Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 147

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 147

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Charles A. Snyder, Mr. Furman's son-in-law, was born in Crawford County, Ill., September 9, 1851. His father died when Charles A. was young, and he was thus thrown on his own re- sources early in life. He has always worked at farming, and now owns 40 acres of land in Ob- long Township, on which there are three oil wells. He is a Democrat.

GAINES, Duane, attorney-at-law and former Representative in the State Legislature from the district composed of Jasper, Crawford, Law- rence and Richland Counties, publisher of the Palestine Review, and senior member of the firm of Gaines & Smith, of Palestine, Crawford Connty, Ill., was born in that connty, November 2, 1862, a son of James A. and Elizabeth (Pear- son) Gaines. The father, a farmer by occupa- tion, was born in South Carolina, December 11, 1811, and came with his father, Stephen Gaines, to Palestine in 1817. They were at Fort La- motte during the Indian tronbles. The mother was born abont three miles sontheast of Pales- tine in 1819, married James A. Gaines in 1836, and they lived on a farm in Montgomery Town- ship more than half a century. The mother died in 1891, and the father in the year follow- ing.

Dnane Gaines attended the Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., and read law in the office of Parker and Crowley in Robinson. Al- though reared on the farm, he never liked the work, but was always seeking to obtain an edu- cation, and tanght school eight years to earn means to pay his way through college. He was admitted to the bar in 1891, and practiced law in Jasper County from 1892 to 1901 in partner- ship with Judge H. M. Kasserman. From the time of casting his first vote, Mr. Gaines was

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an enthusiastic Democrat, and served in the State Legislature one term (1896-98). In 1896 he entered heartily into campaign work and spoke from the same platform with Mr. Bryan. During the campaign of 1900 he founded the "Newton Democrat" and is now one of the pub- lishers of the "Palestine Review," having come to Palestine in 1904, and founded his paper in partnership with Henry O. Smith, under the style of Gaines & Smith. Mr. Gaines is in active law practice aud also conducts a flourishing real- estate and loan business. He came from Pres- cott, Ark., and also spent a year in Texas. He is a man of great energy, successful in whatever he undertakes, and popular with the people throughout the State.

On June 20, 1892, Mr. Gaines was married in Terre Haute, Ind., to Ora E. Gullett of Pales- tine, Ill., and one child, Beulah Marie, was born to them, February 20, 1895. Mr. Gaines is a member of the Christian Church, and con- tibutes liberally towards its support, being popular in its ranks as he is everywhere.

GOGIN, Enoch (deceased), for many years a carpenter of Palestine, Crawford County, was born October 9, 1812, in Clermont Couuty, Ohio, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Scull) Gogin, and grandson of John Gogin. Thomas Gogin was born April 5, 1773, in Morris County, N. J., while his wife was boru in Cape May County, N. J., in 1781. John Gogin was born April 8, 1749, and was lost at sea. The marriage of Thomas Gogin and wife took place August 31, 1796, and they had twelve children. Enoch Gogin was educated in Hamilton County, Ohio, and farmed until he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1860, when he was appointed Postmaster at Palestine, Ill. He resigned that office in 1876 ou account of failiug health. On June 8, 1835, Mr. Gogin married Mary E. Ewell, born No- vember 18, 1817, the daughter of John and Helen Ewell, who died in Cincinnati. Mr. and Mrs. Gogin became the parents of two children : Leon- idas H. and Catherine M. Mr. and Mrs. Gogin were members of the Christian Church, and were worthy and most excellent people who had the esteem of all who knew them.

GOODWIN, Edwin A .- A trip through Craw- ford County will amply repay anyone who seeks confirmation of the statement that the pros- perity of the natiou is evidenced in the farming districts. The great fertile farms, well stocked with sleek cattle, trimly fenced, and ornamented with substantial barns and beautiful residences, demonstrate that the owners are men of intelli- gence who thoroughly understand the business of farming, and who wrest from their land com- fortable incomes. Among the progressive farmers of Hutsonville Towuship, Crawford County, is Edwiu A. Goodwin, who was born near Hutsonville, December 28, 1877, a son of Ephraim and Emily J. (Magill) Goodwin. The father was born in Ohio, November 3, 1841, aud died April 10, 1882. His widow was born near

Palestine, Crawford County, January 3, 1846, a daughter of William Logan Magill, who came from Kentucky to Crawford County about 1826. Mrs. Elizabeth (McColpin) Magill, the mother of Mrs. Goodwin was born January 3, 1820, and reared in Crawford County. The marriage of Ephraim Goodwin and Emily J. Magill took place March 19, 1868, the Rev. William Cain, a Metho- dist clergyman. officiating, the ceremony taking place iu Wesley Chapel, near Palestine.

