USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens > Part 44
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
D. J. Chenoweth was born in this county Jan. 13, 1848, son of James H. and Artemisia C. (Burkhead) Chenoweth, natives of Ken- tucky, and of German descent. He owns a farm of 20 acres and runs a meat market in Perry. In 1867 he married Eleanor Dor- sey, and they have 4 children living. Both he and wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church. He is a Republican.
H. J. Chenoweth was born in Kentucky Oct. 29, 1819 ; his pa- rents, Abraham and Rachel, were natives of that State and of Welsh descent ; emigrated to Pike county Nov. 16, 1836, settling one mile east of Perry, and in company with his father improved 160 acres of land. He followed farming until 1851, when he started a saw-mill 3 miles northeast of Perry, and after running it 18 months he sold it ; then farmed for 3 years, then was in Mis- souri 4 years, and then (1861) came back to this place and contin- ued farming and clearing land. In 1872 he started the first hotel in Perry. H. J. married in 1841, and is the father of 9 chil- dren, 6 of whom are living, 2 boys and 4 girls. Mr. C. has been School Director and member of the Town Board. Republican.
Jacob V. Chenoweth was born in this township June 27, 1850, son of James H. and Artemisia C. (Bnrkhead) Chenoweth ; is a farmer and dealer in live stock. May 13, 1875, he married Eliza- beth Parke, and they have 2 little girls. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Christian Church. Mr. C. owns a farm of 81 acres in Pike county, and 80 acres in Kansas.
483
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
James H. Chenoweth, one of Pike county's oldest and most re- spected citizens, was born in Nelson Co., Ky., July 9, 1801. His father, Wm. Chenoweth, went to that State from Virginia when a young man, and took part in many an Indian fight on " the dark and bloody ground." He married the widow of John Hinton, whose maiden name was Mary VanMeter; of this family were 10 children, all of whom lived to be grown: William, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Miles, James, Hardin, Letitia, Ruth and James H. Jacob, Abraham and James all came to Pike county and were among its more worthy and substantial pioneer citizens. James H., the sub- ject of this sketch, first came to this State in 1832, stopping for a while in Scott Co., and came to Pike in the spring of 1833, locating on secs. 27 and 28, Perry tp., where he entered 240 aeres of land. He at once erected a double log cabin, in which he lived for several years; he then built the frame house which still occupies the site ; 30 acres of this farm Mr. C. laid off in town lots as "Chenoweth's Addition to the Town of Perry." Mr. C. is one of the oldest resi- dents of the county, and is a good example of what industry and economy will accomplish. He is now 78 years of age, and is the owner of between 500 and 600 acres of land in this county, as well as land in Missouri.
Mr. C. was married in 1831 to Artemisia Burkhead, of Nelson Co., Ky. One child, Abraham, was born to them in Kentucky; James H., jr., Mary, Joseph K., deceased, Joseph S., Robert A., Ruth, David J., Jacob V. and Susanna R., deceased, were all born in Pike county; the 8 children living are all married. Three, David, Jacob and Ruth ( the latter the wife of Chas. O. Turner ) are still living in this county. Mr. C.'s wife died Jan. 4, 1874, and Mr. C. is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Turner. Mr. C. was for- merly a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party he has voted with that party. One of his sons, Robert A., served two years during the Rebellion in the 33d Ill. Inft. Mr. C. is a member of the Christian Church, as also was Mrs. C .; and in the affairs of the Church he has always taken a prominent part. All of his children are also members of that Church.
Mr. C. is familiarly known as " Uncle Jim," and no man in the township is better known, and has fewer enemies. He was always full of fun, and liked to fish and hunt, and enjoy himself in such sport. His average weight is 212 pounds. One of his favorite games was tying men who boasted of their strength. He would take his rope and tell his man that he would tie him, giving him leave to fight or do anything but gouge and bite : that was all he asked of the strongest man, and he never yet failed in his object. He drank whisky with the " boys," and sometimes when alone, from the time he was 16 years old until he was 74. At present he only takes wine. He thinks he averaged a quart of liquor per day for 57 years ; and the other day he figured it up, counting only one pint per day, and it made over 72 barrels, of 44 gallons each! He is willing to throw off 2 barrels in the estimate, which would leave
484
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
even 70 barrels, or 3,080 gallons. Now, if it cost $2 per gallon, it would amount to $6,160; and if the whisky he has drank were sold at 10 cents a drink, allowing 10 drinks to the pint, it would amount to $24,640; and he thinks he has drank twice that amount, or $49,- 280 worth of whisky! Perhaps he has given away as much as he has drank, which would make a total expense of $98,560! And he is yet stout enough to round this number out to even $100,000, either by drinking the liquor or giving it away! Mr. Chenoweth's portrait appears in this volume.
