History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 70

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 70
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 70

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Prominent among the early settlers, and members of the Cath- olic church, may be mentioned Mr. JOSEPH CONWAY, who was born in county Clare, Ireland, in 1826. He was reared to the prin- ciples of economy and industry. He emigrated to America in the summer of 1846. He sailed from Limerick June 25 in the sailing ship Emma, and after a voyage of many weeks landed in Oswego August 20. For the following six years he applied himself to any honorable employment which would turn an honest penny. In the fall of 1852 he came to Rock Island, Illinois, and the following Feb- ruary put his axe on his shoulder and walked to Preemption township, and began to improve the land he had entered. The following June he received the patent for his land, signed by President Pierce. July 10, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Bridget Ayers, a native of Ireland. She died January 6, 1870, at the early age of thirty-nine years, leaving, besides her loving husband, six children to mourn her early death. The children's names, in the order of their birth, are : Thomas, Marguretta, Joseph Patrick, Mary A., Lizzie (deceased), and Martin W. Mr. Conway, since the death of his companion, has re- mained single. His estimable daughter is his housekeeper, and cheers his home by her pleasant and affable manner. When Mr. Conway first settled on section 30 in this township he had but $200; money earned in this country, and when he landed at Oswego, New York, he had but one-quarter of a dollar. But honest industry has its reward, and he has long since been the independent owner of 680 acres of land.

JOHN Y. JOHNSTON (deceased), came from the county Fermanagh, Ireland, to Mercer county, Illinois, in the spring of 1864, bringing with him his wife, Mary, and two children, one of whom was born to them while on the way. They permanently located in Preemption

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

township, on Sec. 9, T. 15, R. 2, where they reared a family of six children. Mr. Johnston died in January, 1870, and Mrs. Johnston August 6, 1866. James Y. Johnston, their second child, was born on the Mississippi river in April, 1846, while on their way from New Orleans to Rock Island. He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. July 3, 1871, he was married to Miss Matilda, daughter of John H. and Jane (Welch) Johnston. She was born in Preemption township, October 22, 1852. They are the parents of three children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are Nina A., Henry A., and Mary J. Mr. Johnston now owns and occupies the old home farm and other land adjoining, to the number of 236 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock raising.

JOHN Y. JOHNSTON is a son of William W. and Margaret (Lipton) Johnston, and was born in this township, April 1, 1857. He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, with the additional advantage of a college course at Abingdon, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa. March 10, 1881. he was married to Miss Rebecca Johnston, the daughter of William H. and Jane (Allen) Johnston ; she was born in this township, February 7, 1859. In 1881 Mr. Johnston built his present fine residence on his farm on the N. E. ¿ of Sec. 18. His father is now living near Reynolds, in the northwest part of Pre- emption township, and is one of the wealthy land owners of this county, after having given to each of his sons a good farm.

THOMAS L. JOHNSTON, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of William W .. and Margaret (Lipton) Johnston, and was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, November 16, 1848. With the exception of from 1852 to 1855, with his parents in California, his years have been spent in Preemption township, actively engaged in farming. His educational advantages were good and well improved. He remained at home with his father until about the age of twenty-six years, and was well re- warded by the gift from his father of a good 160 acre farm ; the N. E. { of Sec. 7, on which, in 1880, he built a fine, two-story residence at a cost of over $3,000. July 1, 1874. he was married to Miss Mary J. Goodner, a daughter of William D. and Edith J. (Griswold) Goodner. She was born in Indiana, August 7, 1850, and came with her parents to Mercer county, in 1853. They are the parents of four children : Edward W., Edith E., Maggie B., and an infant. Mr. Johnston is engaged in farming, but devotes much of his time to buying, feeding and shipping stock.

