USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 55
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Alexander Montgomery was reared amid frontier environments and retains vivid mental pictures of conditions that existed in this por- tion of the state during his boyhood days ere many of the modern improvements were in- troduerd. He continued to live with his par- unt- until twenty-three years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. He was
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
rrared to the occupation of farming and ha- always made that pursuit his life work. How- ver, at the present time he is largely living retired, having through his earnest labor and careful management in former years gained a competence sufficient to supply him with all the necessities and many of the comforts and lux- uries of life.
Mr. Montgomery is a member of the Green- view lodge. No. 653. A. F. & A. M .. with which he has been identified for a quarter of a century and for seventeen years he has been treasurer of the lodge. His paternal grandfather was also a Mason. having become a member of the order at Covent Garden, London, England. from which he was demitted April 21. 1221. upon his emigration to the new world. Cross- ing the Atlantic to Virginia, he was made grand master of the grand lodge of that state October 28. 1189. In his political views Mr. Montgomery is a stanch Republican. having firm faith in the principles of the party, and he now has in his possession a badge which was worn by his father in Springfield on the 8th of August. 1860. On it is inscribed :
For president. Abraham Lincoln, of Ilinois. For vice-president. Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine.
My Country. tis of thee. Sweet land of liberty. Of thee I sing. Long may our land be bright With freedom'> holy light. Protect us by thy might. Great God, our King.
SAMUEL WATKINS.
Samuel Watkins is one of the native sons of Menard county, his birth having occurred Jan- mary 26. 1812. on the farm which he now menpies. On the paternal side he is of Scotch and Welsh descent and his grandfather was the youngest in a family of twenty-one chil- dren. He is a son of Joseph and Nancy
(Green ) Watkins. At a very carly day Joseph Watkins accompanied his father on his removal from Kentucky to Ilinois. his mother having died when he was young, and the family locat- ed on Shoal creek in Clinton county. There Joseph Watkins married Nancy Green and in the '20% they came to Menard county, the jour- ney being made in a two-wheel cart which he had made himself, and which was drawn by a joke of osen. A log cabin was built in Little Grove and corn was planted but the squirrels ate up the first crop. Mr. Watkins was badly handicapped during his early residence here from the fact that he had forgotten to bring his gun with him and was thus unable to secure the wild game which was the principal meat of the early settlers. He continued to reside in Menard county until called to his final rest. his death occurring when he was about sixty- five years of age. In politics he was a Demo- erat. His wife was also a member of an old Kentucky family. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom Samuel is the young- est, while with the exception of two all have passed away. William, the oldest. married Sarah Armstrong and made his home three miles north of Petersburg. where he reared his family. His widow now lives in Sand Ridge precinct. Beverly, who married Elizabeth Armstrong, is deceased, while his widow lives in Cass county, Illinois. Sally became the wife of Gaines Green and lived in Tallula but both are now deceased. Hannah married William Nance and they resided in Sand Ridge precinct. but both have now passed away. Alvin married Naney Potter, who survives him and resides south of Petersburg. Elias married Eliza Me- Manaway and they resided in Mason county. his widow being still a resident of Kilbourne. Ann became the wife of Daniel Atterberry and they resided west of the town of Atterberry. but both have passed away. leaving a large family. Maria is the wife of Samuel Colston. a resident of Petersburg. Thomas died of Typhoid fever at the age of twenty-one years. Mary died in carly girlhood. Samuel com- pleies the family.
In the Little Grove school Samuel Watkins acquired his education and was thus prepared for life's practical duties. He was reared to
SAMUEL WATKINS.
MRS. SAMUEL WATKINS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
farm work upon the old family homestead and has always handled stock. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Miss Mary Wood- ridge, a daughter of David and Margaret ( Hawthorne) Woodridge, who came from Reed county. Kentucky. to Ilinois. in 1830. settling on a farm in Menard county three miles from the present home of our subject. Mr. Watkins now owns this place and also the old Watkins homestead. On coming to this county Mr. Woodridge was a poor man, but through energy, perseverance and industry he became well off. His political support was given the Democratic party. He died in August. 1852. and his wife passed away in October of the same year. They were the parents of seven children. four sons and three daughters. Robert. who married and removed to Oklahoma, died in that territory. leaving one child. John married and resided in Illinois for a time, but twenty years ago removed to Missouri, where his death occurred. Richard married a daughter of Henry Dick. of C'a>> county, Illinois, and they make their home in Petersburg: Jackson Heath wedded Mary Vaughn and they now reside near Faye in Oklahoma. Mrs. Watkins is the fifth of the family. Martha is the wife of Willis Boulware and they reside in Clark county, Missouri.
