USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 67
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
quired. U'ntil the building of the I. & St. L. Railroad it was the custom of Mr. Traylor to send down a wagonload of produce every week in the year. To do this it became necessary to have two wagons and while one was on the trip to the city, the other was engaged in gath- ering its load for the succeeding week. Many of the old citizens of the south part of the county will remember these weekly visits of his produce wagon. In this way JJoel (. Traylor, who having been a cripple from birth and re- quiring the assistance of crutches by which to walk, was possessed of that same spirit as the other pioncer settlers and the thought of ask- ing assistance because of his condition would have stung his pride and he would have re- sented as an insult the charge that he was un- able to make his way as other men in the world. Traylor's store was a great meeting place for the country for miles around on election days, at conventions and the annual horse show which took place here in the early spring of each year. Here were brought together some of the breeds of horses that would sound familiar by name to our readers of that generation. Jim Kirk usually would have at the show his Cop- per Bottom and Stump-a-deler and Tom Whitton with his Diomede ( Old Tom Benton) and Uncle Clem AAydelott with Red Lion, Uncle John Price with Old Archie. These are a few who would congregate and take much pride in showing the good points of their stock. These were horses of endurance and I doubt that Montgomery county can show a grade of horses superior to those that were bred in the county just prior to the Civil war. While the introduction of our large, beefy Norman and Clydesdale horses have added a spirit of docil- ity. they have at the same time so reduced the endurance that the horse found on the farm to-day is not the equal to those which our fathers bred forty years ago. Among those living in the Traylor settlement were the Ropers, the Wardens, the Neals, Laws, Thack- ers, llawkins, Allens, McCaslins, Harrisons, Jones and the Woods. The Ropers removed from this section to Missouri some thirty-five years ago. Nathan Warden, a carpenter, set- tled near the old mill about the year 1845. He came from Kentucky and was regarded as a
most quiet and inoffensive citizen. Together with his good wife, Aunt Polly, he lived in this vicinity until about twenty years ago, when he removed to the neighborhood of Walshville. He died here some ten of twelve years ago. Quite a family of boys and girls were raised by Mr. Warden and several of these reside in Montgomery county. His second son, Alfred M. Warden, studied law with Judge E. Lane, of Hillsboro. This young man left the an- cestral home and settled at Washburn, Wiscon- sin. We understand that "All" has become quite a prominent citizen in his adopted home. Having been elected to positions of honor and trust in his county, we are glad to note that a fellow schoolnate is succeeding so well in the world. He is at present judge of the city court of Washburn, Wisconsin, flugh MeCaslin and his brother Gray settled near the line between Bond and Montgomery counties early in the '30s. HTugh's home was over in Montgomery and Gray's just across the line in Bond. Hugh MeCaslin lived to the good old age of ninety-three. He left several sons who have been prominently connected with the affairs of the neighborhood and county. Wiley F. Me- Caslin, the wagonmaker, recently died at the age of eighty-three and Mark McCaslin. his brother, who lived in the vicinity of Nokomis, has been dead for several years. Wiley Me- Caslin leaves a son, William S. MeCaslin, who is a business man of Coffeen, and one maiden daughter, Miss Ella, a school teacher, who lives on the old homestead in the Traylor neigh- borhood. William Neal came to this county at the same time that his father-in-laf Uncle Douglas Young made a settlement on Bear creek. William Neal was regarded among his neighbors as a strictly religious and moral character. He was identified with the church work of the neighborhood for many years and assisted in building the Methodist Episcopal church at Edwards Chapel and the Free Meth- odist church at Walnut Grove. No man in the neighborhood enjoyed the confidence of every one more than did William Neal. If he ever had a difference with any of his neigh- bors, there is no tradition that relates it and in the memory of the writer he stands out in bold relief as the exemplary Christian, father
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
and neighbor. William Neal and his wife. Sarah, have passed on to that country from which no traveler returns. They left several children and grandchildren. among whom are Allie, who lives in Hillsboro. and Burton, a minister. who resides in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their oldest daughter, Ellen, who married Cyrus Bost, died early in life leaving one daughter, Zella, who is our present stenog- rapher. Dona and Frances live at Greenville, Illinois, the latter the wife of Albert Hayden. William Laws, who is yet living at the advanced age of eighty years. made settlement near Wal- nut Grove some sixty years ago. Mr. Laws married a daughter of Gray MeCaslin and by her has raised several children, among whom are Thomas G. Laws, the present postmaster at Coffeen : C. L. Laws, township treasurer: and Wilson Laws, a merchant of