History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 90

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 90
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 90

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A. M. E. MARTIN, farmer, P. O. Xenia, was born in Rush County, Ind., November 20, 1833, to William and Mary (Jones) Mar- tin, natives of Woodford County, Ky., where they were married. In about 1823, they em- igrated to Indiana, where they resided till 1842, and then came to Clay County, Ill .. where she died in 1843. He, however, lived till 1876. He was married three times, but only had children by the first wife, and by her there were five daughters and three sons, and of that number only the following are now living: James W., Elizabeth Holeman, and our subject. A. M. E. Our subject has resided most of his life in Clay County, com - ing here with his father in 1842. Six years of his life, however, he resided in Marion County. He also has been married three times; first, November 11, 1853, to Mary Jane Atkinson, a native of Orange County. Ind. She was the mother of five children now living, and three dead. Mrs. Martin died in 1870. He was married, February 9, 1873, to Lucinda A. Chasteen, a native of Illinois. She was the mother of one child, now living. Mrs. M. died January 3, 1874. July 11, 1875, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Thomas, a native of Orange Coun- ty, Ind. She is the mother of three children. The following are the names of Mr. Martin's living children: Jasper N., William A., Mary E., Rosa B., Lydia J., Winnie L., Ella J., James E. and an infant. When Mr. Martin first started for himself, it was as a farm hand, working for two years on a farm in In- diana in 1850 and 1851. October 3, 1864, he moved ou to his present farm, which was at that time all an open prairie. He now owns a farm of 218 acres of well-improved land. He and wife are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and have been for nearly a quarter of a century, and during that time he has been an Elder in the church.

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In politics, he is Democratic, and has held different township offices; for four years in succession he was Supervisor of the town- ship, and for two years was Chairman of the board.

I. N. SEFTON, farmer, P. O. Xenia, was born in Greensburg, Decatur Co., Ind., September 5, 1835, and is the son of Henry and Eliza (Poe) Sefton. The mother was born in Kentucky, but was mostly reared in Indiana. The father was born in Ireland but came to the United States, when about twelve years of age, and settled with his parents in Indiana. His trade was that of wagon and carriage maker, and he followed that occupation till coming to Clay County in about 1852. He then invested in a farm of 160 acres at first, to which he afterward added eighty more, so that now the old home- stead contains 240 acres of land. For three years after coming to the county, he was en- gaged in a wagon and blacksmith shop in Xenia, but then returned to the farm where he died in 1871. His widow, however, still survives, and was seventy one years of age in February, 1883. She is the mother of eight children -- two daughters and six sons. One son and one daughter, however, died after reaching maturity. The remaining ones are living in this county. Our subject is the eldest of the family. He was reared in De- catur County, Ind., and in this county, and mostly educated here. March 21, 1861, he was married to Ellen Sefton. She was born in Decatur County, Ind., daughter of Will- iam Sefton, of this county. Mrs. Sefton died October 31, 1872. She was the mother of two sons and two daughters, viz., Almira, Cyrus, Dora and Thiers. Mr. S. settled on his present farm soon after marriage. It was at that time all open prairie. He now owns 160 acres of well-improved land, on which he is engaged in general farming,

stock and hay-raising. He and his brothers have a hay press on the farm, and a ware- house in Xenia for their hay. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party.

JACOB H. SONGER, farmer, P. O. Xenia, was born in Clay County April 6, 1838, and is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Whit- man) Songer. The father was a native of Virginia, born February 8, 1801. The moth- er was born in Kentucky April 20, 1809. In youth they had emigrated to Indiana, and were there married November 14, 1828, and almost immediately afterward moved to Clay County, Ill. In the spring of 1829, settled on the farm, where they lived to a good old age, he dying April 6, 1874, and she Octo- ber 13, 1880. They were the parents of six sons and six daughters. Of the twelve only the following are now living: John; Nancy, wife of Robert Walker; Frances A., wife of Flemming Warren; Eliza A., wife of John W. Chapman; Frederick W. and Jacob H. Mr. Samuel Songer's occupation was that of a farmer, and through his industry accumu- lated a good property, and more than all lived so as to gain the respect and confidence of all. Our subject was reared on the farm, and in early life he attended the schools of the county. In later years, he was a student at McKendree College, Lebanon, Ill., for two years. In starting in life for himself, he chose the same occupation as his father. However, he has taught several schools. Mr. Songer's farm contains 420 acres of land, part of it being a portion of the old home- stead. He is engaged in general farming, however the raising of hay receives most of his attention. December 22, 1863, he was married to Miss Sarah J. Onstott, daughter of Levi Onstott, of Xenia Township. She was the mother of three children, viz., Agnes, Edgar (who died at two and a half years of age), and Delbert. Mrs. Songer died Au-

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gust 22, 1873. March 6, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. Mul- lins, daughter of John D. Mullins, a resident of this township. This union has been blest with one child, viz., Bruce. In politics, Mr. Songer is identified with the Republican party.

