USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 47
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Frederick Stein was born in Baden, Germany, Nov. 25, 1834. His parents were Bernhardt and Catherine (Schmidt) Stein. They were members of the Lutheran church. They had a family of fourteen children, four sons living. Frederick attended school
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in Germany until twelve years of age, when he came with his parents to America. They were a month at sea; landed in New York City, and came from there to White County, Ill., and settled on a farm in Burnt Prairie Township. He worked on the farm with his father until his marriage to Silomea Barth, in April, 1856. She was born in Baden, Germany, and was a danghter of Christopher and Dorothy (Schmidt) Barth. After his marriage Mr. Stein set- tled on a farm in Burnt Prairie Township, and has farmed here ever since except four years, when he was in Wayne County, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Stein had seven children, five living. Marks, born Dec. 30, 1856 ; Sally, born Feb. 8, 1860 ; Frederick, born July 23, 1861, died an infant; John, born Jan. 29, 1863; Christopher, born Sept. 26, 1864, and Joseph, born Nov. 8, 1866. Mrs. Stein died in October, 1867. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was buried at that church in Carmi Township. Mr. Stein married March 11, 1878, Gertrude Miller, nee Noll. Mr. and Mrs. Stein are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He owns a fine farm of 120 acres, 109 acres under fine cultivation, and well stocked ; he raises grain and stock for the market. In politics he is a Democrat. When Mr. Stein came to White County game was abundant and settlements were few and far between.
Casper Stine, farmer, of Burnt Prairie Township, was born in Baden, Germany, Aug. 18, 1842. His parents were Bernhardt and Cathrine (Schmidt) Stine. Casper is the third oldest child now living. He was but four years old when he came to America with his parents, and soon after came to White County; Ill., and settled on a farm with his parents in Burnt Prairie Township, where he has since resided. He married Miss Susan Burkhart, Jan. 30, 1866. She was born in Baden, Germany, Ang. 22, 1840, and was a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Ziegler) Burkhart. After Mr. and Mrs. Stine were married he settled on his farm, where he has since resided. Mr. Stine is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. They have had a family of ten children-Margaret, born Nov. 24, 1866: John, born Jan. 13, 1868, died July 24, 1868; George, born July 27, 1869, died Oct. 15, 1869; George 2d, was born Nov. 7, 1870, died, July 2, 1871; William, born June 12, 1872, died March 2, 1876; Katy, born Sept. 3, 1873, died Sept. 17, 1873: Charley, born Oct. 27, 1874; John, 2d, was born Jan. 2, 1875, died March 9, 1875; Mary, born Oct. 13, 1877; Jacob, born Oct. 14, 1881. Mr. Stine enlisted in Company F, Eighty-seventh Illinois In- fantry Volunteers, and one year after the regiment was changed to
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mounted infantry. He remained in the service until the close of the war when he returned home to his farm in Burnt Prairie Township. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres, sixty-five under cultivation and well stocked. In politics he is a Democrat.
Alexander Stewart was born in Liberty, Sept. 13, 1845. His parents were Henry and Mary (Johnston) Stewart. His father was born in Scotland, and came to America six weeks after, and to White County, Ill. This was in 1818. His father was one of the first settlers in Burnt Prairie Township and Liberty, and made a farm where the town of Liberty now is. He was married here in 1841. He and wife had a family of three children, Alexander, who was but three or four years of age when his mother died, being the only one living. His mother was born in Christian County, Ky. After her death his father married Margaret A. Wright, and they had a family of three children, one son and daughter living. When Alexander was ten years old his father died, and soon after his step-mother died. He then went to Albion, Edwards Co., Ill., and lived with his Uncle Alexander Stewart until eighteen, when he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry, Feb. 11, 1864, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was in all the engagements of the regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Albion, Edwards County, for one year, when he returned to his boyhood home at Liberty, and has followed farming ever since. He now owns a farm of forty acres, all under cultivation, in Burnt Prairie and Mill Shoals townships. Mr. Stewart married Tommie A. Hunter, Oct. 8, 1871. She was born in Grayville, White Co., Ill., and was a daughter of James and Mary (Cov- ington) Hunter. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the Presby- terian church. They have had a family of four children-Mary E., born Aug. 22, 1872; Henry J., born Aug. 15, 1874; Raymond, born Aug. 17, 1877; Augusta, born Feb. 26, 1880, died Aug. 3, 1880. Alexander Stewart was in the Black Hawk war, and was one of the very first settlers of White County. Mrs. Henry Stewart died July 31, 1881.
Emmanuel Sumpter, deceased, was born on the old homestead on section 28, Burnt Prairie, July 28, 1824. His parents were Henry and Polly Sumpter. They came to White County, Ill., at a very early day. They had a family of five sons and three daughters, Emmanuel being the second son, and one of the pioneer children of White County. He was married here to Nancy Calvin, and settled down on the old homestead, where he
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remained with his father until his father's death, and where he lived until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter had a family of eight children-Elizabeth Emma (wife of Lonis L. Trammel, re- sides in Carmi), Thomas, Ella (wife of Gilbert White, a resident of Carmi), Mary, Margaret (died at the age of fourteen), Henry and Charles. Thomas Sumpter was born Oct. 15, 1860. He was married Nov. 18, 1830, to Elmira Smith, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Andrew and Eliza A. (Eaton) Smith. They have one son, Delos E., born Aug. 5, 1881. Mr. Thomas Sump- ter is residing on the farm where his father and grandfather lived and died. It consists of eighty acres of good land, seventy under cultivation. Henry and Charles also reside on the farm with their brother.
Martin Vaught was born in Burnt Prairie Township, July 30, 1835. His parents are William and Margaret (George) Vaught, both living on the old homestead in Burnt Prairie Township. His father came to White County in 1817, with his parents, from Ken- tucky. Martin remained on the farm with his parents until his marriage to Cerralda Kuykendall, Sept. 5, 1858. She was born in Phillips Township, White County, June 2, 1840, and was a daugh- ter of Henry and Karenhappuch (Greathouse) Kuykendall. After Mr. and Mrs. Vaught were married he settled on a farm in Phil- lips Township, and farmed until 1860, when he sold his farm and engaged in the mercantile trade at Phillipstown until 1862. He then raised Company K, Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry. He was in the seige of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, Miss .; then went to Natchez, Miss., New Orleans, Western Louisiana, and in the spring of 1864 received an honorable discharge on account of dis- ability. He returned home to Phillipstown and helped build a mill; engaged in milling and merchandising here until June, 1867, when he sold out and went to Carmi, where he opened a grocery and provision store; eighteen months later returned to Phillips- town and purchased the grist-mill and ran it eighteen months; sold out and came to Burnt Prairie Township and followed farm- ing until 1872, when he moved to Liberty, and has since been en- gaged in the sale of machinery and agricultural implements. Mr. and Mrs. Vaught are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. They have had four children, one living-Charles C., born Sept. 22, 1865, is the youngest; Emily E., born Aug. 22, 1859, married R. M. Funkhouser, and?died May 20, 1880; Eugene. born Jan. 13, 1861, died Jan. 18, 1861; Herschel, born May 15, 1863.
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died Jan. 22, 1868. Mr. Vaught owns five lots and his residence where he resides. In politics he is a Democrat.
Mrs. Mary P. Vaught, proprietress of the Vaught Hotel at Lib- erty, was born just across the line of White County in Wayne County, Ill., Oct. 9, 1839. She was a daughter of R. F. and Eliza- beth M. (Hunsinger) Cross, early settlers of Wayne County, Ill., and natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Vaught was the eldest of their four children, and when five or six years of age her parents moved to Burnt Prairie Township, White County. They were members of the United Baptist church. Mrs. Vaught married William M. Vaught, Dec. 18, 1859. IIe was born in Kentucky Nov. 10, 1830. ITis parents were Francis and Elizabeth (Graves) Vaught. William was the third child of four children. When seventeen he went to New Orleans on a flat-boat with his uncle, and he worked with his uncle in a feed and provision store here for two or three years ; then went to St. Louis and opened a grocery store, and remained there until 1854, when he came to Burnt Prairie Township, visiting his relatives, and married. IIe and wife began farming in Burnt Prairie Township. They first moved into a little log cabin with a stick chimney that had but one window and but one room. They resided in this cabin room eleven months, then bought a new place and built a larger house. They lived here on the farm until July 1866. when they came to Liberty and bought the present hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Vaught were members first of the Baptist and afterward joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church. They had seven children-Frances, born July 11, 1861, died June 6, 1862; Emily A., born June 18, 1862, married Leander Goudy, and resides in Enfield, where he is engaged in business; Josie A., born Feb. 7, 1865; Elizabeth, born Aug. 13, 1867, died Nov. 9, 1868; Molly, born Sept. 12, 1869; Robert E., born June 22, 1872; Johnnie, born Aug. 14, 1875. Mr. Vanght died Feb. 23, 1878. Mrs. Vaught owns eight acres in Liberty in addition to her hotel.
