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 129

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 129

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IHISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

John R. Fletcher, deceased, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Kentucky, September 15, 1827; son of James and Jane Fletcher. There was a family of sixteen children, eleven of which lived to be men and women. James Fletcher emi- grated with his family to Sangamon county in 1828, and located on Sugar creek, Auburn town- ship, where he died the following year. His mother died October, 1853. They were members of the old school, Presbyterian, and died as they had lived sincere Christians, and loved and re- spected by all who knew them. John R. was a mere boy when he came to the county, he was reared on a farm and received a liberal educa- tion. January 16, 1851, married Miss Margaret J. Kessler, a daughter of Benj. Kessler, of Auburn, where she was born September 26, 1831. By this union there was a family of seven chil- dren, two of whom are living, Anna S., now Mrs. Wm. II. Hunterand Jennie V. Mr. Fletcher died August 16, 1870; was a member of the Presby- terian church. He was a kind husband and an indulgent father, and was mourned by a large body of friends.

Nathan Fletcher, retired farmer, section six- teen, post office, Auburn, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, on the 8th day of March, 1816; son of James and Jane ( McElvain ) Fletcher; father of English descent and mother of Scotch and Irish. They were married in Vir- ginia, where one child was born, when they emi- grated to Kentucky in 1801, and located in Simpson county, where he carried on a farm in connection with the wheel-wright business. Their family consisted of sixteen children, ten of whom lived to be men and women, viz: Job L., Margaret, James W., Mary, Nathan, Elizabeth, Rebecca, John, Martha and Nancy, who were born in Sangamon county, three of whom are living at the present writing. In 1828, his father left his home in Kentucky with an ox- team and wagon, with one horse in front, with his large family for the far West, or the wilds of Illinois; traveling slow, camping out and cooking their own meals, taking some three weeks to make the journey, and locating where Mr. Organ now resides, moving into a log cabin sixteen by sixteen feet, with puncheon floors, and a hole between the logs for light, without glass. Their bedsteads were of the Jackson style. They remained in the cabin about eighteen months, when they moved to a larger and more commodious house of hewn logs, where his father died in 1830. Nathan remained at home until he was twenty-eight years old, when he married Margaret Baxter, she was born in Adair

county, Kentucky, November 27, 1827. By this union there were six children, all of whom are living, James B., born December 5, 1849, Thomas A., born October 23, 1851, Martha, born Febru- ary 11, 1853, Henry M., and Lucretia, born April 22, 1856. Mr. Fletcher commenced on a forty acre tract thirty-six years ago, without means, and by hard work and good judgment has accumulated a fine property, and is the owner of four hundred and thirty-six acres of land, which he has divided up among his chil- dren. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. F. is a Republican in poli- tics, and has held several local offices of trust. In an early day their trading post was at Spring- field, twenty miles away, and he has known his mother to take a pail of butter on horseback, go to Springfield, do her trading and return the same day. He also remembers after his father died that they had a field of five or six acres of wheat, which his mother and himself put up, cutting it with a reap-hook or what is called a sickle; his mother being about fifty years old at the time.

Leonard Foster (deceased), Auburn, Illinois, was born about 1830 ; son of George and Sarah Foster, who came to the county in an early day, where they raised a family of eight children, all of which lived to be men and women. In December, 1857, he married Miss Elvira Gates, a daughter of John and Lucinda Gates, of Ken- tucky, where she was born March 25, 1885. By this union there were eight children, seven of whom are living, viz : Alice, born June 9, 1859; Flora, born September 6, 1860 ; George E., born November 4, 1861 ; Mary, born Feb- ruary 3, 1865 ; William E, born May 30, 1867 ; Minnie, born January 12, 1870; Etta, born August 5, 1873. Mrs. Foster is living on the old homestead, where they first commenced keeping house, where she has spent many happy hours, and some very sad ones. Mr. Foster died May 8, 1880. He was a kind and good husband and father, and was respected by all who knew him. He died leaving the family in comfortable circumstances, with a farm of two hundred and ten acres of land, valued at $60 an acre.

