USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 55
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Thomas C. Hussey was married Janu- ary 1, 1868, to Miss Nana J. Sanderson, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of Joel and Olive Sanderson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. The family home is an elegant residence near the square, tastefully and attractively fur- nished and an air of hospitality pervades the place.
Mr. Hussey is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and in his political views is a Republican. He has been prom- inent and influential in public affairs here, has been connected with the municipal gov- ernment and has filled the office of mayor, giving to the city a public-spirited and busi- ness-like administration. Coming to Greene county when twenty years of age, the enitre period of his manhood has been passed within its borders as an active factor in in- dustrial and commercial life. He is entirely free from self-laudation or ostentation but the real worth of his character and his jus- tice in all his dealing's with his fellowmen have made him known and honored throughout the community with which he has so long been identified.
R. G. FAIN.
R. G. Fain is a representative of com- mercial interests in Carrollton, who in his business career has won creditable and grati- fying success. He was born in Rogersville, Tennessee, May 21, 1852, and is a son of R. G. Fain, whose birth occurred in Han- cock, Tennessee. His paternal grandfather. Nicholas Fain, became a merchant and planter and was a man of much prominence in his community, exerting strong influence
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
in public affairs and leaving the impress of his individuality for good upon the puble life of the commonwealth. He filled a mim ber of state offices and was accounted one of the distinguished men of Tennessee in his day. R. G. Fain, reared in his native state. pursued his education in MeMinn Academy in Rogersville, Tennessee. Ile was after ward selected as a cadet to go to West Point and when he had completed a full course of study there he was graduated. He was then appointed commander of the militia of Ten- nessee. After a few years he resigned and engaged in merchandising and in railroad- ing. being thus closely identified with the business interests of his community until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted, becoming colonel of the Sixty-third Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. His health failed and he returned home. For some time he was an invalid and not only suffered the loss of his health, but also lost all of his pos- sessions through the ravages of war. He continued to reside in Tennessee until his death, which occurred in the year 1882. He had married Miss Eliza Anderson, a native of Sullivan county, Tennessee, and they be- came the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom reached years of maturity, and five sons were in the Southern army.
R. G. Fain spent his boyhood days in Tennessee, was educated in the public schools and in the home learned lessons that have proven of the utmost value to him in his ca- reer in later life. In 1872. then a young man of eighteen years, he came to Illinois, settling first in Jersey county, where he en- gaged in teaching for four years. He was married about that time. April 21. 1879. to Miss Julia Brace, a native of Kanc. Greene county, and a graduate of the schools of
Carrollton They now have one con, Bruce 1 ... now at Lake Forest. Hemos
Viter Ius marraige Mr. l'un omnel 18 attention to general merchandising n kem and continued in business there until 1884. when he removed to Fulton, Kansas. Ile engaged in the same line of busme's there until September, 1885, when he became a resident of Liberty, Missouri, where he also opened a mercantile establishment, being a representative of the trade interests of that place until 1887, when he returned to Greene county. He remained in Kane for a year and then removed to Carrollton, where he was first engaged in clerking. At the end of four years he became a stockholder in the MeFarland & Lynn Dry Goods Company. This relation was maintained until. 1897. when with his present partners he organized the Lynn. Fain & Davis Dry Goods Com- pany. Theirs is one of the leading commer- cial enterprises of the city, located in one of the best business blocks of Carrollton, and they carry a large and well selected line of dry goods, boots and shoes and men and women's wearing apparel. The business methods established by the house are in keep- ing with the strictest commercial ethics and the reputation enjoyed by the firm is unas sailable. The partners are men of long ex- perience and of enterprising and progressive spirit who are now meeting with very grati- fying success.
Fraternally Mr. Fain is a Mason, having been initiated into the order in 1904 at Car- rollton, and he now belongs to Carrollton lodge. No. 50. A. F. & A. M. In manner pleasant, courteous and genial, with kindly disposition and deference for the opinions of others, he has gained the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
JOHN C. RAFFETY.
