History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 78

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 78
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 78

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).

William L. Fleharty, the oldest of the family excepting the half- sister above mentioned, possessed all of the sterling qualities of his father and the gentleness of his mother. He married young, worked industriously and provided for himself and family a pleasant home near Galesburg. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Terrill. He died in the prime of life, aged forty-six, and Mrs. Fleharty survived him only a few years. They left a family of six children, two of whom are married.

J. Q. A. Fleharty (twin brother of H. C.), is a traveling minister in the North Nebraska Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been very successful in his vocation.

H. C. Fleharty is engaged in farming near Fullerton, Nebraska. He was married when young to Miss Margery E. Cullison, of Knox county, Illinois. They have an interesting family of bright, promising children.

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Rev. J. J. Fleharty, the next in order of birth, entered the minis- terial profession when very young, and was for many years a member of the Central Illinois Conference. He has been eminently successful as a minister. Was married, when young, to Miss Anna B. Brace, of Stark county, Illinois. They have had only one child, Clara, now a charming young lady. Rev. Fleharty is now president of the Nebraska Wesleyan University, located at Fullerton, an institution that is young in years but full of promise. He also continues in the work of the ministry.

S. F. Fleharty, the youngest of the four brothers who are living, was born September 6, 1836, and was either the first or second child born within the limits of Suez township. He was a member of the 102d Ill. Vol. Inf. during the late war, and was sergeant-major of the regiment. Was a member of the Illinois legislature in 1870-72, representing Mercer county. Removed to Nebraska in 1875, where he engaged successfully in the newspaper business, and is now private secretary of the governor of Nebraska.

GOVERT S. FLEHARTY .- Returning to the "old stock," it is a pleas- ure to sketch the career of another of Mercer county's honored pioneers. Govert S. Fleharty was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Feb- ruary 22, 1804, a patriotic beginning of a life that was marked by the strongest impulses of patriotism, and of devotion to the inalienable rights of man. He removed with the family to Ross county, Ohio, in 1810, and to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1825, where he was married in 1828 to Margaret L. Harmon. They remained in that county some five years, during which time Martha C., Stephen W., and Mary A. Fleharty were born. In 1833 the family removed to Mercer county, selecting a home on the S. E. ¿ of Sec. 1, North Henderson township, and there William D. and Margaret were born, the latter being the youngest and last of the family. In 1838 the family removed to Henry county, where they lived for many years, in a pleasant home near the village of Oxford. Govert S. Fleharty was physically and mentally a strong man, earnest in his convictions, and adhering to them with unswerving fidelity in the face of the most bitter persecu- tions. He was an old-time abolitionist, and, to his honor be it said, that he aided more than one fugitive slave that was fleeing from the bloodhounds and the lash of the southern slaveholder. He died Octo- ber 20, 1876, and it is written of him that he was born on Washing- ton's birthday, and died during the centennial year of American inde- pendence. His wife, Margaret L. Fleharty, was a faithful, devoted, and affectionate christian woman, whose good example and kindly nature has left an enduring impression upon the surviving members of

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the family. She died December 10, 1880. The children are all living. Martha C. married Mr. W. T. Bridger. They have a family of four children, and a pleasant home, one mile north of Oxford and just across the line from Mercer county.

S. W. Fleharty, the elder of the two sons, was born October 24, 1830, and was married in 1856 to Miss Elizabeth Watson, of Mercer county. They reside on their beautiful farm, a short distance east of New Windsor, and by their industry have made a happy home for themselves and their children. Wesley, as he is commonly called, is a man of the strietest integrity, an original and independent thinker, bold and direct in expressing his views on all subjects, uncompro- mising, yet kind at heart, and worthy of the respect which he univer- sally receives.

The second son, William D. Fleharty, was born October 4, 1834, and was the first white child that was born in North Henderson town- ship. He was married in 1860 to Miss Mary C. Petrie, daughter of William F. Petrie, and sister of Hon. A. P. Petrie. Mr. and Mrs. F. have only one child, Annie, now twelve years old, and very natarally, as well as deservedly, their only darling is the sunlight of their happy home. Mr. Fleharty has been engaged in business as a grain buyer at New Windsor for many years, and has been remarkably successful. During all of that period he has maintained a character that is above reproach, and all classess have implicit confidence in his business in- tegrity. He has been twice elected to the office of supervisor for Rivoli township, and has discharged the duties of the office with credit to himself and to his constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Fleharty have an elegant home in New Windsor.

