USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 73
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INDIAN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
Mary P. Gardner, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Gard. ner, who came to Wayne County, Ill., in 1367, and died here. Mr. and Mrs. Blake have ten children, nine of whom are living, viz., Lulu T., Frank (deceased), Millie M., Nel- lie B., Orlando J., Pearl F., Bert, Stella, Clyde D. and Guy. May 5, 1864, he entered the service of his country in Company H. One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and served till Angust 30, 1864. He was detailed as carpenter, and was engaged in the building of Fort Ells- worth, Va., and while in the service contracted disease, which has affected his health since. In November, 1867. he moved to Wayne County, Ill., and settled on his prosent farm of 120 acres. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics. be is Republican.
W. M. CHURCH, saw and grist mill and carding machine proprietor, P. O. Johnson- ville, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, Jannary 13, 1841, to Samuel and Lydia (Murry) Church. The father was born in 1799, and is still a resident of Meigs County, Ohio, where the mother died. His occupa- tion has been that of millwright, but he has now retired at an advanced age. Our subject remained at the old home till 1859, when he came to this county, and engaged in the saw-mill business here, having brought a portable mill with him. He only remained in the mill till the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted May 28, 1861. in Company G. Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in by Gen. Grant. This was the first regiment mustered for three years in Illinois. During this term of service, he was in several of the severest engagements -Fort Donelson, Corinth, Shiloh, etc., and finally to Little Rock. He served through the time of his enlistment, and after being
mustered out went back to his old home in Ohio, where he assisted in raising a company, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-seveuth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In this company he served nearly a year, when the war closed, he then being First Lieutenant of the com- pany. During this second term of service, the regiment had followed in the rear of Sherman, repairing, etc. After the close of the war, Mr. Church returned to this county, where, on September 9, 1866, he was married to Miss E. J. Pennington, daughter of Jesse Pennington, an old resident of this county. Ten children have been the result of this union, only four of whom yet survive, viz., Etta R., Lillie E., Daisie W. and Elmer M. Most of the time during Mr. Church's residence in this county, he has been en- gaged in the milling business, and at present gives his attention to the saw and grist mill and carding machine at Johnsonville, he be- ing a partner in the same. He is a member of I. N. Haynie Post, G. A. R., also A., F. & A. M. Lodge of Johnsonville, and of the R. A. Chapter of Flora. In politics, he is a Republican.
L. P. COOK, farmer, P. O. Rinard, was born in Kentucky May 14, 1824, to Joseph and Par- melia (Morse) Cook. The father was a native of Virginia, the mother of the Carolinas. In 1840, they moved to Clay County, Ill., and settled on what is now the county farm. In 1845, they moved to Wayne County, near the Clay County line, where they died. They were the parents of twelve children; two died in infancy, but the remainder were brought to Illinois. Only four of the num- ber are now living, viz., our subject, Susan M. McDaniel, Elizabeth W. Long and Ellen Sly. Mr. Joseph Cook for many years was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject remained at home till
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his marriage to Miss Lonisa Price, April 3, 1851. She was born in Indiana, to Gillison and Polly Price. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have seven children, viz., Mary E., wife of John Gray; Joseph F .; Samantha, wife of W. Gray; William G., Louis R., Parmelia A. and L. James. Soon after marriage, Mr. Cook settled on his present farm, and 150 acres of which he entered from the Govern- ment. Mr. Cook has been an energetic, suc- cessful farmer, and now owns over 600 acres of land. He has seen the development of the county to what it now is. Part of the time, since he was married, they have raised their own cotton and flax and made their clothing from the raw material. He and wife are members of the Methodist Church, and he has been since he was sixteen years of age. In politics, he is Republican, and has been since the party started. He has held the office of Township Supervisor.
