Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 169

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 169

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Lloyd Tracy and his brother, Elijah Tracy, brought their families from Licking County, Ohio, to Crawford County, Ill., in 1846, making the trip in wagons, there being already five chil- dren in the family of Lloyd Tracy. The latter settled in Robinson Township, while his brother settled one half-mile south, and his heirs now own this land. Within late years oil has been discovered upon the property and greatly en- hanced its value. Lloyd Tracy entered 160 acres from the Government, and while putting up a log house, he lived on Robert Smith's place. About 40 acres of the farm was in prairie and the remainder in brush and timber. Elijah

helped him break the prairie and during the first year they broke 50 acres, which they planted in corn. They used an ax, in every third fur- row cutting a hole in which they dropped three or four grains of corn. The mouth of the hole was closed with a block of wood or rammed down with a maul, and in this man- ner the first crop was planted. Lloyd Tracy lived on this farm for seven years, when he sold it to Silas Price and moved to Richland County, Ill., where he entered 200 acres. Prior to lo- cating in Richland County, he purchased a small log house on an adjoining farm, and which he moved onto his own property. Into this he moved his family in the spring, and in the following fall he died.

George V. Tracy attended school in Crawford County in what was known as the Old Hickory schoolhouse, walking one and a quarter miles to school. After the death of his father, his mother sold the Richland County farm and re- turned to Crawford County, where she bought 40 acres. Upon their return, George V. Tracy resumed his attendance at school, and for the following five years went to school three months in the year. In the meanwhile, when not in school, he worked out, splitting rails and per- forming other tasks to help his mother. Thus he continued until he was twenty-six years old. When twenty-two he enlisted in the army, joining Company D, Ninety-eighth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, under Col. John J. Funkhouser and Captain Wood. The date of his enlistment was August 12, 1862, and he was discharged at Nashville, Tenn., June 15, 1865, and mustered out at Springfield, Ill. He was in all of the engagements participated in by his company with the exception of one when he was detailed on special duty. Mr. Tracy was sent on horseback 108 miles with a dispatch to Knoxville, Tenn., rode night and day and was slightly wounded in his side.

Upon his return he rented a farm of William Kirk, upon which he lived a year, and then bought 70 acres in Jasper County. Still later he traded that for 100 acres in Licking Town- ship, Crawford County. In addition to exchang- ing his farm for the new one, he owed $450. Of the new farm 40 acres were under cultivation and the rest in brush and timber. There was a log cabin and stable on the land. Later he added to his holdings until at one time he owned 480 acres, but has since given 60 acres to each of his sons. Mr. Tracy has made all of the ini- provements on his estate, including his present residence.

On June 10, 1866, Mr. Tracy married Arminda Hill, daughter of Barton and Louisa (Eaton) Hill, and the following February moved on the farmn which he now occupies. They became the parents of the following children: Etta May, born May 25, 1867, died March 20, 1899; Barton Willard, born May 8, 1869; Brazellar, born February 16, 1871; Jane, born October 18, 1873 ; Presley Wellington, born August 25, 1875, died March 2, 1898; Emma Josephine, born February 20, 1878; James A., born August 11, 1880, and

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John, born August 15, 1884. Mrs. Tracy died April 22, 1888, and in 1889 Mr. Tracy married Mary J. Mills, daughter of Aaron and Sarah Mills, whose parents lived in Clark County, Ill.

Mr. Tracy cast his first vote for U. S. Grant and has been a Republicau ever since. He served as school trustee for three years, and was road- boss for one year. In religious belief he is a member of the United Brethren Church, having joined it in 1872.

TRACY, George Washington .- The pioneer families of Crawford County have placed the people of this generation under heavy obligation, for the comforts and luxuries they now enjoy are the results of the labors of those who re- deemed the country from the wilderness, and not only opened roads, built schools and churches, but cleared and tiled the land aud developed towns and cities. George Washington Tracy is a member of just such a family, his father Elijah Tracy having come from Pennsylvania, where he was born April 11, 1815, to Crawford Couuty in 1847. He entered 80 acres in Robin- son Township, but added to it until he finally owned 300 acres. His wife was Nancy Myer, born in Ohio, October 19, 1821, aud they had eleven children, seven sons aud four daughters : Peter, born October 18, 1839; Jane, born April 11, 1841; Myer, born September 10, 1843; John, born January 5, 1844; Maranda, born March 28. 1846; Maritta, born April 11, 1847; Van- derhoff, born December 4, 1850; Mary Catherine, born November 9, 1853; Elijah, born January 24, 1858; George Washington; and one boy who died in infancy.

