USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 75
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HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.
to Gallatin County in 1839. His mother was a native of Shaw- neetown and a daughter of Jacob Barger, who came to Shawnee- town in 1813. Benjamin P. Hinch was one of Gallatin's promi- nent men. He was a merchant, buying produce and provisions for the New Orleans market. He was Justice of the Peace (Pre- cinct Justice) eight years; County Judge a year or two, having that office at the time of his death, and Notary Public from 1845 till his death. He was Postmaster from 1845 till 1855, resigning to take his seat in the House of Representatives. He died May 19, 1861, in his forty-ninth year. His family consisted of four children-Lowry, Fatima I. (Mrs. F. M. Aldridge, deceased), Ju- lins A. and Amy (Mrs. J. G. Bunker, deceased). Mrs. B. P. Hinch died Oct. 1, 1877. July 19, 1874, Lowry Hinch married Lucinda, daughter of Harvey and Elizabeth (Dagley) Mitchell. Two children have been born to them-Rebecca C. (died in in- fancy), and Mary, born Oct. 8, 1877.
James M. Lasater, born Feb. 22, 1837, is a son of Absalom and Louisa (Vickers) Lasater, the father a native of Hamilton County, Ill., and the mother of Virginia. His parents moved to Tennessee after their marriage, and James was born there. They lived there a year and then returned to Hamilton County. Their family con- Bisted of five children, James M. being the second. His father died about the time of the birth of his youngest sister. When he was thirteen years old he was obliged to take care of himself, and worked several years for $4 a month. His schooling was neces- sarily limited, but by self application and observation he has ac- quired a good education. At the time of the Kansas excitement he went to that Territory, but finding it unprofitable and unsatisfac- tory he returned to Illinois. The next two years he traded in chickens in Shawneetown and New Orleans. At that time the Pike's Peak gold fever broke out, and he, in company with half a dozen others, started with ox teams for the Peak. When they reached Fort Kearney they met men coming back, and a few miles further on, more men, there being no gold. They then retraced their steps and returned to White County. Mr. Lasater worked the rest of the year in a saw-mill and the next year went to farming in Hamilton County. He remained there a year, and then moved to White County and remained two years; then moved to Gallatin County where he has since resided. He is on the county line, so his interests are still with White County. He married Mrs. Mary (Mills) Boyd, daughter of Charles and Julia (Pierce) Mills. They
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NEW HAVEN.
have two children-Lucy and Edgar. He has eighty acres under good cultivation, gained by energy and hard work.
Joseph L. Purvis, born in Chatham County, N. C., Dec. 6, 1816, was a son of William Purvis. His father was a wealthy planter, and gave Joseph a classical education. He taught in North Carolina previous to his coming to this county. He has taught in various districts of Gallatin and White counties; also in Shawneetown. He came here in 1841. He married Nancy Maria, daughter of Thomas and Nancy A. (Perryman) Abshier, natives of North Carolina. She was born in Murray County, Tenn., Feb. 2, 1822. To this union have been born nine children -Matilda, born Ang. 7, 1847, now Mrs. J. A. Bennett; John M., born July. 1, 1849, deceased; James G., born Nov. 19, 1850, mar ried Emma R. Butts; William L., born Jan. 24, 1853; Clarinda, born May 19, 1855, deceased; Clarissa, born Aug. 17, 1856; Manna A., born April 12, 1859, deceased; Andrew, born April 16, 1862, deceased; Mary E., born Aug. 25, 1864. Mr. Purvis raised Com- pany E, One Hundred and Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, in and about this town and precinct. He was in the service about four- teen months.
