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 142

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 142

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).

To return to the subject of our sketch. His early life was passed upon the home farm. His

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

advantages for obtaining an education were in- deed limited; none other than a few weeks each winter in the old-time log school house, and the proverbial inefficient teacher. On February 23, 1822, the family left New York for Illinois. Reached Olean, on Allegheny river; there they built a flat-boat, and taking on some small fami- lies with them, they ran down to Shawneetown, Illinois, where they disembarked. They were then two hundred miles from their destined place; having brought one good team with them and had also been so provident as to lay in a year's supply of provisions, they engaged a good four-horse team, and ou May 6, 1822, they ar- rived in Loami township. There they entered two hundred and forty acres, and some time after entered one hundred and sixty acres more, making four hundred in all, most of which is still in the hands of the family; i's well selected, consisting of prairie and timber, well watered by Lick creek. Mr. Kinney remained on the farm with his father until his majority -- August 4, 1828; he then arranged to go onto one of the farms of his father, and on October 23, 1828, he married Miss Margaret Dorrance, daughter of Daniel Dorrance, who, with his family, consist- ing of one son and two daughters, left Wayne county, New York, in the spring of 1822, for Illinois. They arrived at Olean, on the Alleghe- ny river, at the same time of the Kinney fam- ily; they going down to Cincinnati on a raft of lumber. At Cincinnati they took a boat for St. Louis, thence by team to Loami township, and located on a farm adjoining Mr. K's.

Mr. Kinney remained on his farm until 1833, when his father became infirm, and desired his return to the old home. He accordingly changed farms with his brother and remained with his fatlier until his death, on March 18, 1859, being eighty-five years of age, his mother having died September 15, 1850, at seventy-two years of age.

His son Daniel was born August 19, 1829; married Annie Elmore, April 7, 1856; now on farm in Loami township. Clarrissa, born April 9, 1831; married to James M. Darneille, January 1, 1852; now in Chatham, retired farmer. Caro- line, born October 9, 1831, died March 6, 1853; Eliza Jane, born October 9, 1834, married John R. Shelton November 30, 1854, a farmer; Re- becca M., born January 14, 1837, married David Van Deren, December 8, 1859, who died after a short illness, February 15, 1874, leaving his wife and daughter in affluent circumstances.

During the Black Hawk war, in 1831, Mr. Kinney was out in a cavalry company, under the command of Captain Sanders; was present at the

burning of the Indian town, near Rock Island, During a heavy rain, the troops crossed the river in a steamboat that had been sent to rescue them from the woods should they ambush them. The surprise upon the Indians was most com- plete. They fled in all directions, leaving many stores behind them. The troops burned the village, which was probably one of the best built ones.

Mr. Kinney associated himself with the Baptist Church, in 1840, and has since been an active and consistent member; has ever been prompt and efficient in every moral and religious move- ment. For many years he was deacon in the church, the sacred mantle falling upon him from his father, who had sustained it for many years before him.

Mr. K. has removed from his farm to his pleas- ant home, in Chatham village, where, surrounded with many who have passed through the vicissi- tudes of the early settlers' life, with him, he is passing the remaining years of his useful life, fully assured of duty done.

Isaac Newton Lowe was born near Three Bridges, New Jersey, April 2, 1841, he was a son of Richard I., who was born in Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 1802, and who married for his second wife Sarah William- son, who was born 1820, married about 1837. His grandfather, Isaac, was of German descent, and for many years was a "village landlord" of the genuine old Pennsylvania type. His wife died leaving only one child, Richard I., about 1838; they moved to New Jersey, where Rich- ard I. engaged for several years in successful merchandising and manufacturing flour. While thus engaged he bought a tract of land of two hundred and forty acres in Jersey county, Illi- nois, and in the fall of 1847, with his father and family, he moved upon it, then a wild prairie. To expedite business he bought a small piece of land with a house on it, and at once set to im- proving his farm. His father being well stricken with years of active life, died early in 1848 Richard, year by year, continued his improve- ments until now (1881), he has one of the finest farms in Jersey county, in fact, in Southern Illi- nois. His farm upon its boundary lines has a fine living hedge fence; all kinds of fruit are grown in abundance.

