Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 144

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Illinois > Crawford County > Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical > Part 144

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Richard Francis Dunlap was educated in the log school-house of his neighborhood. and learned to farm. At his father's death, lie inherited 53 acres of the old homestead where he has since lived. He has made his improvements and has a very comfortable house, barn and good fences, and his premises are kept in good order. Polit- ically he is a Democrat. On December 24, 1895, Mr. Dunlap married Mary Gaines, who was born in Russelville, Lawrence County, Ill., where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have the following children : Clista, Rutha, Cecil, Tina, Frank, Emma and William J .. all born on the present farm.

DYE, William Harrison .- This is the day of large enterprises, of extensive investments and calls for executive ability of a high order. Cap- tains of industry were never before so much in demand as now when all that is best in a man's makeup is called into action to meet and con- quer competition and to satisfy the growing demand for the best in every line at lowest prices. William Harrison Dye, for many years closely identified with the oil interests of In- diana, has been largely instrumental in creating the present flourishing conditions in natural gas lines in Illinois, although he has been a resident of Illinois only since December. 1907, settling then at Robinson, Crawford County. Mr. Dye was born at Bartholomew County. Ind .. June 3, 185S, a son of William Henry and Lu- cetta (Gilpin) Dye, natives of Ohio and Ken- tucky, respectively. The father died in 1873, aged forty-seven years, while his widow still survives him at the present date, and at the advanced age of eighty-four years is residing in Philadelphia, Hancock County. Ind.

A physician by profession, and a farmer by vocation, William Henry Dye owned a farm and drug-store, and his son William Harrison Dye alternated between these two lines of business at the same time attending school, first in the farming district and later in the high school at Greenfield. Ind. Until his father's death he was in the drug-store at Philadelphia. Ind., but after that returned to the 300-acre farm. Mr.

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Dye was one of the first promoters of natural gas in Indiana, discovering it in 1888 in Han- cock and Hamilton Counties, Ind., and he was one among the first to supply natural gas to Indianapolis. In 1894 he bought leases in wells in Blackford and Adams Counties, Ind., and was the successful producer of large quantities of oil and gas. Coming to Robinson, Ill., in De- cember, 1907, he organized what is known as the Robinson Gas and Oil Company, an organi- zation with large capital to back it, and very extensive facilities for handling all demands. The company owns and operates at the present time six miles of gas lines, and has the contract for supplying many boilers in Robinson, besides private citizens. This company will add six more miles of line in the fall of 1908, which will give them twelve miles in all.

On January 2, 1894, Mr. Dye married at Chi- cago, Ill., Mrs. Anna L. Green, daughter of Elizabeth Wishard, of Hendricks County, Ind .- no issue. The Green family is one of the old pioneer families of Indiana. Although a Metho- dist for many years, Mr. Dye is now a Presby- terian, but retains a warm affection for the church of his youth. In politics he is a Demo- crat, believing in the principles promulgated by Andrew Jackson. Although too busy a man to engage in politics, his influence is wide-spread and is exerted towards the betterment and de- velopment of any community with which he is connected. A man of large undertakings, keen, shrewd, possessed of masterful executive force, and thoroughly understanding every detail of extensive interests which he represents. Mr. Dye is steadily becoming a power in this State as in Indiana, and the success of his venture has been assured from the start.

EAGLETON, John Cornelius .- Serving the peo- ple in various positions of trust, Judge John Cor- nelius Eagleton has established a record which is recognized and admired by his associates. His administration of office has distinguished him as a man of far more than ordinary ability and at- tracted the attention of legal circles. As an at- torney he is vigorous, but at all times just ; as a Judge he was calm, judicial, yet decided, and no one can say of him that he was ever influenced by a prejudice, or point to a single instance where ' personal favor was shown.

Judge Eagleton's father, James M. Eagleton, was born in Crawford County, Ill., in February, 1832. The grandfather, James Eagleton, came from Tennessee to Crawford County at an early day and settled in Montgomery Township. but later moved to Honey Creek Township, where he owned a farm and where he died about 1875, aged eighty-two years, his wife having died a few years earlier. The father, James M. Eagleton, was a farmer in Robinson Township, from which place he moved to Missouri and later to Arkansas, where he remained about two years, then coming to Moultrie County, Ill., after which he located in the city of Robinson (then a village), which has since been his home. The mother was born

in Wilkes County, N. C., in February, 1835, and while still a young girl went alone to live at Greenupsburg, Ky., afterward coming to Craw- ford County, Ill., where she met and married James M. Eagleton. As already stated, she is still living. Mr. and Mrs. James M. Eagletou have had the following children: George D., of Robinson, Ill .; John C., subject of this sketch ; and three others who died in infancy.

