Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 156

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 156

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A number of distressing events during this period indicated that the Indians were on the warpath in earnest. A Mr. Dixon was feeding his stock in his own yard, when he was mur- dered by the Indians, two bullets entering his body. They mutilated the body, taking out the heart, which they set up on a pole in his yard. A Mr. Hutson, after whom the present town of Hntsonville is named, returned from work across the Wabash River to find his family murdered and his home burned. He was almost crazed with grief and joined what was called "the Rangers," spending all of his time trying to avenge the murder of his family by driving out the savages, but was finally killed by them.

John Martin's first land purchase consisted of 80 acres bonght from the Government at $1.25 per acre. Later he bought school land at $6.00 per acre and cleared off every acre of it. His nearest market was Vincennes, Ind., and for soine time the only prodnet sent to market was honey and beeswax. In September and October he hnnted the buck deer and marketed the hides and hams, with these purchased groceries and other necessaries. His wife's maiden name was Margaret Garrard, who was a native of Sonth Carolina. Her death occurred January 7. 1855. aged sixty-three, on the home place. three miles south of Palestine. She and her husband had seven sons and five daughters, all now deceased except Harrison Martin and a sister, Bethany Mills, who at the age of eighty-four is living on a farm three miles south of Palestine.

Harrison Martin attended the old log school-

honse where was held the subscription school, three miles south of the homestead. Later the Baptist Church was used as a schoolhouse. After he had attained his majority, Mr. Martin attended the first free school, which was held at Vernon on the Vincennes Road. Following this he taught for one term, and then began farming, which he continued until September, 1906, when he bought his comfortable home in Robinson where he now lives retired from active life. He is a Jacksonian Democrat, and for the past twenty years has belonged to the Metho- dist Church.

Mr. Martin's first marriage took place one mile northeast of Hardinville, October 5, 1851, to Catherine Lemon, a daughter of William B. and Mary ( Stalcup) Lemon, formerly farmers of Greene County, Ind., who came to Crawford County in 1849. Mrs. Martin died in Martin Township, Angust 22, 1SS7. On June 26, 1890, Mr. Martin was married in Oblong Township to Mary C. Parkinson, widow of Dr. J. D. Park- inson, and daughter of John and Elizabeth La- boyteanx, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, re- spectively. Mrs. Martin had a son and daughter by her first marriage: Joseph Raymond, born in Hardinville, September 27, 1884, engaged in business in Robinson and is unmarried; and Bessie Riker, born in Oblong January 28, 1878, married Frank Riker and they have two boys and one girl. Mr. Riker is editor of the "Wa- mego Times," of Wamego, Kan. The children born to Mr. Martin by his first marriage were: Emily, deceased, who married Edwin Cook, and had one daughter; John A., of Wis- consin, has fonr sons; William E., resides in Martin Township; Mary Louisa, died in in- fancy ; Janies A., died aged five years; Rose, wife of Nelson D. Reed, of Oblong Township : Ida is the wife of William Keiffer, of Springfield, Okla .; Thomas J., died aged two years; three children died at birth; and Sylvester, living on the home place.

The farm Mr. Martin still owns contains 79 acres and he has sixteen producing oll-wells on it, and is constantly drilling for more. He Is a man who has always been prominent in his com- munity and has many friends at his old home and in Robinson.

MAXWELL, Darius A .- One of the pioneer families of Crawford County whose members have borne their part in its development and improvement, is that of the Maxwells, and its representatives are all men of intelligence, who have engaged in many callings, although the preference appears to be for farming. Darins A. Maxwell, a farmer and stock-raiser of Section 25, Martin Township, was born in hls present lome, November 30, 1864, a son of John D. Max- well, now deceased, who came at an early date from Blount County, Tenn., and settled in Craw- ford County, remaining with his parents until he settled on Section 25. Martin Townshlp, after his marriage with Rosa Garrett, who was born in Crawford County. She was a daughter of Wil-

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son Garrett, also a pioneer of the County, who settled in Honey Creek Township.

The young couple settled on land which be- came their new home then consisting of 40 acres of timber land, and John D. Maxwell began to fell the trees in order to clear it for farming purposes. When the Civil War came he was not found lacking in patriotism, but enlisted and died in service. He had adopted the principles of the new party and died a Republican. He left a widow and two sons, Harlan and Darius A.

