USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 99
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Alexander Couch, the second in order of birth, was educated in the district schools of Hardit. and Spring Creek townships, and was reared upon his father's farm, assisting him in the labors of field and meadow until he had reached the age of twenty-eight years, when he was married to Miss Mary Frances Shaw, on the 18th of April, .1886. Unto them were born three children: Ina A., Nellie and a son who died unnamed in in- fancy. The wife and mother died December 26, 1893, and Mr. Couch afterward wedded Miss Eunice Collins, a daughter of John and Ruth E. Collins, the former born March 17, 1826, and the latter in October, 1830. The maternal grand- mother of Mrs, Couch lived for many years near Pittsfield, Pike county, Illinois, and later re- moved to Newtonville, Spencer county, Indiana, where she died at the advanced age of ninety years. Unto John and Ruth E. Collins were born three children: Eunice, Emma O. and Austin,
but only Mrs. Couch is now living, Emma hav- ing died in August, 1905, while Austin died when but three years of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Col- lins had been previously married, and by his first union he had the following children: William Campbell, Amy A., John W., Joseph S. and Sher- man A. Collins. By her first marriage Mrs. Col- lins had two daughters : Mrs. Mary Fuller and Mrs. Barbara Crozier, both yet living. The mar- riage of Mr. Couch and Miss Eunice Collins had been blessed with four children: Orin I., Oza L., Erma O. and Orville S. Couch.
Mr. Couch is now engaged in the cultivation and improvement of one hundred and seventy-one acres of good farming land, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He produces principally corn, wheat and hay, and he is also engaged in stock-raising, having eighteen head of fine graded shorthorn cattle, nine head of horses and about fifty head of hogs. His business inter- ests are well managed, and his earnest efforts are bringing to him a very desirable competence, while his life record is another proof of the as- sertion of the German poet and philosopher Goethe that "merit and success go linked to- gether." In politics he is a democrat, and has always affiliated with that party.
C. J. DOUGLAS.
C. J. Douglas, a retired farmer living in the vil- lage of Montezuma, was born in Montezuma township, Pike county, a son of -William and Pa- melia (Strawn) Douglas. The father was a na- tive of Scotland, his birth having occurred near New Galloway. Emigrating at an early age to the United States, he made his way to the south- ern portion of the country, and later came to Illi- nois, settling near Milton. He was a carpenter by trade, and after taking up his abode in Pike county he assisted in building the courthouse and other public and private buildings of the city. He was also engaged on the construction of the buildings of the Columbia (Missouri) Univer- sity. It was at that place that he married and later he settled in Montezuma township, Pike
746
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
county, a half mile from the present home of his son, C. J. Douglas. Unto William and Pamelia (Strawn) Douglas were born twelve children, seven of whom are yet living.
C. J. Douglas was reared upon his father's farm and was educated in the country schools. He remained with his father until his marriage, when he removed to his present home near Mil- ton. He continued actively in farming up to the time of his retirment from business life. He was married in 1874 to Miss Gabriella Hayden, a daughter of Elisha and Virginia (Sweringen) Hayden, and the good wife survives to share with him a well earned reward of labor. Unto them was born a son, Delbert, who died in infancy. They are both members of the Christian church; and they occupy a comfortable home and have a host of warm friends, for, having long resided in this locality, they are widely known, and their many good traits of character have gained them the esteem and good will of those with whom they have been associated.
JOHN MEDARIS.
