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 139

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 139

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).

Lewis Huber, Cartwright township, is the youngest son of John Huber, Sr., and was born in a log cabin on his father's farm, in Amanda township, Fairfield county, Ohio, June 30, 1810. His father, at this time, owned a tract of three hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining the village of Royalton. Lewis' principal educational advantages were those usually enjoyed by the sons of pioneers, and consisted of a few terms

in the district schools, held in a log cabin, with the old fashioned slab benches and writing desks of the same material. High schools and acade- mies were almost unknown.

Lewis continued with his father on a farm until his eighteenth year, and was hardly off it, with the exception of one occasion he spent about sixty days, in company with his half brother, John Huber, Jr., in driving some twelve hundred head of hogs to market at Baltimore, the principal shipping point of that region of country. About this time he had a severe at- tack of billions fever, which incapacitated him for farm labor. He says he was attended by an old school physician, and was "bled, blistered, and purged with combined doses of calo- mel and ipecac," until he "thought Heaven and earth was about to unite, being refused both fresh water to drink or fresh air to breathe." On recovery, as he could not labor on the farm, he was sent to an academy for three months, at Circleville, Ohio, at the expiration of which time he engaged with his half brother, Isaac Darst, who had removed to Circleville with a stock of merchandise, as salesman and book-keeper. Here he remained from 1828 to 1832. His health still being feeble, he engaged in out-door work, purchasing horses for the eastern markets, and cattle for the Michigan trade, that territory then being rapidly settled by eastern people. He followed this business until the fall of 1833.

The firm of Drain & Fanger, of Lithopalis, Ohio, being dissolved, by the death of the former, Mr. Huber was pursnaded by Mr. Fauger to ac- cept a position in the store. The fall trade being brisk, Mr. Fauger desired a partner, and offered the position to Mr. Huber, who accepted, for the double reason, a good trade was being had, and the location was healthy. The firm of Fauger & Huber existed until the fall of 1834, when Mr. Huber purchased the interest of his partner, and enlarged the business, by establish- ing a branch store at Royalton, under the charge of a nephew, Jefferson Darst. This branch store was continued until the fall of 1836, when he sold out and established another branch store at Jefferson, Fairfield county, Jefferson Darst superintending the business. In 1837, the stock of goods was withdrawn to Lithopolis. During this year, Mr. Huber packed the first barrel of pork in Lithopolis, but rather from compulsion than choice, as the finances of the whole country were so unsettled, and money so scarce, that collections could not otherwise be made. The business, however, proved very profitable, and Mr. Huber purchased a large number of

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

hogs from the farmers, on time, as well as re- ceiving them on debts. Mr. Huber continued in business until his health became so much im- paired that, in 1838, he sold out his entire stock to certain parties, giving them time to make the payments. He then remained out of business for a time, when the firm to whom he sold be- came involved to such an extent that, to save himself, in part, he purchased the stock. He has the satisfaction of knowing the firm yet owes him $1,000. Going to Baltimore, Mr. Huber made a satisfactory compromise with his debtors' creditors, so that he might purchase the real estate, which was to be sold at sheriff's sale. A bachelor uncle died about this time, and left him about $3,000, which enabled him to make the necessary transactions. The real estate then purchased, with what he was owning previously, gave him $15,000 worth of unproductive capital. Mr. Huber still remained in business, but in 1850, he closed out his stock of merchandise and began to settle up outstanding claims then due him. About this time, his business trouble began. Needing about $3,000, circumstances were such that neither of the banks at Columbus or Lancaster, Ohio, could accommodate him, al- though his credit had always been good with them, as he never had a note protested, and the cashier of the Columbus bank complimented him by saying that he was among his best cus- tomers. A friend informed him that he could be accommodated at Zanesville, Ohio, and he went to that place, and, unfortunately, gave a judgment note for the amount he wished to borrow. Sickness overtaking him, when the note was due he was unable to pay. Judgment was entered up against him, and an execution sworn out, and the end was that similar to thousands of others. Every creditor felt that he must push his claim or he would lose it all. They did push. It is unnecessary to say more.

Mr. Huber experienced the joys of religion in the winter of 1831, and united with the First Presbyterian Church, in Circleville, Ohio, subse- quently by letter, he united in Lithopolis, and was there elected a ruling elder. In every work of the church there, he was an active participant. In 1855, Mr. Huber and family removed to Illi- nois, and settled in Cartwright township; there being no Presbyterian Church near, he united with the First Presbyterian Church, Springfield. When the church at Pleasant Plains was formed he and his wife united by letter, and remained in that connection until 1857, when by request, a letter of dismissal was given him, to unite with

the First Presbyterian Church, at New Orleans, and he is now a member of that body.

