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 178

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 178

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R .; H. R. Stevenson, postmaster. Of the fore- going all have left save one-H. R. Stevenson, who still remains with the company, and who is now acting as manager of the store, coal agent and postmaster. The mine has been operated steadily since 1872. At present all accounts of the business done in the mine is all accounted for in the store. From $7,000 to $9,000 per month is required to pay the men employed in the mines.

The Barclay Christian Church was organized by Elder Robert Foster, September 3, 1837, and was known as the Wolf Creek Christian Church. The following named composed the original offi- cers: Andrew J. Grove, Rezin H. Constant, Miletus W. Ellis, elders; Samuel Wilson, James Taylor, William F. Elkin, deacons; W. W. Ellis, clerk. The first meetings were held at the house of Isaac H. Constant, in Williamsville township and at R. H. Constant's in Clear Lake. After the congregation was organized meetings were held at Mr. Grove's, about three miles south of Williamsville, then at a school house about a quarter of a mile from R. H. Constant's, then at a school house on southwest cor- ner of the southeast quarter of section two. They then built a church house at Barclay at a cost of $2,700, in size thirty-two by forty- four. Since its organization the church has been ministered unto by the following named: Elders Foster, Powell, Sweet, Kane, Bowles, Peeler, Wilson, Vawter, Orcott, Mallory, Lindsley and T. J. Burton, ths present pastor. R. H. Constant is at present the only elder, with Isaac Taylor, John Taylor, William Dunavan deacons. R. H. Constant is clerk. Out of this church has grown in part that of Williamsville, Clear Lake and Cornland. When it removed to Barclay it took upon it the name of that village. The present membership is sixty-five.

George K. Berry, minister of the Christian Church, was born in Washington county, Vir- ginia, October 24, 1854, and is a son of Nathaniel and Isabella (Keys) Berry, natives of Virginia. Our subject came from Virginia to Illinois in 1866 with his parents, who located in MeDonough county. Ilis early schooling was received in the country district schools in Virginia and Illinois; began teaching in 1873 in McDonough county, and has taught about four terms in the county- from 1873 to 1876-during which time has at- tended Abingdon College, Illinois, and Normal School for teachers, in Macomb, Illinois. He united with the Christian Church, in Macomb, Illinois, April 2, 1876, and the following day entered Eureka College, Illinois, a pupil for one

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

term. During his vacation, canvassed for raising funds for the General Christian Missionary Society after which spent two terms in the above named college. Mr. Berry preached his first sermon November, 1876, in Tazewell county, Illi- nois. His first regular employment as a preacher was at Antioch, Illinois, during which time he taught school three months. In 1878, returned to Eureka College for a short time; was ordained as a minister of the gospel, at Macomb, Illinois, the third Sunday in June, 1878, by G. W. Mapes; employed at Toulon, Stark county, to preach for two years. In 1880, he visited his old home in Virginia, which is an event in his life never to be forgotten. The same year preached in Indian- apolis. Indiana, and attended Butler University. The Christian Church at Williamsville employed Mr. Berry in 1881, for their pastor, and for whom heis laboring at this writing. His present position in life is due to his personal energies and per- severance which merits and receives the respect of all his acquaintances.

Mrs. Maria Chenoweth, Williams township, widow of the late Gideon Chenoweth, was born in Sciota county, Ohio, January 3, 1815. Mrs. Chenoweth was married to Gideon Chenoweth (deceased), January 27, 1842, who was a native of Pike county, Ohio, and born January 13, 1813; Mr. Chenoweth was a son of Abram and Rebecca (Car) Chenoweth, natives of Virginia, who came to Pike county, Ohio, from Kentucky, in 1796, where they remained until their death. To them were born fourteen children, viz: Wil- liam, Jacob, Ann, Susan, John, Joel, Abram, Noah, Gideon, Martha, Hannah, Sarah, Rebecca and Mary. Gideon Chenoweth remained on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years old; taught school several years, and then engaged in the mercantile business in Piketon, Pike county, Ohio; he was a successful merchant; he re- mained in Piketon until his death. Mrs. Cheno- weth is a daughter of John W. and Polly (Headley) Miller, natives of Virginia; Mrs. Chenoweth's education was received in the com- mon schools of her native State; she came to Sangamon county, in 1876, and located in Wil- liams township, where she owns a good farm of three hundred and eighty acres, on sections nineteen and twenty, and a good residence; she is a member of the M. E. Church.

