Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 107

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130

USA > Illinois > Knox County > Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois > Part 107

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Mrs. Melton was born March 9, 1818, near Leav- enworth, Crawford Co., Ind., her parents having re- moved thither from Harrison County, and was the eldest of six children. At the time of the removal of her family to Henderson, which was in May, 1833, what is now a flourishing village consisted of only a few families. Her father purchased a piece of land, upon which they settled, and commenced what was afterward a most attractive home. Here he departed this life in 1849. Some years later her mother re- moved to Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa, the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elzan Gillett, wife of Luster Gil- lett, remaining there until her death, in 1880, at the ripe age of 87 years.

Mrs. Melton is the mother of 11 children, one of whom is deceased; those living number as follows : Sarah E., wife of Ralph Voris, now deceased ; Mrs. Voris lives on a farm in this county. Henry, the second in order of birth, and wife, Ellen (Cole) Mel- ton, reside on a farm in Lane County, Ore. ; he served in the Civil War. William, the second son, who mar-

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ried Miss Mary Knox, is a successful farmer in Rio Township. Lucinda, wife of Samuel Stafford, has a pleasant home in Rio Township; Mr. Stafford was also a soldier in the Rebellion. Dora, the third daughter, is the wife of Heber Gillis, a wealthy farmer, also of Rio Township. M. Ella married Ed- ward Gillis, and removed to Winterset, Iowa, at which place they now reside. H. Lorrain is the wife of William Sumner, an enterprising merchant of Winterset, Iowa. Lillie A. married William Case, who lives in Rio Township. George W. and wife, Ann (Miller) Melton, live on a farm in Ontario Township, and Elvira lives at home with her par- ents.

Mr. Melton, who, in the year 1836, moved on the place which to day is his pleasant and attractive home, was the first settler in the township, making settlement on a small farın, the site of the present town of Henderson. His agricultural possessions have numbered fully 1,000 acres of land, 500 of which he has given to his children. A large and valuable farm of about 500 acres remains in his possession at the present time. He has been very successful as a stock-raiser, which branch of his bus- iness he has carried on extensively. He is popular, a kind friend and a good neighbor. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and both himself and wife are active members of the Cor.gregational Church.

Among the numerous portraits of the leading citi- zens of Knox County given in this volume, we are confident none are more deserving a prominent place or will be received with greater favor than those of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Melton, the pioneers of the finest township of land in Knox County, and having no superior in the great Prairie State.

amuel Vangilder, deceased, a pioneer of Knox County of 1836, was born in New Jersey in May, 1800, and was a young man when his parents removed to Ohio, where he attained the years of majority. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy Stevenson, a na- tive of Kentucky. After marriage they settled in Hancock County, Ind., where the father purchased a tract of timber land and cleared a farm. In 1836,

accompanied by his wife and five children, he started with an ox team to Illinois in company with several other families, camping on the way. He stopped a short time in Knoxville, where he rented a farm, after which he purchased land on section 1, Knox Town- ship. This land was in a raw and unimproved state, and he erected a log cabin upon it, remaining there until the fall of 1857, when he removed to Sparta Township, at which place his demise occurred in September of that year. His wife died April 6, 1872.

S amuel Kirk Mccullough, foreman of the "T." R. R. shops of the C., B. & Q. Co. at Galesburg, and Wrecking Master of the Galesburg Division of this railroad, is a native of Juniata County, Pa., and born Nov. 3, 1833. He is a son of John and Mary (Kirk) McCul- lough, natives of the Keystone State, and of Scotch and Welsh ancestry. Samuel Kirk, of whom we write, completed an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade at Mifflin, the old county seat of Juniata. At the age of 20 years he came West, and after working two years at his trade in different sections of this State, he accepted a position in 1855 with the C., B. & Q. R. R Co., at Princeton, Ill. Upon the removal of the car shops to Galesburg, Mr. Mccullough ac- companied them thither, and has been in reputable connection with them since that time, holding dif- ferent positions of trust with this corporation. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted his services with Co. E, 89th Ill. Vol. Inf., and went boldly to the front. He, however, was transferred to the Pio- neer Corps, whence he was again transferred to the Ist U. S. Engineers, receiving an honorable dis- charge at the close of the war, after a service of nearly three years. Returning to his work, he filled the position of foreman of the car shops for the suc- ceeding ten years, and from which he was appointed to his present position.