ROBERT WALKER, Xenia. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Rush County, Ind., June 6, 1827, to John and Margaret (Anderson) Walker, both natives of Virginia. The father was born February 1, 1786. The mother September 20, 1791. In early life they had emigrated to Kentucky, where they were married October 14, 1813. Some years after this, they moved to Indiana. His oc- cupation was that of a farmer in early life, but in later years he followed school-teach- ing, as he was unable for farm work on ac- count of rheumatism. In fall of 1837, they removed from Indiana to Coles County, Ill., where he died February 8, 1840. In fall of 1840, the family returned to Indiana, to De- catur County, and in November, 1848, came to Clay County, Ill., where the mother re-

sided till her death, December 27, 1876. They were the parents of seven children who lived to be grown; three had died in infancy. Only three of the family are now living- James M., Robert and Samuel. Our subject was educated in Indiana, and has made farm- ing his occupation during life. September 18, 1851, he was married to Miss Nancy Songer, a daughter of Samuel Songer (see sketch of Jacob Songer). She was born February 28, 1832, and is the mother of seven children living and two dead-John S., Margaret ( wife of Henry V. Jessup), Josephine Sayre, Angie, Leander, Kittie and Arthur. After marriage, Mr. Songer settled on the farm one mile north of his present residence, where he resided till 1883, and then came to his present farm, which was the old homestead of Mr. Samuel Songer. His farm now contains 290 acres of land, most of which is in cultivation. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is an active Republican.

PIXLEY TOWNSHIP.

MILO BLACK, M. D., and farmer, P. O. Sailor Springs, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, November 22, 1816, and is a son of Matthias Black (deceased) and Elizabeth (Hammel) Black. The latter died in New- ton. Ind., in 1881, at the age of eighty-nine years. Our subject was brought up on the farm and educated in the Madisonville Sem- inary, in his native county. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati in 1841, and at once removed to Lawrence- burg, Ind., where he practiced medicine un-

til 1846. He then returned to Madisonville, Ohio, and practiced there until 1849, when he went via Cape Horn to California. He practiced in San Francisco until March, 1851; during this time he built and carried on a hospital there. In 1851, he returned to Madisonville, and built there a fine resi. dence, which has remained the finest in that place, until the present day. He continued to practice medicine in his old home town until 1864, when he came to Clay County. He practiced medicine with great success in

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and around Pixley Township until 1880, when he left the farm to the care of his sons and established a drug store in Clay City, but sickness in his sons' families caused him to return to the farm, but he refuses to practice regularly. The Doctor has been very success- ful also as a farmer and stock-raiser, and owns 520 acres of land. He was married, December 7, 1843, to Priscilla H. Clason, a daughter of Smith Clason. They have had seven children, five living -- John L., present Treasurer of Clay County; Charles W., at home; Frederick R., at home; Stella H. Mc- Collum, in Alabama; and Otto R. is learning telegraphy in Clay City. While in Ohio, the Doctor was Township Treasurer for five years.

JOSEPH DEWHIRST, farmer, P. O. Wil- sonburg, was born in Edwards County, Ill., January 24, 1836, and is a son of James Dewhirst (deceased), a native of Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, who came to America when eighteen years old. He was a carpenter, but in after life a farmer. Our subject has always lived on the farm. His educational advantages were limited, having attended a subscription school a short time, taught in a log cabin with a dirt floor and slab seats. He came to Clay County with his parents in 1851, and has since made this his home. He owns 170 acres of land, and is en. gaged in farming and stock-raising on Sec- tion 13. In religion, he is a Methodist. He was married December 25, 1856, to Nancy C., daughter of Samuel Byrne (deceased). They have had six children, five living- James A, Elizabeth F .. Solomon H., John M. and Jettie C.

