USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 23
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On the 7th of November, 1878, was celebrated the marriage of Jefferson Orr and Miss Ella M. Yates, a daughter'of George and Maria (Hin- man) Yates, and a graduate of the Methodist
College of Jacksonville. She is a lady of super- ior culture and refinement and is an active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Orr also belongs. Mr. Orr stands high as a citizen and in every department of jurispru- dence, and is particularly noted for his success- ful practice in the department of criminal law. Moreover he is financially successful. In 1891 he was elected circuit judge and for six years served upon the bench. Mr. Orr has always been identified with the anti-license party of Pittsfield, has served as trustee and president of the board, also alderman, and for the past six years as mayor of the city, holding that office at the present time. His life has been one of untir- ing activity and he has so directed his ability and efforts as to gain recognition as one of the repre- sentative citizens of Pike county. Realizing the necessity for thorough preparation he industri- ously prepares his cases and in the court-room his manner is characterized by a calmness and dignity that indicate reserve strength.
JAMES M. NORTON.
James M. Norton, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now living retired in Milton, is a native son of Indiana, born in Warren county on the 10th of January, 1844. His parents, Ichabod S. and Elizabeth (French) Norton, were among the early settlers of Warren county and contrib- uted to its pioneer development and progress. In later years they removed to Rossville, Ver- milion county, Illinois, where their last days were spent. In their family were fifteen children, of whom James was the seventh in order of birth. The record is as follows: Minerva, now de- ceased ; Mary A .; Adeline A .; William, who died in Columbus, Kentucky, from illness contracted while serving his country as a soldier of the Union army; John, deceased; Harvey, who served in Company K, Thirty-third Indiana Regi- ment and was honorably discharged July 21, 1865, near Louisville, Kentucky; James M .; Thomas Jefferson ; Jane and Laura, both deceased ; Sarah M .; Zeruah; Rebecca; Lizzie; and one
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child who died unnamed. Minerva was the daughter of the father's first marriage, the mother bearing the maiden name of Polly Fore- man.
James M. Norton was reared upon the old homestead · farm and acquired his education in the country schools. He assisted in the work of field and meadow until seventeen years of age, when, in response to his country's call, he enlisted in defense of the Union cause on the 12th of September, 1861, for three years' service with Company K, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry. He re-enlisted as a veteran in the same regiment on the 23d of January, 1864, and continued with the army until the close of hostilities. His first en- gagement with the enemy was at Wild Cat, Ken- tucky, and he afterward participated in several skirmishes in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap. Later he was at Thompson Station, Tennessee, and there the entire regiment was captured and sent to Libby prison, where Mr. Norton re- mained for thirty days, when he was released and exchanged. With his regiment he then returned to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and took part in the battle of Resaca, after which the command was under fire constantly for sixty-five days, or until the fall of Atlanta, Georgia. During this time the battles of Dallas Wood, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek were fought. Following the capitulation of Atlanta the Thirty-third In- diana joined Sherman on his march to the sea and afterward participated in the engagements at Salisbury and Goldsboro, North Carolina, fol- lowing which the regiment went to Washington, D. C., and took part in the grand review there, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. The regiment then proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, where the men were honorably discharged on the 21st of July, 1865.
Mr. Norton returned home with a most cred- itable military record, having ever been faithful and loyal to his duty no matter where it called him. He was often in the thickest of the fight and he never wavered in his allegiance to the old flag and the cause it represented. Again taking up his abode in Vermilion county, Illinois, he con- tinued farming there until 1866, when he came to
Pike county, where he afterward devoted his energies to general agricultural pursuits, but now he is practically living a retired life.