John Medaris, a farmer residing on section 34, Fairmount township, was born in this county Oc- tober 2, 1840, his parents being Robinson and Felicia (McLain) Medaris, both of whom were natives of Montgomery county, Kentucky. The parents are now deceased, the father having died at the age of seventy-seven years, while the mother passed away at the age of sixty-one years. In their family were five children, of whom four are now living, namely: Mrs. Mary McLaugh- lin, Charles, John and Mrs. Sarah Boggs. It was in the year 1811 that Robinson Medaris arrived in Pike county. Few indeed were the settlements of the white men within its borders at that pe- riod. The prairies were covered with their native grasses and the forests stood in their primeval strength. The Indians still found a hunting ground in this part of the state, while game of various kinds was to be had in abundance. He lived here during the period of the deep snow in 1830-I, an epoch memorable in the history of the
county. Upon arriving here he built a log cabin and soon he cleared a tract of prairie land upon which he planted his crops, and in due time gath- ered good harvests. His political support was given to the democracy, and he was a member of the Methodist church.
Upon the old farm homestead John Medaris was reared, no event of special importance occur- ring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He was married November 26, 1868, to Miss Sarah Fox, who was born Novem- ber 29, 1842, and was a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Slight) Fox, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they came to Pike county in 1858. In their family were nine children, of whom only one is now living, Jacob Fox. The father was one of the pioneer settlers and early farmers of Pike county, and aided in the reclamation of wild land for the uses of civilization. He was a republican in his political views and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. His death occurred in 1861, when he was sev- enty-two years of age, while his wife passed away at the age of fifty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Medaris have become the parents of four children, all of whom are now living: Edward; Vena, the wife of Joseph Woodward, a resident of Adams county, Illinois ; Daniel; and John T., who married Nora Davis.
Mr. Medaris started out upon an independent business career when twenty-one years of age, at which time he began farming for himself. Later he bought eighty acres of land, upon which he built a log house and subsequently he added to this until he owned one hundred and eighty acres. He is now the owner of one hundred and twelve acres, which he has cleared and improved, transforming it into a valuable farm. Upon this property he raises cattle, sheep and hogs. He has seventy head of Shropshire sheep, and he raises polled Angus cattle and Jersey Red hogs. He has good pastures and feed lots and ample shelter for his stock and his grain, and, in fact, upon his farm are found all modern accessories and equipments.
In 1898 Mr. Medaris was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 4th of Oc- tober, of that year, and was buried in Hinman
747
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
cemetery, where his parents were also interred. In politics Mr. Medaris is an earnest democrat and for sixteen years he served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He was also road commissioner for several years, and he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship, regarding it as a privilege
as well as an obligation to faithfully perform every task which devolves upon him in connec- tion with the welfare and improvement of the county. The name of Medaris has been associ- ated with the progress and development here from the earliest days, and the work instituted by his father has been carried forward by him.
INDEX
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
Introduction
7
Archeology
40
Civil War 56
Iiiinois
7
Organic History
42
Spanish-American War. 78
Iliinois Conference
10
Mliitary Tract
42
French in Iiilnols. 11 County Seat Located 43
British Dominion In Illlnols.
11
Countles Cut from Plke 44
Pike County Officials. 97
Iilinols as a Territory.
11
Generai Review
45
Pike County Bar. 101
Iiiinois a a Frontler State.
12
Hanson and Shaw
45
Church History 102
Era of Sectional Confilet. 13
Era of Economic Development. . 14
Capitais and Capltols of Iillnols. 16 Iiiinois as a State. 30
Boundary Changed 31
Log Cabins. 48
State Improvements 49
Sny Island Levee. 109
Rural Mall Routes
111
Iliustrious Dead .
112
Oid Settiers' Assoclatlon
112
Early Events
122.
Misceiianeous
125
BIOGRAPHIES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS
Adams, G. S .. 645
Adams, Jane E. 618
708
Borthwick, Wlillam, Jr. 469
Aiien, Perry C. 242
Bradburn, B. T .. 394
Conway, Farrell 578
Anderson, H. L .. .650
Bradburn, Mark S. 512
Cooper, G. D. 209
Cooper, J. H .. 266
Couch, Alexander 744
Crane, Dr. F. M.
357
Crane, James H ..
173
Atkinson, H. B. 484
Bagby, George F .. 187
Bagby, Richard D. 263
Baker, Eillott. 467
Baker, W. A .. .369
Baiienger, J. W. 728
Bancroft, A. C. 449
Barber, George 166
Barkiey, W. S. 529
Barnes, N. L .. 540
Barnes, R. Y.