JOHN DITTER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Sailor Springs, is a native of Smith County, Tenn., and was born December 7, 1807. His father, Elijah Ditter, was a na- tive of North Carolina. John was raised on the farm in his native county, and received a

limited education in a subscription school, taught in a log cabin with a dirt floor and a paper window. He came to Clay County in the spring of 1829, and settled at Sailor Springs, on Section 25, Hoosier Township, where he entered a cabin on the claim of Hack Sams, paying him soon afterward $75 for his claim and improvements. Mr. Ditter afterward went ten or twelve miles to assist in house-raising, and the settlers worked the roads from Louisville to Fox River. near Olney, under the same path- master. The deer and other wild animals were numerous in those days, and Mr. Ditter killed many of them for his supply of meat. He resided at the Springs for seven years, when he removed to his present homestead on Section 18, Pixley Township. He began life with little or no means, and gradually worked his way up. As a farmer and stock- raiser, he has been eminently successful, and now owns 680 acres of land. He held the office of Supervisor one term, but has never sought political favors. He is a Mason, and in religious views a Universalist. He was married, July 10, 1828, io Amelia McKinney, a daughter of Jeremiah Mckinney (deceased), and a sister of James McKinney, of Pixley Township, of whom we make further mention elsewhere in this work. This union was blessed with eight children, but one of whom is living, viz., John. Mrs. Ditter died in November, 1848, and he married again in 1849, this time to Mrs. Thursey Chapman, by whom he has had four children, two of these are living-George W. and Amanda (Hammer).

WILLIAM L. HOUSTON, builder, Sail- or Springs, was born in Hillsboro Coun- ty. N. H., August 20, 1813, and is a son of John Houston (deceased), also a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Houston spent his boyhood days on the farm, and attended a

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common school, and a select school in Hop- kinton, N. H. He learned the carpenter and builder's trade when but a boy. He is also an accomplished brick mason and plasterer. In January, 1836, he removed to Pike Coun- ty, Ill., locating in Griggsville. He there followed his trade until 1866, when he came to Pana, Ill., and there engaged in the man- ufacture of brick, until 1882, when he visited his native State, and, returning, purchased some land on Section 30, just in the edge of Pixley Township, and laid out Houston's Addition to Sailor Springs, and has since busied himself in building houses here. Mr. Houston does not neglect the religious and charitable institutions; he built, at his own expense, a house for public worship at Sailor Springs in 1883. He is a Baptist in faith and practice. He moved his family to the Springs in the spring of 1883. He was married in April, 1837, to Maria Whittimore, a native of Massachusetts.

WILLIAM H. LEVITT, farmer and stock- dealer, P. O. Gatewood, is a native of Posey County, Ind., and was born October 2, 1834. His father, Michael Levitt, was born near Lexington, Ky., and his mother, Maria (Han- ning) Levitt, was a native of Fayette County, Ky., and a daughter of Daniel Hanning, a Virginian by birth, and of German descent. Michael Levitt removed with his family to Clay County in 1849, and settled on Levitt's Prairie, in Pixley Township, which was settled first by his brother, James Levitt, as early as 1828. William attended the com- mon schools, and since grown has paid his attention to farming and dealing in stock. He owns 500 acres of land. For two years he engaged in the mercantile business at Gatewood. In religion, he is a Baptist. He was married, October 27, 1875, to Drucilla, only child of Joel Wammack (deceased), an early settler of Clay County. They have had

two children --- Francis Marion and Will- iam R.

PETER M. LOUGH, farmer, P. O. Wil- sonburg, was born in Braxton County, W. Va., March 26, 1838, and is a son of Peter Lough' a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Lough was brought up on the farm, and attended school in a log cabin with a dirt floor. He came with his parents to Edwards County, Ill., in 1839, and to this county in 1840. The first summer they lived in a rail pen, and in the fall built a cabin. Mr. Lough was a soldier in the late war, in Company H, Twenty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Vicksburg, At- lanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Lookout Mountain, both battles at Corinth, Jackson, Miss., Res- aca, Big Shanty, Island No. 10. Point Pleasant, Bentonville and others, and was with Sherman to the sea. He was married, February 1, 1875, to Elizabeth Dewhirst, daughter of James Dewhirst (deceased). Our subject owns ninety acres of land, and is en- gaged in general farming. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

JAMES McKINNEY, farmer, P. O. Sailor Springs, is a native of Wilson County, Tenn., and was born April 26, 1812. His father, Jeremiah Mckinney (deceased) was a native of Virginia. Our subject was left an orphan when only three or four years old, and was brought up by his uncle, Elijah Wammack, who resided also in Wilson County. James enjoyed very limited educational advantages. but had to perform much hard labor; to use his own words: " I had a very hard row to peddle." He came to this county in 1830, where he has since resided. As a farmer and stock-raiser, he has been eminently success- ful, and now owns about 400 acres of land. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war in 1832, under Capt. John Onstott and Gen.

