USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 53
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY
into the Union. He was raised on a farm, and his educational advantages were limited. He was married Nov. 2, 1848, to Sarah L. Groves. To them were born eight children, seven now living -James A., Francis HI., Alice A., Tolitha, Luther K., Douglas and George. March 17, 1866, Mrs. Miller died. He was mar- ried to Rebecca J., daughter of S. P. Story, Sept. 10, 1868. They have had four children, three now living -- Perkins, Paul and Malachi. Mr. Miller is an Elder in the Presbyterian church. His mother lived to be seventy five years old, and had about 300 chil- dren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her maiden name was Mary Mays. She came to this county with her uncle, Thomas Mays, when a girl, prior to 1815, when Illinois was still a Ter. ritory.
William R. Miller, son of Mark A. Miller, was born Sept. 14, 1841, in this township. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools of this district. He was married Feb. 14, 1862, to Esther, daughter of Adam Hunsinger (deceased), an early settler of Burnt Prairie Township, where his daughter was born. They are the parents of six children, five living-Luella, Emma, Jessie, Bertha, and Charles N. One daughter, Mary E., died at the age of eight years. Mr. Miller was School Trustee four years; has been Constable since the spring of 1877. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Rev. Andrew S. Montgomery was born in Newberry County, S. C., June 16, 1822. His father, Robert Montgomery, a native of Ireland, was brought to America by his parents when a child. Andrew S. was raised in Tennessee, and educated at Viney Grove Academy, of Lincoln County, Tenn., and Erskine Theological Seminary, at Due West, Abbeville Co., S. C. He preached a short time in North Alabama, and then in Southern Indiana three years. He then went to Marshall County, Tenn., and worked in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church four years. In De- cember, 1864, he came to White County, where he has ever since resided on his present farm, and has been pastor of the United Presbyterian church. IIe was married March 28, 1849, to Lavi- nia J., daughter of Samuel Tate. Of their five children but two are living-Euphemia J. and John K. One daughter, Mary Etta, died in 1876, aged twenty-one years, and a son, Sylvester A .. died in 1880, aged twenty nine. He was a graduate of Indiana State University of Bloomington, Ind., and had been connected with the Grayville school four years; had been Principal two years.
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He was a very successful and prominent'teacher of White County, and was beloved by all who knew him. Mrs. Montgomery died March 3, 1874. Mr. Montgomery married Mary M., daughter of Henry Taylor (deceased).
Prof. Mark A. Montgomery was born Ang. 24, 1854, in Dade County, Mo., and is a son of George W. Montgomery, now a resi- dent of Oakland, Ill. He speut most of his boyhood days on a farm. He was educated in Lincoln University, Lincoln, Ill., where he graduated with high honors, in 1877. He taught in an academy in Central Illinois three years. The last year of his course he taught in the university. In July, 1880, he came to Enfield and took charge of the Southern Illinois Academy. The whole curriculum of a college is taught here, consisting of a regu- lar classical course. There are five teachers besides himself.
Albert A. Newman was born in Carmi Township, Dec. 11, 1843. His father, Thomas Newman, was a native of Virginia, and came to this county while the Indians were yet here, when a boy, and died on the old homestead in 1879. Albert A. was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. He enlisted in the late war in Company H, Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry. He wasin the siege of Knoxville, Bean Station, Cumberland Gap, etc .; on the way to Atlanta with Sherman; was on Stoneman's raid in Georgia, and was captured at Mulberry Creek, Ga., and taken to Anderson- ville, and kept four months, then taken to Charleston, S. C., and two weeks later to Florence, S. C., and kept three months; was then paroled on special exchange of sick. He weighed seventy- eight pounds when he got home. His brother, George W., was in the same company, and taken prisoner at the same time. He starved to death in prison. Mr. Newman was married in March, 1866, to Sarah J. Secrest. They have two children-Joseph P. and Estella J. Mr. Newman located in Enfield in 1873. He be- longs to the I.O.O.F.
Joseph B. Odell was born in Wayne County, Ill., Jan. 6, 1852. His father, Joseph Odell, was a native of Spencer County, Ky., and came to Illinois in 1834, when he had to ride horseback twenty-one miles to mill. Joseph B. attended the Southern Illi- nois Academy, at Enfield. He taught falls and winters for seven years, four terms of which he taught in Enfield. In 1879 he en- gaged in the grocery business; two years later he was appointed Postmaster. In February, 1876, he married Louisa A. Morlan. They are the parents of three children, two living-Delbert C. and Alice. He is a member of the I.O.M. A.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Robert B. Orr, born in Davidson County, Tenn., Oct. 15, 1816, is a son of Robert Orr (deceased), a native of Carolina, who drove cattle through the wilderness 600 miles into Tennessee, when a boy, with his brother-in-law, his parents having died when he was small. His grandfather was born in Ireland, and went to learn the weaver's trade, but fell out with his employer and ran away. His father whipped him and sent him back, but instead of going he went to the port and took shipping for America, and settled in the Carolinas, where his son Robert was born, about 1769. He had thirteen children, the only one now living being Robert B. He moved with his family to this county in 1821. Robert B. was reared on a farm, and educated in a log-cabin school-house, which was erected for use during the annual camp-meetings. He was married in February, 1841, to Tabitha A. Thomas. They were the parents of eight children, only five of whom are living-Pris- cilla J., Matilda M., Emma, Harriet E., and Margery C. Mrs. Orr died July 1, 1859. In February, 1860, Mr. Orr married Eliz- abeth A. Bolerjack, sister of James A. Bolerjack, of Indian Creek Township. They have one child-Florence E. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Robert Franklin Orr, born in Enfield Township, May 12, 1830, 18 a son of William Orr (deceased), and a nephew of Robert B. Orr. His father came to this county in 1819, and in 1821 brought his family. Robert F. was educated in the early log-cabin sub- scription school of this township. IIe was married April 6, 1854, to Nancy Matsel. They are the parents of six children, four liv- ing-Martin L., Edna A., Olive J. and Mattie E. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
James M. Pearce was born near Roland, Indian Creek Town- ship, Aug. 27. 1847. His father, Moses J. Pearce (deceased), came to this county from South Carolina in an early day. James M. was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. In 1861 he went to Gallatin County, and in 1869 to Shawneetown, where he was salesman and bookkeeper for George A. Ridgeway till 1873. He then went to Ridgway and remained a year. In 1874 he came to Enfield; was engaged in farming two years, and has been bookkeeper for William May. He was married Dec. 18, 1873, to Julia, daughter of Mark A. Miller. They are the parents of four children-Effie, Maggie, Edith, and Ruthella (deceased). Mr. Pearce is Treasurer of the village of Enfield. He belongs to
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ENFIELD TOWNSHIP.
the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church.
Toliver Rice was born in Enfield Township, May 31, 1838. His father, Joel Rice (deceased), was a native of Vermont, and came to this county with his parents when a boy. Toliver was educated in the subscription schools, and at the age of seventeen learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked till Sept. 13, 1882. He still owns the shop which is run by his partner, J. P. O'Neel. May 8, 1857, he married Eleanor Steele. They had fourteen chil- dren, seven of whom are living-William S., M. Viola, Julia I., Rozilla, Cornelia O., Charles B. and Toliver G. Mr. Rice was President of the Village Council one year, and has been a member of the board five or six terms. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and A. F. & A. M. He is a member of the Christian church of En- field. Mr. Rice and his son, William S., are in partnership in the restaurant and grocery and confectionery store, and all doing well.
Mark M. Robinson, born in Enfield Township, July 31, 1853, is a son of Harrison Robinson (deceased), who was born in Shaw- neetown, and was an old settler of this county. Mark M. resided on a farm till fifteen years of age, since which time he has been at- tending school and teaching. He began teaching in his sixteenth year, and is now a very prominent teacher of this township. He has learned three professions, viz .: penmanship, teaching and med- icine. He graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville with highest honors in June, 1882 ; was awarded the honorary diplomas, one in microscopy and the other in chemistry He is now practicing medicine, and also teaching at No. 6, or Smith's school-house, but it is his last term. He intends leaving for Jackson, Miss., in the spring of 1883. He has bright pros- pects before him. He was a student of Dr. McLean for three years. Captain Thomas Sheridan was born in Phillips Township, White Co. Ill., Aug. 15, 1837. He received his education of his father, who was a teacher. His parents moved to Northwest Mis. souri in 1840, and back to this county in 1848. He enlisted in the late war and served about four years. From 1861-'62 he was in the United States Commissary department, and then joined Company K, Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry. He went out as First Lieutenant and in 1864 was promoted to Captain. Sept. 16, 1864, he was captured near the mouth of the Red River, and was kept a prisoner at Tyler till the close of the war. He was mar- ried Nov. 6, 1862, to Mary Butler of Phillips Township. They
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
had three daughters, two living-Florence and Clara. Mrs. Sheri- dan died July 6, 1870. April 7, 1871, he married Mrs. Mary Moore, widow of Lieutenant Robert Moore, by whom she had five children-Mary A, Edgar M., Flora, William S. and Robert J. Captain Sheridan came to Enfield in July, 1876, where he has since been proprietor of the Sheridan House. He is Police Magistrate, and has been Justice of the Peace many years, and has held other offices of trust. He is now Captain of Company G, Thirteenth Regiment, I. N. G. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and I. O. G. T .; is a very strong prohibition man. He is a mem- ber of the Protestant Methodist church. His father, James Sheri- dan, was born in County West Meath, Province of Leinster, Ireland, Nov. 6, 1802, and was a son of John Sheridan, of the same place. He came to America in 1821 and located in Edwards County, Ill., He was educated in London, England, and in 1827 began to teach. He taught in Illinois, Missouri and Indiana about thirty years. Some of the persons now living in the county, who attended his school are: James Fraser, Elisha Graham, Samue Stokes, and Slade Smith; others have moved from here. and many others are dead.
Rev. Benjamin C. Swan, son of Benjamin Swan (deceased), a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Preble County, O., Nov. 27, 1823. He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, O., in 1845; and from the New Albany Theological Seminary, Ind. (which has since been removed to Chicago), in 1849. He labored two years in Preble County, and in November, 1852, he moved to Carthage, Ill., where he preached for some time in an upper room, in which he organized the first Presbyterian church of Carthage, with eleven members, Jan. 1, 1853. He was installed pastor of the church in 1855, and remained there till 1860, when he went to Shawnee- town and supplied the church there till 1862. He was then ap- pointed Chaplain of the One-hundred and Thirty-first Regiment Illinois Infantry, and served till 1864. In 1864 he returned to Shawneetown. and was installed over the church there. In 1868 he came to the churches of Carmi, Sharon and Enfield, preaching at each place in one day, traveling on horseback. After two and a half years of this work he spent all his time in Carmi, where he had been installed pastor in August, 1870. In 1877 he came to Enfield and began supplying Enfield, Sharon and McLeansboro, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Swan is an energetic worker, and his labors have been crowned with success. He has labored
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very successfully outside of his congregations, especially in Shaw- neetown. He was married Nov. 19, 1850, to Mary C., daughter of John and Eliza (Young) Woolf. Their living children are- Mary C., now Mrs. Willis; Walter S., a young iphysician, and Augusta D.
William C. Watkins was born in Perry County, Ill., Dec. 17, 1850. He was the youngest of four children of Samuel Watkins, a native of White County, who was killed in the battle of Fort Donelson in the late war. He spent his early boyhood days on a farm. In 1863 he went to Wayne County and ran a huckster wagon till 1870. Then clerked in a dry-goods store in Pin Oak till 1874, when he went to Johnsonville and clerked till 1876. He then traveled one year in the Northwestern States and Territories, and returned to Johnsonville. In 1879 he came to Enfield and es- tablished a hardware store. He carries a general stock from nails to wagons, steves, tinware, etc., and farm implements. He was married in 1878 to Ellen Miller. They have one child-Nellie. Mr. Watkins is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.
James D. Welsh, son of William W. Welsh, was born in Decatur County, Ind., June 17, 1853. He was reared on a farm and re- ceived a common-school education. When a boy he learned the blacksmith's trade, and worked on railroad work seven years. He is now engaged in farming on section 11, Enfield Township. April 6, 1871, he married Nancy C., daughter of George W. Jamerson. They are the parents of three children, two living-William M. and Pleasant W. Their daughter, Annie May, died at the age of two years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bethel.
Felix H. Willis, born near Golconda, Pope Co., Ill., is a son of James E. (deceased), who moved into Kentucky when Felix H. was small, and a few years after came to this county. He was reared on a farm, but early learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked more or less for several years. He commenced selling goods on his farm in Enfield Township in 1856, and in 1862 he re- moved to Enfield, where he kept a general store till 1874, when he sold to his sons, J. E. and R. C. Willis. He married Mary J. Miller, and has five children, four living -- Gustavus A., James E., Robert C. and Benjamin L. Mrs. Willis died in 1874. Mr. Willis has been a member of the Presbyterian church for forty years. He was Postmaster ten years.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Gustavus A. Willis, son of Felix H. Willis, was born in this county, Sept. 9, 1839, where he was reared and received a com- mon-school education. He was married in September, 1858, to Eliza J. Nation. They are the parents of seven children, five liv- ing -- Samuel H., Edward E., Minnie A., Ollie A. and Lizzie G. Mr. Willis is a farmer and has also worked at the carpenter's trade most of his life. He is Township School Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. Willis are both members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Willis belongs to the I. O. O. F. and also the Encampment.