Having lost his mother when three days old, and thus left an orphan, Darius was taken by his grandparents and reared in Honey Creek Township, where he was married on February 9, 1887, to Alice Van Winkle, born in Honey Creek Township, a daughter of William Van Winkle. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell set- tled in their present home, and Mr. Maxwell set himself to the task of improving it. He added SO acres, and now owns 120 acres of as good farming land as can be found in the township. Oil was discovered on it in 1905, and he now has ten wells in active operation. Nearly all of the improvements on the place were made by him, and he has a substantial home and barns, while his premises are kept in excellent condi- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have two children : Claude and Frank, both born in their present home. Mr. Maxwell is a Democrat in politics, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, No. 4677 of Hardinville. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church.

MAXWELL, Fred Lincoln .- It is often difficult properly to estimate the good done by a man until after his death. Then it is that his deeds, whether good or evil, stand out in their true character. The pioneers of Illinois, while living, receive very little praise for their wonderful work of developing the State and placing it so high among other commonwealths, but after they have passed away, the honor which is theirs sur- rounds their names, and their descendants reap the benefits of what the pioneers sowed in hard work and under many discouragements, some- times with halting footsteps, scarcely knowing which way to turn. The Maxwell family, which was established in Crawford County by Archi- bald Maxwell and his wife, who located in Honey Creek Township at an early day and there spent the remainder of their lives, is intimately asso- ciated with the history of the county, and among its prominent representatives is Fred Maxwell of Honey Creek Township, Section 3, who was born on the farm where he now resides, March 29, 1865.

The late William Addison Maxwell was a man of considerable force of character, who made his influence felt in the township. He was born in Tennessee, December 19, 1833, and there was reared and educated. When a young man he came from his native State, some time in the forties, to Crawford County, Ill., with his father, James Maxwell, and the family entered land in the woods within the confines of Honey Creek

Township to the amount of 280 acres, which they at once began to improve. Before leaving Tenn- essee, James Maxwell had married Margaret Dixon, also of Tennessee, and they had four daughters and five sons, one of whom was born after their arrival in Honey Creek Township. and of them William Maxwell was the eldest son. The death of James Maxwell occurred in the Township in 1865, that of the mother having preceded in 1864.

William Maxwell started out in his business life with ninety acres of land which he partially cleared himself and improved. His marriage occurred January 29, 1863, to Margaret J. Love, who was born in Tennessee and brought to Craw- ford County when sixteen years of age by her parents, William S. and Clarinda J. (Hamil) Love, both natives of Tennessee, where they were reared, educated and married. Mr. Love was born September 30, 1812, and his wife September 19, 1821, and they came to Crawford County in 1858. There the father bought 120 acres, which he had partially cleared besides making other improvements. He lived in Honey Creek Town- ship until his death, August 31, 1899, his wife passing away March 31, 1900. In politics he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were members of the Associate Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Max- well was the eldest of eight children, and they were all educated in the log school houses of that period, Mrs. Maxwell being educated in Tennessee, and the rest of the family in Craw- ford County. William A. Maxwell resided on his homestead until his death, which occurred when he was only thirty-nine years old, July 22, 1873. He was first married to Martha Duncan, who died, and by whom he had one daughter, also deceased. A life-long Republican, he took a deep interest in party affairs. He was a mem- ber of the Associate Presbyterian Church. Two sons and two daughters were born to William and Margaret (Love) Maxwell, namely: Fred- erick Lincoln, Lilly M., Belle and Ira.

Frederick Lincoln Maxwell was educated in the primitive log school house, and worked hard on the farm. May 29, 1895, he was married to Nora Bishop, born in Kentucky but brought by her parents, Thomas and Malissa (Redmon) Bishop. to Crawford County when sixteen years of age. Her father is a farmer of Honey Creek Town- ship, a sketch of whom appears eleswhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had three chil- dren : Verna, Ralph and Everett, all born on the present farm. Mrs. Frederick L. Maxwell died, April 2, 1902, and he and his widowed mother reside on the 195 acres of the home- stead, a portion of which was cleared by Mr. Maxwell, and forty-five acres of which Mrs. Maxwell inherited from her father. In addition to adding sixty acres to the old homestead, Mr. Maxwell has made many of the present improve- ments. They have an oil and gas well on the farm, which adds much to its value. His mother is a member of the Associate Presbyterian Church, and both are well and favorably known throughout the township.

