USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
:
GEORGE W. CHRYSUP.
George W. Chrysup, who since 1901 has lived a retired life in Barry, previous to which time he was closely associated with its mercantile in- . terestș, was born in Florence, Pike county, Illinois, February 1, 1845. He was the only child of William .L .. and Jane (Barney) Chrysup, who in 1826 became residents of Pike county, where they resided until 1850. In that year the family removed to California, making the long and tedious journey across the plains, over the hot stretches of sand and through the mountain passes to the Pacific coast. In 1857 they started on the return voyage and the parents were lost in the explosion of the steamer St. Nicholas, which occurred April 24, 1859, about one and a half miles below Helena, Arkansas.
George W. Chrysup, who was left an orphan by this disaster was reared by his maternal grand- father, Colonel Benjamin Barney of Pike county, Illinois. When seventeen years of age he re- sponded to the county's call for troops, enlisting in 1861 at the first call for seventy-five thousand men. He joined the army under Captain Mc- Williams for three months' service with the Tenth Illinois Infantry and on the expiration of that period when it was seen that there would be a long and hotly contested struggle between the north and the south he re-enlisted for three years in August, 1862, becoming a member of Company B, Twenty-eighth Regiment of Illinois Volun-
15
274
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
1
teers. On the 19th of January, 1864, he once more enlisted, becoming a veteran and serving as corpo- ral sergeant, orderly sergeant and first lieutenant by successive promotions. Eventually he was raised to the rank of first lieutenant and next be- came captain of Company B, Twenty-eighth Reg- iment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in the army for over four years and was honorably discharged on the 16th of March, 1866, having made a splendid military record, unsurpassed for loyalty or bravery. He participated in many im- portant battles, including the engagements at Fort Henry, Vicksburg, Jackson, Spanish Fort and Whistler's Station, and he was always found at his post of duty whether upon the firing line or on the lonely picket line.
Following the close of the war Captain Chry- sup returned at once to his home and on April 18, 1867, was married to Miss Katie Harvey, of Pike county, a daughter of Lewis and Lucy Harvey. Unto them were born two children, who are yet living, and two who have passed away. Those who yet survive are: Jennie, now the wife of H. T. McCarrel, of Barry ; and Helen, who is the wife of Dr. R. H. Main, of Barry.
After the war Captain Chrysup engaged in farming for three years and then embarked in merchandising, which he carried on for six years, dealing in both groceries and hardware and also conducting a marble business. He was then ap- pointed postmaster and filled the office for ten years. He has likewise filled other official po- sitions, having been justice of the peace for eight years, during which time he discharged his duties with strict impartiality, his decisions being biased by neither fear nor favor. Upon his retire- ment from that office he put aside all business cares and since 1901 has not been connected with any official or business interests. In his political views he is a stalwart republican, standing by the party as loyal to-day as he did with the Union in the dark days of the Civil war. He belongs to the John McTucker post, No. 154, at Barry and when able to attend its meetings greatly enjoys meeting with the "boys in blue". In matters of citizenship he ever manifests the same loyal spirit which characterized his long service on the southern battle-fields and won him promotion and vicinity being anxious for news, hired Colo-
from the ranks to the grade of captain in recogni- tion of his meritorious conduct on the field of battle.
It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of Colonel Benjamin Barney, by whom Captain Chrysup was reared. He was a son of Benjamin Barney, whose birth occurred in Taunton, Bristol county, Massachu- setts, in the year 1760 and he served throughout the Revolutionary war under General Washing- ton, enlisting in April, 1776. He received an honorable discharge in 1781, after which he lo- cated land upon which he made improvements in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. In 1782 he married Miss Deborah Crapo and took up his permanent abode upon his farm, his death there occurring in the year 1821. He always maintained a warm devotion and love for his country, leading a quiet and useful life and died a devoted Chris- tian. His wife passed away in 1822.
