Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 155

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 155

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L. 12. Dohill

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Mickey of Colorado. Dr. Hale died August 24, 1892. Mrs. Hale makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay, being now past eighty-four years of age. She is in possession of all her faculties, and talks entertainingly of early days.

In politics Mr. Lindsay is a Republican and in 1878 was elected Sheriff of Crawford County, overcoming a Democratic majority of 300. He has also served ten years as Secretary of the School Board. After occupying the office of Sheriff, he learned the business of photography, which he followed from 1S80 to 1902 when he was appointed Postmaster of Robinson, and held that office for five years and two months. He now lives retired in his beantiful home, sur- rounded with orchard, garden, and an extensive lawn, devoting himself to the raising of choice fruits, vegetables and Plymonth Rock chickens, the latter having won the "blue ribbon" at vari- ons exhibitions. In addition to his handsome home property, Mr. Lindsay owns large oil pro- dncing lands in partnership with his brother, E. E. Lindsay. These brothers have a good farm one mile north of Hardinville, on which are eleven oil producing wells. Mr. Lindsay also owns a magnificent ten-acre orchard just ontside the sonthwestern limits of Robinson. The Lind- say grapes are favorites throughont Crawford County, and Mr. Lindsay takes great pride in all his products of which he has made some beautiful photographic studies.

For twenty-five years Mr. Lindsay has been a member of the Methodist Church, and has served for many years on the official Board. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. He is recognized as one of the representative men of Crawford County, and has ably borne his part in its upbuilding and development. As a public official his record is absolutely clean, and he has discharged the duties pertaining to his several offices with the same conscientious honesty that characterizes whatever he attempts.

LITTLEJOHN, John William .- The agricultural prosperity of Crawford Connty is the outcome of the individual efforts of the farmers located there, whose broad fields, sleek cattle and com- modious buildings testify to their prosperity. John William Littlejohn is one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Martin Township, and is conveniently located on Section 31. He was born in Honey Creek Township, April 6, 1864, a son of Duncan Littlejohn, now deceased, who was a farmer and early settler of Martin Township, although born in Alabama. From Ala- bama the family moved to Kentucky, thence to Indiana and there he was married to Elizabeth Suell, and two children were born to them, a soul and a daughter. Coming to Illinois with his family. Duncan Littlejohn settled in Martin Township, but later spent ten years in Northern Illinois and Kansas engaged in farming. His

wife died in 1854, and in 1856 he married Penel- ope (Van Meter) Diel, who was born in Ken- tucky and reared in Illinois. Her parents settled in Crawford Connty, where her father entered

land from the Government, which he cleared and improved. She was the widow of William Diel and had a daughter by her first marriage. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn, of whom William Littlejohn was the fifth child and third son. At the time of his death Duncan Littlejohn owned a farm in Martin Township, where he carried on farming and stock-raising. Politieally he was a Democrat, and became very prominent in township affairs, holding the office of Highway Commissioner for three terms. He died in 1897 at the age of sixty-nine years.

John William Littlejohn was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and saw something of the conntry in Northern Illinois and Kansas. On January 27, 1883, he married Anna Dunlop, who was born in Honey Creek Township but at- tended school in Martin Township. Her father Daniel Dunlop, now deceased, was a farmer of Martin Township and one of its early settlers. Mrs. Littlejohn's mother's maiden name was Maria Simons, and she was a member of an old family of Crawford Connty. When Mr. Little- john came from Kansas he bonght 20 acres in Martin Township and began to clear and cnlti- vate it. Having sold this in the fall of 1SSS he moved to his present home, then consisting of 40 acres of raw land, which he cleared and has added to it until he now has 200 acres, the greater part of which he has cleared himself. Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn are the parents of two children : John Franklin and Clarence, born in Rock Town- ship, Cowley County, Kansas, and in Martin Township, Crawford Connty, Ill., where both were educated. Mr. Littlejohn has spent hils life farming and stock-raising and thoroughly understands every part of the work. He has been a Democrat since he cast his first vote. and has taken an an active part in local affairs. For six years he held the position of Ilighway Com- missioner, and is widely known and respected in his community.