George Washington Tracy was born in Rob- inson Township, August 18, 1863. He attended the Grassy Hollow School until he was eighteen, and was married at his present home, which is the old homestead in Robinson Township, August 20. 1885. to Mary C. Hawkins, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Hawkins, by Justice David Steel. Their children are: Harry M., born Sep- tember 3, 1886; Bertha E., born January 24. 1888, married Julius Furman, son of Shepard Furman, who is a farmer of Robinson Towuship; Vena, born November 12, 1890; William Arthur, born April 12. 1894, died February 7, 1900; Otto Otis, born September 28, 1898.

Mr. Tracy owns 112 acres of fine farin land, and has seven oil-producing wells upon his prop- erty. His home is an excellent residence of eight rooms, situated back from the road. One of the features of the house is a large side bay-window in which Mrs. Tracy has her plants, making a regular conservatory of it. She is very fond of flowers and in summer the yard is full of them. The house is supplied with natural gas, and every modern improvement. In politics Mr. Tracy is a Republican. He and his wife have been members of the United Brethren Church for teu years.

UPDIKE, William Walter, one of the promoters of the American Field Trial Sports, and oue of the champion winners, was born near Robinson,

Ill., December 6, 1870, a son of William and Elizabeth Maud Updike, the former of whom was born iu Trenton, N. J., August 18, 1831, and the latter iu Yorkshire, England, May 14, 1834. William Updike was a farmer, but later engaged in handling farm implements, and still later was a general merchant. The parents of MIr. Up- dike were married in Butler County, Ohio, No- vember 8, 1853, and moved to Illinois In 1856, living for a short time near the new city of Rob- inson. Later they purchased a farm some dis- tance from the city, and still later they bought another farm south of the place. In 1875 they moved to the home place south of Robinsou now owned by William Walter Updike. William Up- dike was elected County Treasurer iu 1877, and served one term, and was also a member of the Illinois Legislature, in which he served two terms, aud beiug a prominent citizen of his day.

William Walter Updike attended the common and high school and received a good education. About twenty years ago he began raising and training pedigreed dogs, establishing what was known as the Maple Hill Kennels. His skill as a trainer soon became known everywhere, and later, in partuership with Sheriff James Pease of Chicago, he branched out aud the establish- ment knowu as the American Llewelleu Kennels was established. This now has national fame, very many of the best dogs that were in the first class at field trials being from these ken- nels, two especially noted beiug Robert Count Gladstone and Count Noble. Six of the most noted dogs are Fliutstoue, Dervish Girl, Chicago Boy, Invincible, Ned Buntline and May Glad- stone. A great pointer was Drills Scout, whose grandsire aud grauddam have produced thirty- one winners. To begin to uame all the dogs trained by Mr. Updike would be Impossible. There is room for but one more, Iuvincible, who was universally recognized as the best hunting dog ever kuown.

One of the reasons of Mr. Updike's success is that he thoroughly breaks his dogs before they are allowed to start in a trial. Mr. Updike Is also known as a breeder of the Californla quail and pleasant. He was given the undisputed title of best wing shot in the country. He has won many cups and medals, and not only pur- sues his calling as a business, but from a thor- ough love of sport. Governor Deneeu has rec- ognized the services Mr. Updike has rendered In this field by appointing him Game Warden. Mr. Updike is also engaged in the oll business with Mr. James Pease, owning in partnership several valuable oll leases.

In Robinson, September 26, 1895, Mr. Updike married Mary A. Mitchell, born near Robinson. Jauuary 14, 1867 ; no issue. Mr. and Mrs. Updike are charming people with hosts of friends, whom they entertain royally at their delightful home.

VANCE, M. T. (deceased), for many years a prosperous farmer of Llcking Townslilp. Craw- ford County, was born In Licking County. Ohlo. February 9, 1834, a son of John E. Vance, boru in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., August 18, 1797.

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He came to Ohio in 1815 and married Maria Holden, daughter of Alexander Holden, who was born in Virginia, but came to Ohio in 1804, and died in that State. Mr. and Mrs. John E. Vance had children as follows : Alice, Riley, Mary Jane, Ruth, John A., Louis and M. T. Mr. Vance was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools of Ohio. When, in 1847, his father came to Crawford County, he was fourteen years old, and had plenty of work helping clear the 120 acres his father bought soon after his arri- val, in Section 33, Licking Township. The father died in 1855, and his widow in 1857. In 1859, M. T. Vance married Margaret Lam- berson, and they had the following childreu : John A., Almenia A., Louis Clay, Ira Lincoln, Louisa, Margaret and Malone, twins, Emma M., and one who died in infancy.