In politics, Mr. Huber was originally a Whig, and on the dissolution of that party was unde- cided where his lot should be cast, politically. Finally, after a visit South, he concluded his place was with the Democracy. In 1860, he voted for John C. Breckenridge; he remained a Democrat up to 1872, when the nomination of Horace Greeley was too much for him. In 1873, he helped organize the Anti-Monopoly party, and again, assisted in the organization of the Greenback party, with which he now affiliates.

Mr. Huber, for many years, has been a strong advocate of the hydropathic system of the treat- ment of the sick, and since 1853, has used no drugs in his household.

In concluding this sketch, it is but just to say that Mr. Huber bears testimonials from Hon. John M. Palmer, Judge C. S. Zane, Governor S. M. Cullom, Hon. John T. Stuart, and J. Thayer & Co., endorsing him asa business man of integ- rity, and worthy the confidence of all.

Alexander B. Irwin, farmer and stock raiser, section three, post office Pleasant Plains, was . born in Cabarras county, North Carolina, on the 7th day of February, 1814, son of Samuel L and Rachel (Hudson) Irwin; father of Irish descent, and a native of North Carolina; mother of Ger- man descent, and a native of Virginia. They were married in Cabarras county, North Caro- lina, in 1801, where there was a family of ten children born, seven daughters and three sons. In the fall of 1819, his parents left North Caro- lina with a four-horse wagon, and came to East Tennessee, where they spent the winter, and where one son was born. In the following spring, came to Sangamon county, and located where the town of Pleasant Plains now stands. Their first summer was spent in their wagon-bed. Cutting a couple of logs, they rolled them up, and placed their wagon between them, building their camp-fire in front. That spring, broke and planted twelve acres of corn. The following fall, built a log cabin, sixteen by eighteen, where they remained one year, when they moved to where Mr. Irwin now resides, took up land, built a cabin, which is standing at the present time, where he remained until his death, which oc- curred March 1, 1845. In politics, was an old- line Whig. Mrs. Rachel Irwin died in 1866 or 1867. The subject of this sketchi was reared on a farm, and received a limited education. Octo- ber 18, 1838, married Miss Cynthetia Broad- well, daughter of John B. Broadwell, of Ohio. She was born in St. Louis, October 17, 1819.

96-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

The fruits of this marriage were five children, three of whom are living, viz .: Amos D., Betsey J., and Sarah P. Mr. Irwin has resided on the place where he now lives forty-three years, and says his intention is to spend the balance of his life in the same place. Mr. Irwin has held sev- eral local offices of trust in the gift of the people, justice of the peace for four years, and super- visor of the town; is one of the large and en- terprising farmers of the county, owning seven hundred and seventy-eight acres of land, six hundred under cultivation, valued at $75 per acre; raises three hundred acres of corn, fifty acres of wheat, fifty acres of oats; feeds two car- loads of cattle, and the same of hogs.

B. F. Irwin, retired farmer, was born in San- gamon county, in 1822. His father, S. L. Irwin, was born in North Carolina, 1779. He was marr ed in North Carolina, 1802, to Miss R. Hud- son, who was born in Virginia in 1785. In 1819, they emigrated to Tennessee, resided there one year, then came to Sangamon county, April, 1820, and located where Pleasant Plains now stands; lived there two months, then moved to a small .farm where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1845; his wife followed him in 1367; they left a family of fifteen children. Mr. B. F. Irwin was married to Miss Jane Combs. They had one child. Mrs. Irwin died in 1848. He married for his second wife, Miss Martha Huber, who was born April 1, 1834. The fruits of this marriage were two children, one son and one daughter, the latter now deceased. Mr. Irwin has a fine farm of four hundred acres in this township, and one of four hundred and eighty acres in Nebraska. The farm in this county is valued at sixty dollars an acre. In politics, he is a Republican.