LOWE, Judge Ausby Lawrence .- The Bench and Bar of Illinois have able representatives in Crawford County, men of learning, depth of character and keen discernment. Their long as- sociation with men of like caliber has rounded character, increased their versatility, and de- veloped judges and lawyers of recognized ability. Perhaps no man so entirely carries out this gen- eralization as does Judge Ansby Lawrence Lowe. Judge Lowe was born at Hutsonville, Crawford County, Ill., November 18. 1857, a son of Isaac N. Lowe, who was a native of Lawrence County. Ill., born November 9. 1829, and died on the sixth day of May. 1882, having been a pioneer of the county and a merchant of Hutsonville. The maiden name of Judge Lowe's mother was Amanda O. Hurst, who was born at Hutsonville, on the 15th day of June, 1839, dying on March 13, 1860. The father served during the Civil War and was mustered out at its close. On the maternal side of the family, Judge Lowe comes of the Barlow stock. his maternal grandparents being John R. and Nancy ( Barlow) Hurst, who were among the earliest pioneers of Crawford

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County, his grandmother being one of the first white children born in the County.

Judge Lowe attended the common school in Hutsonville, then took a course at Earlham College, at Richmond, Ind., after which he came to Robinson on December 3, 1877, when only twenty years old and accepted the position of Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, under Cir- cuit Clerk John T. Cox. After seven years spent in this office, he became a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the office of Circuit Clerk, but was defeated. He then entered the office of Callahan & Jones, one of the leading law firms of Robinson, and after reading law for three years, was admitted to the Bar in 18SS. Imme- diately thereafter he was made a member of the firm, the style being changed to Callahan, Jones & Lowe, which has continued. In June, 1893, Judge Lowe was elected Judge of the County Court, to fill an unexpired term of eighteen months. He then received the nomination for regular term in 1894, but was defeated. In 1898, however, he was elected and re-elected in 1902. He was the only Democrat elected on the ticket in 1902, which was an evidence of the apprecia- tion of the people for his work. In 1898, only one other Democrat was elected with him, Ed- ward Douglas, Superintendent of Schools. Judge Lowe also served two terms as Master in Chancery.

On November 20, 1879, Judge Lowe was mar- ried at York, Clark County, to Miss Alice Caro- line Hodge, daughter of William B. Hodge, St. and Calista (Hillebert) Hodge. Mr. Hodge was a prosperous merchant and lived to the extreme age of ninety years. Mrs. Lowe was born at York, September 19, 1859, departed this life Au- gust 28, 1905, her remains being interred in the new cemetery at Hutsonville. She was forty- six years old at the time of her death, and has been deeply mourned, not only by her immediate family, but the many friends whom she had at- tached to her. Four children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Lowe. Ausby Lyman, born August 18, 1880, attended the high school and after graduating went to DePauw University at Greencastle, Ind., from which he was graduated in the class of 1902. He then attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating in the class of 1905, and took an interne course at St. Eliza- beth Hospital, Chicago, being there sixteen months. Thus fully equipped, he located in Robinson, where he has been ever since success- fully engaged in his profession. The second member of the family is Clarence Hodge. born June 25, 1883. He attended High School and then began a course in dentistry in Chicago, and is now in his senior year. Ethelbert Coke. born February 25, 1888, graduated from High School in 1906, and is now a sophomore at DePauw Uni- versity. Florence, the youngest, born September 17, 1890, is now in the senior year of the Robin- son High School. Judge Lowe is one of the leaders of his party in Crawford County, as well as in his profession, and, although he has already given so many years of his life to public service, he will without doubt be called upon to fill still

higher positions within the gift of the people who know his exceptional qualifications and re- spect his judicial character and his conscien- tious discharge of his official duties.

LOWRANCE, Greenbury .- Kentucky has fur- nished Illinois with some of its best citizens, the ever restless spirit of the born pioneer, ever pushing on towards the receding line of civili- zation, having induced many to leave comfortable homes in Kentucky to seek new ones within the confines of the Prairie State. G. B. Lowrance, a farmer and stock-raiser of Honey Creek Town- ship, residing on Section 29, was born in Owen County, Ky., February 28, 1843, a son of William H. Lowrance, now deceased, who came from his native State to Honey Creek Township, Craw- ford County, with his Kentucky bred and reared wife, Drusilla Baker, and his five children, four of whom were born in Kentucky. This family exodus took place in 1843, and after his arrival in Crawford County, the father bought 40 acres of timber land and built upon it a home for his family. After clearing off his farm, he sold it and bought another of 40 acres in the same township, on which he built a log house, did some clearing and there remained until his death. His widow died at the home of her son Greenbury.

