History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 67

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704

USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 67
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 67

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

in Mount Erie Township. There they lived | out until February 20, 1865, when he resigned. until their death, that of the father in the spring of 1864 and the mother January 10, 1879. Before our subjeet left Ireland, he had the privilege of going to school some, and after his arrival here he was permitted to attend the schools of this county. He helped on the home farm until about twenty, and then, com- meneing life for himself, settled in the southern part of Mount Erie Township, where he resided until 1875. Hle then came to his present loca- tion, where he has since resided. He now owns 142 acres in Section 20, and 160 acres in Sec- , tion 26 of Town 1 north, Range 9 east, and forty aeres in Massillon Township. Of the whole there are about 200 acres in cultivation and about three aeres in orchards. For a num- ber of years, he dealt quite extensively in stock, but in the last few years has been slowly retir- ing from the business. Mr. Bleakley was mar- ried on March 10, 1859, to Miss Celia Johnson, a daughter of Moses and Sarah (Mason) John- son, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bleakley was born on December 1, 1841, and was the mother of eight children, five of whom are now living-Edward K., born December 5, 1865; John M., born June 14, 1867; Thomas A., born October 14, 1870; Sarah J., born December 13, 1872; and Permelia B., born May 28, 1877. Of the deceased ones, Matthew B., born July 14, 1860, died January 10, 1880; Andrew J., born October 1, 1862. died September 1, 1865; and Mary M., born March 10, 1875, died July 16, 1876. Mrs. Bleakley died on October 6, 1880, and he was married the second time. on Octo- ber 25, 1881, to Mrs. Isabelle Harris, nee Hen- derson, a daughter of James and Jane (Bunt- ing) Henderson. also natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. The present Mrs. Bleakley was born in March, 1839. Our subject was a soldier in the late war, having enlisted on October 8, 1862, in Company II (Capt. Thomas Johnson), of the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, Col. John J. Funkhouser, and remained

On February 16, 1863, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. Among the battles in which he participated were those of Chicka- manga, Farmington, Murfreesboro and Ringgold. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bleakley are members of the Mount Erie Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bleakley is a member of Mount Erie Lodge, No. 331, A., F. & A. M., and also of Mount Erie Grange. In politics, he remains Independent.

DAVID CREWS, farmer, P. O. Mt. Erie. The gentleman whose name heads this sketeh is a descendant from one of the pioneer tami- lies in this county, and was born in Jasper Township on April 19, 1837. He is a son of Peter and Martha'(Monroe) Crews. The great- grandfather of our subject, John Crews, was born in South Carolina in a very early day, and was probably of English deseent. His son, Andrew Crews, was also born there, and came to East Tennessee in an early day, where the father of our subject was born on April 23, 1798. There the family lived until the father was abont fifteen, when his parents moved to Barren County, Ky. In 1819, Peter, when about twenty-one, came to this county and settled in Jasper Township. In the course of a year, his brothers, Matthew, William, James and Jessie, also came and settled in that township, and in the history of Jasper Township the full history of this numerous family is spoken of at length. About a year after subject's father had first emigrated to this country, he again re- turned to Kentucky, and there married Martha Monroe. She was a daughter of Johnson Mon- roe. This family was also originally from South Carolina, and came to this country in a very early day. A short time after his mar- riage, David again returned to this county and became a citizen of Jasper Township, settling about five miles east of Fairfield. In that township he resided until 1850, and then moved to Wabash County. There he lived about eight-

MOUNT ERIE TOWNSHIP.

een months, and then returned to this county. This time he settled in Mt. Eric Township, on the farm that subject now owns. He first en- tered 120 acres, which he afterward increased to 160 acres, and on that farm he resided until his death, May 25. 1871. The mother departed this life some time in August, 1874. Both are interred on the home farm. Subject was the sixth of eleven children, of whom six are now living-Mrs. Susan E. Farr, in Mt. Erie Town- ship; David, our subject; William, in Massillon ; Martha, in Mt. Erie ; Samantha, in Massillon ; and Andrew in Oregon. He attended the sub- scription schools of Jasper Township, and as- sisted on the home farm until he was twenty- six. Hle commeneed life on a rented farm, sit- uated about two miles west of his present loca- tion. There he resided for two years, and then purchased a farm in Elm Township. In 1876, he came to Mt. Erie Township, and has since been living on the old homestead. He now owns 1.44 acres, in Sections 7 and 18, of Township 1 north, Range 9 east. Mr. Crews was married. on January 21, 1864, to Miss Joann Voung, a daughter of Barnett and Tabitha Jane (Carver) Voung. The father was born in Virginia, the mother in Kentucky. Mrs. Crews was born on September 25, 1846, and is the mother of seven children, all of whom are now living-Tabitha D., born June 29, 1865; Peter G., born Febru- ary 21, 1867 ; Schuyler B, born November 5, 1868; Frances M., born January 12, 1872; Martha J., born March 16, 1875; John W. H., born February 20, 1877 ; Charles A., August 9, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Crews are both members of the Mt. Erie Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Crews has been a member in times past of both the Mt. Eric Grange and the Lodge of Sons of Temperance. The Republican party receives his support.

