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 72
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Frederick Troutwine, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Eldara; was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, July 15, 1829; came to America in 1841 and settled in Clinton county, Ohio; lived there until 1852, and then removed to Pike county, Ill .; was married in March, 1855, to Julia Ann Moyer, who was born in Orange county, Indiana. Their 3 children are: John H., born March 28, 1856; Solomon J., born Feb. 11, 1860; Albert M., born March 6, 1864. Mr. T. owns 240 acres of land. He is a Douglas Democrat. He and wife are Methodists.
Moses Wagoner was born in the city of St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 22, 1815; came to Pike county, Ill., in 1849; April 7, 1855, was mar- ried to Martha J. Duland, and they have one child, William Henry, born Ang. 14, 1853. "Mr. Wagoner is the owner of 110 acres of land, worth $50 per acre, which he desires to sell, owing to ill health. It is an extra good wheat farm; Mr. W. cnt and harvested from 26 acres 800 bushels of wheat, and raised 80 bushels of corn to the acre, in the year 1879. There is situated upon the farm an elegant two-story frame dwelling; good barn, stables and other buildings, stock, wells and springs. In politics, a Republican. P. O., Barry.
Job S. Ware, harness-maker, Eldara; was born in the city of Philadelphia, Aug. 28, 1830; came to this county in 1838; learned his trade at Barry; was married Oct. 10, 1852, to Sarah Robertson; they are both members of the M. E. Church. Their living chil- dren are: Ida Belle, Lillie G., William I., Gertrude, Harry and Charles. His grandfather, John Hnghs, was in the war of 1812. He is a Democrat.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
James H. Wassell, farmer, sec. 33; is a native of Derry tp., born March 4, 1854; was raised on a farm and had limited advantages for education. His father, Robert Wassell, died when the subject of this sketch was but 3 years of age. Nov. 7, 1876, he married May Tipler, and they have had one child, Anna, born Oct. 18, 1877. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Eldara. Disposes of his produce at home market. P. O., Eldara.
Isaac N. Williams, farmer, sec. 31; was born June 12, 1851; was raised a farmer; Jan. 13, 1876, was married to Eliza Ann Moore of this county, and they have 2 children, James Henry and Stephen R. Mr. W. has had good educational advantages, and in politics is a Democrat. P. O., Eldara.
Stephen R. Williams. The first of this man's ancestors who settled in America came from Wales previous to the Revolution, and settled in Maryland; his name was Edward Williams, and he served under Washington in the war, at the close of which he re- moved to Ohio county, Kentucky, a section of country then per- fectly wild, savage Indians and ferocious beasts holding almost com- plete sway. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in that county, leaving 8 children, one of whom, Stephen, was the grand- father of the subject of this biographical notice. He was a Baptist minister for over 50 years, preaching in Kentucky, Illinois and Iowa. He died in Jefferson county about 1868, leaving also a family of 8 children, the eldest of whom, Isaac, was the father of Stephen R. He was born in Kentucky in 1800, and in January, 1819, married Sarah Coleman, a daughter of Henry Coleman, of Ohio county, Ky., whose father was a German and an early settler of Kentucky. Of this marriage were 13 children, of whom 9 are living, the eldest of whom is Stephen R., who was born Nov. 12, 1820, in Ohio county, Ky. His early life was passed on his father's farm in White county, Ill., whither his father had moved when his son was but 2 years of age. Here also he obtained his education in the old-fashioned log school-house, with a window of greased paper where a log had been taken out for the purpose; indeed, Mr. W. never went to school where glass windows were used. June 22, 1837, he married Miss Nancy J. Funkhouser, daughter of Isaac Funkhouser, in White county, Ill., and 3 children were born to them in that county, namely, Sarah, Virgil and William. In 1844 ; he moved with his family to this county, settling in Pittsfield tp., where he commenced farming. His land title not being perfect, he returned his claim to the seller in 1846, and removed into Derry township, where he rented farms for several years. In 1852 he ' bought the southeast quarter of sec. 32, this tp., which place was slightly improved, having on it a log house .. The same year he moved his family here. He has since put under fine cultivation " about 100 acres at this place. Here he lived about 14 years, when he moved to a farm which he bought, the southwest quarter of sec. 31, this tp., where he is still residing.