Job Clark, farmer, sec. 29, was born in Hamilton Co., O., Jan. 6, 1825, and is the son of John and Christiana ( Reed ) Clark, the father a native of Greene Co., Pa., and his mother of Hamilton Co., O. He received his education in the common schools of Illinois; he came to Pike county in May, 1857; by occupation he was a millwright, but since he came here he has been farming, meeting with splendid success. His residence is as good as any in the town- ship, if indeed not the best. He is engaged in raising Poland- China hogs and thorough-bred cattle. He was married in 1853 to Miss H. E. Gilham. Mr. C. has served his township in various offices, and politically is a Democrat.
W. O. Cobb was born in Perry, Pike Co., July 19, 1855, and is the son of Chauncey and Elizabeth (Parks) Cobb. Mr. C. at the present time is keeping a barber shop in the town of Perry ; for- merly he was by occupation a carpenter. He is a natural genius, and capable of doing anything well that he undertakes. Politically he is a Republican.
F. M. Cooper was born in Morgan Co., Ill., Jan. 19, 1831, son of G. W. and Mahala (Clayton) Cooper, his father a native of N. C. and his mother of Georgia; is a farmer and plasterer. He was mar- ried in 1858 to Artemisia Hobbs, and they have 6 boys and 1 girl, and are members of the Christian Church. Mr. C. is a Democrat, in politics.
Job Dixon, son of Thomas and Mary (Barker) Dixon, was born in England in 1828, where he was educated ; he is a farmer and owns 280 acres of land, one of the best stock farms in Illinois. In 1858 he emigrated to Pike county, and Oct. 4 of the same year married Ann Stephenson, a native of England. They have had 6 boys and 3 girls. Mr. Dixon is a Democrat.
Luther Dodge was born in Vermont in 1815; was educated in a subscription school, and is at present a farmer. He has been twice married, the second time to Margaret Crawford, in 1861. She is a native of Tennessee, and was born in 1822. She was the fourth child of a family of 14 children, 11 of whom are living, all married but one, who has taught school 14 years. Her name is Rachel Craw- ford. Mrs. Dodge's stepmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford, lives with her, and is 81 years of age. Mr. Dodge is a Republican.
Deacon Alexander Dorsey, the son of Charles Dorsey, was born in Rutherford county, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1824; his father was born in North Carolina in 1795, and was the son of Wm. Dorsey, who served
485
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
for several years in the Revolutionary war. Oct. 16, 1823, Charles Dorsey married Miss Eleanor Broiles, of his native county. She was born June 25, 1805. Dec. 31, 1828, Mr. Dorsey landed in Pike county and wintered in a board tent. During the following spring he cleared a piece of land on which a portion of Detroit now stands. In the'spring of 1831 he moved to Perry township and settled on sec. 24, and was one of the leading farmers and stock- raisers of the county. Alexander Dorsey received his education in Pike county; in the winter of 1845-'6 he made a visit to his old home in Tennessee, where he married Miss Jane Fox, who was born in Rutherford county, Nov. 29, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey are both members of the Christian Church, and he has been Elder and Deacon for many years, and was a member of the executive com- mittee that erected the new church building.
B. F. Dorsey was born near the celebrated Mineral Springs of Perry, Nov. 11, 1832; he is the fourth son of Charles and Eleanor Dorsey, the former a native of Raleigh, N. C. Our subject on arriv- ing at the age of 18, was married to Miss Matilda, daughter of Elder David Hobbs, who, as well as his wife, were natives of Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1829, settling in Scott county; and Mrs. Dorsey was born Oct. 8, 1832. They have a family of two children: Edgar, the elder, was born May 9, 1859, and Asa L., March 22, 1861. Edgar married Anna, daughter of M. B. Chenoweth, Dec. 31, 1877; reside at the old homestead and have a little daughter, Dottie D. Dorsey. Asa married Carrie Clark, May 15, 1879,: she was a daughter of Job Clark, a native of Ohio, and she was born in this county.
The sons are engaged with their father, under the firm name of B. F. Dorsey & Sons, in importing and breeding Berkshire and Poland hogs, and Spanish or American Merino sheep, sending stock of this kind to Colorado, Michigan, Mexico, Texas and Pennsyl- vania. They have a farm of 387 acres on sec. 22, known as the Wolf Grove stock farm. It is said that they have on this fine farm the champion herd of sheep in America. It consists of 500 thorough- bred Merino sheep, one buck in which herd cost Mr. Dorsey $600, and clipped the past season 282 pounds of wool; another cost $300. They also have a herd of 100 thorough-bred Berkshire and Poland- China hogs. One of these, " Knight of Gloucester, No. 201," was bought by the firm in England, and is worth $560.
