Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 87

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 87

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winter and then went to Shreveport, Louisiana, where it was stationed until April, 1866. It was mustered out May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and ordered to Springfield, where the men were honorably discharged May 13, 1866, after a service of more than five years' duration. On the expiration of his three years' term Mr. Hurt had been honorably discharged at Vicks- burg, Mississippi, on the Ist of April, 1864, and had then re-enlisted as a veteran in the same com- pany and regiment, at which time he was mus- tered into the United States service as first lieu- tenant of Company G to serve for three years longer or during the war, Lieutenant-Colonel Jo- siah H. Sheets commanding the regiment. For brave and efficient service he received the follow- ing promotions : To orderly sergeant of Company G upon the organization of the regiment for three years' service July 25, 1861 ; commissioned sec- ond lieutenant after the battle of Fort Donelson for meritorious service February 15, 1862; com- missioned first lieutenant July 25, 1864 ; commis- sioned captain October 7, 1864; and mustered in November 16, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6, 1862, by a gunshot through the left arm and side, after which he was removed to a hospital that had been fitted up in a church at Savannah, Tennessee, where he remained for about twenty days. He was then granted a furlough, which he spent at home, after which he rejoined his regiment before Corinth, Mississippi, in May, 1862. He was in signal service for about a year, including a part of 1862 and of 1863. He participated in all the engagements of the Eighth Illinois Regiment dur- ing its long and arduous service and was mus- tered out with his command at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the 4th of May, 1866. The Eighth Illinois was longer in continuous service than any other volunteer organization during the Civil war and was next to the last infantry regiment to be mustered out from Illinois. Mr. Hurt was the first man to enlist from Barry and in fact the only one that enlisted for three months' service and he was the last one to be discharged. His military record is certainly one of which he has every reason to be proud and the country owes to him a debt of gratitude for what he accomplished in

behalf of the Union cause. The family of which he is a representative has ever been noted for its patriotism, loyalty and bravery. Mr. Hurt's father and three of his sons, John M., Elisha and Charles H., and his son-in-law, Major E. A. Cran- dall, of the Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, gave to the government an aggregate serv- ice of fifteen years during the Civil war.

While home on a furlough Charles H. Hurt was married at Barry, on the 5th of May, 1864, to Miss C. Mell Cram, a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Orange and Susan (Carroll) Cram. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt had five children, but all died in infancy. How- ever, they have adopted two children, one of whom is living, Joseph N. Hurt, who is still with his foster parents.

From 1874 until 1881 Mr. Hurt was auditor and paymaster for the St. Louis, Keokuk & North- western Railroad and made all the payments dur- ing that period, including the construction of sev- enty-five miles of new road. He afterward en- gaged in farming for ten years and in 1891 he engaged in the hardware business, which he fol- lowed until 1893. In 1896 he erected the post- office block and was then engaged in the furniture business until 1902. In 1900 he had been ap- point postmaster and since 1902 he has devoted his entire attention to the duties of the position. In politics he is a stalwart republican and has acted as supervisor of Barry township. He belongs to Barry lodge, No. 34, A. F. & A. M., and for ten years has been honored with the office of secretary. He is also a member of Barry charpter, No. 88, R. A. M., and belongs to John McTucker post, No. 154, G. A. R., of Barry, in which he has acted as commander for two terms. His father was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Barry Masonic lodge, which was established in 1845, the organization being effected at his home, which is still standing, and he was chosen its first secretary. Charles H. Hurt is now one of the oldest business men of the town of Barry, having been identified with its in- terests since 1852. Throughout this period his course has been such as to win for him the un- qualified respect and regard of his fellowmen. In matters of citizenship he has been as loyal to his

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community and his country in days of peace as when he followed the old flag upon southern battle-fields and in business affairs. he has been straighforward and honorable, while in all social and fraternal relations he has been found true to the trust reposed in him.

JAMES WILLIAMSON.

