USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 36
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HENRY S. LOYD ..
No history of the commercial advancement and development of Pittsfield would be complete with- out mention of Henry S. Loyd, now deceased, who for many years was connected with the hardware trade and whose life of activity and honor char- acterized by close adherance to a high standard of commercial ethics won for him the trust and good will of his fellowmen. He was born in York, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of January, 1839, and was a son of John Loyd, also a native of the Key- stone state. His boyhood and youth were passed in that state and his education was acquired in the common schools there. He entered upon his business career as an employe in the hardware store when eighteen years of age and for some time was bookkeeper for Henry Small in York,
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Pennsylvania. He came to Pittsfield, Illinois, when twenty-four years of age and established a restaurant, which he conducted until re entered the employ of Charles Adams, a dry-goods mer- chant. Later he worked in a hardware store for Dr. Seely and was with him for some time, when he began in the hardware business on his own account and to the conduct of his store devoted his remaining days. As the years passed he de- veloped the largest hardware enterprise in Pitts- field, selling stoves, ranges and in fact all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware and farm machinery. His business methods were such as to neither seek nor require disguise, his integrity standing as an unquestioned fact in his career. He received a very liberal share of the public patronage and won the trust of his many customers by his straight- forward dealing.
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On the 5th of June, 1865, Mr. Loyd was united in marriage with Miss Anna C. Wildin, also a native of York, Pennsylvania, born in 1843. She was a daughter of John Wildin, who came to this country from Germany and the Loyd family was also of German lineage although several gener- ations of the family have resided in America. John Wildin came to Pike county, Illinios, in 1857, and turned his attention to carpenter work and the business of a stone mason in this locality. In his family were six children, of whom three are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Loyd became the parents of five children : Will, who is residing upon a farm in Pike county ; John, who is a tinner by trade; Flora E., the wife of Wiley Sanderson; Eunice, at home; and Arthur, who is an elec- trician of Pittsfield.
Mr. Loyd belonged to the Masonic fraternity and the Modern Woodmen camp and he also held membership in the Christian church in which he served as deacon for three decades and was, at one time, superintendent of the Sunday-school. His wife yet belongs to that church. Mr. Loyd died June 18, 1900. He was well liked by all who knew him, possessed a kindly spirit and was ever ready to help in any enterprise that tended to aid the individual or the community. His suc- cess was due to his own energy and the high ideals which his laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of
earnest endeavor and persevering effort-char- acteristics that Mr. Loyd possessed in an eminent degree. His influence could always be counted upon in behalf of any movement for the advance- ment of the interests of the home people, and his views upon questions of public policy were pro- nounced although he never sought to figure promi- nently in political office, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs and the enjoyment of his home life. Mrs. Loyd, still living in Pitts- field, owns and occupies a fine residence in this city and also has ten acres of land.
GAY WILLIAMSON.
Gay Williamson, a farmer residing in Pitts- field, is a son of James and Ellen (Hayden) Williamson. The father was native of Ohio, born in 1838, and a son of Jesse Williamson, of Baltimore, Maryland, who was of Irish descent. After removing to Ohio the father followed the occupation of farming and in 1857 he came with his family to Pike county, Illinois, settling in Newburg township, where he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. At once he began development, cultivation and improvement of that property and he spent his remaining days in Pike county, his death occurring in 1894. His son, James Williamson, was educated in the common schools and at Pittsburg (Pennsylvania) Com- mercial College. After coming to Pike county hc devoted his attention to general agricultural pur- suits, having purchased a tract in Newburg town- ship. He is now the owner of eighty acres of well improved land, constituting an excellent farm and has been placed under a high state of cultivation and is improved with modern equipments. It is devoted to the production of the crops best adapted to soil and climate and in addition to his property Mr. Williamson owns a grain elevator and feed mill and is conducting a large and pro- fitable business in Pittsfield. He makes his home, however, upon his farm, which is pleasantly and conveniently located about a mile west of the city. His political views are in accord with republican principles and he is a member of the Masonic
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fraternity. Mr. Williamson is popular with his fellow townsmen, is an upright, honorable and energetic business man and is well liked by all who know him. In his family are two children: Orvey, who is cashier of the National Bank, at Barry, Illinois ; and Gay, of this review.
