USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 28
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
March 29 and July 4, 1863. Above the Illinois panel will be inscribed the name of Abraham Lincoln, with that of Ulysses S. Grant on the right, and of John A. Logan on the left. Below Lincoln's name will be that of Richard Yates, the war governor. The names of other Illinois offi- cers of high rank will have a place on the same panel. On the frieze under the center of the pedi- ment of the portico will be inscribed in raised let- ters the word 'Illinois.' A cresting of eagles in- terwoven with shields adorns the external cornice of the main structure. Illinois was equal to the opportunity in providing for its Vicksburg memo- rial, and its commission has been highly success- ful in making the most of the large state appro- priation."
Colonel Matthews has always been faithful to the trust reposed in him, ably discharging his duties. He has given careful consideration to his work and to each question which has come up for settlement in connection with the various offices that he has filled and has been guided by an honorable purpose and loyalty of patriotism such as distinguished his services as a soldier upon southern battle-fields. He was author of the first amendment to the constitution of 1870 known as the drainage amendment and upon this has been erected a code of laws whereby hundreds of thou- sands of acres of Illinois land have been reclaimed for cultivation. Colonel Matthews has always taken an active interest in everything tending to promote the agricultural and stock-raising inter- ests of his county and has given tangible support to many local measures which have proven -of benefit to Pittsfield and this part of the state.
On the 5th of October, 1855, was celebrated the marriage of Colonel A. C. Matthews and Miss Anna E. Ross, a daughter of Colonel William Ross, a pioneer of Pike county. They have three children : Mrs. Florence Lewis : Ross Matthews, who is cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Pittsfield : and Mrs. Helen M. Hull. As a distinguished member of the bar, as a statesman of prominence, as a public officer of reliability, Mr. Matthews is so well known that he needs no special introduc- tion to the readers of this volume. His career has conferred honor and dignity upon the profession and the political and civic organizations with
which he has been associated, and there is in him a weight of character, a keen sagacity, a far-see- ing judgment and a fidelity of purpose that com- mand the respect of all.
GEORGE T. BLACK. 1
George T. Black, who as one of the early set- tlers of Pike county, has witnessed the greater part of its growth and development, is now living retired in Pearl. He has at different times filled various local offices and been actively connected with business interests and in all life's relations had commanded the respect and esteem of his fel- lowmen by his faithful public service and his trust- worthiness in his business dealings.
A native of St. Charles county, Missouri, Mr. Black is a son of Thomas and Fannie (Price) Black. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812, enlisting with the New York troops and serving until the close of hostilities, at which time he removed with his family to Ken- tucky, where he was engaged in farming for a short time. He then went to St. Charles county, Missouri, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1844, his remains being interred in that county. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Bigelow, died in St. Charles county in 1826.
The maternal grandparents of George T. Black were Michael and Mary (Ryebolt) Price, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they removed to St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1807. There Michael Price devoted his energies to general farming and both he and his wife died in that county. Their sons, George and William Price, uncles of our subject, were soldiers of the war of 1812 and afterward in the Indian wars of 1815.
Thomas Black, father of George T. Black, was born in Penn Yan, New York, January 20, 1800, and was educated in his native town. When four- teen years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kentucky, the family home being established near Covington, and from there went to St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1818. He there
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devoted the remainder of his life to farming and his death occurred in 1854, when he was fifty- four years of age. His wife also died in St. Charles county, passing away at the age of thirty years, in May, 1838.
1
George T. Black assisted his father in the op- eration and improvement of the home farm in Missouri up to the time of the latter's death, and in the fall of that year removed to Rockport, Pike county, where he remained until the spring of 1858, when he returned to St. Charles county, Missouri, remaining there until 1862, engaged in different occupations. In that year he went to Calhoun county, Illinois, and thence came again to Pike county. At Pittsfield, the Civil war being then in progress, he enlisted in Company C, Nine- ty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and being transferred to Company E of the same regiment, served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and discharged at Springfield, Illinois, July 12, 1865, having done his full duty as a loyal and pa- triotic soldier.
