USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 83
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with his wife in a way more frequently seen at that time than at present. He began farming on a small scale in his native county, where he remained until 1845, when he came to Pike county, Illinois, to begin a new life here. Of earnest purpose and unfaltering diligence, he began work and by his good judgment and econ- omy aided by the prudence and careful manage- ment of his wife he was enabled to accumulate over six hundred acres of valuable land in this county together with other property. After los- ing his first wife he was married again, his sec- ond union being with Mrs. Sarah J. Brown, nee Anderson, who was born near Hillsboro, High- land county, Ohio, August 23, 1840. The Rev. Abel Dunham was a prominent abolitionist dur- ing the prevalence of slavery and when the re- publican party was formed to prevent its further extension he joined its ranks. In later years, long after the slavery question had been settled, he felt that the temperance question was the dominant issue before the people and became an ardent prohibitionist. . His work and influence were ever on the side of righteousness, reform and improvement and the world is better for his having lived. He died August 18, 1899, having for a number of years survived his wife, who passed away February 28, 1886.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moore have been born nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet living. Rachel E. is the wife of Wallace Little, a resident of New Salem township and has one child, Veta. Sarah is the widow of James Snowhill residing in Baylis, Illinois, and has six children. John married Fannie Whitten, by whom he has two children, and makes his home near the village of New Salem. Abel married a Miss Johnson and resides near Mays- ville, Missouri. Colonel Elsworth is married and resides upon his father's farm in New Salem township. William H. married Minnie Cox and lives upon the home farm belonging to his fa- ther. Samuel Lee married Elsie Pease and re- sides in New Salem, being engaged in the stock business. Anna May is living at home.
The parents are members of the United Breth- ren church and Mr. Moore is a member of lodge No. 218, A. F. & A. M., at New Salem, and is a
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charter member of lodge No. 832, I. O. O. F., of Baylis, of which he is also a past noble grand. Mr. Moore is a man of excellent attainments, of splendid qualities and of good ability. He justly deserves all the praise that the term a self-made man implies, for at the early age of twelve years he started out in life on his own account and has since worked his way steadily upward, never taking advantage of the necessities of others, but through earnest purpose and honorable effort, realizing that labor is the basis of all true suc- cess. He is now the owner of a valuable prop- erty which returns to him an income sufficient to enable him to enjoy a well earned rest.
MARION N. PETTY.
Marion N. Petty is the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred acres on section 29, Mon- tezuma township. His birth occurred in Hardin township, Pike county, Illinois, December 3, 1850, and he is descended from good old Revo- lutionary stock, having a great-grandfather in both the paternal and maternal lines who were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. His grand- father, Fisher Petty, was a native of Ohio, served as a major in the Ohio State Militia and had a varied experience with the Tories, as re- corded elsewhere in this volume. He died upon the old homestead farm when about sixty-six years of age.
Alvin Petty, father of our subject, was born in Pike county, Missouri, in 1826 and was reared upon the old Petty homestead farm in Martins- burg township near Pittsfield, Illinois, his educa- tion being largely acquired under the direction of Jon Shastid. He married Miss Julia A. Duf- field, who was born in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1828, this marriage being celebrated in 1848. She was a daughter of James and Catharine Duf- field. Her father was a native of Tennessee and was a soldier of the war of 1812. He entered the army at the age of fourteen years, taking his fa- ther's place. He was quite a traveler, visiting many of the states of the Union, making his way from place to place on horseback. In early life
he followed merchandising and after his re- moval to Pike county purchased a tract of land in Martinsburg township, where he carried. on general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death.
Throughout his entire business career Alvin Petty followed the occupation of farming and during a part of that time he also operated a sawmill upon his place in Hardin township. He built this mill and continued the manufacture of lumber for about twenty years, his son Marion hauling many a load of timber to the mill. Alvin Petty was a natural mechanic and could con- struct anything in wood or iron. He died in Martinsburg township, September 5, 1892, within a half mile of where he was reared and educated, being then sixty-six years of age. His remains were interred in the Highland cemetery. His wife is still living in Pittsfield at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom Marion was the first born. The others are John T., Sarah C., Isaac A., J. F., Mary E., William H. and Frederick. At this date, 1906, all of the children are living with the exception of the second, John T., who died in in- fancy and was buried in the old Highland grave- yard, and J. F., who died at the age of forty- three years and was buried in the West cemetery at Pittsfield, Illinois.