F. M. Jordan, M. D., Pleasant Plains, Illi- nois; was born in Menard county, Illinois, on the 22d day of May, 1826. His father, Henry Jor- dan, was born in Ohio, about 1804. His mother, Ksah Huli, was born in the same State in 180S, where they were married in 1825. The follow- ing year came to Illinois and located in Menard

. county, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1869; mother still living and resides in Kansas. The subject of this sketch married Miss R. M. Michner; she was born in Ohio, May 29, 1840. Her parents emigrated to Illi- nois and located in Decatur, Macon county, when she was three years old. The fruits of this marriage is two children, viz: Aura D., born July 27, 1866, and Frank T., born March 7, 1870. The Doctor received a classical educa- tion at the Normal University of Illinois. After

leaving school, commenced the reading of med- icine in Decatur, with Dr. W. B. Hosttetler, where he remained one and a half years, and the fol- lowing six years practiced medicine, and in the meantime taught school. In 1872, attended lec- tures and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago; thence went to Shelbyville, Illinois, where he followed his profession four years. He then went to Chicago, where he attended a post graduate course, and practiced in the free dis- pensary for three years, when he came to New Berlin, where he formed a partnership with Dr. W. L. Fulton, where he remained one year, when he came to Pleasant Plains, where he has followed his profession. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are members of the M. E. Church.

Martin S. Mosteller, M. D., Pleasant Plains, Illinois, was born in Salisbury township, San- gamon county, Illinois, on the twenty-first day of April, 1842. Son of Thomas and Charlotte (Morris) Mosteller; father of German descent and a native of Ohio, and mother a native of Tennessee. They were married in Franklin county, Indiana, July 21, 1827. There was a family of four sons and four daughters, six of whom are living, viz: Alice J., now the wife of Job Davenport; Dorcus, wife of Dr. F. P. Antler, of Petersburg; Christopher E., a practicing physician of Rising Sun, Polk county, Iowa; Martin S .; John H. A .; Eliza W., now Mrs. Thomas Davis, of Vandalia, Missouri. His father, by occupation, was a carpenter, and died in Cartwright township, February 22, 1881; mother died March 2, 1865. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he commenced read- ing medicine under his brother, Dr. Christopher E. Mosteller, and remained with him one year. In 1867, attended a course of lectures at Cincin- nati Eclectic Medical College, and in 1869, another course, when he graduated with honor. In 1864, married Miss Sarah M. Antler, a daughter of Leonard Antler; she was born in Morgan county, Illinois, May 11, 1842. By this union there were five children, four of whom are living, viz: Freddie F., Albert A., Maud M., Bertie B. The doctor came to Pleasant Plains in 1870, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, where he is meet- ing with a lucrative practice. In politics is a Republican.

Lewis A. Mowry, farmer, post office, Pleasant Plain :; was born in Smithfield, Providence county, Rhode Island, May 27, 1821; son of Levi and Alpha (Aldrich) Mowry, native of Rhode Island, where they were married, June 12, 1814. There

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

was a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, four of which are living at the present writing: Duty, Lewis A., Martin C., and Maranda B., wife of Baxter Arnold, of Rhode Island. Mr. Levi Mowry died in Rhode Island, October 10, 1863; mother died in Sangamon county, Illinois, July 28, 1868. They were mem- bers of the Free-will Baptist Church. Mr. Mowry, in early life, learned the trade of boot and shoe making, at Waterford, Massachusetts, which he followed about four years, when he was employed as a clerk in a general store, where he remained six years. In 1842, married Miss Johanna M. Taft, a daughter of Benona and Nancy Taft, native of Rhode Island, where she was born, December 28, 1820. The fruits of this marriage is four children, three of whom are living, Charles L. B., born Sept. 1, 1845, died Aug. 18, 1846; Mary M., born Feb. 21, 1848; Chas. L., born Feb. 5, 1855; Irving L., born May 17, 1861.

Mr. Mowry in politics, is a Republican, and has affiliated with the party since its organiza- tion; has one hundred and thirty-four acres of land under a high state of cultivation, valued at $65 per acre; raises sixty-five acres of corn; twenty acres of rye; ten acres of oats; turns out eighty-five head of hogs, yearly. Mr. and Mrs. Mowry came to the county in limited circum- stances, but pulled together, and they have made a fine property and home.

