USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 66
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viston over the labors of five men and the care of one hundred and thirty cows. Ile also feeds seventy-five head of Red Durqc hogs.
Mr. Driver gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business duties. He was married July 4, 1886, to Miss Rose B. Davidson, a native of Greene county, and they have three children : Walter F., Roy Il. and Tony B., aged respectively seventeen, sixteen and twelve years.
WILLIAM M. BRADSHAW. JR.
William M. Bradshaw, Jr., a practical and energetic farmer of White Hall town- ship, was born on the okl Bradshaw home- stead in this county, February 12. 1875. . \t an early period in the settlement of the new world his ancestors located in South Caro- lina and later generations of the family re- moved westward. Joel Bradshaw. the great grandfather, was a native of Tennes- see. Charles Bradshaw, the grandfather. was born March 26, 1785. in Tennessee and came to Illinois in 1818. He spent one set- son here in Greene county and raised a crop but later returned to Tennessee. Ile mar- ried Mary Ann Baker, a native of North Carolina.
William M. Bradshaw. Sr .. the father ni our sul jeet, was born in Tennessee. July 28. 1826, and was only two years old when his parents came to Illinois, setthing in Mor- gan county, about a mile and a half past vi Jacksonville, where they remained until 1831, when they came to Greene county, and here William M. Bradshaw. Sr .. was reired
and educated. The first farm of the family was a tract of eight acres of land, on winch was located Bradshaw's Mound, one of the notable features of the district. Mr. Brad- shaw kept adding to his property until he became the owner of five hundred acres of land. Reared to the occupation of farming. the father has always carried on agricultural pursuits and is the owner, today, of a valu- able and well improved tract of land of four hundred acres. He is yet classed among Greene county's prosperous and prominent agriculturists, although he does not engage actively in the cultivation of his farm. He is seventy-eight years of age-a jovial, gen- ial man, hale and hearty, who appears much younger than he is. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his life has ever been upright and honorable. His early political views were in accord with the prin- ciples of Democracy, but later he became a stanch Republican and for many years has supported the latter party. Ilis residence in the county has been continuous save that in 1853 he removed to Texas, where he spent the winter and then returned to Greene county. Ilis first home here was a primi- tive log cabin, in which he lived until 1861. when he erected his present substantial two- story frame residence.
On the 36th of December, 1847. Mr. Bradshaw was married to Miss Susan P. Lanton, a daughter of Thomas Looton, who was one of Greene county's best and most prominent farmers. He was born in 1784 and chief in 1803 Mrs. Susan 1. Bradshaw thed December in. 1848, and on the 30th of December, 1850. Mr. Bradshaw was mar- med to Fleabeth Chapman, a daughter of Seth @uol Sarah ( Looton ) Chipman, the last- ter usister di Then Loton. There were three enliten of this murrige, vi whom
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two are living: Mary Ella, who married John B. Hutton, a resident of Kansas, by whom she has five living children ; and Or- ville, who married Leonora Hart Henry and resides in White Hall township. about two and a half miles east of our subject. For his third wife William Bradshaw, Sr., wedded Mary Baker, a daughter of John Baker, who died in Kansas. Her mother. Mary (Code) Baker, belonged to one of the old families of Virginia. A son of the third marriage. Albert Bradshaw, was born Jan- uary 24. 1857, and married Ella B. White- head. a daughter of Henry and Ellen (Wy- att) Whitehead, her parents being among the earliest settlers of the county. For his fourth wife Mr. Bradshaw married Eliza- beth Stewart, a daughter of William Stew- art. a native of North Carolina, who died in California. His wife was Nancy Sabrie Williams, also a native of North Carolina. There have been eight children by this mar- riage : Joel C., who was born November 26, 1862. is married and lives in Kit Carson county. Colorado, and has four living chil- dren : Ida Bell, born November 25, 1864, was married to Samuel Elliott, now de- ceased, lives in Roodhouse and has four chil- dren : Nancy Lucy, who was born in August, 1867. is the wife of Charles Helm, of Greene county and has three children ; Charles, who was born March 25. 1870, and lives in this county. is married and has three children ; Clara Ann, who was born in June, 1872, is the wife of John Ballard, of Greene county : William M., Jr. is the next of the family ; and Edgar, born February 27. 1877, is the youngest. William Bradshaw has forty- mine grandchildren and nine great-grand- ciuldren. He and his wife now live alone in the Mid home. their children having all gone to home of their own. They are among the
most highly respected people of the com- munity and as one of the honored pioneers and worthy citizens of this county Mr. Brad- shaw well deserves mention in this volume.