William F. Constant was born in Williams township, February 25, 1838, is the son of Nathan E. and Mary M. (Stewart) Constant; the former was born in Kentucky, the latter in New York, and had five children; William F., and Nathan E. the only ones now living. Mr. Con-

stant has enjoyed good school advantages. After attending the common school in his district, be- came a student of Berean College, Jacksonville, Illinois in 1856. IIe began to farm for himself at the age of nineteen, and has continued to do 80. Mr. Constant was married in Sangamon county, October 15, 1861 to Elizabeth A. Lake, of Sangamon county, is the daughter of Thomas and Harriet (Dillen) Lake, natives of Virginia, to whom were born nine children, Ann E., Bayliss E., Susanna, James, John F., Elizabeth A., Agnes C., William B., and Mary M. Mr. and Mrs. Con- stant had one child, Mary E., who was born October 4, 1862, and died February 7, 1879. Mrs. Constant died August 7, 1881; she was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Constant owns two homesteads; one containing one hund- red, the other two hundred acres. Both farms are well improved and under cultivation. Mrs.

Constant is a member of the Christian Church.

George W. Constant, farmer, was born in Kentucky, near Winchester, October 23, 1818, and is the son of Isaac and Amy (Dean) Con- stant, natives of Kentucky and Virginia respect- ively, and came from Kentucky to Sangamon county, Illinois, in the fall of 1830, and settled on Fancy creek, in Williams township, sction seven. They had eight children, all born in Kentucky, viz: John, Rebecca, Abigal D., Mary Ann, Abery G., Samuel D., James and George W. Mr. Constant came to Sangamon county with his parents, who were among the early settlers of the county, and remained at home on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, and then be- gan to appropriate his earnings to his own use, making rails from a piece of timber-land given him by his father. His education was obtained in the country schools of his boyhood days. Mr. Constant was married in Williams township, November 26, 1840, to Martha B. Stewart, daughter of James and Roxanna (Stillman) Stewart. The former was born at Fort Ann, New York, in 1777, and the latter in Massachu- setts, March 22, 1786, to whom were born eight children: Mary M., Roxanna, Jane C., Benja- min H., William A., Abigal C., Martha B., James O., and Joseph B., the first two men- tioned, Mary M., and Roxanna, are the only ones living. Mr. and Mrs. George Constant were blessed with three children: William S., born October 24, 1841; James H., born Febru- ary 23, 1845; Mary A., born December 12, 1847, all of whom were born in Williams township, and are living. Mrs. Constant was a member of the Christian Church, which membership lasted till her death in June 1, 1850. She was

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

born in Illinois March 10, 1821, being in her thirtieth year when she died.

Mr. Constant was married again in the city of Springfield, October 7, 1852, to Mary W. Stapleford, a native of the State of Delaware, came to Illinois in 1836, and spent a few months at Salisbury, then went to Spring- field. Mrs. Constant has enjoyed good school privileges, and in her earlier life was engaged in teaching school for several years, in the follow- ing places: Springfield, Illinois; St. Louis, Mis- souri; Vermont, Illinois, and at Fancy Creek, Illinois; became acquainted with Mr. C. while teaching at the latter place. Mr. Constant en- tered the mercantile business in Williamsville, Sangamon county, Illinois, January, 1859, in which he remained till January, 1863. After closing out his mercantile interests, he gave his attention to farming. He is in possession of three good prairie farms, one in Logan county, the other in Williams township, two of which consist of one hundred and sixty acres each, the others two hundred and ninety-one acres, all im- proved, and all, save one hundred and thirty-five acres, under good cultivation. The old home farm is partly in timber, and included in the above farms mentioned. Mr. Constant has served in offices for several years, in Williams- ville, serving as a member of the town trustees, and president of the same body for several years, and has been on the board of education in Williamsville for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. C. have been active members of the Christian Church for over forty-three years.

His children: Wm. S. occupies one of his farms in Williams township; James H. carries on his farm in Logan county; Mary A. is the wife of James H. Groves, and resides ,in Wil- liamsville.

George W. Constant thinks the first chinch bugs discovered in Illinois was in 1832, by his father and his uncle and himself in a low basin of prairie land on his father's farm, section seven, first discovered in a small number and area, while cutting corn, and they so named them from their peculiar offensive odor. It was several years before this pest was much known or did any damage to growing crops.

