USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 80
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JOHN SIGSWORTH.
John Sigsworth, who is now practically living a retired life in New Salem but is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to- which he gives his personal supervision, is famil- iar not only with the history of pioneer life in Pike county, but also with the eventful varied in- teresting experiences connected with early develop- ment and improvement of California following the discovery of gold upon the Pacific slope. He was among those who made the long journey across the plains and over the mountains when there were no railroads and when it required several months in order to complete the trip, the trav- elers often bearing many hardships as they slowly proceeded on their way toward the setting sun, over roads that were little more than a trail, hav- ing to carry all of their provisions and supplies with them because of the impossibility to obtain anything as they journeyed over the great desert or through the mountain passes.
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JOHN SIGSWORTH
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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Mr. Sigsworth is a native of England, born on the 26th of January, 1825. His parents were Joseph and Ann (Coleman) Sigsworth, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they were reared and married. In the year 1830 (our subject being then a lad of five years), they started with their family for the new world, taking passage on the sailing vessel St. Mary, which weighed anchor in the harbor of Liver- pool and arrived at Quebec after a voyage of seven weeks. Mr. Sigsworth at once made his way from Canada into the United States, locat- ing in Ohio, where he remained until 1835, when he came to Illinois, settling first in La Salle county, but he removed to Pike county in 1836. He then took up his abode in Derry township. which was an unbroken wilderness, and pur- chased eighty acres of government land, on which he built a log cabin. He then cut down the trees, grubbed out the stumps, broke the wild prairie and in fact performed all the labor inci- dent to the establishment of a farm upon the fron- tier. He was one of the worthy pioneer settlers, carefully directing his labors as the years went by and prospering in his undertaking until, at the time of his death, he was the owner of five hundred and sixty-three acres of land, which had become very valuable because of the rapid settle- ment of the county and also because of the care he had bestowed upon the fields and the splendid improvements he had placed upon the farm. Both he and his wife were members of the Church of England. His political allegiance was given to the whig party but he was without aspiration for office. Classed among the representative pioneer settlers of the community, his position in this regard was due to the active and helpful part which he bore in the early progress and develop- ment of this section of the state. He passed away December 27, 1858, when past the age of sixty- two years, while his widow surviving him, passed away at the age of ninety years. Their three children were also born in England but Elizabeth and Benjamin are both deceased.
John Sigsworth, who was the second in order of birth, can remember the time when the family lived in a pioneer district of Ohio and also the trip to Illinois, he being then about ten years of
age. When a youth of eleven years he became a resident of Pike county. and assisted in the diffi- cult task of transforming wild and unbroken land into productive fields. His educational privileges were necessarily limited because of the primitive condition of the schools in a frontier district but his training at farm labor was not meagre. He was first married when about twenty-one years of age and lived upon his father's farm until twenty- five years of age. In 1850 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope and the business opportunities that were thereby opened up. He traveled with a wagon train overland& from Derry township, being on the road for three months, following the old government trail to Coloma. He then engaged in herding stock, being first employed by Johnson & Company. Later he succeeded in obtaining news tending to the whereabouts of his brother Benjamin Sigsworth, who was then in California, and joining him they together engaged in pur- chasing from the emigrants cattle which had been driven overland. They bought over one hundred head in this way which they then herded and sold as beef cattle. The brothers also took up a claim of government land, on which they erected a house, which was built, however, in New York and shipped to California, it being necessary only to put the parts together there. Mr. Sigsworth of this review remained in California until the fall of 1853, when he returned to Pike county by the way of the isthmus and bought one hun- dred head of cattle, with which he started over- land to California in 1854. He journeyed as far westward as Salt Lake City, where he sold the cattle and purchased mules, continuing on his way to California with four teams. He had with him on this trip seven men and his wife. They were five months on the road and after reaching his ranch Mr. Sigsworth began raising barley and stock, continuing in the far west until the fall of 1858. He then sold out and returned to Pike county, locating at New Salem. He has since been a factor in business life in this part of the county and at one time owned two hundred acres of land. He also engaged in merchandising for three years and he and his wife now own one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he is
