Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois, Part 4

Author: Traylor, Jacob L
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 798

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi. Alabama and Florida. He is at present engaged in the mining and production of coal at Paisley, where there is a very rich vein of bituminous coal. The Montgomery Coal Company, the corporation with which Mr. Paisley is connected, was chartered July, 1895. and the first shaft was commenced in the fall of the same year. while on the 4th of July. 1896, coal was struck. The output is now ex- tensive and the business profitable.

J. A. HAMPTON.

J. A. llampton, a retired minister. now re- siding on his farm on section 21. East Fork township, was formerly closely connected with agricultural interests in Montgomery county, and his unfaltering purpose and strong deter- mination in the face of obstacles and opposi- tion enabled him to gradually advance upon the high road to success. He was born in East Fork township, November 2, 1835, and is a son of William R. and Nancy A. ( Williams) Hampton. In the maternal line he is a rep- resentative of one of the oldest families of the country, for the Williams home was established in this portion of the state in 1818. W. R. Hampton was born in Kentucky in 1814. and his wife in the same state in 1816. He was twenty-one years of age when he came to Illi- nois, and here he met and married Miss Wil- liams. He was a farmer by occupation, de- voting his entire life to the tilling of the soil. and through his perseverance and energy he was enabled to provide a comfortable living for his family, save them many of the hard- ships and trials of pioneer life had to be met. His death occurred about 1892, and thus passed away one who had long been associated with the agricultural development of Montgomery county.

J. A. Hampton commenced his education in the old log schoolhouse in East Fork township. which was one of the pioneer structures of the community. There were no glass windows, but a log had been removed from one side of the building and covered with greased paper, so

that light was admitted to the room in that way. There was a wooden chimney and all the furnishings were very primitive. The methods of instruction also were rather erude as compared with the advanced methods of the present day, but Mr. Hampton laid the foun- dation for a good practical knowledge, which he has supplemented by experience, reading and observation in later years. Ile started out for himself at the age of twenty years as a farmer, and made the tilling of the soil his life work, although he has given his time and energies to a considerable extent to the labors of the church. In early manhood he began studying for the ministry, and while working at farm labor he would frequently take his books into the field with him. Ile received his license to preach when twenty-one years of age and became a local minister. preaching on Sunday while continuing at farm labor through the week. He was a local preacher for ten years, and afterward spent thirty years in connection with the southern Illinois con- ference. On the expiration of that period he entered upon supernumerary relations with the ministry. He never ceased to conduct his farm- ing interests, and although he started out for himself empty-handed he gradually worked his way upward, adding to his capital. and he now owns about four hundred acres of land. At the present time he is residing on his farm. which his son operates.

At the time of the Civil war J. A. Hampton put aside all business and personal considera- tions and with patriotic spirit enlisted in Com- pany B. One Hundred and Seventeenth Illi- nois Infantry. He participated in the Red River campaign and in the battle of Nashville. was also in the fighting at Mobile at the close of the war and, though often exposed to the fire of the enemy, he was never wounded. He was, however, in the hospital because of illness during the last year of his service, and in 1865, following the close of the war, he was mus- tered ont.

Mr. Hampton was married in October. 1855, to Miss Jane Desart, a daughter of George Desart. She was reared in Edgar county, and by her marriage became the mother of eight children, and only two are now living: George

MRS. J. A. HAMPTON

REV. J. A. HAMPTON

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

W., a resident of Bond county : and John M., who is living upon the homestead farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ilampton held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and lived earn- est, consistent. Christian lives. He cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont, the first candidate of the Republican party, and continued one of its supporters for many years, but is now a Prohibitionist. Ile for- merly belonged to the Masonie fraternity and is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public.

Hle has for many years-in fact, during the entire period of his life-been a resident of Montgomery county, and has therefore wit- nessed many of its changes as it has left be- hind it the conditions of pioneer life and has emerged into an advanced civilization. His mother's family particularly, was one of the oldest of the county, and his mother lived here when the Indians were still very numerous in the locality. The rise of ground upon which the farmhouse is now located was at one time the site of an Indian camp. Mr. Hampton made all of the improvements upon his farm. He secured a tract of land which was uneulti- vated and unimproved. There were no fences upon the place, and over the wild prairie roamed deer and wolves, but with characteris- tic energy Mr. Hampton began the development of his property and in the course of time reaped good harvests as the reward of his la- bors. Ilis life has been, indeed, an active, busy, useful and honorable one, and over the record of his entire career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.

