Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 39

Author: Massie, Melville D; Clarke, (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 760

USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 39

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they own and occupy a beautiful home on Wash- ington street. In his political views Captain Pen- nington is a democrat and for one year served as alderman of Pittsfield but has never been active in search for office. At the time he resigned his position as station agent he was one of the oldest employes in years of continuous service with the Wabash Railroad Company and was a most popu- lar official in Pittsfield, his courtesy and helpful- ness winning him the highest regard of the pat- rons of the road, while his efficiency and capabil- ity justly entitled him to the trust of the corpora- tion which he represented.

SAMUEL T. HASKINS.

within its borders. All was wild and unimproved · farmers and stock-raisers, whose farm comprises

Samuel T. Haskins, living on section 3, Hardin township, is one of the prosperous and up-to-date three hundred and twenty acres. His capable management and success in business entitle him to mention as one of the representative citizens of this locality, and moreover he is a native son of Pike county, his birth having occurred on the farm on which he now resides on the. 22d of October, 1863. He is a son of Otis A. Haskins and a brother of W. H. Haskins, who is men- tioned elsewhere in this work. In his father's family were two sons and two daughters.

· Samuel T. Haskins was reared upon the old homestead farm and through the period of his minority remained with his father and assisted him in carrying on the work of the . fields and developing the property. He acquired his edu- cation in the common schools and business col- lege. After putting aside his text-books he returned to the farm, remaining with his father until the latter's death, when he succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead. He has since bought other lands, from time to time increasing his property hold- ings until he now owns over one thousand acres. Upon the home place is a large residence and there are also good barns and outbuildings. The place is well fenced and is well improved in every particular, constituting a valuable property. In connection with his farming interests Mr. Has-

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kins makes a business of raising high-grade cattle, horses and hogs, fattening for the market each year both cattle and hogs. He is a successful farmer, stock-raiser and feeder, his business methods being practical, while his enterprise and laudable am- bition are salient features in his prosperity. He is recognized as a good financier and one whose steadfast purpose has enabled him to overcome the difficulties and obstacles which are al- ways encountered in a business career. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in Pike county, where he has spent his entire life, having witnessed much of its growth and development. He is one of its progressive and wide-awake citi- zens. Politically he has been a lifelong republi- can, but has never sought or desired office, giving his time to his farming and extensive business interests. Matters of public moment, however, receive his attention and any movement which he believes will prove of general good is given his hearty endorsement and co-operation.

HON. JOSEPH M. BUSH.

Hon. Joseph M., Bush, for many years a promi- nent figure in political circles in Pike county, and long connected with its journalistic interests has but recently retired, at the age of more than eighty years, from the editorship and manage- ment of the Pike County Democrat. Such a rec- ord of activity and successful accomplishment should put to shame many a man of younger years, who, growing tired of the burdens and cares of business life, would relegate to others the work that he should bear. Mr. Bush is too well known to need introduction to the readers of this volume. He was born in Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, January 16, 1822, the eld- est son of Colonel Daniel B. Bush, a prominent lawyer, who served in the general assembly of Massachusetts in 1828. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Maria Merrick, was a daughter of Deacon Joseph Merrick, and died in the east about 1832. In 1834 Colonel Bush removed to Pittsfield, Illinois, where he entered upon the practice of law, and continued a member of the

bar until his death, which occurred in 1885, when he had reached the advanced age of ninety-five years and six months. When he came to Illinois he left his son Joseph in Williams College, which he had entered at the age of twelve years, and from which he graduated with the class of 1838. Among his classmates were Rev. Henry M. Field and Ex-Lieutenant Governor Bross, of Chicago.

Following his graduation, Joseph M. Bush came to Illinois and entered upon the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1843, his li- cense to practice being signed by Stephen A. Douglas, then one of the justices of the Illinois supreme court. He at once entered upon the ac- tive practice of his profession, but later turned. his attention to other pursuits. On the 14th of March 1848, he was married to Miss Mary Alicia Grimshaw, a native of Ireland and the second daughter of John V. and Charlotte Grimshaw. who came to this country from Belfast about 1832. At the time of his marriage Mr. Bush began farming and was continuously and actively con- nected with agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1866, during which time he became the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, con- 'ducting his work along modern lines. In the year mentioned, however, he turned his attention to other business interests.