Mr. Mccullough was married at Galesburg to Rosina Reed, a lady of estimable qualities and a na- tive of the Empire State. Their union has been blest by the birth of two daughters, named Ella and Estella. The latter became the wife of Mr. E. W. MacDougal, of Janesville, Wis. Mr. Mccullough is a worthy Mason and is also a member of the A. O.

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U. W. He is a public-spirited citizen and contributes liberally to all measures tending to the growth of his adopted city.

orace F. Dodd, Trainmaster of the C., B. & Q. R. R. at Galesburg, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Waterford Township, Erie Co., Sept. 20, 1836. His parents were John W. and Sarah (White) Dodd. The former was of an old family of New York State whose genealogy traces them back to Daniel Dod (at that time only one D), of English extraction and of Branford, Conn., in 1646. The latter is a native of Windham County, Vt., and of a long line of Scotch and Welsh ancestry.

In 1838 Horace F. came West with his parents, who settled at Pekin, Ill. The mother died in 1867, at Whitewater, Wis. The father is living in Washing- ton

- County, Ark. The survivors of the family are two daughters and a son. Irene is the wife of J. E. Shepherd, a farmer of Centralia, Ill. ; Adoline A. is the wife of Maj. E. A. Sherman, Surveyor-Gen- eral of Nevada Territory, having his residence at Oak- land, Cal.

The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood in Oshkosh and Whitewater, Wis., and was connected with railway interests from early life. In 1862 he accepted a position with this corporation, and has been very reputably connected with its interests here since, serving as brakeman, conductor and yardmas- ter with credit until 1881, when he was promoted to Trainmaster of the Galesburg Division of the C., B. & Q. R. R. During his active service in the various departments of his vocation, it has been his good fortune to avoid any serious accidents, and the cause is not attributable alone to what some people term " good luck," but to his strict attention to busi- ness.

Mr. Dodd was married in Knoxville, this State, Jan. 31, 1860, to Mary A., daughter of the late Dr. Jason Duncan, of that place. She departed this life in May, 1875, and is buried in the family lot at Knox- ville Cemetery, leaving a son, Frank S., a druggist at Knoxville. Mr. Dodd was again married in Quincy, Ill., Feb. 20, 1878, to Miss Rosa Nopper, daughter of Sergeant John Nopper, a native of Germany, who was supposed to have lost his life in the late

Franco-Prussian War, he not being heard from after- ward. The result of his second matrimonial alliance has been the birth of two bright, promising boys- Edwin H., born in August, 1879, and Carl E., born in February, 1885.

Mr. and Mrs. Dodd attend worship at the Con- gregational Church. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, of the A. O. U. W., Knight Grand Commander of the Sun, and of the Order of Railway Conductors. Mr. Dodd is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and a thorough-going official and business man, fully alive to the progress and improvement of the age. He is liberal-minded and charitable, and contributes freely to all measures tending to the advancement of the public welfare. He is a genial gentleman, affable and courteous to all whom he meets, and we bespeak for him continued peace and prosperity.

ndrew Main is a general farmer and stock- raiser, located on section 18, Walnut Grove Township. He was born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, Dec. 6, 1845. His father, Peter, was a farmer and a native of the same shire, where he married Jane Ferguson, also a native of that place. This lady died in Scotland. The whole family, consisting of three children, were born in the old country, Mr. Main being the second child.

In their native Scotland the family were remarka- ble for their great industry, sobriety and good-fellow- ship. Mr. Main was quite a child when his parents arrived in the United States. For a time they all staid at Chicago, but after the death of his only daughter and youngest child the father with his two sons proceeded to Oneida, where he lived some time. This estimable gentleman died at the home of his son, Andrew, May 1, 1879. After his father's de- cease, and on coming to this county, Mr. M. com- menced the pursuit of agriculture, and after some years of industry and economy succeeded in securing a good farm of 160 acres, which is in a fine state of cultivation and on which are erected very suitable farm buildings. He is also engaged in stock-raising.

Mr. Main was married on March 4, 1868, at the home of his bride, in Walnut Grove Township, to Miss Ellen Moore, who was born in Rio Township,

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Knox County, March 13, 1848. Her parents were among the early settlers in the State. Her father, Lyman K., and her mother, Mary (Woodman) Moore, were natives of Massachusetts and New York re- spectively. They were of Scotch ancestry, early emigrated to this country, and engaged in farming. Their deaths occurred in this county some years ago. Mrs. Main was brought up at home, and from the training she received in matters pertaining to do- mestic life was well fitted for the position she now holds. She has been the happy mother of three children-James Edwin, Kate E. and Clark A. These have now grown up and largely contribute to the domestic happiness of the parental household.

