History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 9

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 9
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 9

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The present pastor of the church is Rev. G. B. Snedecker. The church, like most organizations of such long existence, has had its nps and downs, sometimes in the valley of humiliation and sometimes on the mountain's top, as on the mount of transfiguration ; but always has its course been forward, and the good it has accomplished cannot be compared with anything in this world. Only eternity will reveal the amount of treasure gathered on earth and stored in the Master's gran-

. .

HON, FREDERICK FRICK. (DECEASED)

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

eries above. [To Mr. Thomas Alyea we are indebted for the notes from which the foregoing has been written .- ED. ]

BAPTIST SOCIETY.

The Baptist society was organized in 1844 by Elder Hovey, with the following members, viz: William Denison and wife, James Denison and wife, Harrison Smith and wife, M. Poffenbarger and wife, E. A. Crapnell and wife, William Crapnell, William Noble and wife, Mr. and Mrs. McChesney, and Miss Williamson. In 1845 a church building was commenced on lot 5, block 13, and completed in 1848.

Elder Hovey is described as a man of great mental powers, and one thoroughly in earnest in his work. Although a man well advanced in years at the time he began his labors in the place, he remained as resi- dent pastor for five years after its organization.

The building being situated on sandy foundation, was at length com- pletely undermined by the action of the wind, and fell down about 1859. The last resident pastor was Elder Brimhall, who remained a year or two. The society has had no resident pastor since 1851, but has kept up the organization, and also a Sunday school, holding meetings at present in the town hall. It is hoped at some future time to see the scciety in a flourishing condition.

PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY.

This society was organized in February, 1857, with the following members, viz : Mrs. Eva Nevius, Mrs. Joseph Kane, Mrs. M. J. Edwards, Mrs. Sarah Poffenbarger, Mrs. M. J. Mclaughlin, Mr. G. W. Crabb. The first and only church building the society has had was begun about 1868. It is a large, commodious structure, and cost, when completed, $6,620.17. The first pastor was Rev. S. G. Hair. The church has had no resident pastor for some years, the last one being the Rev. William Gay.

At the present writing, no meetings are held, but the society still keeps up its organization, and the few members left hope at some future time to see the church resume its old position.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS ..

In the latter part of the year 1855 a few members of the society of Odd-Fellows determined to establish a working lodge of the order in New Boston, and the following facts have been presented by M. Cham- berlin, D.D.G.M. : The mystic number (five) made application for a dispensation. The Grand Master, by authority of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Illinois, issued a charter dated October 12, A.D. 6

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

1855, granting the dispensation. Monday evening, November 20, A.D. 1855, a meeting was held with District Deputy Grand Master Kelley in the chair, Past Grand Sweeny acting as grand marshal. By order of Grand Master Kelley, the grand marshal presented Charles H. Bell, M. M. Prentiss, John L. Hartson, Mark J. O'Brien and W. T. Power, who were duly obligated, and the grand master declared the lodge duly instituted under the name and title of "New Boston Lodge, No. 188, I.O.O.F.

After election and installment of officers, Brothers J. C. Bell and Daniel Hines were admitted by card, H. W. Denison and B. Milliken were initiated, and J. S. Thompson petitioned for membership. The meeting was regularly held on Monday evening of each week.

During the late rebellion the membership was reduced very nearly to the magic number, several brothers being enlisted as soldiers. The form of one now lies moldering away to kindred dust in southern soil -a tear to his memory. All credit is due to the few members who held their meetings, paid the capitation tax, and held their representa- tion in the Grand Lodge. Several lodges in the state became defunct during the war.

After peace was again restored No. 188 increased in membership, and in October, 1865, the brothers were very arduous in their endeavors to secure a home for themselves. Cheerfully each brother donated to the building fund, and on the evening of May 21, 1866, the lodge met in their new hall, size 27x40 feet, lodge room carpeted and well fur- nished, and no one regrets the extra effort to secure a home, but with honest pride they can feel that they are beneath "the shadow of their own vine." The membership enrolled from organization up to April 1, 1882, is 178. The number of brothers buried by the lodge has been nine. The amount of relief paid, $1,456.40 (this amount was paid by the lodge and the members by individual donation). Charity abideth in the heart of every good and true Odd-Fellow. It is within the knowl- edge of members of our order that the relief extended by them, under their teachings, has been the means, under providence, of bringing within the church many who to-day would have been aliens from the household of faith. Many of the brothers cheerfully donated in honor to the Wiley monument fund ; also to the Lincoln monument fund, not forgetting our worthy and honorable G.R.S .; to his memory, we have a name in the Ridgley Monument Fund. Of the members at the organization of our lodge, only one, Brother Daniel Hines, now holds a membership.

