History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.], Part 81

Author:
Publication date: c1878
Publisher: Chicago : Donnelley, Loyd & co.
Number of Pages: 792

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.] > Part 81

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HARMON THOS. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 23, P.O. Franklin. Was born

in Wicklow County, Ireland, May 2, 1840; the head of the family was a farmer by occu- pation. Young Harmon grew up on the farm; in 1847 parents moved from Ireland and settled near Niagara Falls, Upper Can- ada; for ten years they remained there, and then set out for Illinois; they settled some two miles west of Judge Wood's, in Morgan County, on the farm now owned by Arthur Harmon; renting property for two years, a purchase was in due time affected. John Harmon the father, became a man of property and standing; now liv- ing in Franklin Township, and is still an active business man. Thomas married Lucy Armstrong, a native of Ireland; six children: Arthur, William, Alexander, Mary, Thomas, and Winnie. Thomas and Patrick, his brother, work a large estate; Patrick, in the Winter of 1867, married Miss Rose Devlin, a native of Ireland; six children: John, Thomas, Mary, Rose, Mat- thew, and Kate

HARLEY WM. G. farmer. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in the Parish of Glascomb, Eng., Feb. 2, 1841. Up to 1875, he remained a resident of the mother country, following the occupation of farmer, and in time acquired a very extensive knowlege of agriculture. The ancestry of this family date back as far as the year 1300; many of whom were among thie nobility; while a resident of England, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, to Louisa Newman; they have one adopted child: Grace. The father Ephraim Harley,was a steward in England, for upwards of thirty-five years, to Samuel Billings, a leading man of Great Britain, in his day

Harney W. H. R. retired farmer, P.O. Frank- lin

HART WM. P., ELDER. The Hart family is very numerous in the United States, and those of them connected with this sketch, originated as follows: Two brothers came from Germany to the new world, as it was then called, about the year 1700; landing at Charleston, South Caro- lina, they were sold at auction, to pay for their passage over, by which sale they were separated and never heard of each other again. Charles Hart, the first in this genealogy, lived and died in South Caro-

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lina; but little is known of his history, far- ther than he had a son, David Hart, born in the year 1740, lived in North Carolina; took an active part in the war of the revo- .lution; of his family, we have only space to say that he had five sons and two daugh- ters. David, the oldest son, born in North Carolina, Dec. 18, 1768, was united in marriage to Margaret Blackwelder, and raised a family of one daughter and ten sons; he resided in Mercer County, Ky., but removed in an early day to Bedford County, Tenn., where he died. Solomon Hart, third son of this family, was born in Mercer County, Ky., Jan. 6, 1793, and at ten years old removed with his father to Tennessee, when he at the age of twenty, with his oldest brother, enlisted in the United States service, under General Jack- son, and "killed his man" at the Horse Shoe battle; returning from the army, he was united in marriage to Nancy Wagg- ner, on the seventeenth day of July 1817; in 1826 he removed to Morgan County, Illinois, where with his brothers, Charles and Nathan, he settled for a short time near the village of Jacksonville, which was then in its infancy; being impressed, like most of the early settlers, with the "scarcity of timber," he removed to the south part of the county, and built his " cabin " on the margin of that beautiful island of prairie grass, lying between little and big Apple Creeks; here he secured by entry three eighties of the best timber, and the remainder of his means he invested in prairie. He was soon followed by four , other brothers: Charles, David, Anderson, and Nathan, who settled around him, and this beautiful spot in Morgan County is still known by the appropriate name of "Hart's Prairie." Here Solomon with his wife, toiled amid the hardships of " pioneer life," improving their farm, and raising a large family, consisting of eight sons and two daughters, all living to the age of ma- turity, and became settled in life, during the lifetime of the parents. Solomon Hart with his wife, in an early day, be- came identified with the reformation, under A. Campbell, and opened their house to religious service, and his home was the preaching place of the denomination for many years; here Dr. Pat. Henderson, W.