William H. Lowrance, with his son G. B. Low- rance, enlisted in September, 1861, in Company D, Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Two other sons also participated in the war, Hiram being a member of the Thirtieth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and William H., a member of the Forty-first Illinois, and after serving their term of enlistment, all came out unharmed and became farmers of Honey Creek Township. The father was transferred to the invalid corps after two years of service, but Greenbury continued with his regiment until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Fredericktown, Mo .; Stone River, Tenn .; Big Shanty and Peach Tree Creek. Ala .; Jonesboro, Lovejoy and Nash- ville (the third battle), and Franklin, Tenn. (both first and second). The family have been Republicans from the formation of the party. William H. Lowrance was a member of the United Brethren Church.

All the educational advantages Mr. Lowrance enjoyed were received in the log school house of Honey Creek Township, and he worked hard assisting his father to clear the land. He was married February 17, 1866, to Fietta Daron, who was born in Indiana and reared and educated in Crawford County. She was a daughter of Daniel Daron, now deceased, who was a farmer of Honey Creek Township and a cooper by trade. He cleared 80 acres of land in the Township and resided upon it until his death. Mrs. Lowrance died in March, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Lowrance had children as follows: Charles C., Eli, Albert, Noah, Fred, James, Dora, who married Elisha Nichols ; Alice Lucinda, who married Arthur Parker, and three deceased-all born in Honey Creek Township. For his second wife Mr. Low- rance married Louvina Skaggs, widow of John M. Skaggs of Martin Township, on December 31.

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1894. By her first marriage Mrs. Lowrance had seven children, two of whom are dead, the others being : James Thomas, John Milton, Sim Allen, Marian Frances and Ina May. The present Mrs. Lowrance was a daughter of Allison and Mar- garet (Aimes) Bailey, who came from Morgan County, Ind., to Martin Township, Crawford County, about fifty years ago, and lived there until their death.

Mr. Lowrance located on his present farm of 80 acres in 1890. Prior to that he had owned and cleared off a farm of SO acres in the town- ship, which he bought from a brother of Senator Allison. This he sold at a profit and purchased his present property. He has cleared this off, too, and made some excellent improvements upon it. He is a good farmer and manager, and is a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

MAGILL, John M .- The early history of Illi- nois is filled with the record of the lives of its pioneers, who have always played so important a part in the development of any community. There always have to be those brave, sturdy, ad- venturous people who dare everything and fear nothing, in order that a beginning may be made. Some came for mere love of adventure, but the majority were filled with that intense yearning for an opportunity to make a home for them- selves and their families. Kentucky, once the seat of so much frontier life, has furnished Illinois with many of its most desirable citizens. and it was in the County of Lincoln, in that State, that William Magill, the father of John Magill of Section 3, Montgomery Township, Crawford County, was born. He was there edu- cated and lived until he was twenty-one, when he came to Crawford County, entered land which he cleared off and developed into a good farm. The children born to himself and wife were : Julia, Mary and Annis (deceased), Allen, John M., William, Mary and Emma, who are still living. Allen married Mary Maddox, but they had no issue, and after her death he married Lillie Farrell, and they have one child, Leonard, and live at Merom, Ind. Emma married Lemon Burkett, and they live on the old homestead. having two boys, Hugh and Herschell.

John M. Magill was educated in the schools of his native Township of Montgomery, where he was born December 28, 1854. When only twenty years old he began teaching, his first school be- ing in Honey Creek Township, where he re- mained three years, then becoming a teacher in Montgomery Township for two years, and for one term taught in La Motte Township. After teaching for five years he attended Merom Col- lege, for one year, when he went to the Terre Haute (Ind.) Business College, which he at- tended for one year.

Returning home, he was married February 8, 1882, to Rosa Duncan, a daughter of John Dun- can of Montgomery Township, and they have one child. Following his marriage Mr. Magill re- moved to Arkansas City, Kan., where he en- gaged in mercantile business, which for years he

operated successfully. His wife having died there, August 6, 1SS6, he then sold his mercan- tile interests and returned to Crawford County, locating on his present property. In 1SS7 he bought 120 acres, which form his present home- stead. On August 3rd of that year he married Etta Ford, a daughter of Joseph Ford, and they have three children : Ethel, Editlı and Velna, all of whom are at home and attending school.