On the 29th of October, of the same year, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Fannie E. Long, of Pike county, and to them were born eight children, namely: James W., Clara, Char- ley T., Hattie, John W., Fannie, Walter M. and Lee R. Of these only two are now living, James W., who is living with his father on the farm, and Lee R., who is conducting a barber shop in St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Black's parents were natives of Pennsylvania and removed to Pike county, Illinois, in 1836. Here they died and werc buried in the Hess graveyard near Pearl. Their son, Jacob Long, was a soldier in the Union Army, with the Fiftieth Illinois Volunteers, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh, after which his remains were brought back to Pike county for burial, being interred in the Hess graveyard. Of Mr. Black's children who are dead, all were buried in the Hess graveyard except Charley T., whose remains were interred in the Alton cemetery, at Alton, Illinois.
Throughout the greater part of his residence in Pike county Mr. Black has followed farming in Pearl township, but is now living a retired life. He draws a pension from the government
in recognition of his service in the Civil war, and his farm brings him in a good income, for the work of development and cultivation has been car- ried steadily forward for many years until the fields are now very fruitful and productive. As the years have passed Mr. Black has been called to various offices, acting as justice of the peace of Pearl township for four years; as school di- rector of district No. 25 for five years ; and as township clerk for five years. He has also been constable ; and in these various positions has dis- charged his duties with the same promptness and fidelity which he manifested when he followed the starry banner of the nation upon the battle- fields of the south. . He has long been a resident of the county, witnessing the many changes which have occurred here as the county has put off the evidences of frontier life, and taken on those of an advanced and progressive civilization.
M. D. MASSIE.
M. D. Massie, of New Canton, was born in Pittsfield, Illinois, January 21, 1838. His father, John C. Massie, was a Kentuckian, while his mother, Mary (Shaw) Massie, was a New Yorker. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his father was a soldier in the war of 1812. A few years of his boyhood were passed in Louisiana, Missouri, and later he was a clerk and school teacher, being thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when, in August, 1862, in company with nearly one thousand other Pike county "boys" he went to the front in the Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, well known as the Pike county Regi- ment. At first he carried a musket and knapsack but was soon promoted to the rank of first lieu- tenant and in the siege of Vicksburg was given a captain's commission. He was on staff duty with Generals Warren, Slack and Lawler and after the surrender at Appomattox, General Can- by ordered him to report to General Fred Steele at Santiago near the Rio Grande river. This was the only time in his three years' service that he was away from his regiment.
M. D. MASSIE
LIBRARY Of THE SHAN: '"+ ID A LISASNINH
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
After the close of the war Captain Massie returned to New Canton and engaged in mer- chandising and the following year, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Morey, whose parents were from New York and Virginia respectively. Their union was blessed with six children, Harry A., Blanche, Bertha, Bert S., George and Nellie. Bert died in infancy and Bertha passed away just as she reached her twen- ty-first year.
Captain Massie has been an extensive traveler, having visited nearly all of the principal cities of the United States and Canada. He has been in all of the states of the Union save seven, has been in old Mexico, has seen all of the Great Lakes save one and has been at the source and outlet of the Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi rivers. He has seen both the Atlantic and Pa- cific oceans, and has crossed the Gulf of Mexico five times.
A stalwart republican in his political views he was a member of the twenty-eighth general assembly in 1873 and 1874, being the first repub- lican sent to the legislature from this district under the new constitution. He was a member of the board of supervisors for four terms, held township offices at intervals for several years, was assistant secretary of the Illinois delegation at Chicago when General Garfield was nominated for the presidency and was in Philadelphia when General Grant was nominated for his second term. He was also in Chicago when James G. Blaine was nominated and witnessed the bolt of Curtis and others that defeated the "Plumed Knight" at the polls. He was also at the dedication of Lincoln's monument and at the meeting of the Army of, the Tennessee in Springfield, when President Grant, Vice-President Wilson and the most noted army officers were present and there * General Custer, later the victim of the great Indian massacre, by his cool determination pre- vented a great disaster in the very crowded Chat- terton Opera House when an alarm of fire was given.
