USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 90
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they went to Nauvoo in Hancock county, where they had trouble on account of being identified with Brigham Young. Consequently most of the company of six hundred fled to Ardine, Mis- souri, and stopped at a gristmill called the "old well," where they were overtaken by a party of forty masked men who fell upon them during the night and massacred over forty men, women and children, throwing their dead bodies into the well. The remainder of the ill-fated party fled from Ardine to Diamond, Missouri, but were hotly. pursued. Five days after reaching Dia- mond they built a big platform, intending to hold a meeting for the purpose of considering the course of reaching Salt Lake City. There the company divided, about half agreeing to go with Brigham Young, after which they were known as the Brighamites, while the other half was known as the Smithites. The latter branch had formerly been known as the Latter Day Saints. The Brighamites got away from Diamond but the Smithites were overtaken. Daniel Bowen, one of the prophets, together with nineteen other prophets or officers .of the sect, were blindfolded and placed on the platform to be shot but Gov- ernor Boggs rode up and demanded that "not a gun be fired." He then took the bandage from the eyes of Daniel Bowen and said, "You look like an honest man. Now I will give you and your people twenty-four hours to get out of this community and ten days to get out of the state. If you don't you will be killed." They all agreed. Daniel Bowen had loaded up his wagons as had the others but the same night their wagon was burned and the horses and cattle were taken away by unknown parties. Daniel Bowen and his family of ten children, together with thirty-four other families, were compelled to march single file through the snow and after many hardships and much suffering they reached Quincy, Illinois. There the party broke up and the different fami- lies scattered over the country. Daniel Bowen and his family finally reached New Canton, where he began working at his trade of shoemaking, which he followed until his death in 1880. His wife died two years before and they were buried in the Morey graveyard near New Canton. It was a daughter of this couple who became the
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wife of Charles Standley. Upon the Brammel farm, which he had purchased, Charles Standley continued to engage in farming up to the time of his death. The farm was encumbered by a deed of trust for one hundred and fifty dollars and was sold to Joseph Alkire because the Standley family were unable to agree as to who owned the farm. Charles Standley died in February, 1894, and was laid to rest in the Barry graveyard. He had long survived his wife, who had passed away November 21, 1869, and was buried in the Morey graveyard near New Canton.
George W. Standley pursued his early educa- tion in the Brewster schoolhouse in Pleasant Vale township southeast of New Canton. He was reared to farm life, working in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He continued to engage in farm work until 1903, when he turned his attention to his present business, opening a meat market in Rockport. He had carried on general agricultural pursuits on his own account in Pleasant Vale and Atlas townships, having ceased to work for others in 1872, when he began operating a farm for himself. He prospered in. his undertakings and since opening his meat mar- ket in 1903 has met with good success in this business. He owns his shop property and also has a nice residence in Rockport.
On the 14th of March, 1869, Mr. Standley was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia E. Black- ledge, a daughter of John and Jemima (Baugh- man) Blackledge, who were natives of Ohio, in which state they were reared and married. They came. to Pike county, November 15, 1847, and in 1854 Mr. Blackledge went to California, remain- ing on the Pacific coast until 1878, when he re- turned to New Canton, Illinois. After remain- ing here for three months with Mr. Standley he went to Montana, since which time no news has been heard of him. Mrs. Blackledge, now Mrs. Smith, makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Standley. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children: Ninett, born December 26, 1869, in Pleasant Vale township, died Febru- ary 2; 1870, in the same township and was buried in the Morey graveyard. Luetta, born March II, 1873; in Pleasant Vale township, near New Can-
ton, died in May, 1876. Cornelia I., born No- vember 30, 1883, in Rockport, died there August 23, 1900, and was buried in the Taylor grave- yard near the village.
In his political views Mr. Standley is an earn- est republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He believes firmly in the principles of the party and rejoices in its success. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Modern Wood- men camp and his well directed efforts have made him a self-made man worthy of all praise which that term implies. He started out on his own account when a young lad, empty-handed and worked as a farm hand for a long period but when possible he engaged in farming on his own account and as the years passed by so directed his labors that his efforts have been crowned with a goodly measure of success and he is now con- ducting a profitable business in Rockport.