George W. Robinson is a son of Enos and Polly Ann (Perkins) Robinson. His mother was a daughter of Stephen and Margaret Perkins. Both mother and daughter were well known throughout this settlement, the mother being a woman of strong mind, kind and generous of heart, philanthropic, a devout Methodist and a skillful nurse. Stories are told of her skill as a rider and her un- selfishness in riding miles to attend to cases. Her daughter was no doctress but was a woman of marked beauty. The husband and father came from Christian County, Ky., to Gallatin County, at an early day, and settled on what is now known as the Perkins farm. His father, Enos Robinson, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to this county when nineteen with his mother and step-father. He married Polly Ann Perkins. They had four children-Mar- garet (deceased), Delilah A. (deceased), Lucian M. and George W. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Martha Haney. They had no children. His third wife was Rebecca, daughter of James Patterson, of Clermont County, O. Their children were-Martha J. (Mrs. James Luther) and Etta (deceased). Mr. Robinson moved to Ohio about 1850. He married his fourth wife, Elizabeth Haines, there. They had three children. Mr. Robinson died in 1879. George W. married Mrs. Sarah (Buchanan) Prichard, a native of
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HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.
East Tennessee, and a daughter of Elihu and Elizabeth (Parks) Buchanan. Her parents moved to Indiana when she was young. They had a family of ten children, the most of whom grew to man and womanhood near Mount Vernon. Mr. Robinson is at present keeping a hotel. The stranger and traveler is always hospitably received and entertained. He is also quite extensively engaged in farming, having about 300 acres, with 200 under cultivation.
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BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Township 7 south is divided in the center by the line between White and Gallatin counties. It is undulating ridge land and is well adapted to farming. It is watered by the north fork of the Saline River on the southwest, Bear Creek in the center, and Kane Creek on the east. The portion lying in range 8 east, Gallatin County, was first settled by former residents of White County. Zephaniah Johns settled on the present site of Omaha, about 1805. He sold his improvements to Rev. William Davis, who entered the land in 1833. Mr. Dann, Mr. Hurd, Abraham Armstrong, Allen Dugger, Charles Edwards, Sr., John Edwards, Benjamin Kinsall Sr., John Kinsall, James Trousdale, and Mr. Orr were among the first settlers of the township. The first school in the township was taught in 1838 by Abraham Armstrong, on Moses Kinsall's farm. The first school under the free-school system was taught by Benja- min Kinsall, about 1848. The first house for school purposes was built on John Williams' farm, about 1840. There are now four school-houses in the township, valued at $1,525; there are 412 chil- dren of school age.
The first postoffice was at South Hampton. David Kessler was the first Postmaster and the office was at his residence. It was discon- tinued on account of the railroads passing on each side of it. The first election was held in 1805, at the house of John Kinsall, where Moses Kinsall now resides, just east of Omaha.
RELIGIOUS.
The Palestine Cumberland Presbyterian Church was regularly organized Dec. 25, 1852. Two years previous, in 1848, a few of the pioneers agreed to build a house of worship if Rev. R. M. Davis, then a young minister, would preach for them, and erec- ted a meat structure of hewed logs. In 1868 the present large, well-furnished frame building was erected at a cost of $3,000. Rev. R. M. Davis is the only pastor the church has ever had. The first Elders were John Kinsall, Eli Price and Lewis West. The present Elders are Benjamin Kinsall, D. B. Rogers, William Kiser and John Blackard. It has been remarka- bly prosperous, having received in all about 450 members. The
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HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.
Sunday-school was organized in 1851 with John Kinsall
as Superintendent.
Hazel Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in September, 1881, by Rev. R. M. Davis. The Elders are L. Shain,' J. B. Edwards and John Burns. The church numbers about forty members and has been under the leadership of Revs. W. E. Davis and Franklin McQuay. They have a prosperous Sabbath-school, and are contemplating building a new church soon.
The Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and the house of worship dedicated Feb. 15, 1868. They had a mem- bership of fifty.
OMAHA.
The town was laid out by Rev. R. M. Davis on part of his farin, west of the railroad and about a mile east of the center of the township. The name was suggested by Henry Bearce, first baggage master on the St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad, who had acted in the same capacity in Omaha, Neb. The first store was Dr. J. O. Harrell's drug store. The first dry-goods store was estab- lished by Hall & Pemberton, of Saline County, Ill.
