History of White County Illinois, Part 65

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

USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 65

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).

Cary Rice was born in Kentucky in 1789, and came to White County about 1830. He was married in 1818 to Frances Lewis, a native of Kentucky. They had five children-Jane ( Mrs. Thomas Brockett), Lucretia (Mrs. Wm. Thompson), Sylvester (married Elizabeth Hudson), Martha (Mrs. Geo. Bailey), Thomas W., three of whom were born in this country. His wife died in 1842. For his second wife he married Lucinda Sallee, daughter of Oliver P.

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and Elizabeth (Willis) Sallee, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. Their family consisted of thirteen children. Both died in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Rice was born a daughter, Fannie E., born July 25, 1853. Mr. Rice died Ang. 2, 1881. He was a member of the Old School Presbyterian church.

Jasper N. Robinson was born in Herald's Prairie Township, Jan. 31, 1840, a son of John and Susan (Collard) Robinson. His early life till his seventeenth year was spent on the home farm. He then went on the river, working on and latterly piloting a flat-boat from different points on the Ohio to New Orleans. Aug. 12, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, G. W. Trafton commanding. His company was in the trans-Mis- sissippi division, and in about twenty-nine different engagements, some of which were Nashville, Franklin, Tenn, Clinton, La., Coffeeville, Miss., etc. They left Camp Butler with 100 men and a recruiting list of forty-four, and but seventeen were left to be mustered out. He was mustered out Dec. 23, 1864. At the close of the war he traveled ten years as cominercial traveler for Kahn & Co., wholesale grocers of Evansville Ind. He is now farming on the old homestead; has about 120 acres with about 100 of it under cultivation. He was married Aug. 16, 1866, to Laura Clark. She died and May 2, 1872, he married Florence Nichols, of New Columbia, Massac Co., Ill. They had one child, now deceased, His wife died Aug. 25, 1876, while on a visit to her mother. June 5, 1878, he married Hattie Smith, of Equality, Gallatin County, Ill. They have two children-Julius and John. Mr. Robinson's father was a native of Liverpool, England, born in 1800. He came to America in 1815, or at the close of the war of 1812; was a midshipman in the British navy. He landed at New Orleans and came up the river to Illinois on the first steam- boat, and at the time General Jackson sailed from New Orleans. For nine years, or until 1826, he followed keel-boating, one trip taking four months, floating down with the current and cordelling or pulling the heavy barge up streamn, with ropes. In 1826 he mar- ried Susan Collard, a native of Grayson County, Ky., a daughter of Richard and Sarah (Downs) Collard. Iler parents moved to this county during her childhood, where they have since died. They brought a family of three sons and ten daughters with them; others died in infancy before their coming here. After Mr. Robin- son's marriage he went into farming which he continued till the Black Hawk war, when he enlisted and served till Black Hawk

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was captured and his horde dispersed, at the battle of Bad Axe, Iowa, opposite Prairie du Chien. He then took up the hoe and shovel again till the Mexican war, when he enlisted in the Illinois Mounted Volunteers, under General Lawler, then Captain. This was an independent company. He served thirteen months, or until the close of the war. lle was wounded at Tampico. He returned to Herald's Prairie, Ang. 15, 1848, and to his farm. Dur- ing his absence his wife and five children remained on the place. Though too old to enlist during the late war, the spirit was there, and his love for the Union was as strong as though fewer years were his. He has had twenty children born to him only three of whom are living-Jasper N., now living on the homestead; John and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Brown.

Henry W. Spence, born Dec. 18, 1840, is a son of Robert and Jane (Phipps-Colbert) Spence. He lived at home till his twenty- first year. In his twenty-second year he married Frances M., daughter of Rev. Coleman Hoskins. He went to work on a farm of forty acres on Yellow Creek; lived there seven months, when he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was mustered in at Shawneetown and moved South Jan. 23, 1863, for Memphis. Mr. Spence was taken sick with the prevailing disease before reaching Memphis, and was in the hospital a week; then on duty till after the siege of Vicksburg, when he was given up and sent to Memphis to die, but his indomitable energy and pluck brought him again out of it. He was furloughed for thirty days, and then joined his regiment and started for the Red River, under Banks. Upon the retreat of the regiment after the battle of Pleasant Hill, Mr. Spence was hidden behind a log, blazing away at the rebel advance; being so busily engaged he failed to hear the order to retreat until the rebel infantry were flanking them. While he was firing his last shot the rebels discovered him and started for a charge, driving a volley of minies at the log, tearing and throwing the bark in his eyes. Seeing himself alon e (after shooting forty rounds), he started to reach the rest of the regiment. It led him across an open field of about eighty acres. They yelled for him to stop, but he, believing in dying rather than surrender, kept on, dropping before cach round. In this way he reached Robinson's Battery, who gave the rebels in pursuit grape-canister, checking the retreat, and so held till the main body of the army came up. On looking himself over when safe he found bullet holes in his pants. He believed in

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doing his duty, and served honorably till the close of the term. He was mustered out at Camp Butler, July 3, 1875. He then returned to the farm, where he has since remained. To him have been born nine children-Charles Henry, born Oct. 3, 1862; Nancy E., born Apr. 3, 1866; Margaret J., March 2, 1868; Lura- ett, March 30, 1870; Fulton F, Apr. 3. 1872; Wm. Leander, April 25, 1875; Lewis Coleman, Jan. 16, 1877; Daisy, Oct. 15, 1880; Marlia, Oct. 3, 1881. But two are living, Charles and Lewis. Mrs. Spence died Jan. 31, 1882. Mr. Spence has seen more hardship and affliction than comes to the ordinary lot of man. He is a man morally and bodily brave. He has never been well since the war but he will not apply for a pension. His war record is of the whitest color.

Isaac T. Spence, born in Herald's Prairie Township, Jan. 13, 1848, was a son of John A. Spence. He resided at home during his minority, and received less than four months' schooling in that time, but, by self preparation was sufficiently informed to enable him to obtain a teacher's certificate. He taught school till he was admitted to the bar. During vacation he was in the law office of Conger & Crebs. He was also enabled to go to college. He was admitted to the bar of the Southern Grand Division June S, 1877. Previous to this Mr. Spence had practiced be- fore Justices of the Peace, and had served one term in that capacity. He has been Notary Public nearly eight years. He has a large practice and is the first resident lawyer of this township. He was married Jan. 3, 1870, to Sarah C., daughter of William Leathers. They have four children-Clara, Mary, Randall T. and Lollie. Mr. Spence owns 295 acres of fine land. His practice amounts to $1,500 a year. His will-force is great, and he is highly respected by all who know him.

John A. Spence, eldest son of Robert and Jane (Wilson) Spence, was born Sept. 22, 1822, near Sacramento, Indian Creek Township. His early life was that common to all pioneer lads, being born in the day when schools were rare and poorly taught in this section, and hard work was the order of the day. In 1829 his father moved to Carmi. He lived with his father till his twenty-second year, and learned his father's trade. He then commenced trading in chickens, paying seventy-five cents per dozen for hens and fifty cents for young chickens, and shipping them to New Orleans. He followed this one winter and spring; then came to his present place and commenced clearing the land. He was married in 1846

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to Cynthia Leathers, born May 22, 1830, and the youngest of four- teen children of William and Rachel (McDaniel) Leathers, natives of Virginia and Maryland, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Spence are the parents of twelve children, ten still living-Isaac T., Flori- da (now Mrs. John W. Poole), Rolin, Mary (Mrs. Rev. James B. Green), Isabel, Frances, Rosa, Kolp, Krat, and Levi. Isaac T. married Sarah Leathers, a daughter of William Leathers, Jr. Mr. Spence is the largest land-owner in the township, having over 800 acres of its best land. He enlisted in the late war, Aug. 22, 1862, in Company I, Eighty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in at Shawneetown; was in camp about four months; from there went to Memphis; the next fall they were mounted and called the mounted infantry, carrying the same muskets and a navy revolver. He was with Banks on the Red River expedition when he made such a precipitous retreat, causing the joke to go the rounds, " Where did you get the Banks collar !"' After that Mr. Spence was transferred to the Commissary Department, in which he served till his regiment was mustered out at Camp Butler, July 3, 1865. He has served his township as School Trustee many years; was Supervisor in 1876. He is a charter member of Norris City Lodge; was initiated in 1862.

Robert B. Spence (deceased), known as Barnet Spence, was born in what is now Indian Creek Township, Sept. 20, 1824, and was a son of Robert and Jane (Wilson) Spence. His early life was spent on the farm of his father. His education was limited, as schooling was hard to be had in those early days. He was married Oct. 10, 1849, to Adaline L. Collvert. They moved to the Collvert farm, near the Emerson and Stokes' estate, and lived there till 1855, when he moved to the present place, where he died, and his widow and children reside. They were the parents of nine chil- dren-James R., born Aug. 19, 1850; Alexander P., Sept. 11, 1853; Ella J., Sept. 6, 1855 (Mrs. John W. Chapman); Oliver O., Dec. 4, 1858; John C., Feb. 4, 1861, died April 11, 1882; Charles M., Jan. 29, 1863; William F., and Rebecca F., Dec. 7, 1866; an infant, born in November, 1872, died in infancy. Mr. Spence had 401 acres in White County, and forty in Johnson County, which he had earned by hard work, pluck and the help of a careful wife. When he was first married he had just $100, and a third of an eighty. The first year of their married life they lived on $50. He was in favor of all improvements; bought the first reaper and drill in the township, and made the first molasses. Politically, be-

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fore the war he was a Whig, and since the war was a Douglas Dem- ocrat, but always voted for who he considered was the best man. He was School Director sixteen years. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian. Mrs. Spence is a member of the Baptist church. He was trustee of the building of the Herald's Prairie church. He died Oct. 31, 1878. He was an influential man in the affairs ot his township, and is greatly missed. Mrs. Spence has had the responsibility of the farm for four years, and discharges the duties with marked ability. At the commencement of the war Mr. Spence was sick, but after getting better he wished to enlist, but was ad- vised by his brother to remain at home and care for the widows and children of the dead soldiers.

Robert Spence (deceased) was born in Linlithgow, Scotland, in 1796. His parents were both natives of Scotland. His mother's maiden name was Haggin. He learned the wheelwright's trade in early life, serving an apprenticeship. After that he studied architecture, and worked with a Mr. Luce in Edinburgh. He came to America in 1817, landing in New York City, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, together with architecture. He also worked in Utica, N. Y., helping to build the first bridge across the Mohawk River. While in New York he made the acquaint- ance of James Jordan, and they started together in 1819, and went across the Catskill and Allegheny mountains to Pittsburg, Pa. From there they went down the Ohio, to Cincinnati. At the latter place he heard of New Orleans as a good place for carpen- ter work, and started for there. The water being low in the Ohio at the falls at Shawneetown, the Captain concluded to tie up, and Mr. Spence, hearing of St. Louis, and being advised to go there, started, carrying his tools in a lumber cart; but failing to get transportation clear through, he left his tools at Robert Wilson's, near Sacramento, and went to Carmi, then a village of a few houses. Here he worked at his trade, and assisted in building some of the ancient houses there to-day, and also worked in a water-mill. He married Jane, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Robinson) Wilson, natives of North Carolina, of Irish and English descent. Jane was the eldest of five children. When first married Mr. Spence settled about a mile southeast of Sacramento, on Congress land. He lived there two or three years, and then traded with his father- in-law for another improvement north of it, where he lived till 1829, and then sold it and moved to Carmi. He bought land and built a house near where the graded school now stands. He lived

