History of Sangamon 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 114

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon 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 114

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Edward S. Johnson, born August 9, 1843, in Springfield. Served four years' apprenticeship at the printing business, and was engaged with his father in the boot, shoe and leather business when the rebellion broke out. He enlisted at the first call for seventy-five thousand men, April, 1861, in Company I, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months ; was ap- pointed First Sergeant, and served as such full time. He re-enlisted July 24. 1861, for three years, in the same company and regiment, at Mound City, Illinois. Sergeant Johnson remained there in charge of the property, while the com-

683

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

pany returned home on furlough. At the elec- tion of officers in Springfield, although absent, he was elected First Lieutenant, and served as such until February 15, 1862, when he was pro- moted to Captain, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Captain Noah E. Mendell, who was killed at Fort Donelson, two days before. Captain Johnson commanded his company until December 22, 1863, when he re-enlisted with his company, as a veteran. He continued in command until April 22, 1864, when he was pro- moted to Major of the regiment. Major John- son was appointed by General John M. Corse, September 30, 1864, Post Commandant at Rome, Georgia, and served as such until the movement of the grand army on Sherman's "march to the sea," in November following. He then returned to his regiment, and served with it until all were mustered out, July 25, 1865. He partici- pated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donel- son, Pittsburg Landing, siege and capture of Corinth, Florence, Savannah, Bentonville, besides innumerable skirmishes. Major E. S. Johnson was engaged in the lumber business, which he continued in up to 1872. In consequence of im- paired health, and for observation, he planned a European tour, and in company with Dr. Rufus S. Lord, left Springfield March 30, 1868. They visited England, France, Scotland, Russia and Italy. After an extended tour through the prin- cipal cities named, they returned to Spring- field early in December of same year. He was married August 10, 1869, to Laura I. Clinton, who was born in Springfield, Illinois. They have one child, Edward Russell, born May, 9, 1875. In 1872 he gave up the lumber business, and engaged in the hotel business, in company with his father, assuming the charge of the same up to his death, in 1879, at which time he be- came sole proprietor of the same.

Samuel H. Jones, President of the State National Bank, of Springfield, is a native of Louisa county, Virginia, was born in 1825. Samuel and Lucy (Desper) Jones were the parents of five sons and four daughters, Samuel II. being the fourth of the family. When he was eight years of age they moved to Ross county, Ohio, and that and Pike county were his home until he came to Illinois, in 1849. Mr. Jones has been a resident of Springfield since 1854. From the time he settled in this State until elected cashier of the bank, January 1, 1871, he was engaged in buying, feeding and shipping live stock and farming, and up to the present time, 1881, he owns three firms in Sangamon county, and su- pervises their cultivation. After officiating as

cashier of the bank six years, he was elected its Vice President in 1877, and chosen President in January, 1880. He has been somewhat active as a member of the Republican party; was ap- pointed pension agent by President Grant in 1872, and served a year; in April, 1877, was ap- pointed Commissioner of the State Prison at Joliet, which position he now holds. He married Miss Emma Jones, of Clark county, Ohio, in 1858, who has born him one daughter, Mabel, aged sixteen years. Mr. Jones is a Past Master in the Masonic fraternity.

John A. Jones, Clerk of the United States Circuit Court, for the Southern District of Illi- nois, was born in the District of Columbia, May 29, 1806. He was graduated at Columbian Col- lege, Washington City, in the class of 1825, re- ceiving the degree of A. M. three years later. He came to Illinois in 1835, and settling in Taze- well county, edited the Pekin Gazette, later called the " Tazewell Telegraph," the first news- paper published in that county, at the same time serving as justice of the peace. In October, 1837, Mr. Jones was appointed Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court of Tazewell county by Judge Jesse B. Thomas, and re-appointed by Judge S. H. Treat, in 1841; was also made Master in Chan- cery of that court in 1842. Under the new Constitution, he was elected Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court, in 1848, and re-elected in 1852. After retiring from the office, upon motion of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Jones was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court. In March, 1861, he was appointed Superintendent of Commer- cial Statistics of the United States, at Washing- ton City. His was the first appointment made by President Lincoln after the formation of his Cabinet. In May, 1866, Mr. Jones resigned his office, and came to Bloomington, Illinois, and by the death of the former Clerk, was appointed to his present office by Judge David Davis, under the sanction of Judge S. H. Treat, in July, 1867, and has held it continuously since.