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farming, although he lives in the village. For twenty-five years he was engaged quite exten- sively in buying stock and grain and built an ele- vator in New Salem, where he bought wheat and corn. He also bought cattle, hogs and sheep and conducted an extensive and profitable business but now gives his attention merely to the super- vision of his farming interests and therefore is largely enjoying a rest, which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
Mr. Sigsworth was married about the time he attained his majority to Miss Sarah M. Brawley, who was born in Ohio. She died at the age of sixty-two years and of the seven children born of their union two have also passed away, Jane and John, who were the fourth and fifth respectively in order of birth. Those still living are, Dennis Benjamin, Lydia, Mary E., Alice and William. For his second wife Mr. Sigsworth chose Mrs. Rebecca Gleckler, whose birth occurred in Harri- son county, Ohio; December 29, 1847. Her parents were John and Casander (Lyons) Fife, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Her father died in 1868, at the age of sixty-two years, while her mother passed away in 1871, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, following that pursuit in Ohio until the spring of 1867, when he removed to Illinois and purchased eighty acres of land. He then re- turned to Ohio on business and died while in that state. In his family were twelve children, of whom eight are now living: Rachel; James and Easter, both deceased ; Jacob V .; Sarah, who has departed this life; Robert; Martha; Elizabeth, deceased; Rebecca, now Mrs. Sigsworth; Cassie J .; Samuel G .; and John W. In early woman- hood Miss Rebecca Fife gave her hand in mar- riage to Andrew Gleckler, who died leaving two children, Albert and Ralph. She afterward mar- ried Mr. Sigsworth on the Ist of December, 1891, and they now occupy a pleasant home in New Salem.
Mr. Sigsworth on each election day is found at the polls to support the candidates of the republican party for he has long been a stanch advocate of its principles and policy. He has served as assessor and tax collector and has been a member of the school board for twenty-five
years or more. He was made a Mason in Barry in 1859 and is now affiliated with New Salem lodge, No. 218, A. F. & A. M., and has acted as. its treasurer. In the evening of his life he can look back over many interesting experiences and relate many incidents concerning the pioneer history of this county and of his sojourn in California in days of its early mining excitement and the de- velopment which followed upon the discovery of gold there. He was a great hunter while in the west and had some exciting experiences when bear hunting. He figured for many years as a prominent and reliable factor in business circles in this county and is still managing his farming interests. With a wide acquaintance and many warm friends in the county which has so long been his home the history of his life can not fail to prove of interest to the large majority of our readers.
J. D. THURMON, M. D.
Dr. J. D. Thurmon is one of the progressive and successful young men of Pike county who has already given marked evidence of his skill and ability as a representative of the profession which he has chosen as a life work. He is prac- ticing in St. Louis, Missouri, where a liberal pat- ronage has been accorded him. His birth oc- curred December 7, 1870, on the farm in Pike county now owned by William H. Hess, his parents being William H. and Lucy L. (Smith) Thurmon. Upon the old homestead farm he was reared and his preliminary education was ac- quired in Bedford and West Grove schools in Montezuma township, later taking a course in the Normal School of Valparaiso, Indiana. He remained upon the farm until twenty-seven years of age, largely engaged in the work incident to its further cultivation and improvement but think- ing that he would find other occupation more congenial, in the fall of 1897 he went to Chicago, where he accepted a position as traveling sales- man with John E. Hoham & Company, publish- ers, with whom he remained for about two years. In 1899 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he began the study of medicine, entering the Barnes
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Medical College, from which he was graduated with honors in the class of 1904, the degree of M. D. being conferred upon him in that year.