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MAXWELL, George H. (deceased) .- After the demise of any one much that was overlooked during life is remembered, and deeds, which the modesty of the one who has passed away hid from view, are discovered. George H, Maxwell, who was a farmer and stock-raiser of Section 1, Honey Creek Township, Crawford County, was a man whose services to his county and township were rendered cheerfully and ably, and whose example still serves as a standard for the rising generation. Mr. Maxwell was born in Tennessee, in 1828. a son of Archelaus and Margaret Max- well, who were natives of Tennessee, where they were married. He emigrated to Crawford County with his family, settling in Honey Creek Town- ship where he entered, cleared and improved a good farm.

George H. Maxwell was married in Tennessee to Margaret McKamey, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. Bringing his family with him, Mr. Maxwell came with his father to Craw- ford County, Ill., and they settled on the same property. There his wife died. On May 21, 1878, he married Mary (Daly) Updyke, who was born in Kentucky, and was about fourteen years old when brought to Crawford County by her parents, Robert and Sophia (Martin) Daly. They settled in Honey Creek. An uncle of Mrs. Max- well, Royal Daly, had located in Honey Creek Township and entered and cleared property there. Mrs. Maxwell attended the schools of the neighborhood. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell located on the present homestead of 200 acres, the greater part of which was cleared, and he immediately began improvements thereon, erecting a good home, barn and other outbuild- ings. He carried on general farming and stock- raising. Mr. Maxwell served in the Mexican War as Sergeant. He and his wife had two children : Alta and George H.

Mrs. Maxwell was married to John Updyke prior to her second marriage, and he was a son of one of the Virginia pioneers of Crawford County. The elder Mr. Updyke cleared off about 300 acres in the county. Mrs. Maxwell had six children by her first marriage: Mcclellan and Sylvester, both deceased; Ella; Johanna ; Lelia, deceased ; and Orval, all born in Honey Creek Township.

Mr. Maxwell was a Republican in politics. and took an active part in township affairs, although he never desired public office. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. A man of kindly spirit, unassuming, affable and naturally generous, he made many friends. His relations with his neighbors were of the most friendly character, and his demise, which occurred in June, 1900, was regarded as a public calamity.

McCARTY, George D., attorney-at-law. a pa- triotic citizen, and an independent thinker, and a representative of the best product in Illinois life, was born in Vermilion County, Ill., near the Indiana State line, May 31, 1867, a son of Alex- ander and Harriet A. (Good) McCarty. The father was a native of County Derry, Ireland, while his wife was born near Hebron, O. Al-

though a weaver by trade, the father later fol- lowed farming. and it was upon his farm that George D. McCarty was reared. He received a good education, first going to the common school at Hardinville, Crawford County, then to the State Normal School at Normal, 111., later enter- ing the Central Normal at Danville, Ind., and finishing with three terms at the Union Christian College at Merom, Ind. After this Mr. Mc- Carty farmed and taught school in Martin Township, in the meanwhile studied law and was admitted to the bar August 25. 1895, at Mt. Vernon, Ill. He was principal of the public schools at Oblong, Ill., for two years, after which he moved to Robinson in May, 1893, and there continued the study of law with Bradbury & McHutton, being admitted at the time and shortly after forming a partnership with Judge W. C. Jones, under the style of Jones & McCarty, but upon the admission of Mr. Arnold the name was changed to Jones, McCarty & Arnold. Still later Jndge Jones withdrew and the present style of McCarty & Arnold was adopted. This firm has the best working law library in the county. and probably controls the largest law practice. being connected with some of the most important cases in their part of the State.

Mr. McCarty is a Republican in politics, and fraternally a member of the A. F. & A. M .. be- longing to Robinson Chapter and Gorgin Com- mandery, Olney. Ill. On December 13. 1891, Mr. McCarty was married to Miss Laura Haskin at Hardinville, born September 9, 1866. a daugh- ter of Robert E. Haskin, one of the early set- tlers of Crawford County. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. McCarty are : Inez A., Willie, Ever- ett Prentice. Palmer G., Gertrude, Harry Ed- ward, Herbert Frederick and George H. Mr. McCarty owns his handsome residence on West Chestnut street, as well as very valuable oil- lands near Hardinville. He is a useful, high- minded, exemplary citizen who has done ninch for Robinson, and whose success as a lawyer is not measured by his years.