In the public schools of Pittsfield Gay William- son acquired his preliminary education which was supplemented by a course in the Quincy Com- mercial College. During his early manhood he assisted his father in the mill and in the conduct of the coal business for three years, and since that time has devoted his attention to farm in- terests. His wife owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land, of which three hundred acres lie in New Salem township and the remainder in Griggsville township. This is well improved prop- erty in good condition of cultivation and upon it substantial buildings have been erected. Mr. Williamson superintends the farming interests and is largely engaged in the raising of stock. Being an excellent judge of domestic animals he is thus enabled to make judicious purchases and profitable sales and as a stock dealer is widely known.
On the 18th of November, 1892, Mr. William- son was married to Salena Carnes, who was born in Griggsville township, a daughter of Richard and Guldy E. (Moore) Carnes. The father was born in Cadizville, Harrison county, Ohio, June 23, 1832, and was quite young when he accompa- nied his father's family to Illinois. Mrs. Carnes was born in Maryland, May 5, 1834, a daughter of John and Sarah (Simpson) Moore, who after residing for some time in Harrison township, Ohio, removed to Adams county, Illinois, and subsequent- ly came to Pike county, where they spent their re- maining days. Thomas Carnes, the great-grandfa- ther of Mrs. Williamson, served in the war of 1812. John Carnes, grandfather of Mrs. Williamson, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1812, and was married to Miss Eliza Nelson, a native of the same county, whose parents, however, were born in Maryland and it is believed were of Scotch de- scent. John Carnes and his wife occupied a farm in their native county until 1854, when they came to Pike county, Illinois, settling on a partially in New Salem township. Mary A. is the wife of improved tract of land in Griggsville township.
They were in limited circumstances when they arrived in this .state but being industrious, per- severing and prudent they met success in the con- duct of their business interests and were even- tually owners of a large farm. Mr. Carnes voted the whig ticket and both he and his wife were active in the work of the United Brethren church and contributed generously to its support. Their last days were spent in this county, Mr. Carnes passing away in New Salem township in 1870, some years after the death of his wife.
Richard Carnes, father of Mrs. Williamson, had no educational privileges in his youth but in the active affairs of the life learned many valuable lessons, acquiring an excellent understanding of agricultural interests and manifesting a keen in- sight into business matters so that he became a successful and prosperous farmer. As the years passed by he invested in land until he became the owner of fifteen hundred acres divided into six farms and all well equipped with farm build- ings. Unlike many who gain wealth through their 'own efforts he was never sordid nor grasp- ing but was very generous with his means, giving liberally to the support of the church and various local interests. Anxious that his children should have good educational privileges and that the other young people of the neighborhood might enjoy every opportunity to acquire knowledge he became a stanch advocate of the public-school system and, did everything in his power to pro- mote its efficiency. In politics he was a stalwart republican and both he and his wife were devoted and helpful members of the United Brethren church. He became a prominent and influential citizen as well as the wealthiest farmer of the county. He shipped stock on an extensive scale and in all his business undertakings met with success. In his family were nine children, five of whom are now living : Henry R., who is living retired in Griggsville township, married Lizzie White and has three children, Hays, Maggie and Emmett. George Carnes married Margaret White and is living in Griggsville township. Edward married Birdella Stone, of Quincy, and is engaged in farming and stock shipping, making his home Charles Nelson, of La Harpe, Illinois, where he
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is engaged in the grocery and implement business and is also a large land owner of Hancock county. They have three children, Lela, Cecil and Ruby. Mr. Carnes died July 26, 1902, leaving behind a splendid property and an honored name. His widow still resides upon the old home farm in Griggsville township.
Mrs. Williamson was reared in Griggsville township, and after attending the common schools continued her education in Whitfield College. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children : Luella, born October 5, 1892; Mary Helen, May 18, 1896; Presley C., July 21, 1900; Birdella, October 1, 1902; and Verdon G., June I, 1904.