The Omaha flour-mill was built by G. R. Pearce & Co., in 1878. Mr. Pearce bought out the company, Messrs. Porter and Rice, of Roland, in 1879, and sold one-half interest to William C. Trusty, and in the same year, 1879, sold out to Mr. Trusty, who in turn sold one-half to E. A. West. In 1881 Trusty & West sold the mill to Latimer & Bryant, and in 1882 Mr. Bryant sold his interest to W. F. Harrell. The firm of Latimer & Harrell, by the assistance of their experienced miller, C. R. Galloway, are doing a good business. The mill has the latest improved machinery, and is run by steam-power.
George A. Lutz, of St. Louis, established a stave factory, which was run about four years. He employed a number of hands and ent a large quantity of timber. It was finally blown up by a keg of powder in the boiler igniting, being placed there by an incen. diary. It was never rebuilt.
Messrs. Harrell & Johnson have a new patent brick machine, by which they manufacture a great many bricks, and one or two tile kilns will be established soon.
Omaha has a large two-story school-house, and has had a graded school since 1874. The first Principal was H. P. Bozarth, followed by R. D. Kinsall, J. M. Kinsall, M. M. Robinson, A. H. Kinsall W. E. Ferrell, H. P. Bozarth and W. E. Ferrell, the present incum , bent, who is ably assisted by Miss R. Martin.
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BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Rev. R. M. Davis preached the first sermon in the village. The only church immediately in the village is the Methodist Episcopal, which was begun in 1878, and finished at a cost of $800. It was dedicated Sept. 16, 1882. The church was permanently organized in 1879, with twenty-five members, and has now thirty. The pastors have been J. J. R. Reaf and C. W. Morris.
Dr. Jas. C. Harrell was the first Postmaster. He was followed by M. M. Davis, Rev. R. M. Davis and Samuel Davis.
The first hotel was built by J. B. Latimer. The house is at present kept by A. D. Brockett. L. E. Quigley built a fine hotel in 1882, which is well fitted up with excellent accommodations.
Omaha has made a wonderfully rapid growth in the last three years, and bids fair to be one of the most important inland towns of Southern Illinois.
SOCIETIES.
Omaha Lodge, No. 723, A. F. & A. M., was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, at Chicago, Oct. 7, 1874, with sixteen charter members. The present officers are: C. Harrell, W. M .; J. T. Hogan, S. W .; S. T. Webber, J. W .; Thomas Kinsall, Treasurer; Wm. F. Price, Secretary; John M. Crunk, S. D .; Charles Duckworth, J. D. The presiding officers in the order of their election are as follows: J. W. Meador, Dr. I. M. Asbery, L. E. Quigley, Dr. J. C. Harrell. This lodge is in a thriving con- dition.
Omaha Lodge, No. 183, A. O. U. W., was chartered May 10, 1881, with twenty-one charter members. The first officers were: J. C. Harrell, P. M. W .; Thomas Martin, M. W .; A. M. Blackard; Foreman; A. H. Blackard, Overseer; Edward Rice, Recorder; M. M. Davis, Financier; W. H. Walters, Receiver; W. D. Pearce, Guide; Peter Edwards, I. W .; John Sarver, O. W. The present officers are: A. P. Caldwell, P. M. W .; Edward Rice, M. W .; J. B. Latimer, Foreman; J. C. Harrell, Overseer; S. D. Lewis, Recorder; Thomas Martin, Financier; J. P. Robinson, Re- ceiver; W. H. Waters, Guide; Peter Edwards, I. W .; John Sarver, O. W .; J. C. Harrell, District Deputy.
Omaha has no lawyers. The first physician was J. C. Harrell. The other physicians have been: James Porter, I. M. Asbery, J. H. Moore and C. M. Hudgins, all here at present except I. M. Asbery.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
The following are the principal business men of Omaha: Barter & Kinsall, blacksmiths; H. P. Bozarth, real-estate agent and Notary,
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HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.
