Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 163

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 163

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Levi Holliday Randolph attended the Grassy District School during the winter until he was twenty-one, and engaged in farming during the summer months. On September 4, 1890, Mr. Randolph was married in Robinson Township by the Rev. Fields, pastor of the Methodist Church, to Amanda Jane Sankey, daughter of Morton and Mary (Beam) Sankey. Mrs. Raul- dolph was born in Sullivan Couuty, Ind., Novem- ber 12, 1867. Mr. Mortou Sankey was a farmer of Sullivau County, Iud. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph have a son, Carlton Oriel, born January 18, 1902. In politics Mr. Randolp is a Republican, and has been a member of the Methodist Church for about nine years, while his wife joined the same church some sixteen years ago, prior to that time being a member of the Union Baptist Church, which she joined at the age of seventeeu. Mr. Ran- dolph owns 64 acres of excellent farming land, and has a commodious residence of nine rooms. There are nine oil producing wells on his prop- erty, and he is preparing to drill for more.

Mr. Morton Sankey, the father of Mrs. Rau- dolph was born August 1, 1837, in Sullivan County, Ind., while his wife was born near Springfield, Ill., May 1, 1844. Mr. Sankey died at Terre Haute, Ind., November 3, 1894, and his wife in what is now Prairie Township, Crawford County, July 18, 1885. For some years Mr. Sankey was employed in the construction of Merom College at Merom, Ind. He and his wife had the following named children: Sarah Amelia. born October 17, 1864, died in 1866: Mary Frances, born March 25, 1866, married Enoch Balyem, died in August 1902, leaving three sons and two daughters; Mrs. Randolph ; William Thomas, born February 28, 1871, mar- ried Anna Myers of Iowa, and they have two sons aud one daughter aud live in Longmont, uear Denver, Col .; John Lewis, born March 7,

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1874, married Carrie Knowles of Fort Lupton, Col .; Jesse Morton, born April 1, 1880, is unmar- ried and lives in Oklahoma. Jesse was a soldier in the Spanish-American War, enlisting at Terre Haute, Ind., in the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Company M, U. S. Volunteers, in the year 1900, and arrived at Manila, P. I., November 6, of that year, serving two years.

RANDOLPH, William Howard .- The Randolph family is well represented in Crawford County by men of intelligence and prosperity engaged in several lines of business, although the majority of them are associated with farming and oil in- terests. They are men of integrity and strictest probity, who have attained their present posi- tions through industry, thrift and perseverance. William Howard Randolph is one of the mem- bers of this family, who is the owner of a fine farm of 80 acres on Section 14, in Oblong Town- ship. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 24, 1866, a son of William and Nancy ( Rinehart) Randolph, both now deceased. William Ran- dolph, also a native of Perry County, Ohio, born October 28, 1827, died in Crawford County, Ill., December 25, 1899, aged seventy-two years, two months and seventeen days.

On March 14, 1850, William Randolph mar- ried Nancy Rinehart, and they had seven chil- dren, all born in Perry County, Ohio: Theresa, born January 5, 1851, married Andrew Stentz, a farmer of Crawford County, November 14, 1872, and they have two sons and five daugh- ters ; Thomas Creighton, born July 6, 1854, mar- ried Catherine Headley, who died in 1885, leav- ing four children, later married Sarah Dart, daughter of Chauncey and Amanda Dart, and they have six daughters and twin sons, only four of the daughters now living ; Laura Estella, born February 3, 1859, married William A. Alexander, June 20, 1879, and they have two daughters liv- ing and one son dead; Vashti, born October 18. 1861, married Dorsey G. Walters, September 28, 1879, and they live at Oblong, having three daughters and four sons; Clara. born March 1, 1863, married Wallace Eaton, October 8, 1883, and died in the summer of 1908, leaving three daughters and five sons: William Howard. the subject of this sketch, and Levi Holliday, born December 10, 1866, married, September 4, 1890. Amanda Jane Sankey, daughter of Morton and Mary (Beam) Sankey, and they have one son, Carlton Oriel, and live in Robinson Township.

