USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 59
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In politics Mr. Churchill is strictly independent. He does not bind himself by party ties, but votes as he thinks preferable and as his mature judg- ment indicates. For fifteen years he served as school trustee and has ever been interested in the cause of public education. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 757, of Kinderhook, of which he is a charter member and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are sociable, entertaining people, with whom it is a pleasure to meet and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends:
JOHN F. WATKINS.
John F. Watkins, a farmer and stock-raiser, owning and operating one hundred and eighty acres of land in section 29, Griggsville township. has resided upon his present farm since 1869. He was born October 9, 1846, in Warner. New Hampshire, and was a student in the public
MR. AND MRS. J. F. WATKINS
LIBRARY Ot THE UNIVERSITY OF HANNOIS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
schools of Merrimack county, that state, until thirteen years of age. His parents, George and Abbie C. (Bean) Watkins, were also natives of New Hampshire, the former born November 4, 1822, and the latter on the 6th of August, 1824. The father was educated in Wilmot Academy in his native state and also in Lowell, Massa- chusetts, where among his classmates were sev- eral students who afterward gained distinction, including General Benjamin F. Butler, Dr. Sa-
very and ex-Governor Straw, of New Hampshire. . Methodist Episcopal church there. Mr. Watkins
On the 12th of January, 1842, George Wat- kins was united in marriage to Miss Abbie C. Bean and they became the parents of seven chil- dren, namely: James, who was born March 29. 1844, and is now farming in Kansas; John F., of this review; Mary S., who was born August 31, 1848, and died in September, 1872; Martha, who was born August 30, 1850, and died in Feb- ruary, 1897; Lizzie, who was born March IO, 1856, and became the wife of Charles H. Tood, who is now living at New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in the jewelry business; Fred O., who was born August 3, 1862, and died March 19, 1899; and George A., who was born October 17, 1864, and died September. 5, 1896. The members of this family were all born in New Hampshire save the last two, who were natives of Fredericktown, Missouri.
It was in the year 1858 that the parents left their old home in Warner, New Hampshire, and removed to Fredericktown, where they remained for about five years. They came west for the purpose of living in a milder climate, and from Missouri they removed to Griggsville, Illinois. where they spent about five years and then went to Kansas, locating in Jackson county, that state. There the father gave his attention to farming and stock-raising, spending his remaining days in that locality. He was not only a successful business man but also a representative and hon- ored citizen of Kansas and for two or three terms served in the state legislature, acting as a mem- ber of the house at the time that John St. John was governor. He was also county commissioner and town clerk while living in New Hampshire. He held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was in full sympathy with its
teachings and for a number of years served as noble grand in the local lodge. His wife, a mem- ber of the Daughters of Rebekah, was chaplain of her lodge for twenty-five years, filling the po- sition at the time of her death, which occurred December 12, 1905, while she was visiting her son in Pike county. She was very active and bright for one of her age, being at that time in her eighty-first year. She maintained her home in Whiting, Kansas, and was a member of the favored that church and gave to it his financial support. In early life he was a democrat, sup- porting the principles advocated by Jackson. During the period of hostilities between the north and the south he was what is known as a war democrat and his last democratic vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas. Following the war he became a republican and continued to support that party until his demise, which occurred on the 9th of August, 1892.
John F. Watkins, whose name introduces this record, began his education in the public schools of his native state, and when thirteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Fredericktown, Missouri, and on the 15th of October, 1864, arrived in Griggsville, Pike coun- ty, Illinois. Here he began working for E. W. Baxter at the butcher's trade and after a year devoted to that labor turned his attention to farm- 'ing, remaining in the employ of a Pike county agriculturist for sixteen months. He then be- gan farming on his own account on land belong- ing to Isaac Hatch, and in 1869 he removed to the old Greeno place, where he has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-rais- ing. He now owns one hundred and eighty acres of land, which is rich and arable, and he raises here shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.
On the 3Ist of December, 1868, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Brown, the wedding ceremony being performed by the Rev. E. E. Carpenter at the home of her parents in Griggsville township. Mrs. Watkins was born June 16, 1850, a daughter of Henry R. and Jane (Chapman) Brown, who are represented on an- other page of this work in connection with the sketch of William H. Brown, a brother of Mrs.