William Bradshaw, Jr., was born upon the old family homestead and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth, working in the usual manner of lads of the period and acquiring his education in the public schools. He was married on the 12th of March, 1901, to Miss Ella R. Pinkerton, who was born near Virden, Illinois, and is a daughter of Willis R. and Mary (King) Pinkerton, of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw now have one child, Harold Stewart, who was born September 17, 1903.
Mr. Bradshaw has purchased and oper- ates a farm of his own and also rents his father's land. He is a young man of marked thrift, industry and unfaltering determina- tion and in the management of his affairs has displayed marked business ability. He has provided a good home for his little fam- ily and is also watchful of the interests of his parents, who reside not far distant.
MATT SIMONS.
Matt Simons deserves much credit for what he has accomplished for in his youth he had no advantages, and it has been entirely through his own labor, determination and perseverance that he has acquired a cozy home and a tract of land, the cultivation of which brings to him a comfortable living. Hle resides in White Hall township and is a native son of Scott county, Illinois, where his birth occurred on the 6th of September, 1855. His parents were Martin and Isabella ( Lawson) Simons, the former a native of
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Tennessee, and the Lawson family were also natives of that state. Mr. Simons ched m the spring of 1888, at the age of seventy two years, while his wife departed this hfe in the fall of 1888, at the age of sixty years.
Matt Simons received no educational privileges and the lessons that he learned were mastered in the hard school of experi- ence. . At an early age he started out in life to earn his own living and since that time has depended exclusively upon his own resources and unflagging industry. He now owns a small farm of six acres, through which runs a little stream and this gives him an excellent place on which to raise hogs, and he annu- ally sells a number of fine porkers. He also raises corn and potatoes, and he rents other lands whereon he raises the crops best adapted to the soil and climate. He keeps a cow and five head of horses and altogether has a comfortable little home and moreover has the satisfaction of knowing that it has been honorably won through persistent labor and perseverance.
In 1880 Mr. Simons was united in mar riage to Miss Cynthia Eubanks, and unto them have been horn four children, three sons and a daughter: Charles. Fred. Otis and Pearl. aged respectively twenty-two, twenty- one, seventeen and fifteen years of age. Charles and Fred are away from home, at work for themselves, the latter being in Winchester, Illinois. Otis is trap tender and weightmaster at Market's Coal bank. near home: and Pearl is attending school. Mr. Simons is a firm believer in the cause of ed- ucation and has given to his children every advantage in this direction within his means. and their father's life furnishes to them a good example of the power of industry and honesty in conquering difficulties and win- ing success.
BENJAMIN F. MEMAILAN.
Benjamim F. Mc Mahan, who is engaged in general farming m Roodhouse township and resides upon the old Benjamin Williams homestead, was born in Greene county, July 25. 1862, and is a son ef Thomas and Ema- line ( Williams ) McMahan. His mother died in 1871, and the father. long surviving her, passed away in 1892.
Benjamin F. McMahan was only nine years of age at the time of his mother's death and was reared by his maternal grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Williams. Ilis grandfather was one of the most prom- inent, influential and respected citizens of the county and for many years was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Rood- house township. At his death, which oc- curred in 1808, when he was seventy six years of age. Mr. McMahan was made one of the heirs of his vahumble estate and he now lives upon the Williams homestead. He was educated in the public schools, was trained to the duties of the farm in all its various departments and has always engaged in the tilling of the soil. He has a fine little farm of very arable and productive soil, and his wife also inherited forty acres of land from her father, so that from their united prop- erty, which he keeps in excellent condition. placing the fields under a high state of cul- tivation, they derive a very gratifying mn- come. The land is very productive and is worth from one hundred to a hundred ard thirty dollars per acre.
On the 6th of October. 1807. Mr. McMahan was merriedl to Miss Laura Steel- man, a daughter of Ashley 1. and Martha J. ( Ford) Steelman, who had a family of twelve children, all yet living, and the first death in the family was that bi the mether.
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which occurred on the 16th of August, 1904, when she was seventy-nine years of age. The father, now eighty-one years of age, was born in North Carolina, April 19, 1824, and when seven years of age removed with his parents to Tennessee, where he lived until twenty years of age. In 1843 he came to Illi- nois, reaching Bridgeport, Scott county, with thirty-five cents in his pocket. He went to work upon a farm at ten dollars per month. Later he came to Greene county and after a year he enlisted in the Mexican war, in which he served for thirteen months, being discharged at Alton, Illinois. He was in the battle of San Juan and he now receives a pension of twelve dollars per month. On the 8th of July. 1849. he was married to Martha J. Ford and they came to Greene county, liv- ing for a time in Patterson, but they soon removed to his present farm, comprising eighty acres. He also followed the black- smith's trade, which he had previously learned. and thus he worked year after year. taking his pay in trade, in such pro- ducts as the farmers of the locality raised. Some patrons paid him in fresh pork, which sold for a dollar and a quarter per hundred weight. . As he prospered he added to his land until he had seven hundred and sixty acres of land, much of which he bought at a low price but it is now very valuable. He has given much of this to his children, re- taining possession of only eighty acres, on which stand the house, barns and other farm buildings. Ile engaged in buying and sell- img stock and found that a very profitable solirce of income, for he is an excellent judge ni stock and was therefore enabled to make judicious purchases and to sell to good ad- vantage. At the age of eighty-one years he is -till a jovial, whole-souled man, with open. frank expression, and genial manner. He
has never used tobacco, has never taken in- toxicants to excess, in fact, has not been inside a saloon in thirty years, and because he has not abused nature's laws he has been granted a long lease of life. He lives with an unmarried son, and the other children all live within a radius of five miles, in what is known as the Steelman community.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. McMahan has been blessed with one child, Olive, born February 4, 1899. Mr. McMahan gives his political support to the Democratic party. He and his wife are held in high esteem and en- joy the warm regard of many friends throughout the county in which they have always resided.
GEORGE B. MORROW.
George B. Morrow, who is interested in the operation and improvement of two fine farms in Roodhouse township, and is one of the wide-awake, progressive agriculturists of his community was born in the village of Roodhouse, December 30, 1875, and is a son of John A. and Ella (Thaxton) Mor- row, the former born in 1849 and the latter in 1854. The father has long been classed among the leading farmers of this part of the county and as one of the representative and influential citizens.
Under the parental roof George B. Mor- row spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his early education was acquired in the schools of Roodhouse, while later he became a student in the high school of White Hall, completing his course there by graduation with the class of 1893. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for him in his youth. He assisted his father at times and more largely as the
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years went by, and he grew in strength and efficiency. He has always engaged with his father in agricultural pursuits and is now as- sociated with his father and brother, Will- iam A. Morrow, in the cultivation and im- provement of two fine farms in Roodhouse township, upon which are excellent resi- dences and outbuiklings, and in fact all modern equipments and accessories. Their methods are practical and productive of good results, and their work is bringing to them a satisfactory financial return.
George B. Morrow was married August 6. 1900, to Miss Stella C. Johnson and they have many warm friends in this community. and enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of Roodhouse and the surrounding district. Mrs. Morrow is an earnest member of the Congregational church. Mr. Morrow be- longs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and gives his political support to the Repub- lican party, warmly espousing its principles because he believes that its platform contains the best elements of good government.
WILLIAM M. MORROW.
William M. Morrow, who was left an orphan at the age of thirteen years, is one of the notable examples of a self-made man in Greene county. Through his force of character, his clear understanding of the value of labor and his excellent use of the opportunities which have been afforded him. he has steadily progressed in the business workl and to-day ranks with the representa- tive citizens of White Hall, connected with several leading enterprises and acting as su- perintendent of the White Hall Pottery & Sewer Pipe Factory.
