USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 68
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John H. Brill, born in Livingston County, Ky., March 26, 1813, is a son of Solomon F. Brill (deceased). He came to this county with his parents in 1816. His educational advantages were very limited. His father died when he was only thirteen or fourteen years of age, and as he was the oldest one then at home he had to work hard to assist the others. He was married in 1833 to Esther Moore. She died, and he married his second wife, Sina Trout, Feb. 1, 1844. They had one child-Eliza, who married Geo. P. Phelps and died at the age of twenty-one, leaving one child, Anna B. Phelps, now sixteen years of age.
Captain Solomon S. Brill, born a mile and a half east of Norris City, March 1, 1819, is a son of Solomon and Nancy (Jacobs) Brill. His father was a native of Virginia, of German descont, settled in Tennessee when a young man, then went to Kentucky, and from there to this county in 1816. He died here in Septem- ber, 1827. His uncle, Henry Brill, was in the war of 1812, and died in the hospital in Norfolk, Va. His mother was of Scotch descent and died here in 1863, while her son was in the army. Mr.
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Brill has resided in this county all his life with the exception of four or five years spent in Hamilton County, Ill. He served a year in the Mexican war, in Company I, Third Illinois Regiment; was in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. He enlisted in the late war in Company G, Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry. He and Lieutenant Wakefield raised the company and he was elected Captain. He served till Jan. 9, 1865, when he resigned on ac- count of disability, having been wounded in the head at Fort Donelson, the plate on his cap being the only thing that saved his life. He was in the battles of Fort Henry, Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Corinth; was taken prisoner at Holly Springs, Dec. 20, 1862; was paroled and sent to St. Louis and exchanged at Benton Barracks. As they were marching to the landing to take the boat they heard of the fall of Vicksburg, and their hats flew into the air amid yells of joy. He was married March 21, 1839, to Josephine, daughter of Robert Millspaugh, a native of Simpson County, Ky. Her father came from New York State in 1816 and settled in Ken- tucky. Mr. Brill cut and split 1,000 rails to pay for his marriage license, and another 1,000 to buy a pair of shoes. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the the Murphy movement. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William L. Bruce, section 5, Indian Creek Township, was born in Carmi Township, June 29, 1831. His father, John Bruce, was a native of North Carolina. William L. has been a life-long farmer. He has always lived in this county with the exception of three or four years spent in Gallatin County. He was married in Gallatin County in 1851, to Jane Givan, a native of Hardin County, Ill., and a daughter of John Hardin. They are the parents of ten children, five living-Harriet (Mrs. Witcher), George N., Annie (Mrs. Maxfield), William S., and Sarah E. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church in Ebenezer. He has been a Steward and Class-Leader several years, and is now Sunday-school Superintendent.
Daniel Bryant, born in Herald's Prairie Township, White County, Ill., Jan. 3, 1832, is a son of William Bryant, an old pioneer of this county. He was reared on a farm in the brush. He has grubbed, picked, piled and burned brush by firelight many times. His educational advantages were limited. His father died when he was small, and there was a large family and his mother was poor. The family all had to work hard, and they had a hard time to get along. He worked by the month seven years. March
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18, 1856, he married Catharine Austin. They are the parents of eleven children, ten living-Sarah, Rhoda, Elvira, Mahala, Will- iam, George, Henry, Charles, Emily, and Cornelius. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are members of the Missionary Baptist church.
John Cook, farmer and stock-raiser, section 6, Indian Creek Township, is a son of John L. Cook, and was born in Hamilton County, Ill., Sept. 5, 1824. He came to this county in the winter of 1845-'6. He was married in 1845 to Sallie C., danghter of William M. Bagley, of Norris City. They are the parents of eleven children, six living-John M., Lewis H., Frances I., Silas D., Marshall E. and Willis E. He owns a farm of 200 acres, seventy of which is in this county and the rest in Hamilton County. Mr. Cook was Supervisor one year, Road Commissioner three years, School Trustee about twenty years, and School Director a number of years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ebenezer, near Norris City.
John M. Cook, son of John and Sallie E. (Bagley) Cook, was born in Indian Creek Township, Aug. 1, 1854. He was educated in the common schools and the Enfield High School. He is a prominent teacher; has taught forty-five months in White County, six months in Hamilton County, and is now teaching in Union District, Indian Creek Township. He was married Ang. 27, 1878, to Laura, daughter of William Carlyle, of Gossett. They have had two children-May, deceased, and Earl. Mr. Cook was Township Assessor for 1882.
John De Lap was born in Tennessee in 1819, and came to this county in 1832 and entered some land in Indian Creek Township. In 1833 he went to Tennessee and married Melinda Harrel, re- turned to this township with his wife and located on section 6, Town 6, Indian Creek Township, where he cleared a farm. He was one of the best farmers in the county. He died on his farm June 7, 1873, and is buried in the Mt. Oval Cemetery. He was the father of twelve children, ten living -- Polly, Catherine, Matilda, Joel H., Raby, John, Margaret J., Ella C., James, Julia. Mrs. De Lap is living, aged seventy-three, and is hale and hearty.
William De Lap was born in Tennessee, March 26, 1821. His father, William De Lap, was a native of South Carolina ; brought his family to this county in 1830. The first year he rented a farm of the Widow Brill, and the next year located on section 10, Indian Creek Township, where his son now lives. William, Jr., has cleared a great deal of land. He has always worked hard but has
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had no educational advantages. He was married Jan. 26, 1845, to Mary, daughter of John L. Davis (deceased), who settled here in an early day. She was born in Georgia in 1828. They are the parents of nine children, eight living-Nancy C., Carah C., John H., William M., Martha J., Robert M., Mary A. and Andy F. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He owns 233 acres and is engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Charles W. Edwards, section 16, Indian Creek Township, was born July 27, 1837, in Gallatin County, Ill., in School-town 7. His father, John Edwards (deceased), was a native of Virginia, and came to Illinois about 1817. Charles W. has always been a farmer. He was educated in the common schools of this vicinity. In 1858 he married Eliza J. Trousdale. She died in December, 1870, leaving four children-Marshall, Marion, John and Martha. In October, 1876, he married Mrs. Mary C. Millspaugh. They have two children-Charles and Emma. Mrs. Edwards had one son, John D. Millspaugh. Mr. Edwards moved across the line in 1862, his farm lying in two counties. He is an Elder in the Cum- berland Presbyterian church in Palestine or Omaha. His father was born Jan. 1, 1790, and died in November, 1879. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church sixty years and an Elder thirty years.
Edwin B. Emerson, M. D., was born in this township, Nov. 22, 1836. His father, Hon. Reuben Emerson, came to this county from Middle Tennessee with his parents in 1815. He was a miller in Carmi in an early day, and was County Judge and Justice of the Peace many years, and Representative one year. He married Susan Roberts, and had a family of five children-Elizabeth J., William H., Edwin B., Clarence A., and Mary I. (deceased). Mrs. Emerson is deceased. Edwin B. was educated in Carmi. He read medicine three years with Dr. Stewart, of Carmi. He began practice in Carmi in 1867. In 1869 he came to Stokes, where he has built up a good practice. He also owns a farm, which, with the old homestead, he runs by hired labor. He was married in May, 1872, to Florence, daughter of Robert Wilson. They have three children-Florence W., Edwin B., and Harry. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He enlisted in the late war in Company I, First Illinois Cavalry; and served a year. He was then elected First Lieutenant of Company C, Eighty-seventh Illi- nois Mounted Infantry, and served three years. He was with the regiment in all its numerous battles.
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Daniel P. Eubanks, section 14, Indian Creek Township, was born in this township, March 6, 1830. His father, John Eubanks, was a native of Virginia, and came to this county in 1818. He was in the Black Hawk war and the war of 1812. He was in the battle of New Orleans; was then only sixteen years old. Daniel P. was reared on a farm and educated in the subscription school of the early days. He was married May 7, 1858, to Jane E., daughter of Samuel Porter (deceased). They are the parents of four chil- dren-Laura J., Mary L. and Ida J. One daughter, Sarah E. (Mrs. Cross), died Aug. 16, 1881, at the age of seventeen. Mr. Eubanks was elected Sheriff in 1868, and again in 1878. He has made several important arrests.
Elijah Foster, M. D., Norris City, was born in Clermont County, O., Nov. 22, 1824. Heis a son of Francis Foster, of Vir- ginia, who settled in Ohio in an early day. He was reared on a farm. He graduated from the Eclectic Medical School of Cincin- nati in 1855, and settled in Gallatin County, Ill., the same year. He began practice in New Market, and remained there seven years. In 1862 he came to this county, going first to Roland, and in 1875 came to Norris City, where he has built up a good prac- tice. He was married in 1856, to Minnie Ware, who died in a few months. In 1862 he married Mollie J., daughter of William Mc- Gill, of this township. He is a Master Mason.
Thomas B. Garrison, farmer and stock-raiser, section 4, In- dian Creek Township, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., June 27, 1834. He is a son of Gomer Garrison, of North Carolina, who moved to this county in 1837. He was reared and educated in this county. In 1854 he married Martha A. Davis. They were the parents of three children-James, Monroe, and Susan P. The lat- ter died at the age of twenty. Mrs. Garrison died, and Mr. Garri- son married Jane West. Two children were born to them-Cyrus P. (deceased), and Lula. Mr. Garrison owns 173 acres of fine land.
William R. Garrison, section 3, Indian Creek Township, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., about twenty miles from Nashua, July 2, 1821. His father, Richard Garrison, came to this county in the fall of 1821, and settled on the place where William R. now resides. His mother was Nancy Eubanks. William R. is the fourth of ten children, six boys and four girls, and the eldest now living. His mother died in 1840, and his father in 1847. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Garrison's sister
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Mary is keeping house for him. He owns 172 acres of fine land, well cultivated.
Abram Gossett (deceased) was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., in 1791. His father, John Gossett, a native of South Caro- lina, of German descent, was a minister of the Methodist church for seventy-five years, and was killed by being thrown from his horse when on his way to an appointment, at the age of 104 years. He was the father of eighteen sons and four daughters, all the children of one wife. Abram is the youngest son and twentieth child. He came to this county in 1835, and located in Indian Creek Township. Twenty acres were cleared. He always worked hard, and cleared a large amount of land. He married Rebecca Batz They had five children-Mary A., Caroline, William J., Martha A. and one deceased. Mrs. Gossett died in 1828. In 1832 he mar- ried Martha Walters. Of their six children five are living-John D., Lucy E., Thomas, Abram and Eliza. Mr. Gossett died in April, 1844.
John D. Gossett, section 29, Indian Creek Township, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., July 17, 1834. His father, Abram Gos- sett, came to this county in 1835. John D. was reared on a farm, but as his parents were poor his education was limited. His par- ents died when he was small, and after that he had no schooling. He was bound out, and had to work hard. He was married Oct 20, 1853, to Matilda, daughter of John DeLap, and a native of this county. They have had seven children, three living-Martha, William H. and Etta. William H. clerks for H. May, of Norris. Mr. Gossett owns 334 acres of fine land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church for thirty years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
William J. Gossett, section 30, Indian Creek Township, was born in Montgomery County, Tenn., April 28, 1824, and is a son of Abram Gossett (deceased). He came to this county with his parents in 1835, and has lived here to the present time, with the exception of fifteen years spent in Hamilton County, at different times. He was in the late war in Company G, Twenty-ninth Illi- nois Infantry, under Captain Brill. He wentin as Orderly Sergeant, and came out Second Lieutenant. He was in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson (where he was wounded), Corinth; was capt- ured at Holly Springs, and taken to St. Louis and exchanged. He resigned in September, 1863, on account of disability. He was
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married Feb. 4, 1842, to Sarah H. Clark. They have had tive children, only two living-William P. and Isaac R.
Christopher C. Greene, M. D., Norrie City, was born on Black Warrior River, Ala., near where Tuscaloosa now stands, sixty miles from any white inhabitant, May 22, 1821. His father, Will- iam B. Greene, had settled among the Indians a short time pre- vious with his young wife. She died when Christopher was born. He was nursed by an Indian squaw of the Cherokee tribe for nine months, when his father took him to Blount County, Tenn., and left him with his grandfather, where he remained till he was five years old. His father then married and took him to his home in Jackson County, Ala. In 1839 he went to Tennessee, and in 1840 came to Gallatin County, Ill. He read medicine about ten months in Shelbyville, Tenn. He taught school and farmed for seventeen years, and practiced occasionally. He moved to this county in 1847; began regular practice in 1858. In March, 1879, he came to Norris City, where he has built up a large practice. He is the in- ventor of a medicine that will absolutely cure cancer in every in- stance; discovered by experimenting on his first case. He has cured forty-three cancers. He has been a Justice of the Peace fourteen years, and Supervisor three years. He was married July 29, 1839, to Nancy C. Brown. They are the parents of ten chil- dren, seven living-William, Wiley N., James B., Milton S., Mary A., Catharine and Macklin. Two daughters, Elizabeth and Louisa, died after marriage. Both left families.
Wilson Hale, son of William Hale, of North Carolina, was born in Middle Tennessee, in 1826. He had no educational advantages. He came to White County in 1836, where he has since lived. He has always worked hard and has acquired all his property by his own labor. He now owns 410 acres of fine land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He resides on section 36, Indian Creek Township. When he arrived here in 1837, he had only 10 cents in money and one bed to sleep on. He was married in 1846, to Caroline Northcote. To them have been born eleven children, only seven living-Biphenia, Minerva, Tennessee, Thomas, Irena, John and Ellen. He belongs to the General Baptist church. His son Thomas is a subscriber for "White County History."
George C. Healy, section 23, Indian Creek Township, was born near Cleveland, O., March 11, 1836. His father, Calvin Healy, moved to Jefferson County, Ill., in 1839, to Hamilton County in 1841, and to this county in 1846. George C. attended
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school in the log-cabin school-houses. He ground corn on & stump- mill; could grind a bushel in a half a day. He went bare-headed till he was fifteen years old, and only had one pair of shoes a year and those were raw-hide, or trough tanned. He was married March 2, 1861, to Mary, daughter of William Bryant, an early settler of this county. They are the parents of ten children, eight living, -Daniel, Sarah, Louisa, Jabez, Artie C., Ella J., Florence and Orpha D. Francis M. and Louisa are deceased. He is a member of the Regular Baptist church. He owns 150 acres of good land and is engaged in farming.
George R. Henson, farmer, section 3, Indian Creek Township, was born in East Tennessee, Oct. 29, 1848, and is a son of Jesse C. Henson, now of Indian Creek. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He was married Sept. 22, 1870, to Orpha O., danghter of Henry Rice (deceased). They are the parents of six children-Bertha (deceased), William, Clayton, Edna A. and Ettia A. (twins), and Gracie. He is a member of the Baptist church.
Jesse C. Henson, farmer and stock-raiser, section 14, Indian Creek Township, was born in East Tennessee, June 5, 1822, and is a son of John Henson, a native of Virginia. He was reared on a farm and educated in the subscription schools. He came to this county in 1852. October, 1843, he married Sarah J. Court- ney. They are the parents of twelve children, seven living- Josephine, George R., William M., James M., Mary, Calvin, and Sarah E. Mr. Henson is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He owns 150 acres of fine land.
Hugh J. Hill was born in Indian Creek Township, March 15, 1829, and is a son of John Hill, deceased. Hugh J. is the eldest of two children. Mr. Hill has always been a farmer, but is very ingenious and can work at both the carpenter and mason's trades, though he never served an apprenticeship in either. He was mar- ried Feb. 2, 1853, to Sarah L., daughter of Samuel Porter. They are the parents of thirteen children, nine living-Samuel, Harvey, Alice, Margaret, Thomas, Henry, Joseph, Isaac and Ewing. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church; has been an Elder ten years. He served as Commissioner of Highways one term.
John F. Hill, section 17, Indian Creek Township, was born in this township, June 28, 1827. His father, Austin Hill, was a na- tive of Hanover County, Va., but was taken by his parents to
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Sumner County, Tenn., when five years old, and soon after to Ken- tucky, and to this county in 1819. John F. was reared on a farm, and educated in the log-cabin school-honse. He and the boys cleared about 100 acres in the woods. He was married Sept. 11, 1848, to Rebecca, daughter of Thomas M. Vineyard. Of their ten children, but six are living-Hezekiah, Albert, Mary C., Dola, John M. and Minnie B. One son, Thos. A., died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Hill was Constable eight years, Township Collector one year, and is now Commissioner of Highways. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mr. Hill com- menced life with fifty cents and a horse.
Thomas M. Hill, section 22, township 6, range 8 east, was born in Indian Creek Township, June 31, 1844. His father, Austin Hill, was a native of Hanover County, Va., and came to this county with his parents when a boy. He helped cut a portion of the State road from McLeansboro to Shawneetown. He was Constable and Justice of the Peace many years; was Associate County Judgetwelve years. The most of his life he held some office. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church from his twelfth year till his death. Was an Elder in the church forty years. He was a hard worker and faithful Christian. He died March 6, 1873. Thomas M. was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. He en- listed in the late war in Company H, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry, and was discharged after eight months for disa- bility. Oct. 24, 1864, he married Eliza J. Flick. They have had seven children, six living-Sarah L., William H., S. Austin, Artie M., Charles E. and Adda J. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He has been running a sorghum evaporator for the past seven years.