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Pope. His Lieutenants were Henson and Moore. In the early days, he saw many In- dians here, but they were peaceable and quiet. He also saw and killed many deer, wild cats, catamounts and panthers. He al- so saw several bears; he killed three wild cats in one day. He has been a valued and useful citizen all through life. For several years he held the office of Supervisor for Pixley Township. Mr. Mckinney was mar- ried in October, 1835, to Elizabeth Berry, daughter of Thomas Berry, an early settler of Clay County. They had three children, all deceased. Mrs. Mckinney died in Feb- ruary, 1839, and the following fall he mar- ried Mary, daughter of Dugal Camphell. By her he had eleven children, of whom but two are living-Jeremiah and John A. Two sons, James K. and Charles B., died after grown. Mrs. McKinney died, and he mar- ried Mrs. Mary Lutz for his third wife, who is his present companion. She had one child by her first husband-Diana Lutz.

JAMES A. NEVINS, Superintendent, Sailor Springs, was born in Overton County, Tenn., January 30, 1835. His father, Rob- ert Nevins (deceased), was a native of the same county, and brought his family to Ma- coupin County, Ill., in 1839. Mr. Nevins assisted in getting out the timbers of the trestles on the Springfield Branch of the O. & M. R. R., and was the company's first agent at Louisville, in Clay County. The first three months he used a box car for an office. He remained at Louisville until Jan- uary, 1871, when he was transferred to Fair- field, in Wayne County. He remained there until April, 1880, when he removed to Sailor Springs, where he has for over three years been Superintendent and general manager of the Springs and grounds. He was a soldier for Uncle Sam in the late war, in Company B, Fortieth Regiment Illinois Volunteer

Infantry. He was wounded accidentally while performing some labor, and now draws a pension. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Fairfield Chapter. He is also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Nevins was war- ried, December 22, 1856, to Martha Sprouse, a sister of Capt. W. T. Sprouse, formerly of Company B, Fortieth Regiment Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry.

DR. ANDREW J. SHORE, physician, Gatewood, was born in Orange County, Ind., April 12, 1835, and is a son of John H. Shore (deceased), a native of North Carolina. The Doctor was brought up on the farm, and attended the common schools. He came to Clay County in 1852, and for eighteen years engaged in teaching, for the most part in this county. He taught the first public school in District No. 5, in Pixley Township. He served in the late war in Company F, Forty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and participated in the battles of Jackson Cross Roads, Fort Blakely and others.“ After peace was declared, his regi- ment was kept on provost duty until January, 1866. It was during that time that he did much of his reading medicine. He began the practice of medicine in Pixley Township in 1873, and built up a large practice. In 1877, he passed the State Board of Medical Examiners at Charleston, and has since con- tinued his practice. He also owns a good farm. The Doctor is at present Postmaster, Township School Treasurer, and Justice of the Peace. In 1SSO, he took the census of Pixley Township. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Christian Church. He was married, in February, 1870, to Cecelia Wheatly, daugh- ter of Josiah Wheatly (deceased). They have four children, viz .: Matilda E., Fran- cis M., Elizabeth A. and John P. J.

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ROBERT H. SMITH, Justice of the Peace, and farmer, P. O. Clay City is a native of Franklin County, N. C., and was born February 18, 1833. His father, James H. Smith (deceased), was a native of Frank- lin County also, who brought his family to Clay County in 1852. where he died in 1856. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and educated in the common schools. He is also a carpenter by trade, and has followed that avocation more or less. He owns eighty acres of land, and resides on Section 32. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the past nine years, and is the present incum- bent. The Esquire is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married, May 11, 1856, to Susan A., daughter of James Alexander (deceased), a North Carolinian, who settled in Clay County over forty years ago. They have had eight children, seven living -- John H., Ella, James A., Laura I., Stella F., Theodore and Edward. Mr. Smith's grandfather, Goodman Smith, was born in North Carolina, and of Irish descent.