John C. Raffety, whose life record covers sixty-seven years, has always been a resident of Greene county, his birth occurring on the old family homestead, March 23, 1837. In the paternal line he is of Irish descent and in the maternal line is of Scotch lineage. His grandfather, Richard Raffety, was a native of Tennessee and after residing for some time in Kentucky he removed to Illinois, be- coming one of the early settlers whose labors proved an important factor in the early de- velopment and upbuilding of this part of the state.
William M. Rafferty, the father of John C. Raffety, was born in Kentucky and in 1836 came to Illinois, settling near Wrights- ville, where he entered eighty acres of land from the government and began the ardu- ous task of developing a new farm. As time passed and his financial resources in- creased he extended the boundaries of his property until he was the owner of four hundred acres at the time of his death. He was a carpenter by trade but during the greater part of his life he followed the occu- pation of farming. In his last years, how- ever, he lived retired in Roodhouse. His political support was given the Democratic party. He married Martha Robinson, who died in 1848, at the age of forty years, while his death occurred in 1887, when he had at- tained the ripe old age of seventy-eight ycars. Mrs. Raffety was a daughter of Ezra Robinson and the family was of Scotch lineage.
John C. Raffety. reared to the occupa- tion of farming. made that pursuit his life work. ITe was educated in the public schools of the home neighborhood and in his boy- hood, when his time was not occupied with
the duties of the schoolroom, he gave his attention to the labors of field and meadow. After attaining his majority he began farm- ing on his own account. In 1868 he pur- chased one hundred acres of land and has since added to that property until he now has a valuable and well improved farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres, pleasantly lo- cated within two and a half miles of Wrightsville. There le resided until Sep- tember 8, 1893, when he put aside the more arduous duties of the farm and retired to private life to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. On the 7th of October of that year he was injured in a railroad accident. his ribs being broken, and he received from the railroad company twenty-five hundred dol- lars indemnity.
On the 14th of January, 1863, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Raffety and Miss Nancy Jane Johnson, who was born Sep- tember 10, 1845, and is a daughter of John L. and Wilmouth L. (Jones) Johnson. Her paternal grandfather, John Johnson, was born in North Carolina in March, 1792, and came to Illinois in 1812. After his mar- riage he located at Edwardsville, this state, where he engaged in farming. As a Ranger he took an active part in the early Indian wars and fought with John Huitt, of Greene county. Mrs. Raffety's father was also a farmer by occupation and was a life-long Democrat in politics. He served one term as justice of the peace and was re-elected to that office buit died soon afterward.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Raffety were born seven children : Minnie Etna, born July 24. 1864, was married September 21, 1880, to William Harvey Smith and died in Iowa, February 11. 1885, leaving two children. Reta J., born March 16. 1882. and Anna E .. born July 20. 1884. Louis H .. born An-
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gust 27, 1866, is a resident of Greene county, Illinois. He was married October 23, 1895. to Ora Flower, a daughter of J. W. Flower. and they have three children : Vera F., born April 28, 1897 : Glen . A., born June 18, 1899: and John W., born March 31, 1902. Martha .A., born April 16, 1868, was married No- vember 4, 1885. to Frank Kesinger, a son of Chester Kesinger, of Wrightsville, who is engaged in the grain business. Frank Kes- inger is a farmer, operating sixty acres of land. He and his wife have three children. Ross. Ellis and Olin, aged respectively sev- enteen, fourteen and nine years. Lula B. Raffety, born February 16, 1870, is the wife of Francis Bradshaw, son of Marion Brad- shaw. They were married February 22. 1888, and their first child, born dead, had a full set of teeth. Their other children are Juanita, thirteen years of age : Leona, eight years old : and Gladys, five years of age. Ida Alice Raffety, born December 24, 1872, died April 10. 1880. John W., born June 23. 1874. died on the 3d of September of the same year. George .\ .. a twin brother of John, resides upon the home farm, which he has rented from his father since 1895. lle was married October 30, 1900. to Lillian Benear.
In his political views John C. Raffety has always been a Democrat and was a stanch supporter of the Union cause. In fact his patriotic spirit and loyalty prompted his enlistment and service in defense of the Union cause and he now holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. Since the age of nineteen years he has been a member of the Baptist church. to which his wife also belongs, and they are true to its teachings and exemplify in their lives their religious faith. Honorable and upright, Mr Rafferty's warmest frineds are those who
have known him from boyhood, and he is one of the esteemed citizens of the county in which he has made his home for sixty- seven years.