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Watkins. Unto our subject and his wife have been born five children. George H., the eldest, was born July 30, 1869. Abbie J., born Decem- ber II, 1870, died on the 3d of April, 1876. Alice L., born February 19, 1872, was married February 20, 1895, to J. N. Mitchell and died on the 27th of October of the same year while they were living in Missouri. Mary L., born December 22, 1873, was married January 4, 1899, to John Craven, a farmer now residing in Griggs- ville township. Frank W., born April 9, 1876, died in Los Angeles, California, May 17, 1892, while traveling there in the hope of benefiting his health. He was gifted with superior musical talent and engaged in teaching that art.
Mr. Watkins votes with the republican party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles and policy. He has been school director for twenty- one years, has been road overseer for nine years and road commissioner for twelve years, and his good work in this direction is seen as one drives over the public highways in Griggsville town- ship. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for starting out in life without capital, he has won through earnest purpose and unremitting diligence the property which he now owns and occupies and which is to him a good source of income.
CHARLES LINCOLN HOPKINS.
Charles Lincoln Hopkins, editor and proprietor of the New Canton Press, was born near Delavan, Illinois, July 15, 1865, and on January 21, 1892, was married to Miss Kate Beatty, of the same place. Their union has been blessed with four bright children, three sons and a daughter, namely: Guy B., Charles L., Stephen F. and Katharine E.
Having acquired his early education in the public schools, Mr. Hopkins afterward began learning the printer's trade, and soon became a practical printer, having thorough knowledge of the business in all of its departments. He has been connected with newspaper publication since 1891, being located at various times in the states of Kansas, Louisiana and Illinois. In September,
1904, he established the New Canton Press which he has since edited and published, making it a bright, enterprising journal, which has a good circulation and advertising patronage. He has enjoyed a merited success in the "art preserva- tive," and uses the columns of his paper as a source of advocacy of all measures which he deems will prove of direct and immediate service in public affairs.
Fraternally Mr. Hopkins is a Mason, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge, the Dramatic Order Knights of Korassan, and the Modern Woodmen camp. He is a valuable and useful citizen in many lines of endeavor and ac- tivity, and is a musician of considerable talent, whose musical knowledge is greatly enjoyed by the public, his skill in this direction rendering him a favorite in musical circles.
ELI POWELL.
Eli Powell is the owner of a farm of eighty acres in Fairmount township. A life of unflag- ging industry has been crowned with success, and now at the age of seventy-eight years he is numbered among the venerable and respected citi- zens of Pike county. His birth occurred in Smith county, Tennessee, on the 4th of October, 1827, his parents being Charles and Nancy (Smith) Powell, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. In the year 1828 they came with their family to Illinois, settling first in Mor- gan county, and about 1834 they removed to Pike county. The father was a pioneer settler of this state, and aided in the early development of what gave promise of later progress and ad- vancement. He was one of the founders of the Baptist church in this state, and his political sup- port was given to the democracy. In his family were nine children; but with the exception of Eli Powell, all have passed away. The father's death occurred .in 1852, while his wife departed this life in 1849.
Eli Powell was an infant when brought by his parents to Illinois, and was only seven years of age at the time of the removal of the family to
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Pike county. Few advantages wereto be enjoyed in those pioneer days; and later with the other chil- dren of the neighborlîbod he attended schools which were conducted on the subscription plan. Although his educational privileges were somewhat limited his training at farm labor was not meagre, and he early assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm. As the years have gone by he has given his time and energies to agricultural pur- suits. At the age of twenty-one years, however, he learned the cooper's trade, and following his marriage he followed that pursuitand also farming. He now carries on general farming, and has eighty acres in the homestead property in Fair- mount township.