Edwin A. Goodwin was reared on a farm and educated in the counnon and high schools. be- ing graduated from the latter in Palestine, April 22, 1896. He has always been a farmer and he and his mother have a beautiful home, 80 acres of which comprised the old homestead. They have 125 acres additional, the farm extending to the banks of the Wabash River. The prem- ises are kept up in the most approved condition. and Mrs. Goodwin is very proud of it. for she planned it herself. The milk house, which was designed by her, is built of brick and fully supplied with the latest conveniences. This home is one of the finest in Crawford Couuty and is always pointed out by admiring neighbors of that locality as one of the show places.

Mr. Goodwin was married at the residence of John Black of Hutsonville Township, on January 22, 1905, to Addie Black, born March 5. 1884, and died April 16, 1907. Mr. Goodwin and mother are members of the New Light or Christian Church, although Mrs. Goodwin was formerly a Methodist. They are active in church work and contribute liberally towards its support. The Goodwin family is a well known one in the com- munity, and mother and son are deservedly popu- lar among their neighbors.

GOODWIN, Noah Franklin .- Farmning is becom- ing a regular busiuess, just as any other branch of commercial activity, and the mau who makes a success out of it has to possess certaln quali- ties. He must not be afraid of hard work. or long hours. must be well versed In the rotation of crops, and know how to feed economically his stock. While working at all times to bring about good results, he must be thrifty and bring out of his land all It will produce. Such a farmer Is Noah Franklin Goodwin. of La Motte Township. Crawford County, who was born in the southeast corner of Hutsonville Township, November 7, 1873, a son of David and Stacy A. (Magill) Goodwin, the former of whom was born in Coshocton County. Ohio. December 18, 1843, while his wife was born in Crawford County in 1848. David Goodwin has been a farmer and stock raiser of Crawford County since 1851. and has become very prominent. He is Vice-Pres !- dent and a stockholder of the First National Bank of Palestine, has acted as School Director and School Trustee, and was a member of the Village Board of Palestine for six years.

Iu 1894. Noah Franklin Goodwin began farmiug after having been educated in the district school, the Danville Central Normal School and the Northern Illinois Normal, and he has just com-

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pleted a pleasant two-story, twelve-room home, with all modern improvements, including hot- air heat, running water and electric lights, which make it one of the best residences in the county.

September 30, 1892, Mr. Goodwin married, at Montpelier, Ind., Letitia Stoner. å daughter of Jesse and Mary Stoner. Their children are: Rex. born September 25, 1893; Guel, born Feb- ruary 25, 1895; Orville, March 25, 1901; Roger, July 8, 1904. The Goodwin home is noted for its hospitality, and the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin gather there sure of a cordial wel- wine. Mr. Goodwin has served as School Direc- tor, in religious affiliations is a member of the Union Christian Church of La Motte Township, and his fraternal connections are with the Mod- ern Woodmen.

GORDON, Orin La Rue .- Like so many others who were reared upon a farm, Orin La Rue Gordon has returned to agricultural pursuits after an unusually interesting career as a busi- ness man along other lines, and in the second greatest city in the country. He is an excellent farmer and his experience has taught him the value of system in farming as in any other branch of industrial activity. That he has brought about very satisfactory results is suffi- cient proof of the efficacy of his methods, and the example he sets is being followed by many of his neighbors. Mr. Gordon was born in Iowa, June 27, 1862, a son of Charles A. Gordon, who came from Perry County, Ohio, to Crawford County, Ill., in 1850.

Charles A. Gordon was born in Monmouth County, N. J .. September 18, 1816. His parents were William and Ann (La Rue) Gordon, the former born in New Jersey in 1794, and the lat- ter born September 23, 1798. While residents of New Jersey at the time Charles A. was born, about 1818, William Gordon and his family moved, by overland route, to Morgan County, Ohio, and there the father died in 1830. Then the mother and her children went to Perry County, Ohio. Charles A. Gordon, when about thirteen years old, was apprenticed to a car- penter for three years. He worked at his trade and made his home in Perry County, Ohio, until 1850, when he came to Crawford County, Ill. After his arrival, he bought land in Oblong Town- ship, which he sold a short time afterward, and moved to Cumberland County, where his wife's parents resided. From Cumberland County he moved to Iowa. October 2, 1844, Charles A. Gordon married Mary Bugh, who died August 12, 1851. There were three children of this mar- riage : William Lafayette and Francis Gilbert. who died, and Charles Asbury. On September 2, 1852, Charles A. Gordon married Sarah M. Cal- lahan, daughter of John and Margaret (Brown) Callahan. Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Gordon had six children, five boys and one girl. Theodore C., born September 8, 1853, in Cumberland County, Ill .. married Katherine Albin, who bore him three children, and after her death he mar- ried Elizabeth Knott ; they have one child, and