VAN WINKLE, Francis Marion .- Thoroughly conversant with all the details of farming, in which occupation the active years of his life have been spent, Francis M. Van Winkle's fa- miliarity with everything pertaining to agricul- tural life has resulted in a gratifying success that places him among the representative men of Crawford County. Mr. Van Winkle, farmer and stock-raiser of Section 31, Honey Creek Township, was born on his present farm January 3, 1867, a son of William Louis Van Winkle, a retired farmer of this township. William L. Van Winkle was born in Crawford County, near Palestine, January 21, 1833, a son of Jesse Van Winkle, deceased, who was born in Ohio, March, 1809, where he was reared until twelve years of age, when his parents came to Craw- ford County, and he was married to Susan Garrett. In 1830 he settled in Crawford County, and was among its first settlers, first locating near Palestine, where he remained a few years, and then about 1839 he moved to Honey Creek Township, where he entered land in the timber, half a mile north of the present homestead. This consisted of 50 acres, which he cleared off and there he lived, cultivating his land and improv- ing it until his death. He added 30 acres to his original purchase.

William Van Winkle was the eldest of his par- ents' five children, four sons and one daughter. All of them were born in Crawford County, and three of them served in the Civil War, and two lost their lives in defense of the Union. Jesse Van Winkle was an ardent Republican. The education of William Van Winkle was secured in the township schools. On December 23, 1858, William Van Winkle married Fannie K. Sears, who was born in Honey Creek Township, Sep- tember 1, 1841, a daughter of Adam Sears, now deceased, a pioneer of Crawford. They set- tled in the county at an early date, coming from Kentucky. Mrs. Van Winkle was also educated in the township schools. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Van Winkle: Julia, Samantha, Louisa (deceased), Alice, Francis Marion, and one who died in in- fancy, all born on the homestead. After mar- riage, William Van Winkle moved on his home-

stead, buying 40 acres. This farm he cleared with the help of his son, and added to it until it contained 125 acres. He made all the im- provements and placed the land under cultiva- tion. Since the formation of the party, he has been a Republican. When Mr. Francis Marion Van Winkle was only two years old, he had the misfortune to lose his mother, her death occur- ring July 22, 1870.

While attending the schools of his neighbor- hood, the younger Mr. Van Winkle assisted his father in the farm work, and he is now conduct- ing the homestead, with very gratifying results. On October 11, 1899, he was married to Effie Crum, a native of the township, and a daughter of Andrew J. Crum, who was born in Indiana, married in Crawford County. Mrs. Van Winkle was carefully educated, attending the Robinson High School and Merom College, at Merom, Ind., and for four terms she was one of the teachers of Honey Creek and Martin Townships. She is the only daughter in a family of two children. Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle have one son, William Jackson, who was born December 31, 1900. Mr. Van Winkle is a Democrat. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Hardinville, No. 4697. He and Mrs. Van Winkle are members of the United Brethren Church, attending Zion's Church in Martin Township. He is Superin- tendent of the Sunday School, and takes a very active part in church work. As President of the Young People's Society of the church, he is kept busy, and is very much liked by all his asso- ciates in this good work.

VINSEL, Alva N .- Most intimately associated with the growth and character of any com- munity are its agricultural interests. They mould the life of the people, give direction to their efforts, crystallize the present and future possibilities of a section into concrete form. The prosperous farmers of any township are its greatest benefactors, silently controlling the forces that bring progress and development, and the measure of their success is reflected in the advancement of their community. Alva N. Vin- sel, farmer and stock-raiser of Section 10, Honey Creek Township, was born in Muskingum Coun- ty, Ohio, May 14, 1856, a son of Samuel Vinsel, now deceased, a farmer of Honey Creek Town- · ship, although a native of Virginia. He was reared, and on March 15, 1833, was married in that State to Elizabeth Kern, who was born in Loudon County, Va., where she was reared and educated. They became the parents of six sons and two daughters, of whom Alva N. is the youngest. Four of the family died in childhood, the full family record being as follows : Isaiah, born February 12, 1834, died in September, 1906; John W., born March 29, 1836, died August 23, 1837; George F., born February 4, 1837, died August 24, 1848; Adam K., born March 21, 1840, died in August, 1902, a veteran of the Ninety- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; Martin, born January 6, 1842, died January 12, 1843 ; Michael, born February 24, 1844, died January 22, 1862; Lavina, born January 16, 1846; Taylor F., born

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September 2, 1848; Elizabeth, born June 3, 1853 ; and Alva N., May 14, 1856. The father of the foregoing famliy was born March 13, 1807, and the mother March 23, 1812.

