Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 148

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 148

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1812, in which he served one year. The latter moved to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1818, and died in Delaware County, that State, in 1869.

William Findley Hamilton, the father of Mah- lon M., was married to Eliza Milburn in Bel- mont County, Ohio, January 21, 1836, moved to Licking County four years later, and to Rob- inson, Crawford County, Ill., in 1852. He was engaged in the manufacture of pumps in Ohio, but upon coming to Crawford County purchased 160 acres of land and devoted his time chiefly to farming, meanwhile, however, making many pumps by hand after locating in Oblong Town- ship. He improved the farm which he first pur- chased, as well as two other farms, and engaged extensively in land speculation, selling a number of properties. The mother died in Robinson on July 22, 1890, the father surviving until June 10, 1892. They had seven children, as fol- lows: John H., Meredith B., Mahlon M., Wil- llam B., James B., Mary J., and Cornelius O., all of whom are living except Mary J.

Mahlon Milburn Hamilton spent his childhood on his father's farm, and attended the country schools of his native locality. In the year 1860 he went to Kentucky, and the outbreak of the Civil War found him there. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Illinois Infantry under the second call for troops during the Civil War, and after his discharge that summer, re- enlisted in the Thirtieth Illinois Regiment, In September, going into camp at Cairo for the win- ter. After the battle of Belmont, Mo., in which he participated, he joined the expedition up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, taking part in the battles of Forts Donelson and Henry, after which he was sent to the hospital. Being dis- charged therefrom in July, he again enlisted as Sergeant in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Illinois Regiment in the spring of 1864, continuing with this regiment on the Iron Mountain Railroad and in the raids against the rebel Gen. Price. He received his honorable dis- charge in 1865, having the record of an able, brave and faithful soldier.

In 1869. Mr. Hamilton went to Texas, where he was engaged in the cattle business until 1877 when returning East, he located in Ohio and later in Pennsylvania, where he was connected with mining ventures from 1881 to 1891, in which latter year going to Baker County, Ore., where he operated the Era gold mine, of which he now owns about one-fourth. After the Spanish- American War, Mr. Hamilton spent eight months in Cuba, and since that time has been engaged In coal-mining and prospecting, and also has large oil interests. Mr. Hamilton is a Repub- lican in his political views, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church. He has never married.

HAMILTON, Merideth, one of the substantial and thoroughly reliable farmers of Oblong Town- ship. and a man who has been largely interested in the development of his community, was born in Licking County, Ohio, October 12, 1842, a son of William F. and Eliza (Milburn) Hamilton,

the former born in Washington County, Pa., June 18, 1813, and the latter in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1819, their marriage taking place in Bel- mont County, January 21, 1836, whence they moved four years later to Licking County, the same State, and to Robinson, Crawford County, Ill., in 1852.

The first member of this branch of the Hamil- ton family in America was John Hamilton, who arrived at New Castle, Del., August 14, 1729. from County Antrim, Ireland. A descendant of this family was William Hamilton, the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who en- listed at Gettysburg. Pa., and became a cap- tain in the Revolutionary War, his son and name- sake, William, also serving one year in the War of 1812, having enlisted in Washington County, Pa. The latter moved from Pennsylvania to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1818, and died in Dela- ware County, that State, in 1869. (For further details of the life of William F. Hamilton, see sketch of Mahlon MI. Hamilton, immediately pre- ceding. )

Meredith was ten years old when the family came to Crawford County, in 1852, and he fol- lowed up the schooling he had secured in Lick- ing County, Ohio. with what was obtainable in Crawford County, walking three miles to attend the subscription school. When only a little over eighteen years of age, he joined the Union army at Robinson, and had the good fortune of get- ting into the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, commanded by General U. S. Grant. After his enlistment he was ordered to Mattoon, Ill., and served all through the war, being mus- tered out at Springfield, Ill. After the war, he came to Crawford County, and resumed farming. His first purchase was 40 acres in Oblong Town- ship, to which he later added 80 acres adjoining, and he now has a very valuable farmn.

Mr. Hamilton was married in Cincinnati, Ohio. in 1870 to Christine Knicly, who died in the fall of 1879. Their children were: William, Blanch, Nellie, deceased. Ten years afterwards Mr. Hamilton married Rose McColpin, daughter of John McColpin, who was a Crawford County farmer, and Mrs. Hamilton was born and reared in the county. Mr. Hamilton is a Republican, and has taken an active part in local affairs. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Methodist Church to which Mr. Hamilton has been a liberal contributor for a number of years.