Mary A. Fleharty, the second daughter, married Mr. Peter Stevens a substantial and well-to-do farmer, who resides in Ohio Grove town- ship. They have seven children. The youngest daughter, Margaret, married Mr. David McLaughlin, and their home near Oxford is the old home of Govert S. and Margaret Fleharty, the father and mother of five children, who have all been successful in life and an honor to their parents.

Another brother, William Fleharty, next in age to Stephen, was a minister, and at the time the family settled here he went into the lead region of southwestern Wisconsin, where he married and settled and died. He has one son residing in Wisconsin and one in Kansas. A sister Aun married Joseph Holiday, in Sangamon county, before the family came to this county, afterward removing to Knox county, and settling near Bennett. When William Fleharty settled in what is now Suez township, it became known that he had served as justice of the

Trillian Lomax

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NORTHI HENDERSON TOWNSHIP.

peace in Ohio for some years, so he was elected to the same office here. At that time the state was too poor to furnish more than three or four copies of the statutes for the use of the legislature, and Mercer county was not the possessor of a single copy. Mr. F. had a copy of the Ohio statutes so he administered justice according to the statutes of Ohio, and no one could question his decisions as they could produce no Illinois law in his court.

BENNETT E. FLEHARTY .- The early history of Mercer county would be incomplete without a sketch of Bennett E. Fleharty, one of the four brothers named at the beginning of this article. Old settlers remem- ber him as one of the most conscientious men that ever lived. He was a mild mannered man, very quiet, and ever faithful to his duties as a christian. It is related of him that after working hard during the week, he often walked from seven to ten miles for the purpose of attending the Methodist class meeting of those days. His home was on the south side of Pope creek, near the eastern line of the county. His wife's maiden name was Charlotte Cook. They raised a family of four children : William, John, Sarah, and Jane. The family removed to Kansas, some years ago, and soon afterward Uncle Bennett, as he was familiarly called, passed away to that land from which no traveler returns. The news of his death was heard with great sorrow by old neighbors and relatives here, and his exemplary life will not soon be forgotten. The surviving members of the family are living in the state of Kansas.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Among the earliest settlers of this township was BENJAMIN F. BROWN, who was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, April 7, 1810, the son of Samuel and Henrietta (Hobbs) Brown. His father died in Ken- tucky, but his mother came to Knox county, Illinois, with the family, in 1831. The family consisted of nine children, seven of whom lived to have families. Alfred, now deceased, left several children : Har- mon lives in Knox county ; Sallie (wife of Peter Frantz), lives in Knox county ; Harrison and Benjamin F. live in this county ; Joshua H. in Knox county ; Samuel W. in Washington Territory, has had a position in a United States land office there for a number of years ; Margaret (deceased), was the wife of Mr. Freeman, of Knox county ; and John (deceased), lived in this county at the time of his death. Benjamin F. came to Knox county, Illinois, in the spring of 1831. In the spring of 1832 he joined Capt. William McMurtry's company of rangers, which formed part of Maj. Bogard's regiment, enlisted in the counties of Schuyler, McDonough, Warren and Knox, for the defense of the

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

frontier against the bands of Black Hawk, who had taken the war-path again that spring. In one of the scouts made that season by a detach- ment of his company he proceeded to the present site of the city of Rock Island, which was marked at that time by the presence of one log cabin. The years 1833 and 1834 he spent in the lead mines about Galena. The spring of 1835 he began to improve a claim with his brother Harison, on sections 18 and 19. Selling out his claim to his brother Harison in 1836, he returned to Knox county. February 18, 1838, he married Miss Lucinda Mann, daughter of James Mann, whose early settlement is spoken of elsewhere. She was a native of Ohio, born near Cincinnatti. That spring he began to improve a claim on sections 6 and 7, which now forms part of his farm, which consists at present of 324 acres on the southwest section 6, northwest section 7, and E. & N. E. Sec. 12, in Suez township. He has a fine residence on the southwest section 6, built in 1861, where the latch-string is always out, in true pioneer style, and no more hospitable welcome is to be found than beneath his roof. Mr. B. was fond of the chase and in the days when game was plenty his trusty rifle brought many a deer to the dust. He was also fond of luring the finny denizens of the rivers from their native element, and acquired so great a reputation in this line that he is commonly spoken of now by the old pioneers as " Fisher Ben." He and his wife are active members of the Universalist church, to which they have been attached for many years. They have a parish organized now in Suez township and a half interest in a church with the United Brethren on section 10 in that township. Mr. B. was for- merly a whig, but upon the demise of that party and the organization of the republican party, he has been a zealous and active adherent of that party. Their children were : Susan E., born November 17, 1838, married Ira G. Bridger July 24, 1864, and died, without any children, May 15, 1877 ; Joshua H., born July 6, 1841, enlisted in Capt. Pep- . per's company, 84th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., in 1862, and served his country faithfully until the close of the war ; January 1, 1867, he married Mrs. Mary (Dilley) Rodgers and now resides on the southeast of section 10, in Suez township; Samuel M., born in March 10, 1844, married Feb- ruary 6. 1868, Miss Almira Allen, daughter of Henry II. and Amanda (Abbott) Allen, she being a daughter of Johnson Abbott; (Mrs. A. was a native of Kentucky, and Mr. A. of this state; they have three children : Benjamin A., born September 19, 1870 ; Ida Olive, March 20, 1873, and Cora May, January 12, 1881. They reside in this town- ship, having a farm of 140 acres on the southwest of section 9); Vachel H. (born October 7, 1846, died November 24, 1850) ; Hen- rietta HI. (born November 10, 1851, married John Allen, brother of

