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 56
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Lewis H. Baldwin was born in Connecticut in 1812; is the son of John and Sarah Ann (Hawkins) Baldwin, the former a native of Connecticut, and of English descent. In early life Mr. B. worked at blacksmithing, but is now a farmer. He came to this county in 1835, and in 1836 married Maria Jane Elledge. After his marriage he worked out for $8 per month, but he now owns 500 acres of good land in Pike county, and he and his son own about the same amount in Missouri, and one acre within 'the corporation of Perry. He used to be an old-line Whig, but is now a Republican; has been School Director 25 years, and School Trustee. These are the only offices that he would accept. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have 4 chil- dren. Mrs. B. is a Baptist.
Philip S. Brower, farmer, sec. 14; P. O. Perry; was born in Madison county, N. Y., April 27, 1832; came to this county with his parents in 1842; his father, John Brower, was a native of New York, and his mother, Delight (Smith) Brower, also a native of New York. June 3, 1854. Mr. B. married Amanda Carolines, and they have had 5 children, 3 of whom are living, Malcolm C., Elm- wood and Alpheus. In 1852 he took a trip to California and was absent 2 years. He owns 306 acres of land. His wife is a Meth- odist.
William Cory, farmer, was born in the State of New York, Feb. 20, 1820; he is the son of William and Rachel (Tombs) Cory,
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natives of New Jersey, the former of Irish, and the latter of Scotch descent; at the age of 1S he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked 10 years, since which time he has fol- lowed farming. In the fall of 1837 he visited Illinois to see the country, and in 1841 he settled in this tp., on sec. 10, where he has lived ever since. March 31, 1844, he married Nancy Jane Wilson, a native of New Hampshire, and of their 10 children, 9 are living,- 5 boys and 4 girls; one girl deceased. Mr. Cory and his wife are members of the M. E. Church; he is a Democrat, and has been Assessor, Township Treasurer, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, Township Clerk, School Director, and Secretary of his Church. P. O., Fish Hook.
Joseph E. Coss, farmer, brother of Theodore S. Coss, was born in Ross county, O., in 1846 ;. besides the common school he at- tended also the commercial College at Quincy. In 1870 he mar- ried Sarah Allen, and of their 4 children 2 are living,-Effie Am- marana and Orien Forest. Both himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a Democrat, and has been Town Clerk. Six months he kept store at Fish Hook. October 22, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 28th Ill. Inf., under Capt. H. D. Hadsell, and was discharged Oct. 21, 1865. He was in the battles at Spanish Fort, and fort Blakely, where he was under fire 18 days, and other battles, skirmishes, etc. Was shipwrecked on the "George Pea- body " when there was a storm for 36 hours; 120 horses were thrown overboard . and 10 men were lost. Resides on sec. 28. P. O. Fish Hook.
Taylor M. Coss, farmer, sec. 29; P. O. Baylis; son of Edward and Annie Coss, natives of Ohio, was born in Ross county, O., in 1836; came to this county in 1854, and in 1860 was married to Miss Emina Phillips, born in this county in 1840; they have had 6 children, 4 of whom are living,-Florence B., William T., Ida M. and Ada E. Mr. C. has held the office of Supervisor, Collector, School Trustee, and School Director for many years. He owns 420 acres of excellent land, has been engaged in buying hogs for other parties, and raises considerable stock on his own farm. He had 1,500 bushels of wheat to market this season. Mr. and Mrs. C. and, their eldest daughter are members of the United Brethren Church at Woodland.
Theodore S. Coss was born in 1840 in Ross county, O., and. is the son of Edward and Anna (Moore) Coss, natives of the same State, the father of German, and the mother of English descent; in 1871 he married Belle Manns, a native of Kentucky, and they have one child, Cora May, born in February, 1872. During the war Mr. Coss enlisted in Co. G, 3d. Ill. Cav., under Capt. J. B. Moore, Aug. 6, 1861; was discharged April 10, 1863; was in the battle of Pea Ridge; was under Gen. Curtis when he drove Price from Spring- field to the Boston Mountains, and was in several other engage- ments. Residence, sec. 20; P. O. Fish Hook.
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George I. K. Crawford was born in this county in 1859, and is the son of J. G. and Rhoda (Melear) Crawford; his father, who still owns land here, has been a resident of this township for 30 years. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools here. In 1879 he married Lillie Cory, and they have a child, born Nov. 21, 1879, whose name is Clarence Cory. By occupation Mr. Crawford is a farmer. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and in poli- tics a Republican. His wife is a Methodist.