WILLIAM CONNOLLY is a son of James and Elizabeth (Little) Connolly, and was born in the county Fermanagh, Ireland, May 29, 1832. In November. 1846, with his parents, he left the land of his

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PREEMPTION TOWNSHIP.

birth, and sailing for America, landed in New Orleans early in the winter of 1847. Soon after their arrival in New Orleans they started up the Mississippi river, landing at Rock Island on April 4th of the same year. They soon after purchased land in Sec. 3, T. 15, R. 2 W .. in Preemption township, where our subject still lives, and where his parents lived till the time of their death. The father died in Septem- ber, 1881; aged eighty-two years. He was an enthusiastic Orangeman, and through his instrumentality a lodge of that order was organized at Preemption, in this county, and one at Brooklyn, Iowa. In the work- ings of these organizations he used largely of his means, having twice visited Canada in the interest of the order. The mother died in 1869 at the age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of seven children : Mary (now the wife of Dr. Martin), James, Margaret (now Mrs. William Vye), William (the subject of this notice), Jane (wife of Thomas Burchby). Eliza (wife of Frank Johnston), and Sarah A. (wife of William J. Ransom). William was married February 14, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth A. Moffett, a native of Fermanagh county, Ireland. She died in 1873. Mr. Connolly's second marriage was on November 12, 1874, with Miss Fanny Moffett, who was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, April 24, 1849. He is the father of eight children, whose names in the order of their birth are : James W., William F .. Elizabeth, Robert, and Lucinda, by his first wife, and Edward W., Mary A., and Gilbert II., by his present wife, who is an excellent mother to the whole family. Mr. Connolly is taking great interest in the education of his children.

DAVID W. LITTLE, the thrifty and enterprising proprietor of the Preemption creamery, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Wiltshire) Little, and was born in this township March 28, 1851. IIe received a good common school education while growing up on the farm, to which he added several terms at Abingdon, Illinois, and Mount Vernon, Iowa. He was married December 18, 1874, to Miss Clara E. Goudy, daughter of William H. and Margaret (Smith) Goudy, of Mount Ver- non, Iowa. She was born in Linn county, Iowa, April 5, 1853. They are the parents of four children : William H., Elizabeth E., Benjamin F., and Margaret A. After his marriage Mr. Little engaged in farm- ing, but since 1880 he has turned his attention exclusively to the man- ufacture of butter. The prospect of success in 1882 induced him to establish a branch creamery in Rivoli township, and he has extended the buying of cream into the adjoining counties.

WILLIAM BRIGGS, the subject of this sketch, was born about 1807 in Ireland, where he spent his early life. When at the age of twenty- five he came to America, in company with his brother Thomas. They

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

first landed on the British Islands, in Canada. They stayed there two months, and then went to New York, where he followed teaming and weaving. He next moved to Illinois in 1846, first stopping at Rock Island : from there he moved to Swedonia, where he found employ- ment at fifty cents per day for ten years. In the meanwhile he bought a small piece of land ; but not having a team of his own, he was forced to hire one, for which he gave his own labor in exchange for the use of a horse. He bought his first eighty acres of Levi Wasson and paid for it in trade. He next bought some government land from a man who had entered it. He was married in New York in 1834 to Miss Isabella Clay. By this marriage they had five children born to them, one only of whom was born in Illinois. John, the oldest, married Miss Ann Armstrong, who is deceased. He was married a second time to Lena Colter. They have one child living and one dead. Henry married Miss Vina Smith, and they have one child. In Mr. Briggs' father's family there were five boys and three girls, all of whom were born in Ireland : Margaret, John, Richard, Jane, Mary, Mur- phy, Thomas and Robert. Margaret is deceased ; John lives in New York ; Richard died at Pleasant Hill ; Jane, wife of David Bates, resides in Ireland ; Mary married John Murphy ; Robert married in New York. When the war of the rebellion broke out Mr. Briggs furnished two soldiers from his family. Robert entered the service as a private and was promoted second lieutenant, and, at the time of his discharge, a captain's commission was forwarded by the governor. He was a brave officer, and was with his regiment through all the various battles with the western army, and was wounded at the battle of Lex- ington. He was a member of Co. B, 65th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. Thomas, a merchant of Preemption, was a member of the 140th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., commanded by Col. Sherman. He entered the service in 1864 at Dixon. After his return home he met with an accident, a misfortune which necessitated the amputation of his arm. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are members of the Episcopal church, of Preemption.