John M. Hampton, who is now operating the home farm, was born in East Fork town- ship and supplemented his educational privi- leges by a course of study in the Me Kendree College at Lebanon, Illinois. He there pur- sued a law course and was graduated with the class of 1892. Subsequently he published a news- paper and practiced law in Gillespie, Illinois. His health then became poor, and he went south. After returning to Illinois he resumed the practice of law and published a paper at Cerro Gordo, Illinois, but once more his health failed and again he traveled south and through the west, visiting both Mexico and California.

About a year ago, however, he again came to Montgomery county and settled upon his father's farm, where he now lives. lle is an enterprising, progressive man, making the most of his opportunities and in the control of his business interests is displaying excellent ability and enterprise.

In November, 1903, Mr. Hampton was united in marriage to Miss Eva Merriwether, a daughter of James Merriwether, of Macou- pin county. His wife belongs to the Presby- terian church. Mr. Hampton is identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his political allegiance is given to the Repub- lican party. He is a worthy representative of a family that has long stood for progress and improvement along material. social, intellec- tual and moral lines and like his honored father deserves mention in this volume.

WILLIAM VAN HOOSER.

William Van Hooser, whose upright life causes his memory to be cherished by all who knew him, was born in Madison county, Illi- nois, October 1, 1816, his parents being Abra- ham and Nancy ( Howard ) Van Hooser, who were pioneer settlers of Madison county. The father was a farmer by occupation and owned land near Collinsville, where he resided for many years, his death occurring on the home- stead farm there. In the family were twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, of whom William Van Hooser was the fourth in order of birth and he was the last survivor of the family.

In the district schools, such as were com- mon at that period. William Van Hooser ac- quired his education. The little temple of learning was a log structure and the methods of instruction were equally primitive. 1Ie, however, had the privilege of attending not more than three months in the year, but he made good use of his opportunities during that time. The remainder of the year was devoted to farm work, and he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His father gave him a

PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

farm in Madison county of eighty acres, which he sold in December, 1859, and then removed to the vicinity of Staunton Station, where he resided for sixteen years. He also lived for two years near Troy, Illinois, and on taking up his abode near Nokomis he purchased eighty acres of land. Ile eventually moved to Nokomis, where occurred his death in 1894. He successfully conducted his agricultural in- terests, placing his land under a high state of cultivation, and when invention brought upon the market new and improved machinery he purchased the better farm implements and thus facilitated his work. He was a man of pro- gressive spirit and everything about his place was neat and thirfty in appearance.

On the 2d of February, 1840, Mr. Van Hooser vas married to Miss Jane Hawks, a daughter of Drury and Mary Hawks. Mrs. Van Hooser was born in Grayson county, Vir- ginia, was taken in early childhood to eastern Tennessee, and when quite young came with her widowed mother to Illinois, arriving in 1838, at which time the family home was es- tablished near Troy, in Madison county. There her mother died in 1854. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Hooser were born two children: Martha Jane, who died at the age of three months; and Mary, who died at the age of twenty years. She was married when nineteen years of age to Isaae Wilson, who now resides near No- komis. There was one daughter by this mar- riage, Martha J., now deceased.

In his political views Mr. Van Hooser was a staneh Republican from the time of the or- ganization of the party until his death. He was a member of the Christian church and for more than sixty years was a representative of its ministry. He put forth every effort in his power to advance the cause of Christianity and upbuild his church in his locality, and his in- fluence was widely felt. A kindly spirit and sympathetic nature had endeared him to all with whom he came in contaet, and his memo- ry is cherished by those who knew him. He died in the year 1894 and his remains were interred in Nokomis cemetery. Mrs. Van Hooser still survives her husband. He sold the farm before his death, and his widow is living in Nokomis, occupying a pleasant home,

and by reason of his industry she was left in comfortable financial circumstances. She has been a devoted member of the Christian church for sixty-four years and her Christian life fur- nishes an example that is indeed well worthy of emulation.