On the 27th of May, 1869, Mr. Norton was married to Miss Ellerslie Foreman, a daughter of Peter and Cloe Foreman, who were among the early settlers of Pike county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Norton have been born five children, of whom four are living: James W., Winfield C., Guy W., William H. and Clyde A., but the last named died October 18, 1901. Mr. Norton is one . of Milton's representative citizens, a man who in business relations has been found honorable and in social circles reliable. He is devoted to the welfare of his family, for whom he has provided a comfortable competence and in citizenship he is to-day as loyal to his country as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battle-fields of the south.
MARCELLUS MAYS.
Marcellus Mays, an enterprising farmer resid- ing on section 31, Pittsfield township, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, November 17, 1849, and is a son of A. and Rebecca J. (Davis) Mays. The father was born in Ohio and was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in the Buck- eye state until 1864, when he came to Illinois, set- tling in Pittsfield township. He bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres and resided there- on until 1884, when he went to California, estab- lishing his home near Ventura, where he now re- sides at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. His wife also survives and is now seventy- seven years of age. He has retired from active farm life, but is still the owner of a large fruit farm in California, which is well situated and re- turns to him an excellent annual income. His political allegiance has long been given to the democracy and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. In the family were three children, of whom two are now living : Mar- ·cellus, of this review, and William Mays, who is a resident of California.
Marcellus Mays was educated in the schools of Ohio and Illinois, and after putting aside his
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text-books began farming. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age, after which he purchased ninety acres of land on section 31, Pittsfield township, where he now resides. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, mak- ing a specialty of hogs and cattle. He keeps thor- oughbred Poland China hogs and also raises a high grade of cattle. In all of his work he has displayed close application and unremitting dili- gence as well as good business discernment.
In 1877 Mr. Mays was married to Miss Cenith Townsend, who was formerly a school teacher. She was born in Pike county and is a daughter of William and Nancy R. Townsend, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mays have no children of their own, but have reared an adopted daughter, Esther McClintock Mays, who has received from them the care, love and attention which would have been given .to an own child. She became a member of their household in 1895, when seven years of age. She is a great lover of music, possessing much natural talent in that direction, and she is a graduate of the Pike county schools. Mr. Mays was formerly a democrat, but is now independent in his political affiliation. He belongs to lodge No. 453, A. F. & A. M., of New Hartford, and to Summer Hill camp, No. 1053, M. W. A. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He is now taking life in a somewhat easy manner, having acquired a competence that relieves him from the more arduous cares of farm work. His excel- lent qualities of manhood endear him to those with whom he has come in contact and he is one of the representative citizens of his community. He has read extensively, keeping well informed on questions of the day, political and otherwise, and is a pleasant companion and gentleman of genial and social disposition, who has gained many friends.
WILLIAM H. DUNHAM.
William H. Dunham has since 1891 resided upon his present farm in New Salem township and in connection with general agricultural pur- suits he is engaged in buying and selling hogs
and cattle. Numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth occurred near Maysville, on the 9th of July, 1859, his parents being Nathaniel and Mary (Kiser) Dunham. The father came from Ohio to Pike county about 1844. His birth had occurred in Warren county, Ohio, on the 14th of February, 1834, and he was there- fore a youth of ten years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this state. The paternal grandfather, Lewis Dunham, was born September 12, 1802, and was a cooper by trade, but devoted the greater part of his time and attention to agricultural pursuits after removing to the west. He died September 1,4, 1866. As. a pioneer resident he was well known in the county and he aided in the early development and substantial improvement of this part of the state.
Nathaniel Dunham was here reared and edu- cated. He bore the usual hardships and pri- vations of pioneer life and shared with the family in the arduous task of developing a new farm. On the 26th of October, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Kiser, a daughter of Daniel Kiser, who settled in Pike county in 1844. Mrs. Dunham was born in Warren county, In- diana, on the 3d of May, 1838, and remained under the parental roof until she went to her husband's home. She has been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey. Mr. Dunham for many years engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He owned about four hundred acres of rich and productive land and for many years resided in the vicinity of Mays- ville, while at the present time he and his wife make their home in that town, where he is now retired from active business cares. He votes with the democracy and both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Dunham is serving as a trustee. They take- an active and helpful part in the work of the church and are interested in all that tends to the moral development as well as the material prog- ress of the community. Mr. Dunham has reach- ed the age of seventy-two years, while his wife has passed the sixty-ninth milestone on life's journey. In their family were seven children, five of whom are yet living: Daniel, who resides- in New Salem township; William H .; Louis O.,
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who resides in Griggsville; Nicholas and David, both deceased; Charles E., who is living on the old homestead near Maysville; and Orpha J., who is the wife of Stanton Kennedy, a resident of Griggsville township.
