USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 27
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I followed the business until four years ago, when I found my eyes were getting too old for photography. We have five children living. Salathiel, a soldier of the war, in the 49th Ill. reg., married Sarah Magee ; Sarah Margaret married David Garver and lives in Macon county ; William W. married Sydney McDivett, has two children, and lives in Monticello ; James married Melissa Gifford and lias two children ; John married Hattie Cole." Mr. Gray has twenty-three grandchildren. He served a part of a term as justice of the peace.
MR. THEODORE GROSS is a native of Germany, and came to America in 1856, locating near Atwood. He lived there, where he still owns property, until he was elected to his present office, county treasurer, in 1879. He married Julia Zuber, a native of Germany, in 1868, and has five children living : Hedwig, Theodore, Ella, Albert and Julia. Mr. Gross went into the army as a private in 1861, in Co. A, 21st Ill. Inf., and remained four years, participating in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, at which place he was taken prisoner. He spent nineteen months in Libby and several other rebel prisons ere he made his escape. He went out as private and returned as second lieutenant.
MR. JAMES HART left Kentucky, his native state, when he was eleven or twelve years old. He remained in Indiana until he was grown and then came to Illinois. ยท He did not like the state, and re- turned to Indiana. His granddaughter says, " he then found grandina and thought he could stand it out here." He married Miss Rebecca Bradford, a native of North Carolina, August 15, 1830. He moved to Green county, Illinois, in 1831, and in 1836 settled in Piatt county. They lived for a time in the same house with William H. Piatt and wife, who were then living on what is now the Piatt county fair grounds. In 1839 they moved onto the present homestead place. Mr. Hart's grandfathers were both in the revolutionary war, and he, with two brothers, was in the Black Hawk war. One brother died in the rebellion. Three of Mr. Hart's children died when quite young. Ann Eliza married Mr. William H. Harris, and their home was about two miles from Mr. Hart's. She died, leaving four children, Henry Payne, Rebecca J., Sally A. and James William. Mr. Harris married again, but died in 1869, leaving another son. His widow is now the wife of Mr. William Branch. Marietta Hart married Samuel Smock and lives in Monticello township. Martha J. married Mr. C. H. Plaster and has three children, Annetta, Emily and James Edwin. Since taking the notes for Mr. Hart's personal sketch, he, after a linger-
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ing illness, died. He was considered an excellent fariner and an upright, honest man in 'all his dealings.
MR. JACOB HOTT (deceased) was married in Pickaway county, Ohio, to Miss Margaret Fisher. Her father moved to Piatt county and bought land of Mr. Abraham Marquiss. Probably it was through the influence of his father-in-law that Jacob Hott came to this county. He left Olio soon after his marriage, and about 1838 or 1839 settled on what was then known as Dr. Hull's farm. He afterward moved onto his father-in-law's place and remained there till his death in 1856. He left seven children, three of whom are now living. Mary married John Hughes ; she died, leaving one daughter, Emma, who is still living. Hiram Hott died in the army. Henry Hott was married in 1864, to Catharine A. Garver. They have five children living, Lucy, Mary; John, Media and Ida. Mr. Hott went into the merchandise business with Mr. Hazzard in 1870. They occupied a building on the west side of the public square in Monticello till. 1875, when they moved to their present location on the east side of the square. Previous to going into merchandise Mr. Hott had been a farmer. Harriett married Mr. R. Williams. She died about 1872, leaving. one child, Perry. Mr. Williams married again. Martha married Mr. Eli Ater, a farmer living in Willow Branch township. They have had three children, Edward, Charles and Jesse. A sad accident happened to John, the youngest son of this family. The people of Monticello were celebrating the Fourth of July, 1866, by firing off a canon which stood on Bender's corner. The canon seemed overloaded, and this boy, fifteen years of age, fearing that it would burst, retired to where Mr. Zyble's shoe store now is. His fears were more than realized ; the canon did burst, and a piece of it, striking the boy, quenched the spark of his young life in fifteen hours after. Elizabeth is still single and is living with her mother, who is now the wife of Mr. Solomon Ater.