Mr. Watkins, the subject of this sketch. he- gan farming in 1863 in Mason county, Illinois. and there carried on agricultural pursuits for two years. In 1865 he removed to his father's old farm, which he began to cultivate and im- prove. He purchased the interest of some of the heirs in the old homestead and has been adding to his landed possessions continuously siner until his property holdings now aggregate over three thousand acres. He bought some of this land about 1868 at six dollars per acre. It was then wild and uncultivated. but is now a highly improved property, Being supplied with modern equipments, while the fields are under cultivation and yield a splendid financial le- turn.
I'mto Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have been born eight children: Nettie is the wife of %. A. Thompson, who resides near Petersburg and by whom she has four children: Elizainth is the wife of Elijah Purvinas, a resident of Pleasant Plains, Sangamon county, and they
have three children : Evans married Pauline Spears and they, with their one son. reside in Petersburg precinct : Elias married Irene Fisher and is living near Atterberry : Walter. who resides in precinct : in Menard county. married Ollie Juhl : Edgar married May Onken and is living in precinet ?: Hattie married Chris C. Juhl and they reside on the old David Woodridge farm with their one child: Nona is the wife of Ira Abbott, who is connected with the electric light system of Petersburg.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Watkins hold member- ships in the Christian church and Mr. Watkins is a member of the Masonic fraternity. with which his son. Elias, is also identified, the lai- ter having attained the Knight Templar degree of the York rite. The father was made a Ma- son in 1886 at Petersburg and is still connected with the lodge at that place. He gives his po- litical allegiance to the Democracy. He is 10- day one of the most extensive landowners of Menard county. His success is creditable and vet investigation into his life record shows that his prosperity has been won entirely through indefatigable effort, capable management and unfaltering perseverance. His life has been open to his fellow citizens and no suspicion of evil has ever been attached to it. It has been clean in every way and his influence has always been for what is honest. for everything that is elevating to the public, for everything that conserves the interests of the county. for every- thing that is sound in business, for everything that is true and everything that is right.
JOHN THOMAS GADDIE.
John Thomas Gaddie, who is carrying on general farming in Sugar Grove township. is numbered among the native sons of Menard county. his birth having occurred on the old family homestead February 17. Ists. He is a son of Andrew and Sarah ( Krane) Haddie. His father was born on the Orkney Islands. of Scotland. May 31. 1831. and when but seven- ten years of age went to sea with his maternal undle David Spence as a cabin boy. He fol- lowed the sea until nineteen years of age and subsequent to his return home was a student for
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
two years. On attaming his majority he emi- grated to America, accompanied by his sister Jane, and has since been a resident of Menard county. He had resided in the United State for three years, when, expousing the Union cause. he enlisted August 14. 1862, as a miem- ber of Company K. One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Little Rock, together with other important engagements, and because of disability was honorably dis- charged, October 14, 1861. Purchasing a farm in Menard county in 186 ;. he has carried on general farming with good snecess until 1891 and since that time he has lived retired in Greenview, but still owns valable farm land in this county. He has been prominent and influential in public affairs, serving for twelve years upon the board of county commissioners. for twenty-one years as a member of the school board and for one year as president of the town board of Greenview. He was married Noven- ber 28, 1866. to Sarah Keane, a daughter of Thomas and Martha ( Warner) Keane, of Me- nard county, and they became the parents of eight children. The wife and mother died April 22. 188t, and on the 13th of Angust. 1889. Andrew Gaddie wedded Eliza A. Conant. of Menard county, who was born November 10. 1812. and died September 26, 1901. Further mention is made of Andrew Gaddie on another page of this work.