WILLIAM A. YOUNG.

William A. Young is a native son of Mont- gomery county, his birth having occurred in Grisham township, one mile west of Donnell- son, on the 20th day of August. 1836. Within the borders of his native county he has lived and labored. being one of the representative farmers and leading horticulturists in this part of the state. Ilis father, William Young, came to Montgomery county in 1830, having been born and reared in Maury county. Tennessee, near Columbia. The journey to Illinois was made on horseback, and after remaining a short time he purchased a claim on forty aeres of land, which had a pioneer's log cabin built on it and a few acres under cultivation. On March 12, 1832, he was married to Jane C. Paisley, of Montgomery county, who was born and reared in Guilford county, North Carolina. Soon afterward William Young volunteered for service in the Black Hawk war in 1831 as a member of Captain Rountree's company, and when hostilities had ceased he returned and en- tered the forty acres on which he had pre- viously purchased the little improvements with his savings while in the service. He bought a team of muley oxen and made for himself a wagon with wooden axle and wooden wheels, on which he did all of his hauling for a num- ber of years. As the years passed he pros- pered, adding continually to his landed pos- sessions as financial resources permitted until he was the owner of about fourteen hundred acres of farm land. He served twelve years as justice of the peace, and in 1854 he was elected as representative to the state legislature from the counties of Montgomery, Bond and Clin- ton. He strongly advocated the Democratic principles as set forth by Andrew Jackson, for whom he cast his first vote for president

There were born to William and Jane C. Young nine children, namely : James J., who

WILLIAM A. YOUNG

LIBRARY OF THE NIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

was a practicing physician in Fremont county, lowa, for twenty years and is now deceased ; John W., who died near Donnellson, Illinois, in 1899; Harriett E., who became the wife of William J. McCulach and died May 22, 1904; Sarah J., who married H. M. Powell, of Tay- lorville, Illinois, and died in 1870; Samuel, who was cashier of the Haskell, Harris & Com- pany Bank and died in 1881; and three who died in infancy.

William A. Young, whose name introduces this record, is the only survivor of the nine children. In his boyhood days he worked on his father's farm in summer, and in the winter attended the subscription schools and afterward continued his education in the public schools, which had been organized in the meantime. When nineteen years of age he entered the Hillsboro Academy, in which he spent one year and afterward engaged in teaching for a year. In 1858 he entered MeKendree College and remained for two years. In 1860 he road law one year in the office of the late James M. Davis, of Hillsboro. On the ith of July. 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, he- coming quartermaster sergeant of Company E, First Regiment of Illinois Cavalry. lle served in Fremont's campaign in Missouri until the surrender of Colonel Mulligan to General Price at Lexington, Missouri, September 20, 1861. In 1862 he resumed his studies at MeKendree College and was graduated with the class of that year. In December, 1862, he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff, which position he filled with entire satisfaction for two years, and in 1864 he received the nomination and was elected to the office of sheriff of Montgomery county by over six hundred majority.

After the expiration of his term of office as sheriff and ex-officio collector of Montgomery county. William A. Young was united in mar- riage, November 28, 1866, to Miss Mary E. Ware. daughter of Obadiah Ware. The follow- ing summer the young couple moved to the farm, where he at present resides. On Janu- - ture is over a fascinating and interesting pas- ary 1. 1820. the wife and mother was called time to him. About a quarter of a century ago he attended a meeting of the Horticutural So- ciety at Alton, Illinois, and the beautiful ap- ples and other fruit on display were a revela- tion to him and aroused his ambition, and he from this life, leaving two sons: Anthony O., who was born December 25, 1868, and is now a leading physician in St. Louis : and William A., Jr., who was born November 9. 1869, and

is practicing medicine with marked success in Springfield, Illinois. In 1871 our subject took as his second wife Miss Sarah Muenscher, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, who died in 1898, leav- ing four children, who are named as follows: Frederica, Cornelia, Charles and Eunice.