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there till 1842, working at his early trade. Mr. and Mrs. Spence had seven children -- John A. and Robert B., born on his first set- tlement; Helen H. and William F. on the second, and Rebecca, Archibald H. and James (twins), in Carmi. James died in in- fancy. Mrs. Spence died two years later. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Collvert, widow of James Collvert, of Carmi, a daughter of Lock Phipps, a native of Kentucky. They were the parents of five children-Mary, Henry W., Charles N., Solon L., and Edmund R. In 1842 he moved to section 20, on Lick Creek, where he remained till his death, in 1869. He owned 325 acres at the time of his death. He was a member of the Old School Presbyte- rian church. Mrs. Spence was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. She died in 1882. Mrs. Spence had three children when she married Mr. Spence-Adaline L., Sarah A. and Nancy J. Collvert. An anecdote is told of him: He was a great joker and an easy sort of a man, and was liked by everyone. A tailor in Carmi, named Hamilton, was a man who could never take a joke or be bothered without getting angry. Mr. Spence joked him about something, and Hamilton challenged him to fight a duel. Mr. Spence thought it over and took the challenge home to his wife. She read it and wrote the reply, stating that as Spence was the head of a family of small children, if killed, he could not be as easily spared as she; if Hamilton would meet her she would try to appease his wounded pride and dignity. Upon Hamilton receiving this he packed up his irons, goose and needles and left the town, never again returning. Mrs. Spence was one of the most good-natured women in Carmi, as well as a very powerful woman physically, and the joke took well.

Don C. Smith, born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., was a son of Benjamin and Phobe Smith, who moved to Illinois when he was but a lad. Don was a carpenter by trade, and built several houses yet standing in Herald's Prairie. He was one of the contractors of Herald's Prairie Baptist church. He enlisted in the Eighty- seventh Illinois Infantry, Company F. He was ever a willing soldier, doing his duty whenever called upon, and doing it well, with no flinching. He is highly spoken of by his comrades living, both as a man, a soldier, and a neighbor. He enlisted as a private, but was promoted to Second Sergeant, which position he held when mustered out, June 16, 1865. He married, April 20, 1871, Joseph- ine Murphy. daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Cowan) Murphy, natives of Breckenbridge County, Ky. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith

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were born-Mary B., March 1, 1872; Annie, Aug. 24, 1874; Lucy, March 29, 1876. He died, aged thirty-nine, Jan. 1, 1877. His widow is still living on his place, which consists of 160 acres, of which 100 are improved land, her two brothers, Joseph H. and David H., carrying on the work. Mrs. Smith's father, Joseph Murphy, was born April 17, 1813; married Nancy Cowan, Oct. 28, 1834. She was born March 24, 1816. To this union were born- William E., John D., Richard J., Elizabeth F., Josephine L., Oliver P., Jeremiah, Lucy A., Charles M., Jasper N., Joseph H., Nancy I. and David H. He died Ang. 10, 1862. Mrs. Murphy lives with her daughter, Josephine. Her father was Edmund Cowan, of Louisville, Ky., an old Revolutioner.

John W. Smith, son of Henry S. and Cynthia (Mitchell) Smith, natives of New York and Tennessee, was born in Herald's Prairie, May 7, 1836. His parents were married in this county, it being the second marriage of both of them. His father's first wife was Lavisia Boone, daughter of Joseph Boone. His mother's first hus- band was G. B. Linsicomb, a native of Mississippi. By this union there were three children, only one living, a daughter, who married J. B. F. Smith, of Gallatin County, and is living in Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Smith were the parents of four children-John W., Marietta (Mrs. V. O. Salsbury). Elbert N., and Alice (de- ceased). Mr. Smith died Aug. 20, 1844. Mrs. Smith was married to her third husband, Lewis S. Bayley. They had three children -Isaac, George, and Cynthia A. Mrs. Bayley died in the spring of 1880. John W. Smith being left a half-orphan, and being the eldest child was thrown on his own resources at an early age. In his fourteenth year he commenced to work for himself. He went to work for J. B. Dagley, at $4 a month for the first year. From this small beginning has come one of the representative men of White County. Feb. 27, 1856, he married Rebecca W., daughter of Lewis and Judy Hedges, of Gallatin County, born Jan. 11, 1834. To them have been born eleven children-Emulns Idola, born Dec. 20, 1856 (deceased); Judith A., Jan. 27, 1859 (deceased); Cynthia A., Oct. 3, 1861 (Mrs. J. H. Taut, deceased); Orlena E., Nov. 14, 1863; Isola, Feb. 12, 1866; Isaac F., Ang. 1, 1868; Lester, June 13, 1871; Edward, March 27, 1873 (died in infancy); Henry Or- val, March 4, 1874; Oscar, July 20, 1877; Ina, March 31, 1879. Mr. Smith has a pleasant home, fine buildings, and farin of 160 acres, eighty under improvement.

