USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 59
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bered forty men, Mr. Payne being an Orderly Sergeant of the com- pany. At Incarnation they were overpowered by the advance guard of Santa Anna, numbering about 4,000 men, and the whole party taken prisoners, and taken to San Louis, and from there to the city of Mexico, where they were prisoners nine months, marching about from one place to another through Mexico, and were re- leased at Tampico, Mexico. When he left there he came back to Lewisport, Ky., end engaged in the saddle and harness business till the Rebellion opened. He recruited a company at that place, and went into the war ; previous to this he got a commission as commander of the militia, and was in command of this about four years before the war broke out. When the war broke out he got a commission from the Government and recruited a company; took command of it, and placed it in the service; was organized at Owensboro, Ky., and attached to the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry. He went into the service the fore part of 1862, and on account of failing health resigned his commission in the fall of 1863, and moved to Grayville the same fall, where he has been living ever since. He followed his old business in Grayville for about fifteen years. In former days he was an old line Whig, until the party went down, and since the Republican party came into power he has been an ardent supporter of the party. He was married Sept. 18, 1850, to Catharine Baldauf, a German by birth, who came from the old country with her parents when she was quite young. They have eight children, two sons and six daughters. Mr. Payne is a well posted man on matters of an early date, and takes great pride in relating incidents that occurred in his early life. Indeed, all the way through, his life has been eventful in many respects.
George Pope, born July 4, 1813, in Logan County, Ky., is a son of John Pope and Christena (Smith) Pope, both of German de- scent and natives of North Carolina. George lived in Kentucky till he was sixteen years old, and came to White County, Nov. 18, 1829. When he first came here he hired out by the month on a farm, and followed this till 1836, when he went to Albion, Edwards County, and engaged in wagon-making ; was a natural genius, and soon became familiar with the trade. He followed his trade in Albion for fifteen years. He was married in 1831 to Mary H. Bailey, a native of Kentucky. They came to this county at the same time, and were married in Burnt Prairie. In 1851 he came to Grayville and started the wagon-making business here and has been engaged in it ever since, never stopping, always pushing ahead, with a firm heart
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and strong arm. He cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, during his second term. He was a radical Democrat up to 1861, and since that date has been an ardent supporter of the Re- publican party. He never was an aspirant after office, although a number of years ago he was Constable for the corporation of Gray- ville. Mr. Pope has seen a great many of the hardships character- istic to the early life in this country, and has stood the storms and raids of this life remarkably well. Owing to a strong constitution he is now able to do a day's work with remarkable ease, and his good-natured countenance is a pleasant reception to all that meet him. Mr. and Mrs. Pope on Nov. 20, 1881, celebrated their golden wedding. All members of their family were present, including their grandchildren, an event that was most happily participated in by all members of their family. Mr. and Mrs. Pope have four children living-Mary J., wife of John Morey; Josephine, widow of Charles E. Spring; Florence, wife of John Brissenden; and George M. Pope, all residing in Grayville.
Charles L. Rees, born Ang. 13, 1831, in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., O., is a son of David and Zilphia (Murphy) Rees. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and died in Cin- cinnati of cholera in 1849. His mother, a native of Virginia, is now living, in her eighty-ninth year, in Cincinnati, with her daugh- ter. Mr. Rees lived and received his education in Cincinnati, until 1853. He was in business there in wood-type and engraving, and was burned out in the spring of 1853. He was married Aug. 3, 1852, to Julia T. Slater, a native of Dearborn County, Ind. In 1853 he went to Louisville, Ky., and engaged in the carriage busi- ness a year, and then moved to Evansville, Ind., and continued in the same business for fourteen years. In the spring of 1869 he moved to Grayville, and is engaged in the furniture business, auc- tion and general merchandising. In business life he has been successful. Mr. and Mrs. Rees have a family of four children- Laura Belle, Carrie, Flora and Charles. They have lost three chil- dren, all daughters. Politically he has been a Republican since the party has been in power. His father was an old-line Whig in his day. He had two brothers in the war, one of whom died in Donnaldsonville in 1864. He was a surgeon. The Rees family, as far as their ancestors can be traced back, have shown a marked degree of personal dignity and uprightness, and have always proved themselves perfectly honorable in all their dealings, both with themselves and with the world. The family take great pride
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in this, and it is taught to the rising generations, and will prove a characteristic to be preserved by them as a credit to themselves and an honor to their ancestors.
William Robinson was born in Mount Carmel, Wabash Co., Ill., Sept. 16, 1842. His parents were Anthony A. and Rose (Wil- kinson) Robinson. They had a family of nine children, Will- iam was the fourth son. When he was six or seven years old, his father moved to Edwards County, Ill., where William remained until twenty-two; then came to White County. Dec. 13, 1862, he married Mary Handley. After his marriage he rented land in Gray Township four or five years, then purchased his present farm, where he owns 180 acres. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the United Brethren church. They have had seven children, six living-Anthony E., born Aug. 30, 1863; Joseph, born April 13, 1865; Margaret R., born March 20, 1867; J. Henry, born Feb. 20, 1869; Frank W., born Dec. 4, 1871; Mary B., born Dec. 17, 1879, died Jan. 15, 1881; Arthur J., born Dec. 9, 1874. Mr. Robinson is one of the Road Commissioners of Gray Township; was elected in 1881. In politics he is a Republican.
C. R. Smith, M. D., was born April 5, 1815, in Blue Lick, Ky. At the age of six years he moved with his father and family to Indianapolis, Ind., and three years after his father died. His father was a Methodist minister, and his mother was a physician. In 1837, in connection with Dr. Robb, of Indianapolis, he began the practice of dentistry. Times grew hard, he obtained little work, and he sought a new and more lucrative profession. He entered upon the study and practice of medicine with his elder brother, P. R. Smith, and in 1840 located at Shawneetown, Ill. Here he remained about a year, and thence removed to Carmi, where he married Amanda C. Gilbert, July 14, 1847. She was a native of Philadelphia, Penn., born June 4, 1824. He remained at Carmi until he graduated in medicine from the Evansville Medical College in 1850. Thence he removed to Grayville, where he resided till his death, Feb. 27, 1881. Dr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of four children, only two now living-Daniel R. and Marquis L. He was a member of the Grayville Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His son, D. R. Smith, has taken up the practice of den- tistry, and is filling his father's place in this respect, being a careful and efficient dentist.
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Michael Smith, born Dec. 7, 1838, in Vanderburg County, Ind., is a son of Adam and Ann Smith. They came from Germany and settled at Chambersburg, Penn., in 1829. A short time after, in the same year, they moved to Vanderburg County, Ind., where they remained about a year, and then moved to Vincennes, Ind. Adam Smith died at Vincennes in 1844, and the widow still lives there at the age of eighty-five years. Michael Smith, when he was eight years old, began life for himself. He worked on a steamboat for a while and at different kinds of work, and when he was twelve years old learned the saddler's trade, in Grayville. He came to Grayville in 1846. When he wa sixteen years old he went into the trade in earnest, and continued in it until 1881, when he was burned out, Dec. 19. He was appointed a Notary Public in 1863, and still continues in this office. He was elected President of the Common Council in 1868. He was Treasurer of the town of Grayville for one term. He has been very success- ful in speculating, having made considerable of his wealth in that manner. He is a sharp business man, and one of the sub- stantial citizens of Grayville. He owns 700 acres of land in this vicinity, besides valuable city property in different parts of the city. In his fire, Dec. 19, 1881, he lost about $5,000 in liquors, groceries and saddlery, and the building, with no insurance. He was married Feb. 2, 1876, to Pauline Noller, of Mt. Carmel, Ill. She was born Jan. 7, 1855, and died May 18, 1879. He was married again on Aug. 3, 1880, to Whilmena Noller, a half-sister of his former wife. She was born Nov. 21, 1861. They have one son-Baron Stonewall Smith, born June 26, 1882.
Samuel E. Speck, born Oct. 17, 1834, in Prussia, is a son of Carl and Doretha (Nohse) Speck. His mother came to this country in 1850, and settled in Evansville, Ind., where she is now living, seventy-eight years old. There were five children that came over with her, Samuel being sixteen years old. He learned the tin- smith's trade in Evansville, and worked at it there five years. He was married at Evansville, Feb. 4, 1860, to Emelia Wingginghous, a native of Germany, who came to this country with her pa- rents when she was small. In October of 1860 they came to Grayville and opened in tinware and stoves in a frame building on North street. In 1878 he put up a fine brick business block near where he was, and moved into it. A few years after they came to Grayville he added hardware to his business, and now has a fine store, and carries a large stock of goods. He has
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one of the finest stocks of goods in his line in the county. Mr. Speck has two large business houses in Evansville, besides his property here. They have five children-Ottela, Charles, Emily, Edith and Samuel, an infant, all at home.
Thomas Z. Spencer was born in St. Clair County, Ill., Oct. 6, 1843. His parents were William and Ciceley (Gilla) Spencer, na- tives of England. Thomas Z. was the second son and fifth child of a family of five girls and two boys. When two years old he came with his parents to Gray Township, and is now living on and owns the old homestead farm. Mr. Spencer married Nancy Taylor, March 9, 1876. She was born in Indiana, and was a daughter of John and Cazalin (Sutton) Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have two children, one living-Herbert A., born Feb. 13, 1881. Mrs. Spencer died June 9, 1881. March 27, 1882, Mr. Spencer married Ellen Mason, a native of Edwards County, Ill., and a daughter of Peter and Mary A. (Jackson) Mason, natives of England and Kentucky. Mrs. Spencer is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Spencer owns a fine farm of 160 acres, eighty under cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat.
William Spencer was born in Lancashire, England, June 6, 1836. His parents were William and Ciceley (Gilla) Spencer. William was the oldest of seven children; he was but three years of age when he came with his parents to America. He came in the sailing vessel John Taylor, and was wrecked on the break- ers of the Cuban shore. They had lost their masts in a storm, and were driven in shore and on the breakers. All the crew were saved except one man. They lived on the island twenty-one and one-half days, on perriwinkles, a shell-fish, and mahogany ber- ries. They were taken off by a passing vessel to New Orleans. From there they went to St. Louis, Mo., and settled on a farm in St. Clair County, Ill., ten miles south of Belleville, where they re- mained two years; then came in an ox-team to White County, set- tling in Gray Township. The father was one of the first men of 1849 to go to California, returning in 1852; he was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun, while in Henry County, Mo. Will- iam remained on the farm with his mother until 1863, when he began farming. He married Mrs. Mary E. Anderson, May 1, 1865. She was born in Posey County, Ind., and was a daughter of Daniel and Mary E. (Ferguson) Harshman, natives of Indiana. Mrs. Spencer married George Anderson, Feb. 7, 1858. He was born in White County, Ill., and was a son of Benjamin and Siba
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(Covington) Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had a family of three children-Alonzo M., born Nov. 17, 1858, resides in Ken- tucky; Frank M., born Sept. 2, 1860, is teaching school in Cham- paign County, Ill .; Mary H., born Jan. 3, 1863, resides at home. Mr. Anderson enlisted in the late war and died in the service at Lit- tle Rock, Ark., with the small-pox. After Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were married they settled on their present farm, on section 30, Gray Township. He and wife have had three children-Boullair, born June 11, 1866; Sicily, born Dec. 3, 1869; Flora J., born Sept. 20, 1875. Mr. Spencer owns a fine farm of 112 acres on section 30, forty acres on section 25, and 120 on section 4, Phillips Township. In politics he is a Democrat. He has held the office of School Director.