They exhibited at the first fair ever held in Pike county, which was in the year 1851, since which time they have exhibited their stock at some of the leading fairs in Illinois and Missouri, and always successful as competitors. They have taken over 600 prizes within the last four years, never failing to carry off the sweepstakes at each and every fair. At the Illinois State Fair in 1879 they took on their herd nine first and four second prizes, including the breeders and sweepstakes in each class. The breed- ers on which the prize was given consisted of one boar and four sows. They took it on Berkshires and Polands, which was never
486
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
done at the Illinois State Fair, or indeed at any other State fair, so far as is known to us.
Mr. D. is a member of the Christian Church, and has been for 32 years. He has served 12 or 15 years as Elder. As a repre- sentative citizen of Pike county we give Mr. Dorsey's portrait in this volume.
Charles Dorsey, son of Alexander and Jane (Fox) Dorsey, was born in Pike county in 1855; he had only the benefits of the com- mon school, and has engaged in farming and clerking. In 1877 he was married to Ada Chenoweth, and they have one girl, Anna.
John S. Dorsey; residence Perry; was born in April, 1830, in this county; he is the son of Charles and Eleanor (Broiles) Dor- sey, referred to above; by occupation he is a farmer and stock- raiser; he owns 370 acres of land near Perry, and is counted as one of the leading farmers of the county; he devotes considerable time and attention to breeding fine blooded stock, and makes the Poland- China hog and American Merino sheep a specialty; in this busi- ness he is connected with his brother, Alexander Dorsey. In 1857 Mr. D. was married to Mary Hardy, and they have four children- two boys and two girls. Mr. D. is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. D. of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Town Board of Perry, and has been for three terms.
John W. Dorsey was born in Pike county, Ill., in 1853, and is the son of Alexander and Jane Dorsey, nee Fox. Mr. D. owns 110 acres of land on sec. 21, in this township, and is engaged in raising fine stock. Oct. 27, 1872, he was married to Sarah Jane Ham, who was born in Chambersburg township in 1856. Their children are: Izzie Jane, Mary L. and Minnie Bell. Mr. D. is a member of the Christian Church, of Lodge No. 76, I. O. O. F., and Secretary of Perry Grange. Mrs. D. is also a member of the Christian Church.
T. B. Dunn was born in the town of Chambersburg, Pike Co.,, in 1842, and is the son of Harvey and Phadima (Winegar) Dunn; the former was born in Feb. 2, 1806, and his mother, June 29, 1819. His father died Dec. 28, 1868, and his mother, June 11, 1848. Mr. Dunn received his education in the common schools of this county; from 1864 to 1868 was engaged in the dry-goods business in Chambersburg, since which time he has been engaged in farming. April 5, 1864, he was married to Nancy Jane Ban- ning, daughter of Stephen Banning, one of the pioneers of the county. They have two boys and two girls. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Among the curiosities which he has in his possession is a mirror which came over in the Mayflower.
Š. D. Fagin, farmer, P. O. Perry; was born in Ohio in 1843; his father, George Fagin, was a native of the Buckeye State; his mother was Julia Hahn. Mr. F. received a common-school edu- cation; was married in 1866 to Mary, daughter of Capt. B. L. Mat-
B. H. Sorry PERRY TP
489
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
thews, and they have 3 children, all boys, and living. They are members of the M. E. Church.
John P. Gardner, farmer, sec. 7; was born in England, Nov. 15, 1828, and is the son of John S. and Elizabeth (Powell) Gard- ner, both natives of England. John P. received his education in the high schools of England; he started to travel at an early age in life; when he was only 16 years old he went on a cruise to South Africa ; when 21 he came to America. In 1852 he married Anna Parker. He is a successful farmer. P. O., Perry.
Alpheus Glines was born in Perry Jan. 26, 1853, the son of L. D. and Ellen (Cruthers) G .; his father was a native of New York, and mother, of Ohio ; father came to Illinois in 1851. Alpheus received a common-school education and learned the trade of a stone mason, the occupation of his father. He and his brother have been engaged in bridge-building in this and adjoining counties. Alpheus is a member of the M. E. Church at Perry.