Of the residents of Pittsfield who are con- tributing to the business activity and prosperity of the city as well as to their individual success, James Williamson is a representative. He is en- gaged in the grain trade, and operates the only exclusive elevator in Pittsfield. Success in any line of occupation, in any avenue of business is not a matter of spontaneity, but is the legitimate off- spring of subjective effort in the broader utiliza- tion of the means at hand, the improvement of opportunity and the exercise of one's native pow- ers. That Mr. Williamson today ranks among the prominent residents of Pittsfield, is attributable entirely to his own labors; for in the fullest sense he has been the architect of his own fortunes, building wisely and well. A native of Ohio, he was born in 1838. His father, Jesse Williamson, born in Baltimore, Maryland, was of Irish de- scent ; and, removing to Ohio, there turned his attention to farming which he followed until 1857. He then came with his family to Pike county, Illinois, settling in Newburg township, where he made investment in one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which he carried on general farming until his later years. He contin- ued to reside, however, upon the old homestead until his death, which occurred in 1894. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Sloan, was born in Highland county, Ohio. Mr. Wil- liamson was well known in the county as a man of good business capacity, independent in thought and action, but of upright character and high prin- ciples. He was identified with no religious nor political organization, but gave his support wher- ever he thought it merited and co-operated in many movements for the general good. In the family were four children, of whom two are liv-

ing: James and Thomas, the latter a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois. He is married and has two children : Ernest E., who is editor of the Inde- pendent Press at Griggsville, Illinois ; and Ray- mond, who is residing in Oklahoma.

James Williamson began his education at the usual age in the common schools, and afterward attended the Commercial College at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for a short time. Subsequent to his removal to Pike county, he began farming, purchasing a tract of land in Newburg township. He has since been a landowner of this county and is to-day the possessor of eighty acres, constitut- ing a well improved and beautiful farm. For many years he actively carried on general farm work himself, but now rents his land. About 1887 he engaged in the grain business in Pitts- field, and in connection with Thomas Ward pur- chased the old mill, which was one of the first plants of this character in the county. The part- nership was maintained for a time, and then Mr. Williamson purchased Mr. Ward's interest ; and not long afterward the mill burned down. Mr. Williamson having purchased the old creamery building, converted it into an elevator, and has since engaged in buying wheat. He also purchased a feed mill, and has ground feed, cornmeal and graham flour-commodities which he exchanges for wheat. He has the only feed mill in the town, and is doing a nice business here.

Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Ellen Hayden, who was born in Newburg township, Pike county, in 1848, a daughter of L. E. Hay- den, a farmer owning two hundred acres of land, and one of the early settlers of Pike county, to which place he came in 1832 from Missouri. Mrs. Williamson has a brother in Pittsfield-Newton J. Hayden, while another brother, William F. Hayden, a soldier of the Civil war, is residing at Milton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williamson have been born two sons: Orville, who was educated in Pittsfield and in the Commercial College at Quincy, married Ida Hamilton, of Barry, where they now reside, and where he is acting as cash- ier of the First National Bank. Gay, who was educated in Pittsfield and in the Commercial Col- lege at Quincy, is a farmer living in Pittsfield. He married Salina Carnes, of this city, and they

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have five children, Luella, Helen, Presley, Bir- della and Verdon.

In his political affiliation Mr. Williamson is a republican, but without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter and coun- cil. He is regarded as an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, being true to the teach- ings of the craft, which is based upon mutual help- fulness and brotherly kindness. He is a very busy man, yet he is ever ready to pause in the . midst of business duties to lend a helping hand to friend or neighbor, or to aid in advancing the city's welfare. He is moreover worthy of the re- spect which is freely accorded him, for his name is a synonym for honorable dealing, with all that is elevating and beneficial to the city and county.

CHARLES R. WYATT.

Charles R. Wyatt, proprietor of the Wyatt Ho- tel at Rockport, is a self-made man, deserving much credit for what he has accomplished in the business world. He was born January 4, 1843, in New York city, where he spent the first ten years of his life, acquiring his primary education there. He is the son of Richard and Elizabeth (Cole) Wyatt, being the fifth in order of birth in a family of eight children. The parents were both natives of England, where they were reared, educated and married. They emigrated from London with their three children and landed at New York city'. The father was an umbrella-ma- ker, and worked at his trade up to the time of his death, which occurred June 1I, 1850, in New York, when he was thirty-nine years of age, his remains being interred in the Greenwood ceme- tery in Brooklyn. His wife survived him until August .29, 1865, and died on the W. R. Wills farm near Pittsfield, her remains being interred in the West cemetery near that city. She was for- ty-nine years of age at the time of her demise.

