History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 71

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 71
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 71

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BIG MOUND TOWNSHIP.

Virden, a danghter of Allison and Betsey (Wil- son) Virden, natives of Delaware. Mrs. Davis was born September 29, 1818, and is the mother of seven children. of whom five are now living-George W .. Irvin, David K., Wilson and Warren C. All except G. W. are helping on the home farm, and he is now living in Barn- hill Township. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are mem- bers of the Free-Will Baptist Church. In pol- itics, Mr. Davis is a Republican.

RICHARD FOSTER, farmer, P. O. Barnhill, was born in Lincolnshire. England, on Decem- ber 21, 1826, and is a son of George and Re- becca (Brown) Foster. Subject is the next to the youngest of a family of seven children, of whom six are living and two are in this coun- try, subject and Rebecca Pykict, of Barnhill Township. He attended the free schools of England but slightly, but since he came to this country he has educated himself some. In England, he hired out by- the year and fol- lowed that occupation until he was about twen- ty-five. He then sailed for this country, and, landing at New Orleans, he came direct to Jersey County, Ill. For four years after his arrival in this country, he worked by the day for farmers. Ile afterward bought a farm and commenced life for himself in that county. In March, 1866, he came to Wayne County and settled in Big Mound Township, where he now owns 160 acres in Section 35, of Town 2 south, Range 7 cast. Of this there are about seventy acres in cultivation. Mr. Foster was married in Jersey County, Ill., on June 15, 1847, to Alice Siddell, a daughter of Squire and Mary (Barnes) Siddell. They were natives of Lin- colnshire, England, and there the father died in 1835, and the mother came to this county in 1854 and is at present the wife of a Mr. Grif- fith, of Salt Lake City, Utah. Mrs. Foster was born in Lancashire, England, on March 13, 1828, and is the mother of five children, of whom four are now living-Mary R .. born No- vember 12, 1858. now wife of P. Zimmerman;

George R., born January 7, 1862; Sarah E., born May 25, 1866; Nathan H., born February 21, 1867. In politics, Mr. Foster is identified with the Democrats.

PHILIP HALL, farmer, P. O. Barnhill, was born in this township on November 17, 1826, and is a son of David and Hannah (Philips) IIall. The father was a native of Georgia, the mother of North Carolina. Subject was the youngest of nine children, and is the only one now living. The subscription schools of this county furnished subject means of education, but after becoming grown he improved him- self to some extent. Ile remained at home, as- sisting his father, until the latter's death in 1845, and then took charge of the place for his mother. At her death in 1864, he inherited the whole of the home farm, and there he has since resided. He now owns 240 acres in Sections 24 and 25, of Township 2 south, Range 7 east, and of that has about 105 acres in cultivation. Ile also does something in bee raising, having about seventy hives. Mr. Hall was married on June 9, 1853, to Elizabeth Ann Jones, a daugh- ter of John and Jane (Clark) Jones, natives of Kentucky. This lady was the mother of six children, two of whom are now living-Timer Jane ( wife of Archer Wade, of White County) and Mary Ann (wife of Tyra Kinslow, of this township). Mrs. Ilall died on November 27, 1864, and subject was married the second time on April 20, 1870, to Miss Rebecca Pykiet, a daughter of Jolin and Rebecca (Foster) Pykiet, natives of England. Four children have blessed this union, of whom three are now liv- ing-Sarah Elizabeth, Alice Adeline and Jenette. In politics, Mr. Hall gives his sup- port to the Democratic party.

W. F. HALL, farmer, P. O. Boyleston. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is de- scended from one of the earliest families that retired in Wayne County. Ilere subject was born on December 6, 1841, and is a son of Da- vid and Mary Ann (Day) Hall. The grand-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

parents, James and Jane (Chum) Hall, were probably natives of Alabama, and settled af- terward in Murray County, Tenn., where the father was born November 16, 1818. When the latter was about eight years old, the grand- father moved to Wayne County and settled on the south edge of Big Mound Township. In that township he lived for upward of thirty years. He next moved to Washington Conn- ty, and settled near Nashville. There he re- mained two years, and then returned to this county and settled in Four Mile Township, where he lived until his death on September 1, 1864, the grandmother having died some time in the year 1857. The father grew to man- hood in this county, and his schooling advan- tages were one month in an old subscription school. He remained on the home farm until about eighteen, and then commenced life on a farm near where his father was then residing. He afterward moved to his farm in Section 17, of Big Mound Township, where he is now re- siding. On August 24, 1836, he was married in this county, to Mary Ann Day, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Frank and Hallie Day, who were also early settlers in this coun- ty. This union resulted in thirteen children, of whom eight are now living, viz .: Hallie Jane (wife of Jesse Garrison), W. F. (our subject), J. S. C., Elizabeth (wife of G. Davis), Thomas, Margaret (wife of S. Farney), Rose (wife of C. Fankle), and Ida Bell. Of this number, W. F. received his early education from a subscrip- tion school, but afterward, when the free schools had been established in his township, he at- tended a few terms there. He remained at home with his father until about twenty. In that time he had learned partially the trade of a carpenter, but did not get to follow it much. In 1862, he went to Idaho, and remained there about one year. lle returned to this county and settled in the north part of Big Mound Township, and there remained until 1868. He next came to his present farm, where he now

