remaining years about two miles south- west of Viola, Mercer county, where he died October 10, 1880. Re- ligiously he was a Presbyterian ; politically an old line whig, and later a republican. When twelve years old he volunteered in the war of 1812, but was rejected on account of youthfulness. Shortly before his death he purchased the McBride and Stephens saw-mill, which he sold to his son, James W. James W. Kimel, the fourth child of the first family of Henry Kimel, was born February 27, 1831, in Trumbull county, Ohio, near Youngstown. His youth was spent on the farm, with but meager educational advantages. Several seasons he broke prairie with five and six yoke of oxen. In 1848, he spent a few months at school in Ohio, and in the following year returned to the farm in Illinois. In 1850, he was seized with the California fever. With a company from Moline, Illinois, April 4, he started overland for the far west, where lie arrived in Sacramento August 17, following, after the experiences incident to such a journey. After remaining, with considerable suc- cess, financially, till 1853, he returned in January to Illinois. He purchased the McBride and Stephens saw-mill of his father, which he conducted for four years. In 1858, he displaced the saw-mill by a grist-mill, on the same site. The grist-mill he run till 1876, when he erected his present large structure, 36×46, three story and basement.

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His attention having been called to the "wire transmission power," he visited several mills for examination and information. Satisfied as to its efficacy he determined to adopt it. He built his mill 300 feet from the stream and prepared for his new and lately invented " power," which the aged and knowing ones predicted would fail. Time and use have proven the success of this departure. The mill is generally in action. A small stock of groceries is kept to accommodate farm- ers. In 1854, Mr. Kimel purchased the quarter section of land on which he lives. In 1874 he added a quarter, and in 1876 an eighty. He was married May 4, 1854, to Mary B. Burnet, who was born in Salem, New York, August 7, 1832. Her parents, Andrew and Ma- hettable Burnet, were of Scotch descent. They emigrated from New York to Ohio Grove township, Mercer county, Illinois, in 1838. They were emphatically pioneers who dared the new and wild west for homes. He died here May 31, 1861. She died at Mr. Kimel's home January 30, 1881. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Kimel lived near the old mill for nine years. In 1863, a house was built on the farm and occupied. In 1868 an addition was made, bringing the dwelling into considerable notice as a large and handsome building. Other improvements have added much to its beauty. It is enjoyed by a family of six children, comprising Lara, Lucy J., Abbie M., Jim B., Gussie C. and Bessie M. Mr. Kimel, politically, is republican, but meddles but little with politics. His business consumes his time entirely.

MARK CANNUM'S father emigrated to this country from England in 1852, and while on his way to Illinois died near New Orleans where the family landed. The subject of this sketch was born near Peterborough, England in 1843, and settled in Mercer county, near where he now lives, in 1853. He entered the army during the late war, enlisting for three years in August, 1861, and participated in the engagements of Fort Donelson, Belmont, Vicksburg, Corinth, Brittain's Lane, Meri- den, and the Atlanta campaign. He was mustered out at Chattanooga Tennessee, August 4, 1864. He was slightly wounded at Fort Donelson. After his return from the army he settled down to farming, in which occupation he is still engaged. He built his present handsome dwell- ing-house in 1876. Mr. Cannum was married in September, 1866, to Miss C. J. Smith of Mercer county, and they have four children living ; one child is dead. The names of the living are: Addie May, aged fourteen ; Carrie E., aged thirteen ; Lewis D., aged eleven ; and Eph- riam, aged six years. Mr. C. and wife are members of the Christian church of Ohio Grove township. Mr. C. is politically a republican.

WM. McKEE, the subject of this sketch, and his brother Joseph, are

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the oldest settlers now living in Mercer township. They having lived in the township since 1841. The father of the McKee brothers bought the southeast quarter of section 28, from William J. Turner, the deed bearing date of May 20, 1840. Wm. McKee was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, March 9, 1829. He left Ohio with his parents at the age of six years, coming with them to Warren county, Illinois, where they stayed till 1841, when they moved to Mercer county. Mr. McKee has been a farmer all his life, and is unmarried. For several years he has been director of school district No. 9, and politically is a democrat.

JOSEPH MCKEE was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, July 31, 1831. His parents were John and Nancy McKee. His parents settled in Mercer county in 1841, since which time Mr. MeKee has lived upon a farm, and has been a constant citizen of Mercer county. He enjoys, with his brother William, the distinction of being the only living pioneers of Mercer township. He was married July 8, 1858, to Miss Isabel A. Waddle, formerly of Marshall county, West Virginia. They have six children living : Ella J., aged twenty ; Sam- uel Elsie, aged fifteen ; Orvill S., aged eleven ; Roland H .; Elsey Clyde, aged five ; and Ralph Waldo, aged one year and a half. Mr. M. is a member of the Presbyterian church of Aledo, and politically is a republican.

CHARLES FREMONT CABEEN was born in Mercer county in 1851, being the second son of Thomas and Mary Cabeen. He spent the early portion of his life upon his father's farm and going to school. About the year 1879 he went to Aledo and for a time kept the Aledo House, and in connection with his brother, W. A., was engaged in an agricultural implement store. At the death of his father in 1880 he took charge of the farm, which he still manages and controls. Politi- cally Mr. Cabeen is an independent democrat.

JAMES L. BENTLEY was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, February 27, 1832, and was the eldest son of Elim and Rachel (Dilley) Bentley. Ilis father being a farmer, he was raised upon a farm, where his life was passed until his twenty-first year. He then emigrated to Mercer county and engaged in teaching school, at which occupation he con- tinned till eleven years had passed, mostly in Ohio Grove township, district No. 3. At the expiration of this time he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in 1862 buying the place where he now resides, some three miles sontheast of Aledo. This he has greatly improved and added to, and now, retired from active life to some extent, enjoys his well earned plenty. Ile was married September 23, 1853, to Miss Nancy Smith, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 58

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