Connected with the order is the Rebekah Degree. This degree associates the wives of Odd-Fellows with them in the high and

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

important work of "visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying the dead, and educating the orphan."

ARCHER ENCAMPMENT No. 70, I.O.O.F.

This is the home of the patriarch, the evergreen retreat of Odd- Fellowship, supported by the three pillars of Faith, Hope and Charity, and here we have the tables of law, likewise the lesson as taught in the golden rule. A weary pilgrim can here find rest, eat at our table and drink of our pure water. Hospitality to the stranger is a pure prin- ciple within the heart of every true patriarch encampment.

No. 70 was instituted December, 1866. The number of patriarchs enrolled up to April 1, 1882, was eighty-two. Several of the patriarchs instituted a new encampment, others changed their residence, and like our subordinate lodge, the time came when there were but one or two more members than the original number ; but like the ancient Patriarch Abraham, the father of the faithful, our trust was in God, and to-day our tent is enlarged for the increase of membership.

ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.

A dispensation and charter were issued to New Boston Lodge No. 59, in the latter part of 1848. The history from that time to 1853 is somewhat obscure, owing to the fact that in 1851 the records were burned ; also, all books, papers, furniture, etc.

In 1852 a new dispensation was granted, and the following officers duly installed : John E. Willits, W.M .; George Ralston, S. W .; Wil- liam Wilson, Jr., J.W .; Elias Willits, Treas .; Daniel Winslow, Sec .; E. J. Denison, S.D .; M. Poffenbarger, J.D .; Josiah Marfield, Tyler. In October, 1853, a new charter was issued and the following named individuals duly elected and installed as officers, viz: J. E. Denison, W.M .; E. Harrell, S.W .; A. Gingles, J.W .; R. Thomas, Treas .; G. W. Warner, See .; Elias Willits, S.D .; John Hoover, J.D .; Josiah Maxfield, Tyler.

The lodge has had a prosperous existence, and to-day is one of the strongest and most efficient in the state. The misfortune of losing the records by fire is more to be deplored, from the fact that the Grand Lodge of the state has also lost the records covering about the same facts.

The lodge has always been noted for its activity, and during the. somewhat lengthy period of its existence has had no serious dissen- sions.

Something over 200 members have been admitted since the re- organization, and at present the membership is sixty-seven, with the following corps of officers : George Lytle, W.M. ; Ed. L. Willits,

IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

S.W. ; A. Imber, J.W. ; John Fry, Treas. ; W. C. Austin, Sec. ; J. J. Mason, S.D. ; N. W. Gibson, J.D. ; S. Swartwout, Tyler.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HENRY W. DENISON was born in Mercer county, Illinois, March 16, 1832, being the first white child born in the county. His father, . John W., together with his grandfather, William, formed the first set- tlement in the county, which was in the year 1827. He is the youngest child of John W. and Margaret (Swafford) Denison. His folks came overland with teams from Wayne county, Indiana, with Indians on all sides of them, reaching Mercer county without losing any of their family. They ever afterward lived on friendly terms with the Indians. One of the Indian warriors once remarked that if they killed them they would do it easy, which meant that they would never do anything more than whip them. He has been mostly engaged in farming and stock- raising. His chances for obtaining an education were limited to what he could obtain from Simeon P. Smith, who taught his first school in Henry's father's kitchen. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows since the first organization of that society in New Boston. He was either the first or second one taken into the lodge. He does not know whether he or B. Milliken, of Viola, was first, as they both came in at the first meeting. He has held all the offices in his lodge at various times. He was always a democrat until 1872. From that time to the present he has been a "greenbacker." He was married to Miss Turana C. Moore, daughter of John S. and Hannah Moore. Mrs. Denison was born February 17th, 1844. They have had six children, in the following order : Carrie (dead), Sally (married to Herbert Good), Alice (married to Jolin Fuller), Maggie (dead), Willie (dead), and Freddie.