In October, 1853, Charles R. Wyatt left the eastern metropolis in company with his brother William, and made his way to Rockport, Pike

county, Illinois. He was sent here by the Chil- ' drens' Aid Society of New York city. Mrs. Wyatt having been left without means upon her husband's death, and with a family of eight chil- dren to support, was obliged to seek assistance; and it was thus that the two brothers came to Pike county. Charles R. Wyatt was then bound out to Thomas Odiorne, a farmer residing one mile north of Rockport, with whom he remained until twenty-one years of age, engaged in active farm work. At the end of that time he re- ceived one hundred dollars in money and a suit . of clothes-a very meagre recompense for his ten years of faithful labor. He at once left the farm of Mr. Odiorne, and for about one year was em- ployed at farm labor by others. At this time, 1864, his mother arrived in Atlas township with her younger son, George, and Mr. Wyatt then rented forty acres of farm land from W. R. Wills near Pittsfield. There the family resided for one sum- mer; and it was upon that farm that the mother died.

On the 15th of April, 1866, Mr. Wyatt won a companion and helpmate for life's journey by his marriage to Miss Sarah K. Mace, a daughter of John and Lucia M. (Chamberlin) Mace, in whose family were five children, she being the fourth in order of birth. John Mace was a na- tive of Bangor, Maine, born December 9, 1818, and was a carpenter by trade. He removed to Illinois at an early day, and was married in Griggsville township. He worked at his trade up to the time of his death, which occurred in Rockport, October 13, 1863, and his grave was made in the cemetery at New Salem, Pike county. His widow still survives him and yet makes her home in Griggsville. She is now the wife of Isaac Cunningham. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have been born two sons and two daughters. Phillip A. married Miss Edna Donohoe, August 8, 1894, and after her death wedded Alice B. Shaw, Sep- tember 5, 1901, their home being now in Rock- port. Lucia E. was born August 1, 1871, and is with her parents, now teaching the seventh con- secutive term in the Rockport schools. Jessie L., born April 19, 1874, was married August 16, 1896, to Charles L. Gay and they reside five miles northeast of Rockport. Charles A., born No- .

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vember 26, 1877, was married August 9, 1900, to Zeulah Hoy and resides in Oklahoma.

Mr. Wyatt is a stalwart republican in his po- litical views, but has never taken an active part in political affairs or sought office. His life has been devoted to his business affairs, and he is now proprietor of the Wyatt Hotel at Rock- port, which he is capably conducting. It is find- ing favor with the traveling public, and he re- ceives a good patronage. He and his wife have traveled life's journey happily together for many years, and death has never entered their im -. mediate household. They are devoted to each other, are faithful in friendship and have great happiness in their grandchildren, now seven in number.

JAMES EMERSON.

James Emerson, whose farm in Pleasant Vale township is devoted to the cultivation of fruit as well as to the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, is a native of Carroll county, Ohio, borra on the 21st of December, 1836. His parents were Ephraim and Elizabeth (Wallace). Emerson, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. A farmer by occupation, Ephraim Em- erson became identfied wth agrcultural inter- ests in Pike county in 1838, settling in Pleasant Vale township, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, the tract then being covered with timber. He at once be- gan to clear away the trees and cultivate the fields. In 1851 he sold forty acres of his land, after which he removed to a farm south of New Canton and still later made his home nearer that city. At the time of his death he was the owner of a good farm of two hundred and forty acres, which was the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift, for his prosperity was attributable, entirely to his own labors. In politics he was a whig and in later years became a re- publican. For a long period he served as school director; and the cause of education found in him a warm friend. His wife held membership in the Methodist church; and he contributed to its sup-

port. His death occurred when he was seventy -. two years of age, while Mrs. Emerson passed away at the age of fifty-nine years. In their fam- ily were seven children, but only three are living :. James ; Jehu, of Berry; and Amanda, the wife of Frank Uppenhouse.