HAND, Woodford D., a member of one of the old pioneer families of Crawford County, was born July 29, 1835, on the old homestead entered by his grandfather. Mr. Hand is a son of James and Nancy (Draper) Hand. the former of whom was born near Chillicothe, Ohlo, May 20, 1805, and was brought to Crawford County by his parents in 1821. The death of James Hand occurred October 9, 1876. During 1827 James Hand was elected as Second Lieuten ant of the Sixteenth Regiment Illinois Militia : he was Justice of the Peace, Associate Justice of Crawford County, and a very prominent man generally. Mrs. Hand was born in North Car-

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olina, December 12, 1806, and died in August, 1860. There were three children born to them, of whom Woodford D. was the eldest. He was bronght np on the farm and attended the sub- scription schools. On October 5, 1861, he en- listed in Company D, Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry as a private, and was mustered out as Captain of his Company. He participated in nearly all the engagements of his regiment, and was with Sherman in his "March to the Sea." Returning home after the war, Mr. Hand began farming on the home farm, and became one of the prosperons farmers of Hutsonville Town- ship. He married on October 21, 1855, Mary J. Cox, danghter of Needham Cox, her father be- ing a native of Wayne County, N. C., while his danghter was born in Crawford Connty, May 3, 1838. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hand : Malinda E., Mary B., Daniel W., Angusta B. and William S. Mr. Hand is a Republican and has served as Justice of the Peace and School Treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Hand are Baptists.

HARNESS, John C. (deceased), was born Sep- tember 27, 1812, in Ross County, Ohio, a son of Job and Rachel (Liming) Harness, and grand- son of Michael Harness. The latter was of Ger- man descent, born in Virginia, and served in the Revolution and the War of 1812. Job Harness was born on the South Branch in Virginia, Feb- ruary 11, 1748, and in 1800, was taken to Ham- ilton County, Ohio, by his parents, and imme- diately after his marriage in 1808, moved to Ross County, Ohio. In 1817 he located in Vincennes, Ind., where he lost his wife. She was born in New Jersey, Angust 12, 1786, and died Angnst 7, 1817. She was the mother of three children, of whom John C. was the youngest. After her death, in 1818, Job Harness moved to a farm in La Motte Prairie which he had purchased while residing in Vincennes. Five years later he returned to Ross County, but in 1830 came back to Crawford Connty, and died there No- vember 28, 1834.

John C. Harness helped his father and was well educated in the high school at Cincinnati, remaining at the paternal home until he was twenty-one, when he began supporting himself, engaging in farming and boating on the river. In 1849 he went to California, but in 1854 re- turned after the death of his brother Isaac, and resnmed farming operations. In 1855 he located at Hutsonville and operated a mill for many years. In 1855 he was married in Terre Haute, Ind., to Panlina C. Wood, a native of Ohio, and they became the parents of two children: Stacey E., and Eleanor P. Mr. Harness was active as a Democrat ; belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Hntsonville, and served on the Town Board of Hutsonville for five years. He and his wife early joined the Christian Church.

HARPER, George W., for many years editor and proprietor of the "Robinson Argus." was

horn near Richmond, Ind., and brought up on a farm nntil thirteen years old, when the family removed to Centerville, Ind., and George began work in a cabinet-making shop, although he wanted to enter a printing office. In the spring of 1853 he returned to the farm, and in October of that year apprenticed himself to Holloway & Davis in the Palladinm office at Richmond, Ind. Coming to Illinois in 1856, he started the first paper ever published in Robinson, known as the "Gazette;" in 1859 he published the "Crawford Banner," at Palestine, and in 1860 became con- nected with a paper at Pana. In 1862 he re- turned to Eastern Indiana and took charge of a paper there, but came back to Robinson in 1863 and established the Robinson Argus. Mr. Harper has been very prominent as a Republi- can, and was appointed Postmaster three times ; he served two terms as Justice of the Peace, was President of the Board of Trustees of the Institution for the Deaf and Dnmb at Jackson- ville for four years, and served as Presidential Elector in 1904. He has been instrumental in securing many important changes in municipal and connty government, not only throngh his personal influence. hnt by airing matters fear- lessly in his paper.

Mr. Harper was married December 24, 1857, to Hannah Amanda, eldest daughter of Dr. Nel- son Goodwin, of La Motte Township, who died in 1870, leaving four children. Mr. Harper married Miss Lncy H. Gattan, of Martin Town- ship, in 1871.