DR. P. K. HULL was born about 1810, in what is now Highland county, Virginia. His parents were also from Virginia. Dr. Hull moved to Circleville, Ohio, when he was about twenty-four years of age. He studied medicine in Jefferson College, Philadelphia. After practicing medicine in Ohio for a time he moved west. He married Mary J. Huston, March 31, 1839. Three children reached maturity. Renick Huston, who married Rebecca Williams, was frozen to death on the prairies near Goose Creek. Estelle became the wife of Mr. Frank Williams, and lived for a number of years at Monticello. She
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was a successful music teacher of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have four children. They have recently sold their farm near Monti- cello and have moved to Kansas. Mary is the wife of Renick Buckles, of Champaign, and has three children. Monticello was her home also for several years. Dr. Hull moved to Monticello late in the fall of 1841. He made his home for a time on what is now a part of the Allerton farm. His wife died in 1849, and he rented out his farm and returned with his children. About 1855 the doctor returned to Monti- cello. He bought the property now owned by Lettie Huston, and died at this home November 20, 1859. During a scourge of cholera in 1852 and 1853, in Ohio, Dr. Hull was very successful. He was one of the first physicians in Piatt county, and was regarded by the early settlers almost as an oracle in matters of disease. One who was inti- mately associated with him says he was a man of big heart and noble impulses, and was generous to the extreme. Widows and orphans never claimed his attention without getting it. Dr. Hull was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge of Monticello, and upon his death, in 1860, was buried by the Masonic orders.
MR. WM. HUNTER is a native of Ireland. His father was born in Ireland in 1796. His mother was a native of Scotland. Of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter's five children, who were born in Ireland, William, born January 25, 1836, was the youngest. He was but a babe when the family emigrated to America. They settled in Ohio, and in this state both of William's parents died. Two of his sisters also died in Ohio, the other two went to Iowa in 1853 and settled there. One of these sisters was born in Ohio. William's only brother went west some years ago and his whereabouts is not known. Mr. Wmn. Hunter came from Pickaway county, Ohio, to Piatt county in 1857, and was acquainted with quite a number of people who had emigrated from Ohio to this county. He first worked for Dr. Hull, with whom he was acquainted
in Ohio. In 1859 he began working for Wm. H. Piatt. He went back to Ohio and was married January 1, 1861, to Minerva A. Trego, who was born about 1840. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hunter came to W. H. Piatt's, and remained there until September of 1861, when they moved onto a farm of W. H. Piatt's. They remained on this place until 1875, when they moved onto a farm of their own. In 1881 Mr. Hunter sold his farm to Mr. Parr and bought property in Monticello. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have had four children : Emma Francis, born October 7, 1861 ; James, born July 20, 1863 ; Nellie, born March 14, 1865, and Wm. P., born September 26, 1868. Their eldest daughter,
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Emma, was married in 1880, to Geo. Miller ; she died in the spring of 1881, leaving one child.
The HARRIS brothers were quite influential men in this county a number of years ago. They were all farmers and did an extensive stock business in the county. Mr. Payne Harris, now of Champaign, was the eldest of the brothers. B. F. Harris, now a prominent banker of Champaign, first came to Piatt county in 1835, and on the 22d of June of that year entered eighty acres of land in the county. For ten years he dealt extensively in stock. He bought stock in the fall and fed through the winter, thus for ten years furnishing stock and grain markets for the farmers of this county. One year he fed 900 head of cattle near Monticello. He drove his cattle to the eastern states for
marketing. In 1844 one drove was sent to Boston and brought $56
per head. The last drove, which was taken by Wmn. Marquiss to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, consisted of 430 cattle, which cost $14 per head and were sold for $28 per head. Mr. Harris certainly had a great deal to do with helping the farmers of Piatt county along. He is still a farmer as well as a banker, and owns at least 5,000 acres of land. Mr. Charles Harris and Mr. John Harris died in this county. Wm. Harris died near Canon City, Colorado.
MR. ABRAHAM HENNION, formerly of Monticello, moved from New Jersey to Piatt county in 1852, and began improvements on a farm of 160 acres south of Monticello. After remaining here several years he moved back to New Jersey, but still has some 330 acres of land in Piatt county. He was married in 1851, to Mary A. Wintermute, a native of New Jersey, and has three children : Gilford, who is married and lives in New Jersey, Foster and Ida.