James E. Willis, son of Felix H. Willis, was born in Edwards County, Ill., Oct. 3, 1841, and came to this county with his pa- rents. He was educated at the State Normal School, Bloomington, Ill. He enlisted in 1861 in Company I, First Illinois Cavalry, and served a year, and in 1862 enlisted in Company F, Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry. He enlisted as a private and was promoted early in 1863 to First Lieutenant of Company C, and soon after, for gallant service, to Captain of the same company, which posi- tion he filled to the close of the war. In 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business in Richview, Ill., and in 1868 came to Enfield, and went into partnership with his father and brother. In 1874 the brothers bought out their father, and still carry on the busi- ness. In 1869 Mr. Willis married Jennie, daughter of John Camp- bell, now of this township. They are the parents of four children, three living-Mary E., Clara A. and Felix H. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Captain John N. Wilson was born in Hamilton County, Ill., March 10, 1837. His father, James M. Wilson, a native of Ken- tucky, came to Hamilton County in 1818, with his father, John B. Wilson. John N.'s early life was spent on a farm, and was edu- cated in the primitive subscription schools. He enlisted as private in the late war, in Company H, Sixth Illinois Cavalry. He was promoted to Second and then to First Lieutenant, and commanded the company three months. He came to Enfield in 1865. He taught school several years, and was Postmaster, and kept a book and stationery store seven years. Nov. 18, 1860, he married Mar- gery A., daughter of John Boyer. They are the parents of eight children, only four living-Annie C., John H., Charles and Frank. Captain Wilson is serving his third term as Township Clerk. His grandfather, John B. Wilson, died in 1850, while on his way to Salt Lake City.
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GRAY TOWNSHIP AND GRAYVILLE.
GRAY TOWNSHIP.
Since 1872, the date of township organization in this county, Gray Township has comprised the south half of Congressional townships 3 south, 10 and 11 east, and 14 west, being a strip three miles wide by about ten miles long, in the northeastern cor- ner of White County. The soil is a clayey loam, well adapted to all agricultural purposes, and the swamp lands therein contained are easily drained and converted into the most fertile fields. The township was originally covered with timber, most of which has been cleared away to give place to fine farms. The portion next to the Big Wabash is broken, and characterized by the most interest- ing geological deposits.
Prior to 1872 Grayville Precinct comprised a piece of territory almost square, in the northeastern part of White County, includ- ing a part of what is now Phillips Township, but extending no farther west than the Little Wabash.
The earliest residents of the township first settled in or near what was afterward Grayville, and their names appear mostly under a subsequent head. We will name here, in addition to those, George Webb, who lived at Bonpas, a point named after the creek; Joseph Spencer, Charles Naylor from England, Samuel Hallam, William Hallam (deceased), Zach Boultinghouse and James Frazier.
There are two small churches in the township-Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal-outside of Grayville. The latter is four miles west of town. R. E. Mathis is the present pastor.
Liberty Church (Cumberland Presbyterian) .- This society used to meet at Union School-house, and is hence often called " Union Church." It was first organized Jan. 25, 1855, under the minis- tration of Rev. William Finley, with only six members, of whom T. F. Crawford, of Crossville, is the only one now living. Of the 140 who have since joined this society, twenty-one have died, eight- een have been expelled, eight dismissed by letter, and others have moved away without letters, leaving now about sixty members.
The pastors of this church, with the number of years they have respectively served, have been as follows: William Finley, 1; Will-
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
iam M. Finley, 3; J. H. Morgan, 2; J. H. Hughey,!2; Wiley Hooper, 3; W. P. Baker, 2; W. M. Murray, 5; J. N. Hogg, the present pastor, but a few months yet.
The Ruling Elders, with the dates of their election, have been: Samnel Lay and T. F. Crawford, 1855; George Huggins, 1862; James Potter and Milton Howell, 1864; Hosea Phelps, 1868; James Frazier, 1870; Thomas Curtis, 1873; R. W. Robinson, 1877; D. E. Lewis, 1881; and O. L. Baker, 1882. Of the above Messrs. Phelps and Potter have died, and Huggins, Howell, Robinson and Lewis have moved away. The present Elders are Messrs. Craw- ford, Frazier, Curtis and Baker.