CHARLES RAINEY THOMAS. M. D.
Dr. Charles Rainey Thomas, who was born December 12, 1863, on his father's farm three miles southwest of Carrollton, is a representative of one of the oldest and most distinguished pioneer families of this county, but as a life work he chose a profession m which family or pecuniary advantages count for little or naught but where advance- ment must depend solely upon individual merit, and as a member of the medical fra- ternity, he has, through careful preparation and conscientious performance of his daily duty, steadily worked his way upward until he now has a large practice in Roodhouse and enjoys as well the regard of his profes- sional brethren throughout this part of the state, by reason of his strict conformity to a high standard of professional ethics.
The family is of English or Scotch line age and was founded in America by his great-grandparents, Irwin and Elizabeth Thomas, who established their home in South Carolina in the seventeenth century. Irwin Thomas was a farmer and was a shrewd trader. It is told of him that on one militia day he traded horses, always getting some- thing to "boot" and when evening had come he had gotten back his original horse and Also had three cows and calves. He died when his son Samuel, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch and the youngest of five children. was only a year old The mother worked hard to support her children
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for a year and then married William Ham- ilton, a currier, shoemaker and farmer. They became the parents of five children and about 1802 they removed with their family to Caldwell county, Kentucky, where Mr. Hamilton died when Samuel Thomas was seventeen years of age. Later Mrs. Hamil- ton married John Flint, by whom she had one son, Jesse Flint, a resident of Caldwell county, Missouri. Mr. Flint died in Ken- tucky and his widow afterward came to Greene county, Illinois, where she lived for a year. In 1823 she went to Adams county, this state, where her death occurred in 1840.
Samuel Thomas was born in Pendleton county, South Carolina, September 13, 1794. and spent his youth upon a farm in Caldwell county, Kentucky. He had little opportunity to attend school but his training at farm labor was not meager. In 1813 he came to Illinois with his two married sisters and their families and settled at the fork of Wood river. The following year he joined a com- pany of rangers under Captain Judy and later served with Captain Whiteside until peace was declared. On one of these trips he crossed Greene county, in 1816. It was on the 4th of June, of that year, that Samuel Thomas married Elizabeth Isley, who was born in Sullivan county, Tennessee. Septem- ber 2. 1796, a daughter of Philip and Mar- garet Isley. In August. 1818. he came to Greene county and built a cabin on the sec- tion on which he long lived, and on the 9th of November he installed his family in their new home, making the first settlement in the county north of Macoupin creek. The In- dians were frequently hostile, and on the ioth of July, 1814, a band of red men slaughtered the settlers on Wood river, Mrs. Reagan, a sister of Samuel Thomas, and five of her children being among this num-
ber. The male portion of the population had gone with Captains Judy and Whiteside to quell the Indian bands then on the warpath, leaving the women and children near the forts for safety. Though the Thomas fam- ily were in danger, as were the other settlers, they were unmolested, but in establishing a home in Greene county they had to endure all the hardships and privations that fall to the lot of frontier settlers. The marriage ceremony of Samuel Thomas and his wife was performed by the Rev. William Jones, a Baptist minister, for they were of that religious faith and were among the founders of the church in this county. Samuel Thomas possessed considerable mechanical ingenuity and many articles of his work- manship were seen in the homes and on the farms of the early settlers. He lived in his first cabin for two years and cleared seven- teen acres of land, after which he sold the place for one hundred dollars. He then re- moved from the Wood river settlement to Greene county, where he built his second cabin and on that farm he lived and died. He was a man of undaunted courage and strong purpose, well fitted to cope with pio- neer conditions. The family subsisted largely upon corn bread, wild honey, wild meats, etc. It was several years after he removed to Greene county before Samuel Thomas owned a wagon or a plow, but he made a wooden cart for himself and after- ward had a plow with a wooden mold board. He dug his first well in 1827 and it was sunk deeper in 1872. In 1839 he built a commodious brick residence, although all of his twelve children were reared in the log cabin. As the years passed he added to his landed possession, which, increasing in value, made him a wealthy man. He cast his first vote for James Monroe and became
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
an ardent Democrat. He served his country in the war of 1812. He was a man of nat- ural ability, a good reasoner, self-reliant and a worthy pioneer. He was the founder of the first Old Settlers Association of Greene county, for which he issued a call October 21, 1871, and in response to which a large concourse of people gathered at his resi- dence. The meeting was called to order by David Pierson, the Carrollton banker, and Jacob Bowman was made temporary chair- man. Many progressive movements owed their inauguration to Samuel Thomas, who contributed in large measure to reclaiming this district for the purposes of civilization. Ile was among the early stock-breeders of the county and raised more young cattle than any other man in the county. His death oc- curred about 1873. His wife died about 1875.
