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 128

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 128

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).

759

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Physicians -- J. R. Trott, M. S. Wheeler, L. P. Taylor.

Coal Shuft, Tile and Brick Factory-Dawson, Poley & Co.

Lumber, Lime &c .- W. II. Hummel.

Grain Elevator-P. S. Bronaugh & Co.

Flour Mill and Grain-Morris, Harris & Co. Auburn Citizen-M. G. Wadsworth.

Meat Shop-P. Faust.

Livery Stable-Wm. Harris.

Burbers-O. M. Cheney, Chapman & Wizard.

POST OFFICE.

The Auburn post office was established in the early part of 1839, in the old town, David East- man, postmaster. Previous to this date there has been no office nearer than the Sugar Creek postoffice, kept at John L. Drennan's stage stand, five miles northeast. Mr. Eastman was post- master until 1842, when Daniel Wadsworth was appointed under Tyler. He retained the office until 1852, when the railroad (now C. & A.) drew the business to the new town. From that time until the present, the office has been filled by the following, in their regular rotation: H. Tibbatt, Benjamin Kessler, John Bond, N. P. Brooks, R. N. Han, A. M. Black, A. S. Daven- port, J. W. Ayers, W. W. Lowdermilk, and George W. Ilutton, the present appointee. Up to Mr. Lowdermilk's incumbency, the office has been kept in the east part of the town. Mr. Lowdermilk removed it to the public square, where it has since remained.

This is now a third-class office, with a salary of $1,000. Fifteen years ago, the delivering ca- pacity amounted to fifty boxes, all told. Now the office has upwards of three hundred and fifty. The revenue for the year ending Septem- ber 30, 1881, was $2,332.99. The number of pieces of mail matter during the first week of December, 1880 (the only time during the year that any record was kept,) was one thousand six hundred and twenty-one pieces. The following letter explains itself:

PUBLISHER SANGAMON COUNTY HISTORY .- Dear Sir: In compliance with your request, to furnish you a statement of the amount of busi- ness at this office, in the money order depart- ment, during the first fiscal year and the last, I submit to you the following:

The first order was applied for July 22, 1872, by William W. Lowdermilk, then postmaster, payable to Herman Redlick, Springfield, Illinois, for $14.

There were issued during the fiscal year's business, four hundred and one orders, amount-

ing to $5,377.55; and for the last fiscal year, ending July 22, 1881, there were issued one thousand one hundred and ninety-one orders, amounting to $12,122.45.

I will add that at the time the money order office was established, in July 22, 1872, there was no bank here, and the greater part of the business of the village of Auburn and vicinity, was done through the money order office, while at the present time the heavier part of the busi- ness is done through the Auburn bank.

Yours truly, G. W. HUTTON, P. M.

The history of Auburn township is continued by giving short biographical sketches of a large number of the most prominent citizens of the township, many of whom came here in an early day, and were foremost in developing the wild prairies into one of the finest townships of ag- ricultural lands in this great State.

Jacob Anthony, post office, Virden, Macoupin county; son of Jacob and Eva Anthony; father born in New York, about 1788; mother born in Raenselear county, New York, in 1790; father of English extraction; mother of German ex- traction. They were married in the State of New York, and had twelve children-six sons and six daughters. The subject of this sketch was born October 26, 1801, in Sharon, Skoharie county, New York, and served a regular appren- ticeship to the carpenter trade, following it most of his life. In the fall of 1843, was married to Miss Margaret Lacy, daughter of Elliott and Sarah Lacy; father born in North Carolina; mother born in Tennessee. They have five children living: William, James, Mary, Martha and Agnes. Mr. Anthony owns two hundred acres of valuable land, well improved. His ad- vantages of early education was such as the county schools afforded in his day. His son John was a member of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died from disease contracted in the army.

John Beechly, farmer and real estate dealer, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on the 20th day of September, 1820, son of Michael and Susannah Beechly; father of German descent and a native of Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, where he bought a farm and remained there until his death, which oc- curred about 1859. There was a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters.