HIe is now ( 1881), in his eightieth year, in full enjoyment of all his mental faculties, superin- tending his great interest. He has been most abstemious during his life, having never used tobacco, or used liquor of any kind other than for medical purposes.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

He had twelve children, five now living. Two of his sons were among the first to respond to the call for troops to crush the Rebellion. Abra- ham W., born 1839, enlisted in the Ninety- seventh Illinois Infantry, but before he was mus- tered in he went to the Springfield Light Artill- ery, August 25, 1862, and joined that. He dis- tinguished himself in the service, but after a few months became partially disabled by rheumatism; was detailed as hospital steward, and served till the close of the war; mustered out June 30, 1865. Edwin, born April 2, 1843, enlisted in the Ninety-seventh Illinois Infantry, 1862, then rineteen years of age; served with distinction in many battles; was killed at the siege of Fort Blakely, Alabama, an out-post of Mobile; the rebels had surrendered, and he, a color bearer, was planting the colors on the walls when a rebel in the trenches shot him; his body was brought home some months after.

Isaac N., the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey, April 2, 1841, moved to Illinois with his father, in 1847. He remained upon the farm at home until he was twenty-five years old, ( 1866) when he married Helen E. Davis, October 31, 1866, who was born October 22, 1849. She was a daughter of John W. Davis, of Jerseyville.

Mr. L. worked his father's farm on shares until February, 1872, when he moved into Talk- ington township, Sangamon county, where he lived until 1880, when he bought the farm known as the W. T. Mason farm, in Chatham township, of one hundred and sixty acres, at $50 an acre; and is now (1881), a substantial citizen of Sanga- mon county. His farm is finely situated, com- posed of rolling prairie; his boundary lines are living hedges.

His opportunities for education were good for that period. The Jersey county schools at that time had assumed a high standard. Like his father he uses no tobacco or liquor, They have had eight children; two died young; the others are at home with their parents.

Ilugh S. Magill .- There are many very in- teresting features connected with the Magill family. The subject of the sketch was born June 10, 1830, in the county of Downs, the most northeasterly county of Ireland, separated from Scotland by the North Channel. His birth- place was near Belfast, the manufacturing city of Ireland, and the largest linen manufacturing city in the world. The "Giant's Causeway," so celebrated in the history of Ireland, is only a short distance from his birthplace. The inhabi- tants are largely of Scottish descent, and of

strong religious principles. His father, James Magill, was born in 1784; was a cotton goods manufacturer. His mother was Elizabeth Stuart, born October 12, 1792; was in direct line of descent from Robert Stuart, of Scotland. On May 12, 1844, the elder Magill, with a family of eight children, landed in New York, and at once went to Utica, where he again engaged in cotton goods manufacturing. He died in Utica, Octo- ber 2, 1855. His widow died February 11, 1881, at the residence of her daughter, in Winnebago county, Illinois, eighty-nine years of age. Her body was buried beside her husband in Utica. H. S. Magill moved to Sangamon county, Chat- ham township, March 1, 1856; bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved rolling prairie. In a few days he had a house built and moved into it. The house thus hastily built forms a part of the present structure. From the time the first blow was struck, he has been steadily increasing his gains, beautifying his buildings and grounds. While he is thus engaged, he is not unmindful of his own or his family's mental culture. He has a good library, to which he adds from time to time, besides he provides himself with the general news of the day by papers and periodi- cals. He married Charlotte A. Richmond, born in Madison county, New Jersey, September 7, 1831. They were married November 24, 1853, in Utica, New York. Her father was Dr. Hoyt Richmond, born in Castleton, Vermont, January 15, 1805. He graduated at Castleton Medical College, and for many years was a successful physician and surgeon. Her mother was Lydia Cazier, born in South Britton, Conn., June 26, 1803. She was a daughter of Matthias Cazier, born 1760, on Staten Island, New York; was a Presbyterian clergyman, who graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. The father of Matthias, and Guat Grome, father of Miss Magill, was one of the Huguenots (a sect of Protestants) who, for years, were persecuted in France, (see History of Reformation) and finally, with others, fled to America. Mr. Cazier settled on Staten Island, and obtained large possessions, bringing much wealth with him. At what date they came is not defined. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, we find the elder Cazier, with his four sons, able to bear arms, rallying around the standard of liberty. Matthias was the youngest, but when seventeen years old he too, joined the army. There are many amusing, as well as sad incidents connected with their war history. At the time they lived upon Staten Island, slavery had been introduced

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

into America, and the Cazier family owned a few slaves. Their treatment to them was kind indeed, and a mutual attachment existed between master and slaves.