On the 3Ist of January, 1850, Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, who was born December 1, 1834, in a log cabin, which had been built by her father in this county when it was a pioneer district. Her parents were Nich- olas C. and Margaret (Cradoc) Taylor, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Her father died in 1841, at the comparatively early age of thirty-four years, and his wife, who was born in 1814, died in 1857. He came to Illinois in 1831, settling first in Morgan county but subse- quently he returned to Kentucky, where he was married. He then brought his wife to Illinois, making the journey on horseback, and located upon a farm on the boundary line between Perry and Fairmount townships. He entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of government land of which eighty acres were in Fairmount township, and which he secured through a soldier's claim. The remaining eighty acres were in Perry township. He was entitled to the former tract by reason of his service in the Black Hawk war. At one time he had two hundred and forty acres of land, and aided in the development of this property, show- ing a thorough understanding of agricultural methods. As a pioneer settler he aided in reclaim- ing a wild district for the uses of civilization, and moreover, in community interests he mani- fested a helpful spirit and contributed in substan- tial measures to the public good. He was asses- sor for two terms, and was also collector; and in his political views was a democrat. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
In his family were four children, but only two are now living, Mrs. Powell and Mary A. Taylor, who was engaged in the millinery business in Pittsfield for several years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been born eight children, of whom four sons and two daugh- ters are yet living: George, a resident of Idaho; Elsie, who is engaged in the millinery business in Fish Hook; Ermittie, the wife of John Hobbs, who is living in Cass county, Missouri; James Albert, who married Viola Taylor and is living in Perry; Theodore, who married Marietta En- sley and resides in Fish Hook; and Simon T., who married Emma Davis and lives in Fish Hook. The two latter are familiarly known as the Powell Brothers. They are engaged in gen- eral merchandising and have built up a large trade.
Mr. Powell exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the demo- cratic party, and he has been a subscriber to the Pike County Democrat for more than a half cen- tury. He has never sought or desired public of- fice, however, and he has never served on a jury. His wife is a member of the Christian church. The Powell family are well known, and the fam- ily name has figured in connection with the his- tory of Pike county for more than three quar- ters of a century, its representatives standing as a high type of citizenship, interested in the move- ments and measures that have brought about the present prosperity and conditions of advanced civilization which are found here to-day. Eli Powell as a pioneer of 1834 well deserves men- tion in this volume, and his familiarity with the history of the county enables him to relate many interesting incidents concerning the early days in this part of the state.
ALMON C. BANCROFT.
Almon C. Bancroft, whose beautiful home is one of the fine residences of the county, is classed to-day with the substantial citizens, having five hundred acres of valuable bottom land. His success is creditable and his business ability un-
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mistakable. He was born in Massachusetts, May 8, 1860, and is a son of Harvey and Lydia (Gaines) Bancroft, both of whom were natives of the old Bay state. In 1864 the father came with his family to Pike county, locating on the river bottom south of Kinderhook, where he carried on farming on a small scale. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and he is affili- ated with the Masonic fraternity, while his po- litical faith was indicated by the support which he gave to the republican party. His wife died in 1873 and he afterward married Amelia Mays. His death occurred in 1892; and his second wife is now living near Kinderhook. There were born of the first marriage five sons, namely : Almon C .; George, who is living in Leadville, Colorado; Lester, who resides in Canon City, Colorado; Charles, who makes his home in Trinidad, that state; and Lewis, who is likewise living in Colorado.
Almon C. Bancroft was a public-school stu- dent in Pike county between the ages of six and thirteen years. He then left home and went to live with Timothy Colvin, with whom he re- mained until twenty years of age, when he started out upon an independent business career. He spent one summer in the west on a cattle range in New Mexico and Texas, being at that time only nineteen years of age. After leaving Mr. Colvin he worked by the month for one season on the farm, and then went to work on the rail- road with a bridge gang, being thus employed for a year and a half. He was afterward employed by the month for some time for about two years, when he began farming on his own account, making his first purchase of land when thirty- four years of age. He thus became the owner of one hundred and nineteen acres on the river bot- tom, which constitutes the nucleus of his present extensive possessions, for as the years have gone by he has placed his money in the safest of all investments-real estate-until he is now the owner of five hundred acres of very valuable land, most of which is bottom land, and is very rich and productive. The farm is well improved and well fenced, and in its midst stands a beautiful two-story residence about thirty-two feet square. It is surrounded by a well-kept lawn; and the
house is one of the best in this part of the county Mr. Bancroft gives his attention to the cultiva- tion of the fields and also raises some stock, and in his work his indefatigable energy and honorable purpose stand as strong and resultant elements.