John C. Eagleton was born in Robinson, Ill., April 10, 1866, a son of James M. and Nancy A. (Baugess) Eagleton, both of whom are still liv- ing and in good health, although considerably past the three-score and ten milestone. The son was graduated from the Robinson High School in 1885, and learned the trade of a stone-cutter. but not being satisfied with his vocation, began the study of law, being admitted to the bar in 1889. While studying law in 1889 he was elected City Clerk, three times was elected City Attorney, and, in 1905, was elected Mayor of Robinson. Ill 1894 he was elected to the office of County Judge, which he filled with distinction until 1898, after which he formed a partnership with E. S. Baker, the present Postmaster of Robinson, under the style of Eagleton & Baker, which was later changed to Eagleton & Wesner. Judge Eagleton is now acting attorney for the Illinois Pure Food Commission. In politics Judge Eagleton is a Republican, and has taken a very active part in party matters, not only locally, but throughout the State. In religious views, he is a member of the Christiau Church, and fraternally is a member of the Masonic Order, the Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.

On April 6, 1892, Judge Eagleton was married to Miss Lola M. Ritchie, who is an earnest Chris- tian woman, born in Lawrence County, Ill., Au- gust 4, 1869. Judge and Mrs. Eagleton have three children : Frank Ritchie, born in 1893; Mary, born in 1895, and Robley Neal, born in 1898.

Judge Eagleton's entire career as a public official is above reproach, and he has been emi- nently fair with all with whom he had to deal, and the fact that there was not the slightest blotch on his record, is something of which he may well be proud. As an attorney, Judge Eagle- ton has a knowledge of all branches of law which is intimate and far-reaching.

EAGLETON, William McPherson .- Wherever there are members of the Society of Friends, there is certain to be a certain measure of peaceful contentment and quiet prosperity. The Quakers are the most retiring of people, and yet by their upright example they have an effect upon tlie community that is felt and generally recognized. Always hardworking and thrifty, they never call in the assistance of the law, their spoken word is as good as the signature of others, and they live in peace with each other and the world which surrounds them, but of which they are not a part. William McPherson Eagleton of Robin- son Township, Crawford County, is this kind of a man, and, like others of his faith, he is highly respected by all who know him. He was born

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in Robinson Township, February 16, 1867, a son of William Anderson and Rebecca (Mann) Eagle- ton. William Anderson Eagleton was born on a farm near Terre Haute, Ind., October 22, 1822, but at an early date came to Palestine, where he learned the trade of a tanner and then moved to a farm in Honey Creek Township, where he died March 21, 1907, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died August 18, 1873, in Honey Creek Township. The grandfather on the maternal side, Jobn Mann, came from Ohio. settling in Martin Township at an early date.

William Eagleton went to the district school in Honey Creek Township. There he married on September 11, 1890-Justice Lilly performing the ceremony-Bertha Connett, daughter of Aaron and Fannie (Houston) Connett, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Connett came from Indiana to Robinson Township, Craw- ford County, but later returned to Indiana where Mrs. Connett died. Following this Mr. Connett returned to Illinois, locating in Honey Creek Township, but later went to Carrier Mills, Saline County, Ill., where he now lives. He served three years in an Indiana regimeut during the Civil War. The following children have been born to William M. Eagleton and wife: Mamie June, born May 11, 1891. married Ausby Cleve Mont- gomery, a farmer of Honey Creek Towuship, and they have no issue ; Cora Glenn, born March 28, 1895; Clara Rebecca, born November 5, 1897: Esther Pearl, born November 10, 1900, and Clem Connett, born September 17, 1903. William Eagleton and his wife united themselves with the Society of Friends ten years ago. In politics he is a Republican.

In the spring of 1888 William M. Eagleton. with his father, bought 42 acres of land where the former and his family now reside. Later, W. M. Eagleton bought enough land to eularge his farm to 128 acres, which is the present ex- tent of his real estate holdings. The laud is good and the family have a comfortable resi- dence, where a hearty hospitality is dispensed to friends and strangers alike.

EATON, Marion D .- The history of the oil fields almost anywhere is much the same. En each instance there is the increase in values, the partial turning over of properties to companies which develop the wells, and which draw out of the earth the riches which have accumulated be- neath its surface for eons of time. Crawford Couuty, Ill., has experienced just such a boom, and many of its citizens who were farmers and stock-raisers have retired from their land to ad- joining cities and towns, or are still carrying on some of their agricultural pursuits in the midst of other activity.