F. M. GALBRAITH, farmer, P. O. John- sonville, was born in Marion County, Ill., May 5, 1840, to Green B. and Nancy (Mc- Gee) Galbraith. They were both natives of Tennessee, but came to Marion County before ! marriage, and were residents of Marion County till about 1846, when they came to Wayne County, she having died in Marion County about 1844. She was the mother of four daughters and one son. Two of the daughters and the son yet survive, viz., El- vira A., widow of J. C. Maxey; Mahulda J., widow of William Ellis; and our subject. The father was afterward married to his sec- ond wife, by whom he had children also. Our subject has resided in this county since coming with his father in 1846. He was ed- ucated in the schools of the county, and till he was about sixteen years of age his life had been spent on the farm. When at that age, his father engaged in the mercantile bus- iness, and our subject then assisted in the
store. January 6, 1859, he was married in this county to Miss Mahulda Irwin, who was born in this county, and daughter of William and Jane (Ellis) Irwin, both residents of this county at present. Mr. and Mrs. Galbraith have six children living, viz .: Frankie B .. Jennie L., Edith L., Henry M., Joseph B. and Matthew M .. September 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Capt. A. T. Galbraith, Col. I. N. Haynie. He served till August 29, 1865, when the company was mustered out. He had served through all the offices of the company, and at the time of discharge was Captain of the company. He passed through the engagements of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta cam- paign, the march to the sea, and was at the grand review at Washington. After return- ing from the service, he engaged for one year in the mercantile business at Johnson. ville, and in 1866 engaged in milling, hav- a grist and saw mill and carding machine. He continued in the milling business till 1883, when he sold out, and is now engaged on his farm, which contains 115 acres, most of which are in cultivation. In politics, he is a stanch Republican. He is a member of I. N. Haynie Post, No. 333,G. A. R., of John- sonville, also of the A., F. & A. M. of the same place, Lodge No. 713; also to Royal Arch Chapter of Fairfield, Ill., and has repre- sented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DR. WILLIAM M. JOHNSON, physician. Johnsonville, was born in Gallatin County, Tenn .. June 29, 1829, and is the son of W. B. and Matilda (Ormand) Johnson, both na- tives of North Carolina, but had become res- idents of Tennessee previous to marriage. In 1831, they emigrated to Jefferson County,
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INDIAN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
Ill., and it was there both died about 1860. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom yet survive. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and received his common school education in the schools of Jefferson County. After having mastered the common branches, he began teaching school, and continued teaching winters and farming during the summer till 1854, when he commenced the study of medicine under the instructions of Dr. J. Frost, of Jefferson County. He remained with Dr. Frost for one year, and then attended two courses of lectures at the American Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has since followed the allopathic school of practice. During his first vacation from medical school, he began practicing medicine in Jefferson County, and after completing his course continued prac- tice at the same location till 1861, when he came to Johnsonville, and where he has ever since had a large practice, at one time having as high as 200 patients under his care, and has booked as high as $1.800 in one month's practice. The Doctor's practice has been very general, and has extended over a broad scope of territory, and in his profession he has ever been very successful. March 26. 1857, he was married in Wayne County to Miss Mary A. Galbraith, daughter of Wiley and Elizabeth (Harney) Galbraith. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson have eight children-Theodore A., Laura L., Halleck, James J., Idella F., Charles E., Lillie B. and Katie O. The Doctor is a member of Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Johnsonville, and has represented it in the Grand Lodge of the State. He is also a member of the Flora Chapter and the Commandery at Olney, and of the Mt. Ver non Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Wayne County Medical Society, and was its first President ; also a member of the Centennial Medical Society of Southern
Illinois, and of the State Medieal Society. Ho and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In political matters, he is associated with the Republican party.
MOSES JONES, fruit, grower, P. O. John. sonville, was born in Letart Falls, Mason Co., W. Va., January 26, 1819, a son of Henry Jones, a native of Vermont. Mr. Jones was married, in Virginia, February 28, 1841, to Miss Aurelia A., daughter of Dr. Shaug, a na- tive of Virginia; she was born in Meigs Coun - ty, Ohio, May 29, 1824. This union has been blessed with the following-named children: Junius N., deceased; Leonidas, deceased; Alice K., wife of J. A. Wagner, of Johnson- ville; Thomas H .; Franees M., deceased, and Charles S. Mr. Jones also reared Mrs. Abbie (Dyke) Barney, wife of Fletcher N. Barney, of Englewood, Ill. Her parents had died soon after coming to the United States from England. Mr. Jones' eldest son, Junins N., was in the service during the civil war for over three years, and during the time lay eighteen months in Southern prisons. In 1880. he was lost north of North Platte River, Neb. Supposed to have been killed by the Indians. Junins N. was married to Miss Ab- bie Penn. of Shelby County, Ill., by whom he had two children, viz. : Frances A. and Homer. Thomas H., who now has taken charge of the orchard for Mr. Jones, was ed- ucated in Mt. Union College, Ohio, and after- ward in McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., from which he graduated in class of 1SSO, and in 1883 received the degree of M.