Donnellson : ser- eral other children whose whereabouts are un- known to the writer. Dr. B. Haynes also lived in this community for a number of years and was one of the leading characters in the com- unity. The doctor had the largest family of any one in the neighborhood and it was a great pleasure to the boys and girls when the time came for a party down at the doctor's, for we well knew that it meant a good time, as the doctor never failed to provide for the entertainment of the young folks. George Wilson, who settled on the old Davenport place, was another to con- tribute to the upbuilding of the schools and churches of the neighborhood. Unele George and Aunt Jane never failed to attend the prayer meeting and the Sabbath-school unless by sickness or some unavoidable cause they were prevented. Uncle George is living at Donnellson, enjoying the evening of life as well as one of his advanced years could expect. Aunt Jane has gone to her reward and if ever it might be said "I know that my Redeemer liveth," none could have left behind an evi- dence of a trust more abiding and assuring than she. John S. Stevens, who had spent his earlier life upon the high seas and who had visited almost every quarter of the globe, by chance drifted into Montgomery county. It was here that he met a young widow by the name of Betsey Brown. a daughter, however. of William Cannon, of whom we have before
spoken at length. The hardy sailor succumbed to the charms of the young widow and in due time they were married and after a few years' residence on Bear creek they came to live in the settlement at Walnut Grove. Here they have raised a large family and here they have ac- quired quite an estate for themselves and for their children. The eller son, Thomas. died but a short while ago and left surviving him three sons, who are earnest and industrious young men. John Stevens, Jr .. lives on the farm and has acquired quite a reputation as public auctioneer. Mary is the wife of I. J. Brooks and Eliza is the wife of H. H. Brooks, while Permelia is the widow of Henry Root. Commodore is living on the old homestead and is regarded as a shrewd business man. Robert Milner settled just west of the Hampton Mound about 1850. Quite a colony came from the eastern part of the state in Edgar county and made settlement at the same time with Mr. Milner. Among these were the Hawkins. the Gordon, the Tennison and the Desart fam- ilies. Robert Milner was a very excellent citi- zen. lle had but two children: Isaac and Jennie. Isaac Milner was married to Emma Frame and together they commenced the building of an estate. Isaac was unusually fortunate in his investments and being a far- sighted business man, he promised to become a man of much means, but early in life he was seized with consumption and died almost at the beginning of the race in which so much had been expected. He left a son. Alva. who has since grown to manhood and occupies the homestead of his father. Alva is an energetic farmer and stock man and will accomplish good in the world. Thomas Wood came into this part of the township in the latter part of the '20s and settled near Sugar Camp branch. He was the earliest settler in his immediate neigh- borhood. Captain Peter C. Wood is a son of Thomas Wood and is the oldest living person born in East Fork township. Captain Wood is rather a remarkable man in many respects. During his early manhood he spent much of his time in study, preparing for professional life, and has during all the years since been a very wide reader of scientific and literary books. Few men in the township have so wide a knowl-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
edge or so practical an education as Captain Wood and his reminiscence of men and earlier times is very interesting to any one who desires a knowledge of the earlier settlement of the country. Captain Wood served as a volunteer through the Civil war and was captain of a company during a greater portion of that time. John W. Young, a son of William Young, who settled near Donnellson in 1830, pushed eastward across the prairie and settled near the home- stead where his widow now resides. John W. Young was the most successful stockman in the south part of East Fork township. He was for several years an extensive buyer of hogs and cattle and shipped by way of Donnellson to St. Louis and Buffalo markets. He was a man whose integrity could not be impeached and who established a reputation for serupulous honesty in all his dealings with his fellow men. It has been said of him that a widow or an in- experienced boy would be treated with the same fairness that he would show to the experienced trader. Mr. Young by his industry and econ- omy acquired a large body of land in the neighborhood of Donnellson. By exposure, which the character of his business necessitated, he contracted pneumonia and lived but a few days thereafter. Mr. Young will long be re- membered by those who knew him, for he was a faithful friend, a kindly father and a just man. James W. Johnson, son of Thomas Johnson and grandson of Jesse Johnson, the pioncer who settled near Donnellson, improved the farm now owned by Shelby Young. James Johnson. during the years of his productive manhood, acquired quite a competency, but in an evil moment he was persuaded by designing men to invest very extensively in Chicago real estate. This was in 1892-93, just prior to the Columbian Exposition, a time when real estate sharks spread over the country their nets to catch the unwary. Unfortunately, Mr. John- son in company with others fell into the scheme that afterward proved his financial ruin. In 1903 Mr. Johnson removed to Portland, Ore- gon. there in the evening of life to begin over again life's struggle. No picture more sad than this, when through the years of our pro- ductiveness by thrift we have gained a com- peteney for old age to find that in a moment