In his early boyhood days, James Emerson was a common-school student ; and he began life for himself at the age of twenty-two years. He purchased the farm upon which he now resides, and which was then but partially improved. He now owns seventy-five acres of land whereon he. follows general farming and stock-raising. . This is a fine place on the river bottom, the soil being very rich and productive. The farm is well fenced,. and well improved in every particular; and he has considerable fruit upon his place. The build- ings comprise a comfortable residence, good barns and commodious sheds; and the latest improved machinery facilitates the work of the fields. In all that he does he is practical, and. his labors have been characterized by system as well as by unre- mitting attention to all the details of his business.

On the Ioth of March, 1859, Mr. Emerson was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Yearlev, who was born in Pleasant Vale township, April 12, 1840, and was a daughter of Orlando and Orinda (Gard) Yearley, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Ohio. Both died during the early girlhood of their daughter, Mrs. Emerson. Unto them were born three chil- dren, of whom two are now living. The father's death occurred in 1846. For her second husband Mrs. Emerson's mother married John Yearley, a. brother of Orlando, and to them were born three children : Orlando; Luenna, the wife of Thomas Cochran; and Clarissa, who is the widow of B. F. Boyd and resides in Iowa. The grandfa- ther of Mrs. Emerson came to Pike county about 1830, settling in Pleasant Vale township. He was a farmer by occupation and aided in the early progress and improvement of this part of the state. Mrs. Emerson's father was a whig in his political views; and both he and the mother of Mrs. Emerson were Universalists in religious faith. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children: Emma, the wife of D. L .. Nicholas, who resides near her father; Charles E .;

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living in St. Louis, Missouri; and William Henry, at home.

Since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln Mr. Emerson has been a stal- wart republican. He is a gentleman of fine per- sonal appearance and he and the other members of the family are of friendly, social natures, en- joying in large measure the good will and kindly regard of all with whom they have been associ- ated. He has always lived the life of a farmer and although the years have been quietly passed, his record is one worthy of commendation and of emulation, for he has been true to his duties of citizenship, has met all of the obligations of busi- ness life and has manifested in his social rela- tons those traits of character which add much to the sum total of human happiness.

JOSEPH H. WELLS.

Joseph H. Wells, who is engaged in general blacksmithing in Atlas, was born January 28, 1876, in New Canton, Pike county, a son of Archie and Mary Jane Wells. The father, a na- tive of Adams county, Illinois, has followed farm- ing, but is now engaged in selling groceries in and around New Canton ; and he and his wife still make their home in New Canton township.

Joseph H. Wells of this review acquired his preliminary education at Cincinnati Landing, and afterward spent some time in the Spring school in New Canton township. Later he attended the Stony Point district school, and again became a student in the Spring school. He was reared upon his father's farm, and through the periods of vacation his time was largely given to the labor. of the fields. He thus followed farming until twenty-one years of age, at which time he began learning the blacksmith's trade at Barry, Illi- nois, under the direction of Jasper Dudley, for whom he worked for about a year. In 1897, at the age of twenty-two years, he engaged in black- smithing for himself at Seahorn, Pike county, where he continued in the same business for two years. He afterward went to Hull station, near Kinderhook, where he followed his trade for

eighteen months, at the end of which time he went to Pike station, wherehe spent two and a half years at blacksmithing. In June, 1903, he arrived in Atlas and has since conducted a smithy here, meeting with good success in his business. Hard and unremitting labor has brought him a com- fortable living ; and he now has a good patronage because of his excellent work and his straight- forward dealing.

On the 19th of May, 1895, Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Hattie May Hart, a daughter of Norman and Sarah J. (Underwood) Hart. Four children have been born of this union, three daughters and a son: Annie, born December 10, 1895; George Dewey, born Au- gust 1, 1899; Sarah E., who was born December II, 1902, and died at birth, the burial being made in the Shear graveyard at New Canton ; and Mag- gie E., born July 20, 1904. Mrs. Wells' father, Norman Hart, was born in this county, is now deceased and was buried in the Barry cemetery. His widow has since married Francis M. Cory, who resides in Atlas township.

