History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 65

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 65
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 65

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He is also experimenting with seedling grapes and the result of his experiments are several new varieties of that delicious fruit, upon which he has not yet conferred names. He has developed an extra fine white, and a fine copper colored fruit, and also a kind that grows in very compact clusters. He has also developed a seedling peach that ripens early in July, called the Early Mercer.

Mr. Erne deserves great credit for his perseverance and untiring diligence in developing this fruit enterprise. He also manufactures large quantities of wine of an excellent quality.

GREEN BOWER NURSERY.

This enterprise, managed by James Ferry, is situated about four miles southeast of Viola. For many years Mr. Ferry and his father have devoted a great deal of their attention to fruit growing, and in 1869 James opened his nursery. It is handsomely situated and the trees and shrubs so tastefully arranged as to present a pretty view. The land on which it is located, consisting of about twenty-two acres, is rolling, the hills sloping to the south and east. Mr. Ferry keeps on hand about sixty varieties of apple trees, and a dozen of raspberries : in blackberries he makes a specialty of the "snyder" and "killina;" in grapes of the "concord." Of strawberries he keeps about ten varieties. Aside from these are found all kinds of ornamental trees. The nursery is well protected on all sides by a natural grove of oak

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trees. It is also well drained, and with these natural advantages. together with the enterprise and excellent judgment of the proprie- for. we see no reason why it should not be a long-lived success.

THE STEAM MILL.

Early in the spring of 1869, an elderly gentleman, of suave man- ner. appeared on the streets of Viola, introducing himself to some of the citizens as William Cannon. His business in the village was to ascertain the feeling of the people in regard to having a steam mill added to their list of enterprises. After finding the sentiment favorable to his project, he very modestly stated that he would need a little pecuniary aid in constructing the building, and proposed that in case the citizens raised him 82,500, to proceed at once with the work. Enough kind-hearted gentlemen were soon found to make up the desired amount, and as security they were given a lien on the property. At the expiration of two years, the time when the money was to have been refunded, the double-barreled firm of Cannon & Cannon collapsed. and the wily creditors pounced down on the property. After gaining possession of the same they were informed that other parties held claims on the mill amounting to nearly $5,000. After liquidating these liens the property was sold to L. S. Hunter, the present proprie- tor, for $1,800. Just how much these philanthropic gentlemen realized from the speculation. except that they had been swindled, is not known.

WAR RECORD.

In sending out. troops to aid in the suppression of the rebellion. Greene was not behind her sister townships. She furnished troops for the 8th Kansas, 17th Illinois, 30th Illinois, 45th Illinois, 65th Illinois, 83d Illinois, 84th Illinois, 27th Illinois, 102d Illinois, 124th Illinois, 140th Illinois and 53d Illinois, and 12th Ill. Cavalry. Upon the alter of her country she laid her sacrifice. Some of her brave sons who had gone out full of life and health, had returned, sick and emaciated from the effects of hardships and exposure, to their old homes to die with their loved ones about them, while the graves of others are scattered over the soil of Tennessee, of the Carolinas, of Georgia, on the banks of the Mississippi, and on the shore of the moaning sea. The tales of their deeds of heroism have been "enshrined in song ;" a stately shaft of marble has been erected to their memory, and their epitaphs are written on the hearts of the American people.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