William D. Thomas, son of Samuel Thomas, was born in 1835, and throughout his entire life carried on agricultural pur- suits, his death occurring upon his farm near Carrollton. in November. 1902. Ile wedded Mary Rainey, who was born Janu- ary 1. 1838, and who died March 23. 1891.
Dr. Thomas pursued his education in the public schools of Carrollton until he had completed the high school course and then became a student in the preparatory depart- ment of the Missouri University, where he spent one year. His professional training was received in the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, from which he was graduated with the class of 1887. He is the only member of the family that has entered upon a profes- sional career, and in no calling is success more largely attributable to individual merit. After careful preparation he located for prac- tice in Roodhouse, in April. 1887, and has here remained, building up a large patronage
as ins ability has become recognized through his able handling of important and compli- cated cases.
Dr. Thomas was reared in the faith of the Christian church, to which his parents belonged, and his wife belongs to the Baptist church. On the 10th of November, 1895. he was married to Miss Lida Thomas, who though of the same name was not a relative. They now have two daughters: Mary .\ .. who was born October 24. 1897; and Lida Lucile, born August 11, 1900. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas have many warm friends in Rood- house and other parts of the county, the hos- pitality of the best homes being cordially ex- tended to them, and he is equally prominent professionally.
JOHN GIMMY.
John Gimmy, who is living on section 11. Rockbridge township was for many years actively identified with farming interests and with stock-raising but is now living a retired life. He is yet the owner of six hundred acres of rich and valuable land which is well improved and constitutes one of the best farming properties of Greene county. He dates his residence in Illinois from 1850 and throughout this entire period has lived in the county which is still his home, so that he is well acquainted with its history and has intimate knowledge of its growth and progress.
Mr. Gimmy is i native of Germany. his birth having occurred in Hesse-Darmstadt on the 9th of December. 1836. His father. Frederick Gimmy, was also a native of Gier- many, and in 1850 he emigrated with his Family to the new world, making his way to
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
Greene county, Illinois. He located in Car- rollton, and under the parental roof his son John Gimmy of this review spent the days of his boyhood. He was a lad of fourteen years when he came with his parents to the new world and he remained with his father until thirty years of age. He was married in this county in 1868 to Miss Catherine Weber, also a native of Germany, in which country she spent the days of her girlhood.
Following his marriage, John Gimmy located on the farm where he now resides. He began with one hundred acres of land and with characteristic energy devoted his time and attention to the development and improvement of the fields. As the farm was covered with timber and brush he had to clear the land before he could plow it but he worked hard and persistently and in the course of time had his farm under a high state of cultivation. He fenced the prop- erty and as his financial resources increased he bought more land until he became the owner of nearly nine hundred acres. He also built a good house, substantial barns and outbuildings and carried forward the work of improvement along practical and modern lines. He afterward gave to his son one hundred and sixty acres of land and to his nephew a tract of one hundred and twenty acres. The remainder he still retains in his possession and is therefore one of the lar- gest land owners of his county. Ile made a business of raising, feeding and fattening stock for the market and has been one of the active and successful agriculturists. For many years he carried on his work but is now living a retired life, enjoying a well carned rest.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gimmy were born five children but four are now deceased : Fred, who died at the age of sixteen years ;
Henry, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Louis, who died at the age of one month; and another son who died in in- fancy unnamed. The only surviving mem- ber of the family is John, a substantial farmer of Rockbridge township. He is mar- ried and has two children, Leon and Lloyd A.
