Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 14

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 14

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

When the tremendous excitement of the political campaign of 1860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he joined a company of Lincoln Wide-Awakes at Mag- nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the ensuing election it became evident that trouble would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake company, like many others throughout the country, kept up its organization and transformed itself into a military company. During the ensuing summer they met often for drill and became proficient ; but when they offered themselves for the war, young Hamilton was rejected on account of his youth, he being then but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County,

180

JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON.

and in the following May he again enlisted, for the fourth time, when he was placed in the 141st Ill. Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, Ill., for the 100-day service. He took with him 13 other lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the service. This regiment operated in Southwestern Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine.

The following winter, 1864-5, Mr. Hamilton taught school, and during the two college years 1865-7, he went through three years of the curriculum of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The third year he graduated, the fourth in a class of 46, in the classical department. In due time he received the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the Principal of Marshall "College " at Henry, an acad- emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By this time he had commenced the study of law, and after earning some money as a temporary Professor of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon, Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. Admitted to the Bar in Miy, 1870, Mr. Hamilton was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav- ing been elected Judge. In October following he formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then small, but they increased it to very large proportions, practicing in all grades of courts, including even the U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued unbroken until Feb. 6, 1883, when Mr. Hamilton was sworn in as Executive of Illinois. On the 4th of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- gress.

In July, 1871. Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Wm. G. Williams, Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesleyan University. Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son.

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- publicans for the State Senate, over other and older competitors. He took an active part "on the stump" in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- lany ; and during the contest for the election of a U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re-

elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and the Democrats and Independents elected Judge David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, again. much opposition that the bill was several times "laid on the table." Also, this session authorized the location and establishment of a southern per :- tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session. of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President pro tem. of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of Jolin A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who wa; this time elected without any trouble.

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his principal competitors before the Convention being Hon. Wm. A. James, ex Speaker of the House of Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, he presided almost continuously over the Senate in the 32d General Assembly and during the early days of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon taking up another's administration. The principal events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis- aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc.

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 1884, where his first choice for President was John A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. Blaine, true to his party.

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30, 1885, when the great favorite " Dick " Oglesby was inaugurated.

KNOX COUNTY

ILLINOIS.

موري

BIOGRAPHICAL

مــــ (ما

INTRODUCTORY.

HE time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to per- petuate the names of their pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and relate the story of their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age and the duty that men of the pres- ent time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity, demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In bio- graphical history is found a power to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this country from its primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the great and aged men, who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- maining who can relate the incidents of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- vation of events without delay, before all the early settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time.

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, in spite of their best works and the most earnest efforts of their friends to perserve the memory of their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion and to perpetuate their memory has been in propor- tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people

to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. The erection of the great obelisks were for the same purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their great achievements and carry them down the ages. It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea- to leave something to show that they had lived. All these works, though many of them costly in the ex- treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac ters of those whose memory they were intended to perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of the people that then lived. The great pyramids and , some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- bling into dust.

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating a full history-immutable in that it is almost un- limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and this is through the art of printing.

To the present generation, however, we are in- debted for the introduction of the admirable system of local biography. By this system every man, though he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, through the coming ages.

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the physical man is left. The monument which his chil- dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- tery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished. which otherwise would be forgotten, is perpetuated by a record of this kind.

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we engrave their portraits, for the same reason we col- lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to wait until they are dead, or until those who know them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to publish to the world the history of those whose lives are unworthy of public record.

مـ

مـ) (ما

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

John Of Gern

189

KNOX COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

acob Gum. Among the leading farmers and more worhty citizens, distinguished for industry and good management, may be named the subject of this personal nar- ration, a resident of Knox Town- ship, and in reality one of the oldest settlers in the county. The details of his life career, as herein given, go to show that he is in a large degree worthy of no tice as a capable citizen and an able man. Mr. Gum was born in that part of Sangamon now in- cluded in Menard County, Ill., Nov. 21, 1827. His father, John B. Gum, was a native of Kentucky, being born in Munfordsville, Hart County, March 7, 1796. His father, Jacob Gum, the grandfather of our subject, was a pioneer of Knox County, of 1828. In 1827 he and his son Zephaniah came and viewed Knox County, and the next spring he returned here with his family. He settled at Henderson Grove, May ist, of that year. He was a preacher of the regular Baptist Church, and the first minister of the Gospel in this county. His marriage with Miss Rhoda Bell was productive of the birth of four children, as follows : John B., Zephaniah, Jessie and James ; all dead. Mrs. Gum was born in Germany and died March 11, 1852, aged 84 years 7 months and 18

days. The sons came to Knox County with their parents, and all settled in Henderson Grove in 1828. The elder Guin took up a tract of 320 acres of land in Henderson Township, on which he erected a log house, and his sons, Zephaniah and Jesse, im- proved the land. Here the old gentleman passed ! his last years on the home farm, and died April 15, 1847, aged 82 years and 4 months.