Among the many prominent men of which Mercer county can boast, none are more deserving of the respect of her citizens than Dr. JESSE V. FRAZIER. Dr. Frazier is a son of John and Nancy (Veach) Frazier, and was born in Hubbard. Trumbull county, Ohio. February 15, 1824. Jesse remained on the farm with his father until eighteen years of age, when he went to Youngstown, Ohio, and began a course of study in the academy, and with the exception of two winters, during which he taught school, continued his studies three years. In the spring of 1845 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. B. F. Richardson, who has since been made a professor in one of the medical colleges in Cincinnati. He studied in the office of that gen- tleman until the spring of 1847, when he and his father started for Illinois. Taking passage on a boat at Pittsburgh they went down the Ohio to Cairo, thence up the Mississippi as far as Keokuk, where they found the river clogged with ice to such an extent as to stop further progress of the boat. Walking across on the ice to the Iowa side, they walked to Burlington, where they hired a man to row them across the channel to where the ice was sufficiently solid to permit them to walk ashore. This, although a very perilous operation, was accomplished without accident. Having made their way to the Illinois side, they started toward their destination on foot, and arrived at Viola on the second of March. They bought a farm one and a half miles from that village, and while the father returned to Ohio for the family, Jesse attended to putting in their crops. Shortly after the arrival of the family he went to Rock Island and resumed his medical studies in the office of Dr. Winslow S. Peirce, now of Indianapolis. In the fall of 1847 he attended lectures at McDowel's medical college in St. Louis. In the latter part of 1848 he began practising in Millersburg, and in February, 1849, received a diploma from the Rock Island medical col- lege. During his studies in these two cities he distinguished himself as a student of more than ordinary talent, and in his final examination acquitted himself with the highest honors, and received the mnost flat- tering encomiums from his fellow students and professors. In Septem- ber he was stricken with a fever which defied the contents of an apothecary store as well as the skill of any human physician, and for which there was no antidote nearer than the gold mines of California. He accordingly prescribed for himself a trip to that country. In com- pany with his friend Dr. Peirce he took a boat to New Orleans, and there took passage in a steamer bound for Panama. Shortly after landing in Gorgonia, he in company with several others stepped into a restaurant for dinner. Having partaken of the bountiful repast. he

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put his hand in his pocket and made the startling discovery that his money was gone. His pocket had been picked. His feelings may easily be imagined on finding himself penniless in a strange land whose inhabitants spoke a language unknown to him. He went to the American consul, located in that city, and stated his case and pro- duced his diploma. Having convinced that official of the truthfulness of his story, he received the promise of a commission as surgeon on the first vessel that would depart for San Francisco. The first vessel to come in was the "Sea Queen, " a British vessel from Dundee, Scotland, laden with coal. After being unloaded this vessel was cleaned up, bunks and berths put in and made ready for carrying passengers. This completed she soon hove anchor and departed for San Francisco, in which port she landed on the evening of January 9, 1850. On his arrival here he was prostrated by a fever contracted during his stay in Panama. After remaining a short time he managed, with the assistance of a friend, to get to Marysville, where they lived in a tent until his recov- ery, when they went to a mining camp known as Rough and Ready, in Nevada county, and began work in the mines. The Doctor remained here until September when he sold his claims and bought two ox teams with which he engaged in hauling supplies from Sacramento to the mines. In the spring of 1851 he again entered the mines, and remained until January, 1852, when he received an appointment as first clerk in the state comptroller's office. by his old friend Dr. Peirce, who had been elected to that position. Ill health soon compelled him to abandon that pursuit. however, and he resolved to try his fortune in Los Angelos, where he embarked in the live stock business, which proved to have been a very lucrative one, and in which he exhibited great financial shrewdness. He continued dealing in stock until January, 1853, by which time he had accumulated about $10,000, and had resolved to return to Illinois. A treacherous partner, however, vetoed that decision by absconding with all but about $500 of the doctor's money, and that was consumed in paying detectives and vainly searching for the miscreant. . Undaunted by this terrible mis- fortune, he went to Sonora and again entered the mines. In 1856 the doctor was chosen by the republican element of the county as a candi- date for the legislature, and although that party was in its infancy, and so decidedly in the minority as to render his election hopeless, he entered the contest with the same vim and enthusiasm that has ever characterized his actions. He "stumped" the entire district and came within eighty votes of being elected. May 1, 1857, he sailed for New York and arrived in that city about the last of the month. After spending several months visiting the principal cities of the east. he

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returned to the sucker state, which has since been his home. The doctor is a prominent member of the scientific and historical associa- tion of Mercer county, of which organization he was the first president, also a member of the state medical association. He was married in 1859 to Miss Salina P. Cowden, whose father was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He is the father of five children, four of whom are living: Kate M., born August 10, 1863; Charles Edward, born August 12, 1866; Pearl, born September 3, 1870 (died October 12, 1870); and Lena, born September 30, 1873. The Doctor located in Viola in March, 1861, and since that time has devoted his entire atten- tion to his professional duties. Although a politician of great foresight and sagacity, he has never been an office seeker, and contrary to the wishes of his many friends, he has furthered the political interests of others rather than those of his own.