At a meeting of the State Board of Agri- culture, in 1892, Mr. Young was elected vice president of that society for the seventeenth congressional district and served ten years, be- ing re-elected four times to succeed himself. While a member of the Board of Agriculture he was appointed as superintendent of the Illi- nois exhibit in the national agricultural build- ing at the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, in 1893. Later he served three years as super- intendent of the swine department and six years as superintendent of the horticultural department of the State Fair at Springfield. It was through his vote and influence that the State Fair was permanently located at Spring- field, and he was appointed on the committee to lay out the grounds and locate the buildings. For more than twenty years Mr. Young was associated with the Montgomery County Agri- cultural Fair Association, and served continu- ously as superintendent and director and three years as president of the society. He was one of the organizers of the County Farmers' In- stitute and was elected and served for three years as president of that organization. At this time he is an active member of the Illi- nois State Horticultural Society and Alton Itorticultural Society, and is often called upon to give a talk and read a paper on horticultural topics before different county institutes.

His farm is located one mile north and one mile east of Butler, in Butler Grove township, and upon this he is engaged in breeding and raising fine stock, always procuring the best blood obtainable to raise from. He is, perhaps, better known as a horticulturist and fruit- raiser. From his boyhood he has loved trees, fruits, birds and flowers, and the study of na-

PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

said to himself. Why can not I produce equally as fine fruit ? Going home, he read and drank in everything he could obtain pertaining to the culture of fruit; bought textbooks; read pa- pers : and secured official reports on the sub- ject. This theory he put into practice, and by experimenting and using good judgment has succeeded in producing fruit that has not only carried off many prizes at the state fairs and horticultural meetings, but his fruit was also awarded eight gold and two silver medals at the great Paris Exposition in 1900. At the Pan-American Exposition, at Buffalo, in 1901. he was awarded a gold medal on apples and peaches. He prepared and shipped twelve barrels of apples to the Paris Exposition which were on exhibition from May until November, and because of the size, shape and color and fine flavor of the fruit it attracted wide at- tention and mado Illinois apples famous over western Europe. It is largely due to the ef- forts of Mr: Young that the attention of fruit growers has been attracted to Montgomery county as an apple-producing region, and thou- sands of dollars have come to the county an- nually to pay for fruit through the advertising which he has given to them. In this work he has been eminently successful and has earned the respect and gratitude of all fruit growers in the county. Mr. Young is an enthusiast upon the subject of forestry and thinks that the growing of timber for fuel and lumber will be a profitable industry in this country in the future, and thinks it an excellent field for a young man to engage in. He has more than fifty varieties of native and foreign trees growing on his grounds.

On the 31st day of August, 1899, Mr. Young was married to Mrs. Emma J. Whit- ing, of Kansas City, Missouri, whose maiden name was Critchlow and who was born in Mckeesport, Allegheny county. Pennsylvania. Her parents, Daniel G. and Emma J. Critch- low. emigrated to Ilinois when she was two and a half years old and settled at Caseyville, Illinois. At the breaking out of the Civil war Mr. Critchlow enlisted in the service in Com- pany E. Second Ilinois Cavalry, and was at the siege of Vicksburg, where he died the day after the surrender, leaving a widow and four

children. In 1864 Mrs. Critchlow, with her daughter. Emuma J., moved to Kansas City, Missouri, the other three sisters being mar- ried and living at Summerfield, Illinois, aft- erward moving to Kansas City. Mrs. Young, who had resided in Kansas City for thirty-four years, had witnessed the phenomenal growth of that place from a small steamboat landing on the Missouri river to the great metropoli- tan city it is to-day. Mr. and Mrs. Young have a very pleasant home and are always de- lighted to entertain their many friends and visitors. "The latch-string always hangs out."

Socially Mr. Young is a member of the or- der of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Royal Arch chapter of Hillsboro, and in poli- ties is a strong adherent to the Democratic doctrines as taught by Thomas Jefferson. He is well known in Montgomery and adjoining counties as one of its most enterprising and progressive men, and he belongs to that class of typical American citizens who, while ad- vaneing their individual prosperity. also con- tribute to the general welfare of their fellow men.

ISAAC A. MILNER.