Marion D. Eaton of Robinsou Township is particularly fortunate in that he has fourteen producing wells, four in Oblong Township and ten in Robinson Township. He was born in Robinson Township, July 29, 1857, a son of James H. and Celia Eliza (Downey) Eaton, the former of whom was born in Hutsonville

Township, July 17, 1827, and the latter in Ohio, October 17, 1833. These aged parents are liv- ing with Mr. Eaton, and are in excellent healtlı, the father at eighty-one, and the mother at seventy-five years of age.

Reared on a farm and educated in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood, Mr. Eaton has lived the life of the ordinary farmer, but lias succeeded better than the majority, as he owns 320 acres in Robinson Township and 80 acres in Oblong Township. He is an excellent busi- ness man and good farmer, and has known how to make, save and invest money. A Republican in politics, he has been honored with the offices of Highway Commissioner for seveuteen years, and is recognized as an excellent official.

On October 12, 1880, in Obloug Township, Mr. Eaton was married to Elizabeth A. Henry, a daughter of John Henry, her parents being resi- dents of Oblong, Township up to the time of their death. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Eaton were: Earl W., born February 13, 1882, married Heleu Walter, and they have one child, -Mary Elizabeth, born August 5, 1906; Clara Edith, boru July 23, 1884, married Ray Henry, and they have one child,-Mary Catharine, born August 7, 1907 ; Hattie June, born July 226. 1892, and is unmarried, living at home.

EATON, William .- A veteran of the Civil War, honored by his political party by appointment to the office of Postmaster of Hutsonville, Craw- ford County, Ill., and a man pre-eminently pub- lic-spirited and enterprising, giving his hearty endorsement to all that pertains to the general welfare. William Eaton is a man universally re- spected. He was born in Sullivan County, Ind .. February 27, 1838, a son of Charles and Sarah (Hunt) Eaton. the former born iu Fleming County, Ky., in 1799, and died October 1, 1869, and the latter a daughter of Mesha Hunt, also born in Kentucky. Her death occurred on the home farm, two miles west of Sullivan, in De- cember, 1865.

William Eaton, after attending the district schools of his native place, taught school three terms, and then began reading medicine in the office of Dr. Hinkle of Sullivan, thus continuing for two years. He then entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he was graduated with honors in February. 1861. Prior to this, In April, 1861, Dr. Eaton had been one of the first to respond to the call for troops, and enlisted in Company I, Captain John Masten command- ing, Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. constituting a part of the celebrated Wilder's Brigade. Among other battles and engage- ments, Dr. Eaton participated in the following : Green Brier, W. Va., on the Little Tygart River where General Lee and his staff came near be- ing captured, and where Captain Washington, a relative of President Washington, was killed, (the party being surprised while they were riding leisurely along. and the body of Capt. Washing- ton being secured uuder a flag of truce) ; the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Chickamauga ;

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the Thirty Day Siege at Kenesaw Mountain ; the three weeks' Siege of Atlanta; and the battles at Pulaski, Tenn., and Selma, Ala. Having served faithfully for four years and four months, and being absent from duty only thirteen days while in the hospital at Chattanooga, he was finally mustered out at Macon, Ga., in August, 1865, and honorably discharged at Indianapolis. Then resuming his studies, he was graduated and soon after entered upon a practice which has been continued for thirty-seven years and in which he has established a reputation as one of the most highly regarded medical men of Crawford County.

On May 7, 1867, Dr. Eaton was married to Miss Eliza Griffith, of Hutsonville, who was born in July, 1841. and died May 20, 1885. She. was the daughter of Major William C. Griffith, a stone-mason who constructed a large part of the National Road through Indiana and Illinois. On July 31, 1890, Dr. Eaton married Miss Mattie Clark, of Chattanooga, Tenn., who was born in Virginia. Dr. Eaton's oldest children are dead. Georgie was born February 26, 1868, married Frank Adams of Hutsonville, and is deceased ; Fannie married James A. Wright, had two chil- dren, is also deceased; Charles, born August 21, 1876; Bess, born May 30, 1881, and Nellie, born March 27. 1885.