Joseph A. Gould was born in the town of Perry Dec. 28, 1853 ; his parents were Josiah P. and Lucy C. (Watson) Gould. He received his education in the common schools of this county, and by occupation is a plasterer. At the early age of 16 he began to learn his trade, at which he has worked ever since. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Lydia Burnett : they have 2 children, both girls. He and his wife are both members of the Christian Church in Perry. At present he resides in Griggsville.
Matthias Gregory, farmer, sec. 22. Mr. Gregory was brought to Pike county in 1829, and has seen the vast wilderness trans- formed into a garden, as it were. There was not a house in the town of Perry or Griggsville at that time. Mr. G. was born in Coffee county, Tenn., Feb. 12, 1822, and is the son of Robert and Nancy (Broiles) Gregory, both natives of South Carolina, and of English descent. He received his education in the log school- houses of Pike county. In 1843 he was married to Mary Cheno- weth. They have 5 children, all boys, and 3 of them are married. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Perry. He is a Trustee of the Church, and a member of the build- ing committee. He has served 15 years as School Director. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. B, 99th Ill. Inf., under Capt. Matthews.
Clayborn Ham. The subject of this sketch was born in March, 1827, in Bedford county, Tenn. He is the son of James and Mary (Broiles) Ham ; his father a native of North Carolina and his mother of South Carolina, and both of German descent. By occu- pation Mr. H. is a farmer, which business he has followed for 31 years. He has been very successful, now owning 400 acres of land in this county. In 1836 he came to this county and settled on sec. 36, Perry township, where he still lives. He has been twice mar- ried. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Smith, by whom he had 3 children ; 2 are living. He married his second wife, America C. James, in 1857, and they have 8 children, 3 boys and 5 girls, all living. His wife is a member of the M. E.
490
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Church. He served as School Director for 8 years, and as Road Commissioner 3 years. His father, though illiterate in respect to school education, not being able to write his own name, was a very successful business man. When he came to the county in 1829 he was not worth $100, but when he made a division of his property among his children he owned 1,700 acres of land, and personal property to the value of $14,000.
George W. Ham, farmer, sec. 21; P. O. Perry. Mr. Ham is a son of William and Elizabeth Ann (Elliott) Ham, natives of the Eastern States, and of English descent ; he was born Sept. 5, 1859; he attended the common schools and entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, where he graduated in 1876 ; he then entered the dry-goods store of Metz & Wilson, where he clerked for two years. In 1878 he was united in marriage with May Reed. A son was born to them Dec. 3, 1879. Mr. Ham is a prominent member of the Perry Cornet Band.
James T. Ham is the son of Clayborn and Margaret C. (Smith) Ham, natives of Tennessee and Missouri, respectively. James T. was born on sec. 36, Perry tp., Aug. 8, 1851. He owns a farm on sec. 35, this tp., where he is engaged in agriculturai pursuits. In 1871, March 31, he was united in the holy bond- of matrimony with Melissa C. James. Alma A., born Feb. 9, 18:3, and Lola Estella, born Dec. 23, 1877, are their 2 children. His grandfather, James Ham, was one of the early pioneers of, and one of the wealthiest men in Pike county.
Elijah Hamilton, farmer, sec. 1; P. O. Chambersburg. Mr. H. is a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 1815 ; his parents were Allen and Salina Hamilton, who came to Illinois in 1820, set- tling in Sangamon county. In 1839 Elijah Hamilton came to Pike county, locating on sec. 1, where he has ever since resided, and owns 200 acres of land. In politics he is a Democrat, but has not voted for several years. He is a bachelor, and his widowed sister, Mrs. Jane Webb, lives with him. She was born July 26, 1805. Elijah is one of a family of 11 children, only 3 of whom are now living.
John Hardy was born in Ohio Feb. 8, 1839, the son of John and Maria Hardy, both natives of Ohio and of English descent. Mr. Hardy came to Illinois in 1840 and to Pike county in 1846, and lives on sec. 19, where he owns a farm of 213 acres, which is said to be the best farm between the two rivers. He has refused to accept $100 per acre for it. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Rebecca Walker, the daughter of Robert Walker, an early settler of Pike county. In 1872 Mr. Hardy took a trip to Enrope for his health, benefiting him greatly. He has also traveled over the Western States considerably.
Martin Harrington was born in Worcester Co., Mass., Dec. 24, 1797. His father, Samuel Harrington, was a native of Grafton, Mass., and was born Ang. 3, 1769. On arriving at the age of twenty- six, he was married to Miss Abigail Putnam, who was born Sept. 15,
491
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
1775. She was a daughter of Zadock Putnam, who was closely related to the daring, brave and patriotic Gen. Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Putnam's father was Nathaniel Putnam, who built the first wagon set up in Worcester Co., Mass. It is related that over 200 came from long distances to see one pair of wheels following another.
