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 53
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Isabel Hogsett, sec. 24; P. O. Detroit. Mrs. H. is the widow of James Hogsett, who was born in Greenbrier Co., Va., in 1817; he was married in 1843 to Miss Isabel, daughter of John and Isabel Hays, natives of Ohio, and where Mr. H. died at an early day. Mrs. Hays then came to this county with her children, and is at this writing residing with her daughter in the 87th year of her age. Mrs. Isabel Hogsett was born in Highland Co., O., in 1825, and
34
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
emigrated to the West in 1515. Mr. H. settled on the estate now owned by his widow and children, of 130 acres, valued at $60 an am. After . life of wine and usefulness. and just when he bo gan to enjoy the fruits of his industry, he was called from aart. He died in 1565, respected by all who knew him.
S. C. Howland, farmer, sec. 23; P. O. Detroit; is a son of Lu- cius and Mary (Childs) Howland, natives of Massachusetts, who settled in this tp. in 1839, and from which both were called to a better home in 1842. The subject of this sketch was born in Geau- ga Co., O., in 1822; in 1844 he was married to Miss Amy, daugh- ter of Samuel Parker. After his marriage he purchased 50 acres of land in this section, and by his indomitable energy and perse- verance has secured a handsome property, his present productive estate covering 240 acres of valuable land. His wife died in 1850. and in 1857 he was married again to Miss Sarah E., daughter of E. W. Hickerson, an early pioneer of Pike county. She was the first child born in Pittsfield. Mr. H. has served as Supervisor and Town Collector, and numbers among the early pilgrims of Pike county.
Robert Hunter, farmer, sec. 28; P. O. Pittsfield. Mr. H. was born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1843. His mother with 4 children emigrated to America in 1854, settling in this county, Aug. 23, 1861. He enlisted in Co. B, 28th Ill. Inf., and served until Aug., 1864; he again enlisted in Co. G, 62d Ill. Inf., Feb. 8, 1865; he partici- pated in the battles of Little Bethel, Pittsburg Landing, where he was wounded, Hatchie, Tenn., and Vicksburg. He was united in marriage in 1872 with Miss Rebecca Kelley, a native of this county, by whom he has 4 children,-Sarah J., Alexander, James W. and Margaret. Mr. H. is a School Director.
David F. Kiser, farmer, sec. 23; P. O. Pittsfield. Mr. K. is a native of Indiana, where he was born in 1841; he was brought to this county by his parents, Jacob and Martha Kiser, when two years of age. He was married to Janetta, daughter of Richmond Williams, an early pioneer of Pike who settled on this section, where he died. The fruit of this union has been 3 children, 2 of whom are living,-Lydia and Essie. Mr. K. and wife are both children of the pioneer generation. Their fine farm and improve- ments attest the industry of its occupants.
Harvey Kiser is a son of Jacob Kiser, an early settler of Pike county, where the subject of .this sketchi was born in 1841. He married Mary A. Casteel, daughter of Stephen Casteel, by whom he has one child, William C. They have an adopted child, Lou- ral. Mr. K. has a farm of 80 acres, and politically he is a Re- publican. He is engaged in farming on sec. 11, P. O. Griggsville. Jacob L. Kiser, farmer, sec. 14; P. O. Detroit. Mr. K. was born in Virginia in 1809; came to the county in 1841, and settled on sec. 29, where he resided until 1857, when he moved upon his present estate of 80 acres, valued at $100 per acre. In 1839 he was united in matrimony to Miss Martha, daughter of David Fore-
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man, by whom he has 7 living children. Mr. K. is a " stalwart " Republican, and numbers among those of the early settlers of Pike Co.
Mrs. Wm. Landers, sec. 17, P. O. Pittsfield; widow of William Landers, who was born in Highland Co., O., in 1825. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Sanderson, and she married Mr. Landers in 1846; ten years afterward they moved to this county, settling on the present estate, where he passed the remainder of his life. Four of their 6 children are living,-Perry, Mary, William and Leslie ; the last two reside on the homestead, as also the mother of Mrs. L., in the 83d year of her age.
Perry S. Landers, farmer, sec. 22, P. O. Pittsfield; was born in Highland Co., O., in 1852, son of William Landers, who settled in this tp. in 1856, where he died in 1879. In 1874 Perry S. married Dora, daughter of Dr. Boyd, by whom he has one child, Alice. He resides on the homestead, which consists of 177 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre.