A. For some years he was a successful teacher. In 1881, he was Associate Princi- pal of the Wayne County Normal, with Prof. West. In 1SS2-83, was Principal of the Odin Schools. August 8, 1882, he was mar- ried to Miss Laura J. Johnson, daughter of Dr. William Johnson, of Johnsonville. One child was the result of this union, viz., Shel-
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by. He, wife, mother and brother are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moses Jones is a member of the A., F. & A. M. He and sons are members of the Republican party. Mr. Jones moved from Virginia to Middleport, Ohio, in 1848, and was there engaged in milling, mercantile business, and also as a Captain of a packet on the Ohio River. In 1863, he removed to Illinois, and bought his present farm of Samuel Halliday, father of the Halliday Brothers, of Cairo. Mr. Jones first began farming, but afterward turned his attention to the nursery business, and then to fruit, having at one time 2,000 peach trees, but on account of frequent failures he gave up peaches and began the cultivation of apples very extensively, and now has an orchard of 2.300 apple trees coming into bearing, the yield in ISS3 being about 5,000 bushels, and this will be very largely increased as the trees grow in size; and they are also making extensive additions to the orchard. He and his son have experimented on about sixty-five varieties of apples, and of those about three varieties of winter fruit receive their atten- tion, viz .: Ben Davis, Rome Beauty and Winesap. Mr. Jones has done much to dle- velop the fruit industry in this county, and has been very successful in his enterprise.
WARREN A. KARR, farmer, P. O. Johnsonville, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, April 30, 1838, to Alexander and Martha (Jones) Karr; she was the daughter of Phillip Jones, the originator of Mid- dleport, Ohio. The Karr family are of Scotch origin, and, as tradition hands it down, the original ancestor married an Irishwoman, and came to America pre- vious to 1776. They were the parents of seven sons, all of whom took part in the Revolutionary war, and were afterward front- iersmen in Ohio and Kentucky, and many
by the name were killed by the Indians. Karr's Run, in Ohio, was named in honor of the family. At the age of two years, our subject was left an orphan through the death of his father; his mother afterward was married to the Rev. J. W. Bradley, a minister in the Christian Church; she was the mother of nine children, six by her first husband and three by the second, only five of the fam- ily now living. Our subject was reared on a farm in Ohio, and educated in the common schools, and attended the first free school in the State. April 12, 1860, he was married, in Wayne County, Ill., to Miss Sarah J. Ir- win, a daughter of William Irwin, who has been a farmer in this county for about fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Karr have three chil- dren-Mattie, William A. and Cora. In August, 1862, he entered the army in Com- pany C, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Capt. T. O. Pierce, and served till being mustered ont June 17, 1865. He was in the engagements of Resaca, Dal- las, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, charge of Fort McAllister, etc., etc. After returning from the army, he followed farming for three years, and then engaged in railroading for six years, being car inspector and repairer on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, operating in Tennessee and Kentucky. Since that time he has been engaged in farming; he now owns 130 acres of land, most of which are in cultivation. He is a member of Xenia Lodge, I. O. O. F. He and family are mem- bers of Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is Republican.
JESSE PENNINGTON, farmer, P. O. Johsonville, was born in Monroe County, Ky., March 18, 1823, to Jesse and Elizabeth (Penley) Pennington, natives of South Caro- lina. From Kentucky they emigrated to White County. Ill., in 1827, where they
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INDIAN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.
died. In spring of 1847, our subject came to Wayne County, Ill., and for a few years followed farming; he then engaged in saw- milling, and followed that occupation for about twenty-two years. In 1870, came to his present farm, and has made the improve- ments on the same. November 23, 1843, he was married, in White County, III., to Eliz- abeth Widdows, a native of this State, her parents having come from Kentucky at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington reared six children to maturity, two sons and four daughters-John W., who died in 1863, while a soldier in the Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; Emma J., Nancy E. (de- ceased), Matilda E., Jesse R. and Mary A. He is a member of Johnsonville Lodge, A., F. & A. M. He and wife aro members of Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is Republican, and has held various of. fices in the township.