HARPER, Judge John B. (deceased), for many years one of the representative men of Pales- tine, Crawford Connty, was born February 6. 1813, in Knox County, Ind., a son of James and Peggy (Walker) Harper. James was born May 15, 1790, in Fayette County, Ky., and died De- cember 1, 1829, in Knox County, Ohio, after hav- ing been a soldier in the Indian War of 1812. His wife was born July 25, 1795, in Mercer Connty, Ind., and she died Angust 26, 1826. in Knox County, Ind. George Harper, grandfather of Judge Harper, was one of the pioneers of Fayette Connty, Ky., and was in the Revolu- tion and on account of his services received a grant of land in Indiana from the Government. He built a fort on his property and began to farm it.

After an exciting pioneer life during his boy- hood, John B. Harper came to Palestine in 1830, and learned the blacksmith trade, and fol- lowed it for thirty-six years, and then com- menced to farm. On November 16, 1837, he mar- ried Abigail Everingham, born November 19, 1820, in Ohio. a danghter of Enoch and Triphena (Kitchell) Everingham, who came from the East. Mrs. Harper became the mother of six children : James E., Mary V., Rhoda A., Charles O., Lizzie Bell and Lucy J. For many years Mr. Harper served as Justice of the Peace and County Mag- istrate, was School Treasurer. and from 1869 to 1877 was County Judge. During all his life he was a Democrat.

TERRE

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HASKETT, E. C. (deceased), who for many years was a leading merchant of Palestine, Craw- ford County, Ill., was born near Hutsonville, son of John and Nancy (West) Haskett, natives of North Carolina. The father came to Craw- ford County at an early period, and lived there until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1841. He and his wife became the parents of six children. E. C. Haskett attended school only a short time in Hutsonville, but he learned from reading and observation. Remaining on the homestead until he was sixteen, Mr. Haskett entered a general store in Hutsonville, remain- ing there six years, when he went to Melrose and clerked for a year. From Melrose he came to Palestine, and in 1852 he entered the employ of Preston Brothers, becoming their partner in 1855. Ten years later he and his brothers bought the business, and carried on the largest estab- lishment of their kind in the State. In 1876 they dissolved the firm, and in 1880 Mr. Haskett opened a general store. The first marriage of Mr. Haskett occurred when he was united to E. A. Kitchell, born in December, 1827, and who died in 1867, the mother of four children: Cat- lin P., Ida B., Fanny B. and John C. The second wife of Mr. Haskett was Mrs. Sarah E. Kitchell, born May 30, 1832, in Palestine, the daughter of Dr. H. Mauzy, and widow of a Mr. Kitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Haskett had two children: Ed- mund C. and Sarah E., while by her first -mar- riage Mrs. Haskett had two children: Richard G. Kitchell and Garvin Kitchell. Mr. Haskett was an Odd Fellow, a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

HENRY, Levi (deceased), formerly associated with the best farming interests of Oblong Town- ship, was born in Perry County, Ohio. September 20, 1832, a son of George Henry, also born in Ohio, and who in 1848 brought his family to Oblong Township, Crawford County, settling on wild land. where he died, leaving Levi 160 acres of land, to which the latter added 250 acres. Levi remained with his father until he was thirty-one years old before he commenced farm- ing on his own account. devoting his attention to grain and stock-raising. On February 16, 1860, he married in Crawford County, Catherine Dennis, born in Ohio, December 28. 1838, and they became the parents of six children : Anna C., Laura J., Marion Silas, Harlan Preston, George Edward and Estella. In politics Mr. Henry was a Democrat and served for two years as Highway Commissioner, discharging the. duties of his office to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.

HENRY, Samuel .- The success of any man means that much advancement for his com- munity, for unless the individual succeeds. the community will have no industrial prosperity. Samuel Henry, of Oblong Township, Crawford County, Ill., has done his part in establishing and maintaining the preeminence of his locality as an agricultural center. He was born in Perry

County, Ohio, January 21, 1837, a son of George Henry (now deceased), a farmer and black- smith, born and reared in Ohio, where he mar- ried Anna Reric, also a native of Ohio. They became the parents of children as follows : John, Levi, Peter, Samuel and Elizabeth, all born in Perry County, Ohio.