In 1882 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ban- croft and Miss Della Lewton, who was born in Pike county in 1862, and is a, daughter of Daniel and Christina (Decker) Lewton. The father's birth occurred in Pike county, Illinois, and he was a son of Daniel Lewton, who came here from Pennsylvania, casting in his lot with the early settlers. The mother was also born in this county, her parents located in pioneer days, hav- ing removed to this state from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft now have two sons: Harry, born April 17, 1890; and Lewis, born January 20, 1892.
Mr. Bancroft is a member of Kinderhook lodge, No. 353, A. F. & A. M., also of Barry chapter, No. 88, R. A. M. He likewise belongs to Kinderhook lodge, No. 757, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all of the chairs, and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Kin- derhook; and the Pike County Mutual Associa- tion, while his wife belongs to the Eastern Star. Both are devoted Christian people, holding mem- bership in the Baptist church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part. Mr. Bancroft is a democrat, but without aspiration for office, preferring to give his undivided en- ergies to his business affairs. He has been de- pendent upon no outside aid or influence, but has placed his faith in the sure and dependable quali- ties of close application and unfaltering diligence, and his life exemplifies the term, dignity of labor, and shows forth the sure rewards of per- sistent, honorable effort.
CHARLES G. WINN.
Charles G. Winn is numbered among the na- tive sons of Griggsville township and throughout his entire life has displayed the enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the middle west. He is extensively
C. G. WINN
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
engaged in buying and feeding cattle and hogs and also in the production and shipment of apples, having one of the finest orchards in this part of Illinois. His natal day was December 11, 1847, his parents being James and Hannah (Converse) Winn, the former born in Belmont, Massachu- setts, in January, 1808, and the latter in Win- chester, Massachusetts, in 1811. Mr. Winn was educated in Boston and in his youth was appren- . ticed to a grocery man. Attracted by the oppor- tunities offered by the new and growing west, he came to Illinois in 1833 and took up govern- ment land, forty acres of which has never been held except by one who has borne the name of Winn. Later he purchased more land, built a home and for a number of years was engaged in the meat business on his farm, buying and packing pork, which he shipped to Boston by way of New Orleans. He had a partner living in Chelsea, Massachusetts, who attended to the sale in the east. In 1836, Hannah Converse came to Griggsville Landing, making the trip across the country to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, thence by way of the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Griggsville Landing. Here she gave her hand in marriage to James Winn. There were only a few houses in Griggsville at that time and the young couple began their domestic life in one of these. Mr. Winn continued packing pork in the winter months and in farming in the summer seasons and at one time was the owner of eight hundred acres of land but sold much of this until at the time of his death his landed pos- sessions comprised but three hundred acres. He acted as supervisor for many years, filling the position at the time of his demise, and to the republican party he gave stalwart and unfalter- ing support. Both he and his wife held member- ship in the Congregational church. In their family were nine children, if whom seven are now living : Jennie, Louise, James, Hattie, Charles G., Abbie and Elizabeth. The father died in Jan- uary, 1861, at the age of fifty-three years, while the mother passed away in 1888, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years.
Charles G. Winn was reared to the occupation of farming and in the public schools acquired his , elementary education, while later he attended the
Jacksonville Business College. When he had at- tained his majority he began farming on his own account and he has also been engaged in buying and feeding cattle and hogs for thirty-six years, being one of the leading representatives of this line of business in the county. He ships his stock to Chicago and St. Louis markets, where he finds a ready sale. He has also one of the finest orchards of the state, containing about five thousand bearing apple trees. He sold from ten acres in 1891 fruit to the value of thirty six hun- dred and forty dollars. For a number of years he has been engaged in dealing in apples, pack- ing and selling in the Chicago market, also in Peoria and in St. Louis and the fact that fruit is shipped from his orchards is a guarantee of its excellent quality and value. Mr. Winn was one of the, four' in the state of Illinois who was awarded a gold medal on his apples at the Paris exposition, and was the only Pike county ex- hibitor to receive a silver medal at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis.