William H. Dunham was educated in Mays- ville, acquiring a good English education. As the father was crippled the children early had to start out in life on their own account and William H. Dunham followed the plow when only eight years of age. His youth was largely a perlod of earnest and unremittng toil but he developed thereby a self-reliance and force of character which have made him a strong man in later years-strong in his honor and good name, strong in his purposes and in what he has accomplished. When twenty-one years of age he was married, but remained upon the home farm for two years longer and at the age of twenty-three years he began the operation of rented land, giving his time and energies to farm labor for ten years longer. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres where he now resides, taking up his abode thereon in 1891. He has a splendid property here, the land being arable and responding readily to the care and cultivation he bestows upon it. The fields are now well tilled and he has good buildings upon the place, including a fine two story residence. He also buys and sells hogs and cattle and everything about his farm is kept in excellent condition, its neatness and thrift indi- cating his careful supervision.
Mr. Dunham was married in 1880 to Miss Sarah E. Aber, a native of Detroit township, Pike county, born on the 28th of October, 1862, and a daughter of Henry and Ann Eliza (Sloan) Aber. The father was an early settler here, hav- ing come to Pike county when a young man with his parents. By trade he is a blacksmith and for many years led a very busy life. He still survives but his wife has been called to her final rest. Mrs. Dunham is one of six children. Her father married again and had five children by his second wife. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dunham have been born ten children, of whom one died in infancy. Nellie May, who pursued her education in Mays- ville, Griggsville and in the State Normal School, is now teaching for the fifth term. Mary Alta
married Newton Moon, resides in Griggsville township and has two children, Amy May and Charles Winfred. Nannie A., Orpha L., Bessie D., Nathaniel Clay, Daniel Truman, Willa Fern, and Sadie Esther are all at home. Lucinda died in infancy. The home farm is pleas- antly located about two and a half miles south- east of New Salem. Mr. Dunham votes with the democracy and for fifteen years served as school director. He is a member of the Modern Wood- men camp, No. IIIO, of New Salem and his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Royal Neighbors. He and his family hold membership in the United Brethren church, in which he is serving as a trustee and president of the board. His life has been honorable and upright, his actions manly and sincere and he is a gentleman whom to know is to respect. He has made all of his property by hard and persistent work and his name stands as a synonym for business integ- rity and unfaltering perseverance.
J. T. KIBLER.
J. T. Kibler, living on section II, Martinsburg township, is one of the early settlers of Pike county, dating his residence here from 1851, while since 1866 he has lived upon his present farm. He owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land and is a prosperous agriculturist. A native son of Ohio, he was born in Highland county, on the 17th of July, 1824. His father was Frederick Kibler, a native of Virginia, and his grandfather was William Kibler, one of the early residents of the Shenandoah valley in the Old Dominion. He was of German birth. Frederick Kibler was reared and educated in Virginia and there married Leah Wilkin, who was born in that state and was a daughter of Henry Wilkin, who was likewise a native of Virginia but became an early settler of Ohio. Both the Kibler and Wilkin families went to the Buckeye state, settling near Hillsboro, in Highland county, where Frederick Kibler engaged in clerking and also developed a farm. In his family were ten children, all of whom reached years of maturity, J. T. Kibler
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being the ninth in order of birth. Three of the number are now living, the sixth being William, who resides in Marion county, Kansas, while Henry is living in Highland county, Ohio.