When only twenty years old William Ran- dolph became a member of the Methodist Church of which he was Steward in the Prairie Chapel Church for sixteen years. His funeral was con- ducted by the Rev. Turner of the Methodist Church, his remains being tenderly laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining his church. He was one of the best men the township has ever known and his loss will long be felt. In church, in busi- ness, and most of all, in his home, he was true- hearted, generous and kind, winning friends and making few, if any, enemies. Mrs. Nancy (Rine- hart) Randolph was born in Pennsylvania Feb- ruary 10, 1832, and died October 27, 1902. when

in her seventieth year. For over fifty years she was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. Her funeral was also conducted in Prairie Chapel, and the Rev. Mr. Neil of Oblong delivered the funeral address. Too much can- not be said of this gentle Christian woman, whose every thought was uplifting and who spent her life in loving service for others. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband.

When William Howard Randolph was four years old the family came to Crawford County, Ill., in a wagon, and he was educated in the district school of Oblong Township until he was twenty-one. On July 8, 18SS, he married Cora E. Price, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Ike- mier) Price, both from Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ran- dolph have had the following children: Pearl Nell, born April 13, 1889, married Winfield Young, an oil producer from Salina, Ohio, no issue ; Hosea, born March 28, 1891; Ralph, born July 9. 1893, and Mildred, born December 30, 1900. Mr. Randolph is a Republican, and fra- ternally belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Court of Honor. Both he and his wife have been members of the Methodist Church for ten years and take a deep interest in its good work. They have a very pleasant home and welcome their many friends to it with cordial hospitality.

REAVILL, A. J. (deceased), formerly a farmer of Montgomery Township, was born December 24, 1834, in Montgomery Township. The grand- father Reavill was born in France, but emigrated to this country where he married a Miss Crow. They had a son, David, born in Delaware in 1782, who came to Illinois in 1810, settling in Kaskaskia which was then the capital of the Territory. In 1812 he went to Vincennes, Ind .. and became a tanner, there. He married All Montgomery, born in South Carolina, Septem- ber 12, 1792, and she became the mother of nine children. A. J. Reavill was educated in Craw- ford County, where he married December 13. 1856, Martha A. Seaney, born October 9, 1835, daughter of John and Elizabetil (Attaway) Seaney. Mr. and Mrs. Reavill had nine chil- dren : Sarah J., William, John D .. Almira, Charles Mcclellan. David A., Parmer Seymour, Dora and Edmund H. Mr. Reavill became the owner of a large amount of land, and was a very prominent man. When oniy twenty.two years of age he was elected Justice of the Peace ; he was Township Treasurer, Supervisor and held other offices. In a busines way he also was active, and served as a Director of the Robinson Bank for many years. He was also a Director of the Paris & Danville Railroad, afterwards consolidated with the Wabash. In 1875 he was one of the organizers of the Bishop. Meserve & Co. syndicate, that completed the Paris & Dan- ville road from Hutsonville to Vincennes. Mr. Reavill served two terms as Representative in the General Assembly for the Forty-fifth Dis- trlet (1876-80), and two terms in tile Stato Sen- ate (1886-94). Belonging to the Masonle order, he was connected with Lodge No. 250, Robinson.

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REED, Nelson D .-- The farming interests of . Crawford County are represented by responsible, industrious, thrifty men who know the full value of their property and how to secure the best re- sults out of it. Nelson D. Reed of Oblong Town- ship, is pleasantly located on Section 15, and was born in Honey Creek Township, December 7, 1858, a son of Simon Peter Reed, a retired farmer now living in Mississippi, but born in Pennsyl- vania, July 23, 1834. The father of Simon Peter Reed, Henry Reed, was a pioneer farmer of Mar- tin Township, also born in Pennsylvania, where he married. By trade he was a merchant tailor. His wife whose maiden name was Katherine Al- loway, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and of the large family born to them, Simon Peter Reed was the youngest who grew to manhood. Coming to Crawford County in 1849 he located in Martin Township, at Hardinville, where he entered land, a portion of which he cleared and on it lived until his death in September, 1863.

Simon Peter Reed was educated in the primi- tive schools of his time and neighborhood, and married in Honey Creek Township Mary Gar- rard, born in that township, a daughter of Jesse W. Garrard, one of the pioneers of Crawford County. Jesse W. Garrard was one of the sons of John Garrard, who settled near Palestine at an early day. The children born to Simon Peter and wife were: Nelson D., Wilson A., Lilly May (deceased), Charles (deceased), G. P., Katherine, who married Allen Markee of Palestine; and one who died in infancy-all born in Crawford County. Until 1863 Simon Peter Reed rented land near Palestine, and in that year bought 20 acres in Honey Creek Township. About this time he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. Returning home he located on his homestead and lived there until 1876, when he sold this property and bought 80 acres in Oblong Township. Clearing a portion of this, he made some improvements, then moved to Palestine, and having retired from farm life embarked in the butchering business, which he carried on successfully for a number of years. Having finally sold out in February, 1906, he moved to Mississippi, where he is now living re- tired. He has been a member of the Democratic party ever since he cast his first vote. For a number of years he has been a member of the G. A. R.