JAMES H. WEAVER. farmer. P. O. Johnsonville, was born in Monroe County, Ohio, April 14, 1843, to George and Elizabeth (Gauntz) Weaver. The father was a native of Virginia, born May 8, 1798, but the mother was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch origin, May 28, 1806. His occupation was mostly that of farming, but by trade was a cabinet-maker. In 1856, they came to Wayne County, Ill., and made their home here till time of death. His death occurred October 6, 1879, and hers May 2.1, 1880. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom yet survive. Our subject is the youngest of the family, and was brought to this county when about thirteen years of age, and has since made Wayne County his home. His occupation has been that of farm- ing, and in this, his chosen business, he has been very successful, as his farm contains 310 acres of land, most of which are in a good state of cultivation, and improved with good
farm buildings, etc. He is also engaged in tho raising of fruit. February 21, 1867, be was married, in this county, to Miss Hannah A. Lennell, who was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, daughter of John W. and Martha (Painter) Lennell. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have two children living, and two dead -- Ida Belle, Charles E. (deceased), Lou Ella, and Raleigh T. (deceased). He is a mem- ber of Lodge No. 713, A., F. & A. M, of Johnsonville, aud Xenia Lodge of I. O. O. F. He votes the Republican ticket.
COL. T. L. B. WEEMS, farmer, P. O. Johnsonville, was born in Marion County, Ill., September 13, 1836, to Lewis and Mary (Mabry) Weems, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, but their families having come from Maryland and Virginia, and of Scotch- Irish origin. About 1828, the parents of our subject came to Illinois and settled in Marion County, where his mother died about 1840, and then his father moved to Wayne County and died in 1844, having been marriod twice. By the first wife, the mother of our subject, one son and one daughter were born, and by the second marriage one son. Col. Weems is now the only surviving member of the fam- ily. Since he was about four years of age, he has resided in this county, and has made farming his principal occupation. Septem- ber 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company 1, Forty eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as private. He served four years, lacking a few days, and during that time was promoted snc- cessively till. at the close of war, he was Colonel of the Forty-eighth Illinois, having recoived tive commissions, the first being immediately after the battle of Shiloh, and the commission states that it was for merito- rious conduct. July 28, 1864, he was wounded while at Atlanta, Ga., and from the shot, which was in the leg, he was unable to walk for six months. He received another
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gunshot wound. in the face, at Duck Branch, S. C., February, 1865. In all, the Colonel was in twenty-seven battles, besides nnmer- ous skirmishes, and was with Sherman on the march to the sea; also at the grand review at Washington. Since returning from the serv- ice. he has been on his present farm, where he is engaged in raising of fruit, grass and general farming. July 9, 1865, he was mar- ried in this county to Miss Lura Bradley, who was born in Meigs County, Ohio, and is the
daughter of Rev. John W. Bradley, who, for thirty years, was a minister of the Christian Church. He died February 13, 1877. Col. and Mrs. Weems have three children living and one dead, viz., Harry L., George M.,
Bertha May. and Lewis, deceased.
The
Colonel is member of I. N. Haynie Post, No. 333, G. A. R .. of Johnsonville. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a stanch Republi- can, and has held various township offices.
LEECH TOWNSHIP.
W. P. CRAVENS. farmer, P. O. Burnt Prairie. was born Jannary 29. 1847. in White County. Ill .. son of Y. B. Cravens. a native of Kentucky. and a farmer by occupation. He came to White County in an early day, and is yet living in Liberty. His father was Elijah Cravens. The mother of our subject was Jane (Rhodes) Cravens, a native of Kentucky. She is yet living, and is the mother of eleven children. Our subject went to school in White County. In 1871. he went to Osage Mission, Kan., near which place he was joined in matrimony to Sue Paffenbarger, a native of Ohio, born in 184S. She is a daughter of George W. Paffenbar- ger. a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Cra- vens is the mother of four children now liv- ing. viz. : Leota, Minnie, Will B. and Cloyd W. Mr. and Mrs. Cravens are religiously connected with the M. E. Church. He has a farm of eighty acres, which he keeps in a high state of cultivation. He has been Township Collector for two terms, and Town- ship Assessor one term. The A., F. & A. M. and also the A. O. U. W. fraternities claim him as one of their active members. Mr.