The father of our subject grew to manhood in his native State, and in his earlier years was united in marriage with Cassandria Dills, also a native of Ken- tacky, and was born Jan. 26, 1803. She was the daughter of Thomas Dills. In 1823 the Gum family all moved to Illinois, which journey was made over- land with teams. They brought with them their household goods and camped along the way. They lived in that part of Sangamon County which is now Menard County, and were among the earlier settlers. They took up claims and erected cabins, where they resided until the spring of 1828, when they sold out and came to Knox County, which was then attached to Fulton County for judicial purposes. In 1833 Mr. Gum went among the Indians and bought seed corn. The father took up a claim in Henderson Township, building a durable log cabin, covering the same with clapboards and laying a puncheon floor. This house played a very conspicuous part in the early history of the county, being noteworthy from the fact that the first religious meetings in the county were heid within its walls, as was also the first court.

190

KNOX COUNTY.

Continuing in this part of the county until 1831, he at that time sold his patent to the land and re- moved to Knox Township, where he located a claim of 240 acres on section 29, and again built a small log house, which in the fall he replaced by a hewed log cabin, which is still standing. Sometimes during the Indian wars, whenever an outbreak occurred, the few settlers would repair to this house for a place of safety. Here his wife died Nov. 14, 1832. Two years later he formed a second matrimonial con- nection, with Miss Jane Burner, who was born in Tennessee, Nov. 18, 1809. He bought this land and improved it as a farm, living there until 1861, when he sold out and went to California, making the en- tire journey overland. He located in San Joaquin County, purchasing a farm, on which he engaged in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred Oct. 29, 1869, at that place. To him had been born by the first marriage two children -- Melissa, who married D. G. Burner, and who died June 9, 1853, and Jacob, our subject. By the second marriage there were 10 children, of whom eight now survive-Isaac, who is warden of the State Penitentiary of California ; Rhoda, wife of Aaron White, and is living in San Joaquin County, Cal .; John, who lives in Galva, Henry County, Ill .; Charles makes his home in San Joaquin County, Cal .; Mary, wife of a Mr. Plummer, resides in Stockton, Cal .; Bessie, wife of Peter Elamm, lives in San Joaquin County, Cal .; Susan, wife of Mr. Cope, and Jane, who is also married, and lives in California; Knox lives on the homestead in Lodi, Cal., with his mother. The children who are dead were Jason, the eldest son, and Bessie ; both died several years ago.

Jacob Gum was but a few months old when he came to this county with his parents. Here he grew to manhood, assisting his father on the farm and attending the public school. He was one of first students in the first school ever established in Knox- ville. He continued under the parental roof until his marriage, which was celebrated April 1, 1852, with Miss Jane Montgomery, daughter of John and Margaret (Vaughn) Montgomery (see sketch). At the time of his marriage he engaged in farming, locat- ing on section 36, of Galesburg Township. This farm he occupied until 1873, when he left it in charge of his daughter and son-in-law, and moved to the place he now occupies, on section 31, of Knox Township. Mr. Gum has been one of the most noteworthy farm-

ers for enterprise and prosperity in this section of the country. Mr. Gum's farm comprises about one thousand acres, in Knox, Galesburg and Orange Townships. Mr. Gum makes a specialty of stock raising and breeding, particularly the raising of horses. He has for several years been breeding well- bred Hamiltonians and Clydesdales, also a few Nor- mans. He also breeds Short-horn cattle, and has

been breeding thorough-bred Chester-white hogs and Leicester sheep. He takes rank as one of the large stock-raisers in this section of the country. His sons are interested with him in stock-raising. They have on hand, at this writing, 61 horses and mules, and a good herd of cattle, which gives some idea of the magnitude of his stock enterprises.

Mr. Gum and wife are the parents of five children, as follows : Sarah M., wife of Jesse Brown, whose home is in Henderson Township; William N., John M., Mary B. and Charlie D. Mr. and Mrs. Gum are members of the Christian Church, and most excellent neighbors and friends. The husband takes an active interest in politics, and has been a supporter of the Republican party ever since its formation. During the war, he was a stanch Union man.

