USA > Illinois > Washington County > History of Washington County, Illinois > Part 15
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On the 7th of December, 1854, Mr. Rountree married Miss Mary Moore, a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Illinois at the time of ber mar- riage. In politics it will be readily known that he belongs to the Demo- cratic party. He cast his first vote for Frank Pierce in 1852, and has ad- hered to the party of his first choice ever since. He belongs to no Church nor does he subscribe to any formulated crer Is, but prefers to do unto others as he would have others to do unto him, and believes that therein is con- tained the genuine essence of true religion. As a man and a citizen he is universally respected. In his profession he takes front rank at the bar of his county.
JAMES H. SAWYER.
AMONG the old residents and prominent business men of Washington county none deserve better mention than James H. Sawyer. He has been prominently identified with the interests of the county for over a quarter of a century, and none have contributed more to its material prosperity and development than he has. His family history runs back four generations. The revolutionary struggle for independence numbered among its heroes and martyrs the great-grandfather of the present sketch, who fell fighting for the liberties of his country on the historic battle-field of Bunker Hill.
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Very Respectfully George Temor.
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James M Pouritra
MRS.JAMES M.ROUNTREE.
THE RESIDENCE OF HON. JAMES M.ROUNTREE, NASHVILLE, WASHINGTON CO. ILL.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The ancestors of Mr. Sawyer on the paternal side originally came from Scotland to America, and settled in Virginia. At a later period they re- moved to Kentucky and settled in Logan county, where David Sawyer, the grandfather of the present sketch, remained until his death. About 1815 he visited the territory of Illinois and located land in this county, at what is now known as Sawyer's Point, which was at a later day occupied by his eldest son, Cyrus, the father of the present sketch. Cyrus was born in the year 1800. He married Rebecca Parks, a native of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, but a resident of Logan county, Kentucky, at the time of her marriage. She was of Irish ancestry. The same year of their marriage, 1819, they re- moved to Illinois and settled upon the land that had been entered by David Sawyer in 1815. Heremained here until his death, which occurred in 1848. During the life of Cyrus Sawyer he was prominent as an agriculturalist and stock raiser. He was the first man to introduce fine blooded stock into the county. He also for thirteen years held the reins of justice and dispensed equity between man and man in the capacity of Justice of the Peace. There were twelve children born to Cyrus and Rebecca Sawyer, ten of whom sur- vived the parents, and nine are at present living. Rebecca Sawyer, the mother, died in 1851.
The subject of our sketch is the fifth in the family. He was born in Washington county, Illinois, on the 1st of August, 1828. He spent his boy- hood days upon the farm, and going to school three months in the winter seasons, walking a distance of two and a half miles evening and morning, to secure the blessed privilege. Education in the pioneer days of the state was obtained under difficulties. Although deprived of early educational advan- tages, his naturally quiet mind and habits of observation assisted him in obtaining a good practical education.
On the 11th of September, 1849, soon after arriving at full age, he mar - ried Julia A., daughter of Rev. William Gardner, of Clinton county, Illi- nois. She was a native of Washington, D. C. Soon after Mr. Sawyer's marriage he purchased a farm and commenced tilling it, and at the same time engaged in stock dealing and trading. He continued so engaged until 1853, when he removed to Nashville and engaged in general merchandising. From this time dates a new era in the business life of James H. Sawyer. In the fall of 1854 he formed a partnership with Zenos H. Vernor, which con- tinued nearly a year, or up to within a few years of Mr. Vernor's death, when he purchased the right and title of his partner and a few weeks later sold a half interest to Ninian McCracken, a native and resident of this county. The partnership of Sawyer & McCracken was then formed, and continues to the present day. Twenty-three years measures the duration of time since the firm came into existence. In all those twenty-three years, amidst com- mercial disaster and financial ruin that have strewn the pathway with wrecks of honest enterprise, the firm-name of Sawyer & McCracken has remained nailed to the fore, nor has their good name been tarnished with financial dishonor during all these years.