STANTON V. PRENTISS, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, May 10, 1826, and is the fifth child of Stanton and Susannah (Brookheart) Prentiss. His parents came west and settled at Warsaw, in Hancock county, where they remained until 1833. While living at that point, they were often compelled to leave their farm, and flee to Fort Edwards for safety from the Indians, as this was at the time when Black Hawk was making his raids up and down the Missis- sippi. In 1833 they came to Mercer county, where they have lived ever since, with the exception of a short time in Rock Island county, and two years spent in California. He has always been engaged in farm- ing and raising stock, the latter very extensively. During the period between 1852 and 1857, he also ran a dry goods and grocery store. His means of attaining an education were very limited ; however, he

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

· managed to get a common school education between the intervals of farming. He owns 1,900 acres of land on Bay Island, all in one body and under fence, forming the largest pasture in the county, and the largest body owned by any one person. In politics he has always been a republican. He was married to Miss Hannah E. Creveston in May, 1865. They have two children : Park and Don. They are both living and at home with their parents. Mr. Prentiss' mother died in 1852 at. New Boston, and his father in 1875.

WILLIAM DRURY, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, September 17, 1809, and removed to Wayne county in 1811, with his parents, where Mr. Drury remained until he attained the age of manhood. The family were subject to all the privations of pio- neer life as well as the alarms of savage warfare, and during the troubles in 1812 they often had to retreat to the block-houses for pro- tection .. Mr. Drury's education was limited to a common school, but he attained education enough to teach several terms of school before he came west. In 1833 Mr. Drury came to Illinois to look at the country, and for the first time saw real prairie land-quite a curiosity to one who has been reared in a wooded country. Mr. Drury determined to make this his home, made a selection, and in 1834 returned and made a claim, and settled down at the foot of the bluffs, near where he now resides. Through his influence several families came with him. So disgusted with things were they, that they threatened a dissolution of friendship with him if he did not desist in speaking in praise of the country. In 1840 Mr. Drury returned to Indiana, and was married, July 1, to Miss Vashti Lewis, daughter of Caleb and Polly (Willits) Lewis. Mrs. Drury's father served as a member of the legislature a number of times. Immediately after the organization of Mercer county in 1835, Mr. Drury was elected to fill the office of county recorder a number of consecutive years. In 1836 he was elected county clerk, in conjunction with the former office. While holding these offices Mr. Drury furnished all his own stationery and met his office expenses out of his own private means. In 1836 he commenced a small trade in dry goods and groceries in partnership with Levi Willits, under the firm name of Drury & Willits. They furnished the people with all necessaries that were required. They bought pork, grain and other products, and shipped them to St. Louis. They did the first pork pack- ing in the county. They continued business until 1848, when they sold out to Courtney Drury and James S. Thompson, who formed a partner- ship under the name of Thompson & Drury. Mr. Drury spent about a year, after the sale of his interest, in settling up his business, when, in 1850, he started a small cash store, which he conducted until 1853,

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

when, on account of failing health, he sold out his interest, and has since given his attention to the management of his large estate, and to the importation and raising of fine stock, and the banking business. In 1871, in partnership with other wealthy men of the county, he assisted in organizing a Farmer's National Bank, at Keithsburg, of which he is a large stockholder and president. Mr. Drury says he has made it a practice all his life, that at the end of each year his income shall be greater than his expenses. He thinks this accounts for his large estate, and not to any mental gift. This he would recommend to all young men starting in life. Mr. Drury was among the first settlers of the county. He was well acquainted with Black Hawk and Keokuk, the two noted Indian chiefs.

COURTNEY DRURY was born in Wayne county. Indiana, November 23, 1820. He came to Mercer county, Illinois, with William Willits and family, in the fall of 1834. He remained with them for some time, and then sold goods for the firm of Drury & Willits. In 1842 he returned to his old home in Indiana, and went to school that fall and winter. He was married April 12, 1842, to Ruth Willits, and removed to Mercer county. Illinois, in the fall of the same year. That winter he bought eighty acres of land, partly improved. He sold his farm in the winter of 1845, and the following spring moved to the village of New Boston. Mr. Drury lost his wife February, 1847. He then returned to the State of Indiana, and spent the most of that summer there ; then returned to New Boston, and, with James S. Thompson, purchased the mercantile establishment of Drury & Willits. The new firm conducted the trade of this house for eight years, at the end of which time they sold out, and Mr. Drury bought land near the village of New Boston, which he improved, and has engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. Mr. Drury has made a specialty of breeding fine horses, and has had some of the best stock ever kept or owned in Mercer county. He has a passion for a fine horse, and gratifies it.

WILLIAM A. WILSON, farmer, was born in Shelby county, Indiana, August 18, 1831. The family removed to Mercer county in the fall of 1834, and settled in Eliza township. Mr. Wilson's education was limited to a common school, as in those early times the advantages offered were few and rude; however, he acquired considerable of a business education, especially in arithmetic, as that was a favorite study of his. When twenty-two years of age he commenced farming for hiinself on a small scale. His father wanted him to take a horse when starting out, but he refused to do so; but by persuasion he accepted a ten dollar bill. He rented three years, when he found he had money enough to buy eighty acres of land lying in New Boston

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

township. He lived with his brother-in-law, Richard Shields, and tilled his small farm until 1857, when he was married to Miss Kate Woodward, daughter of Joel and Keziah Woodward. A year after his marriage he sold his farm for $2,500, and bought another in Mer- cer township for $3,500, where he lived until 1861. Mr. Wilson has always dealt considerably in live stock while farming. In 1861, in response to the country's call for troops, Mr. Wilson enlisted in the 102d Vol. Inf., and was elected second lieutenant of Company K, and before going into active service was promoted to first lieutenant. His first engagement with the enemy was at Gallatin, Tennessee, after which he was elected captain of his company by a unanimous vote. Returning home from the war in 1864, he sold his farm in Mercer township for $7,000, and again bought a farm of 120 acres in New Boston township, which he has increased to 420 acres in New Boston township, and 402 acres in Eliza. They have had eleven children : Jay, Ed., Dick, Ressa, Gen. Phil. Sheridan, John S., Harvey, Louie, Grace, Bert. M. and Frank M. Grace and Louie are deceased. The rest are in good health and at home with their parents. Mr. Wilson's mother still survives at the age of eighty-seven, and is in good health.

D. J. NOBLE is the ninth child of a family of twelve children. He was born May 1, 1818, in Fayette county, Indiana. His parents, Lewis and Elizabeth (Burgess) Noble, came to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1835, and settled on Sec. 16, in New Boston township, where they lived until their death. His father gave D. J. seventy acres of Sec. 16, and to this he added the N. W. } of Sec. 22 and the N. E. ¿ of Sec. 21. He has a large and commodious residence and is comfort- ably situated. Besides making a competency for himself he has helped each of his sons to a good home. He has the benefits of only a common school education, owing to the many disadvantages afforded in youth. He has been engaged in farming from boyhood up. He has always taken an active part in temperance, and has been a mem- ber of the Methodist church since 1840. He has held all the offices in his church at various times. In politics he has always been a republi- can. He was married July 5, 1840, to Miss Sally Rader, daughter of Abraham and Catharine Rader. She was born March 4, 1818. They have had ten children, nine of whom are living: Melissa, married to Frederick Fleming ; John N., married to Mary Hill, and lives in Da- kota ; Leroy, married to Miss Rachel Hollingsworth ; David L., dead ; Harvey, married to Miss Luella Bowden ; Nathan, married to Miss Alida Pryne ; Sarah E., married to J. A. Goding ; Dora, married to Melvill Danford ; Robert, married to Miss Iola Holingsworth, and James, who lives at home with his parents.