of weakness we have been shorn of all and left exposed to the humiliations of an unsym- pathetic world. It is true that our friends may pity, yet even this to the sensitive soul is gall and bitterness. Cozba Hawkins, with his sons. Aaron, Henry and Matt, came to East Fork township with the Milners and others. They were very successful as farmers and acquired for themselves elegant homes in the south part of the township. The old gentleman and his son Aaron are dead. Matt has removed to Kan- sas and Henry is a citizen of Donnellson. Hen- derson Hawkins, a son of Aaron, lives at the country seat of his uncle Henry, which, by the way, is the same as was settled by Hugh Mc- Caslin at least seventy-five years ago. Allen Edwards may be styled the pioneer of the prairies, for he was the first among the hardy spirits who pushed out into the midst of the prairie to establish a home. It required the effort of many years to improve and fence a large body of prairie lands. This is what Mr. Edwards did and died before he was fifty years old. He left an estate of several hundred acres of land, which is the nuclens of the beautiful farms which his several sons now own as homes. The older of these is William T. Edwards, the present supervisor of East Fork township, while the second, John W., is an extensive land owner living west of Coffeen some three or four miles. Frank Edwards lives in Coffeen and is engaged in the banking business. He has been very successful in his financial ad- ventures and is regarded as one of the solid men of the community. Samuel Edwards is a farmer and stock-raiser. He is also engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock from Coffeen. The two younger sons, Amos and Allen, Jr., are very successful and are rated among the substantial citizens of the township. R. S. Allen came to Illinois from North Caro- lina in an early day and was employed by Joel (". Traylor as helper in his store and in the hnekstering which he carried on between the people of his neighborhood and St. Louis. Mr. Allen proved himself an efficient assistant to Mr. Traylor in his work, and while he was win- ning the respect and confidence of his employer he also won the regard of Harriet Ohmert, the sister-in-law of Mr. Traylor. He was married
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
to Miss Ohmert and settled within a few rods of the Traylor homestead. Here he lived for several years and here were reared his sons. Dr. W. A. Allen, of Donnellson. and George N. Allen, who lives on a farm some three or four miles west of Coffeen. Robert Allen died some ten years ago, but his influence in the con- munity in which he lived and with those with whom he had associated will ever remain until those who knew him have followed him into the great beyond. Mr. Allen was of a devout char- acter and the religious bent of his mind in- Ilnenced others to a consideration of these great subjects. Harriet Allen, the mother and wife. has also laid aside the cares and burdens ot life, for she. too, has followed her husband Robert S. Allen into that far country from which they will return no more. Dr. W. A. Allen has practiced his profession in the neigh- borhood of Donnellson for the last quarter of a century. He has arisen by attention to busi- ness to be recognized as one of the leading physicians in this section of the state. and while he has succeeded professionally he has also acquired an extensive estate of some twelve hundred acres of choice land in the neighbor- hood of Donnellson. George N. Allen, the younger of the two brothers, while never a robust man of health. has succeeded in a finan- cial way and has an elegant farm of four hun- dred acres, the larger part of which is rich black soil and for which he has refused quite a little sum of money. Mr. Allen is a director in the Hillsboro National Bank and has in- terests in Arkansas timber lands. Recently he has purchased an elegant residence in the village of Donnellson, to which he will remove in the near future. His sons Orin and Cullen will take charge of the farm and conduct it along the same lines in which their father has been so successful. Tobias Thacker settled near William Laws, having married a daugh- ter of Gray MeCaslin and a sister to Mrs. Wil- liam Laws. Tobias Thacker was a son of Allen Thacker, who lived in the north part of Bond county and who reached the extreme age of one hundred years. Mr. Tobias Thacker. however, died at the age of about seventy years. Unele Tobe, as we used to call him, was a man noted for the firmness of his character. In-