In 1860, while still residing upon the farm, Mr. Bush was appointed master in chancery of the Pike county circuit court by the late distin- guished jurist, Hon. C. L. Higbee, which office he held until November, 1885, covering a period of a quarter of a century. In 1858 he had been appointed United States commissioner for the southern district of the state of Illinois by the Hon. S. H. Treat, and also occupied that posi- tion for a quarter of a century. In 1865 he pur- chased the Pike County Democrat, of which he continued proprietor and editor until 1904, cov- ering a period of thirty-nine years, when the busi- ness was turned over to the management of his sons who are now ably conducting the paper. He made this a valuable organ of the democratic party and kept it up to a high standard of modern journalism. In 1870 he was elected to the state senate from the thirty-sixth central district and

J. M. BUSH

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

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thus became a member of the first general as- sembly held after the adoption of the present con- stitution. He served on a number of important committees but declined to be a candidate for re- election, prefering to resume his editorial duties. He has ever been active in all matters tending to the advancement and prosperity of the commu- nity which has so long been his home. He is a stockholder and secretary of the company, which in 1850 built twelve miles of plank road to the Illinois river. . He was the first secretary of the Pike County Agricultural Society, established in 1850, and at various times he served as president and director. He has likewise been president. and trustee of the board of education of Pitts- field, and for more than twenty-five years was a director and secretary of the Louisiana & Pike County Railroad. He has served as supervisor of his township and has been identified with practically all the public enterprises that have contributed to the material development and progress of this portion of the state.

In politics Mr. Bush has been unwavering in his advocacy of the democracy, and his paper has . long been considered as it is at present, an influ- ential factor in Illinois politics. Aside from his · editorial work, however, Mr. Bush has been prominent in his labors for the principles of gov- ernment in which he believes and has been a fre- quent delegate to the state, congressional and other conventions of his party. In 1868 he was an alternate delegate to the national convention held in New York.

Mrs. Bush died in 1885. Their four sons, Wil- liam C., Joseph M., Jr., Henry and Daniel B., are all active and influential citizens of Pittsfield. An older son and their only daughter died in 1864. Socially Mr. Bush is a member of the Masonic fraternity, with which he became identified prior to the Civil war, and for two terms he served as eminent commander of Ascalon commandery, K. T. He has but recently retired after a long and active connection with business life, being yet deeply interested, however, in the great ques- tions affecting the progress of the country along the various lines of industrial and commercial activity, and of intellectual and political advance- ment. As the years have passed his labors have

found a just reward in a comfortable competence and he is now pleasantly situated in a home, where he has so long lived and labored, crowned with both years and honors.

JOHN A. SMITH.

John A. Smith, proprietor of the leading liv- ery barn of Pittsfield, is the owner of the fine Palace stables, situated on the south side of the square and is now in control of an extensive and important business which is annually increasing. He has lived in this county for fifty-two years and is one of its substantial citizens. His birth oc- curred in Covington, Kentucky, August 16, 1834, his parents. being William and Angelina (Lan- dess.) Smith .. The mother was a daughter of Henry Landess, a soldier of the Mexican war. She lived to be eighty-six years of age, while Mr. Smith departed this life at the age of sixty-six years. They removed from Kentucky to High- land county, Ohio, during the early boyhood of their son John. The father was a farmer by oc- cupation and continued a resident of the Buck- eye state up to the time of his death. His many excellent traits of character won him the re- spect and confidence of the entire community, and he was regarded as a leading and influential citizen there. In the family were eleven children, eight of whom are now living, three being resi- dents of Pike county, namely : John A .; David, who makes his home near Pearl; and Isaac, who is living in Pittsfield township.

John A. Smith was reared in the Buckeye state and pursued his education in the common schools. The school in his immediate neighborhood was a primitive log structure, with puncheon floor and split log benches. In 1853, John Scott, a neighbor of the Smith family, planned to come to the west with his family and induced Mr. Smith of this review to come also. At that time he had one horse, and, securing a wagon, he drove with them across the country to western Illinois. They crossed the Illinois river at Montezuma and made their way to Time when there was but one store, one dwelling and one schoolhouse in the village.

