Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 71

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 71

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subject passed away in her eighty-first year. They were the parents of three sons, Thomas M., John B. and William W.

Thomas M. Watson spent his boyhood days in . his parents' home, his youth being passed in the usual manner of lads of the period ; his time being devoted between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the various du- ties which were assigned to him by his mother. He lost his father when only about eleven years of age. After acquiring his, preliminary educa- tion, he continued his studies in Lombard Uni- versity at Galesburg, Illinois; and having com- pleted a good collegiate course, he prepared for the practice of medicine as a student in the Ec- lectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1874. Almost immediately afterward, Dr. Watson was married to Miss Helena Terry, the wedding being celebrated on the 19th of May, 1874. She was born in Barry, February 22, 1853, and is a daugh- ter of James L. and Alzina C. (Liggett) Terry, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Pike county, Illinois.

Soon after his marriage Dr. Watson located for practice in Griggsville, where he has since re- mained, having now more than thirty years been a representative of the medical profession in this part of the state. His practice extends to neigh- boring towns, and his ability is recognized in the liberal patronage accorded him. He has been a thorough and discriminating student, keeping in touch with the modern scientific research and bringing to bear in the solution of difficult prob- lems, which continually confront the physician, broad and comprehensive knowledge of the sci- ences of medicine and surgery. He is likewise an active and valued factor in community life, having co-operated in many progressive measures for the general good. He served as mayor of Griggsville in 1885, and at this writing, in 1906, is an alderman. He is also secretary of the school board. which position he has filled for twenty- three years, and he is president of the board of directors of the public library. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party ; and his fraternal affiliation is with Griggsville lodge, No. 45. A. F. & A. M., in which he served as master

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for nine years, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Mutual Protective League and the Pike County Mutual Life Association. He also be- longs to the Congregational church; and in the line of his profession he is connected with the Illinois Homeopathic Medical Association. Thor- ough preliminary training well qualified him for the duties which he assumed as a life work, and by faithful performance of each day's tasks he has found courage and strength for the labors of the succeeding day. In many a household in this part of the county he is the beloved family physi- cian in whom great confidence is reposed and he is ever worthy of the trust which is given him.

ALEXANDER K. ROSS.

As long as memory remains to the American people the history of the veterans of the Civil war will be a matter of interest; and the country owes to the veterans of that long and sanguinary struggle a debt of gratitude which can never be fully repaid. Mr. Ross was one of the boys in blue who went forth as an Illinois soldier to fight for the Union. He is now accounted one of the leading and enterprising agriculturists of Pike county, holding large landed interests. His farm, which is pleasantly located two and a half miles south of New Canton; comprises three hundred. and twenty-five acres of rich and productive land. Mr. Ross was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, October 6, 1839, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (McDaniels) Ross, who were early settlers of Pennsylvania. His paternal grand- father was born in Scotland, and the grandmother in Ireland. They crossed the Atlantic to Amer- ica prior to 1800, John Ross following the occu- pation of farming in the Keystone state, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of good land and made his home, carefully conducting his business interests and rearing there a large family of ten children. Only three of the number are now living, however: William, a resident of Hand county, South Dakota; John, who makes his home in Pike county ; and Alexander K., who was the youngest of the family. The parents were

members of the Presbyterian church. The father died at the age of sixty years, and a life of use- fulness and activity was thus ended.