Samuel Henry was a boy when the famlly came to Crawford County and located on his present farm. He assisted his father and brothers in clearing off the property, the original farm consisting of about 1,000 acres, for which the father paid $1.25 per acre. On February 17, 1859, Mr. Henry married Dorcas Manhart, daughter of John Manhart, and born in Jen- nings County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Henry be- came the parents of the following children : William Frederick, George W. (deceased), Thomas W., Charles E., Eliza Jane, Sarah R. and Clara May. Mr. Henry is a large property owner, being the proprietor of 160 acres on Sec- tions 15 and 16, 40 acres on Section 21, 80 acres on Section 22, and 32 acres on Section 27. In 1906 oil wells were located on several of his farms, and there are now sixteen in operation, which has greatly increased the value of his property. He is a man who has always worked hard for what he secured. and at the same time has endeavored to deal fairly as a neighbor and perform his duty as head of the family. His children have been given good educational ad- vantages, and are prosperous and happy. It is such men as Mr. Henry who have made Illinois what it is to-day, one of the greatest States in the Union.

HICKS, G. B. (deceased), who for many years was one of the leading- merchants of Hardin- ville, Crawford County, was born in that county, October 23, 1843. His father died before his son's birth, and when the latter was only ten years old, he began working out by the month, continu- ing thus until 1861 when he enlisted in Com- pany G, Seventh Missouri Volunteer Mounted Infantry. In the battle of Raymond, May 12, 1863, he was shot through the body. He also participated in the battles of Corinth. Shiloh and Grand Gulf. On account of his wound. he was honorably discharged, October 23. 1863, and it was two years before his wound . healed. As soon as he was able he bought a farm in Martin Township. but in seven years he moved to Har- dinville, although he did not sell his farm, and embarked in merchandising. In 1872 Mr. Hicks married in Lawrence County, Nancy Allen San- ders, and they had three children: Bettie I ... Mary Florence and Lewis Calvin. Mr. Hicks was a Democrat and held the office of Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order. Hardinville Lodge No. 756.

HIGHSMITH, John Douglas .- Nuincrous are the changes which have occurred in Southern Illinois in the past decade, but probably the greatest of all were caused by the discovery of

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oil in Crawford County. Men grew rich in a night, new towns sprung up in almost as short a time, and the whole county became almost im- mediately one of the State's busiest centers of business. John Douglas Highsmith, of Section 31, Honey Creek Township, is the owner of an excellent tract of 350 acres of land, on which are located nine oil-bearing wells, which are pro- ducing rapidly. Mr. Highsmith was born Jan- uary 1, 1856, in Honey Creek Township, the son of A. W. Highsmith. a pioneer farmer of this sec- tion, who was born May 7, 1815, and a grandson of James Highsmith. James Highsmith was born and reared in Kentucky, and settled in Crawford County, Ill., among the early pioneers. He became a farmer and pioneer school teacher of Montgomery Township, where he reared his family, and here A. W. Highsmith was educated and reared to manhood. He married Cynthia S. Montgomery, who was born April 1, 1819, in Montgomery Township, after which he moved to Honey Creek Township, where he entered 180 acres of land from the Government. Clearing and cultivating his land he added thereto until he had 230 acres. In addition to this he taught school for some years in the old log schoolhouses of Honey Creek Township, and here his death occurred. He and his wife had twelve children .. of whom John Douglas was the ninth, and six of whom grew to maturity : Sarah Jane, Harriet, William F., subject. Leander and Levi. Of these Sarah Jane and Leander are now deceased. The other children died in infancy. A. W. High- smith was a lifelong Democrat, and took an act- ive part in local matters, holding various town- ship offices. Fraternally he was connected with the Masonic fraternity, and in religious faith a Baptist, dying in his fifty-fourth year. .

John Douglas Highsmith was educated in the public schools of Honey Creek Township, his father being his teacher, and remained at home until the death of his parents, when he pur- chased 80 acres in Section 31. This he cleared and improved for farming, and kept steadily adding to his holdings until he now owns 350 acres of fine land. nearly all of which is cleared, on which he is engaged in practical farming and stock- raising. Oil was located on Mr. Highsmith's property in 1906, and nine wells are now in op- eration. In political matters he is a Democrat and has taken an active part in local affairs.

On December 27, 1888, Mr. Highsmith was married to Julia E. VanWinkle, daughter of William VanWinkle, of Honey Creek Township, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Highsmith are members of the Christian Church.