In politics Mr. Main has always identified himself with the Republican party.

You the mot

enry Sterling Hurd, M. D., of Galesburg, was born at Roxbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., Nov. 27, 1815, and is the son of Thomas and Betsey (Canfield) Hurd, the mother a native of England. The first Hurds came to Connect- icut 200 years since. The parents of our sub- ject settled in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1834, where they died, the father in 1851, aged 68, and the mother in 1847, aged 64. They were farmers by oc- cupation and reared five sons and one daughter, our subject being the fourth son. Three of the sons en- gaged in the practice of medicine, among them Henry, who was educated at Roxbury Academy and at the age of 18 left it to enter school at Alexander, N. Y. He taught school winters and in 1838 went to Michigan, locating at Union City, where he lived for 14 years. He commenced reading medicine with an older brother, T. C. Hurd. He graduated from college in the year 1844, and began practicing in Homer, Mich., where he continued one and a half years, going thence to Union City and to Galesburg in 1854. He was associated with Dr. Burlingham one and a half years, and was appointed Pension Examining Surgeon in 1863. He has been a Di- rector of the Second National Bank for the past 15 years, and belongs to the State and Military Tract Medical Societies.

Dr. Hurd was married at Union City, Mich., in 1848, to Ellen E. Hammond, and they are the par-

ents of three children, by name Henry M., a physi- cian, Superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Pontiac, Mich .; Arthur W., M. D., Assistant Physician in the State Insane Asylum, Buffalo, N. Y. ; and Charles G.

¿ iles Smith, deceased. One of the repre- sentative citizens of Knoxville, and a pioneer of the same city, being among its earlier settlers, is the gentleman whose brief personal history is herein recorded. He de- parted this life at the close of a well-spent and nobly-directed manhood, in which he had accom- plished much good, both to himself and to all with whom he came in contact. His business ability was excellent, and he was proficient in the discharge of personal and public duties. A handsome residence in Knoxville is one of the proofs of his industry and success, and is occupied by his children, who highly prize this substantial reminder of paternal affection.

Mr. Smith was born Jan. 28, 1810, at Camden, N. Y., and was the son of William and Polly (Pond) Smith. His mother was born April 6, 1785, at Plym - outh, Conn., and was of English lineage. Her earliest ancestor in that section of the country was Samuel Pond, who came to America and located in Windsor, Conn., in which town he was married in 1642. Bartholomew Pond, the grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was noted for being a sturdy old hero.

Miles Smith was reared in his native county, and when a young man learned the tinner's trade, at which he worked until 1836, and then emigrated to Knox- ville. After reaching the infant town, he erected a building and opened a tinshop, where he manufact- ured all kinds of tinware for the convenience of the community, and eventually enlarged and im- proved his business, adding a hardware department.

This store was the headquarters for all such goods in this section of the country, and was hailed as a very excellent enterprise by the people. In 1869 Mr. Smith sold this business, which is now in the hands of J. R. Wilder, and which is considered the oldest established house in the county.

To secure a helpmeet for the battle of life was one of the bright aspirations of Mr. Smith's young man- hood, and on May 7, 1837, he espoused Lemira Har- tis, who was born in East Poultney, Vt., in 1814.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

yours Bouly Thomas MORue Thomas

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KNOX COUNTY.

Mrs. Smith died Nov. 30, 1841, and on Jan. 24, 1844, Mr. S. formed a second matrimonial alliance, this time with Harriet Hamblin, of Bridport, Vt. The date of Mrs. Smith's birth is Feb. 17, 1824.

The fruit of the first union of Mr. Smith was an only son, George H., now grown to manhood, and the sec- ond were four children, viz .: Lucy Helen, wife of Theodore Eads, who was born in Knoxville, July 26, 1848, and who is the mother of three children- Mur- ray S., Margaret H. and Martha Hortense; Freder- ick, the eldest son, who was born Dec. 20, 1853, and who wedded Margaret V. Cover, is the father of two children-M. Florence and Harriet M .; Otto G., who is a successful business man, and Cashier of the Farmers' National Bank, and the date of whose birth is Dec. 11, 1857, and Miles Carl, who resides in Au- rora, Neb. George, the oldest son, united in marriage with Clementine Saddler, and they are parents of three children-Louis, Jessie L. and Bert.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were both members of the Presbyterian Church. He was one of the very few members of the church, on whose records his name stood from the date of its first organization. He was an Elder of many years' standing, and a good, sub- startial member of society. He gave attention to political matters, and was a Whig in belief, later be- longing to the Republican party, which he supported and with which he voted.