363
Barton, Isaac
Batiey, C. W. 707
Bauer, M. G .. 204
Berry, John F. 592
Biilings, Charles 729
Biiilngs, J. H. 721
Binns, W. S .. .330
Biack, George T. 195 .
Boggs, J. C. F ... 626
Boiin, Charies E. 515
Bonlfield, Robert 593
Boren, J. W ... .275
Briscoe, E. W. 528
Brown, A. R. 649
Brown, Emma J. 715
Brown, J. C .. 558
Brown, McClIntock 740
Craven, John, Sr.
291
Cunningham, L. L .. 183
Cunningham, R. E. 352
Dalgh, Harrison 741
Danlels, S. W. 701
Deam, Izora A. 709
Deii, John T. 437
Dlckason, S. M. 552
Dinsmore, J. E. .298
Dinsmore, W. H. 380
Dlx, Roiiln M. .339
Dixon, Job . 500
Dober, Mary A. 705
Doocy, Edward 260
Doocy, Mary M. .263
Dorsey, John W 433
Doss, Dr. C. H. 423
Doss, Dr. J. I. 183
Douglas, C. J. 745
Dow, Augustus 250
Ciayton, E. L. 298
Clemmons, N. M. 688
Coivln, H. 638
Conkright, I. S .. 292
Anderson, R. A ... 365
Anderson, Ray N. 227
Andrew, Dr. H. B. 249
Appiegate, A. M. 630
Brown, N. W. 698
Brown, W. H .. 358
Brown, W. M. 232
Brown, Wiills . 677
Browning, C. T. . 563
Browning, John J .. 727
Bush, G. D .. 629
Bush, J. M .. 284
Cadwell, Franklin 388
Capps, G. W. 403
Carey, Dr. G. B. 730
Carien, Xavier. 368
Carnes, George .580
Carnes, S. E. . .584
Chamberlin, J. B. 340
Chariton, C. A. 730
Chrysup, G. W. 273
Churchlil, H. S. 443
Claus, Frank 628
Newspapers 105
Original Pike County 48
SteamboatIng 105
Rallroads 107
First Constitution
32
Derivation of Name IllInols 32
State Bank 33
La Fayette's Vislt. 33
Pike County 34
Geology 34
Marquette County 46
Exodus to Callfornia 103
County Seat Contest. 46
Banks and Bankers. 104
First American Settlements 47
Origin of Names of Creeks 49
First Things in Pike County. 49
First White Men in Pike County. 50
Biack Hawk War.
52
Mexican War. 56
History of Townshlps. 79
Supervisors
89
Doyie, Dr. G. W. 237
Akers, G. W ..
159
750
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
Doyle, Warren .725
Duff, Asahel .. 619
Duffield, Dr. H. T. 376
Hess, J. D. 220
Matthews, B. L .. 310
Mays, Marcellus 156
Medaris, John 746
Meisenbach, W. H. 627
Miller, Barney 688
Miller, W. D. 689
Moore, Samuel. .635
Morton, John E .. 321
Myers, William, Jr 596
Neese, A. S. 737
Nighbert, Dr. J. D. 227
Northup, Arden. 183
Norton, J. M. 155
Oakley, W. L. 569
Orr, Jefferson 152
Parker, G. W. 391
Payne, W. E. 708
Peacock, Dr. S. B .. 533
Peck, William A. 744
Pennington, G. S. .282
Penstone, Edward. 150
Penstone, Giles H. 161
Petty, M. N. 637
Pollock, Dr. J. R. 459
Pollock, Dr. R. R.
366
Fuller, G. W. 234
Furniss, S. F .. 416
Johnson, J. G ..
269
Powell, Eli
448
Gaines, S. S .. .567
Johnson, Dr. W. H. 609
Powell, Jacob
606
Powell, W. B .. 347
Pratt, George E.