W. Happy, Robert Foster (Monkey Bob, as he was often good humoredly called, by reason of his diminutive size), and many others, gave vent to that primitive earnest- ness and eloquence, which was character- istic of the early ministers of Morgan County. Solomon Hart and his wife were plain, unassuming people, enjoying the simplicity of the Christian religion; they were kind, helping the poor, dividing with the needy, and encouraging peace and charity; in the neighborhood they were honored by the young, and respected by all. He was a Democrat, of the Jackson school; a great admirer of Douglas; his ₮greatest activity in politics, consisted in always going to the election; he lived to vote for fourteen presidents, and raised eight sons, all Democrats; also to see Illi- nois one of the leading States of the union, and Morgan County the garden of the world. In the Autumn of 1874, while the sear and yellow leaf was quietly settling upon the bosom of mother earth, and all nature was wrapped in the mellow hues of "Indian Summer," on the morning of the 17th of October, in the eighty-second year of his age, this old pioneer of Mor- gan County, gently passed away. His aged consort still survives him. Of his family, Joseph W. died in Morgan County, in 1864; Henry C. resides on his farm, in Macoupin County; John C. died in the same county, in 1863; Tabitha Dalton re- sides in Kansas; Melchi died in 1862, in Macoupin County; Eliza Heggy resides in the same county; George is living in Frank- lin, Morgan County; Marion removed, in 1873, to Nebraska, while Solomon, the youngest son, lives on the old homestead; George Hart, whose business card appears elsewhere in this work, was born in Mor- gan County, Dec. 8, 1837; professed religion in the Fall of 1859, and united with the Apple Creek Baptist Church; was by that church afterward licensed to preach, and was subsequently ordained by the Hart Prairie Baptist Church, on the 4th day of January, 1870; he at once became an ac- tive, efficient minister of Macoupin Baptist Association, and has been the pastor of several churches in this body, but his ap- propriate work was that of an Evangelist, preaching to the destitute and weak

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churches, and was the chosen missionary of the association for several years; great success has attended his labors; he is plain, uneducated in the classical sense of the term, uncompromising, blunt in his man- ners, clear and forcible in his reasoning, and approaches his work with Nathan's personality, " Thou art the man;" positive in all his bearings, he is leaving his impress upon society wherever he is known; he was married Sept. 1, 1859, to Nancy B. Rice; at present writing has, owing to a failure of health, given up the active work of the ministry. Elder Wm. Penn Hart was born in Morgan County, Ill., Feb. 5, 1835; at the age of twelve his health failed, on account of which he received some extra facilities for attending school, in which he was always an apt scholar; by dint of hard study, and economising time, he obtained a fair common school education, by which he was enabled to be a successful teacher for a number of years; he was married to Miss Barbara A. Fanning, Dec. 4, 1855, who in less than eighteen months died, leaving him alone in the world, with an infant son; he was married to Miss Mary A. Rice, Jan. 31, 1858, by whom was born unto him twelve children, nine girls and three boys, three of the daughters dying in infancy; in the Autumn of 1877, he had the misfortune to lose his wife again; believing that his surroundings made it necessary, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha J. Price, of Oblong, Illinois, Feb. 10, 1878; Elder Hart was very early impressed with the importance of the Christian religion, and at the age of fourteen made a profes- sion of faith in Christ, joining the religious society to which the family belonged; his religious views having materially changed, in 1856 he became identified with the Apple Creek Baptist Church; showing evi- dences of talent, and an aptness to teach, he was, in April, 1859, licensed to preach; and such was the rapid development of his power to lead men to Christ, that on the fourth day of December of the same year, he was publicly ordained, fully setting him apart to the ministry; he was at once called to the pastorate of the Sandy Creek Church, and in less than two years from the time he preached his first sermon, he was the regu- lar pastor of four churches in the county;