Alexander K. Ross acquired his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm, becoming familiar with the practical methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. When twenty years of age he started out upon an independent busi- ness career as a farm hand, and in 1860 he came to Pike county, where he arrived without a cent of money. He possessed, however, strong de- termination and laudable ambition, and these served him in place of capital. He at once sought and secured employment, working by the month as a farm hand until 1862. His earnings during that period were carefully saved and when two years had passed, he purchased a farm of forty acres. About the same time he enlisted in the army, joining the Union forces in August, 1862, as a member of Company E, Seventy-eighth Il- linois Infantry. He enlisted at Quincy for three years, or until the close of the war, and partici- pated in a number of important campaigns, in- cluding the Atlanta campaign and the celebrated march under Sherman to the sea, after which he was honorably discharged. Several times he was slightly wounded but his injuries were never of a very serious nature, and he remained at his post of duty, never faltering in the thickest of the fight nor hesitating when assigned to the lonely picket line. When the war was ended he was discharged in June, 1865, at New York city, after which he returned to Pike county. Here Mr. Ross took up the active work of improving his land, returning to take charge of a little tract of forty acres. That he has prospered is indicated by his splen- didly improved property of three hundred and twenty-five acres pleasantly and conveniently lo- cated about a mile and a half south of New Can- ton. In the midst of this he has erected a fine brick residence, built in modern and pleasing style of architecture. He also has good barns and sheds upon his place and the farm is well fenced. He also raises considerable stock, making a specialty of hogs. In all his business affairs he is prac- tical and enterprising and his success is the merit- ed reward of his earnest labor.

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On the 27th of January, 1878, Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Mrs. Melvina Brewster, nee Purcell, a daughter of Aaron and Maria (Cle- ment) Purcell, who removed from Canada to Indi- ana, where Mrs. Ross was born. The parents also took up their abode in Pike county at an early day, locating here when the country was largely an unbroken wilderness. Deer were frequently seen and venison was no unusual dish upon the table of the early settlers. Other wild game could be had in abundance and there was every evi- dence of frontier life in uncut tracts of timber land and the stretches of unimproved prairie. The father died in Memphis, Tennessee, while the mother's death occurred in Pike county in 1863. In their family were six children but Mrs. Ross is the only one now living. She was brought to this county when but four years of age and was reared here, obtaining her early education in one of the primitive log schoolhouses with slab benches, crude writing desks and a huge fireplace in one end of the room to heat the building. Often in those days she saw wild deer and fre- quently wolves and other wild animals. She can remember the county when it was but sparsely settled and the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. She is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this part of the state and she owns here about nine hundred acres of land. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ross is most attractively situ- ated, standing back about three hundred feet from the road, the walk thereto being lined on each side by evergreen trees. There is a beautiful and well kept lawn which presents a splendid setting for their residence and the home is one which would be a credit to any city. There were three children by Mrs. Ross' first marriage: Charles E., a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Annie B., who is the widow of Elmer West and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Ross; and Minnie M., also at home.

Mr. Ross votes with the republican party but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to leave the discharge of official duties to others, yet as a private citizen he is never remiss in his support of measures which are calculated to ben- efit the community. He is a member of the

Masonic lodge at New Canton, which he joined upon its organization, and he also belongs to Amos Moore post, No 617, G. A. R., of New Canton. He has based his principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and unswerving integrity and thus he has become an important factor in agri- cultural circles and his prosperity is well deserved.

JOHN WALCH, SR.

John Walch, Sr., who since 1880 has resided · upon his present farm on section 12, Kinder- hook township, although in the meantime he has extended its boundaries until he now owns three hundred and forty-three acres of rich and pro- ductive land, was born in Van Wert county. Ohio, on the 19th of August, 1846, his parents being John A. and Anna E. (Fauty) Walch. The father's birth occurred in Baden Baden, Germany, while the mother was born in Ohio. Their only child is John Walch of this review. John A. Walch was a farmer by occupation and his death occurred in Ohio in 1846. His widow aft- erward married Samuel Nestrick, of the Buckeye state, who with the family came to Illinois in 1858, residing in Stark county until 1863, when he removed to Pike county and settled on sec- tion 18, Barry township. Here he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirteen acres, upon which he lived until his death in 1881, while his wife passed away July 4, 1876. There were four children born of the mother's second marriage, a son and three daughters, of whom two are now living. The elder, George Nestrick, resides upon the old homestead near the Walch farm and owns about four hundred acres of land. The daugh- ter, Mrs. O. P. Harrison, is living in Davis county, Missouri. Mr. Nestrick was a democrat in his political views and, like the mother of our subject. was of German descent. She belonged to the Lutheran church.