owns about 180 acres, 100 of which are in Sec- tions 17 and 20, and eighty acres in Sections 21 and 33, of Town 2 south, Range 7 east; 100 acres are in cultivation, and about three acres in orchard. Mr. Hall was married in this county on April 7, 1868, to Emma Nor- mon, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Garri- son) Normon. To this couple have been born six children, three of whom are now living- Frances M., February 22, 1869; Nellie B., born October 24, 1878; and Walter S., born July 30, 1881. Of the deceased ones, Charles D., born February 5, 1871, died January 5, 1873; Mary Ann, born February 14, 1873, died Jan- uary 1, 1875; Chalon S., born May 2, 1871, died October 2, 1879. Subject has served as member of the County Board of Supervisors, Township Collector, Assessor and Highway Commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Hall is a Demo- crat.

H. F. HOWARD, farmer, P. O. Fairfield, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, on June 12, 1840, and is a son of Horace and Olive (Cleveland) Howard, the father being a native of New York, the mother of Connecticut. Sub- ject was the younger of two children, His ed- ucation was received in the free schools of his native county, and at the age of nineteen he commenced to learn the printer's trade at the office of the Western Reserve Chronicle, of War- ren, Ohio. He, however, remained about a year and a half, when his health failed him and he had to leave the office. He subsequently, however, acted as salesman and collector for four years for his father, who was an extensive marble dealer. In 1865, he came to Wayne County, Ill., and immediately settled the farm on which he now resides, a tract of 100 acres in Section 10, of Town 2 south, Range 7 east. Be- sides farming. he pays some attention to sheep- raising, having in stock a very fine flock of Southdowns. Mr. Howard was married in

BIG MOUND TOWNSHIP.

Bristol, Trumbull County, on February 1, 1864, to Jennie McLain. This lady is the daughter of L. B. and Mary (Millet) MeLain ; the father was born in this country, but was of Scottish leseent. Mrs. Howard was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, on October 28, 1844, and is the mother of four children, all of whom are now living-Frank H., born June 5, 1865; Nellie J., born July 10, 1870 ; Gracie O., born May 24, 1875 ; Sibbie, born January 5, 1878. Mr. Howard has served as School Director and Road Overseer, and in politics he gives his support to the Democratic party.

ALBERT R. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Fair- field. One of the most thrifty and enterprising young farmers in this county is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who was horu in Meigs County, Ohio, September 18, 1850. The father, Thomas Johnson, was born in Ohio, and came to Wayne County in 1852, with his family, and first settled in Lamard Township. He afterward moved to Bedford Township, where he died in 1859. The mother, Eliza (Taylor) Johnson, was also a native of Ohio, and after her husband's death she lived for a time in Bedford Township, and then in 1863 she with her family removed again to Lamard Township, where she died in 1865. Subject was permitted to attend school some in early age, but soon after his father's death he commenced to work around for different farm ers, and continued to do so until 1875, being employed principally by those of Big Mound and Lamard Townships. In that year, he start- ed out for himself, and settled in Big Mound Township, where he now owns a farm of 116 acres, situated in Section 3, of Township 2 south, Range 7 east. The tract is nearly all in cultivation, and he has about three acres in orchard. Mr. Johnson was married, in Big Mound Township, on January 25, 1874, to Miss Louisa Book, a native of this county, and a daughter of S. II .. Sr., and Mary (Book) Book (whose sketches appear elsewhere in this work).

This union has resulted in one child-Charles, born October 13, 1877. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and in polities Mr. Johnson is a Democrat.