Samuel M. Crawford was born in this county July 29, 1856, educated in the common school, and Illinois College at Jackson- ville, and at the Gem City Commercial College at Quincy; by oc- cupation Mr. C. is a teacher; lived on the farm with his father until of age; he is not a member of any Church, and is a Repub- lican.
W. D. C. Doan, M. D., was born in Ohio April 16, 1828, being the son of William and Susanna (Bennett) Doan, from the Eastern States, his father a physician. The subject of this paragraph began the study of medicine at the age of 18, with his father, who died' two years afterward; he then finished reading with his uncle, Dr. Elijah Bennett, in Clermont county, O .; at 22 he commenced practice in this tp. He first came to Pike county in 1848, in 1850 to this tp., where he has since lived. In 1851 he married Rachel Hobbs, and of their 4 children but one is living, Rachel Effie, and they have one grandchild living with them, Mary E. Doan Crawford. The Doctor owns 215 acres of land. Resides on sec. 10. He is one of the oldest practitioners of the county .. In politics he is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. His postoffice is Perry.
Levi Gardner was born in Adams county, Pa., Dec. 17, 1810, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Seybold), of German de- scent, who were in good circumstances and followed farm life. Levi obtained a fair education in the subscription schools of his native State. Came to Illinois in 1836, and has resided here most of the time since; he could ride all over this county when he first came, he tells us, without seeing scarcely any improvements; his father- in-law, who was one of the pioneers of this county, killed 7 bears in Fairmount tp., in one day. In 1837 he married Matilda Neal, by whom he had 8 children, 5 of whom are living,-one son and four danghters. By occupation Mr. Gardner is a tanner and cur- rier; he had a tannery in this county 5 or 6 years, but since 1850 he has been farming. Lives now on sec. 5. In politics Mr. G. is a Republican, and both himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. In 1862 Mr. Gardner enlisted in the 99th regi- ment as a musician (a fifer); was in the battle at Magnolia, Miss., Champion Hills and Black River; he was discharged before the close of the year, that is, at the close of the siege of Vicksburg, where he was present.
John Henthorn, farmer, sec. 17; was born in England, April 20, 1820, of English parents; learned weaving by the hand-loom;
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emigrated to America in 1844, stopping in New York State, and in 1850 came to Adams county, Ill., and in 1852 to Pike county; for two years while in New York State he superintended a factory, where 62 looms were run. He now owns 360 acres of land, in good cultivation, and well stocked. In 1842 he married Bettie Holt, and of their 8 children 7 are living. Mr. Henthorn has been School Director several terms, and is a Democrat.
John D. Henthorn was born in this county, July 21, 1857, and is the son of John and Betsey (Holt) Henthorn, natives of Eng- land; received his education in the common schools of this county; by occupation he is a farmer, and his residence is on sec. 9. He has four brothers and two sisters living, and one sister dead.
Thomas Hull, residence sec. 29; P. O. Fish-Hook; is the son of Samuel and Sophia Hull, and was born in Ohio in 1830; received his education mostly in the common schools of his native State. In 1850 he married Elizabeth Bowman, who was born in 1830 in this county, and they have S children living. Mr. Hull is a farm- er, and has been a resident of this county sinee 1845. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He has been Justice of the Peace 10 or 11 years, Road Commissioner, Collector, School Director, Class-Leader and Sunday-school Superintendent. Ile is an indus- trious man, and has earned all he ever possessed.
Israel Kirgan. This gentleman's father, Thomas Kirgan, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and when a babe he was brought by his parents, Daniel and Mary Kirgan, to America, nearly 100 years ago. He was a tanner by trade, but followed farm- ing and milling after his arrival in this county. He died March 30, 1877, in his 90th year, in Perry, this county, where he had lived many years. His 5 children still own the home farm, which consists of 280 acres, 23 miles southwest of Perry. Mrs. Mary (Fred) Kirgan, his mother, was a native of Virginia. Israel, the subject of this biography, was born Aug. 12, 1815, in Clermont county, O. He first learned the tanner's trade, but when his father broke up he emigrated to this county, in 1835, settling on Fish- Hook creek, N. W. 4 sec. 2, at which time he had only six " bits " in his pocket, one horse and a yoke of cattle, and was $40 in debt. From this start Mr. K. has become one of the most substantial and leading farmers in Fairmount township, now being the owner of 240 acres of land. About the first work he did was to split 9,600 rails, at six " bits " a hundred. Coming to this county as early as 1835, he has seen this country in its primitive state, with the wild animals roving over it in large numbers. One day he saw 65 deer in one grove. There were but five houses then on the south prai- rie, namely, Alfred Bissell, sec. 2; Mr. O'Neil, sec. 16; Mr. Mc- Gee, sec. 16; James Seybold, sec. 16; and Ebenezer Franklin, sec. 12 ;- all of whom resided in log houses. Israel's father's family used the first cooking-stove brought to this prairie.
