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 57
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Frederick Strauss was born Oct. 1, 1841. in Germany, and is a son of Henry D. and Wilhelmina (Baul) Stranss. Mr. S. came to Pike county in 1857, where he has since resided. IIe has a good German and a good English education. He is engaged in farming on sec. 12, and owns 80 acres of land. His is the oldest settled place in the township, part of his land having been under cultiva- tion for over 50 years. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. B, 99th Ill. Inf., under Capt. Matthews; in 1863 was transferred to the 4th Reg. Vet. Res. Corps, in which he was a non-commissioned officer. He served three years, lacking 11 days. He was in many of the impor- tant battles of the war; was at the siege of Vicksburg, and says
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that the day after the rebels surrendered was the most lonesome day of his life. He had become so accustomed to the firing of the artillery that he was lost and lonesome without its constant roar. In 1869 he was married to Denia Hake, and they have a family of 6 children, 4 of whom are living. Both Mr. and Mrs. S. are mem- bers of the Perry Lutheran Church.
Merriman Tucker, farmer, sec. 5 ; P. O. Fish-Hook , was born in Virginia in 1819, and is the son of C. and Julia (Warren) Tucker, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia, and both of Irish ancestry. His opportunities for an early educa- tion were very limited, and most of his education was obtained af- ter he was 21 years of age. In 1842 he was married to Miss A. Reeves; 6 children have been born to bless their union. Mr. T. is a member of the M. E. Church, while she is a member of the Chris- tian Church. Their son, Coalston Tucker, during the dark days of the rebellion went to defend his country, enlisting in the 14th Reg. Ill. Inf., and served till 1865. Mr. T. is engaged in farming and has made it a business to improve a farm and then sell it. He has followed this mode until he has improved 12 farms in Pike and Brown counties. When he first came here, he tells us, he could see wolves more frequently than he can hogs at large at the pres- ent day .
John Vail, farmer, owning over 200 acres of land, was born Sept. 24, 1815, in Ohio, son of Solomon and Jane Vail; the former was born in Washington Co., Pa., and of German descent, and his mother, in Westmoreland Co., of the same State, and of Irish an- cestry. Mr. V. came to Illinois in 1842, landing at Quincy Oct. 10; he had then only $300. He embarked in farming and owns 200 acres of land and an interest in 160 more,-all in Pike county. In 1846 he was married to Helena A. Reed. Three boys and four girls were born to them. His wife, who was a member of the Christian Church, died May 4, 1868. Mr. Vail politically is a Democrat; has served as Town Clerk 3 years, and also as Supervisor, Assessor and Road Commissioner.
Leander Vail, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Perry. Leander Vail was born in Pike county, Ill., Oct. 20, 1848; he is the son of John and Helena (Reed) Vail, early pilgrims to this county. He received his education in the common schools of Pike county. He was united in marriage Jan. 23, 1879, to Mary Elledge, daughter of A. A. Elledge, and was born in this county Oct. 25, 1848. Her father was one of the early settlers of this county. Mr. Vail has served the township as Collector, and is Clerk at the present time. As a farmer he has been successful. He deals in cattle and hogs, which he buys and sells to shippers.
J. W. Walker, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., Perry ; is a native of this county and the sun of Robert and Hannah (Scott) Walker, well known in the early history of Pike county. J. W. was born Nov. 27, 1850; received his education in the common schools of this county, and began life as a farmer, now owning 160 acres of good
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land. In July, 1871, he was united in marriage with Ellen Batley, and to them have been born 3 children, one son and two daughters. Both Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Christian Church.
Richard T .. Walmsley was born in Rhode Island in 1851; his parents are Richard and Mary (Carpenter) Walmsley, his father a native of England and his mother of Rhode Island. Richard T. attended the common schools of his native State, where he received a fair education; for a time he worked in the cotton factorics of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Kentucky, and in 1868 came to Illinois with his father, with whom, in connection with another brother, he owns 180 acres of land, and they are engaged in farm- ing. His mother died Jan. 26, 1866.
Ira J. Wilson was born in New Hampshire, Jan. 7, 1831, and is a son of James and Mary Wilson, both natives of Vermont and of Irish descent. Sept. 10, 1857, he was united in marriage with Marietta Corey, a native of this 'county. Both he and his wife re- ceived a good common-school education. Mr. W. went to Oregon in 1852, in 1854 to California, two years later returned to Illinois, and in the following year was married, as stated above, and is now engaged in farming in this township. He came to Illinois in 1836 with his father, who settled in Griggsville, and in 1837 located on see. 3, this tp. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the M. E. Church.
James Woods, farmer, sec. 16; P. O., Fish Hook; is a native of Brown county, O., and was born in 1808, and is a son of Samuel and Elsie (Ritchie) Woods, the former of Irish descent and the lat- ter a native of Ireland. Mr. W. has a limited education which he received in the common schools of Ohio ; he came to Pike county in March, 1845, and engaged in farming, now owning 160 acres of land on sec. 16. He was married in 1829, to Rachel Jackson, and 6 of the 8 children born to them are living, all of whom are mar- ried. In 1879 Mr. W. had been married for half a century, and both he and his wife have been members of the M. E. Church for 50 years. She is 3 years and 4 months younger than he is.
JE li jah jeffung NEW SALEM TP
NEW SALEM TOWNSHIP.
This is a full Congressional township, and is officially known as township four south, range four west of the fourth principal meri- dian. New Salem is a prairie township, and in an agricultural point of view is an especially fine section of country. It was not set- tled as early as some of the more southern townships of the county were, but at present ranks with any in regard to improvements. It is settled with an enterprising class of people who never lag in such matters.
Although it is what we may term a prairie township it is well watered and drained. Strange to say, even in this peninsula, formed by the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, there is no well-defined water-shed. However, we find so many streams having their origin in this township and flowing in different directions, we con- clude it to be one of the highest tracts of land in the county. Bay creek, and one of its main branches, have their origin in New Salem. Also the south Fork of McGee's creek, a branch of the Middle Fork of the same creek, and another small stream which runs off into Adams county, the name of which we do not know.
The first pioneer who ventured to locate in this township was Mr. Joab Shinn, who came in 1830 and located on sec. 14 in the edge of the beautiful grove there.
The next settlement was made in the southern part of the town- ship, sec. 24, in 1831, by Isaac Conkright and his two sons. About the same time came William Scholl; also Nathan Swiggart and Samuel Griffith, who located on sec. 14, in company with Mr. Shinn. Then came William Crump, Henry Brown and others.
In 1832 the Black Hawk war occurred, and although the battle grounds were many miles distant, yet it was the cause of much ex- citement and apprehension in this county. The immediate result of this was to check immigration to this State, and for a few years few new settlers made their appearance in this section. However, after the lapse of a few seasons. when it began to be definitely un- derstood in the East and South that no further molestations were likely to occur, a new tide of immigration set toward this county never before or since equaled. This began in 1834 and continued for about five years. A system of advertising and speculation similar to that now prevailing in the country several hundreds of miles further West, brought thousands upon thousands.
Not unlike the excitement which prevailed at later periods in re-
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gard to the Western gold, silver and lead mines, was that which swept through the Eastern and Southern States in regard to Illinois lands and town lots. During the years 1835-7, more than 500 towns were laid out in Illinois, many of these in Pike county. Railroads were projected through nearly all of them, and these, with the town sites, were platted, showing depot grounds, parks and drives, and were sent with the most exaggerated descriptions to all parts of the country. The State Goverment caught the epidemic, and bills for railroads, canals, and other internal improvements were passed, corresponding in magnitude with the universal expectancy of the people. In 1837 a financial crisis came and found this State but ill-prepared for the shock. As a consequence, the numerous rail- roads, canals and paper cities vanished in thin air. For a number of years after this, improvements and immigration was at a stand . still. Of course this part of the country, having no extra inducements to offer, partook of the general stagnation, and for a score of years no remarkable advance was made either in population or improve- ment. Occasionally a new arrival was announced. A relation or friend writing to the old home in the East or South, would induce some one to come out to see the country, and perhaps work a year, and once here, he would likely stay. As in other parts of the State, the first settlers located in or near the timber, and there we find the first improvements. Ere many years, however, some of the more enterprising pushed out upon the fertile prairies. They discovered that farms much more profitable could be made, much easier and quicker than in the timber.
The first person who met death in this township was Mr. Car- rington, who died in 1834. The first sermon preached was by Rev. Samuel Oglesby, a Methodist minister. This sermon was delivered at the funeral of Sarah Tedrow.
The first school-house in New Salem was built in 1834. The building stood on sec. 15 and for several years was used for re- ligious purposes. The first church was built in the village of New Salem in 1844, by the Methodist brethren. The first steam-mill was built in 1856-7, by Cooper Temple, near the village of New Salem.
The Wabash Railroad passes through the township, entering from the east about the middle of sec. 24, running on a direct westerly line until the town of New Salem is reached, when it strikes a west northwest course to Pineville.
There are two pleasant little country villages in this township, both of which are on the line of the Wabash Railroad, and in the midst of a fine farming community. The older, New Salem, was laid out Dec. 22, 1847, by William F. Hooper and Jacob Shinn. It is located on secs. 22 and 15. The original town was further north than the main portion of the present village is. Pineville, which is located on the southwest quarter of sec. 7, was laid out by William Pine, jr., Oct. 26, 1869. The name has since been changed to Baylis, that being the name of the postoffice.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
NEW SALEM UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The Universalist Church in New Salem owes its existence prin- cipally to the earnest efforts of Daniel Fisher and David Preble (two laymen whose wives were sisters), and a few zealous friends who aided their efforts.
They were among the early settlers of the town, and are grate- fully remembered for what they were, and what they did to benefit society, for they have both gone to their final rest.
Their dwelling-houses were open for religious worship in the early days when church accommodations were wanting, and the ministers of other forms of faith besides their own held services in them.
Among the early advocates of Universalism who preached in New Salem and vicinity, were Revs. Abel Chandler, William Gam- age, E. Manford and Father Wolf. The last mentioned was a Dunkard or German Baptist, who believed in the final salvation of all souls. The first seeds of the Universalist faith were sown principally by these men. Mr. Gamage was the first Uni- versalist minister who had continuous appointments in the vicinity of New Salem. He probably preached in Mr. Fisher's house in 1849, and held services once a month for some two or three years. He resided a part of the time in Naples, and a part of the time in Barry, and depended principally upon school-teaching for his sup- port.
The soil here was favorable to the growth of the Universalist faith, as is shown by the eagerness of the people to obtain that kind of religions reading. For when the Universalist State Missionary, Rev. W. E. Reily, visited New Salem, in the month of August, 1851, to preach on Sunday, but was prevented from holding re- ligious services by a heavy rain storm that prevailed at the time, he sold twelve dollars worth of Universalist books.
When school-houses were built, and religious services were held in them, the appointment for a Universalist meeting sometimes created bitter opposition, and to avoid this, Messrs. Fisher and Preble concluded to make the attempt to build a church edifice, though the friends were neither numerous nor wealthy. They said we will get what help we can, and what is lacking we will pay ourselves. Mr. Fisher bought the land on which the church stands, and after- ward deeded to the society, and the present church building, valued at $2,500, was completed and dedicated the 17th of Decem- ber. 1854.
Rev. D. R. Biddlecome had been engaged to preach every other Sabbath, a short time before the dedication of the church, and he preached the dedication sermon. He continued his labors for two years and a half, and organized a Church August 5, 1855. A part of this time he occupied three-fourths of his time in New Salem, though he resided at Griggsville.
In the spring of 1857, Rev. A. M. Worden was engaged as Pas-
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
tor, and continued his pastorate for six years, preaching one-half of the time in New Salem, and the other half in Barry; except the last year, when he preached all the time in New Salem. He resided all the time, except the last year, in Barry. The Sunday School was commenced during his pastorate in the summer of 1862.
Rev. William Gamage was engaged to teach the village school, in the fall of 1866, and was employed to preach every other Sunday in New Salem for two years.
During the years 1872-3and, 75, Rev. John Hughes preached one Sabbath a month here. The Church was re-organized during his ministry. He never resided in the parish, but usually came on Saturday and left on Monday, and of course had not much oppor- tunity to do parish work, though he had large congregations. The strength of the parish at that time was 20 families, 30 church mem- bers, and a Sunday-school of 81 scholars and teachers.
Rev. T. H. Tabor supplied for the parish one Sunday in a month for six months during the summer of 1876. In the month of De- cember, 1878, he returned to New Salem, held services every eve- ning for a week, and the Sabbath previous and the Sabbath after these week meetings. During these meetings 27 new members united with the Church.
Mr. Tabor was engaged to preach for the parish one-half of the time in March, 1879, and is now the resident Pastor. The reported strength of the parish at the commencement of the year 1880 was 58
BIOGRAPHIES.
We give in connection with the above sketch brief biographies of the old settlers and prominent persons of the township. They will be found to form an interesting feature of this volume.
J. R. Allen; P. O., Baylis; was born in this county in 1850 ; his parents, J. M. and Mary Allen, were natives of Kentucky, and came here in an early day and settled on the farin where J. R. now resides. In 1867 he married Mahala A. Houston, who was born in Adams county, this State, in 1848, and they had 7 children, namely, Wil- liam D., Charles T., Andy M., Leva (deceased), J. L., Jeff. R. and Mary M. Mr. Allen has followed carpentering and farming; owns 90 acres of land. He had one brother, who lost his life in the late war; was first wounded near Helena, Ark., and died at Cape Gir- ardean.
John Andrews, dealer in general merchandise, New Salem, is a native of England, where he was born Feb. 6, 1840; he came to the United States in 1854, and two years later came to this county, and in 1861 embarked in the mercantile business at New Salem. In 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss M. A. Temple; she was born in St. Louis in 1842, and died in 1865. In 1868 Mr. A. was married to Miss H. L. Fisher, a native of Ohio. To them have been born 5 children: Charles, Harry, Maud, Alice and John. Mr. A. has held the office of Postmaster, at New Salem, since 1865. He is a prominent member of the Universalist Church.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
John Carnes, deceased, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Carnes, natives of Maryland, was born in 1812; at the age of 14 he moved to Ohio, and in 1858 married Michel Hardin, who was born in Harrison county, O., in 1814, and they had one child. He came to this State about 35 years ago, and located in this tp., where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1867. Mrs. Carnes carried on the farm until her son John was old enough to attend to it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carnes were inembers of the United Brethren Church. P. O., New Salem.
Solomon G. Chaney, farmer, sec. 16; P. O., New Salem; was born in 1843, son of Elijah and Mary Chaney, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of England, who came to this county in 1835, and remained until their death. Solomon was married in 1866 to Emma Eddingfield, who was born in 1843 in Lancaster, O., and they had 7 children,-Emma E., Hiram E., Maude E., Alcyone A., Hermon G., Rosa C. and Mary L .; Maude is dead. Mr. C. enlisted in the late war in 1861, in Co. I, 33d Reg. Ill. Inf .; was in the battle at Fredericktown, Mo., campaign in Arkansas, then through Missouri, was in the siege of Vicksburg, at New Orleans, then on the Texas coast, then Mobile, Ala. He was mustered out Dec. 10, 1865, at Camp Butler, this State, and has since followed farming; owns 40 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney are members of the Universalist Church. Mr. C. is also a Free Mason.
Joseph E. Chaney, farmer, was born in 1833, in Washington, D. C., and is a son of Elijah and Mary C. Chaney, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of England, who came to America in 1820. At the age of 12 years Joseph E. went to England, and re- turned in 18 months, and has since been a resident of New Salem. He is a farmer and resides on sec. 20; owns 160 acres of land, and it is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Uni- versalist Church.
A. B. Cobb, physician; P. O., New Salem; was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1830, and is a son of Philanthropy and Harriet Cobb, of English descent, his father a native of New York and mother of Massachusetts. At the age of 13 he came with his parents to this county and located in Perry, where he learned the harness and sad- dler's trade, which he followed for 6 years; then read medicine under Dr. Carey 3 years, and in 1856-7 attended the Missouri Medical College; then commenced practice in Hadley tp., and remained there 12 years. Was Postmaster 4 years, and also School Director. In 1853 he married Miss Emma J. Shields, who was born in 1836, in Fulton county, Ill., and died Feb. 8, 1868, in Hadley tp. They had 5 children, 4 of whom are living. In 1870 Dr. Cobb married Laura Huntley, born in 1835, and a native of Pennsylvania. They have one child, and are members of the Presbyterian Church.
A. W. Cochran, sec. 4; P. O., New Salem; was born in Bel- mont county, Ohio, in 1815; his father, James, a native of Ireland, was in the war of the Revolution, and present at St. Clair's defeat. His mother, Elizabeth, was a native of Germany. Our subject
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came to this county in 1865. In 1851 he married Miss Rebecca Cornwell, born in 1825, and they had 10 children; only 5 of these are living. Mr. C. has followed butchering, and of late, farming and trading on the Mississippi river. He has held the office of School Director for the remarkably long period of 44 years, and in Ohio was School Treasurer. During the war he supported 13 families while the husbands and fathers served in the field. Mr. Cochran had an exciting experience in Ohio during the war, which we relate. While he was eleetioneering for McClellan, a man who was both preacher and doctor, accompanied by S soldiers, came to Mr. C. and threatened to hang him; but when the soldiers learned that Mr. C. was supporting 13 soldiers' families they released him and were about to hang the reverend doctor, when they were dis- snaded by the kindly feeling of Mr. Cochran.
John D. Combs was born in' 1792 in France, and was the son of John D. and Mary A. Combs, who were also natives of France; the family emigrated to New Castile in Portugal, when he was young; at the time of Bonaparte's defeat at this place, Jolm D. fled to seek shelter from the shot and shell of the British army; he got lost from his mother and, supposing she had been killed, wandered around in search of his father, he being on Bonaparte's staff, but found him dead. Onr subject was now left without parents, brother or sister, and he knew not what to do; a Jewish peddler proved to be a good Samaritan to him, taking him in charge, feeding him and conveying him to Lisbon; here the orphan wan- dered about the city, sleeping out of doors and in abandoned re- treats for 3 or 4 weeks, and getting nothing to eat except what he could pick up from the back doors of hotels and boarding-houses. Here again a good Samaritan appeared in the person of an Ameri- can sea captain, and took him aboard of his ship and cared for him until his (the captain's) death. The captain's wife then became his guardian and bound him out to the boot and shoemaker's trade; after 43 years' stay he ran away from his master and enlisted in the U. S. service for 5 years under Scott's command at Baltimore, thence to New Orleans and up the Mississippi river, stopping at Baton Rouge, St. Louis and Council Bluffs. This expedition was for the purpose of making treaties with the Indians in Nebraska and as far north as the Yellowstone. After 5 years' service he was mustered out at Omaha, Neb., and went to New Orleans for his pay ; then returned to this State, then a territory, and located at Alton, where he was first married. After working at his trade for several years, he commenced selling goods on the Illinois river, at Perry, and also at New Salem. IIe is at present living a retired life at the age of SS years. He has been 3 times married, but is now a widower; is unusually spry and active for one of his age, and challenges any man in the county for a half-mile race. P. O., New Salem.
J. S. Conkright, sec. 26; P. O., New Salem; was born in this county in 1836; his parents, Isaac and Elizabeth Conkright, were
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
natives of Kentucky. Ile owns 160 acres of good land. In 1863 he was married to Harriet L. Bean, of this county, who was born in 1847; they have 2 children, John W. and Harris. They are members of the Universalist Church.
William Crump, farmer, sec. 24; P. O., New Salem; was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1815; his parents, Stephen and Nancy Crump, were natives of Virginia. From 1828 to 1835 the family lived in Virginia. Our subject came to this State in the spring of 1835 and settled in Quincy; while there he manufactured wagons. In 1837 he moved to this county, and in 1838 he married Miss Margaret Hooper, who was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1821, and they had 8 children,-Joseph, John, George W .. Nathan, Mary E., Thomas H., Harriet E. and Jennie A .; the second and fifth are dead. Mr. Crump has followed farming, principally, since settling in this county. When he came here the settlement was very thin, there being but one family between his farm and Griggsville; the nearest mill was 8 miles away. Mr. and Mrs. C. are Methodists.
M. S. Darrah, sec. 15; P. O., New Salen; was born in this county in 1839, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Darrah; his father was a native of Ohio, and his mother of Pennsylvania. Except 10 years in Champaign County, this State, the subject of this sketch has always resided in this county. His occupation is that of a farmer, and he owns 120 acres, his residence being on sec. 15. Oct. 25, 1865, he married Maggie M. Hooper, who is also a native of this county, and they have 5 children,-Gertie, deceased; Gracie, de- ceased; Franklin, Freddic, Mary G. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. D. served 3 months in the war, in the regimental band, and was discharged on account of bleeding at the lungs.
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