Born near Athensville. Greene county,
on the ist of December. 1842, he reason of Abner and Mary ( Ward) Morrow His early youth was spent upon his father's farm but at the age of thirteen years he was left an orphan and went to live with Peter Rood- house, with whom he remained for four years. When seventeen years of age, he started out upon an independent career, working by the month as a farm hand until November, 1861, when he was married to Emeline Smith, a daughter of James Smith. lle then began farming on his own account and in 1863 he purchased the old home- stead which had belonged to his father. . \ year later. however, he sold this property at a profit of one thousand dollars. During the war he made other deals in land and thus gained a good start financially. He also en- gaged in shipping horses and other stock and his business proved profitable, enabling him to extend his efforts into other fields of activity, which have proved still more re- munerative. For a number of years he suc- cessfully carried on agricultural pursuits and real estate speculation, but later was called to public office and gave undivided attention to the discharge of the duties that thus de- volved upon him. For some time he has been a director in the Carrollton Bank and also of the Greene Cunty Building & Loan Association, and he has been superintendent for the White Hall Pottery & Sewer Pipe Company, thus having charge of one of the leuling productive industries of the city.
Mr. Morrow has always given unfalter- ing support to the Democracy, has labored earnestly to promote the growth and secure the success of his party and by his fellow townsmen has been elected to several im- portant local offices. He was chosen county commissioner and served for three years ; in 1882 was elected county sheriff. at which
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time he left his son James to manage his farm and removed to Carrollton ; and popu- lar suffrage also gave him the office of county treasurer.
In 1869 Mr. Morrow was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died leaving four children: Mary P., who was born March 18, 1863. is the wife of Z. D. Morrow, and they had a son who died at the age of two years. James A., born Jannary 6. 1865. is married, resides in Seattle, Wash- ington, and has five children, two daughters and three sons. Harry C., born January 13, 1867, is at home. Olive Anna, born No- vember 10, 1869, is the wife of C. T. Bates, cashier of the Bank of Roodhouse, and they have three children. In August, 1872, Mr. Morrow was again married, his second union being with Miss Ellen Mayberry, a daughter of William Mayberry, and they have four children : Edith, who was born August 21. 1873, and is the wife of D. C. Akin, of Phoenix, Arizona; Winifred Blanche, who was born November 17, 1877, and is now in Seattle, Washington ; Claude S .. who was born June 15, 1879, and is also in Seattle: and William Ernest, born June 30. 1881. who is married and has one child, Charles E.
Mr. Morrow belongs to several frater- nal organizations and enjoys the highest es- teem of his brethren. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias and shapes his life in harmony with their bene- ficent spirit and tenets. Activity, honesty and liberality have been the crowning fea- tures in his career and have made him an honored citizen. His public service has been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty and in all life's relations, in business, in political circles and in social life, he has commanded uniform confidence and regard.
JOHN HATHEWAY HUDSON.
John Hatheway Hudson, who was well known in Greene county, was born October 14, 1815, at Menham, Morris county, New Jersey. His father, Abraham Hudson, was a carpenter by trade and on the 23d of Jan- uary, 1812, was married to Hannah Hathe- way. The family of John H. Hudson have records of their ancestry back to the seven- teenth century, when a family of brothers came to America from England. One set- tled in Southport, Long Island, where he fol- lowed the occupation of farming, and there his son. Samuel Hudson, the ancestor of John H. Hudson, was born, although other generations of the family intervened.
John H. Hudson received but a limited education, attending only the home schools, for it was necessary that he begin work when quite young, he assisting his father at the carpenter's trade. On his last visit to the east in 1890 he made it a point to see some of the buildings in New York city, which he had helped to erect during the years between 1835 and 1840. It was in 1840 that he went to Michigan, settling in Milford, Oakland county, and in 1856 he became a resident of Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, where he resided for about four years. He then went to Kane, where he conducted the old Union House, one of the early landmarks of that part of the state, being an old hostelry which stood on the stage road between Alton and Jacksonville. In 1870 he removed to Alton, where he resided up to the time of his death, although he spent considerable time in Greene county and in Kane at the home of his daughter Mrs. Joseph Dressel.
In early life he served as orderly sergeant in the state militia and while living in Kane he filled the positions of postmaster and jus-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN HUDSON.