J. T. Kibler was reared in the Buckeye state and supplemented his early education by study in the South Salem Academy. Subsequently he became a teacher of Highland county, where he followed his profession for several years. On the 2Ist of February, 1851, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Ruble, of the same county, and daughter of John Ruble, one of the first settlers of that locality, to which place he removed from Ten- nessee.
Not long after his marriage Mr. Kibler came to Pike county, Illinois, arriving here on the 18th of March, 1851. He located on a farm in New- burg township, where he rented land and carried on general agricultural pursuits for a year. He also taught school during the winter months for twelve or fifteen years, being one of the pioneer educators of this locality, his labors contributing in substantial measure to the intellectual develop- ment of this part of the state. He also bought a farm near the village of Time. This was an improved place, which he further cultivated, and in 1869 he bought his present property, compris- ing one hundred and sixty acres on section II, Martinsburg township. There was an old log cabin upon the place, in which he lived for two years, when he built a more modern and com- modious residence. He has continued the work of improvement and cultivation until the farm bears little resemblance to the place which came into his possession more than a third of a cen- tury ago. In fact, it is a splendidly improved property and in the year 1905 he gathered there- from four thousand bushels of corn, together with other grain. He keeps a high grade of stock, including cattle, horses and swine, and is one of the enterprising and energetic agriculturists of his community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kibler have been born seven children: Wiliam W., who is a druggist in Visalia, California; Albert M., who is living in Montgomery county, Missouri ; Ben F., a civil engineer and rancher, also of Visalia; W. A., who resides in old Mexico, where he is a railroad-
bridge contractor ; Joseph B., who is farming with his father ; Kathie B., the wife of. N. E. Unsell, of Pike county, Missouri; and Rebecca V., the wife of George Peters, who is deputy postmaster at Pittsfield.
Politically Mr. Kibler has long been a repub- lican. He was reared in the faith of the whig party and cast his first presidential ballot for Henry Clay. He supported Fremont in 1856 and has voted for each presidential nominee to the present time. He served as township clerk for several years and was also school treasurer for eight or nine years. He has been connected with the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company since its organization, has been a director for a long period and during the last four years has been its president. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, with which they have been identified from youth to the present time, and now he is serving as an elder in the Martins- burg church. This worthy couple have long traveled life's journey together, celebrating their golden wedding in 1901, and they are esteemed as most worthy and respected people, whose lives of uprightness and honor well entitle them to the confidence and esteem of all who know them.
ISAAC BARTON.
There is perhaps no resident of Pike county more deserving of mention among its represent- atives and respected citizens than Isaac Barton, a retired farmer now living in Pittsfield. He was born in Kentucky, June 7, 1825, a son of William and Mary( Brewer) Barton, the former of Eng- lish descent. The family, however, was founded in America at an early day, the paternal grand- father having been a native of Virginia, where he followed the occupation of farming. At the time of the outbreak of hostilities between the. . colonies and the mother country, he espoused the cause of liberty and laid down his life on its altar in the battle of Bunker Hill. His wife lived to the advanced age of eighty years and reared . their family of five children, filling the place of both father and mother after the death of her ..
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husband. During the greater part of her life she was a devoted member of the Baptist church.
William Barton, father of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion and in early manhood went to Tennessee, where he was married to Miss Mary Brewer, a native of that state and a woman of high Christian character, belonging to the Baptist church. They afterward removed to Knox county, Kentucky, settling on the Cumberland river, and were among the early residents of that locality. Mr. Barton acquired a large tract of land and met success in his business affairs. For many years he was a deacon in the Baptist church and took an active and helpful part in its work. His political allegiance was given to the whig party. He was killed in a runaway accident when about sixty years of age and his wife died when more than fifty years of age. In their family were thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, of whom three are now living. Those deceased are: Susan; Henry ; James ; John ; Solo- man; William; Lewis; Elizabeth; Sarah; and Nancy. Those who still survive are: Isaac ; Mary Jane Barton, living in Kentucky ; and Daniel, also of that state.
