History of White County Illinois, Part 58

Author: Inter-State Publishing Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 831

USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 58

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).

Lafayette Hunter .- On the 31st day of October, 1853, in Will- iamson County, Ill., the subject of this sketch was born. His father sent him to the district school during as much of the winter season as he could do without his assistance on the farm. His early desire for learning was such that he learned to read at an early age by studying alone during odd spells, whenever he had a brief respite from farm labor. His habits of study, early formed, grew with his age. The advantages offered for an education in the district school were very poor, yet Lafayette, supplementing them by home study, was qualified for teaching before he had attained sufficient age. In the fall of 1872 he began a six months term of school in Hamilton County, which he taught with such success that the Board of Directors raised his wages $12 on the month in order to secure his services at another time. He has alternately taught and attended school most of his time since 1872, (having taught every winter of the ten but one), till now he enjoys the reputation of being one of the best teachers in White County, to which he removed in 1873. He is unmarried, and has never attached himself to any church, but has always lived a life of moral- ity and uprightness, which has always secured for him friends wherever he is known. As a teacher he has always commanded the best wages; as a citizen he has the respect and confidence of all who know him.

John M. Johnson was born in the city of Sing Sing, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1834. His parents were Simon and Charlotte (Vernon) Johnson, natives of Billinghurst, Sussex, England. They were mem-

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bers of the Congregational church. They came to New York in 1832 or 1833. They had a family of three sons, John M. being the second. He was bnt two years old when he removed with his parents to Edwards County, where he remained with his parents until his marriage to Sarah Bunting, Jan, 18, 1855. She was born in Edwards County, and was a daughter of Charles Bunting. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had one daughter, Mary S., born Sept. 19, 1855, married Moses G. Foster. Mrs. Johnson died Feb. 19, 1856. Mr. Johnson then married Parthania Garner, March 8, 1857. She was born in Wayne County, Ill., and was a daughter of Walter and Mary (Bradley) Garner. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had seven children-Elijah W., born Jan. 9, 1858; Miriam C., born Oct. 5, 1862, died Oct. 2, 1865; Ida S., born March 2, 1867; Jasper L., born Jan. 3, 1869; John P., born Feb. 1, 1871; Effie M., born May 8, 1873; Rosa N., born Oct. 8, 1875. After his first mar- riage, in 1855, Mr. Johnson, settled on his present farm in Gray Township, where he owns 212 acres of fine land on section 19, and forty acres on section 24. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Grayville. Mr. Johnson is a Justice of the Peace in his township, and has held various other local offices of trust. Politically he is a Republican.

John B. Jolly, born .Aug. 16, 1824, in Albion, Edwards Co., Ill., is a son of Stephen and Margaret (Dunn) Jolly. They came from England about 1820, aud settled in Evansville for a while, and finally moved to Albion, Edwards County. His father died in Albion about 1825. His mother lived in Albion till she was mar- ried to Dr. Archibald Spring, a prominent man of the county, and a practicing physician. They settled in Grayville in 1850, where they made it their home. His mother died in December, 1856. John B. Jolly was reared at home in Albion, attended the schools that were kept up by subscription on and off for eleven years. April 15, 1847, he settled in Grayville. When he first came here he went into dry goods, in the firm of Mayo & Jolly. This part- nership continued up to the death of Mr. Mayo, Jan. 19, 1878. The partnership continued during this time although Mr. Jolly did not give the business his personal attention all the time. Jan. 6, 1853, Mr. Jolly entered into a partnership with Abner Carey and Geo. M. Weed in a saw-mill, under the firm name of Carey, Weed & Jolly, which continued between two and three years. In March, 1858, he went to Georgia, and remained there with Mr. Carey in the manufacture and sale of wheat fans, till June, 1860. The feel-

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ing in the South being of a hostile nature toward the North and Northern people, they thought, taking everything into considera- tion, that it would be best for them to visit friends in the North. He has considerable valuable land in this vicinity, amounting to 700 acres individually. Politically he was born of Whig parents, and grew up in this political view, and since the Republican party was organized, he has been a strong advocate of its principles. He is a consistent member of Washingtonian Temperance Society, the interests of which society and its object he has always been an ardent worker and supporter of. He is a man that thinks a great deal of his relatives, always looking to their interests as well as his own. The memory of his stepfather, Mr. Spring, is always cherished as one most dear to him among others of his kin. He has lived to be a man advanced in years, and has never known the taste of spirituous liquor. He was married Nov. 29, 1849, to Elizabeth A. Ferriman, daughter of George and Elizabeth Ferri- man, of Albion, Ill., who bore him one son-John F., born Dec. 2, 1850. Mrs. Jolly died in Grayville in October, 1851. He mar- ried for his second wife, Angene C. Barlow, Sept. 2, 1856. She was the daughter of J. T. Barlow, of Bristol, Vt. Mr. Jolly's son, John F., is in the hardware business in Olney, Ill., in the firm of Prunty & Jolly. Angene C., wife of Mr. Jolly, died Dec. 15, 1859. Mr. Jolly's principal business is farming and dealing in real estate. In June Mr. Jolly was elected President of the town of Grayville on the Temperance ticket. Although not a member of any Christian church, he is a liberal supporter of the Methodist church, and takes great interest in the welfare and prosperity of its interests. He is a man of great moral sensibility. He owes a great deal of his success in life to his step-father, and Mr. W. L. Mayo. These gentlemen took an interest in him in his younger days and started him in life, and retained a deep interest in him, of both a personal and business nature.

Byron W. Kenner, born Oct. 2, 1820, in what is now Patoka, Ind., near Princeton, was a son of Rodham and Mary (Routt) Ken- ner, a native of Virginia who moved to Indiana in 1815. From there, in 1825, they moved to Wabash County, Ill., and in 1835 to Edwards County. His mother died in 1835 and his father in 1850. Byron was thus principally reared in Wabash and Edwards coun- ties. When he was eighteen he started for himself. He taught school four years and then went to Texas; remained there and in Mexico a number of years; was through the Mexican war. In

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1849 he returned home and taught school again two years, and then went to merchandising, opening in Grayville, where he has since resided. The firm name at first was A. R. & B. W. Kenner, and continued four years when it was changed to B. W. Kenner & Co. This partnership lasted seventeen years, and was then changed to J. & B. W. Kenner. In 1881 it was changed to the present name B. W. Kenner. Politically he was a Whig till 1856; since then he has been a Democrat. He has served several terms as a member of the Town Board and has been its President three years. He was married to Mrs. Isabel (Thompson) Brown, a native of Edgar County, Ill. They had two children-Byron, died in 1856, in in- fancy; John W., born Sept. 16, 1858, died in July, 1882.

Boone Kershaw was born in Gray Township, July 21, 1839. His parents were Peter and Susannah (Browning) Kershaw. His father was born in Lancashire, England, in 1793, and came with his parents to America in 1818, and settled in Edwards County. In 1819 came to White County and settled in Gray Township. He was Justice of the Peace twenty years, studied and practiced law; also taught school a number of years. Received his first patent for land in White County, May 6, 1833, signed by Andrew Jackson. He died Aug. 28, 1858, aged sixty-five years. His wife died in February, 1866. Boone was the eldest of their four children. He remained on the farm with his father until of age. Feb. 10, 1861, he married Margaret J. Dunlap, a native of Gray Township, White County, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Green) Dunlap. After his marriage he settled on his present farm, where he was born. Mr. Kershaw owns sixty-five acres, most all under cultivation. He has held various local offices of trust; viz., Road Supervisor and School Director; was Justice of the Peace four years, commissioned by John M. Palmer. In 1874 was elected Representative to the Illinois Legislature on the Independent ticket. In 1877, during the Thirtieth General Assembly, was elected First Assistant Ser- geant at Arms, and held this office during the whole session. Mr. Kershaw is strictly a self-made man. He received the principal part of his education at his own home fireside, from his parents, his father being a teacher. He has always favored and worked for temperance though not in favor of prohibition. Mr. Kershaw's father first married a Miss Meredith and they had six children, two daughters living-Nancy A., wife of Henry Rowlinson, residing in Phillips Township, and Peggy A., wife of Edward Norris, residing in Posey County, Ind.

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Joseph Kershaw, born in Gray Township, April 13, 1848, is a son of Peter and Susannah (Browning) Kershaw. He is now residing on the old homestead farm where he was born. He married Mrs. Mary A. (Wright) Clemens, who was born in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Kershaw have one son-Marion, born in April, 1882. Mr. Kershaw owns a farm of sixty-five acres on section 31, Grayville Township. In politics he is a Democrat.

