History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 79

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 79
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 79

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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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

Odd-Fellows. He is now supervisor of this town, for the fourth con- secutive year. In politics he is a democrat. He is a man of more than average native ability, a close observer, doing his own thinking, examining his ground carefully before taking a new step. A. H., the twin brother mentioned above, is known by his friends as Harvey Nelson. He was married September 19, 1867, to Miss Adelia A. Kays. daughter of William Kays, of Saluda, Knox county, Illinois. They came into this township in 1873, and settled on the E. & of S. W. Sec. 34, where they reside now. The farm comprises eighty-eight acres. He built his present residence in 1875. They have three children : Hampton, born May 22, 1869; Ida, October 18, 1873; William, July 15, 1881. Mr. Nelson a member of both the North Henderson Lodge and Encampment of the I.O.O.F., as well as the Alexis Lodge of A.F.A.M. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of North Henderson. He is one of the commissioners of highways of this town. William Kays, Mrs. Nel- son's father, is one of the old pioneers of Knox county, having settled in that county as early as 1832 or 1833.

PETER W. JOHNSTON, though comparatively a recent settler, has been a positive quantity during the period of his residence in this township. He is an excellent representative of the old Virginia and Kentucky country gentleman. He was a native of Virginia as were also both his parents and grandparents. His grandfathers, on both his father and mother's side, were in the revolutionary army. Ilis father and seven uneles from both branches of the family were in the military service of the country during the war of 1812. His father, whose given name was John, died in 1826, when the subject of this sketch was ten years old. His family consisted of four boys and two girls, of whom P. W. was the eldest. Three of these survive, one brother and one sister living in Virginia. After his father's death his mother received from the government a land warrant for his father's service in the war of 1812. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Wyatt. She was a woman of very marked ability, and a sterling patriot, being very ener- getic in aiding the national cause to the full extent of her oppor- tunities during the struggle from 1812 to 1815. She was about eighty- six years old at the time of her death which occurred in 1880. P. W. was born in Gloucester county, Virginia, August 19, 1816 ; he removed thence to Kentucky in 1835, residing in Breckenridge county, in that state, until 1862; he moved to this state, settling in Hancock county, where he lived one year, settling in this township in 1863, on the southeast of section 19, which farm he still owns, though he has lived on the southwest of section 31, near the village of Alexis since the

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NORTH HENDERSON TOWNSHIP.

spring of 1875, where he owns forty-two acres. With the exception of three years that he was in the mercantile business in Kentucky Mr. Johnston has always been engaged in farming. He was married Sep- tember 23. 1837, to Martha A. Hayes, a native of Virginia, born in that state in March, 1816, and emigrated to Kentucky in 1835. Her father's name was William, and her mother's maiden name was Eliza- beth Forster. They have had eight children, only three of whom are living : Benjamin F., born February 26, 1839 (deceased) ; Nancy, May 21, 1841 (deceased); Mary E., October 12, 1845, wife of Joel Hays living in Missouri; John W., January 27, 1843 (deceased) ; Matilda E., February 8, 1848 (deceased) ; Littleton T., May 11, 1850, in the cattle business in Texas at present, though he makes his home with his father; Ann M., born March 30, 1853, wife of Newton Bruington, resides in the villiage of Alexis; Martha A .. March 3, 1856 (deceased). Mrs. Johnston is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, south. Mr. Johnston is a member of the masonic order, and politically a democrat.