MR. JAMES HOLMES, a former editor in Monticello, is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio. He is of English descent, and was left an orphan when but six years old. He made his home with an aunt, Dr. B. B. Jone's mother, until ten years of age. He came to Piatt county in 1859, and, after farming one season, was engaged in the printing business until the war broke out. He went to the army in 1862, in Co. E of the 107th Inf., and remained throughout the war. He enlisted as a private and came out as 1st lieutenant. The principal battles in which he took part were Knoxville, Resaca, Nashville, Franklin and siege of Atlanta. He was never wounded or taken prisoner. Mr. Holmes married Mary E. Ward, December 21, 1865. They have three children, Nannie, Ward and Paul. Mr. Holmes began publishing a paper in Monticello in 1865, and has been occupied
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in this business the most of his time since, until quite recently, when he moved to Chicago.
MR. J. A. HILL was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1832. He is of German and Scotch descent. His parents moved to Pickaway county in 1839. In 1853 Mr. Hill came to Piatt county, in the employ of Messrs. A. N. & W. H. Cochran, cattle traders, in Ohio. Soon after coming to this county he was employed in Mr. Ralph Tenney's store. In 1855 he was employed by Piatt & Co., and has worked in the same store under different firms most of the time since. Mr. Hill was married in May 1862, to Lucia A. Piper. They have four chil- dren, Emma, Richard J., Charles W. and Louis, all of whom are at home. Mr. Hill was secretary in the Masonic lodge for six or seven years. He is a member of the blue lodge, and of the commandery of Knight Templar.
MISS SUSAN HUSTON, Monticello, is a native of Pennsylvania. She came from Ohio to Illinois about 1870. She at present (1882) is in Ohio. She owns some 160 acres of land in Kansas, besides some town property.
MISS LETTIE HUSTON, Aunt Lettie, as she is known to all Monticello folks, is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, from which state she moved to Monticello at the time Dr. Hull settled here, in 1841. After a residence of five years she returned to Ohio, but came back to Piatt county in 1859, and has made this county her home more or less ever since. She taught in the Monticello schools for seven consecutive years, and has long been a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church of this place. She owns quite a good deal of town property.
MISS RACHEL HUSTON is also a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, from which place she moved to Illinois in 1855, and has taught school in Piatt county at least ten years. She is still living in the place and owns several, houses and town lots.
MR. JOHN HUSTON came to this county in 1859, and lived in Goose Creek township most of the time, and was also on the Allerton farm. He moved to Macon county, thence to Missouri, where he died, leaving a wife and four children. Anna is the wife of H. D. Peters, Monti- cello ; James has recently been working in Decatur ; Emma and Racliel live in Monticello.
MR. HARVEY E. HUSTON, lawyer, Monticello, is a native of Pick- away county, Ohio, from which place his people moved about 1859, to Jackson county, Missouri. At this date the subject of our sketch
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was about fifteen years old. He remembers very distinctly the breaking out of the war, and the effect it had upon the people of Jackson county. The vast majority of the people in that county were rebels. It was there that Quantrel's band of guerrillas was organized, and Mr. Huston knew many of the boys who joined the organization. Jesse James, whose recent murder has caused so much excitement. was a member of this band. When it "got too hot" for them in Jackson county, Mr. Huston's people moved, in 1862, to Douglas county, Kansas, near Lawrence. They remained at this place until within two or three months of the massacre, in 1863, of the citizens of Lawrence. Mr. Huston was acquainted with many of these citizens. After relating some of the war scenes he had witnessed, Mr. Huston remarked that though he was not in the war, he had seen enough of the horrors of it. In 1863 his family moved back to Will county, Illinois, near Joliet, where they lived four years, and then moved to Logansport, Indiana. On the 1st of January, 1868, Mr. Huston "jolted across the prairie from Bement to Monticello' in Billy Motherspaw's old hack," and he has been in Piatt county ever since. He taught school for two years at Wild-Cat, while studying law under the direction of Mr. Chas. Watts, of Monticello. In March, 1870, he was admitted to the bar, and very soon after went into part- nership with W. E. Lodge, and has been with him ever since. When asked if he had held any offices in the county he very soberly remarked, "I ran for county judge once and did not get elected, because I did not get votes enough." Mr. Huston was married December 29, 1870, to Miss Susie Stickel, who died January 21, 1872, leaving a little daughter, Susie, who died in August of the same year. He was married the second time on March 7, 1876, and to Miss Martha Ward. One son, Ward T., has blessed this union. Mr. Huston's father, Mr. Thomas Huston, who died in Monticello about 1878, was drafted in the war of 1812. He hired a substitute, who was killed ere the war ended. He was a prominent citizen of Ohio, having served in the state legislature about 1840.