Y. McAllister, farmer, sec. 11, P. O. Griggsville. The sub- ject of this personal sketch is a native of New Jersey, where he was born March 31, 1818; he came to this county in 1839, and settled in Griggsville; the same year he was married in Delaware to Saralı A. Taylor. She was a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1820; she died in 1844. By this union 4 children were born,-Edwin, John, Sarah and Caroline. He was again married in 1849 to Rachel Jones, also a native of the Keystone State, and born in 1820. Seven children were born to them, 6 of whom are living : Rebecca, Lucretia, Cyrus, Mary A., Naomi and Huldah; James, deceased. Mr. McAllister was licensed to preach in the M. E. Church in 1855, and has labored faithfully ever since in the propagation of the gospel, frequently preaching two or three times a day after laboring hard during the week on the farm.
E. M. Norton, farmer, sec. 13; P. O. Detroit; was born near Cincinnati, O., in 1822; is the son of John and Zerua (Chadwick) Norton, natives of Massachusetts, who settled in Hardin tp. in 1842, where they both died. The subject of this sketch crossed the plains to California in 1950, and returned 3 years afterward. In 1855 he was married to Miss Louisa Dinsmore, a native of this county, and located in Hardin tp .; 3 years afterwards he moved to Detroit, and in 1868 removed to California with his family, where he remained three years, when he returned and settled upon his present estate. He is the father of 8 living children: Emily, Mary, Margaret, Harry, John, Noel, Cora and Nora. Politically he is a Republican.
Giles H. Penstone, farmer, sec. 9; P. O. Griggsville. Mr. P. is the son of Giles and Sarah Penstone, natives of England, who came to America in 1849, and settled in this county. The subject of this sketch was born in London, Feb. 22, 1838. In Pike county, Aug. 1, 1867, he was married to Elizabeth J. Edom, who was born in the Buckeye State in 1844. They are the parents of 5 children.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Charles H., Mary E., Sarah J., Ellen E. and Edward J. Mr. P. has held several township offices, and owns. a fine farm of 240 acres.
Francis A. Phillips, farmer, sec. 3; P. O. Griggsville; son of Nathan and Nancy Phillips, both natives of North Carolina ; they emigrated to this State in an early day, settling in this county. The subject of this sketch is a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 1824; he was married to Mary Elliott, who was born in Ohio in 1827, and they are the parents of 5 children, 4 of whom are living: Maria, Martha, Benjamin and Newton; August, deceased. Mr. P. has held the office of constable 4 years and School Director several years. His father was in the war of 1812.
Job Pringle, retired, was born in England in 1844, and in emi- gration eame with his parents to America when he was 8 years of age, and came to this county in 1856, settling in Pittsfield. He engaged in farming until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. B, 28th Ill. Inf. Vol., and served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Jackson, Miss., Vicksburg, Ilatchie, Miss .; was promoted to the position of Corporal, Sergeant and 2d Lieutenant; returned to Pittsfield, and for 11 years clerked in a dry-goods store. Nov. 11, 1879, he married Mahala Miller.
E. D. Rose, farmer, sec. 20; P. O. Pittsfield; born in Rensel- laer Co., N. Y., in 1805; married in 1825 Roxana Allen, and they have 6 children. He came to this county in March, 1839, settling on his present estate of 160 acres of valuable land. Mr. Rose has served as Town Assessor and Constable. His son Henry enlisted in the 39th Regiment I. V. I., was taken prisoner at Sweetwater, Va., and confined in Andersonville prison, where he died from the effects of prison life and starvation.
Mrs. Sarah Ruby, sec. 7; P. O. Pittsfield. She is the widow of A. R. McKibbon, who was born in Highland Co., O. Her maiden name was Sarah Clark, a native of the same county, where she was born in 1832. She married Mr. McKibbon in 1849. He came to this county in 1850, and in the following year settled on the pres- ent estate of 180 acres, where he lived until his death in 1871. Their 7 children are all living: Eliza, Caroline, Margaret, Hester, Lony, Emma and Lewis. Mrs. McK. was again married in 1877, this time to J. M. Ruby, and the family reside on the homestead. Members of the Christian Church.
Marcellus Ross is the son of Col. Wm. Ross, deceased, who is so often referred to in the pages of this volume. The subject of this sketch was born at Atlas, Nov. 11, 1824, the first white male child born within the present limits of Pike county; at the age of 11 years he was brought to Pittsfield (one mile east of town in Newburg tp.) by his parents, where he has ever since resided. Ang. 10, 1848, he married Miss Martha Kellogg, from Pittsfield, Mass., and their children now living are Henry J., Charles K., Frank C. and Mattie H. Charles and Frank are in Washington Territory. Mr. Marcellus Ross remembers a visit of Abraham Lincoln to their home in Atlas, when he, a little boy, was picked
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
up and pleasantly talked to by that eminent.statesman. Mr. Ross has in his house the first Masonic chest used in the lodge in this county, described on pages 241-2 of this book.
