USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 59
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JOHN PETTIGREW was a native of Virginia, and born in 1815. He settled in Sterling in 1837, and on the 19th of January, 1847, married Miss Hannah Gilbert. Their children were: Monroe, born January 27, 1848; Emma J., born October 9, 1849; Ella M., born December 26, 1851; and Florence, born January 2, 1855. Monroe is married, and lives in Osage county, Kansas. Emma J. married David B. Brink, and resides in Page county, Iowa; they have two chil- dren. Ella M. married James E. Woodford, September 5, 1872; two children. JOHN ENDERTON was a native of the State of New Jersey, and born Octo- ber 9, 1800. He came to Sterling in 1839, and was a cabinet maker by trade. Mr. C. C. Judd came with him, and the two opened the first cabinet shop in Sterling. Mr. Enderton was married three times, his first wife being Clarissa C. Goodwin; second, Nancy Warren; and third, Maria Atkins. The children by the first marriage were: Jane, and Clara. Jane married Andrew McMoore, and lives in Louisiana, Missouri. Clara married Albert Gilbert; children, Frank, and two who died in infancy; after the death of Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. Gilbert mar- ried George Gainu, who died in Sterling, in 1876 .. By the second marriage the children were: Mary L., James H., George, Maria A., Abram B. and Sherman B.,-twins, and William H., and Robert, the latter dying in infancy. William H. died in California about six years ago; Mary L. married Henry Aument, who was afterwards drowned in a boat as it passed over the dam at Sterling; chil- dren: Harry A., and two who died in infancy. James H. married Lucinda Root; he is a farmer, and lives in Iowa; children: Sophia, Jennie, and one 'who died in infancy. George is married, and has three children, Ina, Clara, and Cassius; he is a mechanic, and lives in Wisconsin. Maria married William Barker; chil- dren: Marion, Cortland, Bert, and an infant; the family live in California. Sherman B. is married, has three children, and lives at Lyndon, Kansas. Abram B. lives at Rock Falls, is unmarried, and follows the occupation of a commer- cial traveler. There was one child by the third marriage, Emma, who lives with her mother in Fulton county, Illinois. Mr. Enderton went to California in 1872, and died in 1873.
WYATT CANTRELL was born in Bath county, Kentucky, December 20,
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1790, and came to Illinois in 1812, settling then in Sangamon county, where he remained until he came to Whiteside, in 1836, and located near Sterling. He made claim of the prairie in the bend of the river, and also of the large island in Rock river, long since known as Cantrell's island, upon which there was a heavy growth of timber. In 1838 he built a mill on the rapids of Rock river, getting his power by making a dam of loose stones, commencing at the mill house, which was situated at the foot of what is now known as Walnut street, in the city of Sterling, and running at an angle of forty-five degrees from the bank of the river. It was at this mill that the people on the east and south sides of Whiteside, and the north side of Henry and Bureau counties, had their grists ground for ten years. Mr. Cantrell took a prominent part in the affairs of the county at an early day, and was always regarded as a straightfor- ward, honest, public-spirited man. He died recently at his son's residence in Kansas, and his remains were brought to Sterling, and buried October 31, 1877. He married Miss Sally England in 1815. Their children have been: Eliza, ¿Samuel D., David P., Zebulon, Wyatt, Stephen, William F., Polly Ann, and John H.
JOHN W. MCLEMORE was a native of Tennessee, and born in 1808. He eame with his father's family to the State of Illinois when quite a child. In 1836 he came to Whiteside, and made a claim in the present township of Ster- ling, within a few miles of the present city. Part of this elaim, and the one upon which he put improvements, now forms a portion of Mr. Weaver's farm. In 1839 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff by James C. Woodburn, the first Sheriff of the county, and performed many of the duties of the office. He was elected Sheriff in 1840, and held the position for two terms, and in 1846 was again elected, holding the office then for one term. He gave general satisfac- tion by the faithful and energetic discharge of his duties. In 1854 he went to California, where he remained fifteen years, and upon his return lived part of the time at Roek Falls, and part at Sterling, until his death, which occurred at the latter place in August, 1871. Mr. McLemore married Miss Eliza Cantrell in 1835. Mrs. MeLemore died in Nevada in 1876. Their children are: Luein- da, wife of Almanza Merrill, who lives in Nevada; and Clarence, who resides with his family in California.