Nelson D. Reed remained at home until his marriage, receiving a good common-school educa- tion in Honey Creek Township, and later at- tended the Illinois Normal School at Dixon, Ill., where he took a special course in surveying and civil engineering, and was graduated in that branch. For ten years Mr. Reed taught school in Crawford County, proving himself a most able educator. Later he began to make use of his knowledge as a surveyor, and at the same time farmed, and for sixteen years served as County Surveyor. Becoming proficient in surveying and civil engineering he has devoted his attention to this field exclusively since 1895. He has also served twenty-six years as Township School

'Trustee. He moved to his present home in Octo- ber, 1882, buying 40 acres of land, to which he added 40 acres more and now has SO acres on which he has made all the present improvements. In 1906 oil was discovered 'on his property and he now has six wells in active operation.

On October 18, 1881, Mr. Reed was married to Rose Martin, born in La Motte Township, a daughter of Harrison Martin, who was born in Crawford County, a son of John Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have one daughter, Nola M., who was born on their present home. Mr. Reed is a Democrat politically and fraternally is a mem- ber of the Ben Hur Lodge, at Robinson. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, being connected with Leeper Chapel, of which be is one of the Trustees, and has been Superintend- ent of the Sunday School there for fifteen years. He is an alert, enterprising and progressive mall, who makes friends everywhere, and is much esteemed throughout Crawford County.

REINOEHL, Sanford S .- The discovery of oil and gas in Crawford County within the past few years has made an immense difference in the character of industrial and commercial life of that locality. Land that contains these products, naturally is much more valuable than that where none are to be found, and one of those who are profiting by this development is Sanford S. Rein- oehl, a farmer and stock-raiser on Section 29, in Honey Creek Township, who has four gas wells on his property. Mr. Reinoehl was born on his present place, December 26, 1855, a son of George H. Reinoehl, who was a pioneer of the Township. The father was born January 31, 1831, in Wayne County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, and married Eliza J. DuCommon, born in the same county, September 8, 1833. In September, 1853, George H. Reinoehl came to Crawford County, and settled on the family homestead, buying 160 acres of timber land, and devoting his energies to clearing it off. He cultivated the land and put a house and barn upon it, and what he failed to finish, his son, Sanford S., has ac- complished.

The only child, Sanford S. Reinoehl, remained with his father until his death, which occurred in May, 1878. The elder Mr. Reinoehl was a Democrat, and very active in his party, serving very acceptably as Highway Commissioner. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Ducommon came to Martin Township, Crawford County, where he bought 80 acres of land, cleared it and made his home upon it. His family numbered seven children, of whom the elder Mrs. Reinoehl was the eldest, while two sons attended school at Palestine. The paternal grandfather, Philip Reinoehl also settled in Crawford County, buy- ing property in Honey Creek Township, where his death occurred when he was in his eighty- fourth year.

Sanford S. Reinoehl attended the district school which he left to take a commercial course at Westfield, Ill. At his father's death he took charge of the farm, and has added 96 acres to the

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original 160 acres, and here he carries on gen- eral farming and stock-raising, having been en- gaged in these lines all his business life. O11 July 6, 1876, he was married to Maria E. Parker, who was born in Honey Creek Township, April 23, 1857, a daughter of T. N. Parker, who was a farmer of Honey Creek Township, born in Ken- tucky and came to Illinois when in boyhood. He was reared in Honey Creek Township, south of Flat Rock, and is the son of Jonathan Parker, who located in the Township about 1816, and here entering land which he placed in an ex- cellent state of cultivation. Mrs. Reinoehl was reared in the same Township and there received her education in the public schools. She was one in a family of twelve children. Mr. and Mrs. Reinoehl have had children as follows : Mande, married Clarence Kaly ; Harry L .; Mary L., married Elmer Moore; Emma E., married Frank Powdew ; Charles G .; Lottie B .; Addie M., and Wilber L., all born on the present farm. Mary L. taught school for a year in the county schools. In politics Mr. Reinoehl is a Democrat, and like his father has been active in township affairs. He served very acceptably in the positions of Supervisor and Township Clerk. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a Mason, belonging to Hardinville Lodge. En- ergetic, a hard worker and thrifty in his habits, Mr. Reinoehl has added to his possessions, and the results are what was to be expected from a man of his capacity for good work and his ability as a manager.