Benjamin O. Foster, farmer and stock raiser, post office Auburn, section 27; was born in Ken- nebec, Maine, on the nineteenth day of October, 1833, son of Otis and Phæbe (Goodwin) Foster. In 1843, his parents emigrated to Sangamon county, Illinois, where they rented a farm in Auburn township, for three years, when they bought a farm one and a-half miles northwest of

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

where Auburn now stands, there being no Auburn at that time, and made a farm out of the wild prairie: Mr. Foster left his old home in Maine in limited circumstances, went by water to New Orleans in a sailing vessel, and thence by steamer up the river. Arriving in Auburn, his means were nearly exhausted, the first few years they lived in a log cabin, sixteen by twenty, with split clapboards for a roof, through which the snow would sift and cover their beds in winter.

The subject of this sketch was a boy when he came to the county, received what schooling the county afforded at the time. In 1864, he mar- ried Miss Caroline Poley, daughter of Joseph and Francis Poley. She was born in Auburn town- ship, December 16, 1839.

There are three children, Florence P., born October 7, 1865; Amina C., born February 28, 1870; Frank L., born October 28, 1872. They commenced their married life on a farm near Brush Creek, where they remained four years. Mrs. Foster's health failing, in the fall of 1868, they went to California, where he bought a farm, where he remained until the Spring of 1874, re- turned to Illinois, with the intention of selling out his interest here and returning. Being una- ble to sell here at anything near a reasonable figure, he returned to California, where he had left his home just as they had been keeping house, sold out, and returned to Auburn, where he bought a home for the better chance of educa- ting his children, and embarked in the milling business, in company with the Poley family. Not liking it, he sold his interest and bought the land where he now resides. Mr. Foster is a large and wealthy farmer of the township, owning six hundred acres of land under good cultivation, valued at $70 per acre; raises two hundred acres of corn; one hundred and fifty acres of wheat; forty acres of oats; turns out fifty head of hogs; fifty head of cattle; fifteen head of horses, and five hundred sheep.

Andrew Gates, farmer, P. O. Virden, Sec. 32. Was born in Muhlenburg county, Kentucky, on the 17th day of January, 1807, son of Michael and Catherine (Groves) Gates. Father of Penn- sylvania, and of German descent, and mother a native of North Carolina, where they were mar- ried, and soon after came to Kentucky, where he embarked in farming. The family consisted of ten children, seven of whom lived to be men and women, of which at the present writing there are but two living, Mrs. Fanny Poley and the subject of this sketch. In the spring of 1830, his father and a portion of the family started for the far West, (leaving the older sister

and Mrs. Gates in Kentucky until the following spring,) and located on the place where Mr. John Ten Brook now resides. The family com- ing through with an ox team and cart, and doing their own cooking. On February 13, 1833, An- drew married Miss Lucinda Wood, daughter of William and Polly Wood, who came to Madison county, Illinois, in 1812, where they were mar- ried in 1814. In October, 1818, came to Sanga- mon county. She was born in Madison county, December 31st, 1816. The fruits of this mar- riage was twelve children, four of whom are living.

Mr. and Mrs. Gates' early married life was spent in a log cabin sixteen by sixteen. Puncheon floors, and a clay and stick chimney, and for a window, cut out a log. Many a time Mr. Gates was called to St. Louis on business, leaving his young wife home night after night to hear the wolves howl at the door. Their trading post was at Spring- field, generally patronizing Colonel John Wil- liams, and for their milling would take a grist on horse-back and go to Thomas Black's old mill, run by horse power. Mr. Gates is a mem- ber of the German Baptist Church, and Mrs. Gates and children members of the Baptist. Mr. Gates has resided in the county for more than a half century. Has seen the rough and smooth side of a new country. Coming in lim- ited circumstances, but by hard work and good management has accumulated a fine property, owning at one time seven hundred acres of land, valued at $35,000, leaving his family comfort- ably located, giving each a farm.

J. A. Garber, builder and contractor, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, March 1, 1853, son of John and Susan (Beech- ley) Garber, father a native of Virginia, and mother of Ohio, and were married in Ohio, where he embarked in farming and remained until 1851, when he moved to Miami county, Indiana, where they remained ten years, when they came to Sangamon county, where he still remains. There was a family of nine children, five boys and four girls, all of which lived to be men and women. J. II. worked on a farm until 1873, when he commenced the trade of carpen- tering, under the teaching of his present partner, Mr. Nicols. He married Miss Mary Josephine Bridges, a daughter of C. L. Bridges, of Auburn. She was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, July 28, 1860. By this union, there were two children, one of whom is living, Arthur B. Mr. G. is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of Auburn.