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Samuel M.'s wife, October 8, 1874, now reside in Wyoming Terri- tory) ; Olive (born April 24, 1857, died May 31, 1875); Margaret (born November 2, 1860), is the only one now at home with her parents.

Another pioneer was ALLEN S. BROWN, who traces his genealogy from John Brown and his wife (Elizabeth Crossly), who emigrated from New Jersey to Kentucky in the days of Daniel Boone; emigrating thence to Ohio in 1786. Mrs. B. finally died in Indiana when 101 years old. These were his grandparents. His father, Samuel Brown, was born in Kentucky in 1782, and married, in Butler county, Ohio, March 12, 1807, Miss Jane Bell, who was of Irish descent. He received a bounty and pension from the government for his services in the war of 1812. He moved from Ohio to Indiana, and thence to Knox county, Illinois, with his family in 1834. He died in Warren county, Illinois, September 10, 1856, and Mrs. Brown survived him until May 12, 1869. There were nine children in the family: Eliza- beth,' Hester, Mary, Benjamin, Allen S., Nancy, Jane, Samuel, and John. Hester was the wife of Timothy Meeker, and survives him, living upon the old homestead. Allen S. was born near Connelsville, Wayne county, Indiana, November 7, 1818. December 31, 1837, he married Miss Polly McMurtry, of Knox county, who was in her eight- eenth year at that time. She was the oldest daughter of John and Mary (Williamson) McMurtry. Mr. McMurtry was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, in 1797, his ancestors coming from Ireland before revolutionary times ; his grandfather falling a victim to the Indians in the early settlement of Kentucky. He removed to Indiana in 1813, and was married in Crawford county, that state, September, 1819. His wife was a native of South Carolina. Their family consisted of six girls : Polly, Lovicy, Martha, Harriet, Sarah, and Eliza, all born near Leavenworth, Indiana. In 1830 he hired a team to bring his family through to Illinois, he following with a few head of cattle. He located on section 33, Rio township, Knox county, building a rail pen and covering it with canvas, in which they sheltered themselves for three weeks while erecting a log cabin. In 1831 all the settlers north of Henderson Grove were warned away on account of threatened depre- dations by the Indians. Some who left their claims did not stop until they reached the friendly shelter of Indiana's wooded plains. Mr. McMurtry removed his family to a block-house on the south side of the grove near James Gumm's, known as the Gumm fort. After remain- ing there two or three months, they returned to their claim. In the spring of 1832 they were driven into a fort near Paul Hahn's, on the north side of the grove, that had been built by the settlers during the