Marion N. Petty is indebted to the public- school system of Pike county for the educational privileges he enjoyed for his preliminary train- ing was received in Hardin township and later he spent two years as a student in Pittsfield. He early became familiar with the task of developing the fields and caring for the crops and through- out his entire life gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits.
He has been married twice, his first union being with Harriet S. Troutner, by whom he had four children: William, born November 3, 1874, died January 13, 1876, and was buried in the Highland graveyard near Pittsfield ; Paul A., born March 1, 1877, and Jerome G., born Octo- ber 5, 1879, are at home; and the fourth child died at birth. For his second wife Mr. Petty chose Miss Lydia Miller, to whom he was mar-
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ried November 29, 1883. She is a daughter of James B. and Mary (Griffin) Miller. Her pa- ternal grandfather was Samuel Miller, who was a miller by trade and lived in Pennsylvania but became one of the early. settlers of Ohio and died in Brown county, that state. He married Lydia Baird, a sister of the famous missionary, Robert Baird. William Miller, the paternal grandfa- ther of Mrs. Petty, was born in Kentucky, whence he removed to Brown county, Ohio, where he engaged in wagon manufacturing. Coming to Pike county, Illinois, he here turned his attention to farming. Here he died and he and his wife have been laid to rest in the Time cemetery in Hardin township.
James B. Miller, father of Mrs. Petty, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1817, and when seven years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Brown county, Ohio. He afterward worked in the flour mill of his father, who was a miller both by name and by trade. He was thus employed for a number of years and in Ohio he was married. The fam- ily removed from Brown to Clermont county, Ohio, and afterward to Pike county, Illinois, where Mr. Miller engaged in farming in Hardin township up to the time of his death, which oc- curred February II, 1873, his remains being in- terred in Time cemetery. His wife was born in Brown county, Ohio, December 30, 1817, and died on the homestead farm in Hardin town- ship, March 3, 1893, her remains being interred by the side of her husband's grave. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born the following named: Samuel W., Sarah F., William F., Elizabeth C., Mrs. Lydia Petty, Anna, Robert B., James A., Lydia Ann, John N. and an infant daughter, who died at birth. Seven of these are now living. while of the deceased, Lydia A. was buried in .Brown county, Ohio, John F. in Clermont county, Ohio, and Robert B. in Time cemetery in Hardin township.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Petty are the following children: Robert E., born September II, 1884: Archie Miller, September 28, 1885 ; Willard Duffield, born Februarv 10. 1887; Ruth A., born December 8, 1888; Mary C., born Feb- ruary .4, 1891 ; Alvin J., May 27. 1894; and a
daughter, who was born and died December 22, 1892. The son Alvin died March 22, 1895, and was buried in Green Pond cemetery as was also the daughter who died unnamed.
· Mr. Petty and his family reside upon an ex- cellent farm on section 29, Montezuma township, where he has a valuable property, comprising two hundred acres. The farm is well equipped with all modern conveniences and in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful super- vision. His energy, discrimination and earnest labor have been the resultant factors in his suc- cess, making him a substantial and representative. farmer of his community.
H. COLVIN.
H. Colvin, conducting a hotel and also engaging in business as a merchant and confectioner, was born April 27, 1866, in Montezuma township, his parents being William and Nancy (Brookens) Colvin, in whose family were 'six children, the subject of this review being the youngest. His youth was passed upon the home farm, where he remained until fifteen years of age, when he be- gan earning his own living as an employe of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. He contin- ued in the service of that corporation in differ- ent capacities for about eighteen years, at the end of which time, in '1883, he resumed farming, which he carried on in Scott county, Illinois, for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Pearl and worked for the Chicago & Al- ton Railroad Company on the rock crusher for about a year, after which he began business here on his own account.
