Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 92

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 92

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It was on the 28th of October, 1867, that Mr. Dustin was united in marriage to Miss Emma P. Stebbens, a daughter of Alfred and Emeline (Hendricks) Stebbens. Her father was a re-

tired farmer, of Summer Hill, to which place he removed in 1881. He passed away July 21, 1904, and was buried in the Adams and Dustin ceme- tery. His wife still survives him, and now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Dustin, at the ad- vanced age of eighty years. Unto our subject and his wife were born two sons, William A. and Homer. The former was born January 2, 1870, and died at his father's home June 3, 1899, leav- ing a widow, Anna (Sanderson) Dustin, and one child, Charles S. Dustin, his remains being in- terred in the West cemetery at Pittsfield. Homer was born August 11, 1871, on his grandfather Stebbens' farm in Atlas township and died March 10, 1902, leaving a widow, Flora ( Pryor) Dus- tin, and two children, Ruth M. and William A. Dustin, his grave being made in the Adams and Dustin cemetery. The loss of the two sons came as the greatest blow that has ever fallen upon the happy home of our subject and his wife. They were both promising young men, in whom the in- terest of the parents centered, and they had been their father's assistants in business affairs.

Mr. Dustin was for a long time a stanch repub- lican in politics, but during the past few years his given his support to the democracy. He is a man firm in his honest convictions, never falter- ing in his support of the principles which he be- lieves to be right. There is no man in Pike county who has done more to improve the grade of stock raised than has Mr. Dustin, who has thereby con- tributed to general prosperity, especially of the agricultural class. In all of his business affairs he has been very progressive, and has ever been reliable and energetic, and he stands to-day among the respected and honored citizens of his county.

WILLIAM H. THURMON.

William H. Thurmon is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and ten acres of valuable land and also has twenty acres of timber land in Pike county, where for many years he has made his home. His birth occurred in Montgomery county, Tennessee, on the 28th of February, 1829, and he comes of Scotch ancestry, the family hav- ing been established in America at an early pe-

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riod in the colonization of the new world. His paternal grandfather, David Thurmon, was a Virginia tobacco planter and was well-to-do in his time. His entire life was passed in the Old Dominion. His son, Thomas L. Thurmon, was born, reared and educated in Virginia and on leaving that state removed to Cumberland county, Kentucky, where he married Miss Millie Black. They afterward removed to Montgomery county, Tennessee, settling about twelve miles from the county seat where the birth of our subject oc- curred. The father acted as an overseer on his father's plantation in Virginia, superintending the negroes in their cultivation of the land for many years. He was also similarly employed in Kentucky for about four years and then went to Montgomery county, Tennessee, where he con- tinued in the same occupation until 1841. In that year he arrived in Pike county, Illinois, settling in Montezuma township, where he carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred March 17, 1882, when he was eighty-two years of age. His remains were interred in Green Pond cemetery, in Monte- zuma township. Both he and his wife exemplified the true spirit of religion in their lives and were devoted members of the Christian church. Mrs. Thurmon also passed away in Montezuma township when about seventy years of age and later her husband's remains were laid by her side in Green Pond cemetery. In their family were nine children, namely : Susan J., Sa- rah A., Bethena E., Louisa M., Mary R., William H., John T., James L. and Adeline, of whom Mary R. died in infancy and was buried in Green Pond cemetery, while Susan J. died at the age of sixty-five years, Sarah A. at the age of sixty-two years, Louisa M., when fifty-eight years of age and Bethena E. at the age of fifty-four years. All were laid to rest in the family burial lot in Green Pond cemetery,

William H. Thurmon, whose name introduces this review, was a youth of eleven years when his parents came with their family to Pike county and here he has since resided, his time and at- tention being given to the acquirement of an edu- cation in the district schools in his early boyhood and to work in the fields. Having arrived at

years of maturity he was married on the 29th of August, 1852, to Miss Lucy L. Smith, who was of Welsh descent and a daughter of Willam and Delano (Parks) Smith. Her father was born in Virginia and removed from the Old Dominion to Ohio when about twelve years of age in com- pany with his parents. There he formed the ac- quaintance of Miss Parks, whom he afterward wedded and they became the parents of but one child-Mrs. Thurmon. The mother died when the daughter was but thirteen months old and her remains were interred in Athens county, Ohio. The father afterward removed from the Buck- eye state to Montezuma township, where he lived for five years and then went to McDonough county, Illinois, his death occurring in Col- chester.