John B. Gum, whose portrait we present on the opposite page, was one of the most conspicuous men in the early history of Knox County. He was evi- dently regarded as one of the most capable of pio- neers, as we find him prominently identified with ev- ery move toward the organization of the county, as well as of the various departments of the county's government. It was at his residence that the first County Commissioners' Court was held. He was elected Clerk, but at the next meeting resigned. The first term of the Circuit Court was also held at his cabin, Oct. 1, 1830. This cabin, which was known as the "temporary seat of justice of Knox County," stood on section 32, Henderson Township. It was a one-story, double log cabin. Each division contained one room. This was also the tavern for this section of country. Mr. Gum also served as the first Treas- urer of Knox County. His first report showed that he handled for the year $341.32. Of this $320 was received from the State Treasurer, $19.32 from taxes, and $2 from license. Mr. Gum was a fine type of the early pioneer, possessing a well developed, mus- cular form. He possessed many Christian virtues, and was highly esteemed and respected by every one

191

KNOX COUNTY.

of the sturdy pilgrims who came to the beautiful groves of Knox County, before they were marred by the hand of man.

3 ary Roe. The lady of whom this biogra- phy is written, is one of the most estima- ble women of Knox County, and worthy of a place in its records. She has shown much business ability, and in spite of the ob- stacles and hindrances that confront a woman left alone, has done nobly, and like Joan of Arc, " Redeemed her people. " Her farm is situated on section 21, of Indian Point Township, and though large, originally, has been divided with the cl.ildren, until 74 acres as a homestead, remains to the widow, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Tift) Barber, who were natives of Rhode Island.

Mrs. Mary Roe was born in Chenango County, near Norwich, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1815. In the year 1836, she united her destiny with Mr. Silas Roe, of Dutch- ess County, N. Y., who was born June 15, 1807. Their marriage was celebrated in Norwich, and they lived there six years, at the expiration of which time they came to Illinois, locating in Knox County in the spring of 1843. They have had 12 children, and be- sides her own family, she has two children, which she brought up as her own. The children's names are as follows : Sarah Ann, the eldest, died when in infancy ; Emily C., Silas J., Truman H., Daniel M., Mary A., Jerusha G., Pluma A., Martin E., Nancy E., Laura A., Martha J. and Elizabeth.

Mr. Roe enlisted in the army in March, 1865. Being a carpenter by trade, he engaged with the Government to work at Duval's Bluff. He was never heard from after the war, and it was generally sup- posed that he perished in a steamboat explosion in . the vicinity of Vicksburg, as all inquiries failed to elicit any information as to his whereabouts.

Mrs. Roe had three sons in the army, one of whom, Daniel, lost his life at Pittsburgh Landing. He nobly proved that "They never die who fall in a great cause." His death was the result of wounds. The two others were Silas J. and Truman H. The latter was in the Ist Cavalry, passed through the or- deal unscathed and went home to the waiting

mother. They are still living. She has one daugh- ter, now living 'in Galesburg, and one in Cass County, Iowa; a daughter in Ford County, Ill.,; one in Hancock County; one in Knox County; and Mills County, Iowa; Martha E. is in Nebraska ; and one in Wyoming County, Pa.

Mrs. Roe and husband were congenial companions and passed together a happy married life. He was an earnest, humble, and a kind and loving husband and father, and his death was deeply lamented. Mrs. Roe was one of the early settlers of this section of country, and remembers vividly, many of the inci- dents of pioneer days. She entered the house in which she now lives, before it was sided or shingled. During his life they accumulated considerable prop- erty. Their landed possessions amount to 400 acres. He was an active, earnest member of society, and watched political events with considerable interest. He was a Republican in sentiment and vote. In faith, he was a Protestant Methodist.

oseph Ellis, now deceased, formerly a lead- ing farmer, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1811. His parents were Dr. Thomas and Catherine (Wescott) Ellis, natives of New England, who resided in Ohio many years prior to their decease, having sup- posedly married in that State. The father died when Joseph was a small boy, who lived with his mother till his marriage, which took place in Hamil- ton County, Jan. 30, 1842, to Miss Laura M. Jacobus, who was born near Bath in Steuben County, N. Y., June 24, 1818. Her parents, Garrett and Elizabeth (Wilhelms) Jacobus, were natives of New Jersey and married in New York State, where five children were born to them : Eleanor, Margaret (Mrs. Ellis), Henry, Mary and Joshua. The children are all de- ceased except Mary and Mrs. Ellis. The mother died in the year of 1834. Mrs. Ellis remained with her father about four years after the death of her mother. She then went to live with her uncle as house-keeper, where she remained three years, until she was married. After the marriage of his daughter, the father lived with her, and died at her home in Oneida, Jan. 1, 1877, aged 86 years. He was a me- chanic of skill and a generally successful man. In

192

KNOX COUNTY.

1842, in the spring following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis came to Fulton County, Ill., and settled on a new farm in Fairfield Township, where they lived for 20 years, during which period Mr. Ellis purchased a farm of 160 acres in Ontario Township, which he operated and rented, making his home in Oneida till his death, March 19, 1873, having lived in the latter place two years.

Mrs. E., since the death of her husband, operated a portