History of White County Illinois, Part 73

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

USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 73

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).

additions to the church. His churches are in Mill Shoals, Her- ald's Prairie and Carmi townships. In 1850 he married Lucinda, daughter of Edward D. Hart, of White County, Ill. There were two children by this union, one living-Daniel Edward, born July 12, 1851, married, living in Hawthorne Township. Lucinda died in 1853, and in 1854 Mr. Hon married Mary, daughter of John and Nancy (Crowder) Hunsinger, natives of Kentucky and Penn- sylvania respectively. By this union there are twelve children, ten living-Leroy, born Dec. 8, 1854, married; Nancy E., Dec. 18, 1855, wife of Albert Owen, of Phillips Township; John C., May 16, 1858, married, living in Phillips Township; Isabel, July 11, 1860, wife of George Cleaveland, of Phillips Township; Frank- lin, April 8, 1863; Ellen, Feb. 1, 1869; George, Oct. 7, 1871; Nora, Sept. 13, 1875; Luther, Dec. 22, 1877. Mrs. Hon is a mem- ber of the Regular Baptist church. Mr. Hon votes the Demo- cratic ticket.

Absalom Malone, blacksmith; postoffice, Crossville; son ot James and Christine (Hunter) Malone, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively. Absalom was born in Gibson County, Ind., Sept. 7, 1821. He was educated in Indiana, and learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he has followed forty-nine years. In 1849 he married Pamelia, daughter of Lewis and Ellenor (Cater) Williams, natives of South Carolina. They came to Indi- ana at an early day, and died there. Pamelia was born Sept. 5, 1824. There have been twelve children by this marriage, four living-Charles, born Aug. 16, 1861 (married); William Thomas, born June 30, 1859 (married); Anna; Fannie, born Nov. 22, 1863, wife of John Higginson; Stephen A. Douglas, born April 25, 1869. Mr. Malone and wife are members of the Regular Baptist church. Mr. Malone votes the Democratic ticket.

George Rawlinson, farmer; postoffice, Calvin; son of William and Mary (Paine) Rawlinson, natives of London, England. They came to the United States in 1832, and located in New York City; thence to Boston, and thence back to New York; from there to Illinois in 1838, where they died. George was born in England May 11, 1828. He was educated in Illinois, and has followed farming, and now owns 120 acres of good land on section 1. In 1858 he married Mary, daughter of Wm. and Cicely Spencer, na- tives of England. They came to the United States, and located in Illinois, where they died. There were by this marriage two children-Florence, born Feb. 13, 1859, wife of John Taylor, of

Digitized by Google

934

HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.

Gray Township; Cicely, born March 16, 1861, wife of Jesse Taylor, of Gray Township. Mrs. Rawlinson died in October, 1875, and Mr. Rawlinson married, May, 1877, Sarah' Frances, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Stuart) Stanley, natives of White County, Ill., where Mrs. Stanley died. By this union there are three children-Clyde, born June 8, 1878; Edgar, born May 24, 1880; Elsie, born Jan. 26, 1882. Mr. Rawlinson and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Rawlinson votes the Republican ticket. He enlisted, in 1862, in the Eighty- seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, Company B, Captain Enlow, and served one year, and was discharged, on account of ill health, at St. Louis.

E. P. Smith, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Illinois, on the Wabash River, in the township of Phillips, April 3, 1832, and is the son of Thomas and Esther (Dalrymple) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Indiana respectively. They moved to Illinois in 1817, and raised a family of five children. They died here. E. P. was educated in his native State, and has followed farming. He now owns 300 acres of excellent land, and lives on section 5, where he has a fine home. In 1864 he married Inez, daughter of Osborn and Elizabeth (Hume) Stevens, natives of Kentucky. They moved to Indiana, and Mrs. Stevens died there September, 1882. Inez was born in Kentucky. There were two children by this union-Edward, born Nov. 12, 1867; Augustus, born Nov. 27, 1869. Mrs. Smith died Jan. 12, 1870, and in 1871 he married Nancy, daughter of Robert and Mary (Shryock) Fennell, natives of Kentucky. They are both dead. Mrs. Smith died May 5, 1875, and Mr. Smith married, April 5, 1876, Catherine, daughter of Jorden and Sarah A. (Gilkison) Peter, natives of Kentucky. They came to Indiana, where they died. Catherine was born in Indiana, Feb. 8, 1848. This union has been blessed with three chil- dren, two living-Nora, born July 3, 1879; Orville, born Feb. 24, 1881. Mr. Smith is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity. He votes the Democratic ticket.

David Stuart, Elder of the Regular Baptist church and farmer; postoffice, Crossville. He is the fifth child and fourth son of Jonathan and Frances (Brown) Stuart, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky respectively. They moved to Illinois in 1813, some five years before the State was admitted into the Union, and raised a family of eight children. Mr. Stuart was a licentiate in the Baptist church and preached for many years. They died in this

Digitized by Google

935

PHILLIPS TOWNSHIP.

State. David was born in Illinois, Aug. 5, 1822, within three miles of where he now lives; he has always lived in the township, and now owns eighty acres of land on section 19, where he lives. In 1845 he married Mary E., daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Tucker) Pickles, natives of England and Kentucky respectively, they moved to Illinois and died here. Mary E. was born in White County, Ill., Aug. 3, 1827. This union has been blessed by six children-Louisa, born Feb. 12, 1846, widow of Theodore Hughes; James E., Jan. 24, 1848, married, living in Crossville; George, June 5, 1856, married, living at Calvin; Daniel, born Jan. 3, 1853, married, living in Phillips Township; John Eli, born Dec. 27, 1858, married and living at home; Charles Hume, born Aug. 28, 1863. Some twenty years ago Mr. Stuart began preaching for the Regular Baptist church of which he and his wife were members, and continues preaching for his people yet. He votes the Demo- cratic ticket.

J. W. Sumner, merchant; postoffice, Calvin; was born in Indi- ana, March 18, 1822, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Clayton) Sumner, natives of Tennessee and Scotland respectively. They came to Illinois in 1832 and lived one year in Sangamon County, then returned to Indiana where they died. J. W. Sumner was educated in Indiana, in the same house where Abraham Lincoln was a scholar. He worked at farming several years and then went to preaching for the Christian church (his father had followed preaching for thirty years in the Regular Baptist church). He followed preaching some twenty-six years, when his health led him to quit, and he went into the mercantile business. In 1849 he married Alzina, daughter of John and Marsena (Stearns) Porter, natives of New York. Mr. Sumner and wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Sumner is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity, and of the I. O. O. F. lodge. Mr. Sumner votes the Democratic ticket. During his ministry Mr. Sumner baptized by immersion 4,018 persons. He still preaches when his health permits.

James M. Thrash, farmer; postoffice, Phillipstown; son of James and Sarah (Stanley) Thrash. His mother was a native of White County, Ill., where she died. James M. was born July 24, 1831; he followed farming and ran a saw-mill until the war, when he en- listed, in 1861, in the Twenty.sixth Illinois Infantry, Company G, Captain Updegraf. He was wounded in skirmishing before Cor- inth, Miss., and lost an arm; in 1862 he was discharged at St.

Digitized by Google

936

HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.

Louis. After returning home he married, Dec. 14, 1862, Pamelia, daughter of Thomas and Maria Jane (Kimball) Black, natives of Illinois. Mr. Black died in this State. Pamelia was born Dec. 30, 1841. By this marriage there are nine children, four living -- Thomas, born Ang. 29, 1863; Rosa, born Aug. 14, 1867; Effie, Sept. 15, 1872; Laura, Sept. 15, 1874. Mrs. Thrash is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Thrash votes the Republican ticket. Mr. Thrash after his marriage went into the mercantile trade, groceries, etc., which he continued some eighteen years, until he was burned out; he is now farming, owning 140 acres of land on section 31.

William Whitting, farmer and stock-raiser; postoffice, Phillips- town; son of Benjamin and Mary (Spring) Whitting, natives of Eng- land. They came to the United States in 1844, being sixty-three days on the voyage, and located in Indiana; from thence to Illi- nois, where Mr. Whitting died. Mrs. Whitting married John Jones and moved to Iowa, where she died. They are both buried on the farm of William, in Illinois. William was born in Eng- land, Sept. 18, 1841; he was educated in Illinois, and has followed farming. He now owns 149 acres of fine land on section 31, under fine improvement; he has the best frame house in the county, and it is a good one. ITis specialty in farming is stock-raising, buying and selling, and making money. In 1865 he married Margaret, daughter of John and Jane (Nelson) Butler, natives of Illinois and Indiana respectively; they died in Illinois. Margaret was born April 15, 1846. By this union there is one child-Cora Belle, born Aug. 4, 1866. Mr. Whitting has held several of the township offices and has faithfully performed his duties. He votes the Dem- ocratic ticket. Mr. Whitting enlisted in the army Aug. 15, 1862, in the Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry, Company K, and served about three years. He was discharged July 23, 1865; being sick soon after enlistment, he was retained at home, in the North, doing provost duty. Mr. Whitting now lives on the old family home- stead, where he has been thirty-two years. He has bought out all of the other heirs and has one of the finest farms in the country. His crops all command the highest market prices and frequently more. He has one of the finest orchards in the county-his fruit is premium fruit.

W. H. Williams, tile manufacturer, son of Simon and Lavina (Wells) Williams, natives of Indiana. His father died in Indiana. W. H. was born in Indiana, March 25, 1845, and was educated in

Digitized by Google

937

PHILLIPS TOWNSHIP.

his native State; he has followed farming, and in 1877 engaged in the manufacture of tile, and is now doing an extensive business in company with Robert Rudolph. In 1866 he married Ellen, danghter of George and Delilah (Graves) Finch, natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia respectively. She was born in Vandenburg County, Ind., Oct. 25, 1850. By this union there were four chil- dren, three living -- George F., born Ang. 30, 1869; Junius M., April 14, 1872; Hattie, June 1, 1874. Mr. Williams has been Justice of the Peace one term. He votes the Democratic ticket. Mr. W. is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity. In 1864 he enlisted in the Eightieth Indiana Regulars, Company F, and served till the end of the war. He was in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., also on Cape Fear River and several other skirmishes; he was mustered out in North Carolina, in August, 1865. After returning home he was married and went to Kansas and remained five years, engaged in farming.

Digitized by Google

GALLATIN COUNTY.

-0-

NEW HAVEN.

EARLY NEW HAVEN.

New Haven claims to be third oldest town in Illinois in the order of settlement by the white man. The first owner of this section was Joseph Boone, who bought of the United States, probably under James Madison's administration. Undoubt- edly the spirit of adventure, urged by the increasing population at this point, and the fact that he had made a profitable investment in the few years he had been a resident at this point, induced him to emigrate, and so he pushed into the wilds of Arkansas, and far beyond the borders of civilization, where he died, at an advanced age. His successors were "Paddy Robinson," and Roswell II. Grant, the latter a shrewd Yankee from [Connecticut, and a son of A. S. Grant. He had been a trader with the Indians, carrying on several trading posts in the northern portion of the State and near the Galena lead mines. Records of his business of 1826 show him doing a good business. He died a bachelor in September, 1836. Paddy Robinson probably bought of Boone and was the principal real-estate holder at that time, and also of the water- power-which he improved. Not much is known of him. That he was an energetic man is undoubted. He traded by flat-boat with Lower Mississippi towns, taking produce and grain down and cordelling back. He died suddenly, while on one of these trips.