ISAAC T. WEBB.
Isaac T. Webb, proprietor of a hotel and livery barn at Rockport, has made a creditable business record by reason of the methods he has followed and the success he has achieved. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Huntingdon county, about three miles from the city of Huntingdon, on the 6th of October, 1835, his parents being Elisha and Polly (Faulkner) Webb. They were natives of New Jersey, in which state they were married, removing thence to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, where the father followed the weaver's trade. He died in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty-five years and was there laid to rest, his wife following him to the grave ten years later when seventy years of age.
Isaac T. Webb acquired his education in the country schools of his native county and was reared upon his father's farm, where he remained assisting in the work of cultivation and improve- ment there until his eighteenth year. He then went to Sandusky, Ohio, and afterward to the farm of his uncle, Henry Webb, working for him for
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two years. He then went to Mahoney county, Ohio, where he worked on the farm of his brother-in-law, David Kearns, for two years or until 1887. In that year he took up his abode in Griggsville, Pike county, Illinois, living with his widowed sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Likely, and for two years worked by the month at farm labor. He next went to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he rented and cultivated a farm until August, 1862. In the meantime he had married Miss Hester Stagg on the 25th of October, 1859, a daughter of Elijah and Rebecca Stagg. She died in 1863, when her husband was fighting for the Union cause and their only child died at birth.
Mr. Webb enlisted in . August, 1862, as a member of Company I, Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain W. W. Law- ton for three years' service, and was mustered in August, 1862. He was sent with his regiment to Springfield and on to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri. He afterward did duty at Pilot Knob and at Frederickstown, where they met the enemy in a skirmish. Afterward the regiment returned to Pilot Knob, where they remained through the winter and in the spring went down the Mississippi river until they reached Helena, Arkansas. Later they proceeded to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and on to Magnolia Hill, where a fierce battle occurred. Mr. Webb was next engaged in the battle of Black River, Mississippi, and later he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, where the company lost heavily. After the capture of Vicksburg Mr. Webb was taken ill and sent to Quincy, Illinois, where he arrived August 24, 1863, and he distinctly re- members seeing the phenomenal spectacle of a heavy frost on the ground on that date. He was ill there for three months, after which he was or- dered to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he spent one month. His three years' term of service having expired, he veteranized and re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, after which he was ordered to Bloomington, Illinois, on a veteran's furlough. When his period of vacation had passed he went to Irvington, Missouri, thence to St. Genevieve in the same state and afterward to Mobile, Alabama, where a skirmish ensued. The next military movement took him to Mont-
gomery, Alabama, and afterward to Meridian, Mississippi. At Springfield, Illinois, he was mus- tered out, and was finally discharged at Vicks- burg on the 24th of November, 1865. He had been a true and faithful soldier, never faltering in his allegiance to the Union cause and on va- rious battle-fields he did active service in defense of the stars and stripes.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Webb returned to Griggsville, Pike county, where he rented a farm, upon which he lived for eighteen years. He was married again in January, 1866, his second. union being with Sarah J. Cohenour. By this marriage there were three children, Ida M., Alice and Daniel L. Webb, all yet living. The elder daughter is the wife of Percy Saunders, a resi- dent of Griggsville, while Alice is the wife of George Temple, of Texas, and Daniel L. is mar- ried and resides at Quincy, Illinois. After se- curing a legal separation from his second wife Mr. Webb was married April 29, 1890, to Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, a daughter of Stewart and Susan (Beard) Marshall» Her father was a native of Kentucky and a tailor by trade. He came with his family to Illinois in 1844, settling in Barry, and afterward removed to Trenton, Missouri, later returned to Barry, and thence went to Pittsfield, where he died on May 12, 1871, at the age of seventy years. His wife died in Rockport at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Webb, October 16, 1895, at the very advanced age of eighty-four years, and her grave was made by the side of her husband's in West cemetery at Pittsfield. Mrs. Webb first married Russell R. Johnson, on the 22d of July, 1855, and by this union were two children : Eliza A., the wife of S. M. Jones, a resident of Fort Collins, Colorado; and Annetta Johnson, who died at the age of four years and was buried in the West cemetery. Mr.Johnson was a farmer up to the time of his death, which occurred September 22, 1882, his remains also being placed in the West cemetery.