Francis M. Lanterman, born April 24, 1827, near Bridgeport, Lawrence Co., Ill., is a son of James and Jane (Drennen) Lant- erman, natives of Fleming County, Ky. They were married in 1819 and removed to Illinois with a family of three children, and settled on a farm of 240 acres, where he remained till 1858, when they moved to Bridgeport, where Mr. Lanterman died in May, 1861. Mrs. Lanterman died on the farm in 1852. Fran- cis M. remained at home till nearly twenty-one. Dec. 6, 1847, he left for Grayville, and has since made this his home. He en- gaged as clerk in a store for three and a half years. On account of failing health he returned to Lawrence County and sold light- ning rods for the purpose of being in the open air. In the fall of 1851 he and his brother-in-law went to Kentucky with a drove of mules. He then returned to Lawrence County and remained till February, 1852, when he returned to Grayville and clerked about a year. He then went into partnership with Benedict & Williams, in the chain-pump business, traveling mostly through Southern Kentucky. This continued till November, 1853, when he re-engaged in Mr. Gray's store. Dec. 6,1853, he married Mary Jane McCall, of Vincennes, Ind. They have three children, all grown to maturity. In 1855 he went in partnership with Cary and Stewart in the Empire Flouring Mills. The firm of Cary, Stewart & Lan- terman existed till it was of age when, in 1876, the firm was changed to Lanterman & Stewart and still exists. Politically he was a Whig as long as that party existed, and has since been a Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote for General Tay- lor. He was Clerk of the board of Grayville from 1858-'60, and Councilman two or three terms soon after. In 1872 he was Presi- dent of the board.

Green B. Lindsay (deceased), born Nov. 24, 1816, in Henry County, Ky., was a son of Orlando D. and Susannah (Hardin) Lind- say, both natives of Kentucky. The Lindsay family came from Kentucky to White County, Ill., in the spring of 1817. They first settled in Bonpas, and lived a short time in Grayville, and then

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bought a farm in Edwards County, just on the line, where they lived till their death. Orlando D. Lindsay died June 16, 1861, and Susannah died Feb. 25, 1863. Green B. Lindsay lived with his parents till he was seventeen years old, when he started out for himself. He followed the carpenter's trade, and continued in this business during his lifetime. He was extensively engaged in contracting, and a large portion of Grayville and the surrounding country will show the result of his labors. He was married May 31, 1844, to Lydia Ann Coulter, daughter of Jesse Coulter, born in Delaware, March 12, 1826. She came to White County with her parents when she was small. In the fall of 1852, Mr. Lindsay moved on a farm at the west edge of Grayville, where he lived afterward. Owing to the demand on him for carpenter work, he put up a shop on the place and put most of his attention to his trade, leaving the farm in charge of other hands. He worked up to six months of the time of his death, June 23, 1873. There were five children in the family, all living-Mary Frances, born Feb. 28, 1845, wife of D. D. Annable, residing in Grayville; Jesse C., born April 3, 1847, residing at Carmi; Albert, born Aug. 1, 1850, residing in Mound City, Ill .; John S., born Dec. 16, 1852, residing in Grayville; David, born Aug. 1, 1855, residing in Gray- ville. Politically Mr. Lindsay was a Democrat; in early life was taught these views and followed them all during his lifetime.

John S. Lindsay, born Dec. 16, 1852, in Grayville, White County, is a son of Green B. and Lydia A. (Coulter) Lindsay. He was brought up in Grayville; attended school here. His father was a carpenter and joiner, and he early learned the trade with his father, In 1869 he began work in the harness and saddler's business, learning the trade and working at it with Thos. P. Butler for two years, and then went back to the carpenter's trade with his father, and continued in this business up to 1878. In 1878 he bought the harness shop formerly run by Geo. Dauner, and has been engaged in this ever since. He has a fine line of goods, and as a workman Mr. Lindsay can't be beat. He was married April 13, 1881, to Maggie B. Record, a native of Indiana, who came here with her parents when she was small. They have one son-Alvin Francis Lindsay.