Colonel Barney was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, September 21, 1795, and there re- mained through the period of his minority, re- moving in March, 1817, to Huron county, Ohio, where he spent the succeeding eight years as a farm hand. In 1820 he was married to Miss Mi- nerva Harris, who was the daughter of William Harris, and was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, accompanying her parents in their removal to the Buckeye state in 1818. The year 1825 witnessed the arrival of Colonel and Mrs. Barney in Illinois. They first located at Shawneetown, and in 1826 their home was established at Atlas, which was then the county seat of Pike county. He was there variously employed for nine years, being first engaged at cutting and cording wood, for which he was paid twenty-two cents a cord. On that sum he had tosupport himself, his wifeand two children. He afterward engaged in keel-boating on the Ohio river at fifty cents per day, which he re- garded as a very good wage. He was thus em- ployed in the summer and fall of 1826, and dur- ing the succeeding winter lived at Atlas, where was the only postoffice in Pike county. At one time on account of high water and bad roads there was no mail for three weeks. The legisla- ture was then in session, and the citizens of Atlas
275
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
nel Barney to go to Carrollton, a distance of over forty miles to get the mail. He did so, making the journey in three days, crossing streams in canoes, on logs and sometimes having to wade. Thus through unbroken paths where the snow in many places was above his knees, he made his way, carrying upon his back the mail, which weighed over sixty pounds; and for this journey he received the sum of ten dollars.
Colonel Barney continued to reside in Atlas until 1834, when he invested his earnings which he had saved in a small tract on section 31, Barry township. Upon that place he built a cabin in which the family took up their abode, and con- tinued to reside there for many years, giving the remainder of his active business career to general agricultural pursuits. In April, 1832, he enlisted for service in the Black Hawk war, and was mus- tered in at Rock Island under General White- side, being at that time elected colonel of the regi- ment, which was the Second Illinois Mounted Riflemen. After serving fifty days he and his regiment were mustered out of service at Ottawa, Illinois. He was then honorably discharged and received the remuneration for his military serv- ice, after which he rejoined his family in Barry township and resumed the work of farming and stock-raising. He had in his early years served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, but after a few years his health compelled him to abandon that pursuit, but was able to do much mechanical work upon his farm. As the years advanced and as his financial resources increased as the result of his careful management and unfaltering dili- gence, he invested more and more extensively in land until his property holdings became very large and valuable. He possessed a generous disposition, was a man of warm heart and willing hand, and ever ready to assist others less for- tunate than himself and exemplifying in his life those sterling traits of character which work for the development of man's best nature. He was called to various local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity, and no man enjoyed more fully the trust and good will of those with whom he was associated. While in business affairs he wrought along lines re- sulting in the acquirement of a handsome prop-
erty he at the same time conducted his relations with his fellowmen in such a manner as to deserve their high regard and unfaltering trust. His death occurred September 14, 1882; and the com- munity mourned the loss of one of its representa- tive and honored pioneer citizens.
JOHN W. BOREN.
John W. Boren has with the exception of a brief period of three years been continuously con- nected with business interests in Milton since the Civil war. He is now proprietor of a furniture and undertaking establishment with a liberal patronage which makes his business quite profit- able. He was born .in Pike county, August 2, 1842, his parents being Absalom and Lucinda Boren, both of whom are now deceased. They were among the early settlers of the county and the father devoted his energies to farming for many years. His death occurred in 1904, while his wife passed away in Milton in 1900.