Public; A. D. Brockett, proprietor of the Omaha House, livery and feed stable; Bruce & Young, groceries; C. Cook & Son, general merchandise; R. M. Davis & Sons, general merchandise; A. Der- ham, Notary Public; Duncan & Burke, meat market; Peter Ed- wards, druggist; John Gregg, boots and shoes; Harrell Bros., drugs, etc .; C. M. Hudgins, physician and surgeon; Harrell & Johnson, brick and lumber dealers; Thomas Kinsall, general mer- chandise; Charles Moore, hardware; J. H. Moore, physician and druggist; J. H. Porter, physician and surgeon; Quigley & Crab- tree, blacksmiths; L. E. Quigley, proprietor of the Quigley House; Martin Rice & Co., general merchandise; Swafford Bros., general merchandise.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Bear Creek's representation in the war of the Rebellion will compare favorably with other localities of the same population. The following is a list of her volunteers:
TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY.
COMPANY G.
McKinzie, John
Garrett, Peter
First Lieutenant.
Quigley, H. D.
Hachtel, Jasper
Quigley, P. C.
Hafford, Charles
L. E. Quigley. Privates.
Souls, A.
Holderby, Jesse
Bella, Sr., Wm.
Tarrant, Wm.
Kinsall, D. M., Sr.
Bella, Jr., Wm.
West, Joseph
Manheard, Geo.
Blackard, J. F.
Williams, I. B.
McQuay, James
Blackard, Thomas
Williams, J. A.
Moore, J. C.
Bowers, John
Williams, McD.
Pearce, Wm. D.
Bruce, George
Yates, Franklin
Poyner, Jas.
Davis, Alfred
Yates, James
Quigley, Benj.
Davis. Wm. P. Edwards, Charles
Miscellaneous.
Rogers, Elijah
Edwards, John
Aarons, George
Rogers, Wm.
Edwards, Milton
Abney, P. C.
Russell, Geo.
Eubanks, Aquilla
Bailey, Charles
Satterfield, J.
Eubanks, George
Bella, R. L.
Shain, H. T.
Glasscock, A. J.
Blackard, F. M.
Shaw, Coleman
Gott, B. F.
Blackard, J. L.
Shaw, Franklin
Gott, J. W.
Blackard, W. L.
Shaw, John
Hale, John
Bruce, R. J.
Sisk, John
Haney, John
Bruce, Franklin Dorris, T. S.
Staten, Wm.
Hunt, Thomas
Douglas, James
Tant, Delaney
Joiner, A. W.
Edwards, Jos.
Tant, Jackson
Kizer, Daniel
Eubanks, Thos.
Tarrant, Alex.
Kizer, W. P.
Farles, C.
Wassan, Elisha
Lamb, N. R.
Garrett, George
Williams, C. R.
McGhee, Thos.
Garrett, J. B.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
J. W. Armstrong was born in Indian Creek Township, White Co., Ill., Dec. 24, 1824. He was a son of Abraham L. Armstrong,
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Rogers, David
Souls, Henry
Holderby, Robert
Starkey, Jesse
Kinsall, Benj., Jr.
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BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
and grandson of Lancelot Armstrong, who was one of the earliest settlers of North Carolina, and who served through the war of the Revolution, being in the service seven years. He was held in cap- tivity by the Indians two years. Mr. Armstrong's father was a native of White County, Va. He emigrated to Kentucky, from there to Tennessee, and then to White County, Ill., in 1819. IIe was a journeyman hatter, and worked at his trade a number of years in the vicinity of New Haven. He married Mary Lamb, daughter of John Lamb, a Revolutionary patriot. He was Justice of the Peace twenty-eight years with an interim of but one terin. He served in the war of 1812 under General Jackson. J. W. Arm- strong was married in 1855 to Margaret S. Blackard. They have a family of seven sons and three daughters, all living in this vi- cinity.
Alanson D. F. Brockett, son of James and H. A. Brockett, was born in White County, Ill., April 28, 1820. He received only a limited education, having to go three miles to attend the early sub- scription schools. He removed to Gallatin County in 1861 and pur- chased 142 acres of rich, black bottom land. He resided there twenty years and was a very successful farmer. In 1881 he moved to Omaha, and is now, with the help of his family, running the Omaha House and a livery and feed stable, and also carrying on his farm.