In 1857 they sold out the mercantile business, and for the following three years were largely engaged in real estate and live stock transactions, and also were cultivating large tracts of land, having at one time as much as ten thousand acres under cultivation. In 1860 they again added the mer- cantile to their numerous lines of business, and in 1866 commenced the erection of their steam flouring mill in Nashville, which was completed at a cost of 882,000. They also at this time engaged in a general banking busi- ness, and issued bills of exchange and drafts upon all the principal cities in the Union. In all these vast transactions which covered a business amount- ing to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, it required shrewd business tact, a thorough knowledge of commercial transactions, energy, industry, and an indomitable will. The direction and force were given it by Mr. Sawyer, yet with all the sagacity that was inherent in his nature, and indeed by the experience of years, partial financial disaster came to them, but not a particle of dishonor. The great whirlwind of financial disaster of 1873, caused by the unparalleled shrinkage of values, which swept the country like a tornado, carrying down with it the oldest, best, and most influential houses of years' standing, caught in its toils the firm of Sawyer & McCracken. It left its mark upon them. The accumulation, the toil of patient industry for years was swept away from them. But a faithful exhibit and business integrity that remained unquestioned, preserved their credit, but the capital was gone and could only be replaced by industry and years of toil. During all these troubles the good name and character of James H. Sawyer has re- mained intact and unblemished. It is not necessary to speak of the characteris- ties of the man. The foregoing will give the reader as correct an idea of Mr. Sawyer as we could hope to do. As a citizen, he, perhaps, has done more to
develop the material prosperity of the county and town of Nashville than any other man in it. He has always been active in the promotion of enter- prises that had for their object the best interests of the county and State. In politics he is a republican. He was one of three native-born citizens in the county who, in 1856, joined the party of freedom and human rights, and had the courage to cast their votes for .John C. Fremont for the Presidency. It is needless for us to say, that he has with unswerving fidelity remained true to the party of his first choice. In 1864 he was honored by the people of the county, who elected him to the responsible position of sheriff. and in 1872 he was the unanimous choice of the republican party for the office of State Senator, and in the following election was only defeated by a small majority, and by the employment of means that were as unique as they were disgraceful. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Presbyte- rian Church. He is also known for his great interest in the Sabbath-school work, and it may be mentioned to his credit that he has for the past nineteen years been Superintendent of the Sabbath-school in Nashville. There have been four children born to James H. and Julia A. Sawyer, viz. : F. O. Sawyer, born July 28, 1853; Anna R., born June 20, 1863; Carrie G., born December 2, 1865, and Laura L., born November 26, 1866. It is with pleasure that we present the biography of James H. Sawyer to the many readers of the history of Washington county.
COLONEL LOUIS KRUGHOFF.
THE subject of our sketch was born near the city of Mindon in Germany, on the 25th of November, 1836. He is the fifth in a family of twelve chil- dren, of whom there are six living. His father, F. W. Krughoff, is also a native of the same province. He was born in 1804, as was also Elizabeth, his wife. Mr. Krughoff emigrated with his family to America in 1852, and settled in Washington county, Illinois, where he still resides, a hale and hearty man, al. though at the advanced age of over three-score years and ten. Col. Krughoff spent his boyhood days while yet in his native country in going to school until he arrived at the age of fifteen years, when he left the parental roof and em- barked on the broad ocean of life to seek his fortune. He came to America, landing here on the 25th day of November, 1851. One year later he was followed by his father and family as spoken of above. He came direct to Washington county, where he worked upon a farm, and remained so engaged until 1853, when he came to Nashville and stayed with Dr. Geo. W. Hotchkiss. He remained in the family of the Doctor for one year and a half, when he removed to Central City, Marion county, and entered the service of J. M. O. Melvaney as clerk in a general store. He remained there nine months, when he returned home and worked upon a farm for his father. After the lapse of one year he again returned to Dr. Hotchkiss, with whom he remained for another year, going to school and perfecting himself, and obtaining a more thorough education for the business of life. He soon after entered the store of Sawyer and McCracken as clerk. He remained with the firm until they closed out their business in September, 1857, after which he went to St. Louis and took a course in Jones' Commercial College. After graduating from that institution he accepted of the position of book-keeper in one of the mercan- tile houses of St. Louis, and remained so engaged until 1860, when he returned to Nashville and entered the service of Sawyer and McCracken