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 73
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
has always been a farmer; has been to California twice. In relig ion he is a Universalist, and in polities a Republican.
Mrs. Susan J. Cleveland, nee Baxter, was born Aug. 2, 1560, and married Galen Cleveland in 1853, and of their 10 children only 2 are living, both named after their parents. Mr. Baxter set- tled in Missouri, where his children had but a very limited educa- tion.
J. H. Farrington. The subject of this sketch was born in Mil- ton, this county, Aug. 19, 1843, and is a son of D. II. and Martha (Shaw) Harrington, both natives of North Carolina, and his father of German ancestry. J. H. is the third of a family of 10 children, all of whom are boys. His father was a farmer, at which business he was successful. Both his parents are living in Missouri at the present time. Our subject began to learn the trade of a miller with Francis Frye at the village of Time, in 1870; they ran the inill in partnership until Nov. 26, 1876, when it was destroyed by fire, at a loss to them of $10,000. February of the following year he came to Summer Hill and became a partner of the firm of Peters & Co. Their mill is one of the best in the county, does an exten- sive local trade, and has a good reputation. Their favorite brand of flour is the " Golden Rule." April 10, 1863, he was married to Jeannette Farrington, who was born July 18, 1845; their only ehild, Thomas Virgil, was born in 1865. In politics Mr. F. is a Democrat. He served as Supervisor for Hardin tp. for the years 1875-76.
James H. Ferguson, druggist, Summer Hill, was born in Pike county, March 27, 1855; his father, James H. Ferguson, is a native of Ireland, and his mother, Ann Eliza (Dodge) Ferguson, a native of Georgia. James H. was educated in the common schools of Pike county, Pittsfield High School, and Eureka College; until he arrived at the age of 22 he was engaged in farming; he then went to Nebo and engaged in the study of medicine for a time, after which he bought a stock of drugs at Griggsville, and also has an interest in another store in the same town. In 1879 he came to Summer Hill and started a drug store, the only one in the place. The grandfather of our subjeet was among the early settlers of the State. His father, who was a graduate as a civil engineer, in Europe, came to Pike county in an early day, served as County Surveyor, and held that position until he died, in 1863. He was the owner of between 500 and 600 acres of land at the time.
Solomon Greengard was born Sept. 14, 1830, and is a native of Poland; he learned the trade of blacksmith in his native country, but is now engaged in selling tin-ware, furs, rags, ete. In 1840 he was married to Esth Rachell. Six children have been born to them, 4 of whom are living, 1 boy and 3 girls.
C. M. Garner, farmer, sec. 10; P. O., Summer Hill; is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Newnham) Garner, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. Our subject was born in Kentucky in 1829, and was early brought to this county,
789
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
where he received a good common-school education. His parents came to the county in 1840 and settled 10 miles west of Pittsfield. He married the first time in 1856, and the second time, 1869, he married Caroline McClintock, by whom he has had 4 children: he had one by his first wife. He and his present wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church; he is a Republican. He has 260 acres of land.
James Gay, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Summer Hill; was born Feb. 5, 1814, in Iredell county, N. C., and is a son of William and Anna (Rutledge) Gay, father a native of the same county and mother a native of Rowan county, N. C., both of Irish ancestry. His chances being very poor in a Southern State, he came to Pike county. Ill., where he graduated in a log cabin 14 by 14, in Pleas- ant Hill tp., in 1834. In 1839 he married Amelia Yokem, and they have had 9 children, 8 of whom are living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gay are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Gay has been a farmer all his life, and coming to Pike county in Feb., 1834, he worked as a farm hand in Atlas tp. The first night he staid in Pike county he had only half money enough to pay his bill, which was 372 cents. Besides this he had a horse worth $15, which was all the earthly possession he could call his own at that time. He is now the owner of 660 acres of land in Pike county, and has an interest in several other tracts of land. All his sons live in this county and all are married, the eldest of whom owns 480 acres of land.
William H. Gay, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., Rockport; was born in this tp., and is a son of James and Amelia (Yokem) Gay, above mentioned; he attended the common schools of this county and began teaching at the age of 18 years. He enlisted May 4, 1861, in the 16th Ill. Inf., serving as Corporal of Co. K, and participated in all the battles that the regiment was engaged in; he was dis- charged June 12, 1864. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Shinn, and to them have been born 5 children, 4 sons and a daughter. Mr. Gay is the owner of 480 acres of land, 320 of which are in Pike county.
John. Helkey was born on the German ocean in December, 1848; was united in marriage with Fanny Adams, who was born in July, 1859. In 1879, Aug. 2d, of that year, a son, Charlie, was born to them. He has engaged some in railroading, but at present is fol- lowing blacksmithing and wagon-making, which he expects to continue the rest of his life. His wife received a good common- school education, and attended the Pittsfield high school.
James S. Johnson was born in Pike county in 1846, and is a son of Elisha T. and Catherine (Cook) Johnson, of New Jersey. James received his education in the common schools of this county, engaged in farming and coopering, and in 1864 enlisted in the 7th Ill. Inf., under Capt. Hubbard. In 1865 he was united in marriage with Eliza Ann Waters; 2 of the 4 children born to them are living. His father, who was a moulder in early life, came to Pike county
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY,
in 1838, and engaged in farming ; his mother died in 1867, and his father in 1873.
Henry A. Long was born July 6, 1774, and Emeline Green March 4, 1804; the two were united in marriage Aug. 5, 1822; to them were born 5 sons and 3 daughters. Kennedy Long was born March 14, 1826, and Oct. 13, 1852, married Phoebe J. Roasa, who was born June 27, 1832; by this union 5 children, all boys, were born: Henry A., born Jan. 21, 1854, William J., July 26, 1855, George P., Oct. 5, 1865, L. E., born Nov. 14, 1868, and Philip R., Feb. 13, 1874. Mr. L. came here with his parents in 1831, and located in Atlas, then the county-seat of Pike county. He has been a great fisherman and at the present lives in the oldest house in Atlas, and consequently the oldest in the county. The floor is of puncheons, hewed on one side and rip-sawed, and is still of good quality. Mrs. Long is a member of the M. E. Church, while Mr. Long is liberal toward all the churches, and is a Republican.
Mrs. Lucia Mace, nee Chamberlain, was born June 27, 1826, and in 1837 was brought to Illinois, where she received a common- school education; Aug. 4, 1842, she married John Mace, and their 3 children are D. H., D. A. and Kate. Mr. Mace served 18 months in the Mexican war. While in health he followed carpentering. Mrs. Mace owns good property in the village of Rockport.
Rev. C. E. Marsh was born in New York, March 4, 1837, and is a son of James and Emeline (Allen) Marsh, of English ancestry. He attended the common schools, entered Knox College at Gales- burg, where he remained 3 years, and also graduated at Wheaton College, Ill., near Chicago. His father during his early life was a silversmith, but after he came to this county, which was in 1844, he engaged in farming. Onr subject passed his early life on a farm, but since he graduated in 1860 he has not followed that vocation. At the age of 21 he united with the Congregational Church at Galesburg, Ill .; in Oct., 1868, he was installed Pastor at Sum- mer Hill; at that time the membership was 60, but at present numbers 116; most of the accessions were made during two re- vivals, one held in 1873-4, when 48 were added, the other in 1879- 80, when 39 joined the Church. In 1860 Rev. Marsh was united in marriage with Belle Robinson; to them have been born 7 chil- dren, 5 sons and 2 daughters, the two latter of whom are deceased.
Jonathan Miller was born in North Carolina, and married Re- becca Span, Sept. 7, 1824, in Indiana; to them were born 10 chil- dren: Calvin, Luther, Moses, Houston, Samuel, James, Jonathan, Mary Jane, Emeline, Florence,-all of whom are married except the two youngest.
Moses S. Miller. Jonathan Miller, his father, was born Ang. 13, 1801, and his mother, Rebecca (Span) Miller, was born in 1808. Moses S. was born June 3, 1837; the same year his parents came to this State; he was united in marriage in 1856 with Elizabeth Guthrie, who was born in Missouri in 1831; of the 4 children born to them only one is living, Julia E., who was born in 1857. He
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
is engaged in farming, began with no other help but his own hands, but now owns a good farmn.
Henry Morse, farmer, sec. 13; P. O., Summer Hill; was born in Boston, Mass., April 2, 1817, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Fox) Morse; he obtained the principal part of his education at North-Wilbraham Academy, Mass. Mr. M. has been thrice mar- ried. He united with his present wife, Margaret Jane Smithers, in 1855; she is a member of the Methodist Church. At the age of 16 Mr. M. commenced to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, and has worked successfully at it for many years. He came to Pike county from Massachusetts in 1834, and settled at Rockport; he now lives on a farm on sec. 13, 6 S., 5 W. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. D, 3d Mo. Inf., and served till the expiration of the term.
Il. Peters, miller at Summer Hill, was born in Pennsylvania, July 25, 1829; his parents, James and Nancy (Culver) Peters, were natives of Canada and Pennsylvania, respectively. Our sub- ject received his education in the common schools of Wisconsin, attended the high school at Beloit, and also took a course of book- keeping. He served an apprenticeship at blacksmithing in the same town, and worked 5 years in a plow factory; in 1849 he came to Quincy, Ill., where he worked in a plow factory for 2 years, when he married Elizabeth Conyers; they then lived in Palmyra, Mo., six years, when they removed to Pike county, where they have since remained. For 10 years he continued the manufacture of plows, when he sold out and embarked in the milling business, and is now of the firm of Peters & Co., millers, Summer Hill. Politically he is a Greenbacker, and a prominent member of his party. He is one of the two delegates from Pike county, chosen in March, 1880, to nominate a Greenback candidate for the Presi- dency. In politics, as in his business, he is energetic and well posted in the history of the country and of the various political parties. IIe has served as Justice of the Peace for 3 years.
Carson N. Rupert was born in 1854, and is a farmer, sec. 27; P. O., Atlas; Oct. 18, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Adams, who was born in 1855; and they have one child, a girl.
George Schwartz was born in Switzerland in 1813; when at the age of 20 he emigrated to America; his parents, Andrew and Mary Ann (Shoemaker) Schwartz, were also natives of Switzerland. He attended school from the time he was 6 years old till he was 18, and received a good German education; he never attended school in America any, but can read and write English with ease. He located in Atlas tp. in 1833; has been a farmer all his life, and worked the first two years after he arrived here by the month, the first year receiving $7, and the second year $8 per month. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gay in 1838, and of the 5 children born to them 4 are living. James Gay, spoken of above, and our subject, kept bachelor's hall for three years after his ar- rival here; they were then poor boys, but are to-day leading citi-
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
zens of the county. Mr. S. owns 254 acres of land in Atlas tp., and has a handsome and substantial residence in Summer Hill. He has held local offices in this tp., been Sunday-school Superin- tendent, Trustee and Deacon in the Summer Hill Congregational church, and prominent in all the affairs of his community.
Dr. G. W. Schwartz, Summer Hill, was born Feb. 17, 1846, and is a son of George Schwartz, above mentioned. The Doctor is a graduate of the St. Louis Medical College, and began practice in the spring of 1874 in Milton, Mo., and, like most young doctors, labored under many disadvantages. In the fall of that year he removed to Summer Hill, where he has built up a fair practice.
G. J. Shaw, Summer Hill, was born in Massachusetts Feb. 2, 1816, and is a son of Walter and Marcia (Cadwell) Shaw, the form- er a native of Massachusetts, and of Scottish descent; he came to Pike county in 1836, and settled at Atlas; he left his home in Massachusetts in 1832, went to the West Indies, thence to New Orleans, and then to Missouri. He learned the carpenter and join- er's trade, and subsequently engaged in farming, now owning 300 acres of land. In the early days it was quite difficult to get money enough to pay his taxes. The principal circulating medium was coon-skins. He had only $100 when he was married, and made his start by making window sash. He tells us that most of the land between Summer Hill and Pittsfield was bought for $1.25 an acre. He further says that it was no uncommon thing to see a crop sell for more than the land cost. Mr. S. was married in 1837 to Sophia Kennedy, and to them have been born 5 children, all of whom are living.
Henry L. Shaw, farmer, sec. 7; P. O., Summer Hill ; was born Feb. 3, 1837, within 300 yards of where he now lives, and is a son of Luther and A. B. (Bemiss) Shaw, natives of Massachusetts; at- tended the public school some; when he was 15 years of age his father died (1852), leaving the care of a large family on him; there were 10 children, of whom Henry was the eldest. In 1872 he mar- ried Mary A. Davis, and of their 3 children 2 are living. Mr. Shaw is a Republican, and both himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church. He has been a successful farmer, now owning 267 acres of land in this county.
H. O. Shaw, farmer, sec. 12; P. O., Summer Hill; was born July 30, 1814, in Massachusetts, and is the son of Solomon and Persis (Colon) Shaw, natives also of Massachusetts, and father a farmer ; the subject of this notice was educated in the common schools of the Bay State. In 1836 he married Sarah Andrews, and of their 3' children 2 are living, -- Charles II., George and Eva Myrtie, deceased. Mr. Shaw came to Pike county in 1840, and the following year he settled on sec. 12, where he now owns 50 acres of land, and is out of debt. He has worked at shoemaking several years. In 1862 both his boys enlisted in Co. A, 99th Ill. Inf., under Capt Edwards; George W. was wounded at the grand charge at Vicksburg, by a shot in the leg; Charles was Sergeant, and the boys were in all the
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
battles in which the Regiment was engaged. Mr. Shaw has been Collector, and in politics is a Republican. .
Lucien W. Shaw, farmer, see. 12 ; P. O., Summer Hill ; was born in this county in 1839, and is a son of George J. and Sophia (Kinney) Shaw, father a native of Massachusetts and mother of New York, and both of English descent; he obtained a common- school education in this county. In 1864 he married Anna M. Barney, who died in 1874; of their offspring one child is still liv- ing; in 1875 Mr. S. married Maria Shaw, and they have 3 children, all living. In 1862 Mr. Shaw enlisted in the famous Pike county Regiment, No. 99, in Co. C, under Capt. Matthews, and was elect- ed 2d Lieutenant, and in a short time he became 1st Lientenant; he was in five battles and several skirmishes; in 1863 he resigned on account of sickness. His early occupation was teaching and farming. Since the war he has kept store some of the time and pursued farming. He owns 190 acres of good land. He is a Re- publican, and has been School Trustee, Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace; and being a member of the Congregational Church, he has been also Deacon and Sunday-school Superintendent, the latter for 10 years. His wife is also a member of the same Church.
Hiram Smith, a native of Madison county, Ill., where he was born in 1830; he was reared upon a farm, and in 1861 enlisted in Co. D, 28th Ill. Inf., in the United States service to defend his coun- try ; in the battle of Shiloh he was shot through the neck, which proved nearly fatal; he partially recovered and was in several small skirmishes, and was in the hard-fought battles of Pea Ridge and Hatchie; in the latter battle he received two wounds, one from a minie ball and the other from a large piece of shell ; he was then consigned to a hospital, and from there sent to Keokuk, Iowa, where, Jan. 2, 1863, he was discharged. He was married Oct. 8, 1863, and he has two children, H. E. and James W. H.
Edwin C. Tryon, deceased, was born in 1830 in Connecticut, and died in 1872. His wife, Lonisa B. (Bnell) Tryon, was born in New York city in 1839; they were united in marriage in 1859; to them were born 2 sons, one in 1861 and one in 1870. Miss Chris- tian R. Rapp was married to Henry Buell, of New York city, Jan. 2, 1873; by this marriage one son was born. Her parents and grandparents lived to a good old age. She was born Ang. 6, 1818.
G. W. Turnbaugh, farmer, sec. 23; P. O., Sumner Hill; is a son of Joseph and Luckey (Rodgers) Turnbaugh, both natives of Ken- tucky; he received his education in the subscription schools held in the old log school-houses in this county; in 1856 he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Shinn, daughter of Daniel Shinn, one of the very first pioneers in this county. Mr. T. was born in this connty in 1832, and has lived all his life within 5 miles of where he was born.
Alva S. Warren, farmer, is a native of Geneseo county, N. Y., where he was born May 21, 1851. Dec. 20, 1875, Mr. W. was united in marriage with Miss Hattie A., daughter of J. G. Adams; she was born in 1852. Laura, their daughter, was born Dec. 22
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
1877. Mrs. W. attended the Methodist College at Jacksonville one year, Liberty School, Mo., and the Pittsfield high school.
John M. Williams was born in the State of Ohio in 1835, and is the son of Richard and Theresa Ann (Thomas) Williams, father of Welsh and mother of American parents, and both natives of the Buckeye State; he came to Pike county in 1842, and has resided in Summer Hill 10 years, and in the vicinity for 30 years. He has engaged in farming, and also is a shoemaker. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Petty, who is a member of the Christian Church.
ROSS TOWNSHIP.
This is a fractional township, and was formed from Atlas town- ship in 1879. It includes that part of Atlas known as 7 south and 5 west. Since the building of the levee much of the heretofore worthless farm land has been put under cultivation.
This township being a part of Atlas from the earliest period of county government until the past season, its history, of course, is likewise a part of the history of that township. As a township of itself it has no history. It was named in honor of Col. Wm. Ross.
We mention the following prominent gentlemen of this neigh- borhood :
Jesse Long, farmer, sec 1; P. O., Pleasant Hill; was born in Maryland, May 14, 1823, and is a son of Henry and Emeline (Green) Long, father a native of Ireland and mother of Delaware; was edu- cated in the subscription schools of this county. In 1850 he mar- ried Caroline Ramsay, and of the 9 children which they had, 7 are living,-4 boys and 3 girls. Coming to Pike county in the winter of the deep snow, Mr. Long has been a citizen here half a cen- tury, and has witnessed the many and wonderful changes which the country has passed through. When he first came here Indians were still around and deer were more Oumerons than cattle are at the present day. He has lived on his present farm for 48 years. He owns 300 acres of land. In politics he is a Republican, and his wife is a member of the M. E. Church.
F. M. Yokem, farmer and carpenter, sec. 1; P. O., Pleasant Hill; was born in Lincoln county, Mo., in 1831, and is the son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Butler) Yokem, father a native of Virginia and mother of Kentucky, both of German descent; was brought to Pike county, Ill., in 1833; was educated in the subscription schools of this county; in 1855 he married Zerilda Starr, and of their 6 children only 2 are living. In an early day Mr. Yokem has seen many bears and deer ; has seen as many as 100 deer in one gang. He has been successful in business, and now owns 220 acres of land. Politically he is a Greenbacker.
BARRY TOWNSHIP.
The beauties of nature as presented by this township to Rev. David Edwards and Mr. Hadley, the first settlers of Barry, must have been magnificent. Prior to their coming not even a furrow of its virgin soil or even a spadeful of its earth (except by United States surveyors) had ever been turned by man; nor even a shanty erected except the rude wigwam of the Indians, who had. for many years roamed free and undisturbed over these fertile prairies and through the pleasant groves. Such was the condition of the face of Barry township when visited by the above named gentlemen in 1824. Mr. Hadley settled on sec. 21.
Soon after these men came there appeared Rev. Wm. M. Blair and his sons. Those who afterward took an important part in the history of the county, were John N., Harry, Samuel, Mont- gomery and William Blair, Hezekiah McAtee, Alfred Grubb and Elijah L. McAtee. Other early pilgrims here were Hull, Talcott, Josiah and William Lippincott, and old man Peabody, who died shortly after he came. Also, Stephen R. Gray, old man Rush, Burton Gray, John Millhizer, Levi McDaniels and many others whom we mention during the personal sketches. Most of the above mentioned came prior to or during the year 1836. Besides the foregoing there were Benj. Barney, who came to Atlas in 1826, Michael and Alonzo Gard, who came the same year, as also did W. L. Chrysup. A. C. Baker came in 1827, Esq. Joseph MeIntire in 1831, Wm. McDaniels in 1835, N. P. Hart in 1838, Elisha Hurt and J. L. Gilmer in 1839. These were all excellent settlers, men of more than average ability, as shown in the subsequent career of most of them.
Wild game was in great abundance when the pioneers first came. Mr. McDaniels tells us he has seen as many as 45 deer in one herd. We were told that deer were so numerous and tame that they were known to enter the cabins of settlers, and were killed with axes and endgels.
These pioneers were employed, as were all pioneers of the day, in subduing nature, building cabins, elearing land, breaking prairie, etc., but with all this labor they were social and happy, having a care for the morals and education of their growing families, and making for the time one of the pleasantest settlements in the new
797
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
and growing State. There were displayed among the settlers more than the usual amount of warm-hearted friendship and neighborly affection. All were equal in social station and dignity. Fashion was not then the inexorable goddess we are accustomed to meet in these modern days. The pioneers were proud to be attired in homespun woven by the busy housewife of the period, while such a thing as a carriage or buggy was unknown in Barry. Mr. Mc- Daniels tells us that from his place there was a pathway across the prairie, but for a time after he came not the track of a wagon could be seen,-indeed, there was no such vehicle in the township. Husbands went to church on foot. The wives rode the horses, carrying with them such of the children as were too young to make their way by walking. If the good wife was clad in a calico of durable texture and fast color, she was as happy as the fine ladies of to-day, robed in velvets and seal-skins. The religion of the time favored a very rigid and severe adherence to plain and un- adorned attire, and made, as it would almost seem to us, rather a virtue of a necessity, although a few years later, with the rapid accumulation of wealth, display was rendered a matter of easy accomplishment. We now find, however, large numbers of pio- neers, from motives of principle, refraining as carefully from any vain show or unnecessary ornament as they did in the primitive times of which we are now writing.
The earliest pioneers, those who came prior to 1830, could not obtain a legal title to their farms, as the General Government did not offer the land for sale before that. Before that time all the land was held by " claims." The settlers had an agreement among themselves by which they allowed a man to " claim " about as much timber land as he might need, generally not over 160 acres, upon which he might build his cabin and make his other improve- ments; and woe unto the speculator or new-comer who should at- tempt to "claim " land already occupied by a bona-fide settler. Much of the land in Barry was taken by those claimants before the land came into market. These claims were bought and sold, the purchaser coming into possession of the improvements, to- gether with whatever rights were considered appertaining thereto. Many quarrels ensued from this state of affairs, as might naturally be expected.
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