John Walch was educated in the common schools of Ohio and of Pike county and began life for himself when twenty-one years of age. Up to this time he had lived with his mother and

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stepfather and on attaining his majority he left home and began learning the miller's trade, which he followed for five years. He afterward en- gaged in farming and threshing for thirty years or until 1901. On the 29th of January, 1880, he purchased the place where he now resides, at that time comprising one hundred and fifty-seven acres on section 12, Kinderhook township, and as his financial resources increased he added to the original tract one hundred and eighty-six acres on section 3, Kinderhook township, and now has altogether three hundred and forty-three acres, constituting a very valuable property. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of sheep and black cattle and also raises hogs. All of his stock is of good grade and both branches of his business are proving profitable.

On the 18th of March, 1869, Mr. Walch was married to Miss Charlotte Hull, who was born in Pike county, 'April 7, 1847, and is a daughter of Charles and Nancy (Pollum) Hull. They were one of the first families to settle in Kinderhook township. The father was a farmer who owned forty acres of land and resided near Kinderhook. Both he and his wife are now deceased. In their family were thirteen children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walch have been born six children: Frank, at home; Roy who married Maggie Hicks . Ivah, Howe and Gail. Ivah lives in California and lives in Quincy ; Charles, who married Eva Ross and resides on one of his father's farms ; Ellis, at home; John and Fannie, also under the parental roof.

Mr. Walch is a self-made man and now a well- to-do citizen. He has erected all of the buildings upon his place and has a comfortable and attract- ive residence and good barns. He has cleared most of the land, has put up good fences and everything about the place is in excellent con- dition, while none of the facilities of equipments of a model farm are lacking. He has a fine or- chard of apple and plum trees, which he has set out and which are in good bearing condition.

Mr. Walch is a democrat, who for six years has been supervisor of Kinderhook township and is the incumbent in the office at the present time. He has acted as collector and has been school trustee for about twelve years. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He

had no financial assistance when he started out in life but he had early learned the value of in- dustry and economy as factors in a successful business career. His life history will bear close investigation and scrutiny and what he has ac- complished is an indication of his strong business qualifications and determined purpose.

ERBIE M. WOODS.

Erbie M. Woods, who is engaged in buying and selling horses and mules, and also conducts a livery and feed barn in New Salem, was born in this county, September 6, 1876, and is a repre- sentative of one of the pioneer families. His par- ents are John E. and Amy (Pine) Woods. The father was born in Eldara township in 1849. He started out in life on his own account when twenty years of age. The mother was born in New Salem township in 1856, and was married to John E. Woods in 1875. He carried on agricultural pur- suits successfully for many years. In 1903 he moved to California, returning in 1906, and ex- pects to make this his home. To Mr. and Mrs. John E. Woods were born four children: Erbie, and the others in Illinois.

Erbie M. Woods was educated in the common schools, and after putting aside his text-books, engaged in farming for three years. He has since sold his farm, and has given his attention to the purchase of horses and mules. He also conducts a livery and feed barn in New Salem, and owns the barn in which his business is carried on, to- gether with a fine home in the town.

On the 6th of October, 1897, was celebrated the marriage of Erbie M. Woods and Miss Anna Dunham, a daughter of Daniel and Martha (Woods) Dunham. Her father was born July 15, 1856, in Martinsburg township, Pike county. He started out in life on his own account when nine- teen years of age. Her mother was born in Steu- benville, Ohio, in 1852, and was married to Dan- iel Dunham in 1875. To them were born six chil- dren, Herbert, Anna, Daisy, Lora, Villa and Kelly.

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Mr. and Mrs. Erbie Woods have two children : Doris, born January 24, 1898; and Martha F., born July 6, 1905. The parents hold membership in the Methodist church; and Mr. Woods ex- ercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. His business interests are capably conducted, and he now has a good sale barn in New Salem.