live at Lonoke, Ark. Ida, born June 22, 1858, in Iowa, married Everett C. Trimble, son of Judge Trimble of Trimble .; they have four boys and two girls, and live in Robinson Township. John O., born in Iowa, August 5, 1860, married Mollie Beabout. they had three children, when he died September 22, 1905. Later his widow married W. G. York of Robinson. Orin La Rue is the next child. Clarence L., born November 25, 1863, in Iowa, married Mary Holt ; he has a daughter, and lives in the State of Washington. George E., born June 6, 1868, lives in Colorado. Charles A. Gordon was himself one of a family of six children : Charles A., William T., Eliza- beth, Lydia. Austin W. and Mary Jane.

After going to Iowa, Mr. Gordon spent eleven years on a farm of his own, and then went to the Platte Valley, near Fremont, Neb., but after four years there he returned to Crawford County, and settled on the farm in La Motte Township, where Orin La Rue Gordon now resides. At the time of his death, he owned 600 acres of fine land, through which the Illinois Central now runs. The station, which is on the land once owned by him, is named after him, Gordon. Mr. Gordon was identified with the Republican party all his life, and he was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Gordon is one of the trustees of the church, which is located on the farm.

The mother of Charles A. Gordon, Mrs. Ann Gordon, after the death of her husband married Peter McMullen, and by her second marriage she had two children : Matilda and Amanda. After Mr. McMullen's death, Mrs. McMullen came to Crawford County, and lived with her children until she died. Charles A. Gordon died in La Motte Township, July 18, 1890. The Gordons are descended from the Scotch nobility.

Orin La Rue Gordon first attended school in a log schoolhouse, in which the floors were made of puncheons and the seats of rude slabs of wood, but the drilling in the common branches was ex- cellent. When he was twenty-one, he took a course of study at the commercial college at Quincy, Ill., and then taught in the business col- lege at Mendota, Ill., for about a year. He then went to Chicago, where he learned stenography and was employed as a stenographer by several large firms, when he entered the employ of the Chicago Daily News as private secretary of A. G. Beausnisne at the head of the publishing de- partment of the paper. Later he accepted the po- sition of superintendent of circulation for the Chicago Inter Ocean, under H. H. Kohlsaat. Still later he went to Cleveland, Ohio, to occupy a position on the Daily Press, but in 1896 re- turned to his old home to take charge of the farm for his mother. Like his father he is a Republican, and he served for eight years as postmaster of Gordon. Mr. Gordon is interested in anything that promises to advance the inter- ests of his community.

In Chicago, October 8, 1889, at the home of his wife's uncle, George E. Plum. Mr. Gordon mar- ried Louise Charlotte Russel, daughter of Dr.

Guoch E. Newlin

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William B. and Viola S. (Goodman) Russel, natives of Vermont and Louisiana, respectively. Mr. Gordon was born in New Orleans, Novell- ber 2, 1867. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are: Ethelbert Callahan, born August 18, 1890, and Charles Russel, born June 13, 1897.

GREEN, Samuel S. (deceased), formerly a farmer of Hutsonville Township, was born in Crawford County, Ill., August 14, 1834, a son of Joseph Green, a native of North Carolina, born in 1802, who came to Union County, 111., in 1822, when twenty years old, and a little later to Crawford County. Here he remained and farmed until 1855, when he died. During the Black Hawk War he served as a soldier. Joseph Green married Queen E. (Lindley), born in North Carolina in 1811, and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom Samuel S. was the fourth child. Samuel S. Green was brought up on the farm, and attended the pub- lic schools. After attaining his majority he be- gan farming on a 40-acre farm near his home- stead, but ten years later returned to his father's home farm, where he continued to reside, event- ually owning 230 acres. On September 13, 1854. he married Alice R. Boyd, born in Crawford County, and they became the parents of these children : Elzora E., Joseph W., James, Henry E., Charles O., Ulysses G., Anna L., and Thomas E. Mr. Green and wife were members of the Friends Church. Politically he was a Republi- can.