Cravens may be classed among the most in- telligent citizens of Leech Township.
JOHN J. FUNKHOUSER, farmer, P. O. Burnt Prairie, was born in this township on November 5. 1842, and is a son of Preston L. and Mary (Stewart) Funkhouser. The grandfather of our subject was John Funk. houser, who was a native of Kentucky, but was of Old Virginia stock, and was related to the family of Gen. Lee. He married Eliza- beth Newman, also a native of that State. and then (1516) came to Wayne County. He brought with him sixteen negro slaves, which he afterward freed, upon the admis- sion of Illinois into the Union as a State." He lived in this county for upward of twen- ty-five years, and then went to Effingham County, where both he and his wife died at a good old age. The father of our subject was born near Bowling Green, Ky .. on Octo- ber 6, 1815, and was not quite a year old when his father moved to this county. He attended the old subscription schools, and in early life gave his attention to farming. starting with twenty acres. He soon amassed a very large body of land, and at the time of
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his death owned abont 1,400 acres. He also bonght corn and hogs for the New Orleans market, and would ship his produce by flat- boat to destination. He would supervise the matter himself, and often made the journey himself. He, assisted by Thomas McKnight and M. M. Wheeler, made the first flat-boat that ever descendel the Wabash from this part of the country. He would make from three to four trips a year, and made it quite profitable. In 1540, he commenced to sell goods at Burnt Prairie, and followed the mercantile business until 1563. when his store was burned by outlaws from Kentucky. While in business in this county, he sold more goods than any other man in it. In every way he was in his day one of the fore. most men of the county. Among other things worthy of note concerning him was the fact that he built the first brick house in the county in 1830. Starting from but a very small farm, he was at one time said to be the largest land-owner in the county. He was a member of the Republican party, but was no office seeker or holder. He was, however, deeply esteemed by his fellow-citi- zens, and his demise was deeply mourned by them. He breathed his last at his home in Burnt Prairie on May 22, 1877, and was at the time of his death a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. The mother of our subject was born in Scotland in 1816, and was a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Steward) Stewart, also natives of Scotland. She is yet living in Burnt Prairie, and is the mother of four living children, viz. : John J. (our subject). Adeline Hughey, Alex. M. (a lawyer in St. Louis), and Alice G. Roy. The common schools of this county furnished our subject his means of education, and his whole life here has been devoted to the till- ing of the soil. and at present owns 540 acres of land. Mr. Funkhouser was married
in Knoxville, Tenn., to Hattie McGanghey. This lady died in 1569. and he was after- ward married to Miss Ella R. Skeavington, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Walker) Skeavington. natives of Edwards County. Ill .. but of English descent. This lady was born in 1952. and is the mother of five chil- dren, viz: Hattie A .. Bertha, Mary E., Preston L. and Lucy. On August 9. 1562. our subject enlisted in Company A. of the Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Capt. E. P. Turner. Enlisting as private. after three months' service he was promoted to Adjutant of the regiment. and at the end of six months was elected Captain. In June. 1563. the regiment was mounted. and he served up until January. 1865, when he was hurt by his horse falling on him. and he was honorably discharged. Among the battles in which he participated were those of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and At- lanta campaign, besides many smaller skir- mishes. Both Mr. and Mrs. F. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a member of Burnt Prairie Lodge. No. 66S. A., F. & A. M. He is at present serv- ing as Township Supervisor. In politics, he is a Democrat.
MRS. ELIZABETH HARRIS. Burnt Prairie, was born August 16. 1522. in Breck- inridge County, Ky. She is a daughter of Samuel Shrewsbury, a native of Virginia. He came to Wayne County. Ill., January 14, 1541, and, after raising one crop, moved to White County, where he died. His father. Dabney Shrewsbury was born and died in Virginia. The mother of our subject. Polly (Kurrens) Shrewsbury, was a native of North Carolina. She died iu Wayne County. leav- ing four children-Elizabeth (our subject). Jlinerva Palmer. Mary Meeks and Nancy S. Harlan. Our subject was reared in Ken- tucky. She came to Illinois with her par-
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