THE FIRST SURVEY

is said to have been instituted by Robinson. Some say Grant, and that Grant, as a Yankee, the genius of invention and master of circumstances, surveyed and platted the original plat. It consists of 261 lots, each 70 x 40 feet, with eight feet to the block, and an alley of sixteen feet running through the center of each block, thus giving each block an area of about two acres. The streets are sixty feet in width, with the exception of Water, which is seventy feet. The streets north and sou re parallel with the river and extend the entire length of the town, both old and new survey. The principal street is Mill. South of its alley, east, the old survey ex- tends. The streets on this part running east and west are Main,

(938)

Digitized by Google

939

NEW HAVEN.

Walnut, Hickory and Poplar, and at right angles extend the length of each survey, are Water, Front, Vine, Market, Lafayette, Marshal (between which and bounded by Hickory and Walnut is a reserve block for school purposes) and Jefferson. After the purchase by the Shawneetown parties a second survey was made, running north of this and into a part of White County. This second survey was run by Albert G. Caldwell, since a well-known lawyer of Shawnee- town. This was in 1835 or 1836. The streets north and south were extended. North were added Melvin (in honor of an early settler who for many years kept the hotel of the region), Fort, (bounding the Fort on the south), Gallatin, Franklin and Boone. Besides the reserve block mentioned there is one between Mill and Main for church purposes, bounded by Vine and Front ; one for mill purposes, between Water and Front, bounded south by Mill; one for burial purposes bounded by Marshal, Lafayette, Melvin and Fort. The origin of the name, "New Haven," is known to have been in honor of the city in Connecticut, and tradition gives credit to Grant for the same.

BUSINESS HISTORY.

The past business history of New Haven has been peculiarly a varied one. The advantages it possessed as a shipping point in staging and in State road days, together with its milling privi- leges, gave it a start almost from the very first. It has certainly had three distinct periods of activity and depression. Real estate has fluctuated in prices, rising at times to an almost fabulous price, only to suffer a reaction and ultimately fall to a mere nominal figure. During one of these especially active periods lots sold as high as $500 that during the depressed times and now would not bring $100. An instance may be cited where $2,500 was paid for prop- erty on the corner of Mill and Water streets, by Mrs. Sheridan, that in the corresponding depression shrank at least $1,200. The question of a railroad now in prospect is again suggesting better times. As early as 1826 Roswell H. Grant was doing a flourishing business in the general mercantile line. Who preceded him, if preceded by anyone, is not known. His papers show a healthy trade. Of course Robinson was his contemporary to a certain ex- tent, buying produce and shipping t New Orleans, but not run- ning a general store.

In 1833 the merchants had come in and all was activity. Will- iam, or " Billy " Parks (a bachelor from Franklin County, Tenn., and an Englishman) had opened a store. Others were R. II. Grant,

Digitized by Google

940

HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.

Gabriel Harrison (also from the East, and who went West a few years after), Peter Slater, Ephraim H. Gatewood and Jesse Kirkham, of Shawneetown (Gatewood & Kirkham), and John Wood. These gentlemen did a general business in the grocery line, exchanging their goods for the pioneers produce, and skins and hides, the re- sults of their hunts. There were also three small saloons kept by Robert Grant, Stephen Morris and "Johnny " Sheridan. A few years later another was opened by Jones & Mansfield.

There were two hotels about that time, one kept by Hazel More- land, in a frame house that long stood on the site just above Dr. Hicks's present drug-store. It was at times used as a school-house. It was burned in 1873, the sparks from which ignited the old mill. He kept a good house, and for many years was known as a genial hosteler. John Mervin had open doors at the old Robinson House. This old block house, standing as it does somewhat remote, de- mands a digression. It was built about 1823, and stands " a silent sentinel of the old guard." It was built to accommodate the work- men of Robinson. It is a large two-story log house, 30 x 40 feet, built of poplar logs; latterly it was sided. It contains eight large square rooms, with a ponderous New-England-styled chimney in the center, opening into which were five fire places, with one for cook- ing purposes, capable of accommodating the largest kind of a back log. In the base of the chimney is a large brick oven, the whole showing it to have been built by Yankee hands.