Probably one of the best known and most highly respected pioneers of this township, and the one having the widest circle of friends and acquaintances, is NOTLEY SCOTT. It would be a long radius drawn from his house that would describe the circle excluding those who do not know "Uncle Notley," as he is familiarly called. In the days when game was plenty it was a good huntsman that killed more deer than he, and a strong man that could march home under the weight of a heavier buck. He excelled in all the games in vogue in those days re- quiring agility, strength and prowess, Henry Fleharty being the only competitor for the honors that had any chance with him in those days. He also enjoys a reputation that he has built for himself during the passage of the years for the strictest honesty and probity, his word being as good as a bond. To his house still clings the pioneer quality of hospitality that makes "Uncle Notley's such a good place to visit." Uncle Notley, though seventy-two years of age, enjoys his trips to the bay, to shoot wild duck or fish in their season, as much as any of the young men, no sport pleasing him so well. unless it be playing croquet, at which game he is an expert. Uncle Notley was born in Ohio July 8, 1810. His father, Joseph Scott, was born in Virginia in 1773, and was consequently two years old when the war of the revo- lution began. He removed with his parents to Kentucky when only four years old, and thence to Ohio in 1796. He married Miss Mary Cain, of Kentucky, who was born March 15, 1777. They moved to Indiana in 1823, and thence to Illinois in 1835. He died in Novem- ber, 1872, his life having almost reached a century. His wife died

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

March 2, 1857. Notley was married November 3, 1832, to Miss Sallie Betts, who was born in Kentucky December 20, 1809, and died April 23, 1871. Their family consisted of twelve children, ten boys and two girls : Preston (deceased), Fielding, Joseph, William, M. D., Reiley, Nancy, Notley (deceased), Samuel (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Lewis, and Nathaniel Greene. Uncle Notley is one of the very few men, if not the only man, of whom it can be said that he can open and run a masonic lodge within his own family, himself and seven of his sons being members of the order. They are all members of Horeb Chap- ter, No. 4, R.A.M., of Rio, and two (Preston and Greene) K.T. He came to this township in 1837, and bought the claim of Harison Brown in sections 18 and 19, where he still resides, his daughter Nancy having been his housekeeper since the death of her mother. The grove near which he resides, and part of which he owns, has always been known as Scott's Grove since he settled there. He owns at present 485 acres of land. He was the first supervisor of this town.

In 1854, at the time that immigration was flowing into this county so rapidly, there came a man from Mercer county, Pennsylva- nia, who began the race of life evenly with the state of Illinois, and thus far the two have kept even pace year for year, but how much longer the score will remain a tie time alone can determine. Money staked on the state, though, will most probably some time win. JOHN T. MORFORD was born in Mercer connty, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 27, 1818. His father, James Morford, was born in New Jersey, July 17, 1793, and his mother, whose maiden name was Martha Titus, was a native of the same state, born June S, 1797. They were married September 28, 1815. His father died July 12, 1870, and his mother, at the age of eighty-five, makes her home with him. John T. was married February 27, 1840, to Miss Esther Hazen, a native of Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania, born November 16, 1819. They settled on the northeast of section 22, in the spring of 1855, when, to use the language of Mrs. Morford, "there was not a switch on the place with which to whip the children." Now their house is almost lost to view by the dense grove of trees that surrounds it. Their farm at present comprises 200 acres of rich North Henderson soil. Mr. Morford is a carpenter by trade, and has worked at the business most of the time until since the close of the war. The patriotism of this family is unquestionable. Mr. Morford and his two oldest sons, at that time in their nineteenth and sixteenth -years, respectively, enlisted in Co. C, 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., in 1862, and served faithfully until the close of the war; the oldest son, Hiram T., being wounded during the siege

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NORTH HENDERSON TOWNSHIP.

of Atlanta, and John T. ranking as third sergeant when mustered out. Mrs. Morford is also entitled to great credit for her part in the conflict. Left to manage the farm and take care of the children, the oldest boy left at home being but thirteen years old, her success is ample proof of her ability. They have seven children : Diana (born in 1841, wife of H. Herbert, lives in Iowa), Hiram T. (born December 10, 1843, mar- ried Miss Sophie Crosby, and lives in Iowa), William Henry (born June 3, 1847, married Miss Frances Shipman, and lives in Wisconsin), Isaac C. (born January 2, 1849, is married and lives in Iowa), James Byron (born Novmeber 26, 1850, married Miss Christine Olson, and lives in Iowa), John Jasper (born August 18, 1853, married Miss Adella Allen, and resides on the old place, carrying on the farm), and Martha M. (born March 13, 1859, wife of William Steele, lives in Iowa). Jolin T. is a member of both North Henderson Lodge and Encampment of I.O.O.F, and in politics he is republican. He and his wife are members of the Alexis Baptist church.