Isaac Barton was only eleven years of age at the time of his father's death and he afterward provided for his education by working for his board and the privilege of attending school. He remaining in his native state until twelve years of age, pursuing his studies in one of the old-time log schoolhouses, with its open fireplace, slab writing desk beneath the window and other primitive furnishings. He then accompanied his brother to Parke county, Indiana, which was a pioneer dis- trict with few evidences or promises of rapid de- velopment, and there he secured employment as a farm hand, his wage being seven dollars per month for the first years. He continued in simi- lar service for eight years and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for four or five years, after which he operated a carding machine for two years and also spent some time in sawmills. He was likewise employed as a clerk in a store before leaving Indiana, but think- ing to find still better business opportunities in Illinois, he came to Pike county in December, 1847, making the journey on horseback, at which.
time his possessions consisted of his horse, saddle and about fifteen dollars in money. For two years he was employed in sawmills at Rockport, Pike county, after which he invested his savings in eighty acres of land on section 8, Martinsburg township, of which only ten acres had been cleared. A log house had also been built into which he moved but after making some improve- ments on that property he sold the place and bought seventy-nine acres in Pleasant Hill town- ship, the purchase price being six hundred dollars. A year later he sold out for twelve hundred dol- lars, thus realizing a good profit on his invest- ment. He next became owner of one hundred and sixty acres farther north, but soon disposed of this at an advance of three hundred dollars and invested in one hundred and sixty acres of timber land north of Rockport, where he took up his abode and there operated a sawmill for ten years. As his financial resources increased he added to his landed holding from time to time until he owned three hundred and sixty acres. He carried on farming on an extensive scale and also raised stock, while to his farm he added excellent mod- ern equipments and accessories. He carried on his farm work in a most systematic and approved manner and the place showed his careful super- vision in its attractive appearance. He was careful in expenditures but always in touch with the spirit of progress in farm work and so directed his labors that success resulted. He still owns forty acres of valuable farming land together with one of the finest homes in Pittsfield, standing in the midst of seven acres of ground. The dwelling, a beautiful brick residence, sets well back from the street and the lawn is adorned with fine evergreen trees, shrubs and flowering plants.
On the 15th of February, 1848, Mr. Barton was married to Miss Rachel M. Owsley, who was born in eastern Tennessee, December 27, 1830, a daughter of Thomas and Charity (Butcher) Owsley. The father was a most far-sighted busi- ness man. He followed farming and he was also the first in the country to deal in ready-made cof- fins. He came to Pike county in 1847 and was the owner of eleven hundred acres of bottom land all in one body and a large farm on the upland. He had three children but Mrs. Barton is the
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only one living. She is an intelligent lady and earnest Christian woman who has indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband. They became the parents of eight children : Mary, the wife of Richard Wells and a resident of Arkansas ; William Thomas, deceased; John A., who married Allie Hayes and lives in Missouri; Frank, who married Elizabeth Wells and resides in Arkansas ; Della R., at home; Fred, who mar- ried Annie Huffman and is located in Missouri; Anna, deceased; and Clyde E., a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, and now practicing his profession in Germantown.
Politically Mr. Barton is a stalwart democrat and has been called to various offices by his fellow townsmen who recognize his, trustworthi- ness and ability. He was justice of the peace, constable, assessor and collector while living in Atlas township. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Hartford and both he and his wife have been members of the Methodist church since 1855, taking an active and helpful part in its work. Mr. Barton has served as steward, class leader, trustee and superintendent of the Sunday- school and his labors have been most beneficial. He has always kept well informed on topics of general interest and has lived an upright life, crowned with successful accomplishment and the respect and honor of his fellowmen throughout the county in which he has now lived for almost six decades, witnessing almost its entire growth and development.
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