GUYER, Cyrus .- The simple creed of the Quaker faith has attracted those whose con- sciences are best suited to its requirements. The preachers of the Society of Friends, more than the clergy of any other denomination, are men of self-sacrificing lives, conscientiously devoted to their work. One of the most eloquent of these preachers is Cyrus Guyer, son of Mrs. John Aaron Guyer, now deceased, who for many years was herself a preacher. Cyrus Guyer was born November 1. 1864, in Hutsonville Township, and after attending school in the township until he was eighteen years of age, spent two terms at the State Normal School, at Terre Haute, Ind. On December 22, 1887, he married Amanda Alice Boyd, daughter of William and Fidelia Boyd. One child was born of this marriage, Mabel Alice, but died in infancy, while the mother died a short time afterward. On September 14, 1893, Mr. Guyer married Martha Ann Rohrer, daugh- ter of David and Margaret (Pierson) Rohrer. Mr. Guyer and his present wife have had child- ren as follows : Louis May, born August 1. 1894; John Henry, born January 13. 1896, died Jan- uary 6, 1899; Eunice E., born October 13, 1899; Ruth Ellen, born January 15, 1901; Naomi Paul- ine, born July 1, 1903; Elma Jane, born August 9, 1905. In politics, Mr. Guyer is a Prohibitlon- Ist. Since 1891, he has been a preacher of the Friends Church. In 1889 he was a student in the biblical department of Earlham College, and also attended during the fall of 1891. He

continned on the farm until 1896, when he was placed in charge of the Friends Church in Georgetown, Vermilion County, Ill., where he re- mained two years, and then was sent to Ridge Farm in the same county, remaining there two years. He also spent two years at Benson Chapel, near Sullivan, Ind., and for two years preached throughout Sullivan County, Ind. He then returned to his farm of 120 acres, but has a large following in his vicinity and is greatly beloved by those who sit under his gospel teach- ing. He inherits his mother's eloquence and power, and has brought many into the church.

GUYER, John Aaron .- The history of Illinols is intimately associated with the records of the pioneers, who, braving all hardships incident to frontier life, came into the State, entered land and developed fertile farms from the timber, swamp and prairie lands. One of the families that has long been associated with the annals of Crawford County. bears the name of Guyer, and one of its most prominent representatives is the venerable John Aaron Guyer, born Novem- ber 12, 1826, in Hutsonville Township, a son of Aaron Guyer, a native of North Carolina, who came west to Paoli, Ind., where he remained a year and then located in Hutsonville Township, Crawford County. Ill., about 1818. taking up Government land at $1.25 per acre. The entire trip from North Carolina to Indiana, and thence to Crawford County, was made in a covered wagon. Aaron Guver was accompanied to Paoli, Ind., by three brothers, Jesse, Exum and Silas, all eventually locating in Crawford County, where they died. When Aaron Guyer came to the county it was practically undeveloped. Wild animals of all kinds were numerous and Indians plentiful. It was after he located here that the settlers were forced to take refuge in the fort near Hutsonville, because of the outbreak of the Indians.

During his life Aaron Guyer owned 103 acres of land, and improved most of it before his death. He first built a small log house, in which his son John Aaron was born, but about 1822 built a frame house, sawing the lumber for it with a whipsaw. In those early days he threshed wheat with a flail, and fanned it with a sheet. He cut his wheat with a cradle and nap hooks. He also built a log barn, and the greater part of his culti- vating was done with oxen. The death of Aaron Guyer occurred in Hutsonville Township in 1835. He had the following children: Mary, who at the age of eighty-eight is living in Crawford County ; Harvey, deceased ; John Aaron ; Sarah and Eliza, both deceased.

John Aaron Guyer was educated in the sub- scription schools of his neighborhood, and after he was twenty-one. he taught school himself, his early educational advantages having been rather meager, he made the most of them, and Is a very well-informed man. He was marrled April 2, 1851. to Jane Hlll, daughter of John and Sarah Hill, natives of North Carolina and Ken- tucky, respectively. As far as can be ascertained.

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the Hill family formed one of the party, of which Aaron Guyer was a member, on the trip from North Carolina to Paoli, Ind., and thence to Crawford County, Ill. They had children as fol- lows : Henry Clinton, born February 7, 1852, and died in infancy ; Albert, born October 28, 1853, who married Mary Belle Heard, daughter of William B. and Mary Jane Heard, and they had three children. His wife dying, John Aaron Guyer married again. and by his second marriage had the following children : Adolphus, born Au- gust 30, 1855; Leander, born June 14, 1858; Louisa, born August 3, 1860; Caroline, born Oc- tober 3, 1862; Cyrus, born November 1, 1864, Isabel, born December 23, 1866; Clifford, born January 16, 1867; Woodford born January 28, 1871; Emily, born August 10, 1873, and a son who was born October 28, 1876, and who died when two days old. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Guyer who are deceased are: Woodford, Clifford, Mrs. Louisa Boyd and Miss Caroline Guyer.