On the 3d of January, 1900, Mr. Colvin was married to Miss Phoebe J. Gauntt, a daughter of John T. and Abigail (Chaplin) Gauntt. In their family were eight children, Mrs. Colvin being the third in order of birth. In 1903 Mr. and Mrs. Colvin purchased the lunch counter business at Pearl from Harry Rule, and for over a year con- ducted the only lunch counter in the town, known as the Star Lunch Room. When he bought the business he paid one hundred and forty-seven dol-
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lars for it, but he has gradually made improve- ments and added to his stock to the amount of seven hundred dollars. Their hotel is one of the neatest and best in Pearl, and was built in 1905, of concrete blocks. It was completed on the 28th of August, and has since been used for hotel purposes. The building is an ornament to the town and a pride to its owner. Mr. and Mrs. Colvin also own a house and lot on the south side of the railroad in Pearl. Formerly Mrs. Colvin was engaged in dressmaking for nine years, and had an excellent patronage, but retired from that business on account of her health. As a merchant and confectioner Mr. Colvin is enjoying a large and lucrative business, having the most extensive trade in his line in the town. Both he and his wife are members of the Mutual Protective League of Pearl, and are held in high esteem by all who know them. Their business success is creditable having been gained through well directed and earnest effort, the enterprising labors of Mr. Col- vin being ably supplemented by the assistance of his estimable wife.
FREDERICK GILLINGS,
Frederick Gillings, a veteran of the Civil war and a prosperous farmer of Atlas township, liv- ing on section 6, where he owns two hundred ·acres of rich and productive land, was born in London, England, August 19, 1837, and ac- quired his education in the schools of that city. His parents were George and Mary (Beckem) Gillings. The former was a plasterer by trade and followed that occupation throughout his en- tire life. Unto him and his wife were born three children, two sons and a daughter, of whom George and Mary are both deceased, leaving Frederick as the only surviving member of the family, and outside of his own immediate fam- ily he has no relatives in America. The father died in London in June, 1867, and his wife passed away a few years later.
Prior to his parents' death, when a youth of fourteen years, Frederick Gillings ran away from home, being possessed of an ardent desire to go to sea, and shipped as a cabin boy aboard her
majesty's gunboat Rattlesnake, with which he cruised in the Black and Baltic seas during the Crimean war, spending eight months in that way. He then returned with the vessel and landed at Wolwich on the River Thames and his father paid a sum of money to secure his release. He then returned to his father's home, where he re- mained for a short time, when he again ran away and embarked on a sailing vessel bound for America, crossing in the steerage. He landed in New York city after a tempestuous voyage.of one month and was without a dollar in a strange land where he had neither friends nor relatives. After passing through quarantine at Castle Gar- den he finally secured a position as waiter in the St. Nicholas Hotel in New York city, occupying that position for eight months. He next went to Lyons, Wayne county, New York, where he se- cured employment as a farm hand on the farm of Silas Patten, where he remained for a year. receiving eight dollars per month and his board. He afterward went to Rochester, New York, where he engaged in making plaster of Paris casts, the knowledge of which he had gained while with his father. He continued in that line of business for a year, after which he came west- ward to Chicago, where he continued in the same business for about four months. He afterward walked to Rock Island, Illinois, where he spent the succeeding winter, and engaged in the manu- facture of plaster of Paris casts. Later he made his way to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed in a similar way for eight months and afterward in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a year. He then went to Monroe, Butler county, Ohio, where he worked as a plasterer until the breaking out of the Civil war.