WILLIAM H. DAUBS, farmer, P. O. Mt. Erie, is a native of this county, being born here on June 27, 1842, and is a son of Michael and Sarah Ann . Knight) Daubs. The father

was born in Germany, and when a boy came with his parents to this country. They settled in Vanderburg County, Ind., and there the father resided until the spring of 1842, when he came to this county. lle settled about a mile west from where subject now resides. He resided there only about three years, however, and then moved back again to Indiana. In 1852, he again returned to this county, and set- tled about two miles east of Mt. Erie, where he resided until his death, which occurred on April 28, 1868. The mother of our subject was born in Indiana on April 5, 1823, and is still living in Grayville, White County. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom our sub- ject was the eldest. Of that number, but two are now living-John F., in Mt. Erie Township, and William II., our subject. The free schools of Indiana and of this county furnished our subject his means of education. He remained at home with his father until abont twenty years of age, and then starting for himself began farming on a rented place. After three years' labor there, he made enough to purchase a part of his present farm, where he has since resided. He now owns about 280 acres, situated in Sec- tions 22 and 27. of Township I, Range 9 east. Of this there are about 230 acres in cultivation, and about seven aeres in orchard. He also raises considerable stock for market. Mr. Daubs was married, in this county, on Decem- ber 24, 1861, to Miss Josephine Travers, a daughter of Solomon and Freelove (Reeves) Travers, natives of Posey County, Ind. This lady was born in January, 1842, and is the mother of eight children, seven of whom are now living, viz .: Luann. George F., Mollie R .. Michael, Josie Bell, William M .. Clyde and Mattie. Subjeet enlisted on February 13. 1865. in Company D of the One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until September 18, 1865. Ile has served as Assessor three terms. Collector and School Di- rector. He claims to be Independent in politics.

BIOGRAPHICAL:

DAVID HOLMES, farmer, P. O. Mount Erie. From one of the oldest families of the Western Reserve the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is descended, being born March 27, 1837, in Carroll County, Ohio. The father of our subject, William Holmes, was born in Washington County, Penn., August 26, 1801, and was of Scotch descent. While he resided in Ohio, he was the editor of the Carroll Coun- ty Pickayune, and was an almost constant office- holder during his residence in that county, serving fifteen years as Auditor, and Treasurer four years, besides other minor offices. In 1853, the father came to Mount Erie Township. Wayne County, where he settled down on about 1,200 acres of land. In 1871, he sold out his farm and came into the village. At present he is living with one of his children, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-one. In his lifetime, he has been married three times. The first time to Elizabeth Joseph, the second time to Eliza Ann Davis (the mother of our subject, and born Jannary 22, 1807), and the third time to Martha Wiseman. The result of these three marriages was twenty-six children, and the fol- lowing record of their births is taken from the old family Bible. The first marriage resulted in four children, viz., Mary, born February 22, 1821 ; Elizabeth, June 24, 1822 ; William, April 20, 1824; John, December 31, 1825. Eighteen children were the result of the second marriage -Isaac, born November 30, 1827; Catherine, November 1, 1828; Martha, December 2, 1829; Jonathan, December 10, 1830; James, June 30, 1832; Miram, August 5, 1833; Samuel, December 8, 1834; Eliza, January 22, 1836; David, March 27, 1837; Oliver, August 10, 1838; Martin, October 2, 1839; Daniel, Janu- ary 11, 1841 ; Milton, January 3, 1842 ; Sarah, September 18, 1843; Eleanor, January 24, 1845 ; Samantha, May 10, 1846; Calvin, Octo- ber 7, 1847 ; and an infant born in 1849, and the mother died in giving birth to it; and four children were the result of the last marriage,