REV. G. Il. MOON, minister and farmer, P. O. Fairfield. The reverend gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Peters- burgh Township, Rensselaer County, N. Y., on July 26, 1814. He is a son of James and Anna (Dodds) Moon. The father was a native of Rhode Island, the mother was born in New London, Conn. Subjeet is the ninth of twelve children, of whom only two are now living. When he was about six years old, his father moved to Somerset Township, Windham Coun- ty, Vt. In that county the former was per- mitted to attend school but eighteen months; his father was a farmer and he was compelled to lend what assistance he could upon the farmn. Since his arrival to manhood, Mr. Moon has ed- ucated himself to the extent of his abilities, and is truly what might be called a self-made man. On September, 1832, he with his elder brother left the parental roof, and, starting out in life for themselves, came to Lorain County, Ohio, and worked around for the farmers for upward of eight years. At an early age, our subject was led to identify himself with the Free-Will Baptist Church. Determining to give his life service to the cause of his Master, he began to preach, and coming to Marion County in Au- gust, 1840, was ordained as a regular minister in October of the same year. He was immedi- ately appointed as the shepherd over three charges in that locality, namely, the churches of Pleasant, Big Island and Pawpaw. For up- ward of thirty years he preached in this field of labor, and then in 1871 came to pastures new iu Wayne County. He, until 1879. preached in Bone Gap Church, Edwards Coun- ty, and Jeffersonville and Big Mound Churches, this county. He was finally, by outside mat- ters, compelled to retire from the active minis-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

try, and at present his mantle has fallen upon his son, William R. Moon, who is at present supplying the churches. So far, he has been engaged forty-six years in active ministerial work, and in the prosecution of his labors he has traveled some 65,000 miles. In Ohio, a part of that travel was spent in going to and from the different quarterly meetings, to which he always would go as a delegate, and since his residence in this State he has traveled a good deal in organizing the yearly meetings of his denomination. In his ministry he has probably baptized upward of 300 converts. In the last four or five years, he and his sons have been engaged in farming. He at present owns 200 acres in Sections 9 and 16, of Town- ship 2 south, Range 7 east. Of that there are abont 176 acres in cultivation, and about three and a half in orchard. In Marion County, Ohio, on May 6, 1841, he was married to Mary B. Smith, and in a minister's many trials and tribulations she has proven a loving and help- ful companion. She is a daughter of Reuben and Judith (Springer) Smith, natives of Maine, and was born in Lieking County, Ohio, on April 18, 1820. This union has resulted in ten children, of whom six are now living-Henry N. (wedded to Lydia Hoover, and now living in Marion County, Ohio), Ellen M. (wife of Sanford Hoover, of Council Bluffs, lowa), Esther Amanda (wife of John Irvin, of Lamard Township), William R. (wedded to Minnie Rinebold), Flora B. and O. Dwight. In poli- tics, Mr. Moon is a stanch Republican. In our subject's life we can see a true example of what perseverance may do for a man. Having no educational advantages, but possessed of more than ordinary ability, and an immense amount of energy, he has given himself a good edneation. Ile is an omniverous reader, and to-day he is possessed with one of the finest libraries in Wayne County. In the education of his children he shows an unflagging energy, placing in their reach every advantage that is within his power.

'G. F. SMITHI, farmer, P. O. Boyleston. George Smith, the father of subjeet, was born in Germany on May 14, 1819, and was a son of Diewault and Eva (Lantz) Smith. When he was four years old, his parents emigrated to this country and settled in Stark County, Ohio. There the father grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade, which was afterward his regular occupation. In that county, on Febru- ary 14. 1847, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Wertenberger. This lady was born in Stark County, Ohio, and is the daughter of George and Christie Ann (Snyder) Wertenber- ger. The parents were natives of the Brush Valley, Penn., but were descendants of German emigrants. After their marriage, the twain came to Wabash County, Ind., and to them were born three children-Lydia A., born April 28, 1847, now wife of William R. Cox ; Mary E., born September 5, 1850, and now wife of Z. M. Cable; George F., our subject, born April 24, 1853. On April 20, 1853, the father died, and Mrs. Smith turned her attention to farming. She was subsequently married, on May 4, 1859, to Christian Snoke. In Septem- ber, 1868, she left her husband and came to Wayne County, Ind., with her children, where she has since resided. Our subject's educa- tion was received in the schools of his native county and of this one also, and he early ren- dered what assistance he could on the home farm. He at present has charge of the home place, a traet of 120 acres in Section 16 of Town 2 south, Range 7 east. Mrs. Snoke is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Smith is an Independent in politics.

THOMAS C. STANLEY, bee-raiser, Boyles- ton, was born in Botetourt County, Va., on February 8, 1830, and is a son of Joel and Elizabeth (Combs) Stanley. The father was born in Virginia, and was of English descent; the mother was also a native of that State, and of German nativity. Our subject is the fourth of nine children, of whom seven are now living.