The subject of this notice, in 1834, married for his first wife
36
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Miss Margaret Jane Kennedy, a native of Ohio, who died in 1845, leaving a family of 5 children, namely, William, Benjamin, Mary, John and an infant: of these, .William and John are all that are living now. March 3, 1855, Mr. K. married Sarah Jane Houston, and by her he had 9 children, of whom 8 are living: David L., Clinton D., Eben, Chapman, George B., Ira, Israel F. and Harvey D. In politics Mr. Kirgan is a Democrat, and in religion is still a believer in Christianity ; used to be a member of the M. E. Church.
David Kurfman, farmer, sec. 7; P. O. Fish Hook; was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 29, 1815, and is a son of Daniel and Susannah (Barnett) Kurfman, natives of Maryland, and of German descent. David received his education in the schools of his native State; when he first started to school he could scarcely speak English. He was married the first time in 1837 to Hannah Deeter, and they were the parents of two girls, both of whom are married. His sec- ond marriage was with Nancy Bagby, in 1851; of this union 6 children were born,-4 boys and 2 girls. Both Mr. and Mrs. K. are connected with the Baptist Church. Mr. K. came from Penn- sylvania to Pike county in 1850, and settled in Pittsfield township; in 7 years thereafter removed to Fairmount.
George Lake, farmer, sec. 10; P. O. Fish Hook. Mr. Lake was born in Fairmount, Pike Co., Ill., July 12, 1854, and is a son of Harvey and Elizabeth (Lee) Lake, the former a native of New York, and his mother of one of the Eastern States. He attended the common schools of this county, and received a fair education. In 1874 he was united in marriage with Nancy Groves. Jesse, their only child, was born in 1876.
John Lake was born in this township in 1853, and is the son of Harvey and Elizabeth Lake. He attended the common schools of this county, receiving a good common-school education. He is now engaged in farming on sec. 10. His postoffice address is Perry. Jan. 19, 1871, he was joined in the holy bonds of matri- mony with Mary Olive Seybold, a native of Minnesota. She is a member of the Christian Church. Harvey Lake, the father of our subject, was one of the early settlers of Pike county.
Wm. H. Love was born Jan. 15, 1821, in New Jersey, the son of Samuel and Lydia (Morgan) Love; his father was a native of Ire- land, and his mother of New York State. He was brought to Ill- inois in 1828 and to Pike county in 1833, and the family settled one mile west of Perry, on the farm at present owned by Esquire Morton. In April, 1846, he moved upon the farm where he now lives, owning 287 acres. He was married March 30, 1843, to Miss Harriet E. Bentley. To them have been born 9 children, 7 of whom are living,-6 boys and 1 girl. Mrs. Love is the daughter of Gideon Bentley, an early and prominent settler of Pike county. Both Mr. and Mrs. L. are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a Deacon. Mr. L. has been a farmer all his life, in which business he has been successful, although in the early days he suffered many hardships. His family started from New York
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in a skiff, which they would run over all the dams that were on their route, and they encountered eight or ten of them, and the women would get out of the boat and walk down past the dam. The first morning after their arrival in Fairmount tp. their nearest neighbor sent over after two ears of corn, the boy, who was bare- foot (and there was snow on the ground) stating that " they wanted it for breakfast !" Mr. L. also states that he called upon one of the neighbors one morning and found them partaking of their break- fast on parched corn and "sycamore tea !"" All the table furniture they had was one plate, one knife and one fork. Mr. Love, when he first came, used oxen to plow with (using a wooden mold-board plow), and used a harrow with wooden teeth.
Lemuel Martin, farmer, sec. 11; P. O. Perry. The subject of this personal sketch was born Jan. 21, 1854; his parents are Samuel and Amanda (Rounds) Martin; he was the eldest son of a family of 10 children. There were two daughters, however, older than he. Mr. M. was united in marriage with Mary G. Glines, and they have two children, one boy and one girl. Bothı Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Christian Church in Perry. Politically he is a Democrat.