as general clerk. He remained with them until 1861-the ever memorable year that witnessed the inauguration of the most gigantic rebellion of ancient or modern times. The tap of the martial drum, the call "to arms" resounded all over the land of his adopted country. The liberties of the people were imperiled, the freedom of a race from the thraldom of the lash, and the oppressions of a century was at stake. The gauge of battle was flung at the feet of the north, and thousands of gallant and patriotic men took it up. Among those who were first to respond to the call was Col. Krughoff. In June, 1861, he went to Cairo and enlisted as a private in Captain R. D. Noleman's cavalry. He remained in the cavalry service until September, 1861, when he was wounded in the arm in an engagement with the Louisiana Black Horse Cavalry. He was furloughed and returned home, and while here recruited a company of infantry, and was elected Captain. In November, 1861, he re ported with his company at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois, for duty, and was assigned to the 49th Regiment Illinois Infantry, as Company C, Col. William R. Morrison commanding. The regiment was ordered to Cairo in February, 1862, and assigned to the army of the Tennessee. It entered at once upon active duty. From Cairo it was ordered to Fort Henry, where it arrived soon after the surrender. It left Fort Henry for Fort Donelson, and
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
during the siege of the latter place Col. Krughoff was wounded in the head by a fragment of a shell, fracturing the skull, and was with the wounded sent to Mt. City Hospital. As soon as he was convalescent he rejoined his regiment, and participated in the siege of Corinth during the spring of 1862. After this time the regiment was engaged to protect railroad communication until August 24th, 1863, when it left Memphis for Little Rock, Arkansas. Left Little Rock, November 15th, 1863, and arrived at Memphis November 21st. Left Memphis January 28th, 1864, and arrived at Vicksburg January 30th, 1864. Left Vicksburg February 3d, 1864, and entered upon the Meri- dian raid. Returned again to Vicksburg March 4th, and on March 9th a detachment of the sixteenth Army Corps, to which the regiment belonged, under the command of General A. J. Smith, received orders to embark, and left for the Red River expedition. Arrived at Fort De Russey on Red River March 14th. Stormed and captured the fort with garrison and munitions of war, on the same day. Re-embarked and arrived at Alexandria on the 16th of March. Left Alexandria on the 26th, marched, and arrived at Pleasant Hill on the 8th of April, where the command engaged and fought the forces under Gen. Taylor, and drove them from the field. Marched back to Alex- andria, arriving there April 26th, and remained until May 14th then marched to the mouth of the Red River, where the command embarked in transports and proceeded up the river to Memphis, where they arrived June 10th, 1864. While on the Red River expedition the regiment veteranized. On the 25th of the same month the regiment received their veteran furlough, and were ordered to Centralia, Illinois, where it arrived, June 28th, 1864. Col. Krug- hoff was detailed ordnance officer for the regiment while it was on furlough. After the furlough had expired it rejoined the detachment of the 16th Army Corps at Memphis, under the command of Gien. A. J. Smith. The command was ordered from Memphis up the river to report to Gen. Sherman, who was at Atlanta, Georgia. When the command reached Cairo they received orders to disembark and await further orders. Soon after they received orders to go up the river, and landed at Jefferson Barracks, from there to De Soto, Missouri, to intercept Price, who had designs upon St. Louis. The command returned to Jefferson Barracks, and went to Franklin, where they drove the rebels from the town and took possession. The regiment was engaged in the pursuit of Price as far as Harrisonville, Missouri, when they were ordered to return and proceed to St. Louis, via Independence, Lexington, Glascow, and to Warrenton, where they struck the North Pacific railroad, and from there direct to St. Louis. The regiment marched seven hundred and fifty miles iu thirty-five marching days. From St. Louis they proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, and reported to Gen. Geo. H. Thomas. They arrived on the night of the 30th of November, 1864. In the morning they were ordered to the front, where they intrenched themselves and awaited the attack of Hood's army, which was also intrenched in parallel lines not over one thousand yards distant. This was the condition of the contending forces until the morning of the 15th, when the entire federal line was ordered out with sixty rounds of ammunition, and three days' rations, and with orders to attack the enemy. The battle of Nashville was begun and lasted two days, and resulted in the com- plete annihilation of Hood's army. The regiment followed Hood's army to Columbia, Tennessee, where the time of service of the non-veterans expired. The regiment was ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, and from there the non- veterans were ordered to Springfield, Illinois, where they were mustered out. January 9th, 1865, Col. Krughoff' returned home, having been in the service and upon active duty for a period of three years and seven months. In March 1864, he was breveted Major for gallant and meritorious service during the war.