Robert S. Plunkett, farmer, was born in Ca- barras county, North Carolina, on the 15th day of June, 1808; son of John H. and Elizabeth (Purvines) Plunkett. In about 1804, they were married in North Carolina, where there were eight children born. In 1823, left his home in North Carolina, with teams, for the Sangamo country; camping out, and was seven weeks making their journey. He first located on the place where S. P. Plunkett now lives, and moved into a log cabin about twelve by fourteen feet, where he remained until the following fall; liv- ing in it without any floor or a window glass. He entered land and made a farm, and remained until his death. Mr. Plunkett, in politics, was an old line Whig. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received but a limited school education, in a log cabin. In 1829, married Miss Ruth Combs, a daughter of Samuel Combs, a native of Kentucky, where she was born in Green county. The fruits of this marriage were six children, four boys and two daughters, five of whom are living, viz: Martha A., Asa W., Jason D., Richard M. J., John N .; Rebecca J., Martha, deceased. Mrs. Ruth Plunkett died in 1844. For his second wife, married Miss Ann

Alexander, a daughter of Joshua Alexander. Mr. Plunkett has been a farmer all his life, and has lived on the same place, with the exception of one winter. Has one hundred and ten acres of land, ninety acres under a high state of culti- vation-valued at $75 per acre. Mr. Plunkett has been identified with the county all his life; has seen the prairies, in their wild, uncultivated state, covered with wild game, to one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Mr. Plunkett was an old hunter, and many a deer, turkey and wolf have bit the dust by his unerring aim. For his third wife, married Mrs. Joseph Gateley; her maiden name was Hind; she was born in Ten- nessee. By this union there were two children, Nancy L. and Ruth. Mrs. Plunkett died Feb- ruary, 1879.

G. M. Renshaw was born August 7, 1830, in Sangamon county. W. P. Renshaw, his father, was born November 7, 1800, near Salisbury, Georgia. His mother, Martha Nesbet, was born November 8, 1794, near Lexington, Kentucky. They were married in Bond county, Illinois, December 31, 1818, and came to Sangamon county in 1821, locating in what is now Cart- wright township. Seven children were born to them, viz: Jane, Mary A., now Mrs. S. L. Harri- son; Margaret E., now Mrs. F. Butler; James N., deceased; Barbara, now Mrs. Haughton; John S. and William P. G. M. was married October 22, 1866, to Matilda F. Parker, who was born in Robertson county, Tennessee. They had three children, two daughters and one son. Mr. Renshaw has a fine farm of seventy-six acres, all of which is under cultivation.

William Riggins, farmer, post office, Rich- land; was born in Cape May county, New Jer- sey, on the 28th day of July, 1812, where they were married. Son of Caleb and Charlotte (Little) Riggins. By this union there were ten children, one died in infancy. The children were as follows: William, Ellen, James, Jonas, John, Jeremiab, Samuel, Sarah and Mary, of which one is living at the present writing. In 1839, his parents emigrated to Mason county, where he entered land and made a farm, and re- mained until his death, which occurred about 1852; his mother died some years later. When William was twenty-one years of age, he went to work in a ship-yard, where he remained three years. He afterwards rented land, but not meeting with financial success he came West. In 1834, married Martha Mosslander. She was born in Cumberland county, New Jersey, July 28, 1813. The fruits of this marriage was six children, two of whom are now living: Eliza-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

beth, now Mrs. Jane Tripp; Mary, now Mrs. Franklin H. Wood. Mrs. Martha Riggins died April 4, 1844. He again married Mrs. Rathsack, whose maiden name was Bohme. She was born in Germany, January 22, 1827. There were two children-Annie and William H. Mr. Riggins is one of the large and well-to-do farmers of the county; has one hundred and eighty acres of land, valued at $50.00 per acre. Mr. Riggins came to the county in an early day, without means, but by close attention to business has made a fine home. In politics, was a Repub- lican.

Edwin Watts, farmer, post office, Farming- dale, was born in Sangamon county, on the 14th day of June, 1839; son of Charles and Elizabeth (Innes) Watts, who emigrated to Sangamon county, in 1833. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a good business education, being a graduate at Bell, Bryant &

Stratton's Business College, at Chicago, Illinois. In 1860, embarked in the cattle trade, in Kansas, which he prosecuted some twelve years, when he returned to Cartwright township, where he has followed the same business in connection with farming. In October, 1871, married Miss Laura E. Rickard, a daughter of S. P. Rickard and Sophia Emet. She was born in Sangamon county, September 6, 1847. There are two child- ren, Mary E., born May 21, 1875; Laura E., born November 2, 1879. Mr. Watts has a beautiful home with one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is under cultivation, valued at sixty-five dollars per acre; raises two hundred acres of corn, fifty acres of wheat, turns out four hundred head of cattle and four hundred head of hogs yearly.

Mr. Watts has been identified with the county all his life and has seen it from its infancy to a fine cultivated country.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXII.

TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE OF CHATHAM.

TOWNSHIP OF CHATHAM.