John H. Mc Glothlin, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Alton, Madison county, Illinois, on

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the 24th day of February, 1837. Son of Wil- liam and Mary (Kennedy) McGlothlin, natives of Kentucky. In 1836, his parents emigrated to Alton, when he embarked in the cabinet business, where he remained a short time, when he went to Carrolton, where he bought a farm and re- mained some years; then went to Kansas, where he remained until 1859, when he came to Auburn township and located on the place where Mr. Ten Broek now resides. He is at present living in Shelby county, Missouri, at the age of eighty years. The subject of this sketch, in 1863, took a trip to California, in company with the Ranch brothers, of Auburn township, where he was employed by the month, receiving $60 per month, running a mowing machine. He was afterwards employed on a vegetable ranch, where he remained a short time, bought it and peddled vegetables through the mines, accumu- lating about $3,000. In 1866, returned to Sanga- mon county, rented land, and in 1869, married Miss Rebecca Rauch, who was born in Auburn township November 6, 1839. There are four children-Luella B., Horace G., Charles A. and Lena R. Has been identified with the Demo- crat c party ; has held the office of Road Com- missioner. Has two hundred and sixty acres of land, valued at $20,000. Raises one hundred acres of corn, one hundred of wheat. In 1880,

raised two hundred acres, which averaged twenty-eight bushels per acre, and fourteen acres that averaged forty-six bushels per acre.

Samuel F. Goodwin, retired, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Kennebec county, Maine, July 23, 1809, son of Daniel and Sarah (Haskell) Good- win. His father's family consisted of seven children, five sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to be men and women. His father was a natural mechanic and his boys took to the trade and became thorough workmen. Mr. Goodwin learned the trade of carpenter and joiner of Daniel Wadsworth and remained with him until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1832, went to Boston where he followed his trade until 1839, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, when he became acquainted with Miss Caroline E. Welch, his present wife, remaining there three years. In 1842, returned to Boston and remained there until the summer of 1843, when he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, and while on the way to Boston was married in Providence, Rhode Island. Arriving in Boston, they started out in their new life, he prosecuting his trade until 1852, when he was employed by E. & G. G. Hook, organ factory, where his time was occupied for five years. Hearing much of the

west, he concluded to come to Illinois, where he located in Auburn, boarding for a few months, until he had time to erect a dwelling, being the first of any size, on the west side of the railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have met with sad be- reavements, having a family of three sons and three daughters, all of which have passed away. Mr. G. has property in Auburn valued at $10,000.

A. M. Gordon, grocer, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Rushville, Schuyler county, Illinois, on the ninteenth day of November, 1834. Son of William and Mary Gordon, nee Taylor, who em- igrated from Kentucky to Illinois in 1825, and located in Schuyler county, where he took up land and made a farm, where he remained until 1840, when he moved to Rushville, where he held the office of deputy sheriff; remaining until his term of office expired, when he returned to his farm, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1844; mother died in 1853. A. M. remained on the farm until he was seven- teen years of age, when he, in company with three other brothers, embarked in the dry goods trade, in which he continued about three years, when his health failed and he went to Texas, where he remained a short time, when he pur- chased a couple of ponies, and in company with a brother came through on horseback to Illinois. The following spring, in company with an elder brother who was troubled with a lung disease, went to Texas, where they remained one year. He then came back to Illinois, where he remained one year, and at the Pike's Peak excitement, in company with George Gates, started out with an ox-team for the gold-fields, making the trip in two months, and stayed in the mines two years. Returned to Illinois in 1861; enlisted in the Sixteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, Company D; was engaged in the battles of New Madrid, Shiloh, Stone River, with Sher- man on the march to the sea, as far as Jones- boro, when he was taken sick and sent back to Nashville, where he participated in the battle of Nashville, under General Thomas; was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, after which he returned to Hamilton and embarked in farming. After coming to Auburn, put up a hay-press, which he run two years, when he embarked in his present business. Married in 1863, to Miss Mintie Welch. She was born in McDonough county, in 1848. Four children blessed this union, three of whom are living: Viola F., Blanche L. and Eva-Grace died October 7, 1881. Member of the Second Advent Church.