Isaac A. Milner, deceased, represented one of the old and honored pioneer families of Montgomery county. A native of Illinois, he was born in Edgar county, June 11, 1843, and was a son of Robert and Mary ( Desart) Mil- ner, both of whom were born in Kentucky, the former April 12. 181%, and the latter Decem- ber 14, 1822. At an carly day Robert Milner came to Illinois and first settled in Paris. but afterward removed to Montgomery county, where he owned some good farming property. His first wife died in 1864 and he subse- quently married Mrs. Emily ( Martin Brown) Desart, whose death occurred in 1882. He died in 1881. Religiously he was a member of the Baptist church and politically was identified with the Republican party. In his family were eight children. all of whom are now deceased.

During his boyhood Isaac A. Mimer pursued his studies in a log school house at Walnut Grove and when not in school he worked on the

MR. AND MRS. I. A. MILNER

W. A. MILNER

MRS. W. A. MILNER

MR. AND MRS. AARON HAWKINS

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

farm, early acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted at Decatur, Macon county, in 1864, as a private in the First Illinois Cav- alry, but was afterward promoted to corporal, and remained in the service until hostilities ceased. Ile then returned to Montgomery county and engaged in farming upon land which his father had given him. He purchased additional property in East Fork township and engaged in its operation up to the time of his death, which occurred November 6, 1879, his remains being interred in Elm Point cemetery, Bond county.

Mr. Milner was married December 28, 1865, near Hillsboro, to Miss Emma J. Frame, who was born near Coffeen. in East Fork township, September 4, 1847. Her father, Robert T. Frame, was born near Dayton, Ohio, in De- cember, 1819, and at an early day came with his parents to Montgomery county. He ac- cumulated considerable property. In politics he was a Republican, but never desired office, and in religious connection he was a member of of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He died in February, 1879. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Cyrena MeCaslin, was born in Kentucky, December 8, 1822, and is still living, her home being near McCune, Crawford county, Kansas. In their family were nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters. of whom all are living with the exception of Maggie.

By his ballot Mr. Milner supported the Re- publican party and was called upon to fill sev- eral local offices. While advancing his indi- vidual interests he also aided in promoting the public welfare through hearty co-operation in many measures and movements for the general good.

W. A. MILNER.

W. A. Milner was born on the old home- stead farm in East Fork township. September 4, 1873, a son of l. A. and Emily J. ( Frame) Milner. In his early boyhood days he pur- sued his education under the instruction of J. 1. Traylor, and when a youth of eighteen years

he started out in life on his own account. However, in the meantime, when a lad of only twelve years, he had been a most able assistant to his mother in the management and care of the old home farm and to her gave the benefit of his services until about twenty years of age. He had perhaps more advantages than some anl less than others, but at all times he realized that labor is the basis of all true and desir- able success and because of this he has worked steadily and persistently to acquire a com- petence and his efforts have been rewarded, for he is now one of the substantial citizens of his community.

"On October 12, 1894, Mr. Milner was united in marriage to Miss Alma Hawkins, a daugh- ter of Aaron and Julia (Miller) Hawkins, of East Fork township, and they now have three children : Mary Eva, Julia E. and Isaac A. Mr. Milner belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity at Coffeen and in politics he is a Republican, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs, which are now bringing to him a very gratifying financial return. He is raising stock of all kinds for the market and makes his own shipments. He has now two hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land. He learned farming through experience and in his labors he has displayed not only practical knowledge but excellent business ability. He built all of the fences upon his place and made all of the improvements and now has a splendid residence, commodious barns and substantial outbuildings. Ile had no farm implements when he started out and in fact his capital was extremely limited. For sometime he rented land and was then enabled to purchase one hundred and forty acres, but as the years advanced his work resulted in bringing to him a very gratifying prosperity. In addition to general farming he began rais- ing stock and has raised some excellent mules and has owned some high-bred horses. He at one time handled Illinois Boy, the highest price horse in the county. it being owned by his uncle. He also raises good draft horses and fat stock produced on his farm is a guarantee of its high grade. Ile is yet a young man, but has already won a prosperity that many an

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Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois, Part 4

Author: Traylor, Jacob L Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Traylor, Jacob L
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 798