One day, when Mrs. Cazier was nearly alone on the farm with the slaves, a number of Tories, who knew her situation, came to the place, col- lected all the valuable stock, and with several slaves they urged to go with them, drove the stock away. Mrs. Cazier sadly felt the loss of the stock, but was greatly grieved to have the slaves she had been so kind to, go away at that time from her. A few days after, she saw her faithful slaves returning, driving the entire stock back; going out to meet them, they said: "Missus, dat was de best way to fool dem beats." The slaves had been so willing to go that the Tories put them in charge of the stock-how faithfully they held their charge is seen.

During the long years of the war, Mrs. Cazier had died, the British had captured New York, the Cazier property had been destroyed or scat- tered, all of the heirs except Matthias, had died, or been killed. At the close of the war Mr. Cazier returned to his home to find desolation made desolate. The brave old man, who had faced the bloody carnage of Catholic France for his religious liberties, and for eight long years had stood shoulder to shoulder with his comrades, in defense of the liberties of his adopted country, looked upon the scene-his brain reeled-he took a last look upon his once loved home, became a wanderer, and of his death no one knows.

Some kind friend aided the young Matthias, he finished his collegiate course at Princeton, and when properly fitted, was ordained, and settled at Castleton, Vermont; was the first settled minister in the State.

Vermont, at some time later, passed a law, giving to the "first settled minister in the State" a certain amount of land. After preaching a while, (time not known) in Vermont, he went to Pelham, Massachusetts, thence to South Britton, Connecticut, where the mother of Mrs. Magill was born, in 1803. It must have been about this time the law in Vermont came in force, and he came into possession of his land.

Three years later, (1806,) we find he had sold the land, and moved to Madison county, New York; there he invested his money in lands again, and from the proceeds made his own sup- port. He was so Calvinistic in his belief, that he always regarded it as a special interposition of Providence in his behalf. He continued in the ministry, preaching regularly, for thirty years,

but he would never receive a cent in payment. He died in 1856; was seventy-six years of age. Thus closed the last chapter of the eventful life of that family of devoted Huguenots.

The Magill family is equally interesting in its ancestry. We find them for many generations, active adherents of the Scotch Presbyterian Church. Three brothers, Magill, graduated at Edinburg University, and became prominent clergymen. The Rev. Magill, D.D., of Philadel- phia, is one of those brothers. Mr. H. S. Magill has now nine living children.

Noah D. Mason .- The grand-father of Mr. Mason was born January 15, 1782, at Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts. He was apprenticed to a hard master, from whom he ran away, and followed the sea as a sailor several years. July 15, 1804, Mr. Mason married Lucinda Stetson, who was born June 14, 1782. She was born in Hanover, Plymouth county. After their mar- riage he made a voyage of near two years to China. On his return from that voyage he re- linquished the life of a sailor and moved to Han- cock county, State of Maine, near Belfast. This would be about 1806. In 1814, he moved to Genesee county, New York, and in the early part of 1819 he went to Olean Point, on the Alle- gheny river. In 1821 he with others built a boat, and their families ran down that river and the Ohio, and landed in Pope county, Illinois. A little more than two years later they started for Tazewell county, but finding Sangamon county possessing more advantages they settled in Auburn township, April 10, 1824. Of their children, Noah, junior, comes in the line of descent we wish to follow. He was born Febru- ary 25, 1807, near Belfast, Maine. He married in Sangamon county, February 19, 1835, to Mar- tha Nuckolls. They had six children. Mrs. Mason died March 24, 1852, and he married Elizabeth Talbott, August 9, 1853. By this mar- riage they had but one child, Noah D. Mason, the subject of our sketch.

Noah D. Mason was born October 3, 1854. Married July 31, 1878, to Maria McGraw, born January 19, 1855. Her father was Absalom D. McGraw, was born in Harrison county, Ken- tucky, May 30, 1812. Leaving Kentucky, he arrived in Springfield November 28, 1836. He has a vivid recollection of the "sudden change" which occurred December 20, 1836.