Since his marriage Mr. Thurmon has followed farming with gratifying success and is now the owner of one hundred and ten acres of cultivable land in Montezuma township. His farm is un- der a good state of cultivation, being supplied with modern equipments and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates his careful supervision. In addition to this he has twenty acres of timber land, mostly hard wood-oak, hickory and walnut. Mr. and Mrs. Thurmon have largely devoted their lives to rearing and educating their children. They are the parents of seven sons and two daughters, four of the for- mer being physicians, a record perhaps une- qualed in the United States. They provided them with excellent opportunities for preparing for this field of business activity and they are polished gentlemen, capable in their profession, each meeting with success in the locality in which he has become established in practice.

NORMAN W. BROWN.

Norman W. Brown, who follows farming on section 35, Atlas township, was born on the old family homestead of two hundred and twenty acres, upon which his father, Isaac Brown, lo- cated in 1828. The natal day of the son was September 23, 1840, and he was reared upon the

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home place, acquiring his preliminary education in the old log scchoolhouse of the neighborhood about one mile from his father's home. He afterward, however, attended the Summer Hill district school, from which he was graduated. All this time he was living with his parents, Isaac and Susan (Smoot) Brown, the former of Scotch ancestry and the latter of Dutch lineage. Isaac Brown was a native of Virginia and removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky, where he was married. He made farming his life work and followed that occupation until his life's la- bor's were ended in death. He became a pioneer resident of this county, settling here in 1828, when much of the land was still in possession of the government and few clearings had been made. He at once began to cultivate his land in Atlas township and resided upon the old homestead farm until his death in 1850. He had served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. His widow survived him until April, 1860, and was then buried beside her husband on the old home farm that is now the property of C. B. Dustin. The old flintlock musket which was carried by Isaac C. Brown in the war of 1812 is still in pos- session of the family, being now the property of Willis Brown, a brother of Norman W. Brown. In the family of Isaac and Susan Brown were thirteen children, namely: Maria, Mahala, Squire, Owen, Hardin, John, Willis, James, Isaac, Susan, Jane, Benjamin and Norman W. All are now deceased with the exception of four. Isaac died in infancy and was buried beside his parents on the old home farm, where also lie the remains of Hardin and John Brown, while Susan, Ma- hala and Benjamin were buried in California and Owen was buried in Kentucky near Mammoth Cave.

Norman W. Brown, the youngest of his fa- ther's family, was reared upon the old homestead farm. He lost his father when but ten years of age and was reared by his older brothers and sisters with whom he lived until nineteen years of age, when, in August, 1859, in company with William and James Baxter, he started for Pikes Peak, attracted by the discovery of gold in Colo- rado. They traveled with ox teams a part of the way and on reaching Nebraska they met many

gold-seekers who were returning and who gave them information that there was no gold to be found. This discouraged the party so that they turned back and again came to Pike county. In the spring of 1860, however, Mr. Brown once more determined to try and win a fortune from the depths of the earth, for favorable reports concerning mining operations were still being re- ceived from Colorado and California and other sections of the country. In company with about one hundred and forty others he started, the party having forty wagons, most of which were drawn by ox teams. The company was com- manded by John Underwood, whom they elected captain, and slowly they wended their way across the plains, completing in safety the long trip of five months, and reached Sacramento, California, on the 5th of September, 1860. They saw many Indians en route but they kept a strict watch, each male member of the company standing guard in his turn and they were not molested. Upon reaching Sacramento they did not find the gold as plentiful as they had pictured in their minds, so the members of the company scattered and sought employment in various ways. Mr. Brown went to work on a ranch and was thus employed for four and a half years, at the end of which time he returned home on the ocean steamer, Moses Taylor, embarking at San Francisco on the 13th of November, 1865. He disembarked with six hundred others at San Juan on the coast of Panama and from there they traveled over- land, crossing the mountains, Mr. Brown riding a pony. He finally reached Virginia Bay, where he with the rest of the party took a boat across the bay to the head of San Juan river, where they embarked on two small river boats, going to Walker's Rapids. They traveled around the rapids on foot and again embarked on two other boats, thus making their way to old Graytown, a small port in the Atlantic ocean, where they took the steamer Santiago de Cuba for New York, arriving safely at that port. Thence they traveled by rail to Niagara Falls, and then on to Quincy, Illinois, and from there Mr. Brown made his way home.