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John Thomason was born in Smith County, Tenn., Jan. 2. 1839, and was a son of David L. and Jane (Osborn) Thomason. He was the fourth of their five children. The family came to what is now Emma Township in 1841, and ten years later came to Her- ald's Prairie. His paternal grandfather was John Thomason, for whom he was named, and was of Welsh descent. His maternal grandfather was John Osborn, of Irish descent. They were both in the Revolutionary war, going from the Carolinas under Greene. They were in the battle of Georgetown. John's educational priv- ileges were limited, but as he grew older and was thrown on his own resources, he developed a wonderful degree of practical com- mon sense, which he has used to a good advantage. He lived at home till his sixteenth year, when he commenced to work for the farmers in his neighborhood. When he was twenty he worked on a farm for himself, and in 1860 married Elizabeth, daughter of Walter and Sally (Ward) Miller. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany F, Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry. He was out about ten months, when he was taken sick with a fever, chronic diarrœha, and afterward the measles. Although desiring to remain in the company he was discharged. His health has never been good, but he will not apply for a pension. In 1865 he bought a farm of 120 acres in Carmi Township; in 1869 he bought 120 acres in Herald's Prairie; in 1875 bought fifty acres more, and in 1879, seventy more. He is now living on the Renshaw place, the oldest settled farm in the county. He owns now 240 acres, about 200 of it improved. There are two graves on his place, those of Eben and Elizabeth (Collard) Renshaw, marked by tombstones put there in 1862.

William Truex, son of John and Margaret (Carbangh) Truex, was born in Franklin County, Penn., Jan. 5, 1820. His father moved to Monroe County, O., in 1824. His family consisted of ten children-Allan, Obadiah, William, Isaac, Martha, Charlotte, Rebecca, Andrew (deceased), Henry and John. William's early life was spent on a farm, attending schools, and later, in teaching in the district schools. (He was married in 1840 to Rebecca, dangh- ter of John and Mary (Berry) Yost, of Ohio. Their early married life was spent on the farm. In 1855 he was appointed Superin- tendent of Monroe County Infirmary, which position he held till 1864, when he resigned and came to White County, Ill. Since coming here Mr. Truex has been a preacher in the Christian church five years, and occasionally preaches now. He has been

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Tax Collector, and at present is County Coroner, elected in 1880. During this time he has also had the care of his farm of eighty acres. He reared eleven children to maturity-Juliana (Mrs. George English), Mary E. (Mrs. J. M. Leathers), Charlotte (Mrs. Thos. Brock), Nancy C. (Mrs. Peter Parkhurst), Piety T. (Mrs. Martin Parkhurst), Lucinda (Mrs. McGhee), Barbara E. (Mrs. John Bryant), Mrs. Simpson Evans, Susan (Mrs. John Devant), Elias B. and Terzia A. (Mrs. Geo. Dowman, of Gallatin County).