In 1842 Mr. Williams joined the Primitive Baptist Church, of -
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which he has ever since been a member. He is a man of deep convictions, and has believed it his duty to take a public and active part in the cause of the Church. His public efforts caused his brethren to induce him to become a regular preacher, and with some reluctance he complied with their wishes, and was ordained after about two years' preaching. He has now served in that capac- ity 22 years. He has never preached for a salary. He has preached at the regular annual and monthly meetings in Missouri and Iowa, besides this State.
At present he owns 515 acres of land in this tp., and 80 acres in tp. 6 s., 6 w. He has 4 children living, 2 boys and 2 girls. Wm. D. married Angeline Moore, and lives on one of his father's farms, on sec. 32; Isaac married Eliza Jane Moore, and lives on sec. 30, his father's farm of 200 acres; Sarah married Benj. House and lives in Atlas tp .; Fanny married Charles Drummond, and resides on the home place. He has had 8 other children, who have deceased, namely, Mary, who died after she was a married woman; Henry, who died at the age of 17; Lucy Ann and Martin, who died very young, and 3 others died in infancy. Although Mr. Williams is interested in political matters, he has not taken a very active and prominent part. He is a Democrat, has been. Collector, Commi - sioner, Township Trustee, etc. It is claimed that the first person ever baptized by the Green river (Ky.) waters was Mrs. Williams' great-grandmother on her mother's side. Mr. Williams' postoffice address is Eldara. His portrait is given in this book, and can be found by reference to the table of contents.
H. R. Wood, farmer and stock-dealer, sec. 29; P. O., Eldara; owns 22 acres, worth $40 per acre; was born in Penn., Sept. 30, 1825; came to this State in the fall of 1838, settling in Morgan county, where he remained 2 years, thence to Pittsfield until 1854, then settled in Derry; went to California in 1849 and returned in 1852; was married in Missouri in 1855 to Lorinda Vale, who was born in Missouri and died in 1860. They had 2 children, William and Luella. In May, 1873, he married Sarah Shinn, born Jan. 25, 1849. In addition to farming, Mr. W. raises and handles young stock to some extent.
Theodore Wood, grocer and confectioner at Eldara, was born in Illinois, Nov. 27, 1854; was married in this county to Josephine Taylor, a native of this county, and they are the parents of 5 chil- dren,-4 living. Mr. W. owns one lot with dwelling, and in his line of business is doing well. In politics he is a Democrat.
Lewis N. Worsham, farmer, is a native of Illinois, and was born Jan. 15, 1836; was married Oct. 26, 1862, to Cynthia Williams, also a native of Illinois, born Aug. 11, 1840. They are the parents of 4 children: Laura, Oren, and 2 infants, deceased. Mr. W. owns 183 acres of land, worth $50 per acre.
ATLAS TOWNSHIP.
This township is the scene of the more important early history of the county. For some years here was situated the seat of empire, as it were, the metropolis of a vast region. Here was not only the business center, but the social, religions, and political headquarters of a section of country now containing many thousands of people, and millions of wealth. Virtually, the first few chapters in this book is a history of this township, and therefore it will not be expected that we should repeat what we have already recorded, al- though much of it is essentially local, or township and village history.
According to the general order we have adopted in writing these sketches, we will speak of the earliest settlers first. The first legi- timate settler of the county located in this township. The person to whose memory this honor is due, was Ebenezer Franklin. He came in March, 1820, and first located on sec. 27, near where the town of Atlas now is. He brought his family and for a time dwelt in a tent. Then came in Daniel Shinn, who became his neighbor, and like him pitched his tent, and in it lived until May. At that time both these sturdy pioneers erected rude log cabins on sec. 22, and about three-fourths of a mile from Atlas.
The same year another prominent family arrived at Atlas, or rather upon the site of Atlas, for of course there was no town there then. The family we refer to was the Ross family, consisting of Col. William Ross, Captain Leonard Ross, Dr. Henry J. Ross, and Clarendon Ross. These were married men and brought their fami- lies with them. They came from Pittsfield, Mass., and of course during the existing modes of travel in those pioneer times they had a hard, tedious journey. They were all tired out when they arrived at the spot, on' sec. 27, that they were to call home. The country in its virgin state was beautiful to behold, but so far in the wilderness was it that it must have been lonely indeed to them. However, they were glad to get to their journey's end, and one of the party exclaimed, as tradition has it, that they had reached home " at last," from which the town, and latterly the township was named.