Captain Massie was also a member and treas- urer of the defense committee in the great Sny levee bond suit that was in the courts for nearly twenty years and was a steadfast friend of the
great levee project that in the end reclaimed over one hundred thousand acres of valuable lands and added so much to the sanitary condition of the district. He was with Messrs. Higbee, Worthington and Hewes, a member of the com- mittee to visit Indianapolis to engage ex-President Harrison to defend the suit in the United States supreme court. For fifty years Captain Massie was engaged in business in New Canton and met with gratifying success for a long period but was too generous and confiding and a few years ago learned the disagreeable lesson that mankind was not all that surface indications show and his impression of the old saying "man's inhu- manity to man, has made millions mourn" was extensively and indelibly marked in his particular case. He has" through all of his mature years been a true friend to his town, county and state, and has no resentments or regrets but rejoices. in the growth and beautifying processes that the old county and state have made. He is a Mason, a Grand Army comrade and several times has been president of the Old Settlers' Society and of the Ninety-ninth Regiment Reunion Society. His attitude toward mankind in all things seems to exemplify the following lines :
"Methinks I love all common things- The common air, the common flower, The dear, kind common thought that springs From hearts that have no other dower, No other wealth, no other power, Save love; and will not that repay For all else Fortune tears away ?"
S. H. SMART.
S. H. Smart, who is one of the prominent farm- ers of Detroit township, owning a good property which is within the corporate limits of the vil- lage of Detroit, has in the control of his business affairs shown keen discrimination and also capa- 'bility and unfaltering diligence.' He has one hun- dred acres of land and his property is the visible evidence of well directed energy. He is classed with the early settlers of the county, dating his
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residence here from 1853. He was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, October 28, 1837. His fa- ther, Samuel G. Smart, was born near Hagers- town, Virginia, in 1805, and was a son of Squire Smart, a native of Ireland and one of the pioneer residents of the Old Dominion. Samuel G. Smart was reared to manhood in the state of his nativity and in early life learned the blacksmith's trade. On removing to Ohio when a young man he took up his abode in Fairfield county, and was there married to Miss Eliza Rutherford, who was born in Pennsylvania, but was reared in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Smart became the parents of ten children, while living in the Keystone state. There he car- ried on a blacksmith shop and also followed farm- ing. In 1853 he removed to Illinois, settling in Pike county and worked at his trade through the succeeding winter in Pittsfield. He then took up his abode in Detroit, where he opened a shop, car- rying on blacksmithing and also purchasing and operating a farm, where S. H. Smart now resides. The place had some improvements upon it. The sons, however, largely carried on the work of the farm, while the father gave his attention to the blacksmith's trade. He spent his last years here and died in 1882. His wife survived him and was almost ninety years of age at the time of her demise. They were worthy people, honest and honorable, and enjoyed the respect of those with whom they came in contact. In their family were ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom S. H. Smart was the fourth in order of birth. Four sons and two daughters yet survive, namely : John Smart, of this county ; S. H., of this review ; T. R., of St. Louis, Missouri ; Daniel, who is living in Haysville, Kansas; Mrs. Mattie Culver, of Independence, Illinois ; and Mrs. Isa- belle M. Brown, the wife of George Brown, of Arkansas City, Kansas. One brother, George M., died in Missouri in 1904. The three sisters who have passed away are Mrs. Maggie Wagner, Mrs. Eliza Johnson and Mrs. Elizabeth Munn.