Mr. Guyer originally owned 900 acres, but has divided his property among his children. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and has taken a deep interest in the cause of temperance. For thirty- five years he has been a member of the Society of Friends, in which he is an elder. For twelve years he was Justice of the Peace, proving one of the most popular officials of Crawford County.

The second Mrs. Guyer was born January 19, 1834. and died January 9, 1903, aged nearly sev- enty years. For many years she was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends. For a quarter of a century she devoted herself to rearing her family, and then spent the remainder of her life, with the exception of the last two years, when ill health prevented her from performing her duties, as a preacher of the Quaker faith. Her eloquence and her exposition of the simple faith of the Society of Friends made her a power among the Quakers throughout this part of the State. She performed the marriage ceremony for one of her sons and two grandchildren, as well as others. She was a woman who com- manded not only veneration. but love, and the mourning for her loss was universal, and not confined to her church. Her neighbors knew her as the kind, sympathetic, helpful friend, while her family never knew what it was to want for any- thing because of her watchful care. Mrs. Guyer was a niece of Dr. Hill, who for so many years ministered to the people of this locality. Her sis- ter, Mrs. Martha Newlin, still lives as do her children. Probably there will never be another preacher of the Quaker faith in this vicinity that will possess such power as she, for she was a most remarkable woman in every respect.

HALL, Harry .- Most intimately associated with the growth and character of any community are its business interests. They mould the life of the people, give direction to their efforts and crystallize the present and future possibilities of the locality into concrete form. The leading business men of a town are its greatest bene-

factors, silently controlling the forces that bring progress and prosperity, and especially is this true of those who are interested in the handling of realty interests. Harry Hall, of Oblong, Craw- ford County, Ill., is one of the most progressive young men of this locality in the general real- estate and insurance business at Oblong, Ill. Mr. Hall was born in Milan, Ripley County, Ind., January 15, 1874, a son of Lewis and Olive (Smith) Hall. Lewis Hall was born near Ham- ilton, Hamilton County, Ohio, and was a farmer. At an early day the Hall family emigrated to Milan, Ind., where lived Leander and Annie (Sutton) Smith, parents of Olive Smith. Lewis Hall, the father of Harry Hall, enlisted in 1863, at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, in the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, served for a time in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry, and was mustered out by General Order at Indianapolis in 1865. His death occurred October 7, 1902, on the old homestead at Milan. Ind .. aged sixty- seven. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had eleven children, two of whom are deceased, but five sons and four daughters survive.

Harry Hall worked on a farm at Milan. Ind., and was there educated in the public schools. After leaving school, he was employed as a brakeman on a freight train of the Balti- more & Ohio South Western Railroad, but soon began learning the carpenter trade and fol- lowed it for seven years and four months, when he accepted his present position, for which he is well fitted. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally is an Odd Fellow, belonging to En- campment .No. 184, Oblong, and Subordinate Lodge, 850, Oblong, and is extremely popular throughout the county where he is so well and favorably known.

HAMILTON, Mahlon Milburn .- The discovery of oil in Crawford County has materially in- creased the value of property and worked an astonishing transformation in its industrial life, and there are comparatively few among the county's prosperous citizens who are not inter- ested, directly or indirectly, in its oil products. Mahlon Milburn Hamilton, one of the well- known citizens of Robinson, Ill., a Civil War veteran and leading business men, is one of those especially interested in this great industry. He was born at Chatham, Licking County, Ohio, November 15, 1840, a son of William Findley and Eliza (Milburn) Hamilton, the former born in Washington County, Pa., June 18, 1813, and the latter in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1819. The progenitor of the Hamilton family landed at New Castle, Del., August 14, 1729, coming from County Antrim, Ireland, and Mr. Hamilton's great-great-great-grandfather, John Hamilton, was the father of five children, namely : John, George, James, Florence and Jane. His great- grandfather, William Hamilton, was a captain in the Revolutionary War, having enlisted at Gettysburg. Adams County, Pa., and served three years, while his son, also named William, en- listed in Washington County, Pa., in the War of

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 147

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