The subject of this sketch came to Sangamon county in 1868, where he engaged in farming, since which time he has been engaged in various

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

branches of business, prominent among them is dealing in real estate. having charge of many farms and loaning money, etc. Mr. Beechly married Miss Susan Garber, daughter of John Garber, of Virginia, where she was born in 1826. By this union there was a family of ten children, sıx of whom are living: Nancy, now Mrs. J. J. Meyers, of Kansas; Hettie, now Mrs. John W. Hart, of Auburn; Allen, Susan, Milton and Laura. Mr. B. has a farm of two hundred acres of land, valued at $100 per acre. The entire farm is worth $20,000; is a large farmer; handles consid- erable stock, and raising in one year three thou- sand five hundred bushels of wheat; is a member of the German Baptist Church.

Thomas Black, Sr., Auburn, Illinois, son of Thomas and Edith Black father born in South Carolina, October 25, 1768, mother born in Ken- tucky. They were married in Christian county, Kentucky, moved to Sangamon county, April 0, 1819. They came with horse teams, camped out at nights, carried their household goods in the wagon with them, located in what is now Auburn township, the land grant settled upon being about a hundred and twenty acres.

Their family consisted of four sons and three daughters, all born in Kentucky: Sarah, born July 3, 1796; David, September 17, 1798; Eliza- beth, March 6, 1803; Nancy, August 4, 1806; John, August 8, 1809; Thomas, September 3, 1813; Carter T., January 24, 1818.

The subject of this sketch was the sixth child. He was married March 7, 1855, to Miss Mary Jane Wallace, daughter of John and Eveline Wallace, her father was born in Nova Scotia, June 17, 1808; her mother was born November 20, 1813; Mr. Black was born November 1, 1835; they have three children, all daughters: Malah Edith, born November 8, 1861; Mary Francis, January 7, 1868; Marchie Ellia, March 12, 1871; father died, November 20, 1854; mother died, August 20, 1876. Carter T. Black is living in Bates county, Missouri, is a contractor for build- ings; he is the youngest of the family, and the only remaining brother of Thomas Black, Sr .; owns quite a large farm, valued at $60 per acre. Mr. Black is of German extraction, Mrs. Black of Scotch and German. The early educa- tion of both were such as the country schools of their day would afford.

Charles N. Brown, farmer, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Kennebec, Maine, on the 14th day of November, 1840; son of William and Sarah ( Smily,) Brown; father a native of New Hamp- shire, and mother of Maine. His father was twice married; his first wife was Maria How-

ard, by whom he had five children, one of whom has lived to manhood, Ambrose II., who was a soldier in the Third Maine Infantry, and was captured in the first battle of Bull Run, and was taken prisoner and incarcerated in Libby Prison, where he starved to death. The second family consisted of seven children, five of whom are living, Mary, Charles, Henry W., Mariah S., and Warren F. Henry was a soldier in the late war and was taken prisoner at Spotsylvania Court House, taken to Andersonville Prison, where he was kept for eight months. Charles N. came to Sangamon county in 1860, where he became ac- quainted with Miss Matilda E. Foster and was married in December 1864. Mr. Brown enlisted in 1861 in the Seventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, three months' service, being one of the first to enlist in the regiment, and remained until the expiration of his term, when he re-en- listed in the Ninth Volunteer Infantry, Company K. He participated in several hot engagements, among them were Fort Donalson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and others; was wounded at the battle of Fort Donalson in the arm and leg, where he carries the ball at the present time. In politics he is a Republican.

William Brownell, druggist, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Ball township, Sangamon county, on the tenth day of December, 1822; son of Jolin and Nancy (Pulliam) Brownell, a daughter of Robert Pulliam, the first settler in Sangamon county, coming as early as 1817, and built the first log cabin in Ball township. Mr. John Brownell came to the State in 1818, and located on Sugar creek, where he embarked in farming and in various other branches of business. He is still living in Auburn township, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-one, and is probably the oldest living resident of the county. There was a family of eleven children. Mr. William Brow- nell, the oldest son, remained at home, and on account of his father's health, took charge of the business until 1863. In 1848, married Miss Elizabeth Bridges, daughter of George Bridges, of Ilarrison county, Kentucky; she was born in Harrison county, Kentucky. By this union there was a family of six children; four of whom are living, Jane, Isabel, and Columbus V .; John W. died October 25, 1881, of consumption. She died February 14, 1869. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and was loved and respected by all who knew her. In December, 1869, mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Vaughn; she was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, March 3, 1840. There were two children, one of whom is still living, Ora Viola. In 1863, he came to Auburn,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

where he embarked in the drug business, and bought and repaired the hotel, which he run for twelve years. Auburn, at that time, was a small place, there being but two buildings on the west side of the railroad. Mr. B. has been identified with Auburn and vicinity all his life; has seen it from its wild, uncultivated prairies, to one of the finest agricultural sections in the State. Has held several local offices of trust in the gift of the people, as police magistrate, school director, etc. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Ark and Anchor Lodge, No. 354, of Auburn. The family are members of the Baptist Church.