On again reaching Pike county he once more engaged in farming and soon afterward he se-

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cured a companion and helpmate for life's jour- ney. He was married on the 28th of January, 1869, to Miss Ann Elizabeth Gay, a daughter of James and Amelia (Yokem) Gay, who are men- tioned on another page of this volume. Unto this marriage six children, three sons and three daughters, have been born, namely: Nellie, who was born November 25, 1869, and is now the wife of N. J. Carter, of Rockport ; Paul W., who was born June 19, 1871, and is now a practicing physician in Springfield, Ohio; Carrie, born Oc- tober 27, 1873, who is the wife of H. D. Marion, a resident of Atlas township; Claud, who was born October 9, 1876, and is living in Carterville, Illi- nois, where he is employed and is part owner in a mining machinery foundry; Erma, who was born May 22, 1882, and is a stenographer with the Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis; and Bert, who was born May 10, 1884, and re- sides with his parents.

Politically Mr. Brown is a republican, unfal- tering in the advocacy of his party and its prin- ciples. He cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and is proud of the fact that his second vote. also supported the martyred president. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are now living upon the old home farm in Atlas township, where for years he has carried on general agricultural pursuits, having devoted his life to farm work since his return home from California more than forty years ago.

MRS. ELLEN L. RUPERT.

Mrs. Ellen L. Rupert, one of the most highiy esteemed ladies of Rockport, is prominent not only in social but also in business circles, being connected with the firm of Haines, Rupert & Company. She possesses excellent business tal- ent, tact, energy and perseverance. She was born in Rockport, July 31, 1847, and is a daughter of Nicholas and Zerilda (DeWitt) Crenshaw. The Crenshaws were large slave owners in Vir- ginia and Kentucky and had extensive planta- tions. The Virginia branch of the family were

among the early settlers of the Old Dominion. Her father and mother were natives of Hardin county, Kentucky, to which state their parents had removed from Virginia at an early day in the settlement of the Blue Grass district. Nicholas Crenshaw removed to Jackson county, Missouri, and Zerilda DeWitt, who was an orphan, also became a resident of that place, to which she went with her uncle, Daniel Crump, and shortly afterward she gave her hand in marriage to Nicholas Crenshaw. They remained residents of Jackson county, Missouri, for two years, dur- ing which time he engaged in farming, and on the expiration of that period came to Rockport, Illinois, where Mr. Crenshaw turned his atten- tion to the cooperage business. He was for years a justice of the peace in Atlas township and was a respected and prominent citizen of his commu- nity. In 1849 he removed to Summer Hill, where he resided until 1856, when he returned to Rock- port. After two years, in 1858, he went to Scott's Landing in Atlas township, where he re- mained for seven years, when in 1866 he once more came to Rockport. Here he engaged in merchandising up to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1882, his remains being in- terred in the Rockport cemetery. In business circles he figured prominently and his well mer- ited reputation for reliability and enterprise gained him the unqualified confidence and re- spect of all with whom he came in contact. His wife had passed away many years before, having died at Scott's Landing, January 16, 1865, her remains, however, being interred in Summer Hill cemetery. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw were born eight children, of whom Mrs. Rupert was the third in order of birth. These are: Oscar DeWitt, born November 4. 1844: Ellen Lane, July 31, 1847; Florence Jane, November 29, 1849; John, in 1851; Fannie Margaret, in June, 1852; Nicholas, in 1855; and James Elisha, in 1858. There was also one child who died at birth. Of these the living members of the family are: Mrs. Rupert ; Mrs. Florence J. Rapalee, of Sioux City, Iowa; Nicholas, who is living in Omaha ; and James Crenshaw. The father was married twice, his second wife being Lucy Dol- bear, who survives him and lives in Denver, Colo-

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rado. Unto them were born six children: Guy R., who lived to manhood and was killed in a railroad accident ; William, who died in infancy ; Mary Pryor, a resident of Quincy, Illinois ; Lucy, Etta Ellis, of Rosalia, Washington; and Hattie Bell Webb and Myrtle May Clark, both of Den- ver, Colorado.

Mrs. Rupert acquired her education largely in the schools of Rockport and Summer Hill and also spent one year as a student in Monticello Seminary at Godfrey, Illinois. She then re- turned to her parents' home at Scott's Landing in Pike county, and taught school up to the date of her marriage. On the 18th of April, 1869, she gave her hand in marriage to William M. Haines and unto them were born three sons : Henry Wal- lace, born February 17, 1870; George Crenshaw, who was born October 20, 1871, and died at Scott's Landing, August 4, 1881, his remains be- ing interred in Rockport cemetery; and William Homer, born October 6, 1876. Mr. Haines was a farmer and was also agent for the steamboats at Scott's Landing, acting in that capacity at the time of his death, which occurred February 4, 1881, his remains being interred in the Rockport cemetery.

On the 24th of July, 1883, Mrs. Haines was married to James D. Rupert, a merchant of Rockport and a large landowner, who at the time of his death was practically living a retired life. He died January 8, 1895, in Rockport and was buried in the Atlas cemetery, three miles from the village. Mrs. Rupert became a member of the firm of Haines, Rupert & Company in 1897, being associated with her son in this enter- prise. They have a very large general store, carrying the most extensive stock of any estab- lishment in the western part of the county. Her son, H. Wallace Haines, is at the head of the firm of Haines, Rupert & Com- pany, while her other son, Dr. William Homer Haines, is a practicing physician and surgeon of note. He is yet a young man of twenty-nine years, but has attained success far in advance of most men of that age. He now resides at Aetna Mills, California, where he en- joys a large and lucrative practice. He married Eugenia Keppler, a native of California. They

have one child, a son, Louis J. H. Haines, born March 17, 1902.

Mrs. Rupert is a prominent member of Rockport Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active and helpful interest in the various departments of the church work, being known throughout the community for her devout spirit and her wise counsel and able assistance in all matters relating to the growth of the church and the extension of its influence. It was largely through her influ- ence that an estate of five thousand dollars was given to the trustees of the church in perpetuity., the income of which is to be used at the discretion of the church trustees. Mrs. Rupert is a member of the board of trustees, also steward of the church and is superintendent of the Sunday- school. Her good work shows her true Christian spirit. The poor and needy find in her a friend and she ever gives to the extent of her ability her aid to all measures for uplifting humanity. She is indeed one of the most highly esteemed · ladies of Rockport and her business and execu- tive ability, her spirit of benevolence and her so- cial nature have endeared her to all with whom she has been brought in contact.

S. W. DANIELS.

S. W. Daniels has the honor of being the old- est living pioneer of Bedford, Montezuma town- ship. He was born in this township in 1829, and therefore through seventy-seven years has been a witness of the great changes which have oc- curred in the county, his memory encompassing the period of pioneer development, latter-day progress and of the modern improvements and prosperity. His parents were James and Olive Daniels, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Vermont. James Daniels was one of the first settlers of Montezuma town- ship, Pike county. On emigrating westward he and his wife became residents of Madison county, Illinois, and in 1823 came to Pike county, settling in Montezuma township, where he entered one hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he reared his family. There he remained until called to his final rest and he carried on farming

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until overtaken with the infirmities of age. Both he and his wife died on the old Daniels home- stead, where their son S. W. Daniels was born. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812 and there was not a braver or more gallant soldier who fought for the preservation of the interests of the states in the war with England. He be- came one of the earliest settlers of the county and aided in subduing the wilderness and in con- quering the conditions of pioneer life. His name is inseparably interwoven with the early records of this part of the state and with pleasure we pay our tribute of respect and honor to his memory because of what he accomplished in behalf of pub- lic progress here.

