Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 162

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 162

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March 2, 1844, in Fairfield County, Obio, a son of James Pickering.

James Pickering was a native of Rockingham County, Va., where he lived until ten years of age, when his father, Jacob Pickering, removed with his family to Fairfield County, Ohio, there purchasing a farm. Jacob Pickering and his wife, Hannah, had these children : James, John Jackson, Jacob Hampton, Harrison, Catherine, Grace and Elizabeth. James Pickering started out to make his own way in the world at the age of twenty years, renting a farm of eighty acres, to which he kept adding until he had 200 acres. Shortly after his marriage he lived with his father, helping him to clear the timber and brush from his farm, on which was a hewed log house of one room, 18x20 feet, to which James Perrine afterwards added a frame addition. At the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Pickering was married to Catherine Smith, and they became the parents of nine children : Jacob Hamilton, Han- nah, Amanda, William, Phillips, James, John Harrison, Mathia Smith and Catherine.

William Pickering remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, his edu- cation being received in the Swamp Schoolhouse, and later in the new Oak Schoolhouse, which had been built to take the place of the Swamp school. When about twenty-one years of age, Mr. Pick- ering enlisted at Columbus, Ohio, for service in the Union army, becoming a member of the Tenth Cavalry, under cominand of Col. Sanders and Capt. Morgan. His regiment was first or- dered to Atlanta, and later to Marietta, Ga., where Mr. Pickering was placed on picket duty on the day of arrival. The regiment remained at the latter place for a month and was then ordered to join Sherman in his famous March to the Sea. At the memorable battle of Macon, Ga .. Mr. Pickering's regiment was ordered to make an attempt to capture the Confederate breastworks. The attempt was a gallant one, but failed owing to the prompt reenforcement of Confederates. The Union soldiers, being compelled to retreat, retired to a creek which had high banks, and here they remained while the shot and shell of the artilleries of both armies buzzed over their heads from opposite sides of the creek. After the battle of Macon, the regiment went to Ander- sonville, the trip taking three days and three nights, and the only sleep the soldiers got was in the saddle, or wbile the horses were feeding. At the close of the war, Mr. Pickering was at Greensburg, N. C., whence he went to Salem, N. C., and was there discharged. The regiment was then sent to Columbus, Ohio, where it was mustered out, the one-year men, of whom Mr. Pickering was one, being the first to be sent home. William Pickering has the record of a brave soldier, of which any veteran might well be proud.

After the war Mr. Pickering returned to Fait- field County, Ohio, and for a time worked out by the month at farming. For one year after his marriage he rented a farm, coming to Licking Township, Crawford County, Ill., on a visit to the Price family who were old friends of his

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family. Here, with his army pay which he had carefully saved and some money which he had re- ceived from the sale of some stock, he purchased sixty-two acres of farming land in Section 2, on which he did not locate, however, until one year later, owing to the fact that a family was resid- ing there. On this place was a log cabin in which Mr. Pickering and his family lived for ten years, and to which he has added from time to time until it became the substantial home it is to-day. Only ten acres of his land had been cleared, but he now has it all under cultivation and in ex- cellent condition.

On December 5, 1869, Mr. Pickering was mar- ried by Rev. George Helperman to Hannah Matz, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Lupt) Matz, who was born in Pennsylvania, and was brought by her parents to Wayne County, Ohio. Three children have been born to them: Edwin Leo, born April 16, 1875, who died June 24, 1880; El- nora C., born June 29, 1881, died October 24, 1908 ; and Brady C., born January 9, 1886.

Mr. Pickering is an independent voter, and has served three years as School Director. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. His war record entitles him to member- ship in Joseph Shaw Post, G. A. R., at An- napolis, of which he is a popular comrade.

PITTINGER, Charles William .- The discovery of oil in Crawford County within recent years has completely revolutionized values in this lo- cality. increasing its commercial and industrial activity, and bringing into existence new cor- porations. and developing many private business possibilities. Charles William Pittinger, one of the large oil men of Robinson, Ill., was born at Carlton, Mercer County, Pa., February 25, 1876, a son of John Fisherman and Amelia Ann (Shil- ling) Pittinger, the former born at Sharon, Pa., April 17, 1839, and the latter from Shaw's Land- ing, Pa. She was descended from the family of Henry Wolf, a descendant of General Wolf of Quebec fame. James Shilling, a brother of Mrs. J. F. Pittinger, died in Andersonville prison dur- ing the Civil War, and her father served through the entire struggle, a member of the Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. His brother, Nicholas Pittinger, was killed at the second bat- tle of Bull Run.