In April, 1861, Mr. Gillings enlisted as a mem- ber of Company B, First Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and with his company went to Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, where they were fitted out with uniforms, being there mustered in for three months' service. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run, where the Union arms suffered defeat, after which his regiment re- treated to Washington and was there mustered out of service on account of the expiration of their term, in July, 1861. Mr. Gillings returned
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to Monroe, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until the 23d of August, 1862, when he re-en- listed for three years' service in Company A, Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the United States service as a corporal at Frankfort, Kentucky, to serve for three years and was discharged with the rank of sergeant at Cincinnati, Ohio, on a surgeon's certificate of disability, on the 19th of April, 1864. In the meantime he had participated in the hotly contested engagement at Perryville, Kentucky, and in the skirmish at Frankfort, after which he marched with his regiment to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where General Buell was superseded in command by General Rose- crans of the Army of the Tennessee. With his regiment he then marched to Scottsville, Ken- tucky, where they had a skirmish with the en- emy. They afterward proceeded to Gallatin, Missouri, where they remained for about three months, during which time Mr. Gillings served on detached duty. Leaving Gallatin he was or- dered to join his regiment at Nashville, Tennes- see, where the Seventy-ninth Ohio was guarding a bridge for about six weeks and also did guard duty in the city. The troops then marched to Laverne, Tennessee, where they built a fort, re- maining there until the battle of Stone River, in which Mr. Gillings participated and was wounded. He was then sent to the Union hos- pital in Nashville, Tennessee, where he re- mained for one month, when he was detailed with eight others to go to Ohio on recruiting service. He was again obliged to enter the hospital at Nashville on account of his wound, remaining there for about two months, after which he re- joined his regiment and took part in the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and Wahatchie in Georgia. This was in the latter part of 1864. The regiment then marched on to Washington, D. C., was reviewed there and sent to Camp Den- ison, Ohio, where its members were mustered out of service and finally discharged on the 8th of July, 1865, but in the meantime Mr. Gillings, as before stated, had been mustered out on account of disability.
When his military service was ended Mr. Gil- lings returned to Monroe, Ohio, and on the 12th
of October, 1864, he married Miss Anna Maud, a daughter of John and Hannah Maud. Her parents were born in Yorkshire, England, and Mrs. Gillings was the youngest of a family of four sons and four daughters, namely : George, William, John, Richard, Elizabeth, Mary, Har- riet and Anna. Of these three daughters are liv- ing, but the sons are all deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gillings have been born eleven children: Edward, who was born August 19, 1865, and married Ruth Miller, of Rockport; Daisy Maud. who was born October 4, 1867, and is now the wife of Alonzo Lyons; William, who was born June 6, 1872, and married Ettie Enzer ; Nettie. who was born July 19, 1874, and is the wife of Walter Scott; Martha, who was born October 15, 1876, and died March 14, 1897, her remains being interred in the new cemetery at Barry, Illi- nois; Amy, who was born August 26, 1878, and is the wife of Richard Francis; Nina, who was born April 10, 1881, and married Stephen Wil- liams; Drucilla, who was born October 23, 1884, and is the wife of Jesse Williams; Fred, born August 31, 1886; Harry, who was born May 24, 1889; and Mary, who was born May 14, 1888, and died May 2, 1889, her remains being interred in the Taylor cemetery in Eldara, Derry township. The eldest daughter, Martha, who has passed away, was the wife of Alvin Lippincott, and her remains were interred in the new cemetery at Barry.
In the year 1870, Mr. Gillings removed with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked at his trade for two years. He then en- gaged in farming for one season in Cass county, Missouri, after which he journeyed on horseback to Barry, Illinois, a distance of three hundred miles, remaining at that locality during the sum- mer. He then returned to Cass county on horse- back, after which he made a second trip to Barry in the same manner, and finally settled upon his present farm near Rockport, where he has now made his home for twenty-one years. He has here two hundred acres of good pasture land on section 6, Atlas township.
Mr. Gillings is a charter member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Atlas, and be- longs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Rock-
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port. He is also a member of Samuel Hays post, G. A. R., at Summer H11. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party. He was elected constable of. Atlas township in April, 1887, and served for one term. Later he was re- elected to fill a vacancy, serving until May, 1893. He was elected and served for nearly three years as school director of Atlas township, and in 1904 was elected road commissioner, so that he is the present incumbent in that office. All that he pos- sesses in life has been acquired through his own labors, for he started out when a young lad empty- handed; and, in fact, from a very early age de- pended entirely upon his own resources. He proved his loyalty to his adopted country in the Civil war; and is one of the valued residents of Atlas township, for in days of peace he is as loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag upon southern battle-fields.
JOHN A. McKEY.