John W. Boren was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He acquired his education in the country schools and lived with his father, assisting him in the farm work until nineteen years of age, when in 1862 he re- sponded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company I, Ninety-ninth Illinois Regiment for three years. He served the entire time as a musician in his company and was honor- ably discharged on the 31st of July, 1865, at Springfield, by reason of the expiration of his term and the close of the war. Returning to his home in Pike county, he soon became a factor in the business life of Milton, opening a saddlery and harness shop in August of that year. Suc- cess attended the enterprise and he continued in the business for nine years, or until 1874, when he disposed of his interests in Milton and removed to Pleasant Hill, where he conducted a similar business for three years. On account of sick- ness, however, he returned to Milton and once more established a saddlery and harness store, which he carried on for seven years. In 1884 he
276
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
sold out and turned his attention to the drug busi- afterward married Miss Elizabeth Rodgers. A merchant tailor, he conducted business at Frank- ford for several years and died March 4, 1815, leaving a widow and three children, of whom Robert Seaborn, Jr., was the youngest. He was educated in the schools of Philadelphia and in that city at the age of fifteen or sixteen years was apprenticed to Jacob Young to learn the carriage- smith's trade. On the expiration of his term of indenture he went to New York city, being at that time twenty-one years of age. After a year or two, however, he removed to New Haven, Connecticut, and later went to Boston, Massa- chusetts, where he secured a situation in the em- ploy of Theodore Dickinson. For several years he remained in that city, during which time he ness, which he conducted for four years and through the succeeding four years he was a rep- resentative of real-estate interests, thus contin- uing in business until 1892. In May of that year he opened a furniture and undertaking establish- ment, carrying an extensive stock and for thirteen years he has been engaged in this line, enjoying constantly increasing success, which results from his straightforward business methods, his earnest desire to please and his fair and reasonable prices. Mr. Boren was married December 28, 1871, to Miss Mary P. Smith, a daughter of Mrs. Harriett A. (Baker) Smith. Their only child is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Boren have many friends and are highly esteemed residents of Milton. In an analy- zation of his life record we find that the strong >> was married to Caroline Beckford, a sister of characteristics of his business career have been close application, unremitting diligence and unfal- tering determination and he has enjoyed a gratify- ing measure of prosperity as the years have gone by. His name is inseparably intedwoven with the history of commercial advancement in Milton and moreover he is classed with the representa- tive citizens of the town, manifesting the same loyalty to the welfare of his home community that he displayed when on southern ·battle-fields he proved his fidelity to the Union cause.
WILLIAM H. SEABORN.
William H. Seaborn, whose life record might be summed up in the terse yet comprehensive phrase, through struggles to success, is a wealthy stock dealer and land owner of Pike county, now largely living retired in Baylis. He was born in this county, near Griggsville, on the old Reed farm, August 5, 1845, his parents being Robert and Mary A. (Hovey) Seaborn. The father's birth occurred in what was then Frankford, Penn- sylvania, now a part of the city of Philadelphia, on the IIth of October, 1814, and his parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Seaborn. His father was a native of England and came to America during the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was then a single man but soon
Mrs. Dickinson, the, wedding ceremony being performed in the Hanover Street Congregational church by the Rev. Lyman Beecher, father of Henry Ward Beecher. Of that church Mr. Seaborn was a member. Following his marriage Robert Seaborn went to the British possessions, looking for a location, but, not finding a suitable place he returned to Boston and subsequently re- moved to Preble county, Ohio, where, abandoning his trade, he purchased a small farm and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Thinking that he would have still better business oppor- tunities in a region farther west he came to Pike county, Illinois, in the summer of 1831, in search of a location and here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section II, Griggs- ville township, and also one hundred and sixty acres on the creek bottom. Both of these tracts were slightly improved. He afterward returned to Ohio for his family, then consisting of his wife and two sons-Robert, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts; and George, whose birth had occurred in Preble county, Ohio.
While living on section II, Griggsville town- ship, Robert Seaborn had the misfortune to have his house and all of its contents destroyed by fire. This was the second accident of a serious nature that had occurred to him, for he had pre- viously lost all his possessions in a fire on ship- board. He had sent his goods from Boston to Ohio by way of the sea to New Orleans, from
Of THE .UNIVERSITY OF ALL WPIS.
W. H. SEABORN
MRS .. W. H. SEABORN
LIBRARY O+ THE
281
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
which point they were to be brought up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, but the boat on which the shipment had been made was entirely destroyed by fire and all of his household effects, books and other possessions were consumed in the flames. Following the destruction of their residence Mr. and Mrs. Seaborn and the family had to live in a smokehouse for the season. This structure was an old log building without any floor and but poorly chinked and daubed. During the year, however; his friends and neighbors assisted him in erecting a frame residence which was made of an inch-and-a-half planks stood on end. The building was two stories in height and after its completion he occupied it for several years. For some time it seemed that every pos- sible misfortune befell him. He sold his farm and removed to Griggsville, where he lived for a. year, after which he purchased a farm on section 9, Griggsville township. That seemed the turn- ing of the tide in his favor, for he afterward prospered financially, meeting with success in all of his business undertakings, his life thus again proving that persistency of purpose and earnest labor will eventually win a just reward.