From Virginia the family went to Ohio and thence to Iowa, but after a two years' stay there they finally came to Illinois in 1866, and settled in Honey Creek Township, where the father bought 80 acres of land. He and his sons cleared this off, but the strenuous work was too much for him, and he died August 1, 1869, although his widow survived him until June 1, 1901. From the formation of the party, Samuel Vinsel was a strong supporter of Republicanism, while in religious faith he was a Lutheran. A brother of Alva N. Vinsel, Taylor Vinsel, conducted the farm after his father's death until Alva was twenty years old, when he bought out the other interests and conducted it alone, adding to the original holding until he now owns 220 acres in Honey Creek, and 140 in Lawrence County. He has made all the present improvements on both properties and has some of the most valuable land in both Crawford and Lawrence counties.

On April 3, 1902, Mr. Vinsel married Martha Tedford, who was born in Montgomery Town- ship, a daughter of John Melvin Tedford, a far- mer and pioneer of Honey Creek Township. Mr. Tedford was born and reared in Tennessee, and there learned the trade of carpenter. This trade he followed in conjunction with his farming all his life. His marriage to Martha Stewart oc- curred in Tennessee, where she was born. In an early day Mr. and Mrs. Tedford came to Craw- ford County, settling in Montgomery Township, where they lived until death. He enlisted in 1861 in an Illinois volunteer infantry regiment, but was discharged on account of tuberculosis, from which disease he died shortly afterwards.

He had a family of eight children, six of whom were born in Tennessee and two in Crawford County, all of whom lived to maturity, and of these Mrs. Vinsel is the youngest. She was edu- cated in the district schools of her locality and was taught by her excellent mother to be a good housewife. Mr. Vinsel is a Republican, a Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1906 oil was discovered on his property, and he now has fourteen wells in operation. This has added very materially to the value of hls land. Having resided on hls present farm over forty years, Mr. Vinsel has seen many changes take place, and perhaps the most Important is the development of the oil business. He remembers well when a man farmed his land just to get a living; now he operates this business just as any other busi- ness man does his, and as a result the farmer has taken hls place among the captains of in- dustry, and it is a very important one at that. He realizes today his importance and profits by lt.

VOORHEIS, Henry Augustus. - Crawford County. Ill .. owes its present prosperity to the efforts of men of perseverance, industry and in- telligence, men who, while attaining their own

success, have strengthened and built up the com- munity about them, and prominent among this class of citizens may be mentioned Henry Au- gustus Voorheis, whose excellent 300-acre farm is situated one and one-half miles west of Hut- sonville. Mr. Voorheis was born in Hutsonville Township, Crawford County, Ill., November 14, 1826, a son of Mahlon and Eliza (Tuttle) Voor- heis, the former born in Morrls County, N. J., March 29, 1797, and the latter in the same State, July 29, 1804. They were married May 12. 1824, and settled on the old Voorheis homestead farmu in Crawford County. Ill., about 1821 or 1822, where Mahlon Voorheis followed the occupations of a farmer and broommaker until his death, which occurred February 6, 1848, his wife having passed away October 19, 1843. There were eleven children in the family, as follows: Mary T., born July 5, 1825, died in February, 1851; Henry Augustus; Sarah Elizabeth. born June 2. 182S, died April 2S. 1856; Frances Jemima, born Feb- ruary 27, 1829, died of whoopingcough, January 20, 1837, her sister, Julia An, and brother, John, the baby, dylng about the same time; Julia Ann, born November 24, 1831 ; Joseph Tut- tle, born January 11, 1833, enlisted in the Civil War in 1861, and was killed by bushwhackers at Helena, Kan., October 22, 1863, when, as a member of a foraging party, he refused to sur- render; David, born February 19, 1835. died at the home of Henry A. Voorheis, May 21, 1866; John, born September 27. 1836, died when nine months old; Emily Frances, born March 1. 1840, married William Morton Cox (now deceased), of Hutsonville Township, and she now lives in La Motte Township : Catherine Jemima, born De- cember 27. 1841. died January 26, 1897, and John Cornelius, born October 18, 1843, and died when about nine months old.