George W. Bruce was born in Tennessee, April 10, 1834. He came to Gallatin County and settled near Shawneetown. He en- listed in 1861 in the late war and served eight months, but was obliged to retire on account of ill-health. After his return he set- tled near Omaha and engaged in farming. He went to Missouri and staid ten years. He then returned to Omaha, and is now in partnership with Mr. Young in the grocery business. Mr. Bruce is a son of Henry Bruce and grandson of Walker Bruce, the first man buried in Palestine cemetery.
Robert J. Bruce, son of William M. and Maria Bruce, was born Jan. 25, 1838. His early days were spent on the farm in summer and attending the district schools in winter. He was very studious and was prepared to teach at an early age. He has taught about nine years. He enlisted in the late war and after his discharge in- vested his money in the fine farming lands known as the " Thorn Thicket," and has at this time one of the finest farms in Gallatin County. He was married April 5, 1866, to Huldah C. Campbell. They have four sons and one daughter. Mr. Bruce is serving his second term as Sheriff, having defeated at the last election one of the most popular men in the county. He is worth about $15,000
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HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.
William M. Bruce was born in Sumner County, Tenn., March 19, 1814. His father came to Illinois in 1817, and settled near the present site of Norris City, White County. Mr. Bruce came to Gallatin County in 1849 and entered eighty acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre. He now owns 250 acres ot fine, well-im- proved farming land near the north fork of the Saline River. Mr. Bruce was elected Associate Justice of the County Court of Gal- atin County, in 1857; was Justice of the Peace twenty-one years, always serving the public with fidelity and justice. He was mar- ried March 5, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have reared a family of our boys and two girls. Two sons, Robert and Franklin, were in the late war. Robert and Thomas were school-teachers for a num- ber of years. Robert has been elected for the second time Sheriff of Gallatin County. Mr. Bruce has been a member of the Method - ist church for the past forty years, and has been found ready to do his part in the work of the church.
Charles Cook was born in White County, Ill., Feb. 1, 1830. He was a son of Zachariah Cook, who died when Charles was but five years of age. He then lived with his uncle, John Cook, till he was nineteen years old, when he started out in the world for himself with a capital of $40. We worked at the Bailey Mills five years, at $5 a month. He bought a fourth interest in the mills. He, in company with Mr. Porter, built the flouring mills of Roland. Mr. Cook sold his interest and went on to his farm, where he resided till the war of the Rebellion. In 1862 he enlisted under Captain Brill and served three years. He was in the battle of Holly Springs, Miss .; was one of Grant's men who ran by the batteries at Vicks- burg, and participated in the battle of Grand Gulf. After the surrender of Vicksburg he was furloughed. He then went to New Orleans and Mobile. He was mustered out at New Orleans. He returned home and remained on his farm five years, when he came to Omaha, and engaged in the dry-goods business with his son Silas. He was also interested in a saw-mill. Mr. Cook married Nancy J. Hedge. They have a family of two sons and four daugh- ters. His educational advantages were limited, being only a few months in the early subscription school, yet by his energy and hard work he is at present worth $5,000.
Rev. Robert Macklin Davis, son of Rev. William and Polly Davis, was born in White County, Ill., May 5, 1824. His parents were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, of English descent, and came to Illinois in 1811. Both his grandfathers were in the
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BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Revolutionary war, and both were wounded. His father died when he was thirteen years old. He was obliged to work hard on the farm, and his education was mostly obtained by home study. He joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church Oct. 21, 1839, and became a candidate for the ministry Oct. 29, 1843. He was licensed to preach on probation Sept. 28, 1844; ordained to the whole work of the ministry March 31, 1849. He was married Feb. 27, 1844, to Mary Sharp. After his marriage and admission to the ministry he availed himself of the opportunity of attending school two winters. He preached at several places in the bounds of the Ewing Presbytery, and received a great many members into the church at Eagle Creek, Equality, Galatia, McLeansboro, New Haven and other places. He organized the Palestine church near his own residence in 1852, and has been its only pastor. He took charge of the village church in 1851, and preached there twenty-six years. He took charge of the Union Ridge church in 1855 and has continued its pastor without intermission to the present time. He organized a church in New Haven in 1868, and one at Oak Grove in 1860, both off-shoots of the Union Ridge church. He organized the church at McLeansboro, assisted by Rev. J. M. Miller, and took charge of it in 1876, and is still its pastor. He has had charge of the Norris City church since 1879. He has never had less than four churches under his supervision, and has taken about 1,500 members into the church. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have four children-Prof. William Isaac Davis graduated at Lincoln in the classical course, and has been President of Hamilton College, and Principal at Mt. Vernon ten years, and is now teaching in Bryant, Iowa; M. M. and S. M. are in the dry-goods business in Omaha, the firm name being R. M. Davis & Sons; Jennie has attended Hamilton College, and is now attending school in Omaha and teaching music. Mr. Davis has been very successful in temporal affairs. He began on a farm in 1844 with nearly nothing, and now has 270 acres of fine farming land and also considerable town property. He is worth about $10,000. His first public speech was on temperance. He has never tasted liquor as a beverage. His wife has always been a helpmeet to him, both in temporal and spiritual affairs.
Hugh C. Gregg, son of William R. and Elizabeth A. Gregg, was born in this county, Sept. S, 1856. His father died in 1859, and his mother married Mr. Trousdale. His paternal grandparents were natives of South Carolina, and came to Illinois in 1832. His maternal grandparents (Cook) were natives of North Carolina, and
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HISTORY OF GALLATIN COUNTY.
removed to Tennessee, from there to Indiana, and in 1818 came to Gallatin County. His Grandfather Cook enlisted in the war of 1812, but his father objected on account of his age, and an elder brother went in his place. He served as First Lieutenant in the Black Hawk war. Mr. Gregg spent his youth alternately on the farm, and attending the district school. He attended a select school in Omaha two terms, and Hamilton College, McLeansboro, a short time; also attended the Normal School at Carmi one term. He has been a very successful teacher, having taught six years in one district. He owns a good farm of 150 acres, and is worth about $2,500. Mr. Gregg is County Superintendent of Schools. Politi- cally he is a Democrat.
James C. Harrell, M. D., was born in Bear Creek Precinct, Gal- latin Co., Ill., Aug. 21, 1847. His father, Benton R. Harrell, was born and reared in Indian Creek Precinct; his grandfather, Cader Harrell, was born in North Carolina, but his parents removed while he was yet a child to Sumner County, Tenn., and from thence to Kentucky, and shortly after his marriage he moved to White County, Ill., at a very early period in its history, where he lived and died at a ripe old age, being among the pioneers. Dr. Har- rell was reared on a farm near Omaha, and his boyhood was spent alternately between working on the farm in the summer and attending school during the winter until he was seventeen years of age, when by assiduous study he was qualified to teach, and began life as one of the teachers of Gallatin County, which profession he followed with credit to himself and the profession in Gallatin and White counties, Ill., and Ballard County, Ky., in the meantime devoting himself earnestly and enthusiastically to the study of medicine. After attending a course of lectures at Phila- delphia in 1869-'70, he graduated and returned home in the spring of 1870, and began his professional career in partner- ship with Dr. A. R. Pearce, near Roland, which continued until January of the ensuing year. When the Springfield & Illinois Southeastern Railroad, as it was then called, was finished, he moved back to his native county, and built the first house in Omaha, since which time he has resided here. Feb. 6, 1871, he was married to Susan C. Keasler, a daughter of James Keasler, one of the pioneers of Gallatin County. Shortly after his building his new house at Omaha, he went to work with his usual zeal, and secured the establishment of a postoffice, and was himself appointed the first Postmaster. During his residence at Omaha, he has won
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