Dr. Eaton is a strong Republican, and has taken an active part in local affairs. He has long been a member of the Aesculapian and Medical Societies. His church relations have been with the Methodist Church, with which he has been connected since early manhood, and he is now one of its Trustees, and was at one time Superintendent of the Sunday School. Dr. Eaton faced the toe with a quiet. dauntless cour- age and a serene fortitude of soul, just as he has done the various troubles of after life, and possessing as he does such high standards of morality and such a true conception of Christian duty, he is an ideal official, as well as a generous neighbor and tender family man.

EMMONS, W. R., for many years a magistrate living at Palestine, Ill., was born April 14, 1836, in Russellville, Lawrence County, Ill., a sou of Charles D. and Sarah (Mills) Emmons, the former born in 1805 in Kentucky, and died in 1850 in Russellville, Ill., having been Sheriff of Lawrence County. He and his wife were the parents of ten children. W. R. Emmons had butt a few years of school in Russellville, so has taught himself nearly all he knows. He taught school in the county several years, and in 1863 bought a farm south of Robinson, where he re- sided for five years, when he purchased a half interest in the steam gristmill at Palestine. In three years he sold this interest, and in 1871 bought a farm near Palestine which he operated. A Republican, Mr. Emmons has filled the office's of Assessor, Collector, Supervisor and, in the spring of 1881, was elected Justice of the Peace. On March 27, 1860, he married Sarah Nichols. of Robinson, Ill., who was born in Crawford

County, January 12, 1841, a daughter of Mer- ritt and Elizabeth (Brown) Nichols. Mr. and Mrs. Emmons became the parents of four chil- dren : Hattie, Eliza, Blanche and William Roy. Mr. Emmons is a Knight of Honor.

EVERINGHAM, Capt. George B., a veteran of the Civil War, was born near Trimble Station. Crawford County, Ill., March 2, 1843, a son of John Everingham, who was born near Cincin- nati, Ohio. In 1830 the father came to Craw- ford County, Ill., locating in Palestine, where he worked at harness-making, and later divided his time between that and farming. He died June 20, 1873. John Everingham was a son of Enoch, who was born in Sussex County, N. J., and was a millwright by trade. The wife of John Everingham, who was a native of Craw- ford County, died April 15, 1878. Of the four- teen children born to John and Sarah (Newlin) Everingham, George B. is the oldest. He was brought up on the farm and received only a limited education. When only nineteen he en- listed in Company F, Sixty-second Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and participated in the engage- ments at Jackson, Tenn., Cross Roads, Tenn., and Little Rock, Ark. Entering the army as a private on December 1, 1861, he was mustered out March 6, 1866, as Captain of his company. Returning to Palestine he went into the livery business with John E. Miller, but a year later began farming, with his brothers William and Allen C., renting a prairie farm. In 1868 he bought 30 acres of the home farm, and remained on it until January, 1871, when he traded it for 112 acres which he made his homestead, making additions thereto until he owned 260 acres. In February, 1868, he married Anna M., daughter of William Musgrave, and they became the par- ents of the following children : Nora, Ellen, Ida, Arthur C. and Esther. Mr. and Mrs. Ever- ingham joined the Baptist Church many years ago, and he was made a deacon more than a quarter of a century ago. In political faith he is a Republican.

FAUCETT, Samuel, a member of the dry-goods firm of the H. E. Whitaker Company, was born in Bloomfield, Ind., September 19, 1878, a son of Abram and Sarah (Coppin) Faucett, the former born March 5. 1855, at Bloomfield, Ind., and the latter near Bloomfield, in 1856. Mr. Faucett met his wife, who was born after her people emigrated from North Carolina to Indi- ana in wagons.

Samuel Faucett was well educated, for after he went to the common schools at Flat Rock, Ill., where the family had located, he learned his father's trade, and then attended the High School at Bloomfield, Ind. In the meanwhile by teaching he had earned sufficient money to pur- sue his studies at the Central Normal School at Danville, Ind. He then taught school for three terms, when, desiring to enter a broader field, he came to Robinson and engaged as clerk for H. E. Whitaker, and after three years was taken

Harrison Martin, Son, grand Dove and great grand Son

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into partnership, the firm becoming the H. E. Whitaker Company.

On November 1, 1903, Mr. Fancett was married to Ethel Jones, of Flat Rock, Crawford County, a danghter of Dr. H. F. Jones, but there has been no issne from this marriage. In politics Mr. Faucett is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of Knights of Pythias, Modern Wood- men and of the Tribe of Ben Hur. For seven years he has been a member of the Methodist Church. He has great confidence in the future of Robinson.