JOHN W. CHAPMAN is a native of New York State, and came to Sterling in 1835. He made a claim a little west of the present eity of Sterling, where the farms of James H. Woodburn, Harrison Whipple, William and James L. Crawford, and William L. Patterson, are now located. Mr. Chapman claimed the constitutional number of acres-six hundred and forty of prairie, and one hundred and twenty of timber. He broke and fenced about thirty acres where Capt. Woodburn used to live, and in 1837 sold part of his claim to the Wood- burns for $4,000, and a part to Harrison Whipple for $600, reserving a portion for himself. He is now living at Oswego, on Fox river. Wright Murphy eame with Mr. Chapman, and lived with him. He was one of the first school teach- ers in the county. He went with Mr. Chapman to Fox river, and when the war of the Rebellion began, enlisted in one of the Illinois regiments, and served for three years. He contracted disease ineident to the hardships and exposure of the service, and died shortly after his return home.
ZERA M. CHAPMAN, with his wife, and a brother named Levi, came to Whiteside county from New York State, in 1837, and settled on section 29, in the present township of Coloma, where he resided, with the exception of a few years absence in California, until 1865, when he moved to Sterling, which place has been his residence since that time. Levi went away a number of years ago.
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Another brother, Porter L., came in 1838, remained about ten years, and then returned to New York.
JOHN SIMONSON came from New York State, with S. Miles Coe, in the sum- mer of 1835, and made a claim in the northern part of the present township of Sterling. He was about six feet three inches in height, and had many pecu- liarities, one of which was an abhorrence of the razor. He never shaved, and his luxuriant beard covered his entire face, save a small portion of the upper part of his cheeks. At that time clean shaved faces were the rule, and a full- whiskered human physiognomy attracted as much attention as the queue of a Chinaman does now in a country village. He was usually known by the name of General Burgoyne. Being afflicted with a pulmonary complaint, he went to Arkansas, with his family, consisting of his wife and two children, some twenty years ago. Since then all have died.
JAMES D. BRADY was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, January 26, 1809. When he was four years of age his father's family moved to Indiana, and set- tled on the land where the city of Attica now stands. In 1827 Mr. Brady went to the Galena mines, where he worked until the Black Hawk war broke out, when he volunteered, and remained in service during the whole of its continu- ance. He then came to Whiteside county, and made a claim near where Galt station now is. Upon this claim he lived alone for a year, and then sold out, and went to Bureau county, where he made a claim about four miles from Green river bridge, employing himself in farming, hunting, and fishing, until 1870. From Bureau county he emigrated first to Missouri, and then to Kansas, and in 1875 left his family in the latter State, while he crossed over into the Indian Territory, and became a herder of cattle. When last heard from he was still in that Territory. Mr. Brady married Mrs. Sallie N. Williams, October 19, 1857. Their children are: Wilber F., born July 24, 1861; and Edwin E., born July 20, 1866. Mrs. Brady and the two children are now living in Sterling.
EZEKIEL KILGOUR was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1791, and came to Sterling in 1837. During his residence in Pennsylvania, he was Colonel of the First Regiment of Cavalry, raised in Cumberland county. He was a farmer, and in addition kept teams of horses and oxen, and broke prairie for other parties at $1.50 per acre; also transported wheat to Chicago. He also had the contract for carrying the mail from Sterling to Fulton and Albany at the low rates allowed by the Government. He was an earnest, industrious, enterprising, conscientious man. An interesting incident is related of him. When he had the logs ready to put up his cabin, he invited the settlers to assist at the raising, and they came readily at the call, and went vigorously at work. After laboring for sometime they became dry and called for whisky and water, but the Colonel being a temperance man had made no provisions for the former. This being ascertained they refused to go on unless the ardent was furnished. The Colonel positively refused to comply with the demand, when the pioneers struck, and marched to Worthington & Brink's store and reported. Mr. Brink promptly came to the rescue, filled a demijohn and sent the men back to the raising. The work was immediately resumed, and the cabin was soon up. The Colonel, however, true to his convictions, beat a retreat, and sat on a log, while his joyous neighbors rolled up and fitted the logs of his habitation. He died January 14, 1848, of erysipelas in the head and face. He married Miss Eliza- beth Graham, November 9, 1825. Mrs. Kilgour was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1801. Their children were : Naney Jane, William M., Isaiah G., Ezekiel J., Martha B., and Eliza G. Isaiah G., and Eliza G., are dead. Ezekiel J. enlisted in Company I, 75th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected First Lieutenant; he participated with the Regiment in the battle of Perryville, and
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died of pneumonia in the military hospital, at Nashville, Tennessee, December 25, 1862; his remains were brought to Sterling; he was unmarried, and was a brave, intelligent, and conscientious man and officer. Martha B. died of pneu- monia, December 14, 1867, while visiting the family of H. B. Barnes. Nancy Jane married John B. Crawford, December 20, 1849; children, Letitia Jane, Samuel G., James B., and Elizabeth; James B. died September 22, 1858, and Letitia Jane, March 17, 1864.