McCLURE, Samuel H .- Coming of an old pio- neer family of Crawford County. Samuel H. Mc- Clure has an excellent recollection of the carly days in its history and can appreciate the many wonderful changes which have taken place here, especially in his native Township of Honey Creek, where he was born September S. 1852. His father is associated with many of these improve- ments, and bore his part in clearing off the land and placing it under cultivation. Sammel H. McClure is a son of William H. McClure, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States when a boy. Coming to Crawford County, he located in Honey Creek Townslilp and entered the present property of his son, Samuel II. Mc- Clure, and later became the proprietor of other farms in the township. Eiglity acres of the orlgl- nal farm was covered with heavy timber. of which he cleared 40 acres. He was married in Crawford County, Ill., to Hannah A. Wright. who was born in Indiana, but was brought to Crawford County in girlhood by her parents.

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She was a daughter of Josiah Wright, a tanner, who followed his trade in Honey Creek Town- ship. Mrs. McClure was reared in the township and attended the little log school. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McClure settled on what is now the Moore farm, cleared off a portion of it and also cleared the farm now known as the Dunlap farm. He then returned to the home- stead, and rented his other properties. He and his wife had the following children: John (de- ceased ), Samuel H., Albert (deceased), James, Thomas (deceased), Mary Jane (deceased), and William, all born in Honey Creek Township.

In the early part of 1865, Mr. McClure enlisted in Company H, the One Hundred and Fifty-sec- ond Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his death occurred in Tennessee while in the service. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious mat- ters, was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. His death occurred in 1864, and he left behind a name no act of his had ever tarnished.

Samuel H. McClure was married on April 10, 1878, to Ethelinda Clark, who was born in Craw- ford County, a daughter of John Clark, a pros- perous farmer of Honey Creek Township. One child was born of this marriage-Della. Mrs. McClure died in 1879, after a year of married life. On September 16, 1880, Mr. McClure mar- ried Sally Hardy, a daughter of John Hardy of Honey Creek Township. Mrs. McClure was brought in childhood to Crawford County by her parents, and was there reared. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have children as follows : John, Addie, Noah, Nellie, Earl, William, Mary, Loy, and three who died in infancy, all of their children having been born in the township. After marriage, Mr. McClure moved on his present farm, which he finished clearing. He has made all of the im- provements, and has a very fine piece of property, consisting of 791/2 acres, which he devotes to gen- eral farming and stock-raising. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as Township Clerk for two terms. He is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Fellows, Flat Rock Lodge. He and Mrs. McClure are members of the Methodist Church.

McCOLPIN, Francis Elmer .- Few fully appre- ciate the importance of the tiller of the soil, or know how much depends upon his efforts and the success of his undertakings. If crops fail. bad times ensue. The manufacturer may manu- facture to a certain extent, but if the farmer has no money, the merchant cannot sell, the market is overstocked, laborers are thrown out of em- ployment, and a panic comes. Crawford County is exceedingly fortunate in having among its farmers, men who understand their work and how to get out of their land a good share of profit, and at the same time preserve the fertility of their broad fields. Of these, Francis Elmer Mc- Colpin, although a young man, is an excellent farmer and a prosperous resident of Martin Township, located on Section 27. He was born on his present property, December 14, 1880, a son of Levi McColpin. a farmer, who was born in Crawford County, four miles south of Pales-

tine, in 1835, the latter being a son of Abram McColpin, deceased, a pioneer of Crawford County, but born and reared in Scotland. The grandmother of Francis Elmer McColpin was Jemima Higgins. of Irish descent but reared in Kentucky. After marriage Abram T. McColpin and wife settled near Palestine, but later bought the farm on Section 27, which he cleared and placed under cultivation, and there he lived until his death. He and his wife had ten chil- dren, of whom Levi McColpin was the ninth.

Levi McColpin was educated in the early schools of his neighborhood, and at the same time learned to farm. In 1861, he married Eliza- beth Cox. born and reared in Crawford County, where the Cox family is an old and honored one. They had children as follows : Elvina (de- ceased), Mary C., John William, James Abraham (deceased), Charles Levi, Elzara E. (deceased), George Anderson, Della Delilah (deceased), Francis Elmer, and Rosa Theodosia, all born on the present farm. The original farm was added to by Levi McColpin, until it now embraces 2381% acres of fine land. He worked hard upon the property, made many improvements and has a home of which all the family may well be proud. His political belief has made him a life-long Democrat. In religious matters he is an ad- herent of the United Brethren Church.