S. F. Martin was born in Kentucky, March 4, 1822; he is the son of Nehemiah and Drusilla (Cottrell) Martin, natives of Virginia and of German ancestry. His mother died when he was only two years old. In 1849 he came to this county and settled in Fairmount tp. In 1850 he was united in marriage with Amanda Rounds, and the union has been blessed with 10 children,-6 boys and 4 girls, 8 of whom are living. His wife died Nov. 22, 1879. She was a mem- ber of the Christian Church. Mr. M. is a Democrat in politics, and has served as School Director, School Trustee, Road Commis- sioner and Overseer of the Poor. He owns a farm of 160 acres on sec. S.
A. G. Mason, farmer, sec. 15; P. O. Fish-Hook ; is a native of Vermont, where he was born Aug. 19, 1811 ; he was the son of Carlo and Lydia Mason. His father was a carpenter. They came to Pike county from Kentucky in 1862. A. G. was married to Betsy C. Mason in 1834; this union has been blessed with a family of three children, all sons, and two of whom are married. Their names are A. H., Wm. and R. H. The latter enlisted in Co. F, 51st Wisconsin Infantry, and served for three months. Mrs. Mason died May 2, 1879.
R. B. Mclaughlin, farmer, sec. 22 ; P. O. Perry; was born in Ohio, June 15, 1827, and is a son of William and Anna (Boggess) MeLaughlin, the former a native of Virginia and of Irish descent, and the mother a native of Ohio and of English-German ancestry. His only opportunity for an education was in the common schools of Pike county in early day, where he was brought in 1837. In 1848 he was married to Sarah Flannagan. Three of their 7 chil- dren are living. He has held all the township offices, with the exception of that of Assessor. He and his wife are members of the
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M. E. Church, of which he has been Steward. He has been en- gaged in farming all his life, in which he has great success. At present he buys and feeds considerable stock.
William McLaughlin is a native of the old Dominion State, and was born Dec. 2, 1802. His father, James McLanghlin, was a native of Ireland, and his mother, Sarah Mclaughlin, nee Cole, was born in New Jersey. William was married in 1823 to Ana Boggess, a native of Ohio, where she was born in 1806, who bore him 12 children, 6 of whom are living. Four of the sons are mar- ried, and living in Fairmount township. His wife and all his children, except one, are members of the M. E. Church. Farming has been his life occupation, and he at present owns 575 acres of land in Pike county. When he arrived at Griggsville Landing, in this county, in 1836, he owned but one horse, $25 in money, and a very limited amount of household furniture, and had a family of wife and 5 children. From this meager position he has become one of the wealthiest men in the county, accumulating by close attention to business, hard labor and perseverance. He has seen the country change from its wild state to a fertile field of plenty. When he first settled here he thought he would always have plenty of ontside range. He has held about all the township offices, and has been Steward, Class-Leader and Trustee of his church, and has been licensed as an Exhorter.
A. A. Oyle, farmer, sec. 6; P. O. Fish-Hook; is a son of James and. Martha Ogle, both natives of St. Clair county, Ill., and was born in Adams county in 1855. He attended the common schools of that county, where he received a fair education. In 1874 he took unto himself a wife in the person of Sarah Elizabeth Bowman, who has borne him two children, both girls.
John M. Parker.was born in this county in 1846, the son of John and Lydia Parker, natives of New England; married Sarah J. Whitten in 1862, who was born in Ohio in 1845, and they have had 7 children, one dec. Mr. P. has followed threshing and farin- ing, and has been moderately successful. His residence is on sec. 27, Fairmount tp. P. O., Perry.
James A. Phillips was born in the State of Kentucky, Jan. 10, 1828, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Jackson) Phillips, the lat- ter a native of Kentucky, and of Irish ancestry, the former of Scottish descent, and a native of Maryland. He was married in 1850 to Mary Wheeler, and the union has been blessed with 6 children, all of whom are living. James A. learned the trade of shoemaking, but never followed the business a great deal. For the 7 years subsequent to his marriage he worked out by the month: then bought a farm in this county, whither he had come in 1858, locating in this township, where he has since resided. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and has served as Stew- ard, Class-Leader, Trustee, and Sunday-school Superintendent.