WILLIAM M. KILGOUR is a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to Sterling with his father's family in 1837. He was married to Miss Mary Isabella Junkin, near Iowa City, Iowa, on the 30th of November, 1865. Their children have been : Eliza Graham, Susan Junkin, James Albee, Cassius Mathers, and Freddy who died in infancy. Col. Kilgour was a school teacher in his early days, and also taught school while reading law. He was admitted to practice law in all the courts of the State at the term of the Supreme Court held in Ottawa, in 1856, and immediately entered upon the duties of his profession. Since that time he has been admitted to practice in the United States District and Circuit Courts, and in the Supreme Court of the United States, at Washington. He took a high rank in his profession almost from the start, his clients being mainly from the best citizens of Sterling, and the surrounding country. This standing he has maintained, and as a consequence his business has been con- stantly increasing. When first admitted to the bar he was elected Justice of the Peace for the township of Sterling, and held the position four years. He has also served several terms as Supervisor of the township, greatly to the satis- faction of the people, and to the benefit of the county. He is a large property owner in Sterling city and township, and is otherwise identified with the business interests of the city. In all measures looking to the welfare and advancement of Sterling he has taken an active and prominent part, and has been long recog- nized as a leading man, not only in the township and county where he resides, but throughout this section of the country. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company B, 13th Illinois Volunteers, and was elected Second Lieutenant of his company. He remained in active field duty with his Regiment for one year participating in the battles of Wet Glaze, Lynn Creek, and Springfield, Missouri, and was then compelled to resign on account of sickness brought on while in the line of duty. As soon as he recovered his health, however, he re-enlisted on the call of the President in 1862 for six hundred thousand more volunteers. At this time he assisted in raising the 75th Illinois Volunteers, and at the organization of Company I, was elected Captain. When the Regiment was organized he was elected Major, and as such went with the Regiment to the field. At the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862, he received a gun shot wound, the ball passing through the stomach and liver. The wound was so serious that he was carried from the battle ground to a farm house near by, where he remained under the charge of an army surgeon until January, 1863, when he was taken to Louisville, Kentucky, and eventual- ly returned home on sick leave. So strong was his desire to serve his country in its sorest time of need, that as soon as he was able to travel, he joined his Regiment, it being then at Stephenson, Alabama. He was at the battle of Chickamauga on the 19thand 20th of September, 1863, and was taken prisoner, but cut his way, with Company D, commanded by Capt. Moore, through the ene- my's lines, and joined his Regiment. This was done while the fighting was going on. Ile also participated in the battles of the defence of Chattanooga, and at one time was completely surrounded by the enemy, all communication being cut off. The next battle in which he engaged was at Lookout Mountain, on the 24th of November, 1863, where he was in the advance under Gen. Hooker.
[52-W.]
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After the battle " among the clouds, " he participated the next day in that at Missionary Ridge, and on the following day fought in the battle of Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge, Georgia. He was afterwards sent with the detail to re- cover the Chickamauga battle ground, and bury the dead, arriving there the 5th of December, 1863. The bodies of those who had fallen in the battle remained unburied, and had been partially destroyed by dogs, hogs, buzzards, and vultures. Two days were consumed in this service, when the detail returned to Whiteside station, Georgia. In February, 1864, he took part in the battle of Buzzard's Roost, near Dalton, Georgia, commanding at that time the 80th Illinois Infan- try, by order of Gen. Wm. Gross, who was in command of the Brigade. In May, 1864, he fought in the battles of Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, and Dalton. Following these he was at the two days battle at Resaca, then at Kingston, Cassville, Cartersville, and Pumpkin Vine creek, Pine Mountain, and Kenesaw Mountain, all in June, 1864. On the first of July, 1864, he commanded the skirmish line at Atlanta, Georgia, and again on the 24th of August, when Gen. Sherman was marching to the right and rear of that place. About the same time had command of a detachment of pioneers, and was ordered in the night to make an advance movement, and destroy the track of the Macon Railroad, near Al- toona, his command reaching the ground first. On the 30th of August, 1864, he was at the battle of Jonesboro, Tennessee, and also at the battle at Lovejoy's Station, September 2, 1864. His next engagement was at Lost Mountain, Georgia, from which he pursued the rebel General Hood to Gaylesville, Alabama, and from the latter place was sent in command of a detail of the 75th Illinois, and 23d Ohio, to guard seven hundred government teams with army supplies, through the enemy's country. He then participated in the battles of Athens, and Dalton, Georgia, Pulaski, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, and also in the great battle at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864, in which the rebels lost seven thousand killed and wounded. Following these battles he had command of the skirmish line at the battle at Nashville, Tennessee, on the first day, and on the second day charged the first and second lines of the enemy's works, with the 75th Illinois, and captured them. He was brevetted from Lieutenant Colonel of the 75th Illinois Volunteers, to Colonel, for gallant and meritorious services at Missionary Ridge, and to Brigadier General for similar services at Atlanta. On the 28th of July, 1866, he was appointed Captain in the Regular Army, and was breveted Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel in the Regular Army, for mer- itorious services while in the Volunteers. Col. Kilgour was one of the bravest and truest men, and one of the most capable officers in the Union Army, during the four years fight for the life of the Union.