Clarence H. Spring, born Oct. 8, 1834, in Albion, Edwards Co. Ill., is a son of Dr. Archibald and Mrs. Margaret (Dunn) Spring, for- merly wife of Stephen Jolly (deceased). His father was a native of England, and settled in Edwards County with his mother. He was a graduate from the medical college at Baltimore, and fol- lowed the practice of medicine all through this section of the country. Clarence Spring lived in Albion with his mother, his father having died in the spring of 1845. In 1850, when he was sixteen years old, he came to Grayville. He first went into a drug store with the intention of learning the business. He re- mained in this store, run by Dr. Garrick, about one year, after which he went as clerk in a grocery store for Prunty & Wood- ward, who were doing a large business, both wholesale and retail, furnishing nearly all the flour between here and Centralia, Ill. He remained with them until 1855. He then began clerking for Jolly & Mayo in a dry-goods establishment, and remained with them until March, 1857. In the month of March, 1857, he went to Kansas and became a squatter. He settled on a claim in Atch- ison County of 160 acres, and afterward went into Brown County, and took up 160 acres more, remaining there four months, long enough to make a purchase, it being Indian trust land and was sold to squatters at Government valuation, which resulted in a good investment. He returned to Grayville, and was married May 13, 1858, to Margaret Simonds, a native of Wabash County, and daughter of Stephen Simonds. In June, 1858, he engaged in the drug business with Dr. E. V. Mitchell, of Gibson County, Ind., under the firm name of Mitchell & Spring. This co-part- nership continued until 1863, when they sold out. In 1861 he was
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appointed Postmaster by President Lincoln, and continued to discharge the duties of this office up to 1865. At this time, after the assassination of Lincoln, President Johnson called upon Mr. Spring to contribute to his campaign funds, and upon the refusal to comply with Mr. Johnson's request Mr. Spring was placed out of office. However, he was re-appointed to the office again by President Grant, in 1869, and still continues to discharge the duties of this office. In 1866 he engaged in the grain and commission busi- ness, and shipped the grain South by water to New Orleans, before any railroad was built in this part of the country. He continued in this business, at times quite extensively, up to within a few years. In 1872 he again became associated in the drug business with John F. Jolly and L. L. Hollister, under the firm name of Jolly, Spring & Hollister. In 1874 Mr. Hollister withdrew, and the firm then was Jolly & Spring. In 1875 they sold their interests in the business. In 1877 he opened a book store and news stand in the building with the postoffice, which he is now running. He has been engaged in the sale of agricultural implements since 1879. He was a member of the Common Council when the bonds were issued to the Cairo & Vincennes Railroad, in 1870, and has been Treasurer of the town for several years, and School Treas- urer since 1871, and still retains this responsibility. Mr. and Mrs. Spring had seven children, four sons and three daughters. The sons are all dead, and the girls are living-Mary B., Margret D. and Camilla.
Adolphus W. Stokes, M. D., son of John M. and Mary (Turner) Stokes, was born near Carmi, Nov. 5, 1833. He was reared in this county, and received his early education in the log-cabin school, on Crooked Creek. He studied medicine with his brother, J. G. Stokes, and attended the College of Medicine, Louisville, Ky., where he graduated in 1875. He began practice in 1861. He came to Grayville in 1862. He is in partnership with his brother, J. G. Stokes. He was never married. He has always been a Democrat, politically, but has never been a politician.
James G. Stokes, M. D., born Dec. 29,1828, five and one half-miles northeast of Carmi, White County, is a son of John and Mary Stokes. His mother was a native of Kentucky and his father of North Carolina. He was a slave owner; moved here and left his slaves there in 1818, where he lived till his death, Aug. 31, 1873, following the life of a farmer. He was born July 29, 1798. His mother died in 1864, when she was sixty-four years old. James
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was brought up on the farm, and educated in an old log cabin, but applied himself at home studiously, and taught two or three terms himself. He began the study of medicine when he was sixteen years old, borrowing some books from an old physician of Phillips- town. Attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College of Phila- delphia during two sessions, when he graduated in 1869. In 1857-'58 and up to 1859 he read medicine with E. L. Stewart, of Carmi. Began practice of medicine when he was a boy on the farm, and during the time since he has been engaged in it. He practiced some with Dr. Stewart, of Carmi, while he was studying with him. May 15, 1860, he settled at Grayville, where he has been residing ever since. He is connected with his brother, Adol- phus W. Stokes, and they are considered among the leading phy- sicians of the county. Their practice is very extensive, being general in its nature. Dr. Stokes was married July 1, 1855, to Ruth A. McCurdy, a native of Ohio, who died Nov. 18, 1863, at the age of twenty-eight. She was the mother of three children, two of them now living-Henrietta, wife of James Rigall, residing in Grayville, and John M., who is a graduate in medicine and sur- gery. Dr. Stokes has performed a great many difficult operations in surgery during his professional record.