POTTER KELLY, son of Samuel and Sarah Kelly, was born in Jeffer- son county, Pennsylvania, in 1843. He attended a common school until sixteen years of age, when he began a course of study in Glade Run Academy, in Armstrong county. After attending here two ses- sions he began teaching. In the summer of 1866 he came west to Jackson county, Iowa, where he tanght one year. In the spring of 1867 he came to Mercer county, Illinois, and began teaching one mile south of Bridger's Corners, in Suez township. Since that time Mr. Kelly has pursued the profession of teaching in that and adjoining townships in Mercer county, and his labors have always been attended by success.

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PREEMPTION TOWNSHIP.

PETER CAMERON was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 28, 1829. In his father's family there were nine children, of whom our subject is the sixth child. His father was married about 1819 to Miss Sarah Jones, a native of Pennsylvania, whose father came from Wales in an early day and settled in that state. His father, John Cameron, was born of Scotch parents, on the highlands of Scot- land. He came to Pennsylvania and settled near the Juniata river, where he died. Mr. Cameron came to Illinois in 1850, in company with a brother and sister. They first settled in Ohio Grove township, near the line between Ohio Grove and Abington, where he entered a piece of government land containing a quarter section. Before his removal to this state he followed milling and worked with his father. Our subject was married in Pennsylvania, February 26, 1861, to Miss Margaret E. Crabtree, whose parents had moved to Illinois a short time prior to Mr. Cameron's arrival here. By this union they have had four children born to them as follows : Malinda (wife of Frank Humpstead, of DeKalb county), Lewis E., born January 25, 1866, George M., born September 29, 1868, Clarence F., born November 2, 1872. When the war broke out Mr. Cameron entered the service and was engaged in all the battles with his regiment, from Chattanooga to Hardeeville, (South Carolina), and was wounded at Resacca, May 15, 1864. Mrs. Cameron's parents on her father's side, were of English descent, and on her mother's side, Irish. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron are both members of the Methodist church.

ROBERT HICKS was born in Ireland, May 24, 1817, and came to America in 1844. He landed in New York and from there went to Buffalo, Chicago, and Canada, and finally to Galena, where he found employment in the mines in the winter, and in the summer worked upon a farm. Being industrious and saving, he laid up a part of his earnings and in 1856 invested in 160 acres of raw prairie land. He at once began to improve the same. to accomplish which he was forced to borrow money, for which he paid fifteen per cent interest. Mr. Hicks is a prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal church.

JULIUS E. Orro was born in Berlin, Prussia, June 16, 1847. His early youth was partly spent on a farm, but before his majority he had learned the trade of shoemaker with his father. In 1866 he left the home of his birth and sailed for America, with a view of securing a home in a land of plenty. After his arrival he engaged as a hand in a brick-yard, at Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he remained until 1868, when he removed to Davenport, Iowa, and there and in Rock Island worked in a lumber-yard till November, 1878. Then he came to Pre- emption to take charge of the station on the Rock Island & Mercer

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

County railroad. Here he is also engaged in selling lumber on com- mission. October 4, 1870, he married Miss Philepene Ehrhard, a daughter of John Ehrhard. She is a native of Rhein Baiern, Ger- many. She came to America in the fall of 1868, landing here January 1, 1867. They have four children, August H., Ludwig L., Amelia T., and Edward J. They are members of the Lutheran church, of Rock Island.

Among the leading physicians of Mercer county may be mentioned Dr. JAMES H. SEYLER. He was born in central Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 6, 1842. His early years were spent on the farm and in the common schools, beginning at the age of sixteen to attend the higher grade of schools. In his seventeenth year he entered the academy at Glade Run, remaining nearly four years. He then became a student at Jefferson literary college, in the State of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with the class of 1865, receiving his diploma from the united Washington and Jefferson college. He then began reading medicine with Dr. Scott, of Cleveland, Ohio. He also attended medical lectures at Cleveland. He finally entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he received his degree of M.D., in 1868. After practicing his profession one year at Sharps- burg, Pennsylvania, he removed to Mercer county, Illinois, and per- manently located at Preemption, where he has established an enviable reputation as a successful physician. In 1881 he erected a fine brick building which he occupies as a drug store. In November, 1874, he was married to Miss Lauretta Criswell, daughter of Matthew Criswell, Esq., a native of Pennsylvania, but at that time a resident of Rock Island county. One child, Sarah F., was born to them in 1876. Dr. Seyler is a prominent member of the masonic fraternity, and he and wife are active members of the Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM HAMMOND is a son of Robert and Margery (Bird) Ham- mond, and was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1839. His early youth was spent on a farm where he received a good com- mon school education, which he finished with two years at Westminster college. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Co. B, 100th Pa. Vol. Inf., as first lieutenant, from which he was promoted to captain. He partici- pated in the following battles : Port Royal and Port Royal ferry, S. C .; James Island, Bull Run and Chantilla, Va .; South Mountain and An- tietam, Md .; Fredericksburg, Va .; Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss .; Blue Springs, Campbell's Stations and siege of Knoxville, Tenn; the battles of the wilderness, Spotsylvania, Spotsylvania court-house, North Ann river, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Va .; and Mine explosion. At the latter place he was wounded for the third time during the service, and