HUGH B. FRAZIER, son of John and Nancy (Veach) Frazier, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1835. In 1847 the family removed to Mercer county, where Hugh assisted his father on the farm in the summer and attended a district school in the winter, until 1854, when he went to Rock Island and attended school during the years of 1854-5: In the fall of 1826 he went to Detroit, Michigan, and attended school four months at Gregorie's commercial college, from which insti- tution he graduated. In 1858 he went to Kansas and bought land near Olathee, intending to devote his attention to farming, but becom- ing dissatisfied with the monotony of farm life he returned to Illinois, where he remained until August, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 83 Ill. Inf., and was with that regiment during all its weary marches, all its hardships in camp and on the battle-field. He was soon promoted to the position of sergeant, then to 1st sergeant, finally to 2d lieutenant, and acted in that capacity until the close of the war. He relates an incident that occurred near Bowling Green, Kentucky, which, like many other occurrences of a like nature, is not found in gen- eral histories. He in company with his father-in-law, Lieut. Robb, and five other soldiers, were detailed to guard a train on the Louisville & Memphis railroad en route for Bowling Green. The train was thun- dering along at the rate of twenty miles an hour, when it suddenly left the track and plunged into a steep embankment, and almost simulta- neously with the crash came a volley of musketry from the hill above, accompanied by oaths and a demand for all " on board to surrender." Two of the union soldiers were shot dead the first volley, but the remaining five seizing their arms returned the fire, killing four rebels, one of whom was the captain, after which the guerillas, for such they were, beat a hasty retreat. A telegraph wire was cut and an engine

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telegraphed for which arrived within an hour and the train proceeded on its way. Lieut. Robb afterward received a very complimentary letter from Gen. Rosseau, congratulating him and his brave little band that saved the train. In June, 1865, the regiment was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, and returned to Chicago, where after receiving their pay they disbanded. In October of the same year Mr. Frazier, in company with his brother-in-law, V. R. Harriott, embarked in the dry goods and grocery business in Viola. Since that time Mr. Frazier has been one of the most active business men in the county and has exhibited excellent business qualifications and great financial skill in all his undertakings. Mr. Frazier was married on July 4, 1864, to Miss Mary Robb, a daughter of Lient. Robb, and is father of six children : John, Fred, Ada H., Nannie A., Edwin R., and Sadie R. Mr. Frazier is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 577, with which he united August 24, 1871, and is worshipful master of that lodge, also a member of Horeb Chapter, No. 4, at Rio, and Everts Commandery, No. 18, at Rock Island. Mr. Frazier started out in the world with nothing in the way of wealth, but possessing an ambitious disposition, he has accumu- lated a large competence, besides winning for himself the reputation of being a successful business man.

WILLIAM P., son of John and Eleanor Collins, was born in the town of East Liverpool, Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1828. John Collins was a merchant in that village, and continued business until the spring of 1837, when he came west to Illinois. With his family and personal effects loaded on a flat boat, without sail or rudder, he floated down the Ohio river as far as Cincinnati. A buggy box, which was fastened on the roof of the craft, and the wheels, suspended from the sides by ropes, attracted attention on the voyage. and in passing steamboats was the subject of frequent jests. They were often asked if they intended, in case the river went dry, to proceed on wheels. At Cincinnati the clumsy vessel was exchanged for two barrels of flour, and the family took passage on a steamboat, and arrived at New Bos- ton, without having encountered any mishaps worthy of note, in May, 1837. On landing, a gang of red men, loaded with fish and trinkets, came on board the boat for the purpose of trading with the whites. This circumstance reminded them that they were in a wild country. As the trials and hardships of the early settlers during the pioneer period will be portrayed in the general history, we will pass over that part of Mr. Collins' life, and speak of his career since he arrived at the years of manhood. Mr. Collins was married in 1857 to Miss Mary R. Bradford, and is the father of ten children, nine of whom are living: Ella M., Clara A. (deceased), Lottie E., William R., John B., Effie .J.,