Passing over a period of nearly twenty years we find the men in business in 1850 were: Thomas S. Hick, Hinch & McDaniel, Samuel Dagley, Jr., H. P. Powell, dry goods and general groceries; Mrs. John Sheridan, groceries and a saloon; and Henry S. Line, John Ellis, blacksmith; Fletcher, a small tannery and boot and shoe store; Hanmore & Gallagher, the steam saw and grist mill and distillery above the town at the old Ferry landing owned by Mrs. Sheridan; a gentleman called Major Powell packed pork in the long warehouse on lot No. 1. The hotel was kept by Dr. Jones Galbrieth. These people remained in business until their death, excepting Major Powell, who remained until 1859, moving to Shawneetown.

In 1860 the business of the town had not materially increased. The firms read: Bailey & Hinch, Thomas S. Hick, Samuel Dag- ley & Co., Mrs. Sheridan, Felix Robinson. The Hanmores con- trolled the old mill; John H. Huse ran the steam mill; H. C. Catlin, the hotel. During this decade Richardson, of Shawnee-

Digitized by Google

941

NEW HAVEN.

town, established in 1854 the dry-goods and groceries store, with Griffith Garland as manager. About the same date Samuel Hayes, of Derby, Ind., did a small business in the grocery line, and also bought hoop poles, which at this time was quite a business. O'Neal and Ballard were in a like business. These poles were shipped South on flat-boats. The latter firm had a full load of goods confiscated while near New Orleans, the effects of which em- barrassed them financially.

In 1857 Nelson & Melviss (J. L. Nelson and Andrew Melviss) commenced a general mercantile business, succeeded by Hodge, Ulen & Nelson. They merged the business into that of grain. They closed as a firm in 1860.

In 1870, resuming again, we find Hick & Hinch representing the old firms of Bailey & Hinch and Thomas S. Hick; Decker Bros. (produce, provisions and general merchandise), representing Dagley & Co.'s store and warehouse; Abshier & Stone, general store, were in Hicks old stand; Hunter & Keister, store, saw and grist mill, at the ferry. In 1865 A. J. Lurguy erected the build- ing corner of Mill and Vine, now occupied by the Swafford Broth- ers. He also had a hardware and tinsmith's shop. T. W. Rice in 1870 was doing business in a small way on the Dagley estate, and C. S. Hanmore had established himself where he is at present- keeping a good line of groceries. Stephen Callahan had succeeded Mrs. Sheridan. Robert Hargraves also kept saloon. The water mill had ceased; the new sixteen-foot dam was furnishing power for the new mill at that point that was run by Captain Ford, and through the new lock small boats passed to and from Carmi, loaded with grain for Evansville and other railroad points.

In 1882 we find in the general merchandise line and buying country produce: Swafford Brothers, C. S. Hanmore, Mr. Luther, and Maurice Freeher; in the drug business: C. S. Hanmore, and Dr. Hick, with Lowry Hinch, assistant; Hinch & Epley keep the saloon; T. W. P. Aldrich is Postmaster; J. H. Grady, cooper; Barton & Co., wheelwrights and carriage manufacturers; Mrs. Dr. Hall, George Robinson, and James Farley are, respectively, pro- prietors of the three hotels. The steam saw-mill lies idle.

EDUCATIONAL.

In 1848 or '49, Lizzie Boyd had a subscription school, in an old log house on what is now platted as Main street, corner of Front and Main, between lots 37 and 52. The next school was in another

Digitized by Google

942

HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.

log honse, in 1851, near the old post oak tree, on lot 167, Mill street, and was taught by Samuel Murray, who had been a soldier and sailor, and whose stories amounted to more than his teaching. He was a popular man with the children, as he always catered to their pleasures.