The boyhood of Charles William Pittinger was well filled with school and farm duties. Until ten years of age, he lived at Carlton, when the family moved to Shaw's Landing, near Mead- ville, Crawford County, Pa., where they remained three years. The lad then returned to Carlton, and remained there until he attained to his mna- jority, attending school, and working on the farm. At school he was a very apt pupil, and seemed to be a born leader, organizing and directing all the exercises, the spelling matches and the sing- ing schools. He was specially fond of hunting and skating and played ball whenever he found an opportunity. Developing a desire for more stud- ies, he attended Bryant, Stratton & Smith's Business College at Meadville, Pa., where as president of his class he graduated with high

honors in 1892. He then went to Volant Col- lege at Volant, Pa., where again as president of his class he graduated in 189S. He then attended Grove City College. Grove City, Pa., a number of terms, and taught there as Principal of the Business Department. From this institution he received the degree of B. S., and also taught in the public schools there for three years. This position was a difficult one, because for years the boys were belligerent, and no teacher could control them, until Mr. Pittinger was placed in charge. He knew how to master the boys and to win their confidence and respect, and when after three years he left for wider fields, these same boys joined with the board and people of the community in urging him to remain. He then went to Kennerdell. Pa., to enter the ein- ploy of H. T. Newmaker & Son, whom he served faithfully as bookkeeper and business manager for two years. At the expiration of these two years, he entered the oil field as bookkeeper for Mr. Pew of Pittsburg, and three years later was promoted to the management of the branch office at Marcus Hook, eighteen miles south of Phila- delphia. He remained there three years more. until November, 1906, when he came to Robin- son to take charge of the Sun Company, a pro- gressive oil corporation, where he has since re- mained.

July 21, 1897, Mr. Pittinger was married at Robinson's Mills, Wetzel County, W. Va., to Mary L. Dunkle, daughter of W. S. and Margaret Dunkle, both of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. The mother is dead, but the father still survives. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pit- tinger, Margaret Amelia, born May 11. 1905.

Mr. Pittinger is a prominent Mason, belong- ing to Pittsburg Lodge No. 484, to Chester Chap- ter No. 258, and Chester Commandery No. 66. He is a Presbyterian, and not only was prominent in church work in Chester, Pa., but also in the First Presbyterian Church of Robinson, Ill., one of the largest churches of Crawford County, and has been elder in each. He also held the position of Superintendent of the Sunday School at Chester and Robinson, and was one of the inen to organize the Union Sabbath Association at Robinson. The Pittinger home on West Walnut Street, Robinson, is one of the most delightful in the city. Mr. Pittinger is a man who has never sought influence or advancement politically. but is happiest when his business dutles are dis- charged, to work for his church and for the good of humanity.

POSTLEWAITE, Alva Stiles .- The blood that flowed in the veins of the Frenchi Huguenots has been transmitted to some of the very best of our American people of to-day. Driven from their native land by religious persecution, they sought refuge in a country where they would be free to work out their own destiny, and worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. The Postlewalte family dates back to a French Huguenot by that name, who came to this country with a number of others in the seventeenth cen- tury. Alva Stiles Postiewaite, of La Motte

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Township, Crawford County, is also descended from an illustrious family which dates back to the grandmother of Joel Ferree, who was the father of the grandmother of Alva Stiles Postle- waite. She was a widow who fled from France to Germany and came to America on the same ship as William Penn. She had made the ac- quaintance of William Penn in Germany and was introduced by him to Queen Anne of Germany, who kept her in her train during the six months she was in that country. The widow was given a grant of land by William Penn of 1,000 acres in Lancaster County, Pa. Her descendants lived in Lancaster County for several generations but later removed to Sullivan County, Ind.

Alva Stiles Postlewaite was born in Mont- gomery Township, Crawford County, Ill., Feb- ruary 25, 1862, a son of James Leath and Amanda J. (Stiles) Postlewaite, the former born in Sullivan County, Ind .. May 21, 1821, and the latter in Montgomery Township, Crawford County. She was a daughter of Alva and Han- nah (Brown) Stiles, both from New York State. The parents were married October 25, 1860, and they had the following children: Alva Stiles; Mary M., born November 1, 1864; James J., born December 21, 1867 ; Electa A., born November 19, 1870 ; and twins, George W. F. and Martha G. F .. born December 12, 1873. By a former marriage, James L. Postlewaite had two chil- dren, Rachel Jane, born April 18, 1857, and John William, born February 8, 1860, His first mar- riage occurred October 12, 1854, to Mary Edging- ton, daughter of William Edgington of Mont- gomery Township.