Wesley Council, grain dealer, Williamsville, was born in Fancy Creek township, November 21, 1824; he is the son of Hardy and Jane (Hanna) Council, born in North Carolina, 1795, and Kentucky, 1797, respectively. They were married in White county, Illinois, in the spring of 1819, and settled in Fancy Creek township, Sangamon county, the same year; had seven

children who lived to be adults; one lately died; the living are John H., Wesley, Wm. F., George W .; Robert died this fall. Mr. Hardy Council, father of Wesley Council, took quite an interest in fine stock, and kept some of the best in the county, and took the premium on Short-Horn Durhams, at the Sangamon County Fair, 1837. Mr. Wesley Council's education was received in the old-time schools in his early life, and the work at home prevented his attending school regularly, and his education was obtained out- side the school by his own personal efforts; he took the control of his father's saw-mill, the first portable saw-mill in this region, which he managed for five years; this mill was estab- Jished by his father in 1849, and did the sawing for a large area of country. Mr. Council re, mained at home until his marriage, April 14, 1853, to Martha A. Wigginton, and by this union had thirteen children, of whom four are living, viz: John W., Willie H., Nellie and Bessie. January 1, 1857, Mr. Council moved to Wil- liamsville, and soon after began the grain busi- ness, acting as agent for Samuel N. Fullinwider; before the close of the year 1857, he engaged in the same business for himself, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Council has one of the best elevators of its capacity on the Chicago and Alton Railroad; all of its machinery and appa- ratus for the unloading and carriage of grain to their respective departments are of first-class modern improvements, thus rendering it conve- nient for receiving and shipping grain. Its spouting capacity is fifteen thousand bushels; crib room for ear corn, four thousand bushels. He can dump, shell and ship five thousand bushel per day. In 1863, he bought out Carlin Buffum, who was dealing in grain and lumber in Williamsville, and has ever since carried on the lumber business also. He has two elevators in the building-one for corn on the ear and the other for wheat, oats, rye and shelled corn; Mr. Council handles two hundred thousand bushels of grain each year; has a mill in the elevator which will grind fifty bushels of meal or sixty bushels of feed per hour; the engine is of thirty- five-horse power; the original cost of the build- ing is $10,000, erected by him in 1877; in con- nection with the grain business Mr. Council deals in lumber and agricultural implements. He was the first president of the board of town trustees of Williamsville, Illinois, and has held the office of police magistrate, and now holds the office; he is also president of the Williamsville Protec- tion Association. Mrs. Council is of a family of eleven children, viz: William, Samuel, Andrew,

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James, John, Eliza, Dollie, Martha, Mary, Eliza- beth A. and Nancy E., of whom only four are living. Mr. and Mrs. Council identified them- selves with the Methodist Church in the early years of their life, and are zealous believers and livers of their early religious faith.

Mary M. Ellis is the daughter of James and Roxana (Stillman) Stewart. Mrs. Ellis was born in New York, April 6, 1813, and is the fifth of nine children, viz .: Jane C., Benjamin HI., William A., Abigal C., Mary M., Roxana, Martha B., James O., and Joseph B. Mrs. Ellis came to Sangamon county from New York, and in 1820 settled in Williams township. Mrs. Ellis was married to Nathan E. Constant, August 25, 1843, and by this union were born to them William F., born February 25, 1838, and Nathan E., Jr., born December 19, 1843. Nathan E. Jr., enlisted in the late war August, 1862, for three years, in Company G, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Wilson. Was taken prisoner at the battle of Guntown, Mississippi, June, 1864, and taken to Andersonville prison, and subsequently to other southern prisons, but spending most of his prison life, which was nine months, in An- dersonville. He was liberated at the close of the war. Nathan E. Constant, Sr., was born April 8, 1807, in Clark county, Kentucky, and is the son of Thomas and Margery (Edmondson) Con- stant. He came to Sangamon county in 1820. He owned one hundred acres of land in Williams township. Enlisted in the Black Hawk war at Springfield in the Sangamon county company. Mr. Constant was a successful farmer, was a member of the Christian Church, and loved by all who knew him. His death occurred August 8, 1843.

Mrs. Ellis was married to Miletus W. Ellis, farmer, and native of Virginia, is the son of Levi and Cynthia Ellis, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively. Mr. Ellis came to San- gamon county, where Springfield now stands, in 1817. After they were married moved on his farm, which is her present home. Mr. Ellis was a member of the trustees of Williamsville. He was a member of the Christian Church and acted as elder for thirty-eight years. Mrs. Ellis is a member of the Christian Church and is faith- ful to all her duties, and respected by all who xnow her.