In taking leave of the regiment it is due to the gallant 49th, to say that it never engaged the enemy behind intrenchments, but always fought them upon the open field. It never failed to take any intrenched position it was ordered to, nor ever turned its back or retreated from the foc. The history and record of the regiment is the history and record of every man in it. All honor to the gallant 49th.
After Col. Krughoff' returned home he engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1874, when he was elected cashier of the Washington County Bank, which was organized at that time, and which position he still retains. On the 24th of December, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline O., only daughter of Thomas M. and Margaret Seawell of Nashville. Three children bless and hallow this union-two of whom are at present living. Both the Col. and his estimable lady are members of the Presbyterian church. Col. Krughoff early espoused the cause of freedom and human rights, and became a member of the Republican party at its inception, and has remained true and maintained his allegiance up to the present time.
In September, 1877, a company of militia were organized, of which he was elected and commissioned captain. Upon the organization of the 11th regi- ment I. N. G., to which- the company was attached, he was elected Lieuten- ant-Colonel, which position he still holds.
This in brief is a biographical sketch of Col. Krughoff. In deportment, he is an affable and courteous gentleman, kind and considerate for the wants of others. In business, he possesses those qualifications that are essential to success in any business life, viz., industry and good sound common sense. In possession of these qualities the problem of success is easily solved. It need not be considered as an evidence of an unusual degree of foresight to predict for him who possesses these qualities a successful future, for they are indisso- lubly linked together, and naturally and of necessity follow each other as cause and effect.
FORMAN BROTHERS.
AMONG the many young men of Nashville, none stand higher in the esti- mation of the general public, or deserve more favorable mention in a work of this kind, than Forman brothers.
William B. Forman, the father of the subject of our sketch, was a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky. He was born September 27th, 1810. At an early age he removed to Mississippi, and from there emigrated to Illinois, arriving here in 1851. He settled on a farm two miles west of Nashville, in Washington county, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. In the latter business he was quite prominent, and was one of the first men to introduce blooded and improved stock in the county. He remained indus- triously engaged in the above occupations until his death, which event oc- curred May 20th, 1866. He married Mary Caroline, daughter of John and Mary Forsyth. She was a native of Natchez, Mississippi, and was born July 28th, 1822. Her father, John Forsyth, was a native of Indiana; but while yet young emigrated south and settled in Natchez. In his life he was prominent in the local affairs of his town and county. He was elected sher- iff of his county, and held the position for seventeen years. He also held other important offices. He died in New Orleans.
Mary C. Forman was at an early age left an orphan. She was placed in a convent at Alexandria, Louisiana, where she remained until she was six- teen years of age. While in the convent she enjoyed superior facilities for obtaining a thorough education under the supervision of the most experienced teachers. She left the convent an excellent scholar and an accomplished lady. The refining influence of her early convent life, her superior education and strong force of character have enabled her to instill into the youthful mind of her sons a love for that which is true and honorable in life; and we pause here to say that the lessons thus taught have not been without their effect. They have borne fruit, which is seen in the manly bearing, upright and honorable conduct of those of her family who have commenced the bat- tle, and entered the business arena of life.
There were ten children born to William B. and Mary C. Forman, all boys, five of whom are still living. William S., the eldest son living, was born in Natchez, Miss., January 20th, 1847, and C. M., born near Nashville, Washington county, Illinois, July 11th, 1855. After the death of the father, the family being all young, the duty of providing for and keeping the family together devolved upon the mother, and right nobly she did her duty. She managed well, and succeeded in giving them all a good education. In 1869 she removed with her family to Richview, in Washington county, where she remained until 1871. During her residence there her children, several of whom were young men, had opportunities of attending the Washington Sem- inary and receiving an education in advance of the common schools, and of which they were not slow to avail themselves. After the above-mentioned date, the family removed to Nashville, where they have since resided. In 1870 W. S. taught school and read law during his leisure hours, and after making suitable progress in his studies, was admitted to practice law in all the courts of the State of Illinois. The date of his admission was April 15th, 1871. Immediately thereafter he formed a law-partnership with Hon. Amos Watts, which continued for two years, or until Mr. Watts was elected Circuit Judge of the twenty-third judicial circuit, after which he entered into a co- partnership with James A. Watts, and continued in the practice with him for two years. At the end of this time, the partnership was dissolved, and from that time to the present Mr. Forman has continued the practice of his profession alone, and in which he has been more than ordinarily successful.