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Samuel E., Charles H., Mary E., Mattie Bell. He is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united several years previous to the organization of the Viola congregation. By hard labor and skillful financiering, Mr. Collins has acquired a large property. He has excellent advantages for stock raising, and turns his attention mostly to that business. Having come west when Illinois was almost a wilderness, he has lived to see cities and villages take the place of the log cabin and the Indian wigwam. Where he once saw the bounding deer, and listened to the wolf's long howl, are heard the shriek of the locomotive and the chiming. of church bells. His father and mother now lie in the cemetery, north of Viola, and their quiet resting place is marked by a granite shaft. Hand in hand they walked down the journey of life, sharing its sorrows and its joys, and after a long career of usefulness Mr. Collins grew weary and laid down his burden by the wayside. Mrs. Collins remained on earth but a few years after, and they now lie side by side in death, leaving as a legacy to their descendants a noble example, which, if followed, will win for them the respect of the entire community in which they live.

MOSES K. FLORY, wagon manufacturer, son of Jonas and Catharine Flory, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, March 1, 1832. In 1839, the family removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and located in what is now North Henderson township. For a few years after locating here his father ran a saw-mill, located on Pope creek. While operating this mill, he did work for the settlers for many miles around, his being the only mill from the eastern part of the county to the Mississippi. Moses received his education in an old log school-house that stood about a mile south of the residence of James Bridger. This building was one of those traditional structures, with a puncheon floor, clapboard roof, and hewn seats. In 1844 Moses, then a mere lad, went to Galena, Illinois, and worked a season in the lead mines. In 1848 he went to Ohio, and worked two years at carpentering, near Toledo. Returning in 1850, he began working his sister's farm, which he con- tinned three years. In 1854 he again resumed carpenter work in company with John Longley, of Rivoli township. In August, 1861, Mr. Flory enlisted in Co. A, 30th Ill. Inf., and was with that regiment in the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Donelson, Raymond, Jackson (Mississippi), Fort Gibson and Champion Hill. He was taken prisoner at Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862, and was taken to Memphis, where he was kept twenty-eight days, thence to Tuscaloosa, where he remained three months, after which he was removed to Macon, Georgia, where he was kept four months, and was then taken to Rich- mond, where he was paroled October 19, 1862, and sent to Washing-

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ton, thence to Springfield, Illinois, and from there to Benton barracks, St. Louis, whence he was sent to rejoin his regiment, at Memphis. During a part of his imprisonment, he was under the care of the notori- ons Captain Wirtz, whose name will go down as the archfiend of American history. After doing duty at Rock Island eight months, he was discharged, and again returned to his old home, having faithfully and bravely discharged the duty to which his country called him. In 1866 Mr. Flory located in Viola, where he built a wagon shop. Being naturally endowed with an inventive genius, he invented a revolving hay rake, upon which he received a patent in 1872. He began manufacturing for the wholesale trade in that year, and has no trouble in selling all he has the capacity to make. Mr. Flory is a prominent member of the A.F. A. M. lodge, No. 577, at Viola.

JOSEPH A. GODING, son of Amos and Lucinda Goding, was born near Farmington, Franklin county, Maine, February 2, 1848. He received his education in the public and. state normal school at Farm- ington, graduating from the latter institution June 4. 1868. In October, 1869, he came to Chicago, and taught school six months near Dunton, in Cook county. In the summer of 1870 he came to Mercer county, and began teaching in the "Brickyard " school-house in New Boston township. He was married May 14, 1872, to Miss Sarah E. Noble, daughter of E. J. Noble, one of the pioneer settlers of New Boston township. After his marriage he returned to his native state, and farmed two seasons on the old homestead, teaching in the winter. In 1874 he again returned to Mercer county, and was employed as princi- pal of the Millersburg public schools. He taught two years and three months in that village and then came to Viola, having been made principal of the schools in that village. After teaching two years he bonght an interest in the dry goods firm of H. B. Frazier & Co., and has been engaged in that business until the present time. The names of Mr. Goding's children in the order of their ages are as follows : Lena, Clara, Bertha, Della, and Maurice R. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in the fall of 1876.