Another school was taught in the same house about 1853 or '54, by Levi. H. Hitchcock, a Methodist Episcopal preacher from Ohio. He left as mysteriously as he came.

The following year an Irishman named Roger Frame taught in the same house. He was a good scholar, but not a strict discipli- narian, especially on Monday mornings, after his Saturday and Sunday potations.

In the spring of 1855 William Thomas taught another term of school on the hill. He also was a disciple of Bacchus more than of the arts and sciences, or even of the common branches. In the following summer Jesse Fuller, a young man from Mississippi, taught a term in the town hall; then Lucy Rowe, and lastly, under the old subscription plan, William Carter.

In the spring of 1856 the township was organized under the act of 1855, and elected a Board of three Directors, whose jurisdiction included all the territory of 7 south, 9 east, in Gallatin County; and Captain E. P. H. Stone, taught the first school under the free system.

In the fall and winter of 1856-'57, a six-months' school was kept.

The next teacher was Walter II. Bunn, of Otsego County, N. Y., who was here in 1857. George W. Cortwright commenced the next term, but died before the term was finished, and was followed by William Wallace, of Hamilton County. Other teachers who followed were: McMasters; John Malden, who taught several six- month terms, up to 1861; Fitzsimmons, who died while teaching, and was followed by James S. Perkins; Geo. B. Knight; Winslow Bailey, who taught until 1866, assisted by his wife a portion of the time, and also by Miss Julia Boyd. Then, in the fall of 1866, Rev. John Mellreth, a Presbyterian minister, taught a fine classical school several years. Geo. H. Phar taught two years, and was the first to teach in the new school-house, in 1870. Then George F. Eaton, James R. Campbell ( Miss Wilson, of McLeansboro, as- sistant), James Kinsoll, -- Watkins, of the vicinity of Shawnee- town, John G. Ferrell, J. C. Wooten, who failed, and the term was finished by Miss Prudence H. Bozeman, now the wife of Maurice Feehrer, and the present teacher.

Digitized by Google

943

NEW HAVEN.

The school now has abont sixty pupils in the winter time, and fifty in the summer.

The school-house was built in 1870, corner of Main and Market streets, on lots 138 and 148. It is 24 x 70 feet, and two stories high, well furnished, and cost $3,300. It has a belfry, with bell.

The present Directors are: Captain Stone, Lowry Hinch and George W. Overton.

NEW HAVEN AND THE WAR.

On the 12th day of April, 1861, the Southern leaders, who had long threatened to secede from the Union, ordered the bombard- ment of Fort Sumter. The excitement in New Haven, as else- wbere, was intense. Although the citizens of New Haven, as well as those throughout Gallatin and White counties, were descendants of Southern families, "Southern " in customs and sympathies, and also warm Democrats, and who had been accused of sympa- thizing with the Southern cause of State rights, etc., nearly every able-bodied man sought enlistment. It is said this portion of the North-these two counties-furnished the largest number of volun teers, for the population, of any section in the North. The ques- tion was not, " Who will go ?" but, " Who will be allowed to go ?"' In a surprisingly short time full companies were raised, mustered into service, and hurried to the front. Company D, of the Twen- ty-ninth, was mustered into service Ang. 14, 1861, Lieutenants Hart and Stone. This was raised inside of one week's time. The Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Company G, was sworn in Sept. 7, for the history of which regiment we refer the reader to the chapter, " The War for the Union." This company was commanded by Captain Trafton, a brave and efficient officer. The Lieutenants were Harding and Styles. In 1862 Company E, of the One Hun- dred and Thirty-first Infantry, was organized by J. L. Purvis with Lieutenants Haley and Pate. Purvis was afterward elected Major. There were also men who enlisted in the Fifty-sixth and Eighty- seventh Infantries, and Sixth and Fourteenth Cavalries. Others enlisted in Indiana regiments.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of White County Illinois, Part 73

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