He married Rebecca H. Hunter, April 30, 1859, in Springfield. She was born in Hardin county, July 17, 1815, Mr. McGraw died in the fall of 1875, on his farm in Woodside township.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Charles G., a brother of Absalom, came to Springfield about the same time, and engaged in successful merchandise business.

N. D. Mason lived on the home farm until 1866, when, with his father, he went to Spring- field. He went through the several grades, reached the High School, took part of a course, took two terms in Springfield Commercial Col- lege, where he obtained a thorough business edu- cation. He is now on the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, a farm assigned him by his father, in the partial division of his estate. The farm is fine rolling prairie, with sufficient water from creeks for all stock porposes.

Mr. Mason is entrusted with responsible posi- tions on town, school and other boards-places he fills honorably. Has one child, Lizzie, born June 4, 1879.

Edward F. Mc Connell, son of James and Sarah (Smith) McConnell, was born in Madison county, New York, April 30, 1816. His early life was passed in assisting his father on the farm in his native county, and in attending the com- mon schools, with one year at an academy, in Clinton, New York. On the 9th of September, 1840, he was united in marriage with Ann, daughter of Curtis Hoppin, of Lebanon, New York. Six children were born unto them, only one of whom is now living-James S., now re- siding in Girard, Illinois, where he is engaged in the milling business.

In the fall of 1842, Mr. McConnell and wife, in company with his father and family came to Sangamon county with the special object of engaging in farming and stock raising. Fine- wooled sheep has been a specialty with him, and since his advent in Sangamon county, he has sold more than $110,000 worth of wool, and thousands of dollars worth of sheep. When he arrived here, the neighborhood in which he settled, about two miles southwest of Chatham, was all open prairie. He was troubled for some years with the prairie wolves which infested the country, and had a particular fondness for mutton; not only the prairie wolves, but occa- sionally a large gray or black one was seen.

Mrs. McConnell died June 14, 1853, and Mr. McConnell was again married, forming an alli- ance with Mary Hoppin, a sister of his first wife, March 13, 1855. Mrs. Mary McConnell died August 28, 1877.

A third marriage contract was formed by Mr. McConnell, the lady in question being Mrs. Sarab P. Morse, whose maiden name was Storrs, a daughter of Ashabel Storrs, of Des Moines,

Iowa. The ceremony was performed January 18, 1878.

Mr. McConnell has never been a seeker for public favors, but has held the office of super- visor and other minor offices of the township. He devotes his time closely to his business, and has been in a measure, quite successful.

James McConnnell, the father of Edward F., was born in 1789, near Belfast, Ireland. Sarah Smith was born at the same place, in 1787. They were married in 1811, and soon after embarked for America, landing in New York City. In a short time he went to Belleville, New Jersey, where he labored in a powder mill three years, without losing a day. The war with England, from 1812 to 1815, was then in full force, and caused a great demand for powder. Mr. McCon- nell having learned all the processes of manu- facturing the same, and was an especial adept in the most difficult part-that of refining saltpetre. He went to Madison county, New York, and es- tablished works on his own account, and con- tinued to manufacture powder there, seven or eight years, when he turned his attention to farming and raising fine stock in the same county. After making several trips to Kentucky, selling stock, he was advised to take some to Illinois. Acting upon this advice, he embarked at Pitts- burg with a lot of jacks and jennets, landed them at Shawneetown, and drove them from there to Springfield, arriving in the fall of 1840. He had no thought of making his home here, but was so well pleased with the country that he bought the land about three miles south of Springfield, mak- ing part of the farms on which two of his sons now reside. He went back to New York, set- tled up his business, and came with his family the next year. His removal was the cause of several other families coming, also. Mr. McCon- nell brought a flock of about two hundred fine merino sheep, and at the same time some thor- ough-bred Berkshire hogs. His son, Edward F., brought a flock of merino sheep, also. This was about the first effort to introduce fine blooded · sheep and hogs into Sangamon county.

Zachary T. Mc Ginnis -The biography of Mr. McGinnis is identified with that of some of the earliest settlers of this portion of Sangamon county, and we refer to a few of them.

Mr. David McGinnis, grandfather of Z. T., was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, in 1798. December 24, 1820, he married Eliza Gibson, a native of Boone county, Kentucky.

Mr. McG. visited Sangamon county in 1826, to select a home. He returned to Kentucky, and in the fall of the next year he, with his fam-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ily, his brother G. D. and wife, set out for their new home.