For twelve years Mr. Webb carried the United States mail over the Star route between Rock -. port and Pittsfield. He and his wife are an ideal old couple, who have traveled life's journey
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happily together for fifteen years, and both are held in high esteem in the community where they reside. Mr. Webb is now directing his energies to the conduct of a hotel and livery business in Rock- port and is a popular landlord, gaining many friends among his patrons.
NOLAN M. CLEMMONS.
Nolan M. Clemmons, secretary of Jones Com- mercial College, at St. Louis, Missouri, and prin- cipal of its department of shorthand and type- writing, is one of Pike county's native sons, who has made a creditable record since starting out in life on his own account. He was born in Monte- zuma on the 20th of October, 1873, and is a son of Seldon P. and Mary J. (Armstrong) Clem- mons. The ancestral history of the family can be traced back in direct line to the time of Crom- well. Gregory Clemmons, the paternal ancestor, was the owner of a large estate in Huntingdon- shire, England, and was one of the members of parliament who signed the death warrant of Charles I. Under the protectorate, Cromwell, he was appointed minister to Spain and in Cordova married a Spanish lady. Later he was con- demned as a regicide and his estate was confis- cated. His brothers afterward fled to America with his widow and children and settled in Vir- ginia, whence branches of the name have gone to all parts of the United States.
Seldon P. Clemmons, father of our subject, was for more than a decade connected with the business life of Milton, Illinois, being one of the first merchants of the town and built there the first brick store. He was also identified for some time with river steamboat navigation and was the owner of the steamer Gem, plying between Peoria and St. Louis. He has for some time been leading a retired life and in 1904 he was stricken with paralysis, since which time he has been a confirmed invalid.
Nolan M. Clemmons acquired his early educa- tion in the common schools of his native county. In his sixteenth year he successfully passed the teachers' examination given by the county super-
intendent of schools, entitling him to a first- grade certificate, after pursuing the normal-school course. A short time subsequently he entered the Jones Commercial College at St. Louis, Missouri, where by hard study and close application he was within a comparatively brief period prepared to enter the business world. Accordingly we next find him connected with the Hargardine, McKit- trick Dry Goods Company, one of the prominent commercial houses of St. Louis, which he entered as a stenographer, but his connection therewith was brief, owing to the fact that he was recalled to the Jones Commercial College to act as one of' its teachers and is now secretary of the school and principal of its department of shorthand and typewriting. He is considered an expert in his line and has become familiar with various sys- tems of stenography in use throughout the world. The success of this department of the school is attributable entirely to his efforts and he has sys- temized the work and placed it upon a basis so that splendid results are obtained and the stu- dents of the school find themselves well equipped for the practical duties which come as they enter actual business life.
On the 27th of June, 1905, at Maplewood, Mis- souri, Mr. Clemmons was united in marriage to Miss Marie M. Uhrig, a daughter of Stephen and Mary A. Uhrig, the former now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Clemmons have many warm friends, being prominent and popular in the social circles in which they move. He has made thus early his mark in life and it is safe to predict for him an even more successful future.
BARNEY MILLER.
Barney Miller, manager of the Hull Elevator Company, is one of Pike county's most prominent and substantial business men who for more than thirty years has been a representative of commer- cial and agricultural interests in Hull. There may be found in almost all American communi- ties quiet, retired men who never ask public of- fice or seek prominence in public affairs, yet who nevertheless exert a widely felt influence in the
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community in which they live and thereby help to construct the proper foundation upon which the social and political world is built. Such a man is Barney Miller, whose energy and activity have been a strong directing force in promoting gen- eral prosperity and improvement in his adopted county as well as in winning success in his indi- vidual affairs.