NELSON MASON was born in Paisley, Scotland, and when quite young emi- grated to the United States, and settled in Vermont. In 1835, he determined to seek the then new West for a home for himself and family, and while search- ing for a suitable location on the prairie above Sterling, in company with John D. Barnett, met William Kirkpatrick, who had made a claim where Sterling now stands, and the two were induced by him to go to that point and locate. Mr. Mason became one of the original proprietors of Chatham, and in connection with Mr. Barnett opened the first store at that place. IIe was also agent for Godfrey and Gilman, of Alton, Illinois, who owned a large interest in Chatham. Mr. Mason took an active part in effecting the union of Harrisburgh and Chatham, and giving to the united towns the name of Sterling, so that the county seat could be secured. In 1860, 1862 and 1865, he was Mayor of the city of Ster- ling, and is universally spoken of as one of the ablest Chief Magistrates the city has had. One of his daughters married Col. Bross, and another Mr. Zadoc T. Galt, of Sterling. Mrs. Galt is now dead, Mr. Mason has a large property in
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Chicago, and for a number of years past has resided in that city. John Mason, an older brother, still lives on his farm adjoining Rock Falls, and although at somewhat an advanced age, still possesses the genial, sunny nature, together with the inflexible firmness, for which the Scotch are so famed.
JOHN D. BARNETT came to Chatham with Nelson Mason, and was a part- ner with him, in the first store opened in that place. At the establishment of Rock River Rapids Postoffice, he was appointed the first Postmaster. He had a wife and one child, and returned to the East in 1841.
JONAS REED is a pioneer of Rock River Valley, and has been a resident of the city of Sterling for the past ten years. He was born in Delaware county, New York, 1819. He first came West as far as Ohio, and in 1830, came to Fort Clark, now Peoria, in this State, where he remained until May, 1831, when he settled in Buffalo Grove, Ogle county. This was during the trouble with the Indians under Black Hawk, and on the following June the family was com- pelled to fly to Apple river for protection. In the meantime Gen. Atkinson negotiated a treaty with the Indians at Prophet's Town, agreeing to furnish them provisions for two years upon the condition that they would be peaceable, and leave the country. This they did, and went west to the Mississippi river. The Reed family them returned to their home, after a month's absence. But the Indians, with their characteristic disregard for promises, returned at the close of one year, and renewed hostilities. The State then refused to furnish them further supplies, and ordered out the militia under Gen. Stillman. This force overtook them on a branch of Rock river called Stillman's Run, between Dixon and Rockford, but the Indians by a stragetie movement, in the dusk of the evening, surrounded the men, and killed, wounded and made prisoners of a large portion of the command. Those escaping reached Dixon the next morning. During the same day of Stillman's defeat, Black Hawk's son, and two Indian chiefs, took dinner at Mr. Reed's cabin, and kindly advised the family to seek some place of safety. Acting upon this advice the family fled to Dixon, where they remained ten days. While there, Mr. Reed, and a companion, drove two teams to the foot of the rapids, where Rock Falls now stands, for army sup- plies, as Gen. Atkinson had sent a boat up the river with provisions and am- munition as far as the rapids, the river not being navigable above that point. The wagons were loaded, and after a good deal of effort reached Dixon. Of the families at Dixon, three, including the Reed family, were sent under the pro- tection of a guard of soldiers to the La Salle prairie settlement. The settlers of the prairie united and built a fort, in which they remained until September, 1832, when Mr. Reed, his father and one brother, returned to Buffalo Grove, the family following soon afterwards. During their stay at La Salle, a treaty of peace had been concluded with the Indians. One of the Indians told Mr. Reed that three of them were lying in ambush one morning when he was driv- ing up the cattle, with the intention of shooting him, but a dispute arose as to who should fire first, and before it was settled he was beyond the reach of their guns. In the spring of 1833 the Indians were again in the country with hostile designs, and once more the family were compelled to take refuge in the La Salle fort, but in May, Gen. Dodge came up Rock river, which so alarmed them that they fled, and did not disturb the settlers again. Mr. Reed has been a resident of Rock River Valley for forty-six years.