MR. S. H. HUBBELL, grain merchant, Monticello, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He first came to the county in 1855, stayed a few months and returned to Cincinnati. In 1860 he came back and stayed until he entered the army. After the war was over he located perma- nently in Monticello. For a number of years he was a member of the merchandise firm of Piatt, Hubbell & Co., but now is working in the mill and elevator owned by E. A. Townley & Co. He went to the
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army in 1862, and stayed until the close of the war. He held the positions of adjutant and first lieutenant, and was in the following principal battles : Knoxville, Franklin, Nashville, and those of the Atlanta campaign. , He had his horse taken by Morgan, but was never wounded or taken prisoner. He was married in November, 1866, to Miss Jennie Townley, of Cincinnati. They have had two children : Edward Townley and Harry Piatt.
MR. JOHN HAYS, a farmer in Monticello township, was born in Ireland in 1830. He left Ireland and landed in New York in 1851. In speaking of this fact Mr. Hays very dryly remarked, "I ought to have left there twenty years before." There was small-pox on board the ship which brought him to America, but Mr. Hays escaped its clutches. IIe was raised a farmer, and, in coming to this country, thought to find a better opening for farmers than the old country afforded. Mr. Hays has owned land in several townships in this county. He landed here first in 1859, after a three years' residence in Macon county. He was married in New York, to Miss Anna Ryan, a native of Ireland. They have had five children, three of whom, Nanno, James and Will, are living. Mr. Hays was school director for eight years, and during this time was instrumental in the building of the school-house which is now at Hammond. He is a member of the Catholic church.
MR. WILLIAM HANKS is a native of Kentucky. His father, John HIanks, a native of the same state, moved from Kentucky to Indiana. In 1828 he moved to Stevens Creek, Macon county, Illinois. Previous to his moving to Illinois he lived for a time with Mr. Robert Lincoln in Spencer county, Indiana. Mr. Lincoln came to Illinois the next spring (1829) after Mr. Hanks did, and moved into the house vacated for that purpose by him. Mr. Lincoln remained with his family in this place for two years and then moved to Coles county. His son Abraham (our martyred president) the meantime breaking prairie. Abraham remained after his father had gone, and he and Mr. John Hanks built a flat-boat and went down the river to Springfield. They were hired by a man in Springfield to go on the flat-boat to New Orleans. They shipped bacon and flour to said city, sold the boat and then returned on a steamer. Lincoln got $100 for his job, and with it entered eighty acres of land in Coles county. His father lived on this place until his death. Mr. John Hanks entered his first land with money obtained from the use of the flat-boat. After entering the land for his father, Lincoln became postmaster in a town near Springfield. Probably the next move was in the Black Hawk war, and Mr. John Hanks was with
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him there. In the winter of 1829 he made rails for Mr. Hanks and others near Springfield. After Lincoln became a lawyer Mr. Hanks' was his stopping place while attending court at Decatur. JJust before his inauguration he sent word for Mr. John Hanks to accompany him on a visit to his father: While on this trip Lincoln planned for Mr. Hanks to go with him to Washington. He did so and remained two weeks. During the visit to his father Lincoln told Mr. Hanks that he would never see home again. Mr. Hanks was in the army and saw Lincoln again at the White House. Mr. John Hanks is eighty years old and still lives in Macon county, on the old farm where he first settled. Mr. William Hanks was married in 1853, to Mary E. Henson, who died in 1876. They had two children. Charles married Elizabeth Newhouse. They, with their daughter Sarah, reside in Monticello township. Emma Hanks lives with her grandfather. Mr. Hanks came to Piatt county in 1872, and now lives on what is known as the Scott land in Monticello township.
MR. J. B. Hicks, Monticello, was connected with the brickinaking interests of Piatt county for a number of years. On March 10, 1864, he and his son-in-law, Mr. H. Shepherd, arrived in Monticello, and at once contracted to make brick for and put up the wall of Piatt and Bryden's store building on the southwest corner of the square. They also made the brick for W. H. Piatt's residence, and for Mr. Bell's house in Bement, in all making near a million brick that summer. In 1865 he bought Mr. Shepherd's interest, and for several years made from five to seven thousand brick a year. Mr. Hicks still resides near Monticello, has been married twice and has several children.