William Schemel, farmer, sec. 32; P. O. Pittsfield; was born in Germany in' 1835, emigrated to America in 1854, settling in Pittsfield. In 1868 he married Mary, daughter of George Zim- merman, an early settler of this county; in 1868 he moved upon his present farm, consisting of 166 acres, valued at $65 per acre. George D., William A., Joseph A., Emma M., Anna J. and Ida E. are their living children.
Cicero Scobey, farmer, sec. 9; P. O. Pittsfield; son of James and Rhoda Scobey, natives of New York and Kentucky respect- ively, who first settled in Clark Co., Ill., and caine to this county in 1839, settling on Griggsville Prairie. His father died in 1841, and his mother died in 1877. The subject of this sketch was born in Indiana in 1831, in which State he married Mary Duff, a native of Illinois, and their 2 children are William W. and Anna M. Mr. S. has a farm of 260 acres, valued at $40 an acre. He has been Assessor one year. He numbers among the early settlers of Pike county.
John Webb, farmer, was born near Jersey City in 1814, and was brought to this county by Daniel Shinn in 1820, the family set- tling near Atlas. Some years afterward Mr. W. clerked for Mr. Gay in Pleasant Vale tp., and 3 years afterward engaged in the wood business at Florence, until 1839, when he went into mer- chandising and farming at New Canton; in 1851 he came to Pitts- field and became interested in pork-packing and general merchan- dising, where he remained 23 years; in 1875 he settled on his present farm in Newburg, where he has since made it his home. In 1840 he married Cornelia Dunham, a native of Warren Co., N. Y. Mr. W. is the oldest living settler in Pike county at the pres- ent time, by four years.
John A. Weeks, farmer, sec. 5; P. O. Pittsfield; son of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (McFadden) Weeks, who settled in Harrison Co., O., in early day, where in 1826 John A. was born. The family emi- grated to this county in 1848, settling upon their present place, where they have since made it their home. In 1841 Mr. W. was married to Angeline Stagg, who died in 1857, leaving 4 children. His present wife, Martha L. Wacaser, is a native of North Caro- lina, and they have 7 children. Mr. W. has a farm of 80 acres, valued at $40 per acre.
W. T. Weeks. The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, where he was born Aug. 2, 1838; 10 years later he was brought to this county, where he is now engaged in farming in this township. He was married in Kansas in 1861, to Rosanna Pennocks, who was born in New York in 1842. In 1863 Mr. W. enlisted in Co. L, 2d Nebraska Cavalry, and served for one year, and served as scout along the Missouri and Kansas line for 2 years. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and politically a Republican.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Capt. Benj. F. Westlake, whose portrait is given in the pages of this volume, resides on sec. 29, this tp .; his grandparents emi- grated from England, their native country, prior to the Revolution, and his grandfather and three of his brothers served in the conti- nental army under Washington. George Westlake, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Orange county, N. Y., and for many years a minister of the Methodist Church; he came to this county with his son, Capt. Benj. F., where at his residence in 1842 he died, his being the first death that occurred in this town- ship; his wife, Hester (Wilson) Westlake, a native of New Jersey, died here July 9, 1852. Capt. Westlake was born in Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y., March 8, 1810. He visited Illinois in 1836, meeting Stephen A. Douglas, of Springfield, with whom he traveled through many counties, mostly by stage; in 1837 he settled in Pittsfield, and served as jailor one year, when he moved on his pres- ent estate, at that time consisting of 1,120 acres; he purchased two yokes of oxen, built a brick kiln and made the brick of which his commodious residence is composed. He gave the name to New- burg township, christening it after his native town in New York.
Capt. Westlake commenced the study of medicine at the age of 18 with Dr. Gidney, of Newburg, N. Y., but owing to the feeble health of his father he returned home and devoted his attention to farming, which he has followed from that time, and at present has about 2,000 acres of good farm land, besides having given to his children about 1,000 acres. The Captain's early life was passed on his father's farm near Newburg, and his first experience in business was selling vegetables in that town, furnishing and hauling rock, which he did for the foundation of nearly every building in that town up to the time he left.
Capt. Westlake was president of the commission appointed by the County Court to construct the Sny levee. Under this commission the work was vigorously prosecuted and successfully completed, re- claiming about 100,000 acres of rich farming land. He represented his township in the Board of Supervisors from its organization until 1863; in 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln Provost Marshal of the 9th District of Illinois, which position he filled with honor to himself and credit to the country, obtaining the enviable reputation of being one of the best officers in the State. He was one of the original stockholders in organizing the Peninsula Loan and Trust company, now the Pike County Bank, of which he is president.