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

previous winter for their better protection. Here they remained four weeks and then returned to their home. This fort was not far from their claim ; so when danger threatened, they would go to the fort at night and return to the claim to work during the day. On some occa- sions, after a period of fancied security, when remaining in their cabin nights, they would be warned by a courier of the approach of Indians, and, thinking they had not time to reach the fort, they would conceal themselves in the shadows of the neighboring woods, or in the tall grass that bordered all the sloughs on the prairies, remaining in their hiding places until daylight revealed to them that the alarm had been a groundless one. But to return to the subject of this sketch. Mr. Brown, after his marriage, rented a farm one year, but in April, 1839, he settled on the W. ¿ of S. E. of Sec. 25, which he afterward entered. Here they began life, with a log cabin having one room in it, one yoke of oxen, and a two-year-old filly. From this small beginning they accumulated a handsome property, owning some 800 acres of land before Mr. Brown's death, which occurred June 19, 1871. Their chil- dren are : Sarah J. (wife of A. N. Tate, deceased), Eliza A. (wife of L. F. Gentry, deceased), Mary E. (wife of William Brown), William H .. Martha E. (wife of Isaac Stevens, deceased), James N. (died in infancy). John T. (now married and living on the old homestead), Amanda M. (died in her sixth year). Charles W., Annette (wife of L. J. Smith), Allen Douglas, Levi F., and Fred A. Mr. Brown was a man of more than the average native ability. Though never united with any society, Mr. Brown was a Universalist in his religious belief. Aunt Polly Brown, as she is familiarly called by a wide circle of friends, has endeared herself to all with whom she has come in contact by her many acts of kindness to the old, and her rare motherly interest in and solicitude for the welfare of the young. She now resides in the village, keeping house for her son, Allen Douglas, who recently lost his wife after a brief season of wedded happiness. William H., the oldest son, was born February 29, 1844. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was made a sergeant on the organization of the company, but was mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant. He was wounded in the battle of Resacea, May 15, 1864, but continued in the service until the close of the war. October 3, 1866, he married Miss Maria Heflin, youngest daughter of Reuben Heflin, one of the pioneers of Knox county. She died March 15, 1875, leaving two children : Claud I. and Maud. In May, 1880, he was married to Miss Belle Watson, a native of Canada. He was four years supervisor of this town, and has always taken an active interest in political matters, being a democrat. Since the death of his first wife he has studied ·

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medicine, graduating at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and is now practicing with Dr. C. G. Stewart in North Henderson.

One of North Henderson's prominent citizens at present, though not a pioneer, is JOSEPH H. HUMES, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 ; his father, whose name was Joseph, was also a native of that state. His grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his great- grandfather a soldier in the war of the revolution. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Ilis mother, whose family name was Ernst, was descended from a Hessian soldier taken prisoner during the revolution- ary war and afterward settled in Pennsylvania. Her father, Andrew Ernst, died in Knox county, Illinois, and is buried in the Fuller ceme- tery. His father came to Illinois in 1853 and settled in MeDonough county, removing to this county in 1859. In 1864 Mr. H. enlisted in Co. D, 139th Ill. Vol. Inf., which was a regiment of hundred day men. He was honorably discharged November, 1864. Married Eliza Dunn September 7, 1865, and engaged in farming. In 1871 he had the first house built in the village of North Henderson, the present hotel build- ing. Mr. J. L. Goff had previously moved a building into the village. He kept the hotel two years and was then engaged in the grain busi- ness eight years. Has been in the lumber, hardware, and agricultural implement business, since 1880. He has two children, Ilattie, born November 1866, and Leo, born February 20, 1877. He is at present elerk of the town, having held the office four years. He is a member of both North Henderson Lodge and Encampment of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of Horeb Chapter, No. +, R.A.M., of Rio, and Galesburg Commandery, No. 8, K.T. In politics he is a democrat.

GEORGE A. BLUE, druggist, is the son of an old pioneer, William Blue, who was born in Indiana in 1826. IFe settled on the S. W. } of Sec. 27, in this township, in 1837. During the year 1851 he lived in Knox county, and December 21, that year, he married Miss Ellenor Rice, of that county. She was born in Indiana January 19, 1825, and came to Knox county, Illinois, with her parents in 1831. After his marriage he returned to this county, where he died in March, 1864, having had a family of five children, three of whom are living: George A., born January 1, 1853; Thomas J., born April 4, 1855, owns the old Rice homestead, in Knox county ; Frank W., born December 19, 1863, lives in North Henderson. George A., who was raised on the farm, owns the old homestead, the southwest of section 27. He has been engaged in the drug business in the village since 1879, and post- master since 1880. He married September 8. 1874. Miss Lura Glass, daughter of Seymour and Isabelle (Black) Glass. Her grandfather, Samuel Black, was one of the old pioneers of Warren county. They

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

have one child, Archie W., born September 19, 1876. George A. is a member of Horeb Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., of Rio, also of Galesburg Commandery, No. 8, K.T.