Goo. W. Martin, born April 4, 1830, in Grayville, White Co., Ill., was a son of William and Catherine (Dunlap) Martin. His father, a native of North Carolina, came to White County with his parents when he was quite small. His mother was a native of

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Eastern Tennessee, and came here with her parents when she was small. They were married in Edwards County in 1826. He followed farming principally; carried on a mercantile business in Grayville for a few years. During the fall and winter, when the water was navigable, he would load a boat with the products of the farm and start with the view of landing at New Orleans, but sometimes found sale for his cargo before reaching this port. He died in 1847, at the age of forty-five years. His mother died in 1842, when she was about thirty-eight years of age. There were four in the family that lived to be grown out of six children. Geo. W. Martin was reared on his father's farm. When he was seventeen years old his father died, leaving him homeless, and he was placed in charge of a guardian till he was twenty-one years old. He then came to Grayville, and engaged with Benedict & Williams in commission business and chain-pump manufactory, remained with them four years. He then made an engagement with Geo. M. Weed in a saw-mill, and continued with him up to his death, Sept. 16, 1862. Mr. Martin then closed up the business and did the collecting and settling up of the business. He continued in the business, which was owned by Mr. Weed's widow and her brother John Brissenden, for two years longer. At the expiration of this time it was agreed to sell the mill, and it was purchased by Mr. Martin and Mr. Brissenden. These gentlemen ran the business for ten years, and did a very successful business, having a large trade from the sur- rounding country. Oct. 21, 1876, the mill was destroyed by fire, and everything lost, including one half million feet of lumber. The mill had all new machinery and all modern improvements. Loss valued at $20,000, no insurance. The following November they purchased, together with Sam. J. Orange, a saw and planing mill of Wm. Gravett, and the firm name was Martin, Brissenden & Co., which co-partnership now exists. Mr. Martin was married Nov. 15, 1860, to Mercena P. Clayton, a native of Ohio. They have a family of six children living, and have lost two sons; living are-Charles C., Mariam W., George W., Eliza D., Hannah and Kate, all living at home. Mr. Martin is a fine business man, excels in many points, and, on account of his strict adherence to business principles, his life in this respect has been successful.

Thomas Mathews, born May 13, 1814, in County Longford, Ire- land, is a son of David and Bridget Mathews. In the spring of 1835 he came to this country; landed in New York, and settled in New York City for nearly two years; followed the trade of a tailor, which

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Dr. Daniel P. Berry. See Page 496

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Joseph Willison M.D.

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he partly learned in Ireland. In 1836 he went to Buffalo and fol- lowed his trade there for a short time, and in 1837 went to Canada, but remained there only a few months. He then went to Cincin- nati and lived nearly a year, when he went to Indianapolis and re- mained six months. In 1840 he settled in Phillipstown, White Co., Ill., and staid there till 1844, when he came to Grayville, where he has since resided. He followed the tailor's trade when he first came here, and also early engaged in the grocery business, buying and packing pork. He has property in Grayville, also three farms, one in Wabash County, the others in Wayne and Clay counties, this State. He was married in 1848 to Eliza Jacobs, a native of White County. They have a family of six children, all grown, three sons and three daughters. Politically he has always been a Democrat. He cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, in 1836.

Martin H. Mc Creery, born Jan. 4, 1804, in Fayette County, Ky., was a son of Andrew and Susana (Todd) McCreery, natives of Kentucky. In 1811 his parents came to Illinois and located in Hawthorn, Whice County, in the southeast corner of " Big Prairie." His father died there in the spring of 1812, and his mother in Edwards County, Dec. 8, 1854, at the age of seventy years. After the death of Mr. McCreery his wife married John Elder. Martin lived on the homestead in Hawthorn till he was twenty-eight years old. He was married in 1829 to Anna Hauks, a native of Ken- tucky. She died Oct. 4, 1838. He was married again Oct. 17, 1839, to Louisa Sullivan, a native of Kentucky, and who died June 28, 1858. He married again, to his present wife, July 5, 1859, Sarah Proctor, a native of Kentucky. Mr. McCreery had eleven children by his different wives, four now living. He has 240 acres of land in Edwards County, and lived on this place thirty-five years. He came to Grayville, Nov. 12, 1871, where he has been residing since. He cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, in 1825. Mr. McCreery is now in his seventy-ninth year. His mem- ory is very good, and owing to a good constitution he has been able to reach this good old age.