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

MILTON L. WILLITS, farmer, son of Reuben and Mary Willits, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 13, 1826. He came west with his grandfather, Isaac Willits, in the spring of 1836, and settled in New Boston township, where he has lived ever since, with the ex- ception of three years spent in California. He crossed the plains in the summer of 1850, and returned in the spring of 1853 to New Bos- ton, and started a lumber yard in partnership with Anderson Kirlin. They continued business until fall, when they dissolved, and Mr. Wil- lits started a grocery store, which he continued till the spring of 1854, when he traded his grocery in part payment on seventy-six acres of land five miles northeast of New Boston, where he has been engaged in farming ever since. He was married October 25, 1854, to Miss Sarah J. Kirlin. They have had ten children : Horace G., born July 31, 1855 ; Mary L., December 23, 1856 ; Homer C., January S, 1858; Lavina HI., March 25, 1859 ; Elias M., December 13, 1860; William R., September 23, 1862 ; Minnie D., March 3, 1864 ; Frede- rick, June 22, 1866 ; Ruth, November 6, 1867 ; Sarah J., February S, 1869. His wife died February 13, 1869 ; Mary L., October 31, 1857; Sarah J., March 17, 1869 ; Ruth, Angust 26, 1869 ; Frederick, Jan- uary 5, 1873 ; William R., October 25, 1879. His oldest son, Horace G., married Miss Ida McGrew ; Clinton, to Miss Adda Kiddoo ; La- vina, to Levi Lewis. The other two remain at home with their father. Mr. Willits' education was limited in youth but improved by study in later life. He was one of the pupils of Simeon P. Smith, one of the first and best teachers of the county. His early youth was spent in farming until eighteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for six years. He has always been an active temperance man. In politics he is a republican. He has at present 513 acres of Mercer county's best land situated in New Boston township.

We cannot expect in a short sketch to do justice to one who has re- sided in the county near forty six years, but glean a few facts in which the readers of this work will feel a deep interest. Such a person is JAMES M. MANNON, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, Septem- ber 16, 1823. He resided in his native state until thirteen years of age and then came west to Mercer county, and with his parents settled in Eliza township, where he lived until he attained the days of manhood. He took such chances as were offered in those early times for acquiring. a common school education. By much reading and general study he has become well informed on all the leading questions of the day. April 6, 1849, he was married to Miss Rebecca daughter of Patrick Shirkey. After being married some nine years, his companion was called away to

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

the silent tomb, September 5, 1857. He married his present wife, Sarah J. Moore, January 6, 1859. She is a daughter of George and Jemima Moore, of New Boston township. Their children are Bertha B., George M., James M., Levi E., and Charles N. Mrs. Mannon's grandfather, Robert Moore, served in the war of 1776-and he and his two sons, Thomas and James, served in the war of 1812. Colonel Man- non started out in life as tiller of the soil which business he followed some fifteen years, when he was elected sheriff of Mercer county on the re- publican ticket. In 1858, after serving his term as sheriff, he was elected circuit clerk and county recorder, which positions he held for two years. In response to the call of the government for troops to put down the re- bellion of the southern states, he enlisted in the 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was elected captain of company K, afterward major, and later, lieu- tenant colonel. He was in all of the fighting in Sherman's march to the sea coast, until the siege of Atlanta, when pressed by home interests he resigned and came home. Soon after joining his family he com- menced mercantile business in New Boston in partnership with Anthony Burdick under the firm name of Burdick and Mannon. They did a large business for some three years when Mr. Mannon purchased the interest of Mr. Burdick and continued the business two years longer. He then sold off his stock of goods and bought a farm five miles northeast of New Boston, where he resides at present, comfortably situated. He commenced his business life with only eighty dollars. Mr. Mannon has always been an active republican and taken considerable interest in advocating its principles, and carrying into effect the doctrines advo- cated by that party.

JOHN PRATT, butcher, was born in Union county, Indiana, in 1829. He is the oldest son of Regin and Mary (Long) Pratt. His parents came to Mercer county in 1836, and are therefore among the earliest settlers of the county. He was engaged in farming and carpentering until 1876, since which time he has been engaged in the butcher's trade. In 1869 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which body he has been a member ever since. He has held numerous offices in his lodge at various times. In politics he is a democrat. His father lived in Mercer county until June 6, 1880, when he was called away to a bet- ter land. His mother is still living at the age of seventy-five, and maintains good health.

Of the representative men of Mercer county the name of none occupies a more honorable place in the list than that of DR. THOMAS WILLITS, of New Boston. He was a pioneer in his profession as well as a pioneer settler, and has been a practitioner fifty-six years. His nativity was in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1805. It was there

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 9

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