Sudden Change .- Reminiscences by Mr Wil- liam Brownell .- He says a man by the name of Welch was relating how, at the time of the sud- den change, that he had chickens which were on a fence at the time the cold wave struck them were blown off into the slush, and as soon as they struck the ground would freeze in their tracks; when a Dutchman who heard him tell it; said that at the time, his wife was making a ket- tle of hominy over the fire-place, and the top of it was frozen over about two inches; he took a hatchet, chopped into it, and found it boiling furiously in the center. Mr. Brownell had a cousin driving stage from Springfield to Mechan- icsburg, and at the time of the sudden change, was passing Clear Lake, and had driven into the lake when the blast struck him, and before he could get his team out, the wagon had frozen in, and in order to extract his team, had to cut his harness and leave the wagon, and jump on his team with his mail bag and make for Mechanics- burg, which he reached in a frozen condition. On the following day he returned to the lake, cut out the wagon and took it to town.

John Buck (deceased), Auburn, Illinois, was born in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, January 3, 1797, son of Ebenezer and Ann Talcott, natives of Connecticut, where they were married and raised a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all of which lived to be adults

Mr. John Buck was married in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, to Miss Cynthia Brown, by whom there were three children, viz., Edwin, Franklin, and Mary N. Mrs. Buck died in Lewis county, New York, November 27, 1836, when he became acquainted with Miss Avis Rich, whom he mar- ried. She was born in Lewis connty, New York, June 15, 1819. By this union there was one child, Mary L., born in Lewis county, New York, January 3, 1843.

In 1853, Mr. Buck, with his family, left New York and came to Sangamon county, and bought

a large tract of land near Auburn. In 1854-55, laid out what is known as Buck's Addition to the Village of Auburn. Being a liberal man, donated several lots, besides donating the ground for a public square, Masonic Hall, and Metho- dist Church. Through his influence, has suc- ceeded in building up a flourishing little village.

Mr. Buck died August 23, 1880, leaving a large number of friends to mourn his loss. Mr. Buck, in politics, was a Republican; held sev- eral local offices of trust, representing his town- ship as Supervisor.

Mrs. Buck has a grandchild living with her- Miss Jennie Antisdale, a daughter of Nancy Ann Antisdale, who died, leaving an only child.

William Burtle, Esq., Auburn, Illinois, was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, on the 9th day of August, 1822; son of Wm. Burtle and Sarah Ogden, who emigrated to Sangamon county in 1826, coming with a team and located in Ball township. After renting one year, pur- chased land and made a farm, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 24, 1860. Mother died February 11, 1868. The subject of this sketch was four years old when he came to the county, and has been identified with the county since. September 4, 1856, married Miss Elizabeth White, who was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, December 28, 1829. The fruits of this marriage were five children, one of which is living, he was born in Auburn, May 9, 1864. Mr. B. came to Ball township when there was but ten to twelve families in the township, and the prairies were unbroken, the deer and wolves roving over them, and has lived to see it one of the most thickly populated townships which now compose the county of Sangamon. Mr. B. has held several local offices of trust in the county and representing them in the Board of Super- visors, and is at present a justice of the peace. Is a member of the Catholic Church, being brought up as one. In an early day has hauled wheat to Macoupin Point and sold it for six and one-half cents, and has raised pork for one dollar and twenty-five per hundred.