He was married March 24, 1842, by Rev. Wmn. Carter, in this tp., to Miss Charlotte Goodwin, who was born March 22, 1822. The names of the 11 children born to them are as follows: George, Fannie S., Hardin J., Snsan, Ann, Catharine, Wm. Henry, Benj. F., jr., Charlotte, Charles F. and Thomas.
George W. Westlake, farmer, sec. 29; P. O. Pittsfield; was born in this tp., in 1843, and is the eldest son of B. F. Westlake. In
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
1875 he married Miss Mary E. Brown. He now owns a farm of 250 acres, valued at $90 per acre.
Luther Wheeler, blacksmith, was born in Fairfield in 1827; served his time at Bridgeport, coach ironing; emigrated to this county in 1858, and established himself in business in Pittsfield; also con- ducted a livery stable one year, and in 1861 he went to Montgomery county, and four years afterward returned and settled in Milton, where he remained until 1877, in which year he occupied his pres- ent place of business. In 1859 he married Annetta Yelliott, a native of this county; they have had 4 children, 2 of whom are liv- ing. Mr. W. has a fair trade, and is a thorough Republican.
HARDIN TOWNSHIP.
Two of the largest streams of the county traverse this township from the northern boundary, making their exit almost due south of where they enter; these are Bay and Honey creeks, and the timber bordering their banks and those of their numerous small tributaries, must have been picturesque and romantic in their original condition. Then doubtless the points of timber and the valleys were frequent re- sorts for the red man. Even now, when dotted over with fields, houses and barns, and lowing herds, one cannot help but admire the beauty of the scenery presented by these groves.
Embracing a good deal of timber land, as this township did, it soon attracted a liberal share of immigration, as it is a fact that all the pioneers sought the timber districts in which to locate their claims, believing that it would be easier to make farms by grubbing andclearing the lands than it would be to reduce prairie land to farm tillage and remunerative returns ; but as time advanced and later settlers were forced out upon the prairies and began to experi- ment upon them, the first settlers were made to realize that they had made some costly mistakes by selecting timbered claims. They had been pitching brawn and muscle against nature; for all that the prairies needed was to be tickled with the plow to make them yield living crops the first year, and heavy remunerative returns the second.
The first pilgrims in Hardin were Benjamin Barney, Nathaniel Bagby, Solomon Main, Jacob Henry, Joseph Halford, Jesse Mason and Aaron Thornton. The first couple united in marriage in the township were Nathaniel Thornton and Lucinda Bagby; the cere- mony was performed by Rev. Lewis Allen. The first school taught by Jesse Garrison, in 1833, upon sec. 2.
TIME.
The pleasant little village of Time is located where the four cor- ners of secs. 2, 3, 10 and 11 meet. It is a small place, perhaps of 120 inhabitants, and contains four stores, two wagon and black- smith shops and a flouring mill. It is also the residence of two physicians and one lawyer. There was at one time a woolen factory in Time, but times grew hard and the time came when Time must abandon the manufacture of cloth, we presume for all time to come. At present the old Time Woolen Mills is converted into a wagon shop and plow manufactory, which gives Time somewhat the ap- pearance of old times.
James Te Conboy HARDIN TP
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Star Mills .- This enterprise was inaugurated by Smith & Son- ner. The building was erected in 1877, and is now owned and op- erated by Mr. Sonner. The capacity of the mill is about 50 bar- rels a day, besides being capable of grinding about the same amount of corn. Mr. Sonner makes a choice article of flour, and enjoys a good run of custom.
The Time Public Schools .- The system of education in Hardin township is well up to the standard in point of excellence. The Time public school has for its Principal Miss Ellen Cromwell, a lady of much ability and experience as an instructor.
Independence Christian Church was organized May 8, 1858, in the log school-house at Independence, by Elders James Burbridge, Robert Nicholson and Andrew Main, with the following 26 members: Robert Nicholson and wife, Andrew Main, Ephraim Nott and wife, Geo. W. Williams and wife, Barnett Collins and wife, James Col- lins, John Nicholson and wife, Cornelius Nicholson and wife, Mary Burbridge, Thomas Burbridge, Permelia Williams, Francis Scott and wife, George Ward, David Collins, Lydia Collins, Cynthia Bur- bridge, Emily Gunn, Joseph Troutner and Polly Burbridge. The first Elders were Robert Nicholson, Andrew Main and Joseph Troutner. Elder James Burbridge was the first Pastor. The congregation erected a house of worship in 1867 in Independence, and services are held each alternate Sunday by Elder J. W. Miller, Pastor. Present number of communicants is 50.