Since casting his first vote, Mr. Magill has been a Republican, always supports the candidates of his party and is much pleased when the Repub- licans score a victory. He and his family are active members of the Methodist Church, aud they give liberally, both of money and time, to its good work. Mr. Magill has always been a hard working man, and has succeeded in accumu- lating a considerable property through his own industry and economy. Naturally he and his wife take great pride in their children, and are giving them a good education designing to fit them for a successful and happy life. In their church relations the family are very fortunate, for they are among congenial people, and their efforts meet with hearty appreciation. Prob- ably, it is not too much to say that the Magill family is as fairly representative as any of the very best interests of the farming element of Crawford County, where their name is so well and favorably known.

MAIL, Isaac Doll, Jr .- After a family has been settled in any community for several gell- erations, an affection for it springs up in the heart of each individual, and the word home has a different meaning from that it has to one who is a new comer. The Mail family is an old one in Crawford County, Ill., where it is closely iden- tified with the development and improvement of the land, and among the successful members of it is Isaac Doll Mail, Jr., who was born March 28, 1870, in La Motte Township. He is a son of Isaac Doll Mail, Sr., who was born in La Motte Township, March 6. 1831. The elder Isaac D. Mail married Mary Boatriglit, who was also born in La Motte Township, where her people, like the Mails, were pioneers of Crawford County.

Isaac D. Mail, Jr., attended the comman and high schools, leaving school in 1SS7 when lie be- gan farming. His farm is a well-cultivated one of 200 acres, upon which stands a comfortable house, while his barns and outbuildings are sub- stantial. In politics Mr. Mail is a Democrat, but has never held publie office. althoughi deeply interested in all public improvements. O11 No- vember 2, 1897, he married Emma Sager at the Methodist parsonage at Flat Rock, the Rev. La- fayette Wilkin officiating. Mrs. Mail is a daugh- ter of John and Isabelle Sager, farmers. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mail are as fol- lows: Mary Isabelle. born September 18, 1898 ; John Frederick, born April 6, 1900; Lily, born January 11, 1902; William, born November 1, 1905. Mrs. Mail was born in Montgomery Town- ship, August 5, 1877, and is a Methodist, having been a member of that Church for the past eleven years.

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MAIL, Isaac Doll, Sr .- Among the distinguished men of Crawford County, Ill., and one who has taken a prominent part in the upbuilding and development of this part of the State, is the venerable Isaac Doll Mail, Sr., at one time As- sociate Judge of Crawford County. as well as County Treasurer, who is a native of the county, having been born four miles southeast of Robin- son, March 6, 1831, a son of Frederick Mail. The latter was born four miles southeast of Vincen- nes, Ind., about 1805, and his father was one of the first settlers under the French in this local- ity. Frederick Mail learned the trade of black- smithing, and came to Crawford County about 1828, settling in La Motte Township, where he bought 160 acres, to which he later added 320 acres. Later he bought more until he owned 600 acres, as well as town property in Palestine, including the Wilson Tavern, which was located on the present site of David Fife's hardware store. He refused any public office. although he had many opportunities offered him. He lived and died on his homestead, one of the prominent and honored men of Crawford County, about 1871, and was buried on the Wyatt Mills farm in La Motte Township. Frederick Mail married Louisa McGahey, a daughter of David McGahey, of Tennessee. She was one of a family of five children, and died in Palestine about 1870, and is buried by the side of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Mail had children as follows : David Marlin, born June 10, 1829, died unmar- ried about 1856 on the old homestead; Isaac Doll ; John T., born in 1843. lives in Fremont, Neb., where he is a farmer. is married and has two boys living and one deceased.

The education of Isaac D. Mail was received in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse, but he was thoroughly grounded in the common branches. The year of his marriage, his father gave him a farm of 94 acres, of which about thirty acres had been cleared, and on which was located a small log house with a stick chimney. Mr. and Mrs. Mail located in this house. which was later replaced by a frame building. Later they re- moved to another farm which Mr. Mail had pur- chased and here he erected a two-story residence, which was the family home until the fall of 1906. when he purchased the present home at No. 501 Pine Street, Robinson.