on. Thomas McKee, who has since 1873 been a Justice of the Peace at Galesburg, and is one of the most highly esteemed citi- zens of Knox County, came here in 1828, which, so far as we can learn, antedates that of any other person now living in the county, except Daniel Robertson, of Henderson Township. He is a native of Harrison County, Ind., to which place his parents, Thomas and Hanna (Frakes) McKee, removed from Bullitt County, Ky., in 1810. On Aug. 22, 1810, the subject of this sketch was born, and was the third son in order of birth of his par- ents' children.

The senior McKee was a blacksmith and a farmer, and brought his seven sons up to the latter vocation. He left Indiana in 1821 and settled in Sangamon County, Ill., where he lived till 1824. During this

year he removed to Schuyler County, same State, where, on Jan. 5, 1833, he lost his life by a slide in a coal-mine. He died in the 53d year of his age. His widow lived in the latter county up to 1874, when she died, aged 84 years.

At the log schoolhouses of Indiana and Illinois, augmented by the Sunday-schools and neighborhood rehearsals, Mr. McKee of this notice acquired such education as was possible. In May, 1827, he left home to try his hand as a miner at Galena, but the Indians soon drove them from that place, and we next hear of Mr. McKee on a flatboat, bound for New Orleans. In 1831 he had drifted back to Schuyler County, and was attending school at Rush- ville when the Indian War broke out. Now war suited him, Indian fighting was just to his fancy, but he wanted a better show than he had at Galena four years before. So, in June, 1831, we find him, as the following commission shows, Second Lieutenant of a company of mounted volunteers :

" HEADQUARTERS.

"To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Know ye that Thomas McKee has been duly elected Second Lieutenant in a company of mounted volun- teers. He is therefore required diligently and care- fully to discharge the duties of said office by doing and performing all things appertaining thereunto, and strictly obeying all orders which he may receive from his superior officers; and all officers and privates under his command are hereby required to obey all his lawful commands.

" Given under my hand this 19th day of June, 1831.

" JOHN REYNOLDS,

"Commander-in-Chief Illinois Militia."

The outbreak of 1831 lasted but a short time, but the following year saw a renewal of hostilities. Young McKee was then in Knox County, and at once united himself with Capt. McMurtry's com- pany. From this time on to the close of the Black Hawk War he was identified with the interests of the white settlers. In April, 1832, a meeting of the citizens was held at Henderson Grove, for the dis- cussion of the feasibility of all the adult males, with their families, congregating together at some point for greater safety. As it will be observed, the object of the meeting was to determine whether they should vacate the country or take measures necessary for the defense of their homes. McKee, though probably

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the youngest man taking part in the debate, opposed leaving the country. Some of the older heads de- manded of the stripling what they were to do. The men, as they were without arms and almost utterly de- fenseless, thought it unnecessary for anyone to remain, and asked why not all hands join the army, procure arms and drive the redskins from the land. To this and much more young McKee replied that he would undertake alone the procurement from the Govern- ment of arms and ammunition for home defense. We can only imagine how such presumptuousness upon the part of this youth was regarded by the older heads and wiser. But, nevertheless, young McKee mounted his horse and set out across the country, a country filled with roving bands of hostile savages, for Rock Island. On the route he met with James McMurtry, and next a man by the name of Fountleroy Freeman, who, upon learning the nature of the mission, at once declared that McKee should never make that perilous trip alone; that they would accompany him and share with him the dangers. The next heard of Mr. McKee, by the citizens of Henderson, he and Freeman were at Oquawka, April 21, 1832, and the guns were brought over and distributed at Henderson Grove, as is witnessed by the original receipt, now lying before the writer, and signed by many of the pioneers of this county. These guns, roo in number, were afterward used by Capt. McMurtry's company, and finally returned to the Government.

Mr. McKee returned to Rushville in the fall of 1832, and proceeded to Iowa in 1835, whence, in a short time, he came again to Henderson Township, where he farmed with much success up to 1861. Subsequently the fortune he had accumulated by years of toil was largely swept away, through his own good-heartedness, manifested by placing his name to the paper of his friends. From 1861 to 1863 he resided at the village of Henderson and held the office of Justice of the Peace. August 12 of the last- named year he removed to Galesburg and engaged in the real-estate business.