he has regularly pastored four churches ever since, preaching on an average sixteen sermons in each month, besides a great deal of incidental work, preaching funeral sermons as far as he is known, not only for his own people, but many in other denomi- nations as well; he had the opportunity of a theological course in one of the best col- leges in the State, free, and the denomina- tion to which he belongs publicly agreed, at their annual meeting, to furnish the necessary support for himself and family during the time necessary to graduate; but such was his anxiety to press on in his favorite mission, that he declined the gen- erous offer; he has been identified with Macoupin Baptist Association from its or- ganization; was its first clerk, and has pre- sided over the body for seven consecutive years, which position he now fills; he has by hard study acquired a large amount of knowledge in his profession; speaks English well, and has some knowledge of the Greek; he is very successful as an Evangelist, hav- ing baptized as many as sixty-six, as the result of one meeting; he has had the offer of good positions, but has preferred to re- main with country churches on small salaries, and depending on a farm in part as a support for his family; he is unassum- ing in his manner, awkward in his appear- ance, but on the stand he is perfectly at home, commanding in appearance, eloquent in his addresses, his nature warm and genial, his words flow easy, and he usually holds his audience spell-bound; he has the remarkable capacity of meeting the expec- tations of every one, and while he has an unbounded charity for all, he is very denom- inational in his views, and will defend in public debate what he believes; having had several public discussions, he has always been equal to the emergency, and gave such a defense of liis cause as was always per- fectly satisfactory to his brethren, who had cheerfully put him forward to defend them; he is now in the prime of life, living on a part of the old family homestead, within a few rods of where he was born; enjoys the confidence of his neighbors, and is esteemed by all who know him

Hart Melchi, school teacher, Franklin

Hart Minerva Mrs. Franklin

Hawkins Charles, laborer, Franklin

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MORGAN COUNTY DIRECTORY.

Haynes William, renter, Sec. 22, P.O. Frank -. lin

HILL JAMES H. DR. Born in the year 1825, at Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky; is the only surviving child of his parents, who emigrated from Shepherdstown, near Harper's Ferry, Vir- ginia, where, in the year 1849, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Emma S. Welshaus; obtaining his diploma from the medical department of the university of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1850, after a studentship of five years, Dr. Hill prac- ticed his profession in the South until the outbreak of the Rebellion, when, being a resident of Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, he received the appointment of surgeon to a regiment of State troops, raised in said county, which position he retained until it was mustered out of ser- vice, when he was commissioned as assistant surgeon to the 30th Missouri U.S.Volunteer Infantry, which position he retained until, during the siege of Vicksburg, on account of ill health, he received an honorable discharge; since which time he has resided in Illinois, the last six years at Franklin, Morgan County; Dr. Hill has but one sur- viving child, who, in 1875, became the wife of B. F. Wright, of the firm of Wright Bros., of the last named place

Hines John, farmer, Sec. 6, P.O. Alexander Hines Patrick, farmer, Sec. 7, P.O. Alex- ander

Hobbs W. B. school teacher, Franklin

Hocking C. M. dealer and manufacturer boots and shoes, Franklin

Howe Aaron, farmer, P.O. Jacksonville

Huff Huldah, Sec. 32, P.O. Franklin

ASPER O. D. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 10, P.O. Orleans. The gen- ealogy of the Jasper family can be traced back many generations; going far back to a distant date, it can be stated that the family were of Scotch and Irish origin; Nicholas J., the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina; the date can not now be ascertained, but at the time of the Revolutionary War he was about twenty-five years of age; from the time of its commencement to its close he served as a soldier, sharing the hardships of soldier life at Valley Forge; while the war