Mr. Wells is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America. He has a wide acquaintance in his part of the county, his entire life having been passed within its border; and, in his home com- munity, is known as one whose diligence and. re- liability are unquestioned features in his business career. Moreover, his advancement has come be- cause he has constantly sought it. He started out empty-handed, and with no assistance from influ- ential friends or advantageous circumstances, he has gained a creditable position in industrial circles.

CHARLES N. HAINES.

Charles N. Haines who is connected with com- mercial pursuits in Rockport as a representative of Haines, Rupert & Company, and who is filling the office of justice of the peace for the second term, was born in this village, May 17, 1870, his parents being Thomas R. and Florence J. (Crenshaw) Haines. The father was a na- tive of Derry township, Pike county, while the mother was born in Summer Hill. Throughout

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his active business career Thomas R. Haines engaged in farming and his death occurred about four miles from Rockport at what was then known as Gilgal in Atlas township, his remains being interred in the Rockport cemetery. Mrs. Haines is still living and now makes her home in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of fifty-five years. She has marriel again, her second husband being D. W. Rapalee.

Charles N. Haines acquired his education in the district schools of Rockport and after putting aside his text-books went to South Dakota, where he was employed upon a farm for four years. He afterward followed various business pursuits in that state until 1889, at which time he returned to Rockport and accepted a position as salesman in the store of Haines, Rupert & Company, where he has since remained, being one of the most trusted and capable representatives of the house. He has been elected twice to the office of justice of the peace in Atlas township, being first chosen to fill out an unexpired term in April, 1903, as the successor of W. T. Barton. He was then re-elected on the republican ticket in April, 1905, and was commissioned .on the 18th of April, running ahead of his ticket and defeating W. P. McEwen. His admistration of the office has given eminent satisfaction for he is unbiased in his judg- ment and at all times impartial to those who bring their litigated interests into his courts. As a republican he has been active and energetic in support of the party and is recognized as one of the leading influential and representative young men of Rockport and the western part of Pike county.

MICHAEL FISHER.

Michael Fisher, well known as a resident of Bee Creek and an enterprising citizen of his part of the county, was born in Columbus, Ohio, November 18, 1835, his parents being Jacob and Mary (Briggs) Fisher. The former was also a native of Columbus, Ohio, and his father, Michael Fisher, Sr., was one of the pioneer residents of that city, taking up his abode there when it

consisted of a few log cabins. The settlers were in constant conflict with the Indians, who resented the encroachments of the white men upon their hunting grounds and were very hostile. It was about this time that Captain Crawford was burned at the stake by the Indians forty miles northeast of Columbus. Michael Fisher emi- grated from Virginia to Ohio, taking with him his slaves, whom he set free in the Buckeye state and all of whom took his name. He remained a resident of Columbus up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was about fifty-five years of age. His wife's people also emigrated from Virginia to Ohio. She bore the maiden name of Miss Petty and her cousin, Fisher Petty, was reared in the family of Michael Fisher.

The ancestry of the family can be traced back to a still · more remote period, Michael Fisher, of this review being a direct descendant of Captain Jacob Fisher, who was a Revolutionary soldier and served until the close of the war. He was then commissioned a captain to ferret out the tories and many a one he caught and hung. There was one old tory eighty-five years of age who displayed such bravery that Captain Fisher spared his life. He ordered him to be tied to a rope attached to a horse and pulled through the river. He was baptized in this way four times in an attempt to compel him to acknowledge the independence of the United Colonies of America, but the old man refused to do so. When he was brought out of the river the fourth time he was almost drowned and could not speak. Captain Fisher then said that his life should be spared, but he felt like returning and hanging the man, who as the party of loyal Americans left him gave a faint hurrah for King George and cursed the soldiers for trying to compel him to recognize the independence of the colonies. This Captain Fisher was the great-grandfather of our subject.

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Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 87

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