Frank Hickman was born June 25, 1845, and is the son of George T. and Elizabeth (Lyon) Hickman, natives of the State of Kentucky and moved to Sangamon county in the fall previous to the deep snow. Mr. Frank Hickman received

his early education in the common schools in his county, and subsequently completed the commer- cial course in the Springfield Business College in 1866. He continued to farm at home after his return from college until twenty-five year old, then began to control his farming interest for himself. Mr. Hickman was married on the 27th of December, 1871, to Sophia Burns, daughter of John R. and Lucy Burns, natives of Kentucky, and settled in Sangamon county, about 1828, were also the first persons married in Buffalo Hart township, and to them were born Mary J., Thomas, William A., Martha, Armentia, Iva, John T., Robert and Sophia. Mr. Hickman has six brothers and sisters, viz .: William H. enlist- ed in the late war in Company B, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Regiment Infantry Volun- teers, August 1862, and died January 19, 1863, in the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee; Mary E., Richard O., Henrietta, Thomas C. Mr. Hickman enlisted in the late war in May, 1864, in response to the government call for one hun- dred day soldiers and was discharged September 24, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Hickman had one child Arthur Franklin, born February 2, 1875, and died February 14, 1879. Mr. Hickman has in his possession a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all under cultivation. Mr. Hickman is a Republican.

William S. Hussey was born in Green county, Ohio, November 2, 1809; is the son of Nathan and Mary (Stewart) Hussey, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Virginia, respectively, came from Ohio to Sangamon county in 1819, and settled on Fancy creek, and this was the first settlement on that creek. Here he lived until 1845, when he moved to Oregon, and died there in 1858, being seventy-three years old. His wife, Mary Hussey, was born in 1786, and died 1842. Mr. William Hussey came to Sangamon county with his parents, in 1819; his education was received in the district schools of Sangamon county. At the age of twenty-one he commenced farming for himself, by improving and cultivating new prairie land which his father had given him. By his industry and untiring will he added largely to his first farm, and in 1851, had accumulated twelve hundred acres of land. Mr. Hussey was married to Sarah Yocom, in Williams township, in 1834. They were the parents of the follow- ing named children: Nathan, Jacob Y., Mary J., William F., and Stephen, are living. Mrs. Hus- sey was the daughter of Jacob and Mary Yocom. Mr. Hussey moved to Oregon in 1851, where he remained till 1864, when he returned to this county. Mrs. Hussey died the 18th of March,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1852; she was a member of the Methodist Church.

Mr. Hussey enlisted in the Black Hawk war, in 1832, in Captain Claywell's company, Fourth Regiment, and Third Brigade, and was mus- tered out at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien. Wisconsin; was in the battle of Wisconsin and Bad Ax, on the Mississippi river. Mr. Hussey has been supervisor of Williams township two terms, and justice of the peace and collector of the township. He was married the second time to Mrs. Jemimah Gilbreth, daughter of Samnel and Catharine Thompson, natives of South Carolina. Mrs. Hussey has two children living, by her first husband, Wil- liam C. Gilbreth, and by this last marriage two, Josephine and Charles A., living. Mr. and Mrs. Hussey are members of the Methodist Church, and respected by all who know them. In poli- tics a strong supporter of the Republican party, and voted first for President Harrison.

John R. Jones was born in Louisa county, Vir- ginia, December 18, 1827, is the son of Samnel and Lucy (Desper) Jones, natives of Virginia; died in the State of Ohio. They had ten children, of whom five are living, viz: David G., Samuel H., Mary J., John R. and William A. Mr. Jones came to Sangamon county in 1854 and located on his present home, on section nine; was married January 24, 1856, in Pike county, Ohio, to Mary A. Talbott, of Ohio, born June 24, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were blessed with six children, three of whom are living, viz: Samuel T., Nellie M., and Milton E. Mr. Jones received his edu- cation in Ohio. He began to work for himself at the age of seventeen and followed farming and stock driving. He has driven stock to the eastern markets of New York and Philadelphia; owns one thousand three hundred and sixty acres of land of which forty acres are of timber, and the remainder prairie land. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Jones of the Foreign Mission Society. Mr. Jones is a successful and enterprising farmer.