viz., Eli, born October 8, 1851 ; Melissa, May 1, 1853; George, February 26, 1857; Mary, August 14, 1859. Of this remarkable family the following are now living : William (in Car- roll County, Ohio), Isaac (in Seneca County, Ohio), Martha (wife of Abraham Koonbecker, of Stark County, Ohio), Samuel (in Greenwood County, Kan.), Miram (widow of William E. Harlon, of Arrington Township), Eliza (wife of A. H. Best, of Elm Township), David (our sub- jeet), Oliver (in Lamard Township), Sarah (wife of Maston Webb, of Elk County, Kan.), Milton (of Elm Township), Eleanor Inlow (of Elm Township), Calvin (now in Bosque County, Tex.). Samantha J. (wife of Jesse Robertson, of Gray- ville, White County). Eli (of Mount Erie Town- ship), George (in Bosque County, Tex.), Melissa (wife of Kane Staton, of Leadville, Colo.), and Mary (wife of William Westfall, of Mount Erie Township). Our subject received his education in the common schools of Ohio, and at the age of eighteen came to Wayne County with his father. He remained at home with his father until 1858, and then, settling in Elm Township. commenced life for himself. In that township he resided until 1872, and farmed ; then, pur- chasing a saw mill in Marion County, he re- moved it to that township, where he ran it for four years. He next came to Mount Erie Township, and there ran a hotel, livery stable and drug store. The drug store he finally dis- continued, but still manages the hotel, but at present he himself is giving his attention to farming, owning 200 acres in Zif Town- ship, 160 of which are under cultivation. Mr. Holmes was married, November 3, 1859, to Mary Huston Webb, a daughter of Wiley and Rachel (Huston) Webb. This lady was born September 29, 1836. and is the mother of eight children, all of whom are living, viz., William W., born March 1, 1861 ; Lillie E., May 17, 1864; Oscar D., April 17, 1866; John C., April 27, 1868; Easter M., April 17, 1870; Charles S., March 10, 1872; Ethelbert, Janu-

MOUNT ERIE TOWNSHIP.

ary 27, 1874; and Isaac, October 17, 1876. | July 25, 1861, our subject enlisted in Company E, Capt. G. N. Ulen, of the Fortieth Regiment, Col. Stephen (. Hieks, and remained out three years. Among the battles in which he partici- pated were the battles of Shiloh, Mission Ridge, siege of Vicksburg. Jackson, Miss., Cor- rinth and Atlanta, being discharged while serv- ing in the rifle-pits in front of the latter named city, July 25, 1864 From 1879 to 1882. Mr. Holmes served as mail carrier from Mount Erie to Clay City and back. For two years of that time, his son Osear performed the duty, and in that time only missed two days. Sub- jeet is a member of Mount Erie Lodge, No. 331, A., F. & A. M., and is at present agent for the Mattoon Masonic Benefit Association. In poli- ties, Mr. Hohines is a Democrat.

ALEXANDER S JESSUP, farmer, P. O. Mount Erie, was born in County Armagh, Ire- land, on March 28, 1838, and was a son of Rev. Robert and Anna (Sturgeon) Jessup. The father was a minister in the Methodist Church, as was also Alexander Sturgeon, the mother's father. Subject was the third of five children, of whom three are now living-Samuel (now a physician in Mackinaw, Mich.), Robert (now in Fairfield, Ill.), and Alexander (our subject). When the latter was seven years of age, his parents emigrated to this country, and settled in New York City. There the father preached and practiced medicine for a number of years. In 1857, he came to Wayne County, Ill., and settled in Mount Erie Township, near where subject now resides. He had farming carried on, but gave most of his own time to practice- ing medicine, and to preaching. Among the charges which he filled in this county were those of the Lewisville Circuit, and Mount Erie Circuit. Owing to his advaneed age. he was, however, finally compelled to give up preach- ing. He died on October 31. 1867. lle was a man of rare qualities, and was universally re- spected and admired. One of his last official

duties as a minister was to serve a year as financial agent of the MeKendree College. The mother's demise occurred on March 25, 1871. Subject's education was received in the New York Free Academy. In 1856, he came to this county, and took charge of the farm which had been previously purchased by his father, and there remained until the latter's death. He then commenced to farm for himself, and now owns 200 acres situated in Sections 30 and 31, of Township 1 north, Range 9 east. Of that there are about 140 acres in cultivation, and has about two and one-half acres in orchard. He also handles considerable stock. Mr. Jessup was married on March 4, 1868. to Miss Isabella Best, a daughter of George and Eliza Best, na- tives of Ohio. They came to this county in 1858, and settled in Mount Erie Township. Three children blessed this union, two of whom are now tiving-Samuel and George (twins), born November 4, 1868. This lady died in April, 1870, and he was married on August 24, 1871, to Miss Sarah Jane Williams, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Reed) Williams, na- tives of this State. This lady was born in Elm Township, on December 19, 1851, and is the mother of four children, two of whom are now living-Mary Lizzie, born May 9, 1872; Anna May. born January 1, 1874. Mr. Jessup en- listed on October 5, 1861, in Company MI, of the Fifth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served until October 28, 1865. Among the battles which he participated in were the battles of Cotton Plant, siege of Vicksburg, Mechanics- burg. Woodville, Egypt Station and others. He entered as private : was promoted to Cap- tainey of Company M. on September 16, 1862, and on August 8, 1865, was commissioned Major. He served on the General's staffas As- sistant Inspector, from April, 1864, until March, 1865. He was next appointed as Ordnance Officer of the District of West Tennessee, with headquarters at Memphis. Subject has held the office of County Surveyor for eight years ;