S. W. Daniels was reared upon the old farm homestead amid the environments and conditions of pioneer life. He can remember the time when almost all of the houses in the county were log cabins and has noted the progress that has been made as these have been replaced by more com- modious and substantial residences built in mod- ern style of architecture. The land, too, was raw and uncultivated and the entire county pre- sented almost the same appearance as it did when it came from the hand of nature, the forests be- ing uncut and the prairies being uncultivated. There were few indications of the work of man in the county in his early boyhood and he shared with others in the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. As his age and strength per- mitted he met and more largely assumed the duties of improving the home farm and per- formed the arduous toil incident to the cultiva- tion of new fields.' In early manhood he also engaged in milling and continued in business for many years. Subsequently he turned his atten- tion to merchandising, conducting a store in Bed- ford, being a partner in the firm of Merchant & Miller. The relationship was maintained for a considerable period and they received from the public a liberal and gratifying patronage. Dur- ing this time Mr. Daniels also ran a ferry, which was then located in Bedford. For several years he has been retired from active life but yet resides upon the old homestead farm.

In early manhood Mr. Daniels was united in marriage to Miss Frances French and they have

since traveled life's journey most happily to- gether. She was a daughter of John French and the wedding was celebrated in her father's home in 1846. Unto this union were born five children. three sons and two daughters, namely: Wesley P., George, Julia, Thomas and Rozella. Mr. Daniels and his good wife have shared each oth- er's joys and sorrows for more than sixty years. Their lives have been tranquil and like a river flowing quietly but steadily on have enriched the community as the river does its valley lands. They are now living in quiet contentment and in the evening of life are enjoying the fruits of their former toil which has supplied them with all of the comforts which go to make life worth the living.

GEORGE HAKE.

"George Hake, deceased, who was connected with farming interests in Pike county for many years and whose upright and honorable life gained for him the esteem and favorable regard of all with whom he was associated, was born in Hanover, Germany, May 9, 1845, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hake, who were likewise na- tives of the fatherland and there spent their en- tire lives, the former devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. In their family were nine children, of whom six are yet living : Dinie, the wife of Fred Strouse; Ernest, who is living in Barry, Illinois ; and Minnie, Carl, Augustus and William, all living in Germany.

George Hake acquired his education in the public schools of his native country and attracted by the business opportunities and more favorable conditions of the new world he bade adieu to friends and native land when eighteen years of age and crossed the Atlantic to America. He worked upon a farm near Perry and soon after his marriage removed to Denver. Colorado, where he established a meat market, having learned the business in his native country. He carried on business in Denver for twenty years with excellent success and then returned to Griggsville because of poor health, spending his remaining days in this city.

GEORGE HAKE

LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

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Mr. Hake was married to Miss Mary Alice Smith, who was born in Fulton county, Illinois, October 10, 1852, a daughter of Spencer H. and Elizabeth (McWhirt) Smith. The father was born in Georgetown, Delaware, February 9, 1825, and the mother's birth occurred in Culpeper, Virginia, November 9, 1826. In 1847 Mr. Smith came to Fulton county, Illinois, locating south of Bernadotte, where he engaged in farming until 1861. He then took up his abode in the town of Griggsville, where he engaged in the painting business for two or three years prior to his death. He held membership in the Baptist church from 1863 until the time of his demise and lived an upright Christian life. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and his loyalty to his country was displayed by active service in the Mexican war. He held the rank of corporal,

shipwrecked with Captain Reynolds off the coast of Texas. The grandfather of Mrs. Hake was a soldier of the war of 1812. Mr. Smith con- tinued a resident of Griggsville up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1900 and his widow survived him until January 19, 1906, when she passed away at the age of seventy-nine years, two months and twelve days, in Perry, Pike county, Illinois. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom six are now living : Sarah, Mrs. Hake, Cora, Wil- liam, Charles and Lizzie.

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Past and present of Pike County, Illinois, Part 92

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