Henry Augustus Voorheis was born in a log cabin in Hutsonville Township, and was edu- cated at home by a cousin, 'Squire David Tuttle, who made him so proficient in his studies that at the age of twelve years he was an excellent penman and reader, far ahead of the boys of his age. He then attended a subscription school in the town of Hutsonville until becoming of age, when he went to work on his father's farm, later, however, leaving the parental roof to go to work on the farm of Nathan Musgrave from whom he received ten dollars per month and board. The following year he rented the farm of Mr. Musgrave, and after five years had saved enough to buy the old homestead, which had changed hands following the death of his father. In May. 1856, Mr. Voorheis returned to the old home place, bringing with him his wife, Eliza Aun (Cox) Voorhels, whom he had married May S. 1856, the ceremony being performed by Rev. St. Clair, a Methodist Episcopal mlnister. Mrs. Voorheis was born in Hutsonville Townshlp, March 12, 1833, daughter of Thomas and Deborah (Lindley) Cox, both natives of North Carolina, the former being born in 1805 and died in 186S, and the latter born about 1812. surviving ber husband but a few years. Mr. and Mrs. Cox were married In Crawford County, whence both had

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come with their parents. Mrs. Voorheis was the third of ten children, the family being: Zilpha Jane and Hannah, deceased; Mrs. Voorheis ; Mary; William Morton. deceased; James L .; Maria ; and Hannah, Lindley, and Thomas, all deceased. John L. and Thomas were Mission- ary Baptist ministers. To Mr. and Mrs. Voorheis there have been born six children: Emma C., born April 13, 1857, married F. J. Cooper, a former schoolteacher of Hutsonville Township, who later engaged in business in Robinson, and is now the proprietor of a drug store-they have two sons, Frank, a stenographer of Terre Haute, who is married and has one child. and Harry, who is his father's partner in the drug business ; John M., born April 1, 1860, married (first) Alice Rains, by whom he had a son and daughter, Roy and May, and who died December 10, 1888, after which he married (as his second wife) Clarinda Sackrider, by whom he had a son. Ray ; Charlie, born August 23, 1862, died February 26, 1865 ; Charles H., born February 24, 1865, married Ollie Lindley, daughter of Samuel and Harriet Lindley, by whom he had three chil- dren, all of whom are deceased; William Mahlon, born June 26, 1867, who is single and living with his father on the old homestead ; and Mary. born June 15, 1870, married Thomas. Lindley, son of Pratt and Eleanor Lindley, by whom she had eight children : Ellen. Truman, Audra, Blanche, Grace (deceased), Harrold, Voorheis and Ethel.

Mr. Voorheis has always been one of the town- ship's progressive men, taking much interest in the success of the Republican party and serving as trustee of the Township School Board for a period of thirty-five years. He has been a mem- ber of the Society of Friends for about twenty years, and is now serving as elder. Mrs. Voor- heis belongs to the Missionary Baptist denomina- tion. Mr. Voorheis' fine farm of 300 acres, situ- ated about one and one-half miles west of Hut- sonville, is one of the best in his section of the county. and testifies to the thrift and intelligence of its owner, who is known throughout the town- ship as a substantial man and useful citizen.

WALKER, George B. (deceased)-The late George B. Walker was a prominent and highly respected farmer and stock-raiser of Martin Township, and an early resident of Crawford County, who built up for himself a lasting repu- tation as an upright and honorable citizen in his business transactions. He was born in In- diana. April 22, 1829, a son of Aquilla Walker, deceased. a pioneer of Crawford County. Aquilla Walker settled in Indiana, where he married Elizabeth Dyer, and they became the parents of four children, of whom George B. Walker was the second. In 1852 the family came to Crawford County, Ill .. settling in Martin Township on the property which is the Walker homestead the father originally entering 80 acres, which he im- proved with the help of his son. The latter added to the property until it consisted of 100 acres, and there the father and mother lived until the date of their demise. In politics the

father was a Republican, and in religious faith a member of the Methodist Church.

On March 19, 1851, George B. Walker was married in Hardinville to Mary Lamb, who was born in North Carolina, May 17, 1830. a daugh- ter of Dunn Lamb, deceased, by religious faith a Quaker, who was born in North Carolina, and there married Charlotte Morgan, whose parents died when she was a child and she was bound out. Although the husband was a Quaker, in order to please his bride, he consented to be married by a Baptist minister. Mrs. Walker is the ninth child in order of birth of the twelve children born of her parent's marriage. The Lamb family came to Crawford County, in 1835, after all their children had been born, and the father entered 120 acres in the Palestine land office. This he cleared and improved, and lived upon it until his death. He was a Whig in politics.

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Illinois, Crawford County historical and biographical, Part 169

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