Mr. Edward Jones, his father, was a native of New York, and the youngest of five sons, the eldest of whom, John Jones, M. D., was President Washington's family physician. Edward Jones was the first Chief Clerk in the United States Treasury, and served thirty-nine consecutive years. He was appointed by Hon. Alexander Hamilton the first Secretary, in 1790, who in 1795 gave him a strong letter of commendation, which Mr. Jones now has as a souvenir. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Louisa (Maus) Jones, a native of Pottsgrove, Pennsyl- vania. Her paternal ancestors were officials of

684

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

note in England and the United States. Mr. Jones has preserved a number of their com- missions bearing dates from 1691 on down to the administration of Jefferson, and ending 1840.

Mr. Jores married A. Maria Major, of Bloom- ington, Illinois, daughter of William T. Major, of Christian county, Kentucky. Their family consists of two sons and four daughters, one lately deceased. Four of these are married. Mr. Jones is proverbially a social, companiona- ble man, and has ever been a very active one. For three years, while Circuit Clerk of Taze- well county, he lived ten miles from his office, and in pleasant weather walked both ways each day, making twenty miles walk.

George W. Jones, Clerk of the Appellate Court for Illinois, was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, in 1828, and reared and educated in Pike county, Illinois, of which his parents were early settlers; and his father, Nathan W. Jores, was one of the original proprietors of Griggs- ville, in that county, which is still the family home. George was elected Circuit Clerk of Pike county in 1860, for four years, on the Dem- ocratic ticket. In 1864, he retired, and four years later re-entered the office as deputy, serv- ing until 1872, when he was again chosen Clerk for another term of four years. In the conven- tion of that year he was nominated by acclima- tion, without opposition, in a county giving about eight hundred Democratic majority. In 1876, Mr. Jones was appointed by the court of his county as one of the Board of Commission- ers to construct the Sny Island Levee, an improve- ment authorized by the general drainage law, for the reclaiming of overflow and swamp lands. The Commission constructed a levee fifty-two miles in length, and an average heighth of seven feet, through the counties of Adams, Pike, and part of Calhoun, thereby reclaiming about 110,- 000 acres of valuable lands. Mr. Jones served in the Board from 1872 till 1878, during which time they expended about $650,000. In the fall of 1878, he was elected Clerk of the Appellate Comt for the term of six years, and assumed the duties of the office December 4th of that year. He was a member of the County Board of Su- pervisors in Pike for seven years, six of them, from 1866 to 1872, he was Chairman of that body. In 1850, Mr. Jones united in marriage with Cecilia Bennett, born in Delaware county, New York. Two sons compose their family: Frank II., a practicing Attorney in Springfield; and Fred, associated with a large railroad supply house of Chicago.

Alvin B. Judkins, dealer in musical merchan- dise, of the firm of Judkins & Fisher, 119 North Sixth street, has been dealing in musical instru- ments since 1865. The partnership with A. H. Fisher was formed, and their fine music store in Key's block opened, August 1, 1881. Their stock embraces the standard makes of pianos and organs, and also a complete line of string and brass instruments, together with a large col- lection of the latest and most popular sheet music. Some of the leading instruments, for which they have the exclusive agency in Central and Southern Illinois, are the Steinway, Weber, Steck, Kranich & Bach, and Shafer pianos; the Estey, Taylor & Farley, New Eagle, and Story & Camp organs. Mr. Judkins, who has the active management, is admirably adapted for the business, both by nature and education. Being a natural mechanic, and having handled instru- ments for sixteen years, he is familiar with every part and detail of their construction, as well as a critical judge of their qualities. Alvin B. Judkins is a native of Pike county, Illinois, and was born in 1848, on Christmas day. Hiram Judkins and Doratha Rowell, his parents were natives of New Hampshire, and after their mar- riage settled in Griggsville, Pike county, from whence they moved to Springfield, when Alvin was nearly four years old. He grew to manhood in the Capital City and graduated from the High School in 1865, soon after which he entered the musical instrument trade. In 1877, he became the district agent for the Iron Mountain Railroad, and has since sold thousands of acres of the company's lands. He is also special agent for the Chicago & Alton Company. Mr. Judkins has taken an active interest in local musical mat- ters, having been a member of all the musical societies of Springfield since he left school, and plays any wind or string instrument. He mar- ried in Effingham county, Illinois, to Laura Kagay, a native of that county, and daughter of B. F. Kagay, a prominent attorney of Effingham for twenty-six years.