Mr. Williamson exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He is a member of the Pike County Mutual Association and his wife is a member of the Congregational church. He owns a beautiful home in Pittsfield, where they reside in order to give their children the advantages of the public schools of the city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Williamson represent old families of Pike county and are held in high esteem throughout this por- tion of the state, enjoying the warm friendship and kindly regard of all who know them.
HON. EDWARD DOOCY.
Hon. Edward Doocy, former county judge of Pike county and a lawyer of ability, now serving as master in chancery, was born at Griggsville, Illinois, on the 19th of October, 1851. He comes of Irish lineage, his parents, James and Saralı (Tracey) Doocy, being natives of County Tip- perary, Ireland, whence they emigrated to Amer- ica in 1848. They made their way directly to the Mississippi valley and after about three years passed in St. Louis, came to Pike county in 1851, at which time they took up their abode in Griggsville .. There the father continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1874. His widow afterward removed to Pittsfield, where she made her home for several years, and thence removed to Springfield, where she died on March 7, 1903, aged seventy-nine years.
Judge Doocy was the eldest of seven children, five of whom are yet living. He continued his studies through successive grades of the public schools until he had graduated from the high school at Griggsville, and later he became a stu- dent in the Illinois College at Jacksonville, front which he was graduated in the class of 1871. Later he spent one year as a teacher in Griggs- ville, after which he entered upon the study of law in the office of Judge James Ward of his na- tive city, and later with Hon. W. G. Ewings, then of Quincy. Admitted to the bar before the Illi- nois supreme court in January, 1874, he practiced for the following eight years in Griggsville, and from 1879 until 1883 was city attorney there. In 1882 he received the democratic nomination for county judge and was elected by a handsome ma- jority, so that in December of the same year he removed to Pittsfield in order that he might be more conveniently near the court at the time of its session. Here he has since made his home; and on the expiration of his first term of four years he was re-elected in 1886 and once more in 1890, so that his incumbency covered twelve years. Since his retirement from the bench he has prac- ticed law in Pittsfield, and is now serving as mas- ter in chancery. The favorable judgment which the world passed upon him at the outset of his career has in no degree been set aside or modi- fied, but on the contrary, has been strengthened by the capable manner in which he has acted as counselor or advocate, and by the fearless dis- charge of his duty on the bench for his record as a judge was in harmony with his record as a man and a lawyer-characterized by unswerving in- tegrity and by the masterful grasp of every prob- lem presented for solution. In 1886 he formed a law partnership with Henry Bush under the firm name of Doocy & Bush, which was continued with marked success for several years. He has a large and distinctively representative clientage that connects him with the important litigation tried in the courts of his district. He has con- ducted a large number of cases through the ap- pellate and supreme courts of Illinois, and has met with marked success in those courts.
On the 28th of December, 1886, Judge Doocy was married to Miss Clara L. Butler, of Griggs-
EDWARD DOOCY
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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ville, a daughter of E. W. Butler, one of the pio- neer residents of Adams and Pike counties, who came to Illinois from Connecticut in 1835 and died in 1889. Mrs. Butler now resides in Pitts- field, with Judge and Mrs. Doocy. Judge and Mrs. Doocy had six children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are Clara Louise, Edward Butler, Elmer Tiffany, Helen Laura and Clar- ence Wellington. Judge and Mrs. Doocy are prominent socially and the hospitality of theit pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by many friends.
In community affairs the Judge is deeply inter- ested and his opinions have proven of value in the general work of development and upbuilding, while his co-operation has been a tangible factor in the general good. He served for a year as president of the board of trustees of Pittsfield, and was largely instrumental in organizing Pitts- field as a city. For three years he was president of the board of education, and succeeded in organ- izing the board. of education under the general law. His attention, however, is more largely given to his law practice, and in his chosen life work he has won high encomiums from the legal fraternity and the public as well.
MISS MARY .M. DOOCY !..