HIGHSMITH, Levi M .- The discovery of oil in Crawford County has opened up a new page in its history, and has brought into its confines men interested in the development of oil and the prosecution of the various other lines of indus- trial activity associated with it. Land hereto- fore of little value suddenly became almost priceless, and men who, prior to the discovery

of oil, were in moderate circumstances, found themselves rich. Levi M. Highsmith, of Honey Creek Township, Crawford County, a farmer and stock-raiser, is one of those whose land has yielded up some of the riches hidden in it, oil having been discovered on his property in 1906, and he has an oil well and a gas well in active operation.

Born in Honey Creek Township, February 1, 1863, Levi M. Highsmith is the youngest son of A. W. Highsmith, an extended sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. High- smith attended school in the log school-house of the Township, where so many of Crawford County's leading men received an education, and helped his father clear the homestead. When but fourteen years old, however, he left home and remained with his sister, Mrs. Evagorus Rundle, until his marriage, December 11, 1883, to Alice Weger, a daughter of Neil Weger. As was her husband, Mrs. Highsmith was born and reared in Honey Creek Township, and they have become the parents of the following children : Oito, Burril, Oscar, Lester, Lena, Julia and Or- man, all born and reared in Honey Creek Town- ship. After marriage the young couple moved to their present home, which then consisted of 40 acres. This was in brush and timber, but he cleared it off, and made all of the improvements, including the erection of a comfortable residence and commodious barn, as well as other suitable outbuildings. His land now consists of 160 acres, which he devotes to farming and stock-raising. When he married he had no assets, but to-day he is in very comfortable circumstances, and has himself to thank for his prosperity.

Always a Democrat, Mr. Highsmith has been active in behalf of his party, and has served for the past four years as constable, for three years has been Township Clerk, and for fifteen years was School Director. He is a Mason, belonging to Russelville Lodge, No. 348. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church and are very popular in the church, as well as in the township where they have many warm, personal friends.

HIGHSMITH, Nathaniel Johnson, of Robinson, Ill., member of the old established and well known firm of Highsmith Brothers. importers of French, German and Belgian stallions and one of the most prominent men in political circles of Crawford County, Ill., was born on a farm five miles south of Robinson, March 11, 1866, a son of John Madison and Catherine (Seaney) Highsmith. John Madison Highsmith, now de- ceased, was born October 27, 1836, in Mont- gomery Township, Crawford County, a son of Mathes Highsmith, and was the only survivor of a family of eight children. When only sixteen he began to earn his own living, and supple- mented his common school education by extensive reading. On November 15, 1856, John M. High- smith married Catherine Seaney, whose parents were among the early pioneers of Crawford County. Mr. and Mrs. Highsmith had children

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as follows : W. Frank, member of the firm of Highsmith Brothers, and has two daughters and two sons; Belle, who married William Allison, a farmer of Bismark, Ill., and they have two daughters and fonr sons; Jane, who married S. N. Hope, a dealer in fine horses, residing in Rob- inson, and they have three danghters and two sons; James Marion, who was a cripple from birth and died when thirty-five; Emma, who married Cuba Reinoehl, a merchant at Rolla, Mo., and they have one son ; Nathaniel J., mar- ried ; Harmon E. meniber of Highsmith Brothers firm, is unmarried and lives in Robinson, Ill .; Oscar O., who resides on his farm in Robinson Township, married Julia Barrick but has no children ; Mattie, who married Charles M, Murphy, a merchant of Terre Hante, Ind., and they have one child; Charles, died in infancy, and Rose, who married John E. Griswold, a farmer of Robinson Township, and they have two daughters.

John Madison Highsmith spent his life in Crawford County, soon after his marriage mov- ing to a farm in the northeastern part of Honey Creek Township, where the family resided until September, 1891, when they removed to Robinson. Mr. Highsmith added, from time to time, to his acreage and at the time of his demise owned 400 acres of as valuable land as could be found in the township. He farmed, raised stock, and engaged extensively in buying and shipping stock, and between 1870 and 1880 was the most extensive stock-dealer in Crawford County, and until three years prior to his death. was actively engaged in this line. A life-long Democrat, Mr. Highsmith was honored by his party many times and served in many of the township offices, from 1S80 to 1884 served as Sheriff of Crawford County, and in 1884 was elected Representative in the General Assembly from the Forty-fifth District. His death occurred on November 16, 1903, and the funeral.services were held at his late residence, the Rev. S. A. Caldwell officiating. Mr. Highsmith was one of Nature's noblemen, a man strictly honorable in all his dealings, truly public-spirited, who held the confidence and es- teem of his fellow citizens, and commanded nni- versal regard.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 148

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