Stephen King was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, March 29, 1823, and is the son of William B., and Anna R. (Geening) King, na- tives of Virginia, and settled in Sangamon county in the fall of 1830. They had twelve children, of whom Thomas, James M., Harry J., Stephen, Fielding, John F., Hesther and Anna R., are living. Mr. King was married in Sangamon county, February 15, 1855, to Eliza- beth Hendricks, and by this union were born seven children, of whom Nellie, George L., Charles H., William, Kate and Eddie are living.

Mr. King received his education in the common schools in Sangamon county. When twenty years of age, he began teaching school, which he pursued for seven years. After his marriage, began farming and raising stock on the farm of his wife's former husband, John Smith, which comprises two hundred acres of good prairie land, well improved, and under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Christian Church.

Ira S. Knights was born February 9, 1833, in St. Lawrence county, New York; is the son of John and Adeline (Perrin) Knights, natives also of the Empire State. To them were born nine children, of whom four are living, viz .: Suman, William, Charles, and Ira S. Mr. Ira S. Knights was educated in the common schools in his place of nativity and in Williams township; came to Sangamon county September, 1850, at which time was in his eighteenth year, and the follow- ing year his parents came from New York State, and resided in Sangamon county for eighteen years, farming, at the end of which time moved to Champaign county, Illinois, where they now reside.

Mr. Knights began to farm for himself at the age of twenty-one, without any means of com- fortable support. He was married in Williams township, January 30, 1873, to Roxana Stewart, born September 8, 1818, in New York, and is the daughter of James and Roxana (Stillman) Stewart, the former born September 28, 1777, at Fort Ann, Washington county, New York, the latter born March 22, 1786, in Massachusetts, and came to Sangamon connty 1820, in what is now known as Williams township. They had nine children.

Mr. James Stewart died at the age of ninety- four past, April 16, 1872, on the farm on which he lived for more than fifty years. To his men- ory, his daughter erected a beautiful monument in the cemetery near the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Knights are living on the farm on which her father first settled when he came to Sangamon county in 1820, of which there are three hundred and twenty acres, one-half prairie and one-half timber. Mr. and Mrs. Knights are members of the Christian Church.

Richard M. Lawrence, merchant, Williams- ville, was born in Tennessee, July 4, 1827, and is a son of David B. and Nancy (Ballenger) Law- rence, natives of Tennessee. Mr. L. came to Sangamon county, near the time of the "deep snow"-1830-with his parents. There were nine children in the family, of which Richard M., William, Allen, Silas, Hannah and Walter

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

are living. Mr. Lawrence's school privileges were limited, as he only had opportunity of attending the district school a short time. Ilis work on the farm was not continued long, as he learned the trade of chair-making, which he followed in various places. Mr. Lawrence commeneed the mercantile business in Mountain Grove, Missouri, in 1861, and has pursued the same to the present time. He started with a small capital and during the years of his mercantile life, has added to his stoek and now owns the building which he oceu- pies. Has held the office of president of trustees of Williamsville two terms; has been a citizen for a number of years. In politics, he is a Demo- crat. Was postmaster three or four years in Williamsville, Illinois.

Dr. Mahlon K. Mathus, Williamsville, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1824, and son of Samuel S., and Esther Mathus, the former born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the latter in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. They had two children, Mahlon K., and Caroline. The Doctor came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1843 with his parents, who located in Spring- field, Illinois. His earliest education was re- ceived in the common schools of his native State. After the death of his father, his mother was married to Dr. Patricius Moran, a native of Ireland, and a practicing physician in Spring- field eleven years. During this time, his step- son, Mahlon K., became his pupil. After study- ing with his step-father some time, Mahlon attended MeDowell's Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854 and 1855, and after re- ceiving the honors of a graduate, became a partner of Dr. Moran. In 1856, he located in Williamsville, where he has practiced success- fully a number of years. He has been a faithful student in his profession, which is shown by the interest manifested in securing the latest and best medical publications.

Dr. Mathus' first marriage was in Fancy Creek township, to Miss Rebecca Mount. By this marriage there were three children: Carrie R., Lulu and Samuel, of which Carrie is the only child living. Mrs. Rebecca Mathus died, and April 6, 1875, Dr. Mathus married Mrs. Sarah L. (Shiek) Stewart, widow of William Stewart, and daughter of Samuel and Sarah Shiek. Mrs. M. is a member of the Christian Church. Dr. M. has held the office of town trustee, and is now treasurer of Williams township, which office he has held for twenty-five years. He is a member of the Catholic Church, formerly a member of the German Reform Church in Pennsylvania. The homestead of his first wife's

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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 178

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