Elder Alanson S. Calkins, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Delaware county, New York, on the 27th day of October. 1823, son of Smith and Cornelia (Foster) Calkins; father and mother were of English descent whose ancestors came over in the Mayflower and located in Con- necticut, where his father was born. When a young man, he moved to Delaware county, New York, where he remained several years and then returned to Connecticut, where he died in 1839, and his mother died the previous year. Mr.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Calkins was very young when his father died and was thrown onto his own resources to battle against a cold world. December 29, 1849, mar- ried Miss Dina C. Bennett, daughter of William and Sarah (Bronson) Bennett, natives of Con- necticut, where she was born October 10, 1832. By this marriage there was one child, Sarah B., who was born in Connecticut, June 5, 1849. They remained in Connecticut a few years, came to LaSalle county, Illinois, where they remained a short time, when they went to Hancock county, where he had charge of the church near Car- thage. They remained there one year. They then returned to LaSalle county, when he or- ganized several churches and supplied their pulpits. From there he came to Springfield, Illinois, where he held several meetings. From there he had a call at Collinsville, where he held several protracted meetings and supplied the pulpit one year. He then came to Auburn where he established a church and has remained since. His first meetings were well attended and a good number connected themselves with the church. In 1870, they erected a church edifice, the dimen- sions being forty by fifty, a frame building large enough to accommodate the congregation. There is a Sabbath school in connection with the church which is in a prosperous condition. The present officers: Superintendent, Thomas Parks; Bible class teacher, Allen Gordon; teachers, Miss Parks, Alice Welch, Caroline Spencer, Sarah Conklin. The average attendance now is about twenty- five.

L. B. Mc Carton, grocer, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, January 16, 1835; son of Colin B. and Mary ( Black) McCarton; there was a family of three children, two sons and one daughter, L. B., Julia, and Colin B. His father was a millwright by trade, which he followed until his death, which occurred in Cass county, Indiana, in 1837. His mother is still living with Mr. McCarton. L. B. was reared on a farm and received a liberal education; married Miss Sarah A. Fortney, a daughter of Jacob and Ann Fortney of Pennsylvania, who were early settlers of Ohio; she was born September 1837. The fruits of this union are six children, five of whom are living, Oscar, Charles L., Mary, Frank and Viola. Mr. McC. is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a member of A. O. U. W., of Auburn. Mr. and Mrs. McC. are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Coming to this county in 1866 he embarked in farming, which he followed until 1868, when he engaged in his present business, groceries and provisions. In politics he is a Republican, has held several

local offices of trust, and in 1880 represented the town as supervisor.

Royce Mc Coy, carpenter and joiner, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Washington county, In- diana, December 4, 1826; son of Royce, Sr., and Malinda (Pound) McCoy; his father was a pio- neer preacher, preaching Sunday and working on a farm through the week; he died in Indiana in 1836; his mother living some years later, died in 1866; they died as they had lived, sin- cere Christians. Royce, Jr., was reared on a farm, and received what schooling the country afforded at the time. When seventeen years of age, he was apprenticed as a wagon-maker, where he remained about two years; he then went to Fulton county, where he was employed at his trade for a couple of years. In 1847, came to Morgan county; previous to coming, and when twenty years of age, married Mary Hattabough, who died July 11, 1849. Two years later he married Mrs. Mary Barton, widow of Henry Barton, a native of North Carolina, and born in 1827. In 1856, came to Auburn; there were two houses on the west side of the railroad, where Auburn now stands, and at that time the town was called Wineman, after a man by the name of Philip Wineman, who first laid out the town. Mr. McCoy has been identified with Au- burn from its infancy, and has always worked for its best interest. Is a member of the M. E. church, and has been identified with it for thirty years.

Henry Dawson, Jr., Superintendent of Tile, Brick and Auburn Coal Shaft, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Richland county, Ohio, on the 16th day of December, 1855; son of Henry, Sr., and Rebecca (Carvan) Dawson; father a native of England; mother of Ohio. His mother died in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1875. In 1878, came to Auburn, where he was cashier of the Auburn Bank over two years; he gave up that position and engaged in his present occupation. Mar- ried Miss Minnie Van Zile, daughter of Abram Van Zile, of Hancock county, Illinois. She was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1857. The fruits of this marriage are two children-Minnie Inez and Henry, Jr. Mr. Dawson is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Auburn, and the A. O. U. W. In politics is a Republican. Mrs. D. is a member of the Baptist Church.