John T. Gaddie was reared upon his father's farm, spending the days of his boyhood and youth in the usual manner of farmer lads. When his attention was not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom he aided in the work of tilling the soil. He continued to reside upon the old homestead farm up to the time of his marriage, when he began farming and stock- raising on his own account. He spent six years on a tract of land of two hundred and sixty deres on Salt creek. near Green- view. where he engaged in the raising and feeding of cattle and hogs. In the spring of 1699, however, he returned to the old Gaddie homestead and has since conducted agricul- tural pursuit- there. having rented two hun- dred acres of good land. Here be cultivates the cereals test adapted to soil and climate and he
also raises cattle and horses. Hle likewise gives some attention to the raising of hogs and now has about one hundred and twenty-five head upon his farm.
On the 21st of January. 1890, Mr. Gaddie was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Cox. Her father. William P. Cox. was a native of Mason county, Kentucky, born June 24, 1815, and lived at home until about seventeen years of age, during which time he learned the shoe- maker's trade. He afterward worked at his trade in Kentucky until 1835, when he came to Ilinois, settling in Menard county. Here he continued to engage in shoemaking to some extent and he also followed farming, purchas- ing a tract of land of about one hundred and sixty acres. Subsequently he was appointed superintendent of the county farm and acted in that capacity for about five years. on the expiration of which period he removed to Petersburg, where he lived retired up to the time of his death, which occurred October 11. 1891. Mr. Cox was a member of the Masonic fraternity at Petersburg. while the mother of Mrs. Gaddie belonged to the Baptist church. He was three times married. By his first wife, Elizabeth. he had one child that died in infancy and the mother soon afterward departed this life. Later he wedded Mary Brahm and their only child also died in early fife Following the death of his second wife Mr. Coy worded Mrs. Sarena Potter, who was born in Menard county. August 26, 1833. and is now living with her children. There were two sons and three daughters of this marriage: John H., who was horn March 29, 1863, and is now superin- tendent of the county farm of Menard county : Mary E .. who was born August 9. 1865, and is the wife of Joseph Sturgis, of Menard county: Martha A .. who was born September IS. 1861. and married James S. Short, and after his death became the wife of William Puckett. a resident of Petersburg: Mrs. Gaddie: and Charles C., who died in his boyhood. Mrs. Cox. the mother of Mrs. Gaddie, was twice married, her first husband being Edward Pot- ter, by whom she had two sons. Eddie and Douglas, but the former died in 1853. Doug- las, born October 8, 1855, married Mary Sams and unto them were born nine children. but
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they lost their fourth child. Edward (. The others are Rosa B., Alice L., Maggie M .. Annie D., Edgar, Ruth E .. John H. and Rubie M.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gaddie has been blessed with seven children: William Andrew. born November 2. 1890: Pansy M .. born Au- anst 8, 1892: Sarah S., born August 1, 1891; Charles R., born February 6, 1896; Thurlow, børn November 21. 1898; Earl, born September 21. 1900: and Iyle, born December 27. 1902. Five of the children are now in school.
Mr. Gaddie has been a member of the school board and he is interested in all that pertains to the substantial improvement and upbuilding of his county. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Sweetwater and also to the Greenview Hore Rangers, while his political support is given to the Democracy. His entire life has been passed in Menard county. where he has worked persistently and energetically in order to acquire a competence. In this he has succeeded and is now a representative agri- culturist of his community.
JEP P. GROSBOLL.
Jep 1. Grosbøll, who follows farming in the vicinity of Petersburg, was born September 1. 1$53. in Schleswig, and is a son of Powell .1. and Annie M. ( Rosenbom) Grosbøll, natives of Schleswig, which was then a province of Den- mark, but in 1861 this district, through the for- tunes of war, passed into possession of Germany and on that account the Grosboll family, not desiring to become German citizens. emigrated to America, leaving Denmark in April. 1872. They had resided upon a farm in Schleswig. and the subject of this review attended school in his native province until the migration to the new world. He had pursued the regular course and had also studied the German language. It was his intention when he first came to America to remain for only five years and to become an American citizen, after which he would return to Schleswig and thus be exempt from army service. He went back at the end of five years and remained for only two years, but found that if he stayed for the
entire two years he would be liable for mili- tary duty, so was married and again crossed the Atlantic to the new world.
It was in May. 1838, that Mr. Grosholl wed- ded Miss Anna Mary Frank, a daughter of Hans and Elizabeth S. Frank, who were farm- ing people of Schleswig. They had three chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Grosboll was the second. Catherine, the oldest, became the wife of Hans Vanmel, who is a wealthy farmer residing in Schleswig. Nels Hanson Frank, the youngest, was married in 1829, to Gene Grosholl, a cousin
of our subject. They reside on the Frank homestead and have seven children, who are all under the parental roof. Mrs. Grosholl was educated in Schleswig. attended school there for eleven years and remained at home up to the time of her marriage in Isis, save when she was in Copenhagen for a year, where she took a special course in housekeeping. I'mto Mr. and Mrs. Grosboll have been born four children : Powell J., born September 28. 1879. was graduated from Lincoln University at Lin- coln. Illinois, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and had the honor of winning the gold medal for oratory. He is a Mason. belonging to the lodge at Petersburg. For two years he has been engaged in teaching and is now the principal of the Third ward school in Peters- burg. John B. Grosboll. horn July 22. 1SS1. was for one year principal at Edelstein and is now connected with the schools of Atterberry. He, too. is a graduate of the Lincoln Uni- versity. in which he won the degree of Bachelor of Science. He was editor and manager of the school journal and he is also a member of the Masonic lodge at Petersburg. Harmon S. horn October 9, 1883, is a graduate of the Petersburg high school, spent one form in the Ninthwestern University at Evanston and is now teaching in the Bruch school near home. Ile completed a four years' course in three year- while in Petersburg. Annie Elizabeth. born October 19. 1855, completed the common- school course, but did not have the opportunity of going away to school because of her mother's death, which occurred December 16. 1900, when she was forty-six years, three months and twen- to-two days. Her remains were interred in Oakland cemetery. Since the mother's death
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the daughter bas nad charge of the household affairs,
Mr. Grosbøll's business carrer has been marked by steady progress. When he first came to Menard county he began working as a farm hand. being employed by the month. The first one of his countrymen that he saw after arriving in the United States was his brother. who joined him the following year. When I. P. Grosbøll returned to America with his wife he began agricultural pursuits on the farm owned by Henry Shirding, known as the Hat- field farm. There he lived for twelve years and during that entire period he never had any lease or any papers, The contract between them being merely an oral one. During his third voar a disastrous fire occurred on the Ith of August, 1883, and he lost nearly everything he had, including his household goods. When he interviewed Mr. Shirding the next morning the first question that was asked him was. "I- any one hurt?" Mr. Grosboll replied in the negative and Mr. Shirding then said: "Then it is all right. We will soon put up a new house." He continued upon the farm until the spring of 1992. when be removed to the tract of land which he had purchased in 1883, known as the ola David Pantier farm. He purchased one hundred and seventy-five aeres at that time and one hundred and ten acres since, making two hundred and eighty-live acres in all. Hlo has since tiled and cleared the farm, has placed it under a high state of cultivation and in con- metion with the raising of cereals best adapted to this part of the country he has engaged in freching cattle for the market.
In his political view- Mr. Gro-boll has been a Republican and has given his ballot to the marty since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and 's now a member of the Cumberland Pres- Interian church. The children, too, belong to the t umberland Prestatorian church. Fraternally Mr. fire ball is connected with Clinton lodge. No. 19. A. F. d. A. M., at Petersburg. In 1858 be returned to his native land with his family. remaining four months abroad. during which time he visited Germany and England and re- hoved many of the acquaintances of his boy- hood day - in his native province. He has never
had occasion to regret his determination to stok a home in the United States, for here he has found the business opportunities that he sought and which have made him a prosperon- man and in addition ha- enjoyed the liberty and freedom of this great and growing conn-
JOIN P. BLANE.
John P. Blanc is accounted one of the lead- ing citizens of Greenview, actively connected with its business and public affairs. Ile 1s now president of the school board and in the line of commercial activity is president of the Greenview Coal & Mining Company. He also ha> farming interests in Menard county and in the control of his business displays koen discernment. sagacity and unfaltering enter- pri- qualities which always insure a fair measure of success.