214
Priestly, G. P. 399
Rainwater, Dr. J. H. 325
Reed, John 677
Retallic, T. A. 313
Kesinger, Ransom
326-
Gicker, John R .. .500
Keys, S. 625
Gillings, Frederick
639
Godwin, M. F.
599
Goodwin, W. H. .621
Gose, C. B. 478
455
Gray, George E.
570
Gray, H. N. 421
Gray, T. B. . 566
Greene, Dr. D. W. .675
Greene, J. M. 492
Leonard, Alonzo 203
Rush, Hiram 235
Rust, E. R. . 435
Sargent, W. P. 712
Schedel, Jacob .. 476
Schwartz, Dr. G. W. 657
Scott, Lyman. 323
Scranton, Nathan
739
Haines, C. N. .668
McCann, Nelson.
711
Seaborn, W. H. 276
Seybold, G. W. .374
Shadel, Charles 212
Shastid, Jon. .333
Shastid, Dr. T. W .348
Shastid, Dr. W. E. 269
Shinn, Albion. 490
Shinn, William 373
Hanks, Nancy Harbourne, J. A.
458
Harrington, J. C. 731
Mckinney, Dr. J. G. 168 .
McMahan, L. W. .494 . Shrigley, G. W. 411
Shultz, N. R .. .315
Haskins, S. T. 283
Manton, Thomas 454 .
Sigsworth, John .612
Haskins, W. H. 151
Martin, Hutson 658
Simmons, C. M. 319
Hatch, Abbie A. 162
Martin, T. M. 427
Sitton, J. K .. . 397
632 | Skinner, Dr. W. O 253
Hatch, John F. 172 Massie, H. A.
Heavner, Bluford. 632
Hess, A. E 620
Dunham, Abel .. 601 Hicks, Daniel D. .270
Dunham, Daniel 646
Dunham, J. M .. 487
Dunham, Richard 498
Dunham, W. H. 157
Dunn, Dr. B. B .. .691
Dunn, George H. 468
Dustin, C. B.
696
Hopkins, B. B. 400
Hopkins, C. L. 448
Horton, Mary L. .673.
Hoyt, E. S .. 607
Hubbard, W. G .. 201
Hull, John .. 680-
Hull, Thomas 575
Huntley, Solon 460
Hurt, C. H. 660
Hutton, William 670
Ingalls, C. M. 522
575
Fisher, T. B. .659
Ingalbe, X. M.
316
Fortune, Dr. H. C. 347
Ingram, J. T ..
534
Fortune, Dr. H. D. 622
James, John A
737
Frank, David .692
James, W. E. 488
Johns, Oscar F. 424
Johnson, David 695
Potter, Thomas
546
Galloway, A. L. 734
Gard, Charles. 652
Judd, H. B. 267
Kendrick, John
513
Garrison, Dr. W. H. .539
Kendrick, S. G.
288
Gay, Dr. F. S.
605
Kennedy, D. S. 574
Kenney, C. T .. 228
Kibler, J. T. 158
Roberts, G. W. 719
Roberts, Susan 342
Ross, A. K. 548
222
Rowland, B. H. 238
Rupert, C. I .. . 714
Rupert, Mrs. E. L. 700
Lawson, Frank 551
Rupert, William 693
Rupert, William 648
Greiwe, H. H. .579
Griffeth, Justus 463
Long, W. J. and G. P. 678
Lockwood, Dr. J. S. 390
Longnecker, F. A. 356
Lovell, A. J. 617
Loyd, Henry S.
257
Haines, G. R .. 655
McCarter, Marcus
470
Haines, H. W. 608
McComas, Dr. C. U.
511
Hake, George.
702
. 725
McDannold, A. L ..
418
Hammond, L. B.
441
McFarland, George 426
. Hamner, H. J.