Geo. A. Tromly, born Dec. 22, 1841, in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., Ill., is a son of Michael and Jane (Boughton) Tromly, his' father a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Vincennes, Ind. Michael Tromly's father was a native of Canada, and settled in Vincennes in 1789. His father and mother were married in 1832. at Burlington, Iowa, where they were living, and moved to Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., Ill., in 1835. He was a jeweler by trade, and followed his trade there up to the time of his death, May 26, 1878. He was prominently connected with the business interests of Mt. Vernon, and was a highly esteemed citizen of that place. His mother died in August, 1855. They had a family of six children, four of whom are now living-Michael Tromly, was married three times. He first married a lady by the name of Res- eco, of Vincennes, who died in 1829 or '30, by whom he had three children, one now living. His second wife was Jane Boughton, and his third wife was Mrs. Emily A. Wylie, to whom he was married in 1836; now living at Mt. Vernon. They have one child living. Geo. A. Tromly was reared in Mt. Vernon. When he was quite young he began to learn the jewelry trade, and when he was fifteen years old he began to take care of himself. He made a
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trip in the fall and winter of 1858 and '59, and the spring of 1860, to Texas and Missouri, clerking in Texas and engaged as a farm hand in Missouri. In August, 1860, he returned to Mt. Vernon; after staying there about two months he went to Bond County, Ill., and engaged on a farm, where he remained till May, 1861. He then enlisted in the army, in the 100 days' service. He enlisted at Greenville, Bond Co., Ill., in Company D, Twenty-second Infan- try ; was ordered to Belleville, Ill .; stayed there till his time expired and then was mustered into the three years' service. The regiment was ordered to Bird's Point, Mo., off Cairo, Ill .; remained around there for sometime, and while the regiment was encamped there, they went down to Belmont, Mo., and was in the engagement at that place. In this engagement Mr. Tromly received a wound in his left shoulder, by a musket ball, which he carried for three months and one day. He was one of the first volunteers of South- ern Illinois who was wounded, and the result of which he was off duty four months. The next actual service he was in was at the siege of Corinth. On the 9th of May, 1862, in front of Farming- ton, near Corinth, he was struck with a piece of a shell in the same shoulder and was off duty from this wound one month. After the evacuation of Corinth, his company was put out as guard on the line of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, and occupied this position about one month. From there the regiment marched over- land to Nashville, Tenn., and remained there about three months, when they again took a line of march for Murfreesboro, on Stone River, and was in this engagement, which was one of the hardest fights of the war. In this engagement he came very near being killed. A minie-ball passed through the top of his hat, taking the hair along with it, in its course along the top of his head. From this point they went south into Alabama, and stopped at Bridge- port, Ala., on the Tennessee River, and went into encampment at this place. They were in several different skirmishes in their line of travels, and the next hard fight they participated in was the battle of Chickamauga. After this battle they went back to Chat- tanooga; there he was taken sick, and was sent to the hospital, at Nashville, where he was confined for seven weeks. He was not with his regiment at the battle of Missionary Ridge, being on de- tached duty, and joined the regiment again on the march south to the Atlanta campaign. The next fight they got into was the battle of Resaca, where he had a high old time in some of the charges made there. After this battle they continued their march
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southward, having several lively skirmishes on the way, and finally took a stand at Dallas and New Hope Church, Ga. Here occurred a lively siege, and then continued the march south, one day after the siege, when the next morning they received orders to report at Springfield, Ill., where they were mustered out of the service, July 7, 1864. He then returned to Mt. Vernon, Ill., and went to clerking for Gray & Bogan, dealers in general merchan- dise, and stayed with them seven months, and then went to Bridge- port, Lawrence Co., Ill., and then went on a farm and stayed two years with an uncle and cousin respectively. He was married in Bridgeport, Nov. 8, 1866, to Samatha A., daughter of Dr, Samuel Hays, of that city. He then moved to Mt. Vernon, and made this his home for about sixteen months; entered into the jewelry business, taking up the profession of his father, which he has been engaged in since. He came to Carmi, White County, in 1871, and continued in business there three years, when, in 1874, he moved to Grayville, where he is now permanently located. He is the only jeweler in the place, and is thoroughly conversant with his trade, and carries a fine stock of jewelry. As a worthy citizen he is firmly established, and honesty and integrity in his dealings with his fellow-man has gained for Mr. Tromly a reputation that is creditable to him and will extend into the future. Mr. and Mrs. Tromly have five children, three sons and two daughters-Gracie, Charles, Clarence, Glen and Mand.
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