On the 23d of June, 1896, Mr. Winn was united in marriage to Miss Lura Dimmitt, a daughter of James and Elsie (Flinn) Dimmitt. Her father, who was born in Griggsville in 1852, is now liv- ing in Scott county, Illinois, and in 1870 he was married to Miss Flinn, whose birth occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1851. He had acquired a pub- lic-school education, and he lived at home until the time of his marriage, when he began farming for himself, settling in Griggsville township. He removed to Scott county in March, 1905, and is now living there engaged in farming and stock- raising. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 'church. In his family were nine children, of whom eight are yet living : Bertha ; Lura, who was born November 13, 1873; Nelson; Gordon; Grace; Roy; Helen ; and Byron. Mr. and Mrs. Winn have one daughter, Helen Elsie, born Jan- uary 14, 1899. In 1903 Mr. Winn purchased the old homestead of Robert Seaborn, one of the fine brick houses of Griggsville. Although built in 1855, it is still in splendid condition and is one of the attractive residences of the city. Here he and his family are now residing and they have many warm friends in the town and through- out the county. Mr. Winn belongs to Griggs-
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ville lodge, No. 45, A. F. & A. M., of which he became a member in 1872 and he likewise holds membership in Perry chapter, R. A. M., and is a member of the Mutual Protective League and the Pike County Mutual Insurance Company. He is a member of the Congregational church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics he is a stanch republican. Mr. Winn has spent his entire life in Pike county and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boy- hood days to the present is an indication that he has lived an upright, honorable life, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in business transactions, while in his social relations he has displayed courtesy and consideration for others that win genuine personal regard.
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THOMAS MANTON.
Thomas Manton, for many years a resident of Pike county, where his business integrity has never been called into question and where his suc- cess has been most worthily won, was born in Lincolnshire, England, on the 16th of April, 1844, his parents being James and Charlotte (Ham- merton) Manton, both of whom were also natives of Lincolnshire. The father was born January I, 1813, while the mother's birth occurred in Febru- ary, 1817. In the year 1854 Mr. Manton came to this country with his wife and children, sailing from Liverpool to New York city, the voyage consuming thirty-three days, for they encountered severe weather and rough seas. From New York they proceeded by way of the Hudson river to Albany, thence by rail to Buffalo and on by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago. From that point they journeyed by canal to LaSalle and by boat down the Illinois river to Griggsville Landing. Mr. Manton worked the first year for Joe Stone, securing employment the second day of his resi- dence in Pike county. He operated the old Hazel- wood farm for two years, and subsequently leased and cultivated the Thomas Simpkins farm for three years. He then removed to Dutton Sta- tion, renting land from Dr. Wellington, and for
six years he remained upon that place. He was - extensively engaged in raising wheat, and in the '6os raised forty-six hundred bushels on the Dut- ton place. He removed from that place to a farm on section 5, Griggsville township, where he pur- chased two hundred and seven acres of land, while later he bought one hundred and ten acres known as the Judd Kendall farm. He afterward purchased one hundred and six acres south of this, a part of which was the John Hoss farm, and his next purchase made him owner of forty acres which he secured from the Carnes place. He afterward bought the old Charles Williams place, in Pittsfield- township, and there he spent his remaining days, making his home thereon for about twenty-six or twenty-seven years. In 1878 he raised over four thousand bushels of wheat ; and he sold wheat as high as two dollars and a half a bushel. He was a most energetic and prac- tical farmer, and the success he enjoyed was at- tributable entirely to his own labors. He never cared for nor sought public office, but gave his political allegiance to the democracy; and in the Methodist Episcopal church he held his mem- bership. He died October 31, 1904, while his wife is now living in Pittsfield in her eighty- seventh years. In their family were thirteen chil- dren, of whom six are now living: George; James B .; Marie; Lizzie, the widow of Lewis Whitney ; Francis; and Thomas.
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