ROBERT L. WILSON was born September 11, 1805, in Washington county Pennsylvania. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction, his ancestors having emigrated from Scotland and settled near the city of Belfast soon after the conquest of Ireland by Cromwell, in the Sixteenth Century. In 1778 they settled in York county, Pennsylvania, and in 1782, the father and mother of the family, with
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ten children, emigrated to the then far west and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. The journey was made, and goods transported, upon pack horses over the mountains, there being no roads. This mode of travel was slow and painful. The Wilson family again emigrated in 1810 to near Zanesville, Ohio. This journey was made by pack horses. The subject of this sketch, then five years of age rode a pony. Col. Wilson's father died when he was seventeen years of age and left him without patrimony, and only his own resources. The young man determined to secure an education. He attended the imperfect winter schools of the neighborhood and advanced far enough to read the tes- tament and write imperfectly. Continuing in school until he was nineteen he became qualified to teach, and taught during the winter, and attended school three years, when having an outfit of books and clothing and twenty-seven dollars in money, he started afoot to New Athens, Ohio, and by dint of hard study during the terms of school, and teaching through vacations, he finished the curriculum of Franklin College, Ohio. At the close of his school days he went to Kentucky and taught an academy at Sharpsburg. While teaching here he read law and rode six miles each Saturday to recite to Judge Robbins. He passed a successful examination and was licensed to practice under the laws of Kentucky in the fall of 1833. March 28, 1833, he was married to Eliza Jane Kincaid. He emigrated to Illinois and landed at Beardstown November, 4, 1833, settling near Springfield, where he taught his last schools. In August, 1836, he was elected one of the seven Representatives from Sangamon county. Two Senators were also elected, who, with the Representatives, were known as the "Long Nine." This delegation were all whigs, and their united hight was fifty-four feet-an average of six feet each. The Senators were Archer G. Herndon and Job Fletcher. The Representatives were Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew J. McCormick, Dan Stone, (after- wards Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in which this county was included), Wm. F. Elkin, and R. L. Wilson. Col. E. D. Baker (afterwards United States Senator from Oregon, and killed at Ball's Bluff) was elected to fill the vacancy of Dan Stone. The specialty of the "Long Nine" was the question of removal of the State seat of Government from Vandalia to Springfield, and in this they succeeded. In March, 1840, Col. Wilson removed to Sterling, and his family followed the succeeding year. Soon after his removal to Whiteside he was ap- pointed Clerk of the Circuit Court, which position he held from April, 1840, to December 1, 1860. During fourteen years of this time he was Recorder of Deeds, and for eight years was Probate Justice. In the spring of 1861 he was in Washington City when Fort Sumter was fired upon, and enlisted as a pri- vate in a batallion of volunteers commanded by Cassius M. Clay, and known as the "Clay Guards." This organization numbered about 400 men, principally non-residents, and were armed with breech-loading carbines from the Arsenal by the War Department. This body of men acted as night police, and were instrumental in preventing the city from falling into the hands of the rebels. Upon the arrival of the Seventh New York, 1,500 men strong, with a six gun battery, the "Clay Guards" were disbanded, and the discharges signed by Pres- ident Lincoln and Secretary Cameron. Col. Wilson then returned to Sterling and assisted in raising Company A, 34th Illinois Regiment, and was elected Captain, but declined in favor of Lieutenant Edward N. Kirk, afterwards Brig- adier General. In July, 1861, he called on President Lincoln and tendered his services in any capacity where he could be useful. Mr. Lincoln informed him that he had made a list of his old friends whom he desired to appoint to office, and said, "now, Colonel, what do you want?" He answered-"Quartermaster will do." Mr. Lincoln replied, "I will appoint you a Paymaster." The appoint-
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