VAN R. HARRIOTT was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1831. When he was ten years of age the family removed to Laporte county, Indiana, where they remained until 1846. In that year they removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and located near Norwood. Van worked on a farm in Greene township two seasons and then went to breaking prairie with an ox team, which he continued for several seasons. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Harriott, in company with a number of acquaintances, started across the plains with an ox team,

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and arrived at Pike's Peak in July, after a long, tedious journey. Soou after arriving there a company was formed, of which Mr. Harriott was a member, and the party began work in the mines. Not being fortu- nate in locating their claims, a part of the company returned to Illinois in September. In 1864 Mr. Harriott enlisted in the 140th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., which regiment enlisted for a hundred days. From Dixon they were sent to Springfield; thence to Memphis, where they did guard duty on the Memphis & Charleston railroad for about three montlis. At the expiration of that time the regiment came to Chicago, and from there were sent to Missouri, where they remained two weeks, after which they returned to Chicago and were mustered out. Mr. Harriott was married in 1852 to Miss Mary R. Frazier, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. The fruits of the union are four children : Jesse C. (now of Sherman county, Nebraska), Lillian A. (wife of Frank E. Kitzmiller), Salina M., and Arthur V. Mr. Harriott united with the Congregationalist church in 1877, and is also a Mason, having been initiated into its mysteries in 1865, and has twice been master of the Viola lodge. In 1865 Mr. Harriott embarked in the dry goods and grocery business in Viola, in company with his brother-in-law, H. B. Frazier. In 1869 the firm dissolved, and Mr. Harriott entered the hardware and grocery business in the brick hotel building. In 1871 Mr. Harriott closed out his business and engaged in farming on land half a mile south of the village, which he had bought in 1868. During the years that followed he was engaged in various pursuits until the . fall of 1880, when he again embarked in the dry goods and grocery business in company with M. K. Flory. He is now in the grocery business in company with John Ashenhurst, and the firm is doing a lucrative business. Mr. Harriott is the present postmaster at Viola, and discharges his duties in that capacity to the entire satisfaction of the people.

FRANCIS A., son of Henry and Sarah Hoagland, was born in New Bedford, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1838. In 1846 the family emigrated to Mercer county and located in Greene township. His father was the first justice of the peace in the township, and, with the exception of a . few months, held the position until the time of his death, which occurred in 1880. Frank remained at home with his parents until September, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. G, 30th Ill. Inf. IIe was with that regiment during the battles of Belmont, Brittian's Lane, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill, Ray- mond, siege of Vicksburg, and in the Atlanta campaign. He states that during the siege of that city the picket lines were only about forty yards apart, and the boys in blue and those in gray exchanged remarks

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as familiarly as though they had been neighbors and friends instead of foes. He also participated in the battle of Jonesboro and many other severe skirmishes. He was discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in August. 1685, after which he returned home and resumed his labors on the farm. For many years after he was engaged in breaking prairie. . He was married September 21, 1881. to Miss Jane A. Storey, and now resides on a farm he recently purchased in section 23 in Greene township.

JOHN W. MCCREIGHT. son of Matthew and Elizabeth McCreight, was born in Adams county, Ohio. December 29, 1828. In 1851 Mr. McCreight came to Mercer county and located at Sunbeam. In 1854 he purchased land in Section 31. Greene township. In February of that year he was married to Miss Rebecca E. Nevius, daughter of William I. Nevius, one of the pioneers of Mercer county. It is sup- posed by the early settlers that Mrs. McCreight was the first white female child born in the county. The names of the children born to the couple are : Joel S .. Walter E., William S .. Henry A., Effie L. (deceased in her infancy), Lora N .. and Louisa B. Mr. and Mrs. McCreight are members of the United Presbyterian church, having. united with that organization early in life.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 65

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