Mr. Gimmy has been a resident of Greene county from his youth to the present time and has been thoroughly identified with the development and improvement of this section of the state. He has proved himself a successful business man and farmer, con- ducting his affairs with enterprise and dili- gence that has resulted in success. He is a man of upright character, ever straightfor- ward and honorable in all his business deal- ings, and those who know him entertain for him warm regard.
HENRY C. WITHERS.
Henry C. Withers, whose strong men- tality, careful preparation have gained him a position of prominence at the Greene county bar, was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, on the Ioth of January, 1839, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Bruce) Withers. His paternal ancestors came originally from England, and his maternal ancestors from Scotland, locating in the Old Dominion prior to the Revolutionary war. Ilis great-grandfather was William Withers. his grandfather. \bijah Withers. His father, William Withers, Jr., was a farmer by occupation and in carly manhood married Miss Elizabeth Bruce, a daughter of Hon. Horatio Bruce, a distinguished politician of Kentucky, supporting the Democratic party. The Bruce family was represented in the
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HON A C WITHERS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY
Revolutionary war, some of its members serving with Washington in the struggle for national independence. Horatio Bruce, who served his country in the war of 1812, was a cousin of Henry Clay. He had eight broth- ers who were lawyers and four of the num- ber became legislators.
In the year 1846 William and Elizabeth ( Bruce ) Withers removed with their family from Kentucky to Greene county, Illinois. settling upon a farm and there Henry C. Withers was reared to manhood, while in the public schools he acquired his early educa- tion. When seventeen years of age he en- tered Berean College at Jacksonville, Illi nois, where he spent two years, pursuing a classical course. He afterward engaged in teaching school, but regarded this merely as an initial step to further professional labor. for it was his desire to become a member of the bar. He studied law with Hon. James W. English as his preceptor and was ad- mitted to practice in 1860. He then opened an office and has since been a representative of the legal profession in Carrollton. In 1867 he entered into partnership with Hon. David M. Woodson, this relation being maintained until the death of his partner in 1877. Mr. Withers was then alone in prac- tice until 1884, when he formed a partner- ship with Thomas Henshaw and they were together until Mr. Henshaw was elected state's attorney. Ilis next partner was Hon. Henry T. Rainey, present member of con- gress from Greene county, and since the lis solution of this partnership in 1894 Mr Withers has been alone in practice. He is one of the capable members of the Greene county bar and on account of his excellent command of the language and his per suasive eloquence he makes a strong advo cate before the jury. His arguments. to.
are based upon the facts of the varse amol the law applicable to them and he display. com prehensive knowledge but the principles of jurisprudence.
Mr. Withers has also been a factor in political circles as a Democrat, upon his party's ticket was elected to the house of rep- resentatives in 1866 and in 1872, and was chosen a delegate to the national convention at Baltimore, Maryland In 1874 he was elected state's attorney of Greene county He had the support of his county Democracy for four successive conventions for nomine tion to congress in a strong Democratic afis- triet. his successful opponent in the first two conventions being Gener 1 James W', Singleton of Quincy, by a close final vote. anl he was supported by his county Den- ocracy for nomination as supreme judge of the state upon the death of Judge John Schofield.
On the 18th of March. 1863. Mr With- ers was married to Miss Fanny Woodsen. a daughter of Hon D. M. Woodson Their children are Meade W., who died at The age of sixteen years; and William K. who is now engaged in ljusmess at Dallas, Texas In his fraternal relations Vr Withers is a Mason, having attamed the Knight Templar degree He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows In manner heis irce from ostenstation and self laudation and his many good qualities bave nenle hun popular with his fellow einigens. The ability as a lawyer is recognized by the profession and los numerous important causes won by fram the sufreme court are matters of record He has been the le iding agitator vy collveil- tions and otherwise for the removal of the Kempsville dans, and for the moneyof the Hinges mivel a deep waterway which com-
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