After the Rosses, of whom we speak in the first chapter of this volume at greater length, came James M. Seeley, who played an
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
important and honorable part in the early history of the county. Then came Levi Newman and Charles McGiffin, who kept a ferry across the Mississippi at Louisiana, John and Jeremiah Ross, Rufus Brown, John Wood and Willard Keyes. Brown kept a tavern in Atlas for a time, but he, with these two Rosses, and Wood and Keye's, moved to Adams county and became prominent in the affairs of that community. Then came Joseph Petty, John M. Smith, Deacon Snow, Daniel Husong, Dexter Wheelock, who kept store and hotel at Atlas for a time, and a few others.
Among a few others of the leading first settlers of Atlas we will mention Col. Benj. Barney, Henry Long, Stephen R. Watson, Benjamin D. Brown, James Ross, etc. As many of the early pil- grims to Atlas were scattered in various parts of the county when the county-seat was moved from there, and as a half century has almost elapsed since the village of Atlas began to wane, we find it impossible to get anything like a full and authentic list of the first settlers here. It is true there are many of the descendants of the early pioneers now living in this township, but of these we speak among the personal sketches given below.
In 1824 the public buildings, which had previously been at Cole's Grove, now Calhoun county, were moved to Atlas. During the following decade it was a busy commercial center and had great promise of becoming the most important town in this section. At one time it was thought that it would eclipse Quincy, but when, in 1833, the county-seat was removed to Pittsfield, it suf- fered materially. Indeed, the town has never since assumed any prominence, but declined, until now there is only a postoffice, gen- eral store and a blacksmith shop located here. At that time the more prominent settlers followed the public buildings to Pittsfield, and made that the metropolis of the county.
The first death to occur in Atlas township was that of Mr. Hu- song. The first child born was Nancy Ross, daughter of Col. Wil- liam Ross. The first male child was Marcellus Ross, who now resides in Pittsfield. Some say, however, that a son was born to Ebenezer Franklin prior to this, and others that a child of John M. Smith's was the first one born. The first parties married in the township were Daniel Barney and Miss A. L. Husong. The first sermon was preached by the celebrated Lorenzo Dow, in the old court- house, in 1826. The first school-house was erected the same year upon sec. 26.
Before Ross township was cut off from Atlas, which was done in 1879, it was by far the largest township in the county. It then embraced the whole of one and parts of three Congressional town- ships. Much of it, however, was bottom land, and valueless for cultivation until the erection of the great Sny Carte levee. This public enterprise has redeemed many entire sections of fine land in Atlas. At one time the Sny Carte slough was so high that Col. Ross was enabled to run a boat up to Atlas. This is what is termed a timbered township, but is well settled and improved.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Here we find some of the first farms in the county. The Quincy, Alton and St. Louis Railroad passes through the township from northwest to southeast.
VILLAGES.
There are in this township three villages, all small, but pleasant- ly located. They are Atlas, Rockport and Summer Hill. The former town was laid ont in 1823 by William Ross and Rufus Brown. It was the first town laid off in the county, and for a time first in point of commercial advantages. We have spoken of the village so often, however, that anything we might now say wonld merely be repetition. We therefore will refer the reader to the first chapters and the history of the township given above.
During the great speculative excitement of 1836 and the few subsequent years, towns were projected all over the State. During the former year there were about a dozen towns laid out in Pike county, among which was Rockport. It had excellent milling facilities, and a project to erect a grist-mill, then greatly needed in the county, was set on foot by Ross, Scott & Co. About 1828 a saw-mill was erected at this point upon the Sny Carte, on the southwest quarter of sec. 17. Later, about 1830, John Warburton erected a flouring-mill at the same site. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1846. During that and the following year another mill was erected upon the site of the former. This mill was conducted successfully, and was a great convenience to the settlers until 1853, when it shared the fate of the former and went up in the flames. Undaunted, however, its proprietors set about to erect another, which was done in 1855. This mill was run for 12 years, when it was burned. In 1867-8 Shaw & Rupert built a fourth mill at this point, with a capacity of 300 barrels a day. It will be seen that this has been one of the greatest milling points in this section. Rockport took from Atlas about all of the business that was left it after the removal of the county-seat to Pittsfield. The town was laid out on the most approved plan for a city of no mean dimensions. For a time it grew rapidly and gave great promise to its founders, but the financial crash which followed the speculative period al- most completely stopped immigration to the State for a few years, and all of the new towns suffered materially.
Rockport is located on secs. 17, 18 and 20, on the Sny Carte, and contains several stores, and transacts a good trade in a local way. It is situated on the Quincy, Alton & St. Louis Railway.
The village of Summer Hill, which is located on sec. 13 of this township, was laid ont March 11, 1845, by Lyman Scott. It is situated in the midst of a beautiful and fertile section of country. It is a very pleasant country town, containing two nice churches, two or three stores, postoffice, etc.
Summer Hill Congregational Church. The Congregational Church of Summer Hill was organized by Rev. Asa Turner at Atlas in Nov., 1834, under the name of the Rockport and Atlas Congrega-
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tional Church. Preaching services were held at Rockport, Atlas, and later at Summer Hill. Gradually, as the settlements extended back from the Mississippi river, the Church members became located more and more at Summer Hill, until the Church- had migrated from Rockport and Atlas to Summer Hill. This change was . gradnal, extending through a number of years. The present church building at Summer Hill was completed about 1856.
This Church has always held a form of doctrine common to the Congregational Churches. It believes in the new birth ("Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God"); in the sinfulness of men and in redemption only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God; in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit; in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures; that the word of God is the only infallible rule of faith and life; in the endless happiness of the righteous and misery of the unregenerate. It teaches and believes in a pure and upright life consecrated to God.
The first great season of growth came under the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Carter from 1834 to 1847. During this period of nine years the Church increased from 10 or 12 members to 100. After 1847 the Church suffered a decline until 1865, when it numbered 41 members. The second period of growth came under the pres- ent Pastor, Rev. C. E. Marsh, from 1868 to the present time. Dur- ing this period of 12 years the Church increased from 50 to 116 members. In the winter of 1873-4 a great season of revival was enjoyed, when 48 were received into the Church. The past winter (1879-80) another revival has been enjoyed, and 39 have entered into covenant with the Church.
The following persons have acted as Pastors of the Church: Rev. Warren Nichols, from 1835 to 1837; Rev. A. T. Norton, from 1837 to -; Rev. Wm. Carter, from 1838 to 1847; Rev. Gideon C. Clark, from 1847 to 1850; Rev. A. H. Fletcher, from 1850 to 1853; Rev. C. S. Cady, from 1853 to 1855; Rev. J. G. Barrett, from 1856 to 1859; Rev. S. R. Thrall, from 1859 to 1865 ; Rev. Samnel Dilley, from 1865 to 1867; Rev. Wm. Carter, from 1867 to 1868; Rev. Chas. E. Marsh, from 1868 to the present time.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
We give below personal sketches, in alphabetical rotation, of the prominent citizens and old settlers of Atlas township and its vil- lages.
J. A. Adams, farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Atlas; was born in 1803 in Rensellaer county, N. Y., the son of James and Edna Adams; re- ceived a fair education and followed sawing, and operating cotton and woolen mill with good success; lie quit the business in 1843 and emigrated West, settling on the present homestead, where he has lived ever since. The farm is well improved. Feb. 10, 1825, he married Harriet Green, who was born in 1802 in Rensellaer county, N. Y., and their 3 children were Cornelius, deceased, Jeremiah and Edna. Mr. Adams first occupied about 500 acres of bottom and
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
up land, and since has obtained about 500 acres more. He has seen the bottc.a opposite his residence entirely overflowed, and has been in a steam-boat over the land he now cultivates. Mr. Adams has been Assessor for 15 or 16 years. The house now occupied by him was built in 1822, with an addition in 1824. It is a substan- tial building, and bids fair to stand for ages yet. The first preacher he knew was Rev. Wm. Carter, who was in Pittsfield so long. Mr. Adams' father was in the Revolutionary war, as priva- teer at sea. He distinctly remembers the war of 1812.
Isaac Barton, farmer, was born in Kentucky, June 7, 1825, the son of William and Mary (Brewer) Bartou, natives of Tennessee; was educated in the Kentucky subscription schools; his early life was spent in mechanical employment, but the most of his life he has been a farmer. In 1846 he married Miss R. M. Owsley, a native of East Tennessee, and of their 11 children S are living, 5 sons and 3 girls; 3 are married. Mr. Barton came to Pike county the year he was married, with no property except a horse and saddle, but he is now in comfortable circumstances, living in a $3,000 house. He has held nearly all the township offices, and is in several official positions at the present time. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion both himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church.
Aaron Baughmon was born in Ohio, Dec. 11, 1835, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine ( Wilhelm) Baughmon, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and of German ancestry; was educated mostly in the com- mon schools of this county; can speak German. April 10, 1856, he married Sarah Sapp, daughter of Daniel Sapp, a pioneer of this county; of their 9 children 6 are living. Mr. B. came to this county about Christmas in 1846, and worked at quarrying rock and burning lime; for the last 8 years it has been a success. He ran a threshing-machine for 9 years, and in that business lost his health, and in burning lime he thinks he recovered his voice which he had lost. He is a farmer, residing on sec. 14, where he owns 40 acres, besides having 40 acres on sec. 15. In his present business he has been successful. Being married before he was 21 years of age, his father claimed $150 for his time, which was paid. He is a Repub- lican, and both himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church. P. O., Summer Hill.
Monroe Baughmon, farmer, sec. 11; P. O., Summer Hill: was born in this county Oct. 5, 1848, and is a son of Jacob and Cath- arine W. (Heler) Baughmon, who were married in 1835 and had 5 children, of whom Monroe is the eldest. The latter received a common-school education, and is now following farming in Atlas tp.
Capt. Uriah Brock was born in Missouri in 1820, and is a son of Armstrong and Theresa Angle (Brown) Brock, the former of En- glish descent and the latter of German; was educated in the subscrip- tion schools of the time; at 15 he went upon the river and worked at cooking and pulling oars on a flat-boat. in 1839 he went on a steamer to learn the river as cub pilot; in 1840 he was promoted to the position of pilot on the steamer Ione, and for the same man
David. M.Deam lean
ATLAS TP
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
he ran steamers for 7 years on the Ohio river, making 10 years altogether which he worked for one man; has followed the river as pilot every summer since he learned the business, and expects to as long as he can see and turn a wheel. He has been moderately successful, having as much as $2,500 for one summer's work. At present he gets only $600 for a season's work. He married Miss Caroline Marsh in 1855, and they have 6 children, all living in this tp., where he spends the winter with his family. Four of the chil- dren are married. He has a neat and substantial residence in Summer Hill, and 12 acres of land. In politics he is a Republi- can, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. Mrs. Brock's father, Sherman Brown, was an early settler of this county.
David W. Deam, farmer and stock-raiser; is the son of Henry and Susannah (Kiser) Deamn; his father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and born in 1784; his mother was born in the State of Ken- tucky in 1794; they emigrated with their family to Ohio in an early day, where both of them passed the remainder of their lives; they died near Dayton, O., and were laid at rest in Bethel township, Miami county. David W., the subject of this biography, was born in Montgomery county, O., in 1831; in 1852 he went to Bluffton, Mills Co., Ind., where he held the position of Deputy County Clerk for one year; he then returned to the Buckeye State and remained until 1854; he was then united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Deal, who was born in 1831; she is the daughter of Philip and Mary (Boyer) Deal, both natives of Maryland. To them have been born 4 children, 3 of whom are living; Mary Alice was born Jan. 3, 1855, in Montgomery, O .; William Lewis, born Sept. 25, 1856; Dora Bell, Jan. 31, 1858, died Feb. 24, 1876, and Warren G., born Jan. 29, 1864. Win. L. married Miss Capps, Oct. 9, 1879, and Mary A. was married to Uriah A. Brock, March 23, 1872. Mr. Deam moved with his family to Atlas, this county, in 1856, first locating on sec. 23, where he engaged in farming until 1867, when he sold out and purchased a fine farm on sec. 13. He now owns 240 acres of land. His residence, with ground attached, is among the most beautiful, tasteful and convenient in the county. It is situated .. ) the outskirts of the pleasant little village of Sum- mer Hill. Mr. Deam, who is now engaged in farming and stock- raising, dealing in fine graded stock, ranks among the more promi- nent, enterprising and substantial citizens of Pike county, and as one of her representative citizens we present his portrait in this volume.
James Brown. This gentleman's father, Isaac Brown, was born in March, 1791, in Virginia, moved to this State in 1828, and died in 1848; his mother was Susan Brown. The subject of this notice was one of 14 children, and was born in April, 1833; in 1856 he mar- ried Sarah Knapp, who was born in June, 1839, and their 5 chil- dren are, Zara, born in 1857; Lloyd, born in 1859; George, born in 1862; Frederic, born in 1865, and Lilly, born in 1872. Mr. Brown
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