BENJAMIN H. WILLIAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Clay City, was born in Lawrence County, Ind., April 30, 1816, and is a son of James Williams (deceased), a native of North Carolina, and one of the first settlers of Lawrence County, Ind. Ben- jamin attended a subscription school taught in a log cabin, with split-pole benches, puncheon floor, stick and clay chimney and a huge fire-place. He came to this county in

1840, where he has since resided. He began life on nothing, and by hard work and econ - omy has acquired 200 acres of valuable land, well improved. He has been married three times. His first wife was Nancy West, who bore hem eight children, but one of whom is living, viz., Susan (Payne). He married Gracie Cooper for his second wife, who had two children, one living, viz., Jesse. His third wife was Cynthia, daughter of James Ritcheson, who came to Clay County in 1850. By her he has had four children, three liv- ing-John A., Charlotte and Sarah C. Mr. W. is a member of the Christian Church.

NATHAN H. WILLIAMS, farmer, P. O. Clay City, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., January 23, 1820, and is a son of Will- iam Williams (deceased), a native also of Greenbrier County. Mr. Williams spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in his native county, and attended a subscription school. In 1839, he went to Johnson Coun- ty, Mo., but returned to Virginia in 1840. In 1845, he came to Gallia County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming until 1865, when he came to Clay County. He owns 100 acres of land, and lives on Section 31. He is a Deacon in the Christian Church. Mr. Will- iams married Melissa Eagle, January 1, 1846, and by her has had nine children- William (killed by the cars at Lebanon, Ill., several years ago), George, Reese and Char- ley (twins), Mary E., Margaret, Elmer (de- ceased), Alonzo and John.

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STANFORD TOWNSHIP.

J. T. BOTHWELL, farmer, P. O. Clay City, was born in what is now Vinton, then Athens County, Ohio, on September 16, 1816, and is a son of James and Charlotte (Potter) Bothwell. The father was a native of Scot- land and came to this country when eight years old, with his parents, who settled in Win- chester, Va. After residing there a few years, the parents moved to Greensburg in the same State, where they died. The father grew to manhood there and married Miss Charlotte Potter, who was a native of Fayette County, Penn. The twain came to Athens County, Ohio, soon after their marriage and settled down. Subject was the fourth of eleven children, of whom but six are now living-J. T., J. K. and A. W. (in this county), G. B. (in Missouri), E. P. (in McArthur, Ohio) and Mrs. Catherine Foster (in Chillicothe, Ohio). The subscription schools of his na- tive county furnished subject his means of education. He remained at home until about twenty-one, and then commenced working as a journeyman tailor, going from point to point. In November, 1840, he came to Clay County, and first settled in Maysville. Here he followed numerous vocations. He first worked at his trade, then opened a general store, next accepted the position of station agent on the stage line, and finally became Postmaster. He remained in Maysville until April, 1857, and then came to his pres- ent farm in this township. He first pur- chased 120 acres, which he has increased to about 1,800 acres in this and Wayne County. He now has about 800 acres in cul- tivation and thirty acres in orchard. Has been considerable of a stock dealer, but of

late years has not paid so much attention to it. Mr. Bothwell has been married three times. The first time in Ohio, in March, 1840, to Miss Priscilla Potter, a daugh- ter of Charles Potter. This lady was the mother of five children, two of whom are now living, viz .: Charles H., in Missouri; and J. C., iu Wayne County. Her death took place in November, 1847. And he was mar- ried the second time, in Wayne County, in June, 1848, to Miss Indiana Mabry, a daugh- ter of Benjamin Mabry, one of the early pioneers of the adjoining county. This union resulted in ten children, eight of whom are now living, viz .: J. C. (in Colorado), Mrs. Alice Lownsdale (in Clay City), Mrs. Emma Foster (in Missouri), Mrs. Sallie Todd (in Shelby County, Ill.), Ben (in In- diana), and Samuel I., Clara and Kate (at home). This lady died in January, 1872. And subject was married in July, 1873, to Miss Rebecca Louthridge. She is the daugh- ter of Samuel Louthridge, a native of Scot- land. Mr. Bothwell is a member of the Clay City Methodist Church, and Mrs. Bothwell of the Flora Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Bothwell is identified with the Republican party.

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History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 90

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