Dr. Thurmon following his graduation re- moved to St. Francis county, Missouri, locating in the town of Esther, where he engaged in prac- tice for a year. He next opened his office in St. Louis, where he has since remained and now has a lucrative practice which is constantly growing in volume and importance. He early demon- strated his ability to cope with the difficult prob- lems which continually confront the physician. He had been well equipped for his profession by a study that broadened his knowledge and pro- moted his efficiency. The Doctor is a member of the Woodmen Circle, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies of Honor. Although yet a young man his life may" well serve as an ex- ample to others, showing what courage and am- bition can accomplish. He has had no assistance and has chosen as· a life work à profession in which advancement depends entirely upon indi- vidual merit. Already he has attained success and prominence that many an older physician might well envy and it is safe to prophesy that still greater success will attend his efforts in the future.
CAPTAIN A. J. LOVELL.
Captain A. J. Lovell is now practically living retired from active business life in Pittsfield, where he has made his home for the past twenty- nine years. He is, however, the owner of con- siderable real estate in the city and several farms in Pike county, to which he gives his personal supervision. A native of Pike county, Missouri, he was born on the 25th of December, 1829, his parents being William and Sarah (Updegrove) Lovell, who removed from North Carolina to Missouri in the fall of 1829, and there resided un- til called to their final rest. The father died when his son was but five years of age, and the wife passed away several years later. Captain Lovell had five brothers and two sisters but only two of this number are yet living, the sister, Mrs. Polly Lovelace, now residing in Missouri, at the age of
over ninety years, while her brother, Joseph C. Lovell, is engaged in mining and makes his home in Billings, Montana.
Captain Lovell, reared and educated in the county of his nativity, remained there until 1856, when he removed to Pike county, Illinois, set- tling in Pleasant Hill township. For thirty years he was engaged in merchandising with gratifying success such as comes as the result of close ap- plication, unremitting diligence and strong and honorable purpose. During that time he pur- chased several tracts of land and is today the owner of about twelve hundred acres, although his realty possessions at one time were much larger. His farms lie in Newburg, Ross and Pittsfield townships and are leased to various parties but to the business interests connected therewith Captain Lovell gives his personal supervision. In June, 1876, he removed to Pitts- field and completed his present home, which had been begun by Samuel Hayes. In this city he established a jewelry store, which he conducted for a few years and then sold out. At the time of the Civil war Captain Lovell raised a company for service in defense of the Union and was mus- tered in on the 6th of August, 1861, at St. Louis, Missouri, owing to the fact that the Illinois quota had been filled. He therefore became a mem- ber of Company C, Tenth Missouri Infantry, and was elected and served as captain for nine months, the regiment being assigned to the Western Army. He was discharged in May, 1862, and then resumed business at Pleasant Hill, where he continued until his removal to Pittsfield. He has for many years been a director of the First Na- tional Bank of this city but is largely living re- tired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
Captain Lovell was married in Pike county, Illinois, at Pleasant Hill, to Miss Rebecca A. Bar- ton, who was born in that village in 1842 and is a daughter of Thomas Barton, a pioneer and prominent farmer who died before the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Lovell have become the parents of six children : Charles T., a salesman, who is mar- ried and has two children and makes his home in Louisiana, Illinois; A. B., who is connected with the board of trade of Chicago; F. P., who is engaged in the jewelry business in Somerset,
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Kentucky, and is married and has two children; Addie F., the wife of Florin Knox, of Beards- town, Cass county, Illinois, by whom she has one child, a son; and Eva V. and Otis D., both at home.
In his political views Captain Lovell is an earn- est democrat and has filled some local offices, serving as justice of the peace and also as super- visor. Socially he is a prominent Mason, having been initiated into the order in May, 1853, and he has since taken the degrees of the blue lodge, commandery and chapter at Pittsfield. He also belongs to the Methodist church. In his business life he has made a creditable record, manifesting the diligence, perseverance and keen discernment which never fail to win success, while in other relations of life he has been found as a loyal sol- dier and public-spirited citizen and a faithful friend. He has reached the seventy-sixth mile- stone on life's journey, respected and honored by all who know him.