A native of Germany Mr. Miller came to America when but four years of age with his parents. They were nine weeks and two days upon the ocean, landing at New Orleans, whence they made their way northward to Adams county, Illinois. Later they took up their abode in the city of Quincy, where the father's death occurred. He dealt to some extent in real estate. The son was reared under the parental roof and acquired a public-school education. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with the grain and stock business and when twenty-eight years of age he came to Pike county, where he has since made his home. It was in March, 1875, that he embarked in merchandising and also in the grain business at Hull but later he retired from the former line and concentrated all his energies upon the stock and grain business, in which he still continues. He is dealing quite extensively in live stock at Plano under the firm name of B. Miller & Company. He has a fine place there, located eight blocks from the depot where he buys and sells stock on an extensive scale, deal- ing principally in cattle and hogs. Thirty-five acres of land are divided into feed lots and stockyards, and he is recognized as one of the most prominent and capable stock-buyers of this part of the state, his judgment being seldom if ever at fault regard- ing the value of farm animals. In 1879 he built an elevator at Hull but soon found that its capac- ity was not great enough and he erected a larger one. In 1904 he organized a company and now controls. the grain trade at this point. In 1879 he had over one hundred thousand bushels of grain piled up at Hull and he handled more grain in that year than any other man in Pike county. The elevator has a capacity of twenty-five thou- sand bushels and he has constantly maintained his place in the foremost ranks of the grain and
stock buyers of the county, his business bringing him a substantial return and at the same time furnishing an excellent market to the farmers of the county.
Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Alta Gerdes, who was born in Germany and it is quite a coincidence that Mr. Miller was a twin and his wife also. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born ten children but seven have passed away and were buried in the cemetery at Quincy, Illinois. Those still living are: Christopher, a farmer residing in Kansas, where he cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land owned by his father; Willie, who is associated with his father in the grain trade at Hull; and Sena, at home. The sons are graduates of the high school at Hull and the daughter is a graduate of the Quincy Business College.
Mr. Miller votes with the republican party but is without aspiration for office. He is recog- nized as a thoroughly reliable business man, is quick of comprehension and intricate business af- fairs he understands readily. His good qualities have made him well liked and he is justly ac- counted one of the representative citizens of Hull and Kinderhook township.
WILLIAM D. MILLER.
William D. Miller, postmaster of Rockport and a representative of farming interests, was born in Atlas township, Pike county, on the 4th of, July, 1857, his parents being John and Ann Eliza (Parker) Miller. The father was a native of Kentucky and his wife was of English parentage. He came to Pike county prior to 1832 and was one of the earliest settlers on Dutch Mill creek. There he purchased a farm of one hundred and six acres from Thomas Gafney, constituting a part of the old Miller homestead. He afterward increased his purchase to two hundred and fifty acres now owned by his son William. In his la- bors as an agriculturist he was enterprising and progressive and as the years passed he trans- formed his fields into a valuable property. He was married on the old Parker farm near the town
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of Atlas in Pike county to Miss Ann Eliza Park- er and unto them were born nine children, of whom William D. was the second in order of birth. The father died on the old Miller farm, August 28, 1872, and was buried in the Petty cemetery, a mile south of Rockport. The mother also died upon the old family homestead, passing · away in 1877, at which time her remains were interred by the side of her husband in the Elijah Petty cemetery.
William D. Miller is indebted to the public- school system of his native township for the early educational privileges which he enjoyed and which were supplemented by a course of study in Rockport. He early became familiar with the duties and labors of farm life, taking his place in the fields almost as soon as old enough to reach the plow handles. After leaving school, he con- tinued to assist his father in the farm duties up to the time of the latter's death. However, in 1865 he and his father crossed the plains with one of the old-time "prairie schooners" drawn by an ox-team. They started from the Miller homestead intending to go to California in the interest of Mr. Miller's health but when near Denver, Colorado, they became discouraged, turned back and retraced their route to the old home farm. On again reaching Pike county Mr. Miller resumed the work of the fields and con- tinued as his father's assistant until the latter's death, after which he took charge of the farm, which he has since operated. It comprises two hundred and fifty acres of rich and arable land and the farm is now well improved.