On November 27, 1827, they arrived at what is now Island Grove township. David McGinnis stall-fed sixty head of cattle in 1838, the first effort of the kind in Sangamon county. He drove the herd to St. Louis, and sold them at $18 per head. The pay was received mostly in silver. This he placed in an old business secretary at home, without lock. Neither had his house a lock upon it. His own laborers and other men, knowing of it, were passing to and fro, but never was a penny disturbed. This speaks well for the honesty of early settlers. David died July 2, 1867, from the effects of being thrown from a carriage. Of their children born in Ken- tucky, William, born in Boor county, July 7, 1823, married, July 19, 1845, Lorinda Darnielle, a daughter of John Darnielle, who located in Sangamon county from Kentucky in the spring of 1820. William lived in the western part of Chatham township until November 18, 1879, when he went to Kansas.

David and William invented a device for grinding the prairie plow, by wheels and levers. It was used in 1829, and generally adopted by the farmers. They might have realized quite a fortune from it, had they secured a patent on it. O` his children, Zachary T. was born September 24, 1849. He received an academic course of study, and in 1867, began his mercantile life in Loami township. Afterward, he was with E. B. Smith, at Chatham, where he was most thor- oughly instructed in everything relative to mer- cantile pursuits.

In 1877, Hon. B. F. Caldwell, knowing his positive fitness for business, assigned to him the entire supervision of his mercantile interests in Chatham, a position of trust he occupies at pres- ent writing (1881).

Mr. McGinnis married, November 24, 1871, Miss Fannie, an accomplished lady, the daughter of Dr. N. Wright, who has been the leading practitioner of medicine and surgery in Chatham for many years.

Mr. McGinnis has now three interesting chil- dren.

Joseph Mc Wherter was born in Marion county, Ohio, April 17, 1846. His father, James Mc- Wherter, who was engaged in farming, died in 1851. The boy, Joseph, was left to the care of his mother. In 1854, his mother again married and removed to Knox county, Missouri, in 1855, where Joseph was employed on the farm until February 14, 1862, when he enlisted in the Second Missouri Cavalry, and hastened to the

defense of his country. His company being composed of expert horsemen, they were, most of the time, ordered into scout or skirmish duty, and the record of the Second Missouri Cavalry was one bravely won. Mr. McWherter was in thirty-two close battles and skirmishes. He was wounded but twice-once in the body, just above the hip, by a shot discharged in a close fight, at Scatterville, Missouri. The wound was not severe, only keeping him off duty about two weeks. The other, by accident, near Herman City, Missouri, while on guard duty. Three drunken soldiers were put under guard, one broke away and ran, was re-arrested, and while the Captain of the company was binding him, he drew his revolver and aimed at the captain's heart. At that instant, a bystander seeing the movement, quickly knocked his hand up, and the ball passed through the captain's hat and left its mark across h's scalp. The captain drew his revolver, and in his excitement and struggle with the prisoner, missed his object and badly wounded McWherter, who was off duty four months in consequence of it. The captain then shot the prisoner twice, causing him to carry the remembrance of his spree to his grave. He was mustered out April 8, 1865. He being then near his majority, he began work for himself, farming about two years, when he began buying stock and supplying a meat market, which he had opened, locating at Newark, Missouri. April 1, 1870, he came to Adams county, Illi- nois, and engaged in farming and general stock trade. In 1873, he went to Williamsville, San- gamon county, and conducted a large meat market, remaining until 1875, when he came to Chatham, and still remains, now wholly in the stock business. In December, 1871, he married Miss S. J. Conrad, daughter of Mr. Conrad, proprietor of hotel at Williamsville. Have had four children. Mr. McWherter always managed his business, from a small beginning, very sue- cessfully, maintaining an unimpeachable charac- ter for honesty and integrity. His school facilities, while in Missouri, were of very low order, in a slave district, where there were no advantages except for the rich, but by making the best of his limited means, and by personal application, he has acquired a fair business edu- cation.

Fielding M. Neal .- Mr. Neal is in direct line of ancestry from Daniel Neal, born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1770; then he married Polly Booth, a native of same county. They had ten children in Virginia. In fall of 1808, they moved to Franklin county, Tennessee. where John A.

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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 142

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