FAUGHT, David W .- Some of the farmers of Crawford County have proven themselves to be men above the ordinary, in that they have achieved more than the usnal amount of suc- cess. This success has not come easily but is the result of hard work and excellent manage- ment, and especially is this true in the farm- ing localities. The climatic conditions and the soil of Crawford County are such as to make it an ideal section for the prosecution of farm- ing activities, and among those farmers deserv- ing special mention is David W. Fanght, of Section 13, Prairie Township.

Mr. Faught was born in Fairfield Connty, Ohio, April 7, 1838, a son of Wesley Fanght, who was born in Licking Connty, that State, April 17, 1816. On April 7, 1836, Wesley Faught married Rebecca Stover, who was born in Page Connty, Va., November 16, 1811. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Susanna W., born February 18, 1837; David W., born April 7, 1838; Amanda, born March 7, 1840; Jasper, born December 4, 1841; Newton D., born March 22, 1845 ; William M., born February 11, 1848; Emeline, born October 23, 1854. Mrs. Rebecca (Stover) Fanght was the danghter of Samuel and Susanna (Brombangh) Stover, who were the parents of thirteen children. viz .; Nancy, born October 2, 1796; Barbara, born July 22, 1798; Elizabeth, born November 18, 1799; Mary, born November 25, 1801; John, born November 16, 1804; Henry, born March 24, 1806; Isaac, born September 22, 1807; Sn- sannah, born February 3, 1809; Catherine, born May 24, 1810; Rebecca (Mrs. Faught), born November 16, 1811; Samnel, born Novem- ber 8, 1813, died at the age of eighty-fonr, August 9, 1898: David, born July 23, 1815. died August 15. 1848; Joseph, born Jannary 15 1817. The Stover family came from Virginia to Lick- ing Connty, Ohio, in 1815, when Mrs. Fanght was four years old.

Nine years after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fanght, they removed to Crawford County, Ill., and settled in Prairie Township, where Wesley Fanght bought 280 acres of land in Section 36, which was raw prairie with the ex- ception of 20 acres. They moved into a donble log cabin, where they lived for nine years. With the assistance of some hired help, Wesley Faught did all the breaking of the land. and he had his land well nnder cultivation when he met with a fatal accident by a horse falling upon

him while out riding Jannary 15, 1866. He sur- vived the accident a month bnt died of the in- juries. His widow survived nntil October 28. 1879, when she, too, died.

David W. Fanght bonght ont the interest of some of the heirs of the homestead, four years later buying the interest of the others, and owned the homestead for nineteen years. Later he moved npon the property formerly owned by his father-in-law, where he now lives. During his early manhood Mr. Fanght was engaged in teaching in the public schools of Crawford Connty for eight years. He also served as Snper- visor of his township in the County Board for two terms of four years each, was Justice of the Peace of his town, and has occupied the posi- tion of School Treasurer, and for twenty-four consecutive years has been Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Schools.

On October 29, 1865, Mr. David W. Fanght married Clara E. Newlin and they became the parents of the following children: Mary R .. born November 1, 1866, married John B. Holmes, September 1, 1SS9, who is a farmer in Prairie Township, and they have eight children; Will- iam C., born Jannary 21, 1869, married Alice Kirk, February 4, 1894, and was a physician. having gradnated from the Lonisville Medical College in 1894. but died November 20. 190S; Octavia, born May 3, 1871, married Charles E. Mitchell, December 27, 1891, and they live in Porterville, where he acts as a teamster for the Standard Oil Company .- they have five chil- dren ; Stella Opal, born September 7, 1872, mar- ried January 31, 1892, Elmer E. Barrett, hard- ware merchant, and they have six children ; Lanra V., born August 7. 1874, married Louis Wilbert, a farmer of Prairie Township, Decem- ber 16, 1894, but she is now deceased, leaving two children who are being reared by their grandfather, Mr. Fanght ; an infant, born July 21, 1876; Otto Raphael, born Angust 11, 1877; Elfie E., born September 14, 1879; Zora Hope, born May 10, 1882; Grover A., born February 10, 1885; Frank Thurman, born February 4, 1888; and Alma Clara, born November 21, 1891.

FERGUSON, Charles R .- To come of ploneer stock and to know that one's forebears developed a primitive commerce by clearing off the land and navigating the streams, had opened up a new territory and, as wielders of the axe, scythe or spade, bronght clvillzatlon a Ilttle further westward, is something of which any man may well be proud. When it is remembered that nearly all of the country lying west of the sea coast has been opened up and developed withiln the space of one hundred years, and through the efforts of sturdy pioneers, some slight idea can be gained of what is dne to them.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 144

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1058