The township of Chatham is situated in the southern part of Sangamon county, being town- ship fourteen north, range six west of the third principal meridian. Originally, the township was three-fourths prairie, the timber land being confined to points along Panther and Lick creeks The fears of the early settlers have never been realized that the timber would soon all be destroyed, for in 1881 there is more tim- ber in the aggregate, but not same quality, than when John Campbell selected his land on Lick creek, and cleared away timber for his farm.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settler of Chatham township was John Campbell, in 1818, who arrived on the 22d day of March, and located on Lick creek, in the west part of the town. John Campbell was born November 4, 1790, in Carter county, Tennessee. His father, Jeremiah Campbell, settled there before the American Revolution, and was a sol- dier during the Revolution, under General Francis Marion. He lived to be about one hundred years old. His youngest son, Jackson, was the owner of the old homestead at the be- ginning of the great rebellion. The farm had been in the family about one hundred years. John Campbell enlisted in a company from Car- ter county, in the second war with England, served six months, re-enlisted, and served until March, 1815. He was an ensign in the last cam- paign, and drew a pension to the end of his life. He remained in Tennessee until 1818, when he moved to Madison county, Illinois, and was there married, November 6, 1818, to Lavina Park- ison, who was born February 21, 1803. They had six children-Alfred C., William P., Jere- miah, Josiah W., Peter C., and Caroline.

Mrs. Lavinah Campbell died December 13, 1853, and John Campbell was married in 1855, to Mrs. Margery Carson, whose maiden name was Parkison, a sister of his first wife. She died March 5, 1870. John Campbell died February, 1875, on the farm where he settled in 1818, five miles west of Chatham, leaving a large estate, which he had accumulated by industry and econ- omy. He, as nearly all the earliest settlers, took part in the Black Hawk war. The first mill in the county, built by Daniel Lisle, was sold by him, and after changing hands once or twice, was bought by Mr. John Campbell, and moved to his farm on Lick creek, where he put it up and ran it for years, each customer bringing his own horses to run it. That kind of mills went out of use long ago, and one of the burrs was used by Mr. Campbell as a doorstep, to the day of his death.

Henry Brown was probably the second settler in the township. He arrived in the summer of 1819, from the South, and remained but a few years, when he left the State.

John Darneille, another of the pioneers of 1819, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, June 8, 1791. He served fourteen months in the war of 1812-13, half the time as first Lieu- tenant, and was then promoted to Captain. Mar- garet Norton was born October 25, 1793, in Bourbon county, also. They were married there, February 20, 1814. The family moved to San- gamon county, Illinois, arriving November, 1819, in what is now Chatham township, first at a place called Turkey Point, and in the spring of 1820, moved further up Lick creek, and made a permanent settlement five miles west of the present town of Chatham, Mr. Darneille learned to write by fire-light, and in the absence of paper, peeled buckeye bark from the trees, and when it became dry, did his writing on that, until he

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

learned to keep accounts of all his business transactions. He acquired such fame as an accurate and legible penman, that he became the neighborhood letter-writer. He was on the first grand jury that was ever empanneled in Sanga- mon county, May 7, 1821. They held their deliberations, some sitting on a pile of rails, and some on gopher-hills out on the prairie, within the present limits of Springfield. He was elect- ed as one of the Representatives of Sangamon county in the State Legislature of 1840, the first that ever assembled in Springfield. Mr. Dar- neille died March 10, 1854, and his widow April 30, 1875, both on the farin on which they settled in 1820.

Levi Harbur, and Samuel Harbour, broth- ers, (but spelling their name differently,) also came in 1819. Levi Harbur was born Novem- ber 21, 1797, in Garrard county, Kentucky. When he was a child his parents moved to Christian county, in the same State. He was there married, June 29, 1817, to Eleanor Ashley, and moved to Madison county, Illinois, in Sep- tember following, accompanied by his wife and his brother Samuel. He left his brother in Madi- son county, and with his wife went to the south- ern part of Missouri, remaining one and a half years, and had one child there. He returned to Madison county, where Mrs. Eleanor Harbur died September 10, 1819. Leaving his child in the care of a friend, he came to what is now Sangamon county, one and a quarter miles east of the town of Loami. He went eighty miles to Edwardsville, obtained a license, returned to the San-ga-ma country, and was married March 25, 1820, to Mary Sawyers. Mrs. Mary Harbur died September 8, 1857, and Mr. Harbur married Frances Young, October 1, 1861.

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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 139

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