BIOGRAPHICAL:

also as Township Assessor. Is a member of MeKendree Chapel of Mount Erie Township. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party.

JAMES MOUTRAY, fruit dealer and Justice of the Peace, Wynoose, was born in Posey County, Ind., December 4, 1835, and is a son of Allen and Ann Eliza Thompson Moutray. The father was a native of Kentucky, and was of Irish descent-the mother probably of Virginia. Subject was the seventh of fourteen children, of whom five are still living-George and Sylvester in Indian Territory ; James (our subject) ; Phebe Ann Balding, in Edwards County, Ill .; and Matthew, in White County, Ill. Our subject's education was slight, but since he has come to manhood, he has tanght himself some. When he was fourteen years of age, his parents came to this county and settled in Mount Erie Township, where the father resided until his death in 1862. The mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-three, and is at present living in Indiana Township with one of her sons. Until twenty years of age, he worked on the home farm, and then commencing life for himself. At present he owns a farm of 100 acres in Section 21, of Township 1, Range 9 east, and forty acres in Section 28, of Township 1, Range 9 east. Of the whole there are about eighty aeres under cultivation. For a number of years he has been actively engaged in the fruit business, selling at present for the Vincennes Nursery. Is at present serving as Justice of the Peace of township. Was married in Mount Erie Township, November 6, 1855, to Miss Amanda E. Harleson, a daughter of William and Catherine (Bunker) Harleson. Mrs. Mont- ray was born on September 15, 1835. and is the mother of eight children, of whom fonr are now living-Jasper I., born February 6, 1857 ; William W., born October 20, 1865 ; Mark O., born December -. 1868 ; Van R., born Octo- ber 9, 1871. Mr. Moutray is identified with the Democratic party in politics.

DR. SAMUEL MUNDY, physician, Mount Erie. One of the oldest practicing physicians in Wayne County is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who was born in Wabash County, Ill., on December 25, 1825. Ile is a son of Samuel and Phœbe (Reed) Mundy, who . were natives of New York City. The paternal grandfather of our subject came from England to this country and settled in the State of New York, where he devoted his attention to farm- ing. The maternal grandfather was, however, of Scotch descent. Our subject was the sixth - of twelve children, of whom eight are now liv- ing, viz .: Griffith (in Wabash County), William R. (in Colorado), Henry (in Wabash County), Samuel (our subject), Caroline (wife of Samuel

Gunn, of Olney), Phoebe (wife of Judge Pres- ton, of Olney), Julia Ann (now in Denver. Colo.), and Jersey (wife of Charles Roberts, deceased ). The old-fashioned subscription schools of Wa- bash County afforded our subject his means of obtaining knowledge, and his leisure time was spent in assisting his father, who was a farmer. He remained at home until he was twenty-one, and then commenced farming for himself. At the age of twenty-six, however, he commenced to read medicine with Dr. James Straham, of New Hope, Wabash County. Under the pre- ceptorship of this man, our subject remained two years, and then became a partner with his former teacher. This business affiliation, how- ever, only lasted about one year, and Dr. Mundy then moved to this connty and first settled in " ye olde " village of Massillon in the spring of 1862. He, however, came to Mount Erie, where he has since resided. At present, he has a very large practice. extending over Massillon. Mount Erie, Elm. Zif and Jasper Townships and part of Edwards and Richland Counties. Besides his professional calling, the Doctor also finds time to devote some attention to his farm. and at present owns about 220 acres in Mount Erie Township and eighty acres in Massillon Township. In Wabash County, Ill., on December 5, 1852, Dr. Mundy was mar-

MOUNT ERIE TOWNSHIP.

ried to Miss Frances M. Wilcox, a daughter of Lyman and Mary (Richey, Wilcox, the father being born in New York in 1793, the mother in Baltimore in 1795, and both were of English- Scotch descent. Mrs. Mundy was also born in New York on August 17, 1829. At the age of seventeen, she went to Wisconsin, where she taught school for two years, and then came to Illinois, where she taught school until her mar- riage with our subject. This union has re- sulted in cight children, four of whom are now living, viz., Nina, Phoebe, William and Carrie. Mrs. Mundy is a member of the Methodist Church. Our subject is a member of Mount Erie Lodge. No. 331, A., F. & A. M. The Re- publican party receives the Doctor's support in politics.