BIG MOUND TOWNSHIP.

When he was about three years old, his parents moved to Tennessee and settled in McNairy County. There subject received a district school education, which has been added to con- siderably by his own efforts since his accession to manhood's estate. At the age of eighteen, he apprenticed himself to a maker of wagons and buggies in that county, and he afterward followed that occupation from 1848 to 1857. He next commenced to farm and also set up a wool-earding machine, which was well patron- ized by the surrounding people. It was before the day of looms and was the only way of pre- paring the wool. In 1862, he came to this county, and at the town of Jeffersonville he set up his carding machine and ran it for a num- ber of years. Ile also purchased the flouring mill at that point, and carried on a general .milling business. In 1867, he sold out his in- terest at that point and came to Fairfield. At this point he worked for a year at the Fairfield flouring mill, and then built the Fairfield Wool- en Mills, at a cost of about $10,000. He con- tinued this in operation until 1872, when the mill was destroyed by fire, and when afterward the Fairfield Woolen Mill Company was formed and the structure rebuilt he was appointed Su- perintendent. In this capacity, he served for two years and then returned to Jeffersonville. There he purchased the flouring mill that he had formerly owned, and again embarked in the milling business. In the summer of 1876, he first turned his attention to raising bees. Ile started with two stands, and that season increased it to about thirty-five stands. In 1877, he removed his bees to Big Mound Town- ship, and settled on a farm of thirty acres in Section 30 of Town 2 south, Range 7 east. There he has extended his stock until he now controls upward of 1,000 stands, 600 of which he owns. lle has them at present divided up among five different points. The stock is mostly Italian bees, but he is at present adding Syrians and Cyprians to it. The yield of honey

for 1882 was upward of 18,000 pounds, which netted about $3.000. This yield of course de- pends upon the season, in a dry one the yield not being anywhere near so great as in a wet one. The honey, which is mostly in the comb, is shipped to all the States, and this bee farm is fast becoming one of the leading industries of Wayne County. Mr. Stanley was married in McNairy County, Tenn., on March 29, 1849, to Lucinda Carter, a daughter of John and Sophia (Hill) Carter. Mrs. Stanley was born on January 8, 1832, and is the mother of seven children, three of whom are now living-James R., in the milling business at Jeffersonville ; lsaae H., in business with his father; and Thomas J., in the grocery business at Jeffer- sonville. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stanley are mem- bers of the Jeffersonville Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stanley is a member of the Jef- fersonville Lodge of A. F. & A. M., and in pol- ities is a Democrat.

A. WINTER, farmer, P. O. Boyleston, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, on September 2, 1836, and is a son of O. W. and Mary Evans) Winter, the father was a native of Massacltusetts, the mother of Vermont. Sub- jeet was the sixth of nine children, of whom the following are now living, viz., Mrs. Harriet Blood, of Trumbull County, Ohio; Mrs. Ellen Berry, of Trumbull County, Ohio; Mrs. Eliza Chatman, of Trumbull County, Ohio; O. M. Winter, of Hinton, Mich .; Mrs. Mary Sealy, of Trumbull County, Ohio, and Mrs. Sarah Cart- wright, of Hinton, Mich. Subject attended the schools of his native county, and afterward helped on the home farm most of the time un- til he was twenty-one. lle was very fond of travel and spent upward of six years in the West. In 1865, he, however, determined to settle down in life, and came to Big Mound Township, Wayne County. He now owns about 400 aeres situated in Sections 9, 10 and 15, of Township 2 south, Range 7 east, and Sec- tions 4 and 9, of Township 3 south, Range 7 east.

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Of the whole, there are about 100 acres in culti- vation. Mr. Winter was married, in Trumbull County, Ohio, on December 18, 1862, to Lonisa M. MeLain, a daughter of James and Jane (MeKillip) Mclain, natives of Pennsylvania.

Two children have blessed this union-II. B., born October 22, 1867, and O. W., born Octo- ber 2, 1870. Mrs. Winter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Democratic party receives Mr. Winter's support.

JASPER TOWNSHIP.