James L. Postlewaite came to Montgomery Township, Crawford County, in 1852. from Sul- livan County, Ind, For a number of years he taught school in the township, and for sixteen years was Justice of the Peace. His father, Isaac Postlewaite, was born in Lancaster, Pa. When a boy he went to West Virginia, from there to Kentucky, and then to Sullivan County, Ind., where he married Anna Ferree, a daughter of Joel Ferree, and born in that county. Isaac Postlewaite died October 3, 1857, and his wife died November 3d, of the same year, both pass- ing away in Sullivan County, Ind. James L. Postlewaite died January 12, 1891, in Montgom- ery Township, Crawford County.

Alva Stiles Postlewaite attended the district school until he was twenty-one, and at the same time assisted his father on the farm. On Feb- ruary 27, 1883, he was married in La Motte Township, by the Rev. Massey, the Methodist clergyman of the township, to Sarah E. Fulling, a daughter of Henry Fulling, Sr., and Samina (McColpin ) Fulling. Mr. and Mrs. Postlewaite have had the following children: Edith M., born March 12, 1884, married H. E. Richards, son of James Richards of Palestine. and they have these children,-Claude Eugene, born Sep- tember 18, 1905, Paul Ethelbert, born August 31, 1907, an infant daughter born October 27, 1908, and they live in Palestine; Henry Leath, born August 25, 1891, and a son and daughter who died in infancy.

Mrs. Postlewaite was the third of six chil- dren, four of whom are living: John; Mary, wife of Alonzo Wesner; Mrs. Postlewaite, and Henry ; Annie and Fannie (twins), who are deceased. Her father, Henry Fulling, came from Germany to the United States in 1840, when sixteen years old, first locating at Terre Haute, Ind., whence he removed to Palestine, Craw- ford County. In 1849 he married Samina Mc- Colpin. who was born in Crawford County, Au- gust 24, 1826, her parents being among the ear- liest settlers of Crawford County. Mrs. Fulling died February 5, 1905, but Mr. Fulling is still living in La Motte Township, aged. eighty-four years. He has always pursued the occupation of farming, in which he has been very success- ful. He has about 600 acres in his own name and a third interest in the property of his sons.

Mr. Postlewaite's farm of 120 acres, situated on Section 17, La Motte Township, is known as the "Richwood Farm," and he makes a specialty of raising Percheron registered horses, hogs and Shropshire sheep. feeding sometimes as many as 100 sheep, Besides this he owns 80 acres in Montgomery Township. He has been breeding horses for the past twenty-five years and ships to Eastern markets. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. Since he was seventeen, Mr. Postlewaite has been a member of the Christian Church, and his wife has be- longed to it for the past thirteen years,

PRICE, Cyrus Edgar, M. D .- Possessed of that subtle something that goes so far towards mak- ing the man of medicine a friend as well as a doctor, Cyrus Edgar Price, M. D., of Robinson, Crawford County, is a man widely and favorably known. He was born in Westfield, Clark County, Ill., July 26. 1869, a son of James C. and Sarah J. (Smith) Price. James C. Price was also a physician, born in Kentucky, while the mother was a daughter of Robert Smith of Palestine, Ill. Dr. Price, Sr., served in Company K, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, during the Civil War, and there con- tracted a disability which resulted in his death when the son. Cyrus Edgar, was but eighteen months old. In 1877 his mother married Dr. C. Barlow of Robinson, and the boy was reared by his step-father whom he loved very tenderly.

Naturally the lad's mind was turned toward the medical profession, and after he completed a common school course, he entered Eureka Col- lege at Eureka, Ill., and after finishing his course there. went to Chicago and entered Rush Medical College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1893. Beginning the practice of his profession at Eaton, Crawford County, he re- mained there fourteen years, and was very suc- cessful, but grew to feel that, although he had . many friends and a good practice, he needed a wider field. So in July, 1908, he removed to Robinson, where he is meeting with success. Dr. Price is a member of the Crawford County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical As- sociation, the American Medical Association and

M. B . Woodworth

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the Æsculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley. He is a Mason, having become a mem- ber two years ago. His religious affiliations are with the Christian Church. which he joined eight years ago. In politics he is a Democrat.