ANDREW F. NISBIT, merchant. Mount Erie, was born in Mount Erie Township. this county, September 4, 1827. and is consequently one of the oldest native born children in the township. James Nisbit, the grandfather of our subject, came to this country from Scotland some little time before the Revolution. Will- iam, a brother, was afterward a Captain iu that conflict. The grandfather settled in South Carolina, and there married Jane Bratton, who was also of Scotch descent. There, also. Alex- ander Nisbit, the father of our subject, was born September 2, 1792. When he was eight years of age, his father moved to Kentucky. and settled in Hopkins County, where the latter died in 1860 In that State the father grew to manhood, and married Dorcas Ramsey, a dangh- ter of Alexander and Ellen (Lynn) Ramsey. who afterward became early settlers in this county. In 1816. Alexander Nisbit, accom- panied by Alexander Ramsey, James Ramsey. William Farmer, William McCormick and Mi- chael Book, came to White County, Ill., and settled in what was then called Seven-Mile Prairie. near where the town of Enfield now stands. In that county they lived two years. and then the party. building a pirogue. came

up the Little Wabash as far as the month of Miller's Creek. Here they stopped, and made their way to the foot of the hill on which Mount Erie now stands, but which they then called Ramsey's Grove. Here they spent the night (Christmas Eve) together. making the first settlement in the township, and the next morn- ing each family chose a home for itself. The Nisbit family settled about one mile and a half' west from the present village of Mount Erie. On that tarm the father lived about two years. and then moved within about three-quarters of a mile from the village. About 1856, he re- moved to the village, and there resided until his death, which occurred July S. 1878. Alex- ander Nisbit was a man who cared more for his home and its kindred affairs than for office- seeking and political renown, and it is said that during his long residence in this county he never held an office in his life. As far. how- ever. as his political views went, he was Demo- erat, voting for Jackson, and afterward for Douglas, and remained true to that party until his demise. He was, however. a strong Inion man. and did what he could for the cause at that time. In 1851, he connected himself with the Methodist Church. and remained connected with that denomination through life. Mrs. Nishit, who died in 1841. was the mother of ten children. of whom our subject was the seventh. Of this number. but three are now living-Caro- line (wife of James Mays. deceased), Jane M. (wife of .]. T. Price) and Andrew F. vour sub- ject). The deceased ones are Eleanor, James, Alexander, Samuel. Lucinda. Prudence and Sarah. Our subject's education, which was but slight, was received in the subseription school. and since coming to manhood he has taught himself. He worked on the home farm until about twenty-one, and, starting for himself. purchased a farm about three-quarters of a mile east of town. There he remained about six years. and then, in 1856, he moved into the village of Mount Erie. Here he commenced

BIOGRAPHICAL:

merchandising, and has followed that vocation ever since. At present he carries a stock of about $3,000. For a number of years, he was connected with the Gem Flonring Mill, of Mount Erie, but in August, 1883. sold out his interest in that concern. He also has farming carried on, owning about 500 acres. Mr. Nis- bit was united in matrimony, December 16, 1849, in Mount Erie Township, to Miss Jane Bleakley. This lady was the daughter of Mat- thew and Jane ( Job) Bleakley, natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. She was born in Ire- land in 1829, and died April 30, 1854. The result of this union was three children, of whom two are now living-Mary Jane (wife of John Vandever) and John Wesley (now in business with his father). October 1, 1856, our subject was married to Miss Lizzie Massey, a daughter of James and Matilda (Harlan) Massey. The parents were probably natives of Tennessee, and were early settlers in this county. The father was an early pioneer Methodist preach- er, and preached over this part of Illinois and Indiana. Mrs. Nisbit was born in 1839, and is the mother of three children, of whom two are now living-Matilda E. and Minnie, Mr. Nis- bit enlisted in Company E, of the Fortieth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry ; went out as First Lieutenant in July, 1861, but was out only a short time ; resigned on account of sickness. In polities, subject is a Republican, and in con- nection with county atfairs has been a member of the board four terms. Is a member of the Monnt Erie Methodist Episcopal Church, and also of Mount Erie Lodge, No. 331, A., F. &. A. M.

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History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 67

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 704

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704