Francis Elmer McColpin attended the district schools of Martin Township, and learned to farm with his father. On April 14, 1904, he married Sarah Ella Good, born at Mattoon, Ill., but who came to Crawford County when a child, and was reared in Martin Township. She was a daughter of Levi Cox, deceased, a farmer of Martin Town- ship, and the widow of Charles Good, also a farmer of the Township. Mr. and Mrs. Good had one son named William. By her second mar- riage, Mrs. McColpin has had no children. Mr. McColpin helped his father to clear off and im- prove the land, and is devoted to his work. In 1906 oil was discovered on the property, and there are now seventeen wells in active opera- tion. Like his father, Mr. McColpin is a Demo- crat, and also a member of the United Brethren Church. He has always been an industrious, hardworking, frugal young man, honorably dis- charging all duties placed on his shoulders, and he certainly retains in marked degree the re- spect and confidence of his community.

MCCRORY, George Bradbury .- The name of Mc- Crory is connected with much of the pioneer his- tory of this part of the State, as well as with the raising and training of thoroughbred horses and fine blooded stock. George Bradbury McCrory is a native of Crawford County, having been born on a farm near Hutsonville, June 19, 1869, a son of Winfield McCrory, who was born in Mar- shall County, Tenn., February 20, 1825. Although eighty-two years old, Winfield McCrory is as act- ive as a man of fifty, and for many years he has been engaged in raising and training thorough- bred horses and blooded stock. He came with his parents, James and Diana (Drake) McCrory,

John wall

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to Crawford County from Tennessee in the tall of 1830.

James and Diana McCrory were natives of North Carolina, and married in that State. James McCrory's parents were born in Ireland, while his wife's parents were natives of Scot- land, and they all emigrated to America. Will- iam MeCrory, father of James, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After coming to Craw- ford County. Winfield McCrory's father located in Hutsonville Township, where James farmed until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1851 when he was sixty-five years of age, while his wife died in 1839.

On August 12, 1868, Winfield McCrory married Zylpha Jane (Stiles) Hill, who was born in Hut- sonville Township, September 8, 1834, a daughter of Silas and Betsy (Cox) Stiles, the former of whom was born in New York State, July 9, 1808, and died in Hutsonville Township, July 3, 1858; and the latter, born August 3, 1813, in North Carolina, and died in Crawford County at the age of eighty-two. They were married in Hutsonville Township. Mrs. Betsy (Cox) Stiles came to Crawford County with her mother when a small child, about 1816 or 1818, they making the trip with a colony of early settlers from North Carolina, with an ox-team. At the time of her death she was the last survivor of sixty-five people who were of this party. Zelpha Jane Stiles first married William Franklin Hill, who died in March, 1862. By this marriage there were four children, two of whom died in in- fancy, the others being William Franklin, and Sara Ann, wife of John R. McCrory. By her marriage with Mr. McCrory, she had four chil- dren : George B., Winfield Scott (deceased), Amanda Lucinda (deceased), and Clara Belle, wife of Frank Hathaway. Mrs. McCrory died February 25. 1894, in Hutsonville Township. Winfield McCrory was first married March 9, 1852, to Lucinda Boatright, who was born No- vember 14, 1832, in Palestine Township, Craw- ford County, and died in Tennessee in February, 1866. By this marriage there were five children : John R., James L., Mary Elizabeth (deceased), Sara B. (deceased), and Lucy J., wife of James Pace.

George B. McCrory was educated in the schools of his district, and having spent his life among horses, can handle and train them as can very few men, for it is second nature to him. Both he and his father have so associated themselves with horses that it is often said of the two, "What they don't know about horses isn't worth knowing." Until quite recently Mr. MeCrory was the senior member of the firm of McCrory & Cunningham. This firm did an immense business in buying and shipping live-stock. During thirteen weeks of 1906 they shipped out of St. Louis to eastern markets, $150,000 worth of live stock. In the stables of McCrory can always be seen numbers of the finest horses, both racers and trotters, to be found in the country. In addition to his large livestock interests he is the owner of valuable oil machinery, and is contracting in the oil fields for drilling wells and pulling abandoned ones.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 156

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