deed, it has been said of him that in some in- stances his firnmess amounted to stubbornness, but withal Mr. Thacker was so sure of being right that he was persuaded that the position which he took on any question was necessarily right and needed no defense whatever. Incle Tobe was a firm believer in the Presbyterian confession of faith and for many years he was the chief supporter and mainstay of the Pres- byterian church in his neighborhood. There is no doubt in the minds of those who knew him but that Uncle Tobe earned the plaudit of "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Quite a number of sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thacker. The oldest of these. Robert Thacker. is a man of exceptional mental power. For several years he was engaged in the profession of school teaching, but has since operated a telephone system in the south part of the state and a line of dairies along the Vandalia Railroad. Pres- ton Thacker, a school man, has been engaged in his profession as superintendent of the city schools of Raymond during the past three years. He was a very formidable candidate on the Republican ticket for county superintendent of schools in 1902. Although Montgomery county at the time gave to some of the Democratic nominees six or seven hundred majority. yet Mr. Thacker was defeated by the small minor- ity of sixty-one votes, and it is to his credit that this township, which is his home, although Democratie at the previous election by one hundred and fifty majority, reversed itself and gave to Mr. Thacker a majority of one hundred and twenty-four votes. Presion Thacker is a rising young man and if I might forecast his future I would give to him a prominent place among educators of our state. Gordon Nichols. a very worthy character, came and settled in that part of East Fork township known as Lazy Neck about the year 1850 and by perso- verance and economy he was able to build up quite an estate which he enjoyed until some two years ago, when by an accident he was thrown from a loaded wagon and received in- juries from which he shortly afterward died. Mr. Nichols has left several children in the vicinity of Coffeen, among whom are W. C. Nichols. an only son, Mrs. Frank Edwards,
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Mrs. Sam White and Mrs. Newton Lyles. In he was a Cumberland Presbyterian, a man very the earlier settlement of the township a family of Jones came to East Fork from South Carolina and among these were William, Mar- tin P. and Hardin. Each of these three repre- sentatives of the Jones family have descendants in the neighborhood of Coffeen. Quite à good many years ago Martin P. Jones was about the only counselor at law in the township and in the absence of James Davis, who was the only lawyer in the county. the word of Martin P. was sufficient in the courts of justice in this section of the county, and much of the law that we hear on the corners of the street in Coffeen to-day has come down from some of the legal expressions of Uncle Mart. Hardy Jones was not the same type of man as Unele Mart. for while Martin was hospitable to a fault and would share his last dollar with a friend, Unele Ifard was as close in a financial sense as the bark on a blackjack. Unele Hard enjoyed his liquor quite as much as did any of the early pioneers, but sir. "I buy my own liquor for my own use" is a remark attributed to Uncle Hard. While this spirit was not often met with at that early day. we do not find it infre- quent in our own time and I believe that when it comes to a matter of drinking. if the social feature could be eliminated entirely, much less harm would be done. "Ki" Thaeker and "Fec" were also early settlers in the western part of Lazy Neek and here they raised to man- hood and womanhood large families of chil- dren. These two old men vet remain and fre- quently may be seen on the streets of Coffeen. Both are intensely religious in their profes- sions and the example of their lives is felt in the community in which they live. The most prominent family in the settlement of East Fork township was that of William Mc- David. His son "Carroll." W. C. MeDavid, who for nearly half a century was a justice of the peace. was the first child born in East Fork township of white parents, and although Unele Carroll lived to be over eighty years old. he made his home within a short distance of where he was born. It is said of Unele Carroll that during the long period that he was justice of the peace that no case decided by him was ever reversed in the circuit court. In religion
firm in his opinions. This feature of his char- actor made him respected of all men and espe- cially fitted him for the office which he held so long and which he so efficiently filled. In early life W. C. MeDavid was married to a Miss Hunter and to them was born one son, James S. MeDavid, the honored president of our vil- lage board. His second wife was Lydia Wilson and she bore to him Joshua. Emily and Logan. The first named lives in Hillsboro and is dep- uty county clerk. Emily, married to David Neisler, is living in Colorado and Logan lives on the family homestead and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Logan is a graduate of the Missouri Medical College and stood high in his classes. He preferred, however, the or- cupation of the farmer and stock man rather than that of his profession. He is by reason of his education and scholarly accomplishments an interesting gentleman. James S. MeDavid is identified with the village of Coffeen in vari- ons ways since its organization. James S. Me- David has done much to further the best inter- ests of the community. Like many others, he hecame interested in the sinking of a coal shaft at this place and as a result he suffered finan- cial reverses that swept away much of the prop- erty which by industry and economy he had been many years in accumulating. He among those that