Andrew K. Kerns, grocer, 125 North Sixth street, was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1845, and is the youngest of a family of ten children of Abner Kerns, born in Pennsylvania, and Sarah A. Brown, a native of Ohio. They mar- ried and lived in Ross county, where Mr. Kerns died in 1847. Three years later his widow moved with the family to Illinois, and settled eight miles north of Springfield, in Sangamon county. Mrs. Kerns died there in 1873. Until 1877 Andrew carried on farming in Mechanics- burg township, in Sangamon county. He pur-

685

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

chased a farm in the spring of 1876, raised a corn erop worth $2,700 that season, and sold the place in the fall for $500 in advance. In the spring of 1877 he engaged in the grocery busi- ness in New Buffalo, continuing one year. At the end of that time he re-purchased the farm he formerly owned at a reduction of $2,700, and occupied it till March, 1881, when he again left it, and re-embarked in the grocery trade in his present store. Mr. Kerns does a general retail business in staple and fancy groceries of $12,000 a year. In December, 1871, he married Miss Mary Seeds, of Shadeville, Ohio. They have four children, Shirley K., aged nine years; Effie, aged six, Hattie four, and Lillie, nearly two years old.

Charles Kennedy, Superintendent of the Springfield Iron Company's works, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 25, 1831. David Kennedy and Magdalena Miller were his parents, the former of whom died when Charles was a small child. He began learning the business in Pittsburg, at ten years of age, receiving a salary of twenty-five cents per day. After having sev- eral years' experience he connected himself with the Great Western Iron Works, at Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania, for four years; thence went to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and was associated for twenty years with the Cambria Iron Com- pany's works at that place; first in the capacity of a hand in the mill, but by taet and industry worked up to the position of assistant manager, under Alexander Hamilton, manager, to whom he feels a lasting gratitude for kindness shown him while at these works. Upon leaving there, Mr. Kennedy was three years Superintendent of the Cleveland Iron Company, resigning that position to take his present one, whose duties he assumed in July, 1878. In September, 1864, he enlisted in the United States Army, as a mem- ber of Company B, Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery; served a year as a private, and re- ceived his discharge in 1865. Mr. Kennedy united in marriage with Elizabeth Jones in 185z, in Brady's Bend, Armstrong county, Pennsyl- vania; she is a native of Ohio. When about twelve years of age, Mr. K. lost his left eye from a spark in the rolling mill.

Peter F. Kimble, dealer in wall paper, window shades, paints and oils, 421 Adams street, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1835; came to Illinois and settled in Winches- ter, Scott county, in 1856, and engaged while there in the millinery and grocery business. Re- moving to Springfield in the spring of 1865, he continued in the grocery trade till elected City

Treasurer in 1867; was re-elected in 1868. He also served two terms in the County Board of Supervisors, in 1874 and 1875. Soon after re- tiring from the Treasurer's office, Mr. Kimble turned his attention to his present business. He occupies two floors of the building, and keeps an extensive stock of wall papers, window shades, paints and painter's supplies, in which he has a large retail and considerable jobbing trade. He also carries on painting and paper hanging, employing twelve to fifteen men in the business.

Mr. Kimble united in marriage with Sarah J. Williams, of Scott county, Illinois. In politics, he is a Democrat.

Eli Kriegh, Springfield, Illinois, was born in Washington county, Maryland, August 10, 1810; son of Philip and Mary Kriegh, of German de- scent; was a farmer by occupation; father died in Maryland, and mother in Springfield, Illinois. Eli was fourth son of a family of nine children. He came to Springfield April 6, 1855, and started in the stove and tinner business, and house fur- nishing goods; has remained in the business ever since. He was married October 29, 1833, to Miss Ann Willard, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland. They have had seven child- ren, four sons and three daughters. Mr. Kriegh carries a $5,000 stock of goods. He came to the county in limited circumstances, but by industry and economy has accumulated a fine property and home.

Dr. Allen Latham, Springfield, was born in Lyme, New Hampshire, November 5, 1818. His grandfather, Arthur, was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in 1755. His father was born in Lyme, New Hampshire, February 14, 1783. The stock sprang from two brothers, who came over in the Mayflower in 1620, Robert and William, and were of English descent. Grandfather Ar- thur was a soldier in the Revolutionary war of 1775, and served seven years. Dr. Latham com- menced reading medicine when he was sixteen years old; in 1844, came to Illinois and located in Danville, where he commenced the practice of dentistry; remained there until 1861, then hc came to Springfield, where he has followed his profession since. He married for his first wife Miss Clara E. Jenness, a daughter of Daniel L. Jenness, of Chichester, New Hampshire. She died August 18th, 1852, leaving two children, Allen and Clara E. For his second wife he mar- ried Judy Ann Pierce, of Iroquois county, Illi- no:s; she was born November 23, 1829. They have one child, John William, born June 29th, 1866. Mr. L. is a member of the Masonic Lodge,

686

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

No. 333; also a member of Elwood Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 6.