Leonard Ward, son of Josiah and Lucy (Young) Ward, was born near the site of Stealey's water-inill, July 1, 1836. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to this county in an early day, being married in this county. His mother was a native of Ken- tucky. from one of the counties bordering on Green River. Leon- ard Ward received his education in the subscription schools, having to walk three miles to attend one. His work consisted of girdling or deadening the timber, making rails and other clearing-land labors. He married Tabitha Graham, of Carmi, daughter of Nathaniel and Susannah (Frazier) Graham. Their children are-Emeretta A. J., Millard E., Nathaniel P .. Leonard B. (deceased), Darwin B., Lillie R., Tillie A., Lucy C. (deceased), Mary Gertrude. He is Treas- urer of District 6, range 9. Mr. Ward, until recently, owned 485 acres, but has sold 160 acres. He is a successful farmer of many years' experience. He is a member of the Episcopal Meth- odist church, and has been since he was seventeen. He enlisted in 1863 in Company E, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. He went to Camp Butler and from there to Benton Barracks, St. Louis; then in Camp at Alton; then to Duvall's Bluffs, Ark .; then to Pine Bluffs; then to Monticello; then back to Pine Bluffs, etc. This en- listment was a recruit to the original regiment for the whole pe- riod of the war. He was mustered out in Springfield in 1865. His regiment did scouting service most of the time, which requires men of steady nerve and quick at maneuvering, as ambuscades were the favorite mode of rebel attack.

Boston Wease, a native of Tennessee and of German extraction, was born Sept. 19, 1810. His parents, Samuel and Sabbie Ann (Smith) Wease, were the parents of ten children-Isaac, Boston, Abraham, William, Thomas, Madison, Mary, Jane, Easter and Margaret. His father came from Tennessee to White County in 1830, staid a short time then went back to Tennessee and remained one season, and then moved his family to this county, where he remained till his death in 1838: His wife died the same year.

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They are buried in Lick Creek cemetery. Only four of their children are living-William, Boston, Mary (Mrs. Hedge) and Jane (Mrs. Acred). Boston lived at home during his minority and then married Prisa Ann, daughter of James and Nancy (Clarke) Aud, and went for himself. Before leaving his father he helped open up the Louisville canal. Mr. and Mrs. Wease had eleven children-Sibbie Ann (Mrs. Thomas Griffiths, deceased), Lucy (Mrs. Thomas Gidcomb, deceased), Samuel (deceased), James (deceased), Nancy J. (Mrs. K. Tordney), John (married Mary Newcomb), Margaret (Mrs. M. Medlin), Almeda (Mrs. J. Hen- dricks, deceased), Thomas H. (married Almelia A. Bennett), Emily (Mrs. M. Burress), Delilah C. (Mrs. John Lee). Mrs. Wease died Sept. 17, 1871. Mr. Wease is still living, but is rather feeble. They were both members of the Baptist church. Mr. Wease has lived on section 20 all his married life with the exception of the first year. Mr. And's family consisted of eight children-Thomas, John S., William, Remis, Henry, Lucy, Martina, Kate and Prisa A.

John Wease, son of Boston and Prisa Ann Wease, was born in Herald's Prairie, May 9, 1843. His education was received in the schools of this county. He lived at home till his twentieth year, when July 24, 1862, he married Mary, daughter of Ira and Sarah A. Newcomb, of this township. The next month, Aug. 14, he en- listed in Company F, Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and went into camp at Shawneetown. So thoroughly did he do his duty that his health was ruined and he is to-day in a very precarious condition. He was in all the campaigns of the regiment and was mustered out July 3, 1865. Upon his return he went to farming, and to-day has 104 acres of good land under cultivation. He has nine children-William B., born April 14, 1866; Sarah A., Ang. 15, 1868; Henry Fenton, April 27, 1870, died May 4, 1870; Lora Ellen, July 27, 1871; Minnie Alice, July 27, 1873; Cora Belle, July 3, 1875; Lewis Alex., Sept. 9, 1877; Thena A., Sept. 22, 1879; Daniel P., Dec. 16, 1881.

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History of White County Illinois, Part 65

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