There are two other churches located in the township, one of the M. E. and the other of the Christian denomination, both of which are located at Time. After some considerable searching, however, we failed to find the records from which to glean any historical items.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
We will now make personal mention of the leading citizens and old settlers of this township.
Benjamin Barney was born in Pike county, where Montezuma now stands, Feb. 1, 1825. His parents emigrated to this county from Ohio, in 1824. Being a pioneer, he knows all the hardships of pioneer life; as soon as he was large enough to ride on horse- back he went to Frye's Mill on Big Blue, a distance of 12 miles, and nearly always had to remain all night to get his grinding done, and no place to sleep, except on the corn-sack; he has had many ex- citing scenes in the chase, having killed deer, wolves and wild-cats. Dec. 21, 1845, he married Miss Caroline Harvey, and they had 3 children,-William A., James B. and Alfred F. In 1852 Mr. Barney removed to Oregon with his family, where Mrs. Barney died the same year; in 1857 he returned to Pike county, where he married Cynthia H. Mays, and their S children are Andrew J., dec., John W., Henry L., Laura E., Marion, Robert A., Artilla D. and Minnie. Mr. B. is engaged in farming and stock-raising on sec. 26, this tp.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Francis M. Barney, a native of Pike county, was born May 12, 1837, and is a son of Joseph W. Barney, dec., who came to this county in 1824. His grandfather, Beniamin B. Barney, was one of the first pioneers of this county, and erected the first horse-mill in the county for grinding corn. This aged gentleman crossed the plains to California in 1849, being then in his 91st year, and ar- rived there in apparently good health, but died on ship-board while returning, in 1854. Our subject was raised on a farm and received a common-school education; in 1866 he married Miss S. A. Furry, daughter of Christopher Furry, dec. They have had 5 children, 3 of whom are living, viz :- Cora B., William R. and Edgar F. He has held the office of Town Clerk, and is at present the Police Mag- istrate for the village of Time. He served 3 years in Co. A, 20th Reg. I. V. I., as a private in the late war, and was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Siege of Vicksburg, Britton's Lane, Kene- saw Mountain, Champion Ilills, Raymond and others; he also par- ticipated in the Meridian raid, in which he came well-nigh being captured. He is a harness-maker by trade, but failing health required him to seek another vocation, and he now keeps a grocery store in Time.
Henry Benn, son of William and Sarah Benn, was born Sept. 18, 1833, in this tp. His father, dec., came to this county in 1826, being one of the first settlers of Hardin tp., and was Captain of the Home Gnards in the early days of the county's history. He was a native of Kentucky, and a farmer by occupation. He first settled on sec. 7, where he died in 1859. Mrs. Benn resides with her son David, in this tp., at the age of 74 years. Our subject was raised on a farm and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising on the old home place. April 17, 1858, he married Matilda J. Mc Clintock, danghter of Robert Mcclintock, dec., who came to this county in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Benn have 9 children, -- Charles F., Hettie M., Ida J., Evalina, William R., Lillie and Lulu (twins), Lora and John H !. In the year 1857, while chopping wood with a neighbor, Mr. Benn received a blow, by accident, upon his left hand, from the ax of the neighbor, crippling him for life.
Thomas B. Burbridge, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 29; son of Robert Burbridge, dec., a native of Kentucky, was born in Bath county, Ky., Feb. 28, 1818; came with his parents to Pike county, Mo., in 1825, where he remained until the Spring of 1840, when he removed to this county. His father followed farming until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1842. Our subject, being a pioneer, has seen many Indians, and has ridden on horseback to mill, a distance of 6 miles, where he sometimes had to wait all day and all night for his grinding, with nothing to eat but parched corn; he went 3 miles to school, which was taught by subscription, about 3 months in the year, in a log building, with split logs for seats, a log taken out of one side of the house for a window, a huge fire-place in one end of the room for heating; the writing desk corsisted of a puncheon supported by pins in the wall. Mr B.
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came to this county in 1839, where he has since resided. In 1842 he married Mary McNary, daughter of John MeNary, dec., and they had 7 children,-Cynthia, Jaly, Robert, John, James, Thomas and Harriet. Mrs. B. died in 1862, and April 12, 1866, he married Emily Hodge, who died Oct. 9, 1875. Mr. B. is surrounded by his children, who take good care of him in his old age.
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