Dr. Price was married October 12, 1895, at Streator, Ill., to Harriet J. Galloway, who was born at Chenoa, Ill., a daughter of David and America Galloway, pioneer settlers of Streator. She had graduated from the high school of Strea-

tor. and had been a teacher in the public schools for six years prior to her marriage. The follow- ing children have been born to ,Dr. and Mrs. Price : Harold Edgar, born July 20, 1896 ; Helen Marjorie, born September 15, 1898; Robert Smith, born May 20. 1902; Charles Donald, born May 10, 1904, and Harriet Virginia, born April 20. 1907. Dr. Price is becoming as popular in Robinson as he was at Eaton, and his wife is gathering around her a charming circle of friends, so that the Price home is a center of delightful hospitality.

PRICE, Thomas L., a man who has occupied positions of responsibility and trust in Robinson, Ill., was born in Crawford County, Ill., May 1, 1850, a son of James D. and Mary E. (Smith) Price, was brought up on a farm and educated, first, in the common schools, later attending Westfield College for seven months and the In- diana State Normal School at Terre Haute for three years. After graduating from the latter in 1873, for five years he was engaged in teach- ing and was then appointed Deputy County Clerk under Mr. Reavill. He occupied this office only one year, when he bought an interest in the "Constitution" newspaper. In August of the fol- lowing year he sold this interest, and was ap- pointed to fill out for the remainder of the year the vacancy in the County Clerk's office caused by the death of Mr. Reavill, being duly elected County Clerk in November following. In 1SS2 he was again elected to the same office. Mr. Price married December 17, 1879, in Palestine, Ill., Fannie B. Haskett, born in Crawford Conty. November 19, 1859, and two children were born to them: Ralph W. and Harry H. Mr. Price is a member of Robinson Lodge, No. 250. A. F. & A. M., and of Crawford Lodge I. O. O. F. The father of Thomas L. Price, James D., was born in Calloway County, Ky., in 1806, but moved to Illinois in 1829, settling first in Palestine, but later locating northwest of Robinson, where he died November 22. 1873. His first wife was a Miss Caldwell, while his second wife was Mrs. Mary E. Smith, widow of Guy W. Smith, an early settler of Crawford County, born March 13, 1821. There were two children by the first marriage. and eight by the second.

PURCELL, John William, whose excellent tract of 140 acres of farming land is situated in Sec- tion 30, Honey Creek Township. Crawford County, Ill., is not only an energetic and enterprising agriculturist, but has taken a prominent part in township affairs. Mr. Purcell was born Sep- tember 12, 1857, in Lawrence County. Ill., a son

of William J. Purcell, who came to Crawford County, Ill., from Sullivan County. Ind., his father having entered some government land which he cleared from the wilderness. He at- tended the public schools of this locality, and was married in Lawrence County to Elizabeth Shel- ton, a native of that county. Two sons were born of this union: John William and James Jefferson, the latter of whom is deceased. Some time after his marriage. William J. Purcell re- turned to Crawford County, where he rented land for a time, and purchased several small tracts. In addition to farming for some years, he op- erated a grist and saw-mill In Lawrence County. As a soldier during the Civil War he served bravely and faithfully for about one year. and afterwards became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In political matters he was a life-long Democrat. His death occurred in 1902, his wife having died in 1860.

John William Purcell attended the publlc schools of Honey Creek Township, and. until his marriage in 1ST, assisted his father on the home place. For some time after his marriage he moved from one place to another in search of a suitable location, and in 1889 purchased his present place, starting with 40 acres, but has since increased his holdings to 140 acres of very desirable land. He has made many improve- ments on his place, carries on general farming and stock-raising, and in addition has operated a saw-mill and threshing machine from Vincen- nes to Palestine and throughout the surrounding country. In political matters he is a Democrat, on that party's ticket was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace and is now serving hls second term, besides being a member of the School Board. Prior to adopting his present vlews. however, Mr. Purcell was a Republlean, and while a member of that party served one term as Highway Commissioner. He is a member of the Woodmen at Hardinville, No. 4607, and his religions associations are with the Christian Church.

In 1879 Mr. Purcell was married to Samantha A. VanWinkle, born in Honey Creek Township. the second child of Willlam L. VanWinkle, a sketch of whose life will be found on another page of this work. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Purcell, namely : Fred M., James Arthur, Grace, Fannie, Mary, and two who died in infancy-all born In Honey Creek Townshlp.