H. H. Harnly, farmer and stock raiser, post office Auburn, was born in Lancaster county,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Pennsylvania, on the 15th day of March, 1828, son of Jacob and Barbara (Herschey) Harnly, natives of Switzerland. There were nine child- ren by this union, six of which lived to be adults. His father is still living, at the advanced age of eighty years. His mother died at the age of fifty-six. Mr. H., the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. August 15, 1854, married Miss Elizabeth Horner. She was born in the same county, May 14, 1837. The fruits of this marriage were twelve children, nine of whom are living, viz., Mary, born July 16, 1857; Eliza- beth, born July 23, 1859; Henry J., born Febru- ary 23, 1862; Andrew, born February 13, 1864; John, born June 21, 1866; David, born August 15, 1868; Joseph and Benjamin (twins), born September 9, 1870; Fanny, born December 16, 1872, and died October 5, 1876; Susanna, born in Illinois, March 29, 1876; and two died in in- fancy.

February 25, 1875, came to Sangamon county, Illinois, and located in Auburn township, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and twenty- two acres of land, valued at $75 an acre-$16,650.

The family are members of the German Bap- tist Church.

John R. Harris, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Carrick, Tipperary county, Ireland, near the river Suir, May 17, 1852; son of Thomas L. and Mary A. Doran, who were married June 15, 1840. Father born September 22, 1814; mother, March 4, 1821. Previous to coming to the United States, his father was employed in boating for a Quaker firm, which he followed until he came to the States, being in 1849 or 1850; leaving his family in Ireland. IIe landed in New York, where he remained about six months. Having some friends in Newark, New Jersey, he went there, where he remained a couple of years. From there, went to New Oreans, where he was employed at various work, and remained one year, when he came to Chatham, this county, in the summer of 1855; the same year that his family came. After arriving in the county, went to work for William Lockard, Sr. He was after- wards employed by the railroad company, and had charge of the pumps at Sugar creek and Vir- den, for which he received $52 per month, at that time considered good wages; he remained in that business until the wind-mills took the place of horse power, and then was engaged as switchman, etc., which he followed until his death, which occurred November 25, 1870; mother died July 1, 1880. John R. married Miss Katie Young, daughter of Garrard Young, an early set-

tler of the county; she was born in 1861. The fruits of this marriage is one son, Garrard Thomas, born July 3, 1881. Members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Harris has a beautiful residence in the village, valued at $2,500.

William Harris, livery and feed stable Auburn, Illinois; was born in Tipperary, Ireland, Decem- ber 19, 1842; son of Thomas and Mary Doran, natives of Ireland. The subject of this sketch was reared in Auburn township, where he has followed various occupations. In 1870, married Miss Mary Ahern; she was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, May 20, 1852. The fruits of this marriage is six children. Thomas B., born Janu- ary 22, 1872; William V., born March 25, 1873; George O., October 21, 1876; Leo Edward, Feb- ruary 8, 1877; Francis D., September 27, 1879, and Charles J., April 6, 1881. Mr. Harris en- listed in the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, Company B, in 1862, and served four years and six days, and participated in all the engagements of the regi- ment. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church of Auburn.

George P. Harris, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Ireland on the 10th day of March, 1847. His parents emigrated to the States when he was quite young, and first located in New Jersey. Shortly afterward they removed to Auburn, San- gamon county, where George P. received a prac- tical education. In March, 1866, was employed on the Chicago & Alton Railroad as carpenter, and remained with them up to 1874. He was afterwards employed by the Wabash Railroad as time keeper at Litchfield; was afterwards em- ployed as conductor of a construction train, having charge of a gang of men on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, between Jacksonville and Louisiana, Missouri. In the spring of 1879, bought the Auburn Flouring Mill and the firm is know as Morris, Harris & Co. He married Miss Mary E. Cook June 25, 1873, daughter of Francis M. and Sarah E. (Harland) Cook. She was born in Chatham township February 23, 1852. They were blessed by two children, Agnes, born March 20, 1874, she died July 23, 1875, Sarah Scott, born November 2, 1875. Mr. Harris is one of the enterprising men of the township, and has been identified with its inter- est all his life.