In October, 1855, Mr. Mail was married, in La Motte Township. to Mary P. Boatright, daugh- ter of Samuel Boatright. and they have had seven children : Julia, who married Fernando St. Clergy. a dentist of Robinson, and has had three girls and a boy, the latter being deceased ; Marlin (now deceased), married June Revell, daughter of A. J. Revell of Crawford County, and they had seven children, four of whom are liv- ing ; Albert Thomas, married Nettie Hedden. of Robinson, and they have two boys and a girl; Virginia (is also deceased) ; John F., who is married and is a prominent attorney of Denver, Colo .; Isaac D., Jr., who married Emeline Sager, a daughter of John Sager. and they have two girls and two boys. The first Mrs. Mail died in 1872. in October, at the home place. The second

Mrs. Mail was Mollie Poland of Xenia, Ohio, who died about 1885, leaving no issue. The third Mrs. Mail was Adelpha Meskimen, daughter of David and Martha Meskimen, who came to Craw- ford County from Ohio.

In politics, Mr. Mail is a Jacksonian Democrat. He was County Treasurer of Crawford County for three years (1881 to 1884), and Associate Judge from 1861 to 1863. Fraternally, he is a Mason and has always been active in that order.

MALONE, Dr. A. (deceased), one of the hon- ored physicians and surgeons of Palestine, Ill., was born March 20, 1819, in Gibson County, Ind., the son of James Malone, born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1792, was a farmer by occupa- tion and died in 1877 in Owensville, Ind. He married Christina Hunter, who died in Owens- ville, Ind., having been the mother of five chil- dren. Dr. Malone graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, in 1846, after hav- ing been employed as clerk and engaged in teach- ing school in order to earn money sufficient to pursue his medical studies. After graduation he went to Albion, Ill., and there practiced two years, when he moved to Lawrenceville, Ill. In 1850 Dr. Malone located in Palestine, and built up a large practice, at the same time operating a general store and a pharmacy. In addition, Dr. Malone found time to carry on a great deal of literary work, being the author of "Bible and Religion," and the "Age to Come," as well as an honored contributor to the "Cincinnati Gazette" and other political papers, the Chicago "Medical Times," the Cincinnati Medical Journal," and the "American Journal of Medicine," in addition to several religious papers, such as the "Pro- phetic Watchman," the "Gospel Banner," the "Herald of the Coming Kingdom" and the "Res- titution." In December, 1842, Dr. Malone mar- ried Miss E. Fisher, who died in Palestine i 1861, having borne him three children: Alva C., Rosaline, and Abraham Lincoln. December 16, 1862, Dr. Malone married Miss A. M. Bis- bee, born in Union Mills, Ind., who has borne him one son, Percy B. Mrs. Malone was edu- cated by the late President James A. Garfield, at Hiram College, Ohio.

MARSHALL, Joseph F. (deceased), who for many years was County Surveyor and lived at Oblong, Crawford County, was born July 11, 1820, in Virginia, from whence he was taken at the age of thirteen years to Hamilton County, Ind., by his parents, and in the new home helped his father clear off the land. The farm was one and one-half miles west of Westfield, and there the father died in 1833. aged forty-two, and his widow died in the fall of 1834. For some years after the death of his parents. Joseph F. Mar- shall went from one to another county in In- diana, and operated several saw-mills as mana- ger, until 1848, when he went to Philadelphia and became a merchant. In 1861 he came to Ob- long Township and settled on a farm, there re- maining until 1881, when he rented the farm and came to the village of Oblong. In 1875 he was

SAMUEL VINSEL

ELIZABETH VINSEL

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elected Connty Surveyor and held that office for many years, as well as that of Justice of the Peace. On January 5, 1843, he married Snsan Bryket, a native of Indiana, by whom he had fonr children : Mary Elizabeth, John, Henry and Joseph A.

MARTIN, Harrison .- Pioneers of Illinois led a hard life for many years, and many did not live to reap the fruits of their labors. In Crawford Connty conditions were particularly hard on ac- connt of the large amount of swamp land which, for many years, was practically useless. Other parts were in heavy timber, which had to be cleared off before crops conld be planted. Indians were still roaming the prairies when Harrison Martin was born in Crawford County, three miles sonth of Palestine, June 22, 1S29. His father, John Martin, who was born in Georgia, January 7, 1784, and died October 15, 1858, settled in Crawford County in 1810, before Illinois was a State, and John Martin's brother, Daniel, who came at the same time, first settled in La Motte Township, and later, about 1814, moved to Mar- tin Township, which was named in his honor, there purchasing Government land at $1.25 per acre. John Martin entered land sonth of Pales- tine and commenced his battle with wild animals, Indians, timber and swamp. The Indians becom- ing restless, as a matter of precaution he took refuge in the log fort at Palestine, where he spent much of the time during the War of 1812-15.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 155

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