S. H. Smart spent his boyhood days and youth . upon his father's farm. He was in his sixteenth year when he came with his parents to Illinois, and assisted him in clearing the home property in Pike county. To some extent he attended the common schools, but he is almost wholly self-
educated and has greatly broadened his knowledge through reading, experience and observation. In 1861 he went to California, making the over- land trip with teams, being five or six months upon the way. He stopped this side of the moun- tains and went to work at Virginia City as a car- penter, being employed about a year there. He then continued his journey to Washington terri- tory, where he spent a year in the gold mines, after which he returned to Virginia City and was en- gaged in mining there. He met with a fair de- gree of success during the two years spent at that place, after which he returned to Reese River and passed the winter at Salt Lake City. In the suc- ceeding spring he went into the mines in Mon- tana, where he remained during the summer, after which he again passed the winter in Salt Lake City, and then again made his way to the mining regions. Two years were passed there and dur- ing the second summer he was engaged in the butchering business at Deer Lodge. He after- ward returned to Salt Lake City, sold his horses- and went by stage to the Union Pacific road, where in November he took a train that carried him home. Upon returning to Pike county he purchased the old homestead farm and stock of his father, and the following year he began farm- ing on his own account.
On the 7th of June, 1870, Mr. Smart was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hogsett, a native of Ohio, who was reared here from early childhood, having been brought to Pike county when only two or three years old. Mr. Smart since built a large and attractive residence and good barns. He has also fenced and improved his- place, has planted an orchard and has added mod- ern equipments and accessories that indicate a pro- gressive and practical spirit. His fields return good crops and he is also engaged in raising high grade Aberdeen Angus cattle. He formerly bred and fattened both hogs and cattle and he was also engaged in buying and shipping stock. In all of his business affairs he is energetic and far-sighted and has that force of character and determination that enable him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
Mr. and Mrs. Smart are the parents of four children : Walter J. is one of the well known
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breeders of pure blooded Aberdeen Angus cattle in Pike county ; Edith is the wife of David Snee- den, a farmer and stock feeder of Newburg town- ship; Rutherford. B. met his death by accident while attending the State Normal School at Val- paraiso, Indiana, when a young man of nineteen years ; and Georgia died in infancy.
Mr. Smart is recognized as one of the public- spirited men of Pike county and has assisted in advancing the interests of the village of Detroit and the surrounding country as well. Politically he is a republican where national issues are in- volved while locally he votes independently. He has served as justice of the peace and police mag- istrate, occupying the positions for years, and has been a delegate to the county conventions and . on farming. He afterward became a minister of chairman of the township committee. He and his the Baptist church and labored earnestly in behalf of that denomination until his death, which oc- curred upon the farm near Salem, Oregon. wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Detroit, in which he is serving as stew- ard and has held other offices. He has helped to improve and make the county what it is to-day and in Detroit township is well known for his practical and active efforts. His business career will bear closest investigation and scrutiny and he is to-day numbered with the well known and prosperous farmers and stock-raiser of Pike county.
WILLIAM G. HUBBARD.
William G. Hubbard, now deceased, was for many years actively engaged in general farming pursuits but spent his last days in Barry, where he lived retired. He was born in Troy, Lincoln county, Missouri, December 1, 1829, and was about seventy-six years of age at the time of his demise. His parents were Eli and Margaret (Myers) Hubbard. The father was a farmer by occupation and was married three times. He was probably a native of the Carolinas. The pater- nal grandfather became a pioneer resident of Pike county, and died upon his farm in Pleasant Hill township. When a young man Eli Hubbard re- moved to Missouri, where he met and married Margaret Myers, who was probably born in Vir- ginia. He removed from Kentucky to Missouri at an early day, casting in his lot with the early
residents of Lincoln county, where he worked at his trade of a millwright, and at the same time superintended his farming interests. In 1845 he returned to the Blue Grass state, and at a later date went to Texas, where his last years were spent.
Eli Hubbard spent his early married life in Mis- souri, and when Pike county was still a frontier district he took up his abode in Pleasant Hill township, becoming one of its first settlers. There he purchased a tract of wild land, which he con- verted into a very productive farm, making his home thereon until his death in 1853. In that year he crossed the plains with a team to Oregon, where he again purchased land and again carried
William G. Hubbard lost his mother in his in- fancy and was reared by his maternal grandpar- ents in Lincoln county, Missouri. Shortly after the death of his mother his father came to Illinois and served in the Black Hawk war; and William Hubbard frequently made visits to this state to see his father. However, he continued to make his home with his grandparents in Lincoln county, Missouri, until 1845, when he once more came to Pike county, Illinois, and spent the succeeding eighteen months with his father. He was edu- cated in the common schools and began earning his own livelihood when about sixteen years of age. In his youth he was employed in the woolen mills at Barry and continued in that position until after the inauguration of the Civil war.