No history of the educational development of Pike county would be complete without a men- tion of many of the eminent teachers, who gave their lives to this noble profession of teaching the young. Prominent among others was Miss Mary M. Doocy, who was born at Griggsville, Illi- nois, and graduated at the high school in that city in 1876. She taught her first school in what is now district No. 60, in the Ingram neighborhood in the northeast part of Perry township. She next conducted successful schools in South Flint and Middle Flint. From there she was employed in the Griggsville schools for several years, and then in the Pittsfield schools for a number of , years. Her last teaching was in the schools of Sangamon county, Illinois, where she taught four years. The last few years she was employed by Hon. David Ross, state secretary of the bureau
of labor statistics, and by the mercantile firm of John Lutz of Springfield, Illinois. While in the last employment she was taken suddenly ill, and after a short illness died on the 7th day of Au- gust, A. D., 1905, at Springfield, Illinois.
Miss Doocy was a natural teacher. She had splendid talents and tact and always had the fac- ulty of drawing out the minds of the young peo- ple whom she taught, and teaching them to think for themselves. She was always cheerful and al- ways looked on the bright side of everything, be- lieving that cheerfulness was one of the essential elements of a good school. Commencing to teach at the age of seventeen she gave twenty-seven years of her life to that profession. She is kindly remembered by hundreds of people, who were once her students.
RICHARD D. BAGBY.
Richard D. Bagby, a representative of agri- cultural interests, was born in Pike county November 1, 1848, and is a son of Larkin and Rachel (Kinman) Bagby, the former a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky, and the latter of Pike county, Indiana. The parents were young people when they came to Pike county, Illinois, ·· the father arriving here in 1837. He resided for a considerable period near the village of Time, although after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bagby began their domestic life in Highland township. Some years later they removed to Pittsfield township and Mrs. Bagby died dur- ing the period of the Civil war when forty-seven years of age. She was the mother of eight children, of whom two sons and three daughters are yet living, namely: George L., a resident of Iowa ; Richard D., of this review; Nancy, the wife of David Kurfman, living in Pike county, Illinois ; Mrs. Susan West, whose home is in Kansas; and Mrs. Lucy Hornida, also of Pike county. After losing his first wife the father was married three times and died upon his farm in Pittsfield town- ship at an advanced age.
Richard D. Bagby pursued his education in the common schools and in the public schools of
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Pittsfield and enlisted for service in the Union Army, in March, 1864, when only fifteen years of age ; becoming a member of Company K, Six- teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the Atlanta campaign and went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, participating in the siege of Atlanta, and the battles of Kene- saw Mountain and Bentonville, North Carolina. At one time he was in the hospital and was mus- tered out in Louisville, Kentucky, being finally discharged at Springfield, Illinois. Although so young he made a creditable military record which might well be envied by many a veteran of twice his years.
After the war Mr. Bagby returned home and remained with his father until the latter's death, since which time he has resided upon the old homestead farm. 'He owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land which is pleasantly and con- veniently located about four miles from Pittsfield. His farm is well improved and everything about the place is indicative of the careful supervision of an owner who is practical and progressive in all his methods. He built a fine house and barn on his place and has added all the modern accessories and equipments. He now leases his land, which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising and he raises Poland China hogs on an extensive scale. Mr. Bagby gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but has never sought or de- sired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, which have been capably managed, so that he has become the possessor of a comfortable competence that now enables him to leave the more arduous duties of farm work to others.
JAMES G. WILLSEY.