Joseph Milliron, M. D., born Oct. 4, 1844, in Portsmouth, Ohio, was a son of Salathial and Elizabeth (Sutterfield) Milliron, natives of Ohio. His mother died in Gibson County, Ind., when on a visit to her daughter's. When he was small his father died in Jasper County, Ohio, in 1880. Joseph, when a young boy, had to work his way up by his own efforts; attended school at In-

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diana University, at Bloomington. In 1865, he began the study of medicine and graduated from Chicago Medical College in 1869. While he was studying medicine at Chicago he taught school as a means of support while going through college. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. K, 24th Indiana Regiment, and was in the service nearly two years. He was taken sick after the battle of Shiloh, and laid in the hospital at Crump's Landing, just below the Shiloh battle-field. He was there three weeks when he was able to make an application for his discharge, which was granted May 17, 1862. He went to La Fayette, Ind., and shortly after entered the ser- vice again in Company E, 135th Indiana Infantry, May 10, 1864, and served his time out in this regiment of 100 days, and got his second discharge Sept. 21, 1864. Almost immediately after, Nov. 15, 1864, he entered the 17th Indiana Battery, and served till May 20, 1865, at the close of the war. After he received his first discharge, he attended the Battle-ground Institute, on the Tippecanoe battle-ground, attending literary studies; after- ward he went to Bloomington College. He began his practice of medicine in Wayne County, Ill., at Mt. Erie; was there a month when he came to Grayville, White County, in 1869, where he has been in the practice ever since. He has a good paying practice. He is Surgeon for the P., D. & E. R. R .; received his appointment Feb. 25, 1882. He was married Oct. 4, 1877, to Laura Hearn, a native of Keokuk, Iowa. They have three children, one son and two daughters. Dr. Milliron, has been a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies tor eleven years.

Samuel J. Orange, born Jan. 23, 1825, in Edwards County, near Albion, is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Luntley) Orange, natives of London, England. They came to this country in 1818, and set- tled in Edwards County, where he entered three quarters of a sec- tion of land, most of it now in the possession of the family. Samuel lived on the homestead until he was twenty-one years of age. He then went to Cincinnati, and was married in 1848, to D. E. Clay- ton, of that city. In December, 1850, he moved to Grayville, brought with him a stock of general goods, and opened business; continued in this about six years. When the war broke out he and his wife were employed by the Sanitary and Christian com- missions. He was first employed by the Sanitary Commission in charge of the Soldiers' Home, at Columbus, Ky., a home for con- valescent soldiers, and remained there three years. In 1865 he went to Texas, and took sanitary stores to Custer's command, un-

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der Phil. Sheridan's department. Remained there one year, when they were called to the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at St. Louis, and continued three years. At his mother's death, in April, 1869, he resigned his position and went to England to settle up her estate, after which he returned and went into the lumber business at Grayville, which he has continued in ever since. His father died in 1861, at the breaking out of the war. He belonged to the Whig party till it died out, and since has been a Republican. In 1854 he was Justice of the Peace for a term of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Orange are members of Christian church. Mr. Orange has been a member since he was sixteen years old. He has been a very strong temperance man, taking great interest in this cause.

William L. Payne, Sr., born April 16, 1818, in Jefferson County, within four miles of Louisville, Ky., is a son of Laban and Mary E. (Gray) Payne, both natives of Virginia, but emigra- ted from Kentucky to White County, Ill., about 1826, with the family; settled at Bonpas, and remained there till 1833. The ma- laria being so prevalent, Mr. Payne sold out and went back to Kentucky, where they made it their home afterward till their death. Laban Payne died in Kentucky in 1846, and his wife died near Grayville, while on a visit, Oct. ! 28, 1858. William Payne lived at home till he was eighteen years old, and at this age began learn- ing the saddler and harness trade ; served his time at Elkton, Todd Co., Ky. He then went to work at his trade in different parts of the country up to 1840. He then went into a dry-goods and gro- cery store as a clerk for an older brother in Monroe County, Mo. Shortly after he, with his brother, moved to Lewisport, Hancock Co., Ky., and went into the same business as partners; remained in business there from 1840 to 1844. At this time the Mexican war fever broke out, and William went to Mexico, engaged in the United States service; enlisted at Louisville, Ky., in the Second Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Humphrey Marshall; went from Louisville by water to Memphis, Tenn., and from there over- land, and joined General Taylor at Monterey, Mexico. He went through the fight at Monterey and marched to Buena Vista, where he was encamped for a considerable length of time. While encamping there the forces were expecting Santa Anna with his army to fall upon them, and a call was made for volunteers to go out on a scout to ascertain the strength of Santa Anna's forces. The scouting expedition was under command of John P. Gaines as Major, and Cassius M. Clay as Captain. The volunteers nun-

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History of White County Illinois, Part 58

Author: Inter-State Publishing Company Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 831

Author: Inter-State Publishing Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 831