John A. McKey is the founder of the village of Strout. He opened the first store there and was the first postmaster, and has been closely associ- ated with the material progress and improvement of this part of the county. His birth occurred in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on the 16th of June, 1845, his parents being Andrew and Anna Belle (Low- ery) McKey. His father was a native of Scot- land, born in 1817, and the mother's birth oc- curred in Belfast, Ireland. Their marriage was celebrated in her native country; and they came to America about 1838, settling in Mount Ver- non, Ohio. The father was subsequently engaged in manufacturing pursuits in that place until 1856, when he removed to Keokuk, Iowa, and rented a farm from General Curtis of historic fame. He continued to engage actively in agricultural pur- suits there until 1862, when he came to Spring Creek township, Pike county, Illinois, arriving here before the advent of the railroad. He built the first house upon his farm, and continued the improvement of his land until 1869, when he removed to Frankfort, Missouri, where he carried
on farming up to the time of his death, which oc- curred on his homestead property in that state in January, 1873. His wife survived him for about twenty-four years, her death occurring in Howard, Elk county, Kansas, in her ninetieth year, and there her remains were interred. In. their family were the following children, George W., Elizabeth J., William J., Robert S., Anna Belle and John A. Of these Robert S. and Anna Belle are now deceased, while William J. is lo- cated in Fulton, Callaway county, Missouri. Eliz- abeth J. married William Long, a resident of Day- ton, Washington, who was a Union soldier of the Twenty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Robert E. was a druggist of Eureka, Kansas, up to the time of his demise.
John A. McKey was educated at the Rock Hill schoolhouse in Pike county, and was reared upon his father's farm, assisting in its work until the father went to Missouri, when he began life on his own account by renting the old homestead farm, on which he now resides. Upon the father's death John A. McKey purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home property. In 1862 his mother came to live with him, at which time he was in his sixteenth year, and soon afterward the other members of the family came to make their home with Mr. McKey and his mother, save his eldest brother, George W. McKey, who en- listed in the First Iowa Cavalry in 1861. After serving for three years he re-enlisted and con- tinued with the Union army throughout the re- mainder of the war. He was finally mustered out and was discharged in Dallas, Texas. He now resides in Howard, Elk county, Kansas, and is one of the most prominent, wealthy and influ- ential citizens there, being president of three banks. He was also one of the founders of the town and his money and influence have been a strong directing force in many public measures and business enterprises.
John A. McKey is also numbered among the town-builders of the middle west for he made the first improvements in Strout, was the founder of the village, and erected all of the houses there. He has also conducted for fifteen years the only store in Strout, and does a good business as a merchant, carrying a well selected line of goods,
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and securing from the surrounding country a liberal patronage.
On the 8th of December, 1871, Mr. McKey was united in marriage to Miss Anna Sproule, and unto them have been born nine children: Josie Belle, born June 9, 1872; Anna May, on the 6th of May, 1874; Robbie, February 3, 1876; Adis F., April 7, 1878; John Edwin, February 17, 1880 ; Claudie E., July 9, 1882 ; George L., May 30, 1885; Virgil Paul, January 3, 1889; and Beulah V. December 7, 1892. Of these two are deceased, Robbie, who died in infancy; and George L., who was drowned when in his eleventh year. The eldest daughter, Josie Belle, is now the wife of Sydney Johnson, and they reside in Pearl town- ship. Ann May married Charles Borrowman and resides in Spring Creek township. Adis F. married Florida Scranton and resides in Strout. Claudie Ella married Ivy Joslin and resides in Nebo, Illinois ..
Mr. McKey has served as postmaster at Strout for about eighteen years, serving under the ad- ministrations of Presidents. Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley and Roosevelt. Politically he was for long years a democrat, but it now a strong advo- cate of the prohibition party. He is a man of en- terprise, who has utilized his opportunities to good advantage, and in the careful conduct of his business affairs has met with a gratifying meas- ure of success.
JAMES WHITAKER.
James Whitaker is a retired farmer living in Perry now in the seventy-ninth year of his age. Through a long period he was an active factor in agricultural circles in Pike county and his la- bors were crowned with the success which is the legitimate reward of all earnest and persistent endeavor. Moreover he has so lived as to win the trust and confidence of his fellowmen and his life has been actuated by a kindly spirit, cordial disposition and generous impulses.
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