Another prominent citizen of this township, also a native of Pennsylvania, JOSEPH DEETS, was born in Venango county of that state, February 25, 1831. Came to Illinois in 1855, settling in War- ren county, where he resided four years ; removing to this county in March, 1859, he settled on the northeast of section 28 where he still resides, though he has been steadily enlarging his borders, by the purchase of additional farms, until his landed possessions in this town- ship now aggregate 800 acres. He was married August 23, 1857, to Miss Augusta Chatfield, of Warren county, a native of Ohio. They have seven children living at present : Ethselda (wife of Gilbert Hig- gins), Ada, Alvah, John, Joseph, Sarah, and Eliza. Mr. Deets was raised on a farm and has always followed that occupatiou, and his success is an excellent example of what can be accomplished by the agriculturalist who has energy, perseverance, and uses a reasonable economy. Ilis educational advantages were limited to the common school. In politics he acts with the republican party, though is not what would be termed a partisan. His parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, his mother of Scotch and his father of German descent, his grandfather coming from Germany to this country. His father, whose name was Joseph, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but after the organization of the Wesleyan Methodist church he identified himself with that church, being led thereto by the slavery issue which was agitating the churches at that time.

The "Old Dominion " furnished another successful farmer for this township, in the person of RICHARD GARRETT, who was born in Vir- ginia, March 13, 1830, and moved to Kentucky with his parents in 1834,

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES,

living in Breckenridge county until two years prior to leaving that state, when he lived in Mead county, moving thence to Texas in 1855, where he remained one year only, coming to . Illinois in 1856. He settled on the northeast of section 30, in the spring of 1857, where he still resides, having added to his farm until at present he owns 550 acres. December 24, 1849. he was married to Miss Juliet Douglas, a native of Kentucky, born October 5. 1832, · daughter of Gilson B. Douglas. They have twelve children : Adaline (wife of O. G. Chap- man, postmaster at Alexis), David, William. Martha A., Peyton J., Douglas, Alice, Robert L., Lucy A., Edna, Mary E., and Richard. Mr. Garrett is a Master Mason, but not in active connection with any lodge now.

ADDITIONAL MATTER, CORRECTIONS, ETC.

The matter that follows, much of it of a very important character, was recieved too late for insertion in the portion of the book originally designed for it. Some of the sketches were held for revision by friends until the sheets containing the matter most appropriate for them had gone to press.

EARLY COURTS. BY R. H. SPICER.

The holding of court was the signal generally for the gathering together of the larger part of the able bodied male inhabitants of the county, and as the accommodations at the county seat were rather prim- itive and scanty, they were at times brought into close proximity. Good nature was the ruling element, and what is termed fun was largely indulged in by old and young. Court generally despatched all of the business in one and a half or two days. The members of the bar, and a goodly number they were, the names of many of whom the old settler recalls with emotions not unmingled with pleasure, followed the court through its peregrinations of an extended circuit embracing nearly a dozen counties.

After Judges Ralston and Lott, Judge Brown became the presiding genius. A large bodied, large headed and good natured man of the old school, whose early days were probably spent south of the great dividing line. His make up did not enable him to master all the finesse of law, and as a consequence those lawyers whe believed in law as a science, and as such were disposed to use it before his court, were very liable to be snubbed. Curtis K. Harvey, of Knoxville, a man

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ADDITIONAL MATTER.

who worshiped law because it was law, was always very unfortunate, while such men as Jo. Knox, John Mitchell, Bill Kellogg, and one or two others whose law, perhaps, may have been rather loose, as advo- cates always appeared to have the ear of the court, jury and populace. Joseph Knox, of Rock Island, commonly known as Jo. Knox, of the firm of Knox & Drury, probably had the inside track of all practising here at an early period, though among the members of the bar were Brown, of Quiney; Manning, of Knoxville; A. C. Harding, of Mon- mouth, and others who have since become eminent in their profession. Knox was an able advocate, not at all choice of his words or of his epithets when a witness was so unfortunate as to stand in his way. No doubt but there was jealousy existing in the hearts of other members of the bar at his success. Whisperings first went around that Drury made up his cases for him, finally that Drury furnished the brains, and as Drury was always invisible the tendency was, as is usually the case with the uncomatable, to magnify the powers of Drury. Curi- osity became excited ; all were desirous of seeing the great incognito ; the members of the bar most of any. Finally on a frosty day late in the fall word was conveyed into the filled court room that a " ship was in the offing." It had been previously announced that Drury was expected on that day. Court adjourned without the usual formality, whether to do honor to the expected arrival or to take his measure, the historian sayeth not, but as the eager crowd got into the street they descried in the distance a large bay horse approaching, well caparisoned with an immense bear skin housing to the saddle, in which sat a small figure of what it was difficult at the distance to tell, but upon near ap- proach it proved to be the ardently expected Drury, ensconsed in an immense buffalo overcoat, whiskers of mammoth proportion for the man (for be it known Mr. Drury is of a very small pattern, physically), and something on his head, witness can't say whether hairy or not. Eyes were staring, mouths were agape. Bill Kellogg, afterward judge and member of congress, was first to break the spell when he exclaimed, sotto voce, "by G-d, a pocket edition of humanity, bound in har!" He was a Kentuckian. The quaintness and aptness of the illustration excited a smile of approval. The new comer was heartily welcomed.

The following list of graduates (1882) from the Aledo high school was inadvertently omitted : Scientific course, Birt Fargo, Ned Aber- crombie, Cora Pullen, Ina Pinkerton, Zelda Bell, Maggie Thomson, Lou Richmond, Jennie Fulton ; classical course, Robert Mckinney, Amos Cole, Lew L. Walker, Logan Stephens, Alma Bickett.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JAMES M. EMERSON (deceased), for many years a respected and suc- cessful business man of New Boston, was born Jannary 22, 1815, in Wayne county, Indiana. His father, Edward Emerson, was a native of Massachusetts, but became an early settler in the Hoosier state, where he became owner of a large tract of land and died. The early life of James was such as a new country afforded in his day. His school-room was chiefly in the free air without enclosure, and his teacher was nature. Although of so limited an education he became quite efficient in busi- ness arithmetic, excelling many scholars. In 1839 he located at New Boston, Mercer county, Illinois. Here he labored at whatever head and hand found to do, the two always employed to assist each other. He contracted cutting cord wood, made several trips to Indiana, bringing the first traveling threshing machine to Mercer county. IIe was on a ferry awhile, also piloted on the Mississippi river for a time. In 1848 he established the first lumber yard in New Boston, although some lum- ber had been sold here prior to this. He carried on the lumber busi- ness till his death. He also purchased considerable land. In 1876, leaving a foreman in his lumber yard, he moved to his farm, about two miles northeast of New Boston. Here he spent his remaining years improving his farm, while suffering from a stroke of paralysis. His career ended in death April 20, 1881. He left a family and large circle of friends to mourn their loss. Mr. Emerson was a plain, unassum- ing man, attentive to his business and regardful of his family. Politic- ally he was a whig, and later a republican, but never became politic- ally excited. Mr. Emerson was married September 30, 1847, to Miss Harriet Bridger, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Woodham's) Bridger. She was born October 10, 1824, in Northiam Parish, Sussex county, England. She came with her parents about 1827 to New York state, who settled on a farm near Troy. In 1838 they emigrated to Mereer county, Illinois, and settled on Pope creek, in Suez township, where Mr. Bridger died about a year afterward, followed in nine days by his wife. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Emerson began housekeeping in a new house erected in New Boston by Mr. Emerson. There they lived till 1876, and there eight children were born to them, viz : Myra V., born August 5, 1848; Dora A., born June 7, 1850 ; Iva, born July S, 1855 ; Charles O., born September 11, 1858, and died July 12, 1865 ; Alma T., born Jannary 18, 1861 ; Effie, born January 11, 1863, and died January 27, 1863; Warren D., born July 13, 1865 ; Ralph Waldo, born January 20, 1869, and died February 5, 1880. The father and husband is fondly remembered. His portrait is in its special place.