720
McFarland, Joseph. 410
690 McKey, J. A .. 641
Mckinney, Dr. G. B. 477 Shive, M. V. 557
Shoemaker, Thomas. .294
Harvey, Dr. L. J. 438
Harvey, W. M .. 598 Manker, C. A .. 206
Massie, M. D. 196
Matthews, A. C .. 190
Hicks, R. T. 304
Higbee, C. L. 149
Higbee, Harry 184
Hill, Charles, Sr. 555
Hirsheimer, S., Sr. 456
Holt, S. M. 302
Edmiston, Robert 597
Ellis, T. B. 254
Emerson, James 667
Farrand, F. H. 723
Farrand, J. A.
244
Farrand, M. K. 436
Fenton, F. M. 345
First National Bank of Pitts-
field
307
Fisher, G. R. .466
Fisher, Michael .669
Gay, James, Sr. . 653
Gay, Thomas A. 556
Robb, C. 402
Roberts, E. M. 611
Killebrew, Finis 600.
King, M. D. .370
Kiser, A. L. 202
Ross, Col. William
Grammer, Sam
Klein, W. I. 233
Kuhlman, J. W 594
Landess, Levi. 656
Leggett, G. W. 442
Lewis, W. H. 516
Grimes, W. B. 216
Grimshaw, W. A. 174
Grubb, Jon P. 553
Hadsell, Leander 415
McConnell, Dr. R. J.
354
Hall, Charles
Johnston, Dr. Frank. 221
Gard, Henry. 489
Ingalls, D. W.
Franklin, Robert 504
PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
751
Sleight, John G .559
Toner, J. C. 393
Willlams, Samuel. .742
Smart, S. H.
199
Turnbaugh, W. E. 417
Williams, W. E. .404
Smith, David. . 724
Turnbaugh, Jacob. .514
Willlamson, E. E. .367
Smith, Elmer. 726 Walch, John, Sr. .549
Willlamson, Gay. 258
Smith, George M. .560
Walker, J. R. 526
Walker, L. L. 381
Wills, A. V. 204
Smith, Granville O. 299
Walker, W. H.
.694
Smith, John A. .287
Ward, Lyman
.309
Spencer, W. S .. 353
Watkins, J. F.
.444
Standley, G. W. .684
Watson, Dr. T. M.
.547
Stone, Edward. 505
Webb, I. T. .686
Weber, John 167
Stoner, Dr. E. R.
336
Weeks, R. M. 425
.722
Windmlller, Jacob 301
Sykes, Frank. .330
.382
Wheelan, James.
.335
Winn, Charles G. 450
Terry, J. L ..
213
Whitaker, James .642
Wltham, G. W 401
Thlele, Willlam.
.565
Whlte, John
.591
Thompson, Sylvester W. 525
Wike, G. H.
.300
Thornton, N. A. 726
Willard, C. W 493
Wyatt, C. R .666
fhurmon, Dr. C. E. 715
Willard, S. .602
Yaeger, Andrew 268
Thurmon, Dr. F. M. 236
Williams, A. C. 412
Yaeger, John G. 303
Thurmon, Dr. J. D. 616
Williams, D. A. 716
Thurmon, Dr. W. F. 733
Wllllams, J. W. 290
Yokem, Solomon .676
Thurmon, W. H. .697
Williams, N. B. 530
Yokem, W. H. 712
Willsey, J. G. 264
Willsey, W. R 188
Wilson, Joseph . 481
Wilson, W. H. .379
Winans, E. C .. 432
Winans, I. N .. .536
Stults, Willlam 256
SweetIng, H. W. .509
Wells, H. F. .577
Windmiller, W. A. 334
Windsor, W. H .. 483
Woods, E. M. .550
Thomas, Dr. J. S. .506
Wike, George. 428
Wright, B. S. .538
Welch, Dr. J. H.
Wells, J. H. .668
Sykes, James
Stoner, D. W ... .293
Williamson, James. 665
Smith, George W. 243
Wills, W. R. 181
Gac
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