MR. MICHAEL HAZZARD, a merchant in Monticello, was born in 1841, in Indiana. His parents were natives of the same state, and left him an orphan at the age of six. He was married at Little York, Indiana, to Asenath S. Davis, a native of the same state and born in 1844. They have had eleven children, five of whom were of one birth. The quintette were born in Monticello, September 18, 1880. The longest life which either of the five had was twenty-two days. They have four children living, William Albert, Edgar N., Charlie and Nellie. In 1866 Mr. Hazzard brought a stock of goods to Monticello, where he located. He has been a merchant since 1863. He held the office of city treasurer for four years, and for six years was alderman. He belongs to the Masonic lodge and to the Knights of Honor. In 1861 Mr. Hazzard went to the army in Co. C of the 38th Ind. Inf. After
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about ten, minutes of fighting at Perryville (his first battle) he was wounded quite severely in his right shoulder. He spent some time in the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky.
MR. REBER HUSTON, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, from which state he came to Illinois, and in 1874 went into business for Lodge & Huston, of Monticello. He is still in the same business, and owns a residence and three lots in the town. He was married in July, 1875, to Mrs. John Garver, nee Anna D. Hubbell, and they have had two children, Charles and Earnest. Mr. Huston's uncle, Mr. James Reber, who was the first probate judge in this county, lived in Monticello for a time. Mr. Reber died, leaving a wife and several children, who now reside in Ohio.
MR. CHARLES HUGHES, lawyer, Monticello, is a native of Madison county, Ohio. When but two years old his parents came west, and Charles has lived in Piatt county ever since. His father, Daniel Hughes, came west in 1864 or 1865, and has never been heard of since. His mother died, leaving five children, three of whom are living. Mr. C. Hughes was a farmer until seventeen or eighteen years of age, when he began teaching school. From this time he alternated his teaching with his going to school and studying until he entered the bar. During this time he attended the state university at Champaign for a year. He was united in marriage, in 1878, to Miss Pamelia Combs. Mr. Hughes is one of the self-made young men of the county. His own efforts have placed him where he now stands. In 1880 he was elected to the office of state's attorney.
MR. PETER HITCHENS, Monticello, was born in Ohio, moved to Indiana, thence to Vermilion county, Illinois, then to Piatt county in 1862, locating at Bement. In 1863 he went to Monticello, in 1872 moved to Mansfield, and has since returned to Monticello. Mr. Hitchens married Susan Doll, of Ohio, and has six children living. Sarah Ann is the wife of Jolin May, lives in Indiana and has four children ; Jolin married Sarah E. Ray, and lives in Iowa ; Martha married Mr. Pender, and died, leaving one child ; Margaret married Wm. Ray, and lives in Virginia ; America married Riley Tatinan ; George married Sarah Carr, has one child, Clarence, and is a black- smith in Mansfield ; William married Lina Conoway, has two children and is a blacksmith in Mansfield.
MR. L. HAMMERSMIDT, furniture dealer, Monticello, was born in Ger- many, and came to America and located in Monticello in 1866. He has lived in Monticello ever since, and owns his residence, a business
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house and two lots in the place. He was married about twenty-six years ago to Henrietta Rump and has one daughter, Ella.
MR. ELIAS HOFFIHINES is a native of Ohio, and moved from there to Piatt county in 1869, locating where he now lives. He owns eighty acres, which he partially improved himself. Mr. Hoffhines 'was mar- ried about 1861, to Martha Robinson, also a native of Ohio, and has had twelve children, of whom nine are living, Isaac, Newton, Zelda J., Sarah E., Homer, David, Cassius, whose twin died, Daniel, and the twins Mary and. Clara.
MR. JAMES HARDING is a native of Ohio; came from there to Piatt county in 1869. 'He was married in 1878, to Mary Prouse, and has one child, George. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Harding, live in the county and have had eleven children, two of whom reside here, James and Taylor. Taylor married Sarah Robins and has four children, Wilburt, Edward, Frank and Jesse.
MR. W. M. HETTINGER, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ross county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1862. He now owns 200 acres of land, upon eighty acres of which he has put all the improvements. The residence was built in 1879 and the barn in 1880. His crops have been good. In 1880-1 the crops averaged sixty bushels and fifty-five bushels respectively. Mr. Hettinger and Margaret Morrison were united in- marriage in 1852, and have had eleven children, ten of whom are living. Martha J., married Emanuel Kerns, has four children and lives in Strawn. The names of the other children are James, Nelson, John, William, Franklin, Edward, George, Oscar and Dora.
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