MRS. JANE E. ADAMS. .
Mrs. Jane E. Adams, one of the worthy pioneer women of Pike county, having long resided with- in its borders where she has a wide and favor- able acquaintance, was born in Troy, New York, on the 20th of June, 1829, and there spent the first seven years of her life, after which she came to Pike county, Illinois, in 1836, with her parents, John and Abigail (Bennett) Sanderson. Her father was called to Rockport in that year to build and take charge of the flour and grist mill there. He was both a millwright and car- penter by trade and he performed the task as- signed to him. in a capable manner. He lived alternately at Rockport and at Summer Hill until 1883 and after abandoning the milling business he concentrated his energies upon carpentering and erected the church and many residences in Summer Hill and other parts of the county, in- cluding some in Rockport. On the 7th of May, 1853, he lost his wife, who died at Summer Hill and was buried in the cemetery there. He after- ward wedded Mrs. Merrill, of Pittsfield, and at
her death her grave was made in the West ceme- tery of that city. Mr. Sanderson passed away in Pittsfield on the 3Ist of October, 1893, and was buried in Summer Hill cemetery by the side of his first wife. By that marriage there had been born eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely : Mary A., Charles H., Robert B., William H., George R., Charles F., Jane E. and one son who died at birth. Of these William H., George R. and Mrs. Adams are still living.
Being brought to Pike county when a little maiden of only seven years Mrs. Adams ac- quired her education in the early district schools and was reared amid the wild scenes and environ- ments of pioneer life, so that her mind bears the impress of early events and conditions in the county when all families were forced to meet hardships and trials incident to the establish- ment of homes on the frontier. She was trained to the duties of the household and was thus well qualified to take charge of a home of her own. when on the 14th of October, 1849, she gave her hand in marriage to Jeremiah G. Adams, a son of Israel A. and Harriet (Green) Adams, natives of Rensselaer county, New York. The father was a woolen manufacturer of the Empire state and on leaving the east he removed with his family to the Ross homestead in Pike county, Illi- nois, in 1843. Here Mrs. Adams has lived for fifty-six years. Her father engaged in farming for many years, carefully cultivating his land and carrying on the work of improvement until he had a splendidly developed property in Atlas township. He died September 17, 1883, and was buried in the Adams and Dustin cemetery. His wife survived until February 12, 1884, when her grave was then made by the side of her husband's.
Jeremiah G. Adams was sixteen years of age when his parents came to Pike county. He had been educated in the schools of Stephentown, New York, and following the removal to the west he engaged in farming with his father up to the time of his marriage in 1849. His father then retired from the active management of the home farm and he took charge of the property, continu- ing its further cultivation and development for many years. He added substantial improvements to the home place and transformed it into a valu-
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able farm property, from which he annually har- vested good crops that found a ready sale on the market. In addition to his capable management of his farming interests he found time and oppor- tunity to serve in public office and filled the posi- tion of supervisor of Atlas township for several years. He was also a member of the board of levee commissioners, was school trustee and at the time of his death was road commissioner. He held membership in the Congregational church, to the teachings of which he was most loyal and in the work of which he took an active and help- ful part. His life at all times was honorable and upright and he was fair in his dealings with his fellowmen and just in his treatment of those with whom he was associated. Moreover, he pos- sessed a kindly, generous spirit and cordial dis- position that won him warm friendships and made him popular with those whom he met. His death occurred at the family home in Atlas town- ship, April 30, 1903, and his remains were. in- terred in the Adams and Dustin cemetery. He was a devoted husband, a kind and indulgent father, and his personal qualities were such that his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret throughout the entire community. He had lived in the county from pioneer times to the present era of progress and development and had not only witnessed the trend of events but also bore his part in the movements which have resulted beneficially to his part of the county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born nine children, of whom one died unnamed at birth, while the others were Hattie A., Mary E., Clar- ence A., Fannie, Laura V., George S., Maggie A. and Jennie. Of these all are yet living with the exception of Clarence A. and Jennie, the latter dying July 24, 1865. and the former on the 5th of January, 1875. They, too, were interred in the Adams and Dustin cemetery. Mrs. Adams still resides upon the old farm homestead in Atlas township at the advanced age of seventy-six years and for seventy years she has lived in Pike county, few having arrived here prior to the time when her parents established their home on what was then a wild western frontier. She has led a busy and useful life, has reared a family of children who have done credit to her name and
teachings, and is now one of the esteemed and valued pioneer women of the county; held in lov- ing regard by many for her acts of kindliness and many good qualities.