Mr. Blane was born July 25, 1845, upon the farm where he now resides, his parents being George and Mary ( Alkire) Blane. The fam- ily is of Irish lineage and the father, who was born in County Down. Ireland, came to Amer- iea in 1818, locating at what is now known as Irish Grove. He and other men of his national- ity on settling in Menard county worked in the wood- and thus the grove obtained its name. From the government George Blane entered the land which now constitutes the farm upon which has son John P. Blane resides. He pros- pered in his agricultural pur-uits and the boundaries of his home place were extended until they surrounded six hundred and forty acres of rich land. At one time he owned alto- gather twelve hundred acres and was justly ac- counted one of the representative and success- Inl agriculturists of his community. He car- ried forward his farm work along progressive lines and transformed the wild prairie into productive tract- which annually returned to him golden harvests. He also found opportu- nity to aid in the promotion of public interest- and he served as justice of the peace for many wars, his decision- being characterized by the otime- fairness and impartiality. He died upon the old homestead farm January 10
J. P. BLANE.
GEORGE BLANE.
MRS. GEORGE BLANE.
MRS. O. P. BRACKEN.
O. P. BRACKEN.
MRS. J. P. BLANE.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
INGE, at the age of sixty-five years and his loss was deeply regretted throughout the entire community, because of the important and help- ful part which he had played in business and public life. His wife survived him for about ten years and died April 15. 1834, at the age of seventy-five years. In their family were ten children: Edward, who died at the age of twenty years : Arminda and Maria. both de- ceased : G. W .. a resident farmor of Arkansas : A. P., who is now justice of the peace in Green- view : Samuel H., who was one of the leading attorneys of Menard county, but is now de- ceased : John P .. of this review : Mary E. and Melissa Il., twins, the former now in Blunt. South Dakota, and the other in Menard coun- ty: and W. F .. of Iowa.
John P. Blane acquired his education in the public schools and in Eureka College and was thus well qualified for life's practical duties. On putting aside his text-looks he took charge of the home farm for his father had passed away and his brother was with the Union army. In September, 1865, be built his present home and took up his abode there. He has been a feeder of cattle in connection with the raising of grain and is a member of the Farmers Elevator Company. When the Greenview Coal & Mining Company was organized he was made its president and in control of its business in- deresto he has shown marked capability and discernment. He possesses strong purpose and gradually he has advanced in his business ca- reer until he now occupies an enviable position as a representative of agricultural and indus- trial interests in Menard county.
On the Eth of February. 186 ;. Mr. Blane was united in marriage to Mis- Mary A. Brack- en. a daughter of O. P. and Nancy (Meadows) Bracken, carly settlers of this county. Her father is now decreased, but her mother makes her home with Mrs. Blane. Ento our subject and his wife have been born six children : Emma, who died in infancy : Ella. the wife of Dr. L. J. Goodson, of Springfield, Illinois: Carrie, the wife of A. J. Propst. of Greenview : T .. E .. who is a practicing physician of Green- view and i- represented elsewhere in this vol- irme: Inez Mabel, who died when about eigh- teen years of age: and Edna. at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Blane are consistent members of the Christian church of Greenview and are worthy people who receive the friendship of many. while the hospitality of a large majority of the best homes in the locality is extended to them. Mr. Blane has served on the school board for twenty years and is now it- presi- dent. the cause of education finding in him a warm and helpful friend, and he has put forth effective servier in lehalf of the public school system of the city. He belongs to Loyalty lodge, No. 621. A. F. & A. M. and to the Anti- Horse Thief Association, called the Greenview Rangers Association, of which he is the vive president. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and he stands to-day as our of the representative citizens of Greenview. ? man strong in his business capacity. in his successful accomplishment. in his honor and his good name.
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CHARLES P. CORSON.
Charles P. Corson, carrying on general agri- cultural pursuits near Talhda, was born on the Hith of November, Ist). in Tallula precinct. Menard county, his parents being Rouben and Rachel M. (Nottingham) Corson. In their family were five children, all of whom are vet living: Hannah, the wife of Randolph Allen. a Methodist minister residing in Waterloo, lowa. by whom she has three children : Edward E .. who married Eva Murphy, of Knox county. Missouri. In whom he has two children. and follows farming at Roosevelt, Kiowa county. Oklahoma : Bertha. at home: and Nathan, who married E-sie Correll. and is a resident farmer of Sangamon county.
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