FRANK LAWSON.

Frank Lawson, a farmer residing a mile east of Barry on section 19, Hadley township, was born in Adams county, Illinois, December 23, 1868, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Cutter) Lawson. The father was born near Baylis, Pike county, on the 29th of November, 1841, and was a son of Frank Lawson, Sr., one of the early settlers of this county who became an extensive farmer and one of the largest stock- raising of his day in the county. William Lawson removed to Adams county, making his home at the present time in Beverly township. He wedded Miss Elizabeth Cutter, who was born in that township, and is a daughter of Samuel Cutter, who was one of the early settlers of Adams county, coming to this state from New Jersey. The Sykes and Cutter families came to- gether to Illinois and were the second and third families in Beverly township. There the Cutter nursery was established and was the first one in that part of the locality. William Lawson con- tinued to follow the occupation of farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when, on the 9th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company E, Seventeenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. He served until the close of hostili- ties and was mustered out June 7, 1865, with the rank of first sergeant. He was wounded at Ben- tonville, North Carolina, by being hit with a spent ball behind the ear and was left on the field for dead but crawled to camp that night and sur- prised his comrades who supposed that he was lying lifeless on the field.

Frank Lawson was educated in the common schools and started out on his own account when

twenty-one years of age. He worked at farm labor for some time and in October, 1896, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now lives, taking up his abode thereon the same year. The place is pleasantly and conveniently located within a half mile of the city limits of Barry and is a well cultivated property. It is surrounded by a good fence and substantial buildings have been erected thereon, while every- thing about the place is kept in good repair and in its neat and thrifty appearance the farm indi- cates the careful supervision of a practical and painstakng owner. Mr. Lawson keeps a number of Jersey cows and sells annually a large amount of milk and butter. He is now raising Angus cattle and has twenty head of pure blooded stock, making a nice herd. He also raises hogs and his stock-raising is an important and profit- able branch of his business.

On the 18th of October, 1893, Mr. Lawson was married to Miss Hattie Sykes, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, February 15, 1871, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Ayres) Sykes. The father was born March 9, 1819, in Hudders- field, England, which was also the birthplace of his parents and grandparents. The grandfather, James Sykes, Sr., passed his early life in his native country, and when very young began earn- ing his own living by working in the woolen mills, where he was steadily advanced in recognition of his capability and fidelity until he became foreman of the finishing department. In 1821, possessed of a laudable ambition to enjoy still better oppor- tunities in business life he emigrated to Amer- ica and secured a position in Manhattanville, New York, now included within the boundary of New York city. After settling there he sent for his wife and three children and they sailed from Liv- erpool, but when the vessel had been out a few weeks it sprang a leak and after sailing thirteen weeks finally managed to reach the port of Cork, Ireland. Mrs. Sykes then returned home with her three children but soon afterward set sail again and better luck attended the second voyage, for she landed safely in New York after seven weeks. She had however, thus spent about twenty weeks upon the ocean in that year. Mr. and Mrs. Sykes remained residents of the state

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of New York until 1834, when the grandfather of Mrs. Lawson visited Adams county, Illinois, and purchased four hundred and eighty acres of government land in Beverly township. He then returned to Brooklyn, New York, and in October, 1834, brought his family to Illinois. His wife and children remained in Quincy while he went to his farm and built thereon a log cabin, in which the family, were soon installed. He then entered upon the task of tilling the soil and re- sided upon his farm until his death, which oc- curred in 1852. During that period he took a helpful part in promoting the early development of the county and in laying deep the foundation for its present prosperity. In early life he mar- ried Hannah Hirst, a native of England and a daughter of William Hirst, who was born in Yorkshire. They reared four children : Mary; William; James, who is the father of Mrs. Law- son ; and John, who was born in New York.