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The party was eighteen days upon the road. The first year after his arrival Mr. Smith was em- ployed by Captain Westlake, and the succeeding year by Wilson Adams. He afterward returned to Ohio, but the same year came again to Illi- nois with his uncle, David Smith, going to Liv- ingston county, where they remained for a short time. They had a hard winter there and in the spring Mr. Smith returned to Pike county, where he secured employment.

On the 5th of August, 1855, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dinsmore, of Pike county, and began his domestic life upon a rented farm. After a year he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land near Time, on which he built a log house with a big fire-place and stick chimney. There he lived for a brief period, after which he went to Time and purchased a house and lot, making his home there while farm- ing his land. He was thus engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he went to Ohio. Subsequently he returned, however, to Pike county and began buying horses for the army, shipping them to St. Louis. Following the close of hostilities, Mr. Smith turned his attention to the grocery business, which he conducted in Time for two years, and then purchased a half interest in a flour mill for which he paid forty-nine hun- dred dollars. In this enterprise he prospered, con- ducting the mill for four years, when he sold out. At a later date the plant was destroyed by fire. On his retirement from the milling business, Mr. Smith conducted a general store for three years, after which he purchased ground and built a mill. He then sold his store and operated the mill, which was then the best mill in the county. He continued in the manufacture of flour for four years, when he sold out and about 1880 came to Pittsfield. Here he purchased and shipped stock until 1883, when he began conducting a feed and boarding stable and later he shipped horses to Connecticut, representing the firm of Binns & Dow for six years. In 1892 he took charge of a livery barn for Mr. Binns, con- tinuing the business for a year; and in 1897 he began handling stock food for an Omaha firm. He handled standard food and continued in the business until July, 1902, when he became pro-

prietor of the livery barn which he is now con- ducting. He has a splendid business, keeping from ten to sixteen head of horses; and by reason of his straightforward dealing and earnest effort to please his customers, he has secured a very liberal patronage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born four children: Eva M., the wife of Harry English, a merchant of Pittsfield; G. R., who is now associated with his father; Flora, the wife of Dr. Russ, of Hillsboro, Ohio; and Laura, the wife of John E. Huff, of Nebraska. The wife and mother died in 1871, and Mr. Smith has since married Lucy Allen, of Kentucky, by whom he has one child, Leslie, now at home. Mr. Smith is a member of the Mutual Aid Society. He is a democrat, and though he has never sought or desired public office has served on the town board. His wife is a member of the Christian church, and both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are highly esteemed in the locality where they reside. He has ever led a busy life and his activity has re- sulted in bringing to him a business which is now large and profitable.

SAMUEL GEORGE KENDRICK.

Samuel George Kendrick, whose life portrayed many manly virtues and commendable character- istics and whose death therefore was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret among the many friends whom he had made in Pike county, was a native of Ireland, his birth having occurred near Ferns, County Wexford, on the 16th of March, 1825. His parents were Samuel and Isabelle (Sculley) Kendricks and he was reared upon the home farm until 1846, when at the age of twenty- one years he left the parental roof and was married to Miss Anna Jacob, a daughter of Thomas and Anna ( Rathwell) Jacob. They began their domestic life in Ireland but in the winter of 1848 emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, whence they made their way northward to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where their first child, William, was born, but he lived to be only six months old.

In 1852 Mr. Kendrick and his wife came to Pike county, Illinois, first settling near Rockport,

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but later he invested in eighty acres of land lying in the northeastern part of Derry township. To this farm he removed with his family and began the further development and cultivation of the property. Throughout his entire life his time and energies were given to farm work and it was through this source that he acquired a comfort- able competence and became one of the substan- tial citizens of his adopted county.

When Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick took up their abode upon the old homestead in Derry township they had one daughter, Isabelle, who was born June 12, 1853, and who on the 30th of December, 1869, became the wife of Francis M. Stamback. They now reside in Sedgwick county, Kansas. The second daughter, Susan, was born September 5, 1855, and was married February II, 1875, to George E. Martin. She died in June, 1892, at her home near Warrensburg, Missouri, leaving a husband and seven children to mourn her loss. On the 9th of December, 1858, Mr. Kendrick was bereft of his first wife, who died leaving two little daughters to his care and on the 10th of March, 1859, he was married to Anna Eliza Jacob, a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Clare) Jacob and a niece of Sir M. B. and Lady Clare of County Carlo, Ireland, who now reside in Pitts- field, Illinois. The first child of the second mar- riage was Rebecca Eleanor, who was born Feb- ruary 5, 1860, and was married to Peter Phen- neger, February 5, 1880. They now reside in Sedgwick county, Kansas. Emma Jane, born December 14, 1862, was married December 15, 1878, to Andrew Irick and they reside in Derry township, Pike county, Illinois. Dora A., born November 4, 1864, died on the 12th of December following. Mary Evaline, born November 14, 1865, was married February II, 1889, to Mc- Clellan Harshman, and they now reside in Derry township near the old Kendrick homestead. George Irwin, born June 20, 1865, was married February 15, 1891, to Eva Wilson, a daughter of the Rev. O. L. Wilson, and they now reside in Pittsfield. Anna Eliza was born June 30, 1872, and on the 29th of July, 1890, became the wife of Loren Windmiller, a resident of Pittsfield. Sam- uel Jacob was born March 14, 1876, and died November 30, 1879. Grace Mildred, born Feb-

ruary 23, 1878, was married to William J. Bell, April 11, 1900. They reside at Visalia, California. Dora Elizabeth, born July 6, 1881, was married December 24, 1902, to Frank I. Barrum and is living in Clinton, Illinois. Edith Clare, born Feb- ruary 15, 1884, died December 8, 1886. Arcade John was born September 20, 1886. Both sons are graduates of Brown's Business College. Mrs. Kendrick has spent much time in California, and for four months she and her younger son traveled through England and Ireland.

Mr. Kendrick devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and found in his well direct- ed labor, careful management and practical busi- ness methods the key which unlocks the portal of success. As the years passed by he prospered in his undertakings; made judicious investment in property and left a large estate, which at his death was divided among his widow and his children. He died at his beautiful country home, which had been recently erected, on the 10th of March, 1889. He filled several places of honor and trust, was recognized as a stanch republican and was a man of the highest integrity. A kind and loving hus- band, his best traits of character were reserved for his family and yet all who knew him found in him a man worthy of their best regard, while many entertained for him the 'warmest friendship, and his genuine worth endeared him to a large number of those with whom he came in contact. For long years he was classed with the rep- resentative agriculturists of Pike county, and he is now enrolled among her honored dead.

Samuel B. Jacob, the father of Mrs. Kendrick, was a native of County Wexford, Ireland, and a son of Thomas and Anna (Rathwell) Jacob. He was married in Ireland, July 19, 1844, to Rebecca Clare, and they came to the United States on the same ship with Mr. Kendrick. They first located in Kentucky, where Mr. Jacob owned and oper- ated a farm, but when Mrs. Kendrick was twelve years of age, he brought his family to Pike county, Illinois, settling two and a half miles southwest of Eldara, where he became the possessor of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He died there June 28, 1884, at the age of fifty-nine years, and his wife passed away December 27, 1888, at the age of sixty-seven years. In their

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family were nine children, of whom four died in infancy, including John, who was two years old at the time of his death. The others were all married when the father departed this life. They were Mrs. Kendrick; Mrs. Susan Thomas, who died January 5, 1905; Rebecca, wife of William Stamback, of Kansas; Mrs. Emma J. Troutwine, living on one-half of the old homestead farm in Pleasant Vale township; and Esther, wife of Wil- liam Easley, who also lives on the old home farm. The father of this family was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church; South, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school.

JOHN W. WILLIAMS.