RICHART, John Calvin .- Those of the present generation cannot fully appreciate the spirit that animated the heroes of the Civil War when they enlisted in the service of their country, or how willingly they risked their lives to preserve the Union. Facing death in some of its most horri- ble forms, they served bravely, not only for months but years, and yet when the struggle was over they quietly returned home and resnmed their occupations. No one was exempt. Fathers enlisted with their sons. The wbite-haired man stood shoulder to shoulder with the beardless boy, and both were equally brave. Now we have but a few left of the gallant many who once formed the very flower of our country's de- fenders, but these we honor and respect as we do no other class of men, not only for their bravery as soldiers but also for their ability to return to the life of private citizens after their years of excitement and danger.

John Calvin Richart, of Martin Township. Crawford County, is one of these veterans of Illinois, being born in Owen County, Ind., Jan- uary 5, 1840, a son of Isaac and Lucy Ann Rich- art. Isaac Richart was born in Bath County, Ky., October 31, 1804, and died May 26. 1870. His wife was born in Brown County, Ohio, being the youngest of a family of three children. Her father came from Binghamton. N. Y .. to Brown Connty, Ohio. Her death occurred June 6, 1869. Isaac Richart came to Crawford Courty. Ill., in 1850, at a time when wild game was stili plenti-

ful and entered 480 acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre. He made the trip overland through Indiana, and after reaching their desti- nation in Illinois, the family lived in a log honse for many years. Isaac Richart and wife had eleven children as follows: Andrew, born November 19, 1831; Henry Clay, born August 15, 1833; William O., born February 17, 1836; Phoebe S., born February 7, 1838 ; John Calvin, born January 5, 1840; Elias, born Angust 12, 1842; Daniel Webster, born December 28, 1844; Martha Ann, who died in infancy ; Isaac Watts, born in October, 1849; Jonathan, born August 23, 1852 ; Duncan O., born in August, 1856. Of these, Andrew died February 26, 1SSS ; Henry Clay is living ; William O. died in November, 1853 ; Phoebe S. is living ; Elias died May 4, 1855 : Daniel Webster is living; Isaac Watts died March 22, 1900; Jonathan is living, and Duncan O. died in March, 1860.

John Calvin Richart attended a subscription school in Crawford County, and continued his education from the age of ton until eighteen, when he taught school for two terms, and then worked on the farm until his majority. when his father gave him 120 acres of land in Crawford County. He was married November 7, 1SSO, in Martin Township, to Eleanora Stagner. daughter of John J. and Mary Jane (Chaffee) Stagner, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Richart have had these children : Webster, born January 15, 1SS3; Henry C .. born February 5, 1885; Joseph, born November 11, 18SS; Aiva C., born Angust 23, 1893. Webster died May 29, 1896, and Henry C. married Lydia Forman, daughter of Shepard and Virginia (Knott) Forman, and they have one son. Mr. Richart is a Republican, and has been a member of the Christian Church for eighteen years, his wife also belonging to the same denomination. They reside on their fine farm of 120 acres on which they have two oil-producing wells. Their home is a comfortable one, and in it they dis- pense a cordial hospitality.

In April, 1861, Mr. Richart enlisted In Com- pany G. Capt. G. W. Peeks commanding. Twenty- first Regiment Illinois Voinnteer Infantry, which saw its first service under Gen. U. S. Grant as Colonel, and participated in many engagements. among which were: Frederickstown. Mo., Perry- ville. Ky .. Murfreesboro. Tenn .. Chickamanga. Tenn., and was in Sherman's campaign, marching back to Nashville, and participating in the battle of Franklin, Tenn. The regiment was mustered ont in December, 1865, at San Antonio, Texas. and discharged at Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill., January 1, 1866, and Mr. Richart arrived at home January 19, 1866, to resume his farming operations.