The subject of this sketch is connected by a long line of ancestry as far back as the original Puritans who came over in the " May Flower." Among that highly honored and respected band who landed on the cold, bleak shores of Plymouth, is made honorable mention of the Harringtons, whose names yet stand engraved on that ever memorable rock, around which clusters the purest and brightest thoughts of all true lovers of American liberty. The Harringtons are also connected, on the paternal side, with the Brig- hams, of early Massachusetts history, and on the maternal side, with the as yet revered name of the Elliots. Major Elliot, great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, served with distinction during the Revolutionary struggle.
Mr. Samuel Harrington had a family of 4 children, of whom Martin is the second. Three are yet living at quite an advanced age. Mr. Harrington died at his residence, October 5th, 1802. His wife survived him until April, 1871. After being a widow seven years, she was married to Capt. David Trask, of Leicester, Worcester county, Mass. They had a family of 5 children. The subject of our sketch was early thrown upon his own resources by the death of his father, but with that true Yankee pluck and stick- to-it-iveness, he overcame all obstacles in his way, and succeeded in acquiring a good English education; but that served only a nu- cleus, around which he has been constantly adding to his store of knowledge, until now we find him possessed with conversational powers seldom surpassed by the most cultured men of the country -not only being informed in local matters, but his range of intellect grasps the broadest questions. In his conversation one can not long be a listener without being richly compensated by his large fund of information .. Previous to his marriage, his vocation was that of a scythe manufacturer.
On the 22d of June, 1822, he was married to Miss Myra, daughter of Josephus Willard, Esq., of Grafton, Mass. They had a family of 3 children, of whom two are yet living. In the year 1827 he moved with his family, to Amsterdam, New York, at which place he was the first manufacturer of turned carriage axle-trees, with pipe-boxes, which business he continued for a period of 9 years, with other machine business. Mrs. Harrington died at her residence, New York, in 1832, and the following year (1833) Mr. Harrington mar- ried his second wife, Miss Catharine, daughter of Evert Hagaman. She departed this life April 27, 1875: her remains rest in the new cemetery in Perry. A fine monument erected to her memory by her husband marks the spot. They have had born to them a family of five children. His son, F. M. Harrington, is now practicing law
492
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
in Kirksville, Mo., where he has grown into a large and lucrative practice. In 1836 Mr. Harrington left New York and came to Illinois, locating in Pike county. He says he was in the county when settlements and improvements were scarce. He is, therefore, justly classed among the old settlers. By industry and persever- ance Mr. Harrington has succeeded in getting together considerable wealth, so that his old days can be passed in reaping the reward of a well spent life. His son-in-law in Missouri has been twice elected to the legislature of that State, and all his children are getting wealthy. The family is one of the oldest and most respected in the county. Mr. Harrington's brother, Hon. Charles Harrington, who was for some time Judge of the County Court of Pike county, in its early organization, was also one of the pioneer preachers of this section of the country.
The subject of our sketch, now far past the meridian of life, enjoys excellent health, and his is another of the many instances of what can be accomplished by a well directed industry. By his generous and straightforward principles, he has won the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and fellow-citizens. During the war he was a strong supporter of the cause of the Union. He is a mem- ber of the Republican party. A few years since he retired from the active pursuits of life, and is now residing at his residence in Perry. We give the portrait of Mr. H. in this volume.
Asahel Hinman. The ancestor in a direct line of the subject of this sketch and the founder of the Hinman family in America, was Sergt. Edward Hinman, who emigrated from England, his native country, between 1650 and 1652, settling at Stratford, Conn. Soon afterward lie was married to Hannah, daughter of Francis and Mary Stiles, of Windsor, Conn. Their first child was named Sarah, born at Stratford, in 1652. Sergt. Hinman was an extensive farmer, and was largely engaged in the buying and selling of land, owned and operated a mill, etc. He died at Stratford in 1681, leaving a family of 4 sons and 4 daughters. There has been a tradition in the family from the early settlement that Sergt. Hinman was Sergeant- at- Arms for King Charles I. He, like many others, became exiled to escape thie vengeance of Oliver Cromwell, as it was well known that Cromwell was firm in condemning to death the supporters and defenders of Charles I. This proves him to have been a most trustworthy loyalist and honest man, for no other could have re- ceived the confidence of the crown at that critical period. It would also appear from the above that Sergt. Hinman was a respectable Englishman, and of a good family, as none other would have been selected to have constituted the body guard of the King.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.