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY. 621
tice of the peace. In his younger days his political support was given to the Whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the Republican party, which he con- tinned to support until a few years prior to his death, when he became a pronounced Prohibitionist. In early life he was a Metho- (list, but later joined the Unitarian church. with which he was connected at the time of his demise.
In 1835 Mr. Hudson was married to Miss Phoebe Wade L'Hommedien, in New- ark. New Jersey. Their children were: Freddie L., who died in early manhood : Marcus E., who died in infancy : and Eme- line T., the wife of Ulrich Everhardt. After losing his first wife Mr. Hudson was married to Mary C. lodge, at Milford, on the 12th of October. 1843, and the children of this union are : Minerva H., the wife of Joseph Dressel : Adelaide H., the wife of Nathaniel O'Tlaver : Sara E. ; and Abraella C., the wife of William Cartwright.
ALFRED H. BARROW.
The name of Barrow has been closely as- sociated with the history of Greene county from a very early period in its development and various members of the family have con- tribute to the growth, progress and im- provement of this part of the state. The work which his ancestors began Alfred Il. Barrow is still carrying on, and he is to-day one of the leading and prominent business men of the county, having extensive agricul tural and dairying interests, although he makes his home in Roodhouse. He also has large property holdings, and is ace umted one of the most reliable as well as most successful men of his community.
Born February 21. 1871. on lhis father's farm west of Roodhouse. Alfred Il. Barrows is a son of William H. and Mary Jane ( Bigham ) Barrow. The Barrow family was originally from Kentucky. The great- grandfather was Benjamin Barrow, who was born and died in Kentucky, having spent his entire life there. He was the father of twenty-one children, of whom Joseph Bar- row. the grandfather. was the youngest. This family is related to the Jones, Holiday, Allen, Brown and other leading families of Greene county. The first settlement made by the Barrow family in Illinois was at .Al- ton, representatives of the name locating on Shoal creek at a very early day. Joseph Barrow was born in Kentucky and in 1820 became a resident of Illinois, entering a claim of eighty acres on section 11. township 12, range 12, whereon he built a log cabin and established his home, there residing until his death, which occurred in 1839. Ile was married July 13. 1826, to Elizabeth Taylor, who was a native of Tennessee and was brought to Illinois in her girlhood days. She was a daughter of John Taylor and he and David Barrow were the first settlers north of White Hall, in Greene county. John Tay- lor's wife was the first white woman to die north of Apple Creek prairie. In the Taylor line as well as through the Barrows, the sub- ject of this review is connected with some of the oldest families of this part of the state. Joseph Barrow, the grandfather, con- tinued to aid in the early agricultural devel- opment of the county until his death. whic's occurred in 1839. when he was sixty five years of age, while his wife died m 1871 Her father, John Taylor, died m 1854. at the age of sixty five years.
William H. Barrow, born in Roadhouse. June 7. 1832, was only seven years of age
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at the time of his father's death. His mother was left with six small children to rear and educate, and she did weaving in order that she might support them and send them to school. When his mother died William H. Barrow left home and started upon an inde- pendent business career. Throughout his active life he carried on farming, but is now living retired, making his home in Rood- house, where he owns an elegant residence, his former toil enabling him to enjoy the comforts of life. He was married Novem- ber 25. 1856, to Miss Mary Jane Bigham, and they became the parents of five children, of whom Alfred H. is the eldest. He was married again November 29. 1903, to Nora Witty.
The town of Barrow was named in honor of .Alfred Barrow, an uncle of our subject, who owns a fine farm of four hundred acres and a residence there. He laid out the town in 1870 and continued to make his home there for some time, but is now living in Roodhouse.
Alfred H. Barrow acquired his early ed- ucation in the schools of Roodhouse and later attended the Jacksonville Business College, from which he was graduated in 1892. while subsequently he studied in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Val- piraiso. After leaving school he engaged in farming and dairying with his father for a time, and is now very extensively engaged mi the chairy business, having one of the lar- jest and most complete dairies in Illinois. Ili- firm comprises five hundred and twenty acres of very rich and arable land, which He bought of his father, and he also has about in hundred acre more netr White Hall. Frage former he employs five dairymen, o leof farmer. Pat Reynolds and a head darynon, John Driver. They separate the
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