RICHEY, John .- The farmers of today are not only landowners, but many are largely Interested in other enterprises, sometimes as owners of valuable realty in large cities, occupying official chairs in connection with banks, or as proprietors and operators of commercial honses. Crawford County is the home of many prosperous farmers

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whose industry and thrift have placed them among the capitalists and representative men of their neighborhood. Among those who are especi- ally worthy of note in this connection in La Motte Township is John Richey, who was born in County Derry, Ireland, and who between four- teen and fifteen years of age came to America with an older brother and sister. They first went to Cincinnati, but soon after removed to Xenia, Ohio, where the brother rented a farm and John assisted in operating it, meanwhile spending some time in school there.

The brother was only four years John's senior, so he was little more than a boy himself when the three ventured out into the world. The par- ents, Andrew Richey and wife, Elizabeth, never left their native Ireland, but there died. They had children as follows: Sarah Elizabeth, born in County Derry, Ireland ; Margaret, born in the same county, as were the others; Robert, Jane, Samuel, Mary, John and James.

In March, 1864, Mr. Richey enlisted in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Na- tional Guard Infantry, known as the Home Guard, in which he served four months, most of the time being spent in Newcot, W. Va., where the regiment was attacked by the Confederates. The service of this regiment was chiefly con- fined to checking the movements of Gen. Mosby in the South, although they took part in several skirmishes.

In 1868 Mr. Richey came to Crawford County, and bought 225 acres of land in La Motte Town- ship, which at the time of purchase was occupied by John Beach. Although Mr. Richey's educa- tion was a very limited one, about the only opportunity he had for attending school being while living in Xenia, Ohio, he has made good use of his knowledge and, aided by his native intelligence and wit, has never felt much need of other advantages.

On March 11, 1869, he was married by Rev. William Kane, of the Methodist Church, in La Motte Township, to Sarah Adeline Fox, born in Montgomery Township, January 26, 1840, a daughter of John and Emeline (McGahey) Fox. They have had children as follows: Abbie J., born July 13, 1871, married Edward Beeson, a farmer of La Motte Township, and they have a son ; William O., born October 10, 1873, married Lelia Haskett, daughter of Harlan Haskett and Ellen Haskett, they have a son and two daugh- ters, and live in Palestine, Crawford County, where he is bookkeeper in the First National Bank ; James C., born April 11, 1876, married Cora Poe of Palestine, they have a daughter and live in Palestine where he is in the employ of the Richey & Richey hardware store; Fred F., born September 24, 1878. married Bessie M. Kitchell, a daughter of John and Rachel (Wil- son) Kitchell, of Palestine, and they have one son ; David A., born October 12, 1881, is un- married and lives in Sierra Madre. Cal.

Mr. Richey has been extremely successful. Coming to America a raw, uneducated lad of fourteen, he has accumulated a fortune, and at one time owned 1223 acres of as good land as

can be found in this part of the State. He has given 305 acres to his daughter, Mrs. Beeson, 272 acres to his son William, and 420 acres in Hut- sonville Township to James C. and David A., and the home place of 225 acres to Fred F. In addition to these valuable holdings, Mr. Richey is one of the proprietors of the Palestine hardware store operated under the name of Richey & Richey. In politics Mr. Richey is a Republican, and al- though he takes an active interest in public affairs, he has not desired public office. For forty years he has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church, in which for the past thirty years he has been an elder, and is one of the church's largest contributors. Genial, kind- hearted, a good friend, an indulgent husband and father, Mr. Richey has endeared himself not only to his immediate family, but also to a large circle of appreciative friends throughout the en- tire county. No record of Crawford County would be complete without extended notice of this representative and successful man, John Richey.

ROBB, Judge Franklin, attorney-at-law, was born in Gibson County, Ind., February 15, 1817, and when he was sixteen his parents moved to Laporte, Ind. He attended Wabash College at Crawfordsville for five years, and was grad- uated from the classical department of that insti- tution in 1840. Mr. Robb then studied law with Judge Embree, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. For a short time he practiced law at Princeton, but became interested in medicine and studied it for three years and attended lectures at Louisville, Ky., and at Cincinnati. In 1845 he located in Robinson, where he engaged in the practice of medicine, but was forced to abandon it on account of his health, when he resumed his law practice, and at the time of his death was a well-known man throughout the county. He was a Republican and held many offices, includ- ing those of County Superintendent of Schools, Justice of the Peace, member of the School Board, etc. In 1879 he was elected County Judge, and served one term, but declined a second nomina- tion. He was married June 13, 1844, to Martha J. E. Ing, daughter of Thomas Ing.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 163

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