was still in progress he was married to Rebecca Haynes; by this marriage ten children; Thomas, the youngest child, was a soldier during the war of 1812, a non- commissioned officer; witnessed the fall of the great Indian chief Tecumseh; he married Elizabeth Dunham, who was a daughter of Obed Dunham, a native of Kentucky; this union was blessed with nine children; from Pulaski County, Ken- tucky, Mr. Jasper became a member of the State legislature, serving six years; Sergeant Jasper, of Revolutionary fame, was a dis- tant relative; Thomas Jasper was a suc- cessful farmer; he and his wife both died in Kentucky; ten children of this union are now living; O. D., whose name heads this sketch, served through the Mexican War, enlisting in Co. A, Kentucky In- fantry, from Pulaski; became a recruiting officer under Major Elliot; honorably dis- charged at the close of the war; in 1841, he came to Morgan County; in 1869, became permanently located; married Miss Sciota Davenport, daughter of Ephraim and Sallie, a school teacher in the usual log cabin of the period, where no floor was laid down, the scholars being seated on wooden seats, and the furniture of the plainest possible description; three children: John P., Sarah Ann, and C. C. Jasper

Jolly Ann Mrs. Franklin

Jolly Emanuel, laborer, Franklin

Jolly John, renter, Sec. 26, P.O. Franklin

Jolly John R. renter, Franklin

Jolly Nancy, laundress, Franklin

Jones Jessie farmer, Jacksonville

Jones Jessie J., farmer, Sec. 21, P.O. Frank- lin

Jones Joshua, farm hand, Sec. 21, P.O. Pisgah

JONES REUBEN, brick maker, Franklin, was born in Tennessee, in 1825; when three years old liis parents moved to Illinois, settling in the vicinity of Franklin, which then rivalled Jacksonville, and there settled down to farm life; the first school attended by Mr. Jones was kept by John Johnson, in the vicinity of what is now called Muddy; in 1843, he married Miss Nancy Armstrong, of Kentucky; eleven children; nine are living; in 1873, Mrs. Jones passed off the stage of life; during the Autumn of 1876, married Mrs. Martha

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Ann Dennis, of Morgan County: four children; by first marriage Mrs. Jones had one child; by second marriage to Mr. Jones four children: John, Lydia, Nettie, and Anna; in 1867, Mr. J. started an establish- ment for the manufacturing of brick; he still continues in the same occupation, and manufactures a very superior article Jones Reuben Jr. lab. Franklin

KANE JOHN B. renter, P.O. Franklin Kelly V. F. school-teacher, Franklin KEPLINGER SAMUEL, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 26, P.O. Franklin. Was born in Washington Co., Tenn., June 2, 1809 ; he was raised on a farm, where he remained up to the age of nineteen, when he became apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith ; in 1829, he made his way into the State of Illinois, and settled at Jack- sonville, at a time when there were some twenty dwellings, mostly log cabins, and where there were several stores for supply- ing the simple wants of the pioneers ; here he became a journeyman, for some years receiving as ray eight dollars per month ; having ambition beyond this daily pay, he looked about him for a farm, and first pur- chased 80 acres for $150 ; he shortly after united his fortunes to Miss Pamelia Green, a native of Ohio, who settled in Morgan County as early as 1822, and remembers as early settlers Col. Morton, Huram Reeves, and others. On the 80 acres above men- tioned there stood a log cabin, near the now handsome residence of Mr. K .; on arrival at the cabin, the husband and wife sat down and partook of a hearty meal of mush and milk ; the first table was pur- chased from a neighbor for ten cents, and consisted of a rough frame-work orna- mented with four legs ; a couple of rough chairs were afterward bought. In the old log house, now fast becoming obsolete, the husband and wife passed many years of their life, and there many of their children were born. Years have flown by in rapid succession, but those days are still pictured in the memory of the pioneer. It would be a useless task to enumerate the many trials and hardships of Mr. K .; he is to-day the owner of some 600 acres of land, and some years ago owned 800, acquired by . great industry, and all that he has he owes

to his own exertions. There are six chil- dren : Clarissa, who married Gen. John I. Rinaker ; William S., of Waverly ; Ella P., who married John W. Smith ; Hardin and Lewis W .; Hardin, when the war broke out, enlisted in Co. B, 10th Ill. Infty., for three months service ; at expiration of term of service, he enlisted in Co. A, 32d Ill. Infty., and served from August, 1861, until October, 1862 ; was mustered out, and ac- cepted promotion in the Ist Ill. Regt. as adjutant, and served till the close of the war. Lewis W. enlisted in the 32d Infty., at Springfield, Ill., and served till the close of the war, promoted lieutenant for meri- torious conduct, and served on the Indian expedition after the close of the war ; when he returned to Morgan County ; he after- ward removed to Kansas, where he is now a member of the Kansas legislature

KETNER W. H. farmer. Sec. 19, P.O. Pisgah, son of Henry and Mahalah Ket- ner. His father was a native of North Carolina, who settled in Morgan County during the Spring of 1834, seven miles north of Jacksonville, on 40 acres ; here young Ketner was born, education received in district schools; working through the summer months, he attended school in the winter season. At this writing, Mr. Ketner resides on his farm, comprising 80 acres ; in August, 1876, he was united in marriage to Louisa Tunnell, daughter of S. S. Tunnell, an early pioneer of Morgan County Kirby John, farmer, Sec. 21, P.O. Franklin Kirby William, renter, Sec. 21, P.O. Franklin

L ANGLEY & POLING, mer-

chants, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, etc. In 1864, the above-named firm became established in business ; the partners of said firm were then J. C. Crab- tree, W.W. Hays, Wyckoff Poling, and James Langley, under the firm name of Crabtree, Poling, Hays & Co .; in 1866, the style of the firm name changed to Langley & Poling, on the retirement of the other members ; the elder member of this firm, James Langley, is now upward of ninety-three years of age, still hearty and vigorous ; his memory, con- sidering his advanced years, is something remarkable. Born in 1797, he settled in Morgan County in 1829, where he now lives, universally respected by all who know

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him. His portrait appears in this work ; a brief study of the face by the intelligent reader, discloses immense will and strength of character, traits of character that carried him successfully through the stormy scenes of western life. This company constructed a large store in the year 1866, which was consumed by fire in the year 1877, proving a hard blow, but one from which the com- pany rapidly recovered, and now do an extensive business, selling goods at prices to suit the times, bearing in mind the old adage, that a nimble sixpence is better than a slow shilling; herein lies the secret of their success. Wyckoff Poling, of whom we here append a biography, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y .; in an early day he ac- companied his parents to Quincy, Adams Co., Ill .; in 1847, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Josephine, only child of James Langley ; 1848, Mr. Poling moved to Morgan County, locating at Franklin, where he first became a carriage-manufac- turer ; the first wife of Mr. Poling died in 1850, leaving to his care two children, Katy and Mary; Katy deceased ; in 1868, he united his fortunes to Mrs. Bristow ; one child born of this marriage, Gertrude Frances

Layton Emily, seamstress, Franklin Lester Wm. renter, P.O. Franklin

Lester Ruth, Sec. 33, P.O. Franklin

Lowe Henry, renter, Sec. I, P.O. Orleans

Lowry Andrew, boot and shoemaker, Frank- lin

Luby William, farm hand, P.O. Jackson- ville

LUCKEMAN HENRY, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 7, P.O. Alexander; was born in Prussia, Germany, November, 1822; in the mother country he acquired a liberal education; for three years he served as a soldier in the standing army; in his native place he married Theresa Kanust, daughter of John T. Kanust; in 1850, ac- companied by his family, he emigrated to America; after a three months' voyage the vessel touched at New Orleans; from there Mr. L. made his way to St. Louis; during the Summer of 1851, he became employed on a wood boat on the Mississippi River, and worked for some years; from this point came to Jacksonville; first worked by the month for J. T. Holmes; in 1859, he pur-

chased 80 acres in prairie and 10 acres in timber; in 1860, he moved into the log cabin still standing opposite his frame resi- dence; many years were passed in this log structure, where the fare was at times plain, but the wants of the early settler were few, and easily satisfied; the years spent here were years of self-denial and economy; when Mr. Luckeman landed in St. Louis he had but $5.00; on arrival in Jacksonville he was penniless, but he had a wife and two children depending upon him, and he set about in the battle of life with a strong determination to win; Mr. L. now owns 400 acres; the farm is well improved, and every thing systematically and orderly arranged; and a better stock farm for its size it would be difficult to find; there are five children: Fanny, Maggie, Frank, John, and Theodore‘