LARKIN P. BORAH, son of John C. and Pamelia (Price) Borah, was born on the place where he now lives, the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22, February 14, 1851. and married, May 22, 1879, Miss Emma M., daughter of Tilghman and Mar- tha (McKee) Grice, and to them was born, August 3, 1881, a daughter, Mary L. John C., a son of John and Sally (Wilson) Borah, was born June 10, 1820, in Jasper Township, where he spent his life, except the time spent in the service of his country in the war of the great rebellion. He married Miss Pa- melia. daughter of Larkin and Sally (Wassen) Price, to whom were born seven children, five of whom are living, viz. : Sarah J. Bing, our subject as above, Salina E. MeLin. Esther M. Carter, Emma P. and Lulu M. A truly useful man, for many years an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He died, greatly lamented. January 25, 1877. John. Sr., was an early pioneer settler in the coun- ty. Pamelia was born in Indiana September 14, 1825. Our subject had good educational advantages, and has continued to improve his opportunities, keeping posted in all matters of common interest. Few, if any, are more successful as farmers than he, and there is certainly a bright future before him. Being happily married, he is, as he ought to be, cheerful, and has much to live for. Subject is the owner of 210 acres of

first-class farming land, 160 of which are in a good state of cultivation, producing as well as the very best in the county. A Republi- can in polities; leans toward the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is an unqualified Prohibitionist.

JOHN N. BOWLDS, farmer, P. O. Fair- field, is one of the most quiet, industrious and honest of the many worthy citizens of Jasper Township. He is the son of John and Jane (Fulkerson) Bowlds, and was born July 8, 1821, in Nelson County, Ky., where he remained till he was eighteen years of age, and then removed with his parents to Daviess County in the same State, where he resided until 1861, when he came to Wayne County, Ill., and settled on the southwest of northeast quarter of Section 14, in Jasper Township. his present home. John, son of James Bowlds, was born in St. Mary's County, Md., about 17S5, and died in Nelson County, Ky., in 1813, and was buried at Bardstown. James was born in Maryland, and died near Fairfield, Ky., at the advanced age of one hundred and one years. The Fulkersons were an old New Jersey family, and settled at a very early day seven miles northeast of Bardstown. With them Gen. Washington often stopped while in New Jersey during the Revolutionary war. Subject was mar- ried January 8, 1856, to Miss Winifred A. Bolds, in Daviess County, Ky., and to them

JASPER TOWNSHIP.

were born eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz., James J., born November 23, 1856 ; Bertha A., June 26, 1859 ; John M., March 16, 1862 ; William F., May 10, 1867 ; Theresa S., October 28, 1870 ; Charles R., October 29, 1875, and Joseph P., April 10, 1881. Subject obtained a common school education in Kentucky during his boyhood, and has been a reading man ever since he reached his majority. He is, by occupation, a successful farmer, having 155 acres of very fertile land, about 100 of which are highly cultivated ; producing in abundance, by care- ful tillage, all the crops raised in this portion of Illinois. He also, in its season, success- fully runs a factory for the manufacture of sorghum molasses. Mr. Bowlds was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, of which he has ever remained an intelligent and con- sistent member. Ho was formerly an Old- Line Whig, but is now identified with the Democratic party.

ARTHUR BRADSHAW. Among the most intelligent and persevering of our school teachers iu Wayne County is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, having been engaged in the business almost every year since 1868, and is likely to follow the same avocation for many years to come. He is the son of Greenup and Mary A. (Boze) Bradshaw, to whom were born fourteen children, eleven of whom are now living, viz .: Sarah A. Black, born 1840; subject, 1841; William P., 1845, who served in the Fifty sixth Illinois Infantry, now an attorney at Edwardsville: James W., 1846, of the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Regiment, now cashier of the Harrisburg, Ill., bank; Harriet Blakely, 1848; Marcus, 1849, in California; Lida, 1851; Joseph, 1853; Mary F. Vernon, 1855; Greenup A .. 1859; John B., 1860. Greenup, Sr., the son of Thomas, came to Jasper with his parents

in 1819; lived in Wayne County until his death, which occurred in 1876, and was bur- ied in the Bradshaw Cemetery. He was a farmer, a lifelong Methodist, a patriot. He served in the Black Hawk war, and is well remembered as a man of sterling qualities and strict integrity. Mary Boze was born in 1819, in Tennessee. and married in 1837. Subject's grandmother, Ann Bradshaw, was a daughter of Judge McGahey, of Kentucky, and her brother, Arthur, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Subject entered Company D, Fortieth Illinois Infantry, as a private; was promoted to Lientenant, and served four years, being engaged in all the battles of that famous regiment, including Shiloh, and accompanied the army in Sherman's " march to the sea." Subject attended McKendree College as a student after his discharge from the army, and has been a constant seeker after knowledge, adding continually to his extensive store of information. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church; is identified with Republican party. and is a Prohibitionist.

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History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 71

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