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ADDITIONAL MATTER.

AUGUSTUS B. CHILDS, subject of these memoirs, is a son of Horace and Lucy M. (Barker) Childs. He was born in Oneida county, New York, October 31, 1816. He is a descendant of one of three brothers who came from Wales to America before the revolution. Mr. Childs' life has been largely one of farm-labor ; not, however, altogether. His youth till fifteen was spent on a farm in Connecticut. In 1838 Mr. Childs emigrated to Mercer county, settling in Eliza township. He rode a borrowed horse to Mercer county when he came, not being able to buy. On his return eastward he left the horse with its owner, and walked a long distance to Indianapolis, where he stopped to work sufficient to pay for a horse. He then rode to Sandusky, Ohio. Like many poor boys he came to be in good circumstances. He at one time owned 1,300 acres of land. Not only industry, but also temperance and good habits have aided him in his financial success. Mr. Childs was a grand juryman of Mercer county at the first settling of the court at Aledo. He has been married twice. His first wife, Catharine Reynolds, he married in Morgan county, Indiana, June 28, 1840; she died June 5, 1878. Mr. Childs' present wife, Lucy E. (Willits), is a daughter of Isaiah Willits, of Keithsburg. Mr. Childs has traveled considerably, in his career visiting California. Late years he visited Florida, where he purchased a large estate, intending to plant an orange grove, but soon sold.

GEORGE S. WOLF, farmer, Keithsburg, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1818, and is the son of Christian and Sarah (Sterner) Wolf, and a grandson of Henry Wolf, who emi- grated, when a mere boy, to America near the middle of the seven- teenth century. He was the only one of his father's family sufficiently actuated by a spirit of adventure to leave childhood's home and visit a foreign land. During our subject's early youth his time was constantly employed in agricultural pursuits on his father's farm. During the meantime he received about twenty months' schooling, in the veritable log-cabin school-house, taught by an eccentric old school-master, whose proficiency in teaching equaled only his salary. September 6, 1838. Mr. Wolf was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Amweg, daugh- ter of William and Hannah (Spirow) Amweg, also a native of Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wolf has devoted his life to farming, up till 1869, in his native state and since that time on his neat, little farm immediately adjoining the village of Keithisburg. Besides this farm he owns another of 168 acres in Henderson county. He had born to him seven children, five of whom are living: William B., John H., Adam A., Jacob L., Isaiah S .; and Edward and Hannah E. (deceased), aged respectively sixteen and twenty-seven years. His son

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

William B. served four years during the war of 1861-5 ; was mustered into service as an orderly, and honorably discharged with a captain's commission, and was wounded in one of the battles of the Wilderness. His son Adam A. is a minister in the United Brethren church. Mr. Wolf and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Though his school advantages were very meager, he is now one of our best posted men.

WILLIAM B. LARUE. hotel-keeper, Keithsburg, was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, August 13, 1824. His father, who was of French birth, came . to America in his early youth. He died in Kentucky August 27, 1824. Mr. Larue, with his mother, step-father and broth- ers, emigrated to Illinois in 1832, landing at Oquawka April 15 and at Monmouth April 24 of the same year. September 4, 1851, he was married to Miss Catharine M. Roberts. She was born February 21. 1835, and died April 14, 1882. Mr. Larue has no children of his own, but has ereditably raised seven orphans.