Richard Razy was born in Tennessee, Sept 12, 1815; his father's name was Rufus Razy, who was born in New York; his mother
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
was Mary Bigelow, also a native of the Empire State. Mr. R. emigrated to Pike county in 1852, locating in Perry. He never attended school but five days in his life, yet he is able to read. His mother died when he was but three daysold. At present he is en- gaged in farming. He was married in 1836 in Watertown, Wash- ington Co., O., to Harriet Mason. Eight children were born of this union, 4 boys and 4 girls. Two of the former are deceased. Mrs. R. was born in Castleton, N. Y., July 10, 1815; she was the daughter of Carlo Mason, who died in the town of Perry in 1855. They had two sons in the Rebellion, both in the 99th Illinois In- fantry; Nathan, who was in Co. F, was killed in the first charge of Vicksburg ; and James B., who was in Co. B., died of sickness. Among other Pike county boys of Co. F of this regiment who were killed in the first charge at Vicksburg, were Capt. Smith, Albert Orr, Andrew Scranton, John Elder and R. Lee.
Charles Read is a native of England, and was born in 1831; in 1836 he was brought to America by his parents, Robert and Susan (Callow) Read. He received his education in the common schools of this county, whither he was brought in 1837. He was married in 1857, to Mary Brown, a native of Ohio. The result of this union has been 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. Mr. M. is engaged in farm- ing, and owns 280 acres of good land. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Silas Reed, farmer, sec. 25; P. O. Perry ; was born in Ohio, Oct. 1, 1831, and is the son of William Reed, who had married a Miss Clark, of Pennsylvania. He received a good education, besides having attended the common schools. He entered an academy, now called Clermont College, and also attended the graded schools of Clermont county. He was married in . 1861 to Rebecca, daughter of Lewis Baldwin, who was born Jan. 26, 1842, in Pike county. They have a family of 5 children. Mr. R. came to Pike county with his parents in 1859, and was engaged as school-teacher and book-keeper for some time, but is now engaged in farming.
Henry Robinson, farmer, sec. 22; P. O. Perry; is a son of James N. and Mary Allen (Cohenour) Robinson, and was born in Brown county, Ill., May 5, 1850; his father lived in this connty 35 years ago, but at present he is living in Brown county, and has been very successful financially. Henry received his education in the com- mon schools of Brown county, and since 1876 has been engaged in farming in this township. In 1877 he was married to Olive Poe. Their only son is James Herbert, who was born Ang. 5, 1878. Mrs. R. is a member of the M. E. Church.
Jerome W. Rush, farmer and stock-dealer, sec. 22; P. O. Perry. Mr. R. was born in Ross county, O., in 1827, and is a son of John W. and Sarah (Brown) Rush, the former a native of Virginia, and of German descent, the latter of Maryland, and of English descent. He attended schools in the log school-houses of this county, and the Mt. Sterling high school for two terms. In 1852, Oct. 12, he was married to Nancy C. Yates, and of the 5 children which have
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blessed their union, all are living. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. He came to Pike county in 1837, and located on sec. 36. He is now engaged as stock-raiser and stock dealer, and owns 400 acres of land, all but 80 acres of which is prairie. He keeps a deer park, in which he at times has as many as 20 deer.
Jasper Seybold. By occupation Mr. S. is a farmer, and owns 255 acres of land in this county. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Mary E. Stauffer, who has borne him 9 children, 4 boys and 5 girls, all of whom are living. Jasper Seybold was born in Madison county, Ill., June 26, 1833, and is a son of James and Olive (Gas- kill) Seybold. His father was born in Illinois, and his mother in New York. He received his education mostly in log school- houses. He was brought from Madison county to Pike county in 1836, and has ever since resided in the county. He has served as Township Collector and as School Director for 20 years.
Ira W. Stevenson was born in Pike county Oct. 9, 1853, and is a son of John and Mary Ann ( Wilson) Stevenson; the former was a well-known pioneer of this county, and died Feb. 1, 1880. He was a successful farmer, and owned 580 acres of land when he died. Ira W. received his education in the common schools, and, besides farming, he deals in stock. In March, 1874, he was united in marriage with Jennie Glines; only one of the two children born to them are living, Nellie May, who was born in 1877.
August Strauss, farmer, sec. 1; P. O., Perry. This gentleman was born in Germany, Ang. 11, 1840; he was landed in New York in 1857, and came to Pike county in 1858, where he has since re- sided, with the exception of three years spent in the army. He learned the trade of blacksmith in the old country, but since 1858 has been engaged in farming. Ang. 9, 1862, he enlisted in Co. B, 99th Ill. Inft., and remained in the service until the close of the war; he was in every battle that his regiment was in, and in all the marches, always being willing and ready for duty. He never received a wound. He was in the charge on Vicksburg and aided in carrying the Colonel off the field when he was wounded. Mr. S. was married Jan. 2, 1868, to Sarah Harter, and both of them are members of the Lutheran Church, of Perry, of which he is a Trustee. He is engaged in farming, and owns 80 acres of land.
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