William B. Jones, born near El Dorado, Saline Co. (then Galla- tin), Ill., Oct. 14, 1829. His father, Wm. C., was a native of Alabama, and came to Illinois in 1826 or '27. He came to this county in December, 1872. He was married in December, 1871, to Elizabeth Berry. Of their nine children, five are living-Sarah J., John F., Catherine M., Harry and Hattie (twins). Mrs. Jones died in March, 1873, and in June, 1874, he married Mrs. Sarah T. Joyner. They have had two children, both dead. Mrs. Jones's son, George B. Joyner, died in 1881, aged sixteen years. Mr. Jones was Sheriff of Saline County in 1871 -'72. He is a Master Mason ; has been through the subordinate lodge of I. O. O. F. and is now in the encampment.
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W. J. Kerr was born in Guernsey County, O., Nov. 6, 1854. His father, W. J. Kerr, is a native of Cork, and his mother of Dublin, Ireland. They came to this country at an early day and lived in Ohio till the Morgan raid through that State, when they went to Mexico, Mo .; from there to Xenia, Clay Co., Ill., and in 1875 went to California, where they still live. W. J., Jr., went to Flora, Ill., and clerked in Graham's dry-goods store until 1879. He then commenced the hardware business in Angust, 1881. He sold that and went to farming in White and Gallatin counties, and resides in Norris City. He was married Sept. 25, 1877, to Flor- ence Dagley, who was born in White County, Oct. 29, 1856. They have one child-Mary Graham, born Aug. 16, 1878. Mrs. Kerr is the daughter of Robert W. Dagley, a native of White County, born in 1830. His aunt was a sister of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. The Dagleys were among the first settlers of White County. The old double log cabin is still standing on the hillside in Herald's Prairie Township, on the farm now owned by H. Dagley. It was one of the first cabins built in the county. Mr. Dagley's wife, formerly Mrs. Sarah Lane Powell, is also a native of White County, born in 1838.
James H. Langford, Norris City, was born in this township, Aug. 17, 1837. His father, Richard Langford, was born in Vir- ginia in 1798, of English descent. He moved to North Carolina in 1819, and in 1828 came to this county, where he resided, engaged in farming till his death, Dec. 25, 1877. James H. was educated in this county. He was engaged in farming several years, and still has a farm which his sons carry on. He had a grocery here in 1873, and in 1877 had a drug store, in which business he did well. He has been Justice of the Peace for the past six years, and is the present incumbent; was also Constable for this township five or six years. He was married March 23, 1859, to Sarah E. Pearce. They have nine children-John R., Nora A., Joseph A., James P., Henry M., William A., Daniel B., George W., and Charles F., all at home. They are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
William H. Lowe, Gossett, was born in Miami County, O., Aug. 9, 1833. His father, George Lowe, was a native of England, and came to America in 1832, locating on the Little Miami River. In 1834 he moved to Cincinnati, where he died in 1855. William II. was educated in Cincinnati and learned the hatter's trade when seventeen years of age. He came to this county in 1865, and en-
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gaged in farming till 1877. He then opened a general merchan- dise store in Gossett where he is doing a good business. He is also Postmaster. He was married Aug. 14, 1859, to Emily H., daughter of Bartlett Garrett. She was born in Gallatin County, Ill., Nov. 16, 1840, and died Sept. 17, 1882. She was a faithful Christian woman, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Of their thirteen children, but four are living-Willie I., James W., Lucy and Frederick. Willie Irene is the wife of L. W. McMurtry.
William P. Mann, born in Randolph County, Ill., July 27, 1846, is a son of John B. Mann, also a native of Randolph County. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. In the late war he enlisted in Company I, Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, and served two years. He was in the battles of Nash- ville, Resaca and others, and discharged Jan. 10, 1866. In No- vember, 1866, he came to this county, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years spent in his native county. He has been Postmaster at Sacramento at different times, serving in all seven years. Since 1872, with the exception of four months, he has been agent of the O. & M. R. R. Oct. 1, 1868, he married Maria E., daughter of William J. Veatch, of Enfield. They are the parents of five children, four living-Lillia A., Cora J., John H. and Frank M.
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