In the midst of other troubles Mr. Seaborn also lost his wife, who died on the 25th of March, 1842, leaving a family of five children. Two of. the number are yet living: George, who resides in Brown county, Illinois; and Caroline, the wife of George Clark, a resident of Missouri. Those who have passed away are: Robert, Henry C. and Elizabeth. On the 20th of April, 1843, Mr. Seaborn was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Ann Bryant, a widow, who was a daughter of John and Mary Hovey, natives of Massachusetts, although for years they resided in Pike county, Illinois. Four children were born of this union : David R., a resident of New Salem; William H .; Charles C. and Howard M., deceased. The parents of our subject were members of the Christian church and were prom- inent and influential residents of the community, respected for their genuine worth and their fi- delity to principle at all times. Mr. Seaborn departed this life April 19, 1880.
William H. Seaborn, whose name introduces this review, supplemented his early educational
privileges by study in the Griggsville high school. When he was but sixteen years of age he en- listed in April, 1862, for three months' service in the Union army and served for four months in the Sixty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry under Captain D. F. Coffey. He enlisted at Camp Butler, near Springfield and went to Wast- ington, D. C., the regiment being encamped there and at Alexandria guarding the rebel prisoners during the battle of Bull Run. On the expira- tion of his term of service Mr. Seaborn returned home and soon afterward went west to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he enlisted to fight the Indians, serving under Generals Sibley and Sully. He was on active duty all over the northwest and served for two years, being most of the time in the government employ. Saving his earnings, he returned home with eleven hundred dollars and „his father, gave him an equal amount. He came to Baylis, which was then called Pineville, and here, with that he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, making the investment about 1871. He added to his property from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he now owns about five hundred acres. His original pur- chase was made from Mr. Pine, the first owner of the property. Mr. Seaborn has made his home in the village of Baylis since January 19, 1902, and has practically retired from the active work of the farm. For a long period, however, he was closely associated with agricultural interests, till- ing the fields and also engaging extensively in raising cattle, mules and hogs. A great believer in blue grass, he fed his stock in the blue grass pastures. He displays keen business discernment and sound judgment in all transactions and more- over is thoroughly reliable and enterprising.
In 1872, Mr. Seaborn was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Reed, who was born in White county, Tennessee, March 31, 1849, and is a daughter of William P. and Nancy (Small) Reed. Her parents came to Pike county about 1852, lo- cating on a farm near Griggsville. Her father is now living in Holstein, Nebraska, and is still a well preserved man. He owns a ranch in that state and is extensively engaged in stock-raising. In his family were nine children, five of whom yet survive, namely: Mrs. William H. Seaborn;
282
'PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
Mrs. R. D. Seaborn,, of New Salem; William Reed, who is living in Whiting, Kansas; Mrs. Carrie Mullady, who resides at Salina, Kansas; and Frederick Reed, who is living in Holstein, Nebraska. The mother passed away in 1892.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seaborn have been born two sons and a daughter, but the last named, Maud, who was born in 1876, passed away in 1879. Robert Earl, who was born January II, 1878, married Grace Davidson and resides upon the home farm a mile north of Baylis. William Kyle, born February 26, 1886, married Myrtle Rust, of Baylis, and resides near Fishhook, Illi- nois.
In his political views Mr. Seaborn has been a stalwart republican since age gave to him the right of franchise but has never sought or desired public office. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist church. He is truly a self-made man and as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well. He has received little assistance save the eleven hundred dollars which his father gave him to aid him in making his first purchase of land. By the careful husbanding of his re- sources, by judicious investment and unfaltering energy he has made for himself a place among the substantial and wealthy residents of Pike county, being now one of its large land owners. Moreover his business affairs have been con- ducted so honorably that he enjoys the unqual- ified confidence of his fellow townsmen and is re- garded as one of the leading and prominent resi- dents of this part of the county.
.
CAPTAIN G. S. PENNINGTON.