Putting aside business and personal considera- tions, Mr. Hubbard espoused the cause of the Union and enlisted on the 5th of August, 1862, as a member of Company D, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry, with which he continued until after the close-of hostilities in July, 1865. He participated in many important engagements, including the battle of Hartsville, Missouri, the siege and cap- ture of Vicksburg, and also of Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort. His services took him into the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, and he marched thousands of miles with his regiment.
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When the war was brought to a successful termi- nation and victory perched upon the banners of the north, he was honorably discharged in March, 1865, and returned to his home in Barry. In 1868 he was elected to the office of county sheriff, prov- ing quite capable and reliable in the discharge of his duties, so that he retired from the position as ยท he had entered it-with the confidence and trust of all concerned. Following his retirement from office he purchased an interest in a woolen mill but this proved unprofitable, and he then turned his attention to farming. In 1875 he purchased a fine farm and for a long period was active in its management, having eighty acres of land, which he brought under a high state of cultivation, so that he annually harvested good crops. He also had a comfortable residence there and other sub- stantial buildings, and he continued to reside upon his farm until 1905, when he removed to Barry. In the meantime he had extended the boundaries of his property until he owned two hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land.
In April, 1867, occurred the marriage of Wil- liam G. Hubbard and Miss Sarah A. Wike, a daughter of William and Hannah (Hagy) Wike. She was born in Pennsylvania, and her parents were also natives of the Keystone state, whence they came to Pike county in 1848, locating at the old Shields mill on Hadley creek. Her father died in 1850, leaving a wife and four children, Mrs. Hubbard being at that time nine years of age and the eldest child. In 1862 her mother married again, becoming the wife of Jordan Freeman, and her remaining days were passed in Pike county, where she died in April, 1881.
Mr. Hubbard was an advocate of the democ- racy, and was called to several local offices, serv- ing as magistrate for a number of terms, and also as supervisor. He was prominent in community affairs and his opinion carried considerable weight and influence. He was a man whose friendship could always be counted upon if it was once gained. He possessed an even temperament, kindly disposition and a genial nature, and his genuine worth was recognized by all with whom he came in contact. He belonged to Barry lodge, No. 34, A. F. & A. M., to Barry chapter, No. 88, R. A. M. and for twelve consecutive years served
as secretary of the lodge. He passed away on the 17th of December, 1905, at the age of seven- ty-six years, and the community mourned the loss of one whom it had come to respect and honor as a man of sterling worth.
Although his privileges in youth were some- what limited, and it was necessary for him to pro- vide for his own support from an early age, he made the most of his opportunities in life and by reading and observation became a well informed man. Moreover his business affairs were so di- rected that success resulted, and he left his family in comfortable financial circumstances. In all his dealings he was honorable and upright, and his traits of character made him one of nature's no- blemen. Mrs. Hubbard, still residing in Barry, is a faithful member of the Baptist church, and has ever been a great student of the Bible.
A. L. KISER.
A. L. Kiser, who is one of the active and thrifty farmers of Newburg township, living on section 23, owns and cultivates three hundred and twenty acres of land in connection with his father, and of this two hundred and ninety acres is situated in the home place, which is a neat and well improved property. Mr. Kiser was born in Newburg township, April 8, 1867, and is a rep- resentative of one of the pioneer families of the county. His father, David F. Kiser, was born in Indiana, May 17, 1841, the grandfather, Jacob L. Kiser, having come from Indiana, his native state, to Pike county at an early period in the development of this portion of Illinois. David F. Kiser was reared and educated in Newburg township and after reaching adult age was mar- ried to Miss Janetta Williams, who was born in Detroit township and is a daughter of Madison Williams, also one of the pioneer settlers of this state, having come to Pike county from North Carolina. Following his marriage Mr. Kiser settled on a farm in Newburg township, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for a number of years and he now resides in Detroit.
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