Andrew Eagan, brickmaker, Auburn town- ship, section twenty-eight, was born in Kilken- ney county, Ireland, in 1842. When a child his parents emigrated to the United States, and landed in New Orleans, thence by river to Jersey county, Illinois, where he followed farming, and

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

where his parents died soon after coming to the State, which left the subject of this sketch an orphan, and he was forced to fight the battles of life alone. In 1870, he married Miss Mary Vancil, a daughter of Simeon Vancil, an early settler of the county, where she was born in 1844. There are three children-Annie Ella, Katie May, and Fannie Emma. In 1861, enlisted in the Eleventh Missouri Infantry, Company C, Captain M. M. Warren ; participated in all the engagements of the regiment, some of the principal being : New Madrid or Island No. 10, siege of Corinth, Iuka, battle of Corinth, when he was wounded near the ear by a buck- shot ; also siege of Vicksburg, when he was again wounded, by a ball, on the top of his head, being in the service nearly four years ; mustered out at St. Louis, January 19, 1866. Is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church.

William A. McElvain, farmer, section sixteen, Auburn township, was born in Adair county, Kentucky, December 1, 1822; son of Samuel and Penelope (Abell) McElvain, natives of Virginia, and of Irish descent. They were married Janu- ary 4, 1816, in Adair county, Kentucky. The fruits of this marriage were six children, three sons and three daughters, five of whom lived to be men and women, viz: Harriet N., Margaret J., William A., James E., Theresa M .; Jeremiah A. died in infancy. In 1828, they emigrated to Sangamon county, and located in Auburn town- ship, where he took up government land and made a farm from the wild prairie. He left Kentucky with a four horse team, coming over- land, camping out. They moved into a log cabin, sixteen by sixteen feet, with a dirt chimney, and their furniture was of the plainest kind. They were a little crowded, there being a family of nine who remained there through the winter. At that time, Springfield was their nearest trad- ing post, and for their milling, they went to Mr. Thomas Black's, who had a mill which was run by a horse, where they ground corn. Mr. Mc- Elvain says he has pounded and grated corn all day long for the use of the family; has hauled corn to Springfield and sold it for six and one- fourth cents per bushel, and also has hauled wheat with ox-teams to St. Louis, taking from seven to nine days to make the trip, and sell his load for thirty-five cents per bushel, pork selling then at $1.25, net. At the time they came here there were but few schools and churches, Mr. McEl- vain being a member of the Presbyterian Church. In connection with Jeremiah Abell, a Presbyterian minister, organized the first Sab-

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bath school in the township. His house was a home for all preachers who traveled through this vicinity, and many a time Elder Cartwright has stayed at his father's house. His father partici- pated in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans, and at the close of the war walked from New Orleans to Kentucky, and was so thin and spare when he arrived there that he could span himself with his hands. He died April 1, 1848. Mother died September 29, 1855. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in the faith. The subject of this sketch came to the county when he was six years of age and remained at home until his father's death, when he took charge of his father's affairs. After his father's death, his own and mother's health failed, and they traveled ex- tensively through the northern part of Maine and the Red River country, being for days and weeks among the Indians. Mr. McElvain has traveled through fourteen different States and Territories. After spending one summer they returned, with their health greatly improved.

November 1, 1853, married Miss Angeline Lowell; born in Sangamon county, August 29, 1832. There was a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Howard A., Samuel S., James W., Nellie J., Margaret A., Elizabeth G. Mr. McElvain has a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under good cultivation, and valued at $75 an acre.

Mr. McElvain has been identified with the county nearly all his life, and has seen it devel- oped from the broad, wide prairies, to a beauti- ful cultivated country.

Philip Faust, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Rhine, Prussia, on the 5th day of February, 1850. When twenty-two years of age, came to the United States, landing in Philadelphia, where he remained a short time, then to Chi- cago, where he was employed as a butcher, and remained a few months, when he went to Bloom- ington for a short time, thence to Lincoln, from there to Auburn, where he commenced his pres- ent business. In 1880, Mr. Faust drew in a lot- tery the Patty House, of Fond du Lac, Wis- consin, valued at $95,000. The Patty Brothers, who got up the scheme, being rascals, he was swindled out of nearly the whole, which by rights belonged to him. Mr. Faust married Miss Katie Naland. She was born in Auburn. The fruits of this marriage are two children, Julia and Berdie. Mr. Faust is a member of'Ark and Anchor Lodge, No. 543, I. O. O. F., and a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge, No. 354, Auburn. In politics, is a Democrat.

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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 128

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