JOIN MCKINNEY, SR., was born November 2, 1801, in Lincoln county, Kentucky; son of George and Ann (Riley) Mckinney; father of Scotch, and mother of Irish, descent. In 1803 his father removed to Casey county, Kentucky, where he continued his business, farming. John's educational advantages were very limited, being only those afforded by the common schools, which he attended less than eighteen months. all told. In December 1821 he went to Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, and for the next five years made his home with an uncle, John Riley. Mr. Riley was clerk of the court of common pleas of Bulter county, clerk of the supreme court of Ohio, and postmaster at Hamilton, and Mr. Mckinney wrote for him in his office, and had charge of the postoffice. While thus employed he made good use of every opportunity to increase his store of knowledge, and secured a fair practical, if not theoretical, business education. On the death of his father, in 1825, he was recalled to Kentucky, to settle the estate, and while thus engaged he entered the office of Hon. John Pope, at Spring- field, Kentucky, as a law student. (Mr. Pope had represented his state in the United States senate, and was afterward appointed governor of Arkansas by General Jackson.) Finding the bar already over- crowded with young and briefless attorneys, and having no patrimony to sustain him, Mr. Mckinney abandoned the bar, and returned to active labor. In November, 1827, he married Miss Elizabeth Goode. While in Ohio, Mr. MeKinney had imbibed the political ideas of the aboli- tionists, and on his return to Kentucky he found himself in a hopeless minority, politically and socially. This, coupled with the fact that he was poor, and there seemed no chance to better his condition there,

B. C. bachiar

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ADDITIONAL MATTER.

made it incumbent upon him to seek a new home, where better oppor- tunities might present themselves. During his absence many of his associates had removed to Missouri, and his first impulse was to follow them thither, but as Missouri was a slave state, and as he expected by removal to better his condition, he feared that the profits of slave hold- ing might overcome his abolition scruples, and rather than place him- self in the way of temptation he decided to settle in the young and promising State of Illinois, and in the spring of 1832 he left Kentucky with his wife and two young children, and opened a farm in what was then a part of Warren county, but when that county was divided he found himself within the limits of the new county of Henderson. Here he conducted farming operations for twelve years, and with such success that he was at the end of that time the owner of 800 acres of land, and a fair competency in addition. In 1844 he removed to Oquawka, and went into business with Edward R. Adams, under the firm name of Mckinney & Adams. They conducted a large dry goods and general store, and bought and sold grain, pork and produce of all kinds. The latter were shipped for the most part to St. Louis, the Mississippi river being the only available public highway, although some sales were made in New Orleans. The dry goods were purchased in New York, Boston and St. Louis. The firm also engaged largely in pork packing, in com- pany with Mr. Alfred Knowles, running what was at that time a very large establishment for this country, employing during the packing season from fifty to sixty hands, and handling daily from 500 to 1,000 hogs. In 1854, after ten years of prosperity and success, the firm of Mckinney & Adams dissolved partnership, the latter retiring, his share amounting to not less than $25,000, which had all, and more, legitimately been made during the decade, thanks largely to the business tact of Mr. Mckinney. Mr. Mckinney continued the business, associating with himself his oldest son, Hiram, under the firm name of Mckinney & Son, until about the beginning of the war, when he turned the entire merchandising business over to his three oldest sons, Hiram, John and George, and devoted his time to loaning money. The new firm, however, did not long con- tinue in trade. Hiram died in December, 1861 ; John raised a com- pany and went with it, as captain, in the 91st Ill. Inf .; and George, whose health rendered necessary a change of climate, sold the stock back to his father, and went to California. Mr. Mckinney did not restock the store long, but gradually sold out as opportunity offered. At the time of the great Chicago fire he boxed up and shipped a large quantity of clothing and remnants to the sufferers, and again did the same for the sufferers from the drouth and grasshoppers in Kansas.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 79

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