In 1873 he was appointed Master in Chancery, and held the office until 1875, when he was re-appointed. At the time W. S. commenced the study
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CAPTAIN JACOB MAY.
MRS . LUISE C.MAY
STOCK FARM (852 ACRES)AND RES. OF . JACOB MAY. SEC. 6.T. 3. R.2 WASHINGTON CO. ILL.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of law and chose that as his profession, C. M. entered the office of the Nash- ville Democrat, and learned the art preservative. In November of 1872 W. S. and C. M. purchased the Democrat printing office of J. B. Anderson, and continued the publication of the paper until November, 1876, when they sold out. In 1874, in connection with Dr. II. D. Schmidt, they commenced the publication of the Zeitung, a German newspaper, which they continued until March, 1876, when a stock company was formed, and the paper was sold out to them. They, however, practically continued managers of the Zeitung until February, 1879.
As editors and newspaper managers, they were very successful. They gave the paper a reputation and financial standing that it had not hitherto enjoyed. They were both young and energetic, and thoroughly imbued with that kind of enterprise necessary to the successful editing and publishing of a country journal, and at the same time were endowed with rare business tact and judgment of men and things, which enabled them to steer clear of com- plications that would endanger their credit or injure the standing of their journal.
William S. was married on the 14th of November, 1871, to Miss Esther A. Tiebout, who was a native of New York and a resident of Trenton, Clin- ton county, Illinois, at the time of her marriage. Three children have been born to them. Both he and his estimable lady are members of the Presby- terian Church.
C. M. was united in marriage to Miss Dora Catterlin on the 13th of De_ cember, 1877. She is a native of Alabama, but was a resident of Ashley, Washington county, at the time of her marriage. One child has been born to them-a girl.
Both arc staunch Democrats, and are strongly indoctrinated in the politi- cal creed of their party, and both take an active part in promoting and assisting in the welfare and success of the organization.
As before mentioned, W. S. is engaged in the practice of law, and also in connection with C. M., is in the real estate and loan business, in which they have been successful. They have an extensive acquaintance throughout the county, which they have acquired by their long residence here and their connection with the newspaper, and other business, which has brought them into contact with almost every citizen in the county.
CAPTAIN JACOB MAY,
LATE Sheriff of Washington county, Illinois, was born June 5th, 1834, at Lettweiler, in Rheinish Bavaria, Germany. When quite young he had a desire to emigrate to America. After getting the consent of his parents he left home, on the 16th of February, 1849, and landed in New York city, April 20th of the same year. He was then but fourteen years of age. He engaged in farm-work, at which he continued for three years, after which he went to work on the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad in Pennsylvania, and rose to the position of foreman. On the 10th of October, 1855, he mar- ried Luise Ahrens. She was a resident of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. She was born August 3d, 1836, at Rothenfel, near Minden, Prussia. After his marriage he went to farming, and in 1858 removed to Jackson county, West Virginia, where he still continued in the same occupation. At the breaking out of the war he put aside his occupation as a farmer, and responded to the call " to arms." He enlisted in the Union force as a private in the 9th reg- iment, West Virginia Volunteers. He served as private two months, cor- poral three months, 5th sergeant, two months, and orderly sergeant, twen- ty-three months. During the campaign of 1864 he was wounded three times-once in the hand and shoulder and through the thigh at the battle of Winchester. He was promoted to the captaincy of Co. F. 1st Vet. W. Va. Vol. Infantry, for gallant and heroic conduct on the field of battle at Win- chester. He held the position of captain until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Wheeling, W. Va., July 28th, 1865, after having been in service for nearly four years. In 1867 he was presented by the State of West Virginia with a medal of honor for gallant conduct during the war. In 1865 he came west, and on the 6th day of August settled on forty acres of prairie land in Washington county, Illinois. One year after he sold the land and purchased one hundred and seventeen acres near Pilot Knob. He re- mained there for seventeen years, when he sold out with the intention of re- moving further west, but he changed his mind and finally purchased one hundred and twenty acres four miles south-east of Nashville, where he en. gaged in raising wheat and cattle, at which he has been very successful. In 1874 at the solicitation of his many friends he ran as an independent candi-
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