John W. Hart, stock dealer, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, on the 21st day of October, 1843. Son of Millington Hart and Mary A. Majors, natives of Kentucky, whose parents emigrated to the country when mere children, and located in Morgan county, where his father followed farming, and remained

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

there until his death, which occurred in 1846. Mother died December 25, 1879. The family consisted of four children-three boys and one girl-mother keeping her family together after his father's death. His mother married Mr. George W. Wimmer, one of the early pioneers of the county. The sons remained with their mother a few years, when they started out for themselves, when nineteen years of age. The subject of this sketch embarked in school teach- ing, which he followed for six years, when he was employed by the Chicago & Alton Railroad as agent, for a couple of years, and afterward for one year clerked in a store, for Wineman & Williams. Here he met and afterward married Miss Hattie Beechley, whose parents came from Dayton, Ohio. She was born near Dayton, Ohio, in 1853. The fruits of this marriage were three children, two of whom are living. Louisa Earl died when thirteen months old, Arthur Albert and Sterling Perry still living. In 1870, embarked in the lumber trade, which he made a success, and sold out March 9, 1881, since which time has been dealing in stock ; member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge 354, of Auburn. Mr. H. is a native of this State ; his father died when he was three years old, leaving him a poor boy, but by close attention to business has accumulated a fine property and home.

Ilenry M. Hart, furniture dealer, Auburn, Illi- nois, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 13th day of February, 1850. Son of John M. and Phoebe (Frost) Hart. John M. was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, March 8, 1816. His parents emigrated from South Caro- lina in an early day to Kentucky, where he em- barked in farming. There were a family of thirteen children, ten of which lived to be adults -five sons and five daughters. He emigrated to Sangamon county in the winter of 1829, and located on Spring creek, coming through with teams, camping out and doing their own cooking. He remained on Spring creek but a short time, when he went to Morgan county, where he bought land and made a farm. John M. remained on the farm when his father died. At twenty-two years of age he married Miss Phoebe Frost, daughter of Jedadiah Frost, who were pioneers of Sangamon county, but after- wards of Montgomery county. Nine children blessed this union, four of whom are living, viz: James M., Nancy J., Henry M., Emma C. Mr. Hart's people came to this county in limited cir- cumstances, occupying the first winter a log cabin, fourteen by sixteen, one room, puncheon

floor, no window. Mr. Hart is one of the old and honored pioneers of the county, and has lived to see it from its infancy to one of the most flourishing and populous counties in the State. Mr. Hart is a member of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketeb, when fif- teen years old, was apprenticed with D. D. Mar- tin to the carpenter trade, where he remained one year. He was afterwards employed by McCoy & Stearns for five years. He then em- barked in business on his own hook, contracting and building, which he followed about two years, when he formed a partnership with a man by the name of Nichols, and prosecuted the same business about a year and a half, when he pur- chased his present business, which he has fol- lowed since. In 1872, married Miss Mary A. Wrightsman. She was born in Sangamon county, September 7th, 1854. There are three children, Grace T., Bertha A. and Paul W. Mr. Hart is a member of the A. O. U. W., Auburn, Lodge No. 49. Also a member of the Sugar Creek Baptist Church. .

William Humphry, Virden, Illinois, son of Squire and Sarah Humphry; father born in Rhode Island, September 20, 1789, mother in Cherry Valley, New York, 1799. His mother's maiden name was Sarah Sweet, daughter of Erastus Sweet. The grandfather and grand- mother of William Humphry were born in Rhode Island, and both were of English extraction. His great-grandfather was born in 1737, and served in the English army against the French and Indians, and afterwards in the Revolution- ary war as Colonel in the Colonial army; was a prisoner in Quebec nine months.

Father and mother married in 1815, in Ohio. Father died in Ohio, April 4, 1843. Mother died in Ohio, February, 1847. They had eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, all growing to maturity: Lydia, Susan, Sarah, Han- nah, Cyrus, William, Elizabeth, Nathan, Emma, Walter, Amelia. Hannah died in 1850. Lydia died in 1873.

The subject of this sketch was the sixth child, and was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, April 16, 1824, and was married to Miss Sarah Stocker, daughter of Adam and Sarah Stocker, in 1844; remained there until 1850, when he came to Morgan county, this State, and in 1855 came to Sangamon county, and improved the farm where he now resides. The fruits of their marriage were ten children, three sons and seven daugh- ters: Caroline E., born January 13, 1846; Squire H., born December 13, 1846; Sarah M., born August 31, 1848; Otis, born December 30, 1850;

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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 129

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