Mr. Miller has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Ella Correll, a daughter of Foster and Susan Correll. His wife died December 7, 1898, on the old Miller homestead and was laid to rest in the Summer Hill cemetery. On the 16th of April, 1905, Mr. Miller wedded Mary Owsley, a daughter of William and Nancy Ows- ley. Her father owned and cultivated a farm in Atlas township, continuing the improvement of the property up to the time of his death, and his wife still lives upon the old homestead there.
Mr. Miller was appointed postmaster of Rock- port on the 26th of October, 1901, by President McKinley and has occupied the office continu-
ously since. In politics he is an uncompromising republican and has always been steadfast to the principles of the party and devoted to its inter- ests in his native county and state. He has occu- pied several minor township offices, the duties of which he has capably discharged. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Modern Woodmen camp, and has many friends in these organizations, for they recognize his fidelity to the commendable principles which constitute the basic elements of the fraternities. He is widely and favorably known in the western part of Pike county, where almost his entire life has been passed, and he has been a witness of many changes that have oc- curred here as pioneer conditions have been re- placed by the evidences of an advanced and mod- ern civilization.
MRS. NANCY HANKS.
Mrs. Nancy Hanks, residing in Pearl town- ship, is the widow of Joshua Hanks and a rela- tive of the immortal Lincoln. She was born April 17, 1832, in Clermont county, Ohio, and was a daughter of William and Lucinda (Cammerer) Miller. Her father was born in Kentucky, No- vember 13, 1802, and engaged in farming throughout his entire life. He removed from Ohio to Illinois when his daughter Nancy was only three years of age and took up his abode in Greene county, where he resided for a year. On the expiration of that period he located on Pearl Prairie, now Old Pearl, where he contin- ued farming and there his death occurred April 31, 1885. The paternal grandfather, Martin Miller, was a Revolutionary soldier, joining the American army in the cause of independence when quite young. He afterward served in the war of 1812. Both he and his wife were laid to rest in the cemetery at Old Pearl.
Mrs. Hanks, having been brought to Illinois in her early girlhood days, acquired her educa- tion in the district schools near her father's home and was trained to the duties of the household, remaining under the parental roof until twenty
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years of age, when on the 18th of November, 1852, she gave her hand in marriage to Joshua Hanks. He was a relative of the martyred pres- ident, Abraham Lincoln. His parents were Da- vid and Phoebe Ann Hanks, who resided in Pearl township, Pike county. The father was twice married and both wives died in Greene county, Illinois. In advanced years Mr. Hanks removed to Indiana and lived with his son until his death. which occurred at an advanced age. Joshua Hanks passed away on the 9th of April, 1869. upon the old homestead farm where his widow now resides with her daughter, Malissa E., who bears a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. The Hanks and Lincoln families removed from Virginia to Kentucky about the same time and, as is well known, the mother of the martyred president bore the maiden name of Nancy Hanks.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hanks of this review have been born six children : William D., Martin, A. Douglas, Lucinda A., Arminta, Malissa E. and Mary A. Hanks. Of these William D. and Mary A. are deceased, the former having passed away February 13, 1895, and the latter on the 20th of August, 1868.
During the period of his residence in Illinois, Joshua Hanks followed the occupation of farm- ing and became the owner of a good home prop- erty, which he left to his widow, who still resides upon the farm. She has now passed the seventy- third milestone on life's journey and is a most estimable lady, who has a large circle of warm friends in this county.
BENTON B. DUNN, M. D.
Dr. Benton B. Dunn, successfully practicing medicine and surgery in Perry and Pike county, was born March 16, 1866, in the village where he yet makes his home; and his life record is in contradiction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for in the place of his birth he has so directed his efforts as to win prominence and success as a leading representative of the medical fraternity. His parents are Dr. Harvey and Abigail . ( Rob-
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