James G. Willsey is one of the pioneer resi- dents of Pike county and a wealthy citizen, who, having accumulated a competence through his own efforts, is now living a retired life on the homestead farm in Pittsfield township. His life
history is closely interwoven with the records of Pike county, especially along the line of agricul- tural development and it is therefore with pleasure that we present the story of his life to our readers. He was born in Tompkins county, New York, February 28, 1830, and was a son of Barnett and Cornelia (Kizer) Willsey. Both parents were na- · tives of the Empire state and in the year 1837 they removed westward, taking up their abode in Ohio, where they remained until they came to Illinois in 1840. On reaching Griggsville town- ship, Mr. Willsey had only a team and fifty cents in money. His family, however, numbered ten children and necessitated his at once securing em- ployment that would enable him to provide for their support. He began husking corn, receiving every fifth load in compensation for his services. He was employed in differest capacities on various farms in the neighborhood and as soon as possible he purchased a cow. Soon afterward he traded his team of horses for eighty acres of land in Pittsfield township near the present home of his son James and began life there in true pioneer style. He had no near neighbors and in fact the entire country was wild and undeveloped. There was some timber upon his place, necessitating ardous labor in order to develop that part of the. land into productive fields. Deer were frequently seen in large herds and wolves were numerous. In fact, every evidence of frontier life was found here and the family had to share in all the hard- ships and trials incident to the establishment of a home upon the frontier. The father built a cabin and in a few years replaced his primitive dwelling by a frame residence, hauling timber for the house upon a cart drawn by oxen. He remained upon this farm up to the time of his death, which oc- curred January 31, 1859. His wife survived until January 10, 1889, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. Willsey was the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land and was regarded as one of the wealthy residents of the county in that day. He was also a leading citizen, becoming a molder of public thought and a leader in public action. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he served as county commissioner and also as school director.
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
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His efforts were of a practical and far-reaching nature and proved of much benefit to the county along the lines of material, intellectual and moral progress.
Of his ten children two sons and two daughters are now living. James G. Willsey, however, is the only one now in Pike county. He was edu- cated in the common schools, although his privi- leges in that direction were quite limited. When ten years of age he began hard work and has always led a very industrious and useful life. He made his first purchase of land about 1855, becoming owner of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he yet resides. This was a raw tract, but he cleared it, put all the improvements upon the property and now has fine buildings, while his farm is under a high state of cultivation. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land at the present time and gives his personal supervision to its operation, although he takes no active part in the work of the fields. He gave to his son one hundred and sixty acres. He raises some sheep, but his efforts in the line of live stock dealing are mostly given to hogs and cattle.
In 1851, James G. Willsey was united in mar- riage to Miss Malinda Rogers, who was born August 14, 1830, and was a daughter of David R. and Fanny (Alcorn) Rogers. Her father was a son of Bartlett Rogers, a native of North Caro- lina, who removed from that state to Kentucky and from there to Morgan county, Illinois, locating near Williamsport, a little town on the Illinois river near Montezuma at Big Sandy creek. There he purchased on the 29th of December, 1826, a bond for a deed to lot No. 15 from John Rad- cliff, who had purchased the lot of Joseph Bent- ley for seventy dollars but before paying for it sold it to Mr. Rogers. The last named continued a resident of Williamsport for many years and there his death occurred. David Redmon Rogers, father of Mrs. Willsey, was born February 18, 1802, and when a young man went from North Carolina to Kentucky, in which state he was married to Fanny Alcorn on the 26th of February, 1824. He and his brother Robert were married at the same time and they came to Illinois together a number of years later. While in Kentucky, David R. Rogers resided on the Kentucky river near the Goose Creek Salt Works in Clay county
and on coming to Illinois made his way to Wil- liamsport on the Illinois river. After a short time he removed with his family to Dutch creek near Big Spring, below Stony Point, which place was afterward the property of James Wassell. His next home was on what is known as the John Hoskins place and there he built a little cabin. Not far away was a large swamp and his children · were often stationed. there to keep the cattle out of the swamp. There were many wild animals in those times, including wolves, bears and panthers. The neighbors were widely scattered and the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. About 1834 or 1835, Mr. Rogers re- moved to the place now owned by W. D. Shinn, making it his home until he was called to his final rest on the 21st of March, 1871, his wife sur- viving until March 10, 1873. Her brother, Ben Alcorn, built the first warehouse west of Rockport on the Mississippi river and one of the first in the county. Of the children in the Rogers family three were born in Kentucky, namely: Polly Ann, born January 4, 1825; Bartlett, November 3, 1826; and Nancy Jane, February 15, 1828. The next member of the family, Mrs. Willsey, was born during the period of her parent's residence at Williamsport, while William Rogers was born. on the John Hoskins farm, January 1, 1833.
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