From the time when the first train ran into Pittsfield, Captain G. S. Pennington was station agent through a period of thirty-five years, but is now living retired and his rest is well merited because of his long and active service in business life. He was born March 15, 1841, in White' Hall, Greene county, Illinois, his parents being Joel and Abigail (Goltra) Pennington. With his parents he came to Pittsfield in 1848, traveling in a covered wagon from Greene county and thus
the family was established here at an early day. The parents were both natives of Middlesex county, New Jersey, and were neighbors of the parents of T. De Witt Talmage, the famous di- vine. The Pennington family is of English lin- eage and Joel Pennington came west at an early day, settling in Greene county, where he made his home until coming to Pike county in 1848. Here he conducted a livery barn and afterward became proprietor of the Kentucky House, of Pittsfield, remaining as its landlord for thirty years. During that entire period Scott Wike was one of his boarders. He continued in the hotel business up to the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1890, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-two years. His wife survived until 1898. In their family were nine children, seven of. whom are yet living: Allie, a resident of Pittsfield; Goyn S., of this review; William, who is living in Pittsfield; Charles, also a resident of this city; Emma, the wife of Dr. Dickey, of Pittsfield; Mrs. Mary Hurst, of Howard, Kansas; and Luther, who is living in Texas.
Captain Pennington was educated in Pittsfield and in the Illinois College at Jacksonville, and after leaving school secured a position in the office of the circuit clerk in Pittsfield under George W. Jones. In 1863 he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in the 5th United States Cavalry. He became contract clerk and thus served until the close of the war. He assisted in caring for the archives and indexing them, after which they were shipped to Washington, D. C. During his service he was chief clerk in the United States mustering and disbursing office at Springfield, under Captain S. S. Sumner, and this position gave him the rank of captain and secured . him the pay of that office. In his official capacity he mustered in and also mustered out thousands of troops which he also furnished with arms and other equipments. He acted as mustering officer at Centralia, Mattoon, Camp Butler, Springfield and Peoria, and it is safe to say that no young man in the state had a wider acquaintance among the soldiers than Captain Pennington.
When the war was over Captain Pennington returned to his home in Pike county but soon afterward secured a position as salesman for C.
283
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
M. Smith & Company, general merchants, who were conducting the largest store in Springfield at that time. Mr. Smith was a brother-in-law of President Lincoln. Captain Pennington spent two years in this position and then came to Pittsfield, where he embarked in the livery business with his father, who was conducting the hotel at this place. He was associated with this business for some time, after which he accepted a clerkship in a dry-goods store, where he was employed until 1869, when he became station agent for the Wa- bash Railroad Company and as before stated filled that position at the time the first train reached Pittsfield. He acted as agent for thirty-five years, or until the 26th of August, 1905, when he resigned and is now living a retired life.
In 1867 Captain Pennington was united in mar- riage with Miss Annette B. Stout, a daughter of Daniel Barney, who came to Pike county in 1820, and was one of the first settlers to establish a home at that time, little of the land having been re- claimed for the purposes of civilization. Unto Captain and Mrs. Pennington was born one child, Frank Pennington, who is now station agent of the Wabash Company at Pittsfield Junction. The wife and mother died about 1876, and in 1878 Captain Pennington was married again, his sec- ond union being with Margaret Sutton, who was born in Springfield in 1844, and is a daughter of James C. Sutton, of Sangamon county, Illinois, whose brother was the first mayor of Springfield. Mrs. Pennington is one of a family of five children, four of whom are yet living. By her marriage she has become the mother of two sons and a daughter : James S., born in 1881, married Gene- vieve I. Johnson, of Barry, and is now living in Chicago. When he was twenty-one years of age he was made private secretary to Vice President Morton of the Santa Fe Railroad Company and he is now secretary and treasurer of the Chicago Shippers Guide Company. Charles E. Penning- ton, born in 1883, is now bookkeeper for the Chicago Coal and Coke Company. Susan C., born in 1885. was educated in Pittsfield, has also been a student of music and is now at home with her parents. Both Captain and Mrs. Pennington are members of the Congregational church and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.