M. H. JOHNSTON, druggist, is a son of Larimer and Hannah (Hayes) Johnston, of Suez township in this county, whose history will be found in connection with the history of that township. He was born in Grundy county, Ohio, November 26, 1855, and came to Illinois with his parents in 1857, settling in Suez township, where he was raised on the farm with such advantages as the common school of his district afforded, which he supplemented with a commercial course in Allen's Business College in Aledo. April 20, 1881, he married Miss Anna Galloway, daughter of James Galloway, grocer of Aledo. Miss Anna was a native of Pennsylvania; born April 16, 1858. He went into the drug business in North Henderson in March, 1881, and is doing a large business for a country drug store. He is a member of North IIenderson Lodge, No. 585, I.O.O.F. In politics he is a republican.

The history of North Henderson township could not well be written without a notice of EDWIN EVANS KENDALL, M.D., who was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, October 12, 1826. His father, Paul R., and his mother Jane (Nickerson) Kendall, were also natives of that state ; his father was engaged in mercantile pursuits; died when Edwin was quite young. An extract from an obituary notice from the pen of J. P. MeClanahan, M.D., of Alexis, Illinois, published in the " Peoria Medical Monthly," will be appropriate here. The doctor says : "Dur- ing his early life, by industry and self-sacrifice, he worked his way through an academical course of study, teaching during a part of the time, and in like manner through his professional studies, graduating from the medical department of the University of Buffalo, New York, April 27, 1853, the institution being at that time under the presidency of Millard Filmore ; the medical faculty being as follows : Charles A. Lee, M.D., Jacob II. Hamilton, M.D., Austin Flint, M.D., Edward M. Moore, M. D., George Hadley, M.D., John C. Dalton, Jr., M.D. Dr. Kendall at first decided to practice his profession in the east, near his original home, but soon changed his mind on account of failing health, or an attack of hæmoptisis, and resolved to try the west, to which he removed in the fall of the same year, 1853, wisely selecting for himself a rural location in Mercer county, Illinois, where his health seemed rapidly to improve and his business to increase as the new settlers flowed in to what was then a comparatively new and sparsely settled, rich, prairie country. Among these settlers the doctor made many warm friends and confident patrons, and for years fair health continued with him, notwithstanding his urelentive promptness to

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attend calls regardless of heat or cold, inclement weather, or any dis- paraging circumstances." He died at his residence in North Hender- son January 25, 1882, of typhoid pneumonia. The winter of 1853-4 the doctor taught in the Illinois Liberal Institute in Galesburg, which afterward became Lombard University. He commenced the practice of his profession in the spring of 1854, boarding at Reuben Heflin's, in Knox county. In 1857, while boarding at Lewis Heflin's, in this township, the doctor met with an accident, which, in a measure, crip- pled him for life. His team ran away in the night and threw him out of the buggy, injuring one leg so that he never entirely recovered. In 1858 he located permanently in this township. July 10, 1862, he married Mary E., widow of William Button. Mrs. Button's maiden name was Bruner, she being a daughter of Adam Bruner, and niece of David Bruner, mentioned heretofore in this work. She was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, August 8, 1836, and came to this township in May, 1855, and married William Button September 5, 1857, who died November 6, following, from the shock of having an arm torn off in a threshing machine. The doctor and wife have had eight children, five of whom survive him: Eugene E. (born February 12, 1867, has entered E. Crosby's store as clerk), Nancy Jane (born June 11, 1871), Mary Edna (March 27, 1873), Minnie Belle (April 6, 1875), Abbey Ellen (July 12, 1877). They moved from their farm into the village in July, 1872.

Though not as old a resident of this township as some others pre- viously mentioned, Mr. ALFRED W. NELSON occupies a very prominent position. ITis father, Benham Nelson, was a native of Virginia; his mother, whose maiden name was Amanda Brewer, was a native of Wayne county, Indiana. Benham Nelson dealt largely in horses, in Indiana. He was sheriff of his county for two years. Having a con- struction contract on a canal, he exposed himself so much while labor- ing to fulfill it that lie became a cripple for life. He moved to Knox county, Illinois, in June 1855. A. W., and his twin brother A. H., were born in Indiana, February 3, 1840, and came to this state with their father, living near Saluda in Knox county. A. W. was married December 29, 1862, to Miss Eliza Imel, who was born in Indiana, June 24, 1840, and came to this state with her father, Thomas Imel, in 1850. In 1877 A. W. came to this township, locating on the south- west of section 27, where he owns forty acres, and forty-one acres ad- joining in section 34. He has always been engaged in farming. They have three children : Benham, born October 31, 1866; Katie, January 1, 1869; Bertha B., March 31, 1878. IIe is a member of Horeb Chapter, No. 4, R.A.M., of Rio. Also of North Henderson Lodge of

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 78

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