Ludric Charles, ·farmer, P.O. Pisgah

Ludrick August, farmer, P.O. Jacksonville

Lutemeyer John, farmer, Sec. 19, P.O. Pisgah

Lynn Alfred L. school teacher, Franklin Lyons Miles, farmer, Sec. 35, P.O. Franklin

M ANN HENRY, laborer, Franklin Mansfield Oscar, engine.r at Farmers' flouring and woolen mills, Franklin

MANSFIELD J. B. & CO. millers,

Franklin; as early as 1855 the Mansfield Bros. started in the milling business in Franklin, taking in as a partner George B. Wallen, the firm doing business under the firm name of Wallen & Mansfield; both members were men of experience, and the business prospered; in a few years the Mansfield Bros. purchased the interest of Mr. Wallen; business was then done in a large wooden building, still standing; in connection with the grist mill, a carding factory was in operation, used in making rolls of wool similar to those made on a spinning-jenny; in 1866, the firm built the present large brick structure, which has a run of two stones, and every facility for the successful operation of their business; the woolen mill is still a feature, in successful operation, manufacturing jeans, flannels, etc .; J. B. Mansfield was born in Byron County, Kentucky, in 1827; three years after, his parents moved to Morgan County; J. B. was educated at subscription schools;

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in 1849, married Martha Austin; at twenty- five was apprenticed to the trade of miller; nine children: Sarah E., Susan I., deceased, Elizabeth A., Mary F., Emma D., Ella, William B., James E., Zulah, and Maud; Isaac T., the junior member, was born in Morgan County, in 1831; educated in sub- scription schools common in early times; in 1852, married Susan Austin, daughter of Eli and Elizabeth; eight children: Cather- ine I., Ely O., Elizabeth, George B .. Charles E., Anna, Frank, Ethel M., and Della

Martin John, farm hand, Sec. 5, P.O. Jack- sonville

Mason George I. farm hand, Sec. 32, P.O. Franklin

Masters William J., farmer, Sec. 10, P.O. Orleans

Mayfield F. farmer, Sec. 23, P.O. Franklin McBride Charles, farm hand, P.O. Franklin McCormick L. W. blacksmith, Franklin McDonnell James, blacksmith, Franklin '

McCOULLOUGH S. P. & CO. millers, Franklin; as far back as 1849, J. D. & S. P. McCoullough entered into a co-part- nership business under the firm name of J. D. McCoullough & Bros .; since the organ- ization of the above firm there have been considerable changes; some four years ago J. D. McCoullough, brother and member of the firm at the beginning, departed this life, and the firm name then became S. P. McCoullough & Co .; for twenty-five years M. Bros. were associated in business, and during that time gained an enviable repu- tation as business men; the mill has a capacity of turning out fifty barrels of flour per day; in addition to the grist mill, a saw mill is attached, fitted with the latest style of machinery; S. P. McCoullough, the sur- viving member, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1824; was the fourth child of John and Harriet, who settled in Morgan County, in 1837; here he grew up, receiving a district school education; he first became a farmer, but early became identified in the milling business; was married in 1860; in 1869, elected town treasurer, which position he still holds; two children; Edgar W., and Freddie L.

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History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.], Part 81

Author: Publication date: c1878 Publisher: Chicago : Donnelley, Loyd & co. Number of Pages: 792

Author:
Publication date: c1878
Publisher: Chicago : Donnelley, Loyd & co.
Number of Pages: 792