Preaching the third Sunday of each month; Sunday-school kept up almost constantly, with an average attendance of about forty scholars. T. F. Crawford, Superintendent.
The church building was erected near the old school-house in 1872, when Mr. Morgan was minister. Its size is 26 x 40 feet; cost, $500.
SCHOOLS.
We compile the following from the county superintendent's re- port to show the progress made by schools in this township, includ- ing Grayville, during the past twenty-two years.
1860 .- Number of schools, 3; male teachers, 2; female, 1; attend- ance, 90; persons under twenty-one, 169; over five, 112; average months of school, 6; teachers' monthly wages, $20 to $26.33; State fund, $187.12; tax, $299.83; paid teachers, $504.55; total received for school purposes, $521.70; total expended, $512.79.
1882 .- Number of males under twenty-one, 427; females, 430; total, 857; number over six years of age, 707; number between twelve and twenty-one unable to read and write, 3; number of un- graded schools, 5; graded, 1; total number of months of school, 34; average number of months, 52; number of pupils enrolled, 563; number of male teachers, 7; female, 7; total days attendance of pupils, 42,995; number frame school-houses, 3; log, 3; brick, 2; highest monthly wages paid male teachers, $100; female $50; low- est monthly wages paid any male teacher, $30; female, $25; amount earned by male teachers during the year, $1,421.67; female, $1,630; amount of district tax levied for the support of schools, $4,105.06; estimated value of school property, 89,350; amount received by the township treasurer during the year, $4,751.58; expenditures during the year, $4,444.92.
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GRAY TOWNSHIP.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS SINCE 1872.
Supervisors .- William W. Gray, 1873-'4; Horace A. Woodward 1875; G. W. Webb, 1876-'7-'8-'9; Wm. H. Gilbert, 1880-'1-'2.
Clerks .- F. M. J. Boord, 1873-'4; Charles R. Hall, 1875; W. L. Payne, 1876; C. L. Rees, 1878; T. J. Matthews, 1879-'80; Wm. W. Coulter, 1881-"2.
Assessors ...- John W. Coulter, 1873; Robert Stanley, 1874; Francis M. Charles, 1875; G. H. Dunlap, 1876-'7-'8-'9; Francis M. Charles, 1880; Robert Puntney, 1881; J. L. Rinehart, 1882.
Collectors .-- Hugh A. Blair, 1873-'4-'5-'6-'7-'8-'9-'80-'1-'2.
Commissioners of Highways .- Biral Crawford, 1873 Francis Fearn, 1874; J. A. Casebier, 1875; W. W. Davis, 1876; Wm. Shaw 1878; Benj. Batson, 1879; Geo. S. Casebier, 1880; W. W. Davis 1881; Francis Fearn, 1882.
Justices of the Peace .- Joseph Puntney and Carlton R. Smith, 1873; John M. Johnson and Thomas P. Butler, 1881.
Constables .- John W. Diddle and John Williams, 1873; Charles F. Gilbert and Samuel E. Hamilton, 1881.
GRAYVILLE.
Here, on the beautiful hills, whence one can behold miles of the winding Wabash, and peer into two States and five counties; here on the hills where once a battle was fought in the obscure past between the whites and savages, and the soil made sacred by the blood spilt for the advance of civilization, is the beautiful and enterprising town of Grayville situated.
This place is named after James Gray, one of the earliest set- tlers, who was born in Virginia, but came from Kentucky and platted the town about 1826 or 1828. Subsequently a plat adjoining was named Florence, but by the act of the Legislature approved March 2. 1839, the plat was added to the original town of Gray- ville, to be called the " River addition. " Mr. Gray, whose name occurs several times elsewhere in this volume, owned a large tract of land in this vicinity, extending up into Wabash County. His brother, Thomas Gray, settled in Bonpas (pronounced bum- paw), called so after a creek which empties into the Wabash River, at the foot of Mill street, in Grayville. His settlement here was the first in this part of the country, his brother James then living at Carmi, where he had settled in 1816. Afterward the latter came and purchased a large tract of land about the mouth of the Bonpas,
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where was a better boat landing than any point on Thomas' land. Thus, James was more fortunate than his brother in starting a town and he was the first to erect a log cabin on the premises. The men who assisted him in building this house were James Thresh, La- ban Payne, Noah Davis and Mr. Hensley. The oldest point set- tled in Grayville was Oxford, a half mile below the railroad depot. William Walden Gray, now a banker in Grayville, is a son of James Gray, and was born in Carmi and educated in Kentucky.
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