ASAHEL DUFF.
Asahel Duff, a resident of Spring Creek town- ship, is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, his farm being devoted to the produc- tion of cereals and fruit. His land is located on sections 1 and 12 and two hundred acres have been placed under cultivation. His time and energies are concentrated upon the further im- provement and development of the place and he has come to be known as an enterprising agricul- turist.
Mr. Duff was born in Detroit township, Pike county, February 10, 1846, and is a son of Asahel and Abigail (Milligan) Duff. Tradition says that the Duff family in America were descended from thirteen Irish brothers, all of whom were in revolt against King George and the English gov- ernment when living in Ireland. The family name at that time was spelled McDuff. A price was set upon the heads of these brothers by the English crown and therefore they emigrated to America and changed their name to Duff. Before separating after they came to America they agreed to maintain the old Christian names commonly in use in the McDuff family, including John, James, Andrew, Philip, Joseph and Dennis. These names frequently appear among the relatives of this day. The brothers served in the cause of liberty during the Revolutionary war, doing their full share in winning the independence of the thirteen colonies. After the close of the Revolu- tion they separated and settled in different states of the newly formed Union.
Philip Duff, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Kentucky and was a son of one of the original thirteen McDuff brothers who came to the new world. He married a Miss Duncan, and unto them were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely: Andrew D., Alfred, John, Hiram, Asahel, Ann, Jane and Lydia Duff.
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Of these Andrew D. and John served in the Mexi- can war. Andrew D. Duff was also distinguished in public life, serving for eighteen years as a cir- cuit judge in a district which contained Jackson, Marion, Franklin, Williamson and Saline counties.
Asahel Duff, father of our subject, was born in Kentucky and at an early age accompanied his parents on their removal from that state to Sa- line county, Illinois, where they lived for a short time and then removed to Franklin county, Illi- nois. Later Asahel Duff, Sr., came to Pike county, where for many years he carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Abi- gail Milligan, whose parents were natives of Milledgeville, Tennessee, in which state they were married. The mother's name in her maidenhood was Hicks. Following their marriage they re- moved to Illinois at an early day, Mrs. Duff be- ing at that time a little maiden of about four years. In their family were two sons, while Mrs. Duff was the only daughter. Her father served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and in a muster of his company he was overcome by heat, which caused his death. The death of Asahel Duff, father of our subject, occurred in Newburg town- ship, Pike county, in 1857, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife, who was born in 1808, also passed away in this county when seventy-seven years of age. In their family were nine children, of whom Asahel Duff, of this review, was the seventh in order of birth. The record is as fol- lows: George B., Mary, Nancy, William C., Den- nis, Elizabeth, Asahel, Hugh H. and Philip. The last named died in infancy and others now de- ceased are: George B., who died in 1861 ; Den- nis in 1881 ; and Nancy in 1903. Dennis and Wil- liam Duff served in the Union army throughout the Civil war, Dennis acting for four years as a member of Company E, Twenty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, while William was for three years a member of Company I, Ninety-ninth Illi- nois Regiment of Volunteers.
In taking up the personal history of our sub- ject we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Pike county. He was reared upon his father's farm in Newburg township and in the neighborhood acquired a good common-school education, pur-
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