John W. Williams, one of the active, energetic farmers and stock-raisers of Pike county, car- rying on his work along lines of modern agri- cultural progress, is living on section 22, Hardin township, where he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of rich land, which with its good improvements and productive soil constitutes a valuable property. He is a native son of the county, born on the farm where he now resides, March 1, 1866. His father, Captain Henry J. Williams, was a native of Kentucky, and was a son of Squire Williams, who came from the Blue Grass state to Illinois with his family during the pioneer epoch in the history of this section of the state. Captain Williams spent his youth here, and was married to Miss Ruth Chenowith, a native of Illinois. Captain Williams was a prominent farmer and successful agricul- turist and business man, whose carefully directed labors and judicious investments made him the owner of thirteen hundred acres of Pike county's rich farming land. He reared his family and spent the evening of his life in this locality, and he is still survived by his wife, who resides in Hardin township. She has two hundred and forty acres one-fourth mile west of Tine.

John W. Williams was reared upon the old homestead farm, and is indebted to the public- school system for the educational privileges he- enjoyed. He was married in Hardin township,

on the 14th of November, 1891, to Miss Lillian Watts, a native of Pike county, born in Milton. Her girlhood was largely passed in Milton, where she lived with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mat- thew D. Watts. Her father was a native of Eng- land, and was a son of John Watts, who emi- grated from that country to the new world with his family, taking up his abode in Pike county when his son Matthew was a lad of only seven years. The latter therefore spent his youth largely in Illinois, and was married here to Miss Della Barnes, a native of Missouri. They began housekeeping where they now reside, Mr. Wil- liams devoting his entire life and energies to the occupation of farming. He has fenced his place, has improved his buildings, and has now a well equipped property, on which the accessories of a model farm are all found. The fields are well tilled, and he annually harvests good crops. He also raises and feeds 'stock, making a specialty of hogs, sheep and cattle. He is likewise in- terested in fine poultry, and is raising pure blooded Plymouth Rock chickens, having a large and fine flock. He is also a breeder of thor- oughbred Scotch collie dogs.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams have become the par- ents of four children, of whom three are living, Lewis Vernon, their first born, having died at the age of seven years. Those still surviving are: Mary Ruth, Matthew Dean and John Merrill. Mr. Williams exercises his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the democracy, but has ever been without aspiration for public of- fice. His wife is a member of the Christian church, and both hold membership with the organization of Woodmen, the former with the camp, and the latter with its auxiliary, the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Williams is numbered among the citizens whose life history proves the attractiveness of Pike county as a place of residence, for he has always maintained his abode here, enjoying the good advantages here afforded and finding in the business conditions of this section of the state ample opportunity for the exercise of his talents and energies. He has continuously resided upon the farm which is yet his home; and he is an active and prosperous agriculturist and stock- raiser, and a man of good business ability, in-

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tegrity and upright character and worth. He and his estimable wife are much esteemed in the county where they live.

JOHN CRAVEN, SR.

John Craven, Sr., who for many years was identified with agricultural interests in Pike county, but is now living a retired life in Griggs- ville, was born in Morgan county, Illinois, Febru- ary 13, 1835, his parents being John and Esther (Warton) Craven. The father was born in York- shire, England, January 7, 1802, while the moth- er's birth occurred in 1812. They were married in England and the same year-1831-crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which was eight weeks in completing that voyage. They settled in the wilds of Morgan county, Illinois-for that district was then a frontier region. Their home was six miles west of Jacksonville, and there- they lived in a little log cabin during the first winter after the "big snow" in Illinois. Mr. Craven first purchased eighty acres of land, and with characteristic energy began its cultivation and improvement, continuing to carry on farming in Morgan county until 1850, when he came to Pike county, settling on section 20, Griggsville township, where he followed both farming and stock-raising on a tract of land of two hundred and fourteen acres. In connection with the culti- vation of the fields he raised both cattle and hogs, devoting his attention to the work of the farm until 1865, when he purchased seventy acres of land, which he then rented. He lived upon that property, however, in the enjoyment of a well earned rest up to the time of his death. He be- longed to the Episcopal church and gave his po- litical support to the whig party. As a pioneer settler, he contributed in a large measure to the welfare and upbuilding of the localities in which he lived, and his genuine worth gained for him the respect and trust of his fellowmen.

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Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 39

Author: Massie, Melville D; Clarke, (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 760

Author: Massie, Melville D; Clarke, (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 760