RAFFERTY, Theodore Newell, M. D .- None of the learned professions require so much prepara- tion, or such exhaustive study afterwards, as that of medicine. The physician of today must needs be not only intelligent, well-educated. skill- ful, well-trained. possessing wide experience and profound knowledge, but he must keep on study- Ing to breast the advance in scientific discoverles. Dr. Theodore Newell Rafferty is one of the suc- cessful physicians of Crawford County, pleas- antly located at Robinson, where he has resided since 1SS3. He was born In Springville, Law- rence County. Ind .. January 12, 1846. a son of Mitchell Crooke and Mary Shore { Benedict )

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Rafferty, the father born in Kentucky, April 17, 1817, and the mother at Nicholasville, that State, March 14, 1824.

Dr. Rafferty attended the common schools, the Indiana University at Bloomington, and then clerked for his father who was a merchant. Later he taught school for three years. In 1867 he en- tered the medical department of the University of Michigan, and from there went to the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in the Class of 1869. Immediately thereafter, Dr. Rafferty located at Palestine, Ill., and there continued until 1883, when he settled in Robinson, and has remained there in active practice ever since. Dr. Rafferty belongs to the following medical societies : Crawford County Medical Society, the Æsculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley. the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Honor, the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Republi- can, but has uever accepted public office.

On October 7, 1872, Dr. Rafferty was married in Palestine to Sadie E. Donnell, born in Pales- tine March 12, 1849, daughter of Deuuis and Eliza (Nethertou) Donnell. Mr. Donnell was one of the pioneers of Crawford County. Dr. and Mrs. Rafferty have had childreu as follows : Pearl R., born December 8, 1873; Herbert N., born September 18, 1878, in partnership with his father and a very popular young physician ; Glenn A .. born February 28, 1880, is a dentist of Robinson.

RAINS, LaFayette (deceased), formerly a farmer and stockman of Hutsonville Township, was born iu Crawford County, September 26, 1833, son of Ambrose B. and Charlotte (Cox) Rains. When seventeen, after a boyhood speut on the farm, LaFayette Rains went to Cali- fornia, but after sixteen mouths he returned home and began farming, buying a farm of 80 acres in 1854. In 1858 he sold this farm and bought 80 acres where he resided for many years, in time becoming the owner of 546 acres, which was well stocked and provided with a large resi- dence and barn. In 1872 he began raising stock, and made a specialty of that business. In Jan- uary, 1856, he married Nancy Cox, a uative of Crawford County, and daughter of Thomas and Deborah Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Rains became the parents of four children: John C., Martha, Mary A. and Emily. Both Mr. Rains and his wife belonged to the Baptist Church, while fra- ternally he was a Mason and in politics was a Republican.

RANDOLPH, Levi Holliday .- In every commun- ity in Crawford County there are some men who have attained prominence above the ordinary class in nearly every line of business life. Among those who are worthy of notice among the pros- perous farmers of this county is Levi Holliday Randolph, of Robinson Township, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, December 10, 1868, a son of William and Nancy ( Reinhardt) Randolph.

The father was also born in Perry County, Ohio, and the mother in Pennsylvania.

William Randolph and wife had children as follows: Haunah Theresa, born in Perry County, Ohio, January 5, 1851, married Andrew Stantz, a farmer of Crawford County, III., November 14. 1872, and they have two sons and five daughters ; Thomas Creighton, born in Perry County, Ohio, July 6, 1854, and married Catherine Headley, who died in 1885, leaving four children, after which he married Sarah Dart, daughter of Chauncey and Amanda Dart, and they have six daughters and twiu sons. But only of four of the girls are living; Laura Estella, born in Perry County, Ohio, February 3, 1859, married William A. Alexander, June 29, 1879, and they had two daughters living and one deceased; Vastie, born in Perry County, Ohio, October 18, 1861, mar- ried Dorsey G. Walters, September 28, 1879, and they live at Oblong, Ill., and have three daugh- ters and four sons : Clara, born in Ohio, March 1, 1863, married Wallace Eaton, October 8, 1883, and he died in the summer of 1908, leaving three daughters and five sons; William Howard, born June 24, 1866, married Cora Price, July 8, 1889, and they have two sons and two daughters; and Levi H., the subject of this sketch.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 162

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