have contributed to almost over enterprise that has made Coffeen what it is to-day, and though he has lost much in property he has not lost that genial spirit which makes and holds to him that class of friends who can appreciate his true worth. That he has faults is perfectly natural. for who of us have none? But we have been ahle to discover few men among our associates who wore faultless, and it has been my observation that force of character and men of large indi- viduality have some very grievous shortcom- ings, but the wise friend will not condemn he- cause of these weenliar kinks of nature. Mr. MeDavid was for several years clerk at the coal shaft. city superintendent of schools and first assistant in the high school. member of the village board and president of the same, so that these evidences of the appreciation of his good qualities have not been lost upon the com-
PAST AND PRESENT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
munity. T. W. MeDavid, the younger son of William MeDavid, the pioneer, lives on his father's old homestead. He is a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and has served his people as a faithful and efficient steward through many years. He has raised quite a large family of sons and daughters. His eldest son. Frank, is state senator from the Springfield district in Missouri: his second son. Emmett, is eashier of the National Bank at Raymond; his son, Cook MeDavid, has not been at home for several years and his where- abouts are unknown to the writer. Lester Me- David was for several years a teacher in our public schools, but has lately engaged in farm- ing. Horace MeDavid is a student at the Miliken University. Horace is an exception- ally bright young fellow and doubtless will re- flect credit upon his family and the com- munity in which he spent his youth. Several daughters in the family are married. The old- est is the wife of M. B. Traylor, Denver, Colo- rado; the second is married to Lawrence File, of Irving. Illinois : Ella married Rolla Carr and is living in California: while Anna, who had spent some years in teaching, married George Beck and lives on the old Beck home- stead. Minnie and Lena, two unmarried daughters, remain at home with their father. James B. McDavid, one among the most noted characters of East Fork, served his town- ship and the county in official capacity at dif- ferent periods of his life. Unele Jim. un- fortunately for himself and for his friends, in the closing years of his life allowed himself to be drawn into speculation, which caused him nmich worry and the loss of his large estate. Uncle Jim was a man of kindly disposition. but at the same time very desirous of accom- plishing his purposes, and having entered the vortex of speculation he was not satisfied to withdraw so long as he felt confident that he had a chance of winning. In this case again we are able to point a moral, that it is dangerous to change horses while crossing the stream, and so we find that there is an ele- ment of danger always attending any change that is made late in life from an occupation or profession in which we have achieved success to one of which we are entirely ignorant.
James B. MeDavid died but a few years ago and his vast estate was swallowed up in the settlement of claims that had been made to further his financial ventures into which he had been led in his old age. Another character that we desire to notice at this time, who for many years was one of the most prominent in this section of the state, is Joshma H. Wil- son. He was one of the most extensive stock- raisers, buyers and shippers to be found in southern Illinois. He belonged to a class that existed in this country abont thirty or forty years ago. Barney Hunter, of Bond county. and Jacob Strong, of Morgan county, were his contemporaries and belonged to the same class as Mr. Wilson. At the time of his death, which occurred some thirty years ago, he owned nearly three thousand acres of land, hundreds of cat- tle, mules and horses, and the sale of his per- sonal effects is remembered to this day as the largest public sale over held in Montgomery county. Josh Wilson was one of nature's noblemen. and like all men of large enter- prises he was generous, sympathetic and kind. It is related of him that he furnished teams to those who might want to engage in farming but had not the means to buy. He supplied poor families throughont the section with milch cows, only stipulating that they should be careful not to kill the calf with the churn stick, and if it were a question as to whom more acts of charity might be credited. I doubt not that the name of Josh Wilson would Jead that of any other in all this section. Mr. Wilson left surviving him two sons and one daughter. The elder son, William H. Wilson, is living on his father's old homestead. Thomas H. Wilson, the second son, died some few years ago and left behind him three children. a wife and a good name. The daughter, Mattie Wil- son, is now the wife of James B. Barringer of Hillsboro, who, by the way, is a grandson of William MeDavid of pioneer fame. Harrison Brown, another of the carly settlers and a neighbor of Josh Wilson, was at one time sheriff of Montgomery county. On the old Brown homestead lives J. C. Brown. familiarly known as Jack Brown. Jack is an excellent farmer and has succeeded in farming and stock- raising. For several years he has been engaged
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