James W. Whetstone, one of the pioneer children and represen- tative farmers of White County, was born in Gray Township, near the Little Wabash River, Dec. 22, 1837. ITis] parents were John and Nancy (McCarty) Whetstone. IIe was a farmer and was born in Pennsylvania, and she in Kentucky. Ile was a member of the Presbyterian church. James W. was the oldest son and second child of four children. When about four years of age he went with his parents to Evansville, Ind., where the father died, and some
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two years after mother and family returned to White County. Ill., and settled with her parents in Burnt Prairie Township, where she died about 1831. James W. remained on the farm with his grandfather, attending school winters, until seventeen, when he began to work for himself. IIe farmed in Burnt Prairie Township with Noah Staley, one of the oldest settlers of Burnt Prairie: worked with him one season, and then went with a friend, Stephen Williams, to Iowa. Mr. Whetstone hired out here on a farm and in a lime kiln two years, when he went to Pike County, Ill .. and remained about four years; then returned to White County and hired to a farmer in Phillips Township one season; then returned to Burnt Prairie Township and bought a farm, and has resided in this township ever since. Was married here to Abigail Hunsinger, Dec. 23, 1863. She was born in White County, and was a daugh- ter of John and Nancy (Crowder) Hunsinger, early settlers of White County. Mr. and Mrs. Whetstone are members of the Regular Baptist church. They have a family of ten children- George, born Dec. 4, 1864: John, born Oct. 12, 1866: William. born May 10, 1868; Charley. born Oct. 3. 1869; Elizabeth. born July 2, 1871; Susan M., born April 1, 1873; Louis D., born March 23, 1875; Laura E., born Jan. 27, 1877; Ida, born Feb. 4. 1879. and James II., born Dec. 4, 1880. Mr. Whetstone owns a fine farm of 285 acres, 175 under cultivation and well stocked. In politics Mr. Whetstone is a Democrat. He is one of the old set- tlers and enterprising, representative men of the county. Ile started in life a poor, homeless boy, but by hard work and tair dealing has earned a fine property where he and family reside. IIe has seen White County change from its wild, uncultivated state, to its present prosperous condition.
John Winter, Sr., was born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 24, 1822. He came to America when a young man. He came to White County and settled on the same farm where he now resides. in Burnt Prairie Township. He was married here to Hannah Specht. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have a family of five sons and two danghters-John, married Lottie Reed and resides on their farm in Burnt Prairie Township; Christopher, born Dec. 11, 1855, fresides on the old homestead, as does Martin. who was born Aug. 8, 1858; George, born Nor. 25. 1866: William; Mary, wife of John Cast, resides in California; Caroline. unmarried resides on the old homestead.
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Joseph W. Young, of Holmes & Young, proprietors of Liberty Grist-Mills, was born near Logan, Hocking Co., Ohio, Dec. 1, 1833. His parents were William and Nancy (Collins) Young, na- tives of Ohio. They had a family of three sons and two daughters. Joseph was the oldest son. His father was a blacksmith and farmer. Joseph remained on the farm until fourteen when he came with his parents to Grayville, where his father opened a blacksmith shop. Joseph, at the age of sixteen, began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1867 when he bought a farm in Herald's Prairie and farmed and followed carpentering until 1881 when he rented his farm and formed his present partner- ship with Mr. Holmes and built the Liberty Mills. In September, 1881, Mr. Young and family moved to their present home in Lib. erty. Mr. Young married Emily Gann, Feb. 9, 1865. She was born in Emma Township, White Co., Ill., and was a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Chastin) Gann, old settlers of White County. Mr. and Mrs. Young have had seven children, four living-Nancy E., born Sept. 8, 1866; Joseph W., born June 2, 1873; Cyntha S., born Dec. 7, 1877; Emily E., born Sept. 2, 1882. In politics he is rather independent.
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This township embraces a fine farming district, and is situated in the southeastern corner of White County. It comprises fifty- eight square miles, and consists of township 6 south, range 10 east, and the north half of township 7 south, range 10 east. It is mostly timbered land, with some prairie land near the center. The Great Wabash River bounds it on the east, while the Little Wabash runs through the western portion. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad crosses the Big Wabash in the northeastern corner of the township.
The first settler was probably Robert Land, who moved here with his wife and four children in 1809, a more extended account of whom is given in Chapter II. Among the early settlers may be mentioned James Dorsey, Miles W. Burris, Joseph Garrison, Charles Mobley, George, Alexander and Thomas Logan.
Aaron Franks, now a resident of Wabash Station, came to this county in 1832. He was born in West Virginia, about fifty miles below Wheeling; after living in Ohio about thirteen years, he came to this county, settling about half a mile southeast of where Wabash Station now is, during the Black Hawk war. His nearest neighbors at that time were Thomas Stephens, abont a quarter of a mile west of him, in the little prairie; Mr. Goodin and his son Joseph, about a quarter of a mile distant; John Holderby, also in the little prairie; and Joel Abshier. All these are now deceased. Mr. Franks is still living, his residence being on the bank of the Big Wabash, 200 or 300 yards from the saw-mill. To him we are indebted for some of the facts of history in this volume, especially those relating to improvement of navigation in the Wabash.
John Marshall, of Marshall's Ferry, is also an old resident. and one of the most prominent men of the township. He has in his possession a sword, which is one of those ordered by the State of Illinois and presented to the officers of the Mexican war. It has this inscription: "Presented to Major Samuel D. Marshall for servi- ces in the Mexican war." The sword is beautifully engraved, the
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battle of Cerro Gordo being represented on one side. It is very heavily plated with gold, as is also the scabbard, the whole being encased in satin in a fine rosewood case. He was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln; was in the Legislature with him one term, and was with him on the Harrison electoral ticket in 1840. John Marshall has in his possession a letter from Mr. Lincoln written in February, 1849, to Major Samuel D. Marshall, Shawnee- town, Ill.
There are also many relics of antiquity found in this township. Two skeletons were recently found on Colonel Crebs's land at the Little Chain, supposed to be those of Indians; how they came there no one knows.
VILLAGES.
Concord, Emma P. O .- At the first settlement of Southern Illinois, Concord was the garden spot of Egypt. She had her Logans, Lands, Slocumbs, IIannas, Nevitts. Shipleys, Pomeroys, McCoys, and other families of great worth. Rev. Charles Slocumb was one of the grandest men in the whole community. George Logan was one of the ablest men in Southern Illinois. He repre- sented White County in the Legislature with great ability. These are the men, with many others, that felled the forest and reared the first houses in what to-day is known as Emma Township.
It was laid out Sept. 23, 1869, by Hail Storms, County Surveyor, for Matilda Shelby, John G. Robinson, James M. Jackson and Medora M. Jackson, and is located on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29, town 6 south, range 10 east. The village had existed long before this survey, and had been a point of considerable note. It is stated that Charles and Stephen Slocumb settled here as early as 1815, and that a thriving village existed; but after their death the property changed hands a number of times, and now J. McCallister owns a greater part of the village. There are two general stores, one owned by Mr. McCallister and the other by William II. Gray; one blacksmith shop, a wagon repair shop, also a warehouse on the banks of the Wabash, where considerable grain is purchased. An office has been built here for the use of the township. Wm. R. McDonald owns the north half of the vil- lage, and has lots for sale. It was named by Rev. Charles Slocumb, as of peaceful or religious significance.
Wabash Station, Marshall's Ferry P. O., is a station on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. No village is laid out here,
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although there are two stores, a postoffice, blacksmith shop, and a portable saw-mill. The station was located about twelve years ago, and there are now about a dozen houses, of no very pretentious appearance.
Elm Grove .- In 1844 Elm Grove first appeared as a place of business. William L. Garrison erected a storehouse, 12 x 14, under an elm-tree that stood by the roadside, and from which the place was named. He opened up a stock of dry goods, groceries, etc., and from this miniature establishment sprang the village of Elm Grove. It is located on the Garrison farm, sections 20 and 17, and was laid out by measurement, and lots sold, in 1849; subse- quently it was laid out by County Surveyor John Storms. From 1861 to 1865 this place was the center of a large territory, the in- habitants of which came here to trade. Business was very lively. There were three stores and two saloons; it was also a sporting location, especially that of the turf. There is scarcely anything now except a few dilapidated buildings,-all is silent as the grave. There is a Methodist church in the village, the only one in the township, and there is preaching every Sunday; all else seems dead. Even the old elm-tree is dead and returning to its original dust.
Among the first settlers may be mentioned Charles Mabley. James Garrison, George, Alexander and Thomas Logan.
Rising Sun .- This village is located on the west bank of the Big Wabash River, just north of Marshall's Ferry. It is situated on the southeast quarter of section 18, and was platted by Hail Storms for Maxfield Huston, who sold most of the lots at auction. Mr. II. died in August, 1873. There is a blacksmith shop, shingle machine, and a school-house, used also for church purposes. There are the ruins of an old saw and flouring mill, built in 1858 by John Marshall and run for several years; the machinery has been taken out and moved to Kansas. The village is surrounded by good farming land and good timber.
Marshall's Ferry .- This was the first ferry across the Great Wabash in White County, and was first called Codd's Ferry. Mr. Codd sold his claim to John Marshall, and the latter took out his patent for the south half of section 18, and the whole of fractional section 17. This is John Marshall's home. A store and postoffice were opened here in an early day, and were the first in White County. This ferry is about midway between the Grand Chain and the Little Chain, and abont two miles east of Clear Lake, where hundreds go every year to hunt and fish.
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Mr. Marshall built the first house in the village. The first black- smith was James M. Kroh; he is said to have made the first sor- ghum molasses in the State of Illinois, and was one of the first to distribute the sorghum seed throughout the United States and Canada.
The first school in this vicinity was a subscription school, taught by Mrs. Rowe and Adam Goodwin. The first district school was taught by Miss Mary Aldrich, of Posey County, Ind., now Mrs. Solomon Nesler, of Einma Township. John Field is the present teacher.
There is an old graveyard at or very near Marshall's Ferry. The date when this spot was first used as a burying place is unknown. The earliest date known is marked by a plain sandstone slab, on which is engraved: "sacred to the memory of Groombright Bailey; born in Baltimore, Md., May 1, A. D. 1732, -- Died , A. D. 1817." This and nothing more is known of this man's life or death, or how he ever came here at this early day, or who buried the body and erected the slab. Another broken sand slab, lying close beside the wagon track-daily travel passing over the grave -bears the name, "Robert Boss, born in Northwick, England; De- parted this life Feb. 8, 1820." On the top of this stone is cut a square and compass. There is the appearance of some forty or fifty graves scattered among the large timber within ten to fifty feet of the banks of the Wabash River, on a high ridge above the overflow of this stream. The place has not been used as a burial spot for over thirty years, and is entirely neglected. In the win- ter of 1809-'10, near Thomas Miller's, an Indian shot and killed a fine deer at a distance of eighty yards, with a bow and arrow, the latter having a flint point.
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- This society was organized in August, 1866, by Revs. Sutton. Sellers and Stephen B. Slocumb. The first officers were: James C. Huston, Class-Leader and Stew- ard. Rev. Sellers was pastor, and served there three years; was succeeded by C. W. Sabin two years; Rev. Elam, one year; Mar- cus L. King, three years; Rev. R. H. Monierse, three years; Rev. Baird, two years; Rev. Mr. Field, two years; the latter is the present pastor. Services are held in the schoo !- house. John W. Devers is the present Steward and Class Leader, also Superinten- dent of the Sabbath-school, in which there are about forty scholars.
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Old Christian or New Light Church was organized in 1879. James Schemmerhorn is the present pastor, and George W. Will- iams, Clerk. There is a memberslrip of eleven persons.
In the summer of 1872 a Christian church was organized, but owing to various causes it is now defunct.
Near Marshall's Ferry there is a circle of earth thrown up about two feet high, and about sixty feet across, with a mound in the center two feet high. This is unmistakably the work of human hands. On the circle there is an old black oak-tree about four feet in diameter. There are many mounds within a mile of the river, and gives an appearance of an old burying ground for peo- ple to history unknown.
The cholera of 1832 carried off two or three persons in the vi- cinity of Williams' Ferry, among them the wife of the elder Mr. Stephens. There may have been other cases in the township.
SCHOOLS.
The County Superintendent's report gives the following, show- ing the progress schools have made in this township during the past twenty-two years:
1860 .- Number of schools taught, 7; number of male pupils, 187; females, 166; total. 353; number under six years of age, 48; average number of pupils to each teacher, 494; number of per- sons in the township under twenty-one, 523; average number of months of school, 7; number frame school-houses, 5; log, 2; teach- ers' wages per month, $25 to $35; State fund, $737.76; amount ex- pended for building new school-houses, $1,587.50.
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