He is familiarly called Maj. McKee, a title he earned as Major of militia in 1838. For 12 years, while a resident of Henderson Township, he was Justice of the Peace, and in 1852 he represented the county in the Illinois Legislature, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He was more than once

Supervisor of Henderson Township, and is at pres- ent discharging the functions of that office for Gales- burg. Though always a Democrat, the Galesburg people regularly return him to office against heavy Republican odds. This merely attests his fittness and his consequent personal popularity. In dis- charging his duty he makes no enemies. He is al- ways ready to prevent a lawsuit, and many is the case he has amicably settled, which might have grown into a long, bitter and expensive lawsuit.

Though having lived over three-quarters of a century, he is at this writing (1886) in the enjoyment of vigorous health and in the fullest possession of every faculty. Six days out of the week, from early morn till candle-light, you will find him at his office, cheerfully performing his duty, with a smile and a pleasant word for everybody, and always ready to tell you more about the early history of Knox County than any other man can.

He was married March 4, 1832, at Henderson Grove, to Miss Maria Rice, daughter of Jonathan Rice, who came into Knox County in 1831, and of the 13 children born to him we make the following memoranda : Rachel (Mrs. J. P. French) ; Eliza J. (Mrs. J W. Tate); Catherine (Mrs. William Howey) ; Helen M. (Mrs. F. W. Sears); Mrs. Sears is not liv- ing; Isabelle died in December, 1861, aged 21 years; Elsie Ann (Mrs. I. H. Hardinbrook), also deceased; Edwin R., attorney at law, at Memphis, Mo. ; Sarah Ellen (Mrs. E. H. Vance); Hanna died when 21 years of age; Maggie died, aged 21 ; Lu- cinda (Mrs. G H. Wallace) ; Thomas A., a railroad man ; and Daniel, who died in infancy.

Mr. McKee and wife are members of the Uni- versalist Society. In politics he has always been a Democrat and is influential in the ranks of his party in this county.

aj. Charles E. Hambleton, Assistant General Manager of the Covenant Mutual Benefit Association of Galesburg, Ill., entered the Association in the year 1878, soon after its organization, as special agent. Filling that position with honor from 1878 to 1879, he was promoted in the latter year to the post of Assistant General Manager.

Maj. Hambleton entered the army at Ironton,

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Ohio, in an independent cavalry company. For three months he held the office of Second Lieuten- ant, afterward commanding. The State of Ohio in the meantime tried to force them to become infantry, which they were determined not to do. Thereupon the officers telegraphed to Gov. Pierpont, of West Vir- ginia, who welcomed them, and they became the 2d W. Va. Cav. Our subject was mustered in as a private, elected to the office of First Lieutenant of Co. B, by a unanimous vote. He was soon after- ward promoted to Captain, and then to Major of his regiment. He served in the ist West Virginia Corps, fighting at Shenandoah Valley, at the battles of Winchester, Cedar Creek and other important en- gagements. His service covered about three years and three months in the 2d Cav., and he was five months among the " three-months men."

Leaving the army. he began steamboating on the Mississippi as Clerk and Captain between St. Paul and New Orleans, and was thus engaged for six or seven years. He then came to Galesburg, in 1873, and, taking charge of the Union Hotel, conducted it for three years.

Maj. Hambleton was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, April 7, 1839, and was well educated, receiv- ing superior advantages and attending Athens Uni- versity, Ohio, where he became proficient in the study of law, but never practiced it. He is the head of a family, is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity and is also associated with the I. O. O. F.

arcus Belden, one of the pioneer grain- dealers of Galesburg, was born at Green- field, Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 1, 1815. In 1825 the family removed to Western New York, and from there to Knox County in 1840. The Beldens were principally farmers, though a few of them are found in various pursuits and professions throughout the country.

The subject of our sketch was the eldest son of Aaron and Sarah (Wood) Belden, who were married at Greenfield, N. Y., in the year 1812. The names of the other children are, Martha, born Oct. 20, 1816; Joel W., Jan. 22, 1821; Priscilla, Feb. 9, 1823; Clarissa, Aug. 20, 1825, and Harriet N., Nov. 1, 1832. The first ancestor of Mr. Belden of whom

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 107

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 1130

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130