James Sykes, Jr., come to America with his mother when only two years old and was fifteen years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Illinois. He remained under the pa- rental roof until he had attained his majority and assisted in the farm work, after which his father gave him eighty acres of wild land, half prairie and half brush. He built thereon a frame house, which was the third of the kind in Bev- erly township and later he turned his attention to carpentering, which he followed for a part of the time for nearly thirty years. In the meantime he also superintended the improvement of his form, which was brought to a high state of cul- tivation, and as his financial resources increased he gradually became an extensive landowner, his possessions ultimately aggregating seven hun- dred and sixty acres of rich farming land in Adams county. He continued to reside upon the old homestead until 1888, when he purchased an attractive residence in Barry, beautifully located on Diamond Hill and has since made his home in the city. He was married September 23, 1849, to Miss Mary Ayres, a native of Woodbridge, New Jersey. She passed away in Adams county on the Ist of April, 1873, leaving six children, while five died prior to the mother's death. Those still living are Hannah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Emma,

Frank and Mrs. Lawson. Following the death of his first wife Mr. Sykes was married on the 25th of November, 1875, to Miss Martha J. Cun- ningham, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio. The father is a republican and served for nearly thirty years as school director in Adams county and has been a member of the board of education and chairman of the board of health in Barry, Illinois. His has been a most credit- able career, crowned with success and with the respect and honor of his fellowmen.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lawson have been born three children : Everett E., born December 12, 1894; Geneva Grace, November II, 1896; and Frank Lester, on the 8th of June, 1899. Mrs. Lawson is a member of the Christian church and Mr. Lawson belongs to Barry lodge, No. . 836, I. O. O. F. He is a republican and has served as school director but has no aspiration for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs whichare capably conducted so that he is now accounted one of the leading and representative agriculturists of his community, possessing a farm which is the visible evidence of a well spent life.

SAMUEL M. DICKASON.

Samuel M. Dickason is one of the most exten- sive landowners of Pike county and is also a prominent factor in financial circles. He was born in Hannibal, Missouri, August 24, 1867, and is a son of Jacob H. and Harriet (Conway) Dick- ason. The father was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and went to Missouri about 1852 and spent the remainder of his life there. He was. a capitalist and was a leading and influential resident of his community. His wife was born in Hannibal and by his marriage became the mo- ther of two sons, Samuel M. and William A., who is now living in Hannibal. The father departed this life November 3, 1899, at the age of sixty- four years, while his wife died on the 15th of October, 1893.

Samuel M. Dickason is indebted to the pub- lic schools of his native city for the greater part

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of his education. He was, however, a student in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, where he was trained for the practical and responsible duties of business life, and after completing a thorough course was graduated from that insti- tution. On July 3, 1889, he married Miss Car- rie Strubinger, who was born in Derry township, Pike county, December 17, 1866, and is a daugh- ter of Michael and Mary (Chamberlain) Strub- inger. The father was born in Delaware, October 8, 1833, and was the eldest son of Joseph Strubinger, whose name is a familiar one in Pike county because of his close and active connection with business and public affairs here. . Michael Strubinger was brought by his parents to this county when a boy and started out to fight life's battles for himself when twenty-one years of age. He was first employed as a farm hand by the month, spending his time in that way until' about thirty years of age, during which period he re- ceived about fifteen dollars per month as re- muneration for earnest and unremitting toil. That he was faithful and diligent is indicated by the fact that he remained in the service of one man for seven years. He wedded Miss Mary Cham- berlain in 1862 and unto them were born four children. Removing from his farm to Barry he there resided for five or six years and afterward took up his abode again upon a farm. He be- came the owner of about twelve hundred acres of land and had one of the finest country resi- dences in the county. He was practical and ener- getic in all that he did, a thorough-going busi- ness man, who carefully controlled his agricul- tural interests and dealt quite extensively in stock. He died May 12, 1896, while his wife passed away February 14, 1905.

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Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 71

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