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was sent to Georgetown hospital, D. C., from which he was finally discharged. After the restoration of peace and his return home, he spent some time in prospecting in several states, for a suitable place to settle, and in 1866 came to Preemption. He was at once impressed with the beauty of the country, and settled in Preemption, and for a short time engaged in the drag business but soon run into a general store, selling out the drug department. In 1877 he built his present fine brick store, where he is now engaged in a prosperous trade. March 12, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Olive M. Morey, a daughter of Ezekiel and Esther (Underhill) Morey, who were among the early pioneers of this county. She was born in Preemption town- ship, March 11, 1844. They have one child living, Will D .; Bird U. died November 24, 1878, aged over four years. Mr. and Mrs. Ham- mond are prominent members of the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE SMITH is a son of Thomas and Mary (Potts) Smith. He was born in Ireland, July 2, 1827. In 1846, his parents, with their nine children, came to America, sailing from Belfast in the ship Annie. They first settled in Bytown, now Ottawa, Canada, where they re- mained six years. They then removed farther west in Canada, and settled in the county of Bruce, west of Toronto, where the parents re- mained until the time of their death. George, the subject of this sketch, was the third son. He was reared like his father, a farmer, at the same time receiving a good, common school education, as well as early training in the way of thrift and industry. November 3, 1858, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Wadsworth, daughter of John and Jane (Johnston) Wadsworth. She was born February 11, 1836, in the county Fermanagh, Ireland, and came with her parents to the United States in 1847. They are the parents of an interesting family of eleven children, whose names, in the order of their birth, are: Emma J. (wife of Thomas Johnston, of Rock Island county), William J., Caroline V., Mary E., George A., Sarah E., Jemima K., Angeline M., Harriett E., Charles E., and Losada L. After his mar- riage Mr. Smith engaged in farming till 1865, when he sold his Cana- dian home and removed to Mercer county, settling in Preemption township, on section 16. For his first eighty acres he paid $2,000, for his second he paid $4,500, and for his last forty acres, bought in 1882, he paid $3,000. Mr. Smith is now (1882) actively engaged in stock- raising and farming. The raising of pork for market has been with him a decided success. Himself and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

DANIEL MACK is a son of John and Bridget (Conway) Mack, and was born in county Clare, Ireland, in May 1849. His father died, and,

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

early in the spring of 1853, he. with his mother and her family, set sail for America in the sailing ship Mary Pleasant, and all safely landed in Philadelphia on May 10, 1853. In the spring of 1855 they removed to Rock Island, Illinois, where our subject spent the next four and a half years clerking in a hotel and working at other odd jobs from which he could earn an honest penny, at the same time making the best use he could of all spare time in securing an education. Though he did not have the advantage of a college course of instruc- tion, he is one of those practical, self-made men occasionally found among the emigrants to this county who were by poverty thrown upon their own resources. After coming to Preemption township, in 1859, he engaged in breaking prairie, and became known as Dan. Mack, the prairie breaker. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 84th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served his adopted country until the close of the war. While in the service he was wounded at Chickamauga, September 19, 1853. January 1, 1866, he was married to Miss Catharine Oday, a daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Burk) Oday, who is also a native of Ire- land, and came to America in about 1860. They are the parents of seven children, living: John W., Daniel, Thomas F., Elizabeth, Will- iam, James P., Joseph C., and three deceased. Though Mr. Mack began a poor boy, he is now the independent owner of 510 acres of land in this township, and is actively engaged in stock raising and shipping as well as farming.

ROBERT FOSTER is a son of Robert and Margaret (Nickson) Foster. He was born in the county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1820, and was reared on a farm, at the same time receiving a good education. On March 17, 1845, with his brother John and others of his father's family he left his native home for America, and about May 1 of the same year arrived at Rock Island, Illinois. The first summer was spent by him working in a brick-yard at Rock Island, while John worked the first season in Preemption township for John Whitsitt, Esq. Thus they made their start " slow but sure." The brothers finally purchased land in section 3, in Preemption township, where Robert still lives, and where John lived till the time of his death, December 30. 1881, in the seventieth year of his age. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he gave liberally of his means, making it a point to give annually fifty dollars toward the support of the church of which he was a member. Some

years before his death he gave a house and lot in Rock Island to the Methodist Episcopal Church there to be used as a parsonage, and a short time previous to his death he willed to the missionary society of Rock Island property to the value of $2,000, the proceeds of which is to be

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COMPANY A, THIRTY-SEVENTII REGIMENT.

used in foreign missionary work, and during the last year of his life he contributed in cash $100 to the missionary fund. In 1859 Robert was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, a native of county Fermanagh, Ireland, by whom he became the father of twelve children, seven of whom are now living : Matilda, John, William, Walter, Sarah J., Abba M., and Robert D. The oldest daughter, aged twenty years, and the third son, aged fifteen years, fell victims to that dread scourge diphtheria, as well as did some of his family in younger years. Mr. Foster and wife are consistant members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

COMPANY C, THIRTY-SIXTII REGIMENT.

Quite a number of Mercer county men entered this company, which was organized in Warren county and was officered almost entirely by men from that county. The organization took place August 20, 1861, and the muster-in took place about one month later at Aurora. A day or two after the organization the regiment went to Quincy, Illinois, and thence to St. Louis, Missouri. Some of the principal battles in which this regiment was engaged were : Bentonville, Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone river, Chickamauga creek. Many other skirmishes and light engagements were participated in by this regiment. Nine of Mercer county's citizens died at the enemy's hands or from disease contracted in the service.

COMPANY A, THIRTY-SEVENTHI REGIMENT.

This was a Rock Island county company, and like many other com- panies and regiments from adjoining counties, drew liberally on Mer- cer county for men. The regiment was made up of squads from all parts of the state and from other states. Company A, to which the Mercer county boys attached themselves, was organized August 14, 1861, and a month and a few days later the regiment was organized and the men mustered into service at Chicago. The war had then begun to be a reality and troops were not kept in the state long for show or drill, but, as was the case with the thirty-seventh, were sent immediately to the scene of action. The next day after the completion of the organization this regiment was sent to St. Louis, and a few days later to Booneville, Otterville and Springfield. On January 24, 1862, the regiment was in the battle of Pea Ridge and September 29 at New- tonia, the battle of Fayetteville soon after being the scene of an engage-

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

ment in which this regiment participated. The regiment was mustered out May 15, 1866. Twelve names on the monument at Aledo attest the devotion of Mercer county's heroes to the old flag.

COMPANY I, SEVENTEENTHI REGIMENT.

Co. I, of the 17th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., was raised from men at New Boston, Keithsburg and Aledo. Dr. E. P .. Wood, of. New Boston. (afterward lieutenant-colonel of the regiment), Geo. W. Sanders, William Avery, E. S. Bruington, and D. T. Hindman were leading spirits in organizing the company. Enos P. Wood was afterward (April 20, 1861) elected captain, and a month later, on the organization of the regiment, elected lieutenant-colonel ; Edward S. Bruington, second lieutenant (afterward captain); and Geo. W. Sanders, who also afterward was promoted to the captaincy, as first lieutenant. William Avery succeeded from second to first lieutenancy on the formation of the regiment. Wm. A. Lorimer was promoted to second, then to first lieutenant, and was mustered out as captain of the company. Theo- dore Glancey was chosen second lieutenant April 2, 1863, and after- ward, and until the expiration of his term, promoted to second lieutenancy.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 70

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