Philip C. Latham, deceased, was born Jan- mary 25, 1804, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He came with his father to Elkhart Grove, in 1819. In February, 1827, he entered the County Clerk's office, in Springfield, under C. R. Matheny, County Clerk; remained there eight years; was married in Springfield, May 15, 1831, to Cath- arine Tabor, who was born February 25, 1812, in Champaign county, Ohio; they had five children in Springfield: Mary E., born in 1836, married Dr. Alexander Halbert; Julia M., born January 11, 1838, married in Springfield to B. D. Magru- der, a 'native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Wil- liam Henry, born November 27, 1839, enlisted in 1862, for three years, in Company B, One Hun- dred and Fourteenth Illinois; was elected First Lieutenant at the organization; at once promoted to Adjutant; died December, 1863, in Spring- field, of disease contracted in the army; George C., born May 16, 1842; was married October 2, 1867, to Olivia Priest; Philip C., Jr., born July 18, 1844; was married to Lucy George, a native of Canada; he died suddenly, February 16, 1871. Mrs Lucy Latham is married and resides in Nebraska. Mr. Latham, Sr., was killed by lightning, near Shawneetown, Illinois, May 25, 1844. His widow resides in Springfield, in a house that her husband built in 1838.

James L. Lamb, one of the early merchants and for many years one of the leading business men of Springfield, was born in Connelsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1800. At twenty years of age he came to Illi- nois and located in Kaskaskia, formed a partner- ship with a brother-in-law, Thomas Mather, and I. B. Opdycke, and engaged in general merchan- dising, and also carried on beef and pork pack- ing extensively, which they shipped south. This firm shipped the first cargo of barreled pork to New Orleans ever sent from Illinois. In 1824, Mr. Lamb, returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, and on June 13, of that year married Susan C. Cranmer, born in Cincinnati, in August, 1803, and the daughter of Dr. John Cranmer, of that city. They settled in Kaskaskia, where Mr. Lamb continued in business about eight years. In the fall of 1832 he severed his connection there and they moved to Springfield, and after a few months residence on Jefferson street settled on the site of Mrs. Lamb's present large and beauti- ful homestead. The hazle brush were cleared away to make room for their primitive pioneer home, from which a cow-path lead up through where Adams street now is. Mr. Lamb assumed

the mercantile business in Springfield on Jeffer- son street, opposite the present St. Charles hotel. From there he moved to the west side of the square, and later to the corner now occupied by Hall & Herrick, at the southeast corner of the square. A number of years previons to his death he retired from that branch of business, and devoted the last years of his life to buying and packing pork. He departed from this life on December 3, 1873.

Mr. Lamb was an extensive reader, especially of history and travels; possessed a vigorous, active mind, was very sociable and hospitable, and particularly fond of the society of the young. He was public spirited in a marked degree, and ready to contribute to whatever inured to the welfare and prosperity of Springfield. Descended from Quaker ancestry, the religious element was conspicuous in his nature. He was for many years a member and an elder in the Presbyte- rian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb had one son and five daughters born of their marital union, namely, John C., proprietor of the ÆEtna Iron Works of Springfield; Mrs. Gen. John Cook, Mrs. W. J. Black, Mrs. G. R. Brainerd, and a deceased daughter. All the living are residents of Sangamon county.

John C. Lumb, proprietor of the AEtna Iron Works, corner Second and Adams streets, was born in Randolph county Illinois, 1825. His father, James L. Lamb, was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and settled in the old town of Kaskaskia, Illinois, about 1822. He married Susan H. Cranmer, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1824. They were the parents of five daughters and the sub- ject of this sketch; one daughter deceased. They inoved to Springfield in 1831, where Mr. Lamb engaged in pork packing, extensively, and in merchandising until he died in the fall of 1873, John C. being associated with him in conduct- ing business. In 1848, Mr. J. C. Lamb became a partner in the firm of Lowry, Lamb & Co., in the Ætna Foundry and Machine Works. In 1853 the firm was dissolved by the death of one of the partners, and in 1855, Mr. Lamb bought the entire concern and has since been sole proprie- tor. He does a large business in the manufacture of railroad work, mill machinery and steam engines, employing an average of sixty men.

James Latham was born, October 25, 1768, in Loudon county, Virginia, of English parents. HIe emigrated when a young man to Kentucky, and was there married, June 21, 1792, to Mary Briggs, who was born February 3, 1772, in Vir- ginia, of Scotch parents. They had nine chil- dren in Kentucky, and moved to Elkhart Grove,

687

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

in what is now Logan county, but was formerly a part of Sangamon county, Illinois, arriving in 1819. Mr. Latham and his son Richard built a horse mill, at Elkhart, in 1823. It was the first mill north of the Sangamon river. When he settled at Elkhart, their nearest mill was at Ed- wardsville, more than one hundred miles south. When Sangamon county was organized, James Latham was appointed Judge of the Probate Court, May 27, 1821. He was also Justice of the Peace. After Mr. Latham had served a year or two as Judge of the Probate Court of Sanga- mon county, he was appointed, on the part of the United States Government, to superintend the Indians around Fort Clark. Soon after, he moved his family there, making that place his headquarters. The town of Peoria was laid out, on land including the fort. Judge Latham died there, December 4, 1826. His widow returned with her family to Elkhart, where she died.

The family of Judge Latham have been quite prominent in Sangamon and Logan counties.

Elizabeth, born November 25, 1793, in Ken- tucky, and was married there to James W. Chap- man. They moved to Illinois, and settled north of the Sangamon river, near the mouth of Fancy creek, where Mr. Chapman established a ferry, in 1818, on the Sangamon river, near Bogue's Mill. He subsequently moved to Elkhart, Logan county, with his family, when both Mr. and Mrs. Chapman died.

Lucy, born August 18, 1797, in Kentucky. Came to what was then Sangamon county with her parents, and married Grant Blackwell; re- turned to Kentucky and died there in 1827.

Richard was born December 23, 1798, in Bowl- ing Green, Kentucky, and came with his parents in 1819 to Illinois. He was married September 16, 1824, at Elkhart, Illinois, to Emily Hubbard. They had one child, and mother and child died, in 1825, at Elkhart. Richard Latham was married November 27, 1825, to Mrs. Margaret Broad- well, whose maiden name was Stephenson. She was a sister of James C., John and Robert Steph- enson. Mr. and Mrs. Latham had thirteen child- dren, seven of whom died young. Of the other six-Mary A., born February 25, 1829, was mar- ried November 25, 1848, to Dr. Timothy Leeds. Martha E. married James S. Major. She died September 20, 1852. IIenry C., born April 11, 1837, at Elkhart, is dealing in conveyancing and furnishing abstract titles to real estate. fle re- sides in Springfield. 'Lucy lives with her mother. Kittie S., born January 24, 1841, at Elkhart, was married in Springfield, January 30, 1868, to Elder J. H. Mccullough, a minister of the Chris-

tian Church, and resides in Denver, Colorado. Nannie, born December 6, 1843, at Elkhart, was married September 16, 1873, in Springfield, to George HI. Souther. They have one child, Latham, and reside in Springfield. Richard Latham died June 5, 1868, and his widow lives with her on, Henry C., in Springfield, Illinois.

Mary L, born in Kentucky; married John Constant.

Phillip C., born January 25, 1804. See sketch. Nancy, resides with Mrs. Richard Latham.

Maria, born in 1809, in Kentucky; married to Archibald Constant.

John, born September 9, 1812, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was married in Sangamon county, to Lucy Bennett, a native of Kentucky.

Robert B., born June 21, 1818, in Union county, Kentucky, was married in Sangamon county, November 5, 1846, to Georgiana Gillette, a native of New Haven, Connecticut. She died in 1853. R. B. Latham was married July 24, 1857, in Logan county, to Savilla Wyatt, a native of Morgan county, Illinois. Robert B. Latham was elected sheriff of Logan county in 1850, and served two years. He was elected Repre- sentative in Illinois Legislature for 1861-62. He raised a regiment and became Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and served twenty months in the war to suppress the rebellion, and then resigned on ac- count of impaired health.

Rheuna D. Lawrence, railroad contractor, has been prominently identified with the building and contracting business, in Central Illinois, for a quarter of a century. Ile was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1837. His father, Lewis W. Lawrence, was a Major in the Mexi- can war, and died before the subject of this sketch reached his tenth year, at which age he became self-supporting. Ilis mother was Susan M., daughter of Colonel Elijah Bell, who came from Connecticut and settled in Ohio previous to her birth. She still survives, at the age of sixty-eight years, and resides with Mr. Lawrence, in Springfield. His first occupation was that of off-bearer in a brick-yard ; learned the mason trade, and received a journeyman's wages at the age of fourteen, In 1855, after making a tour of the Western territories, he located in Spring- field, Illinois, and soon after engaged in the contracting and building business. His first contract was to erect a three-story brick build- ing, on the corner of Jefferson and Fifth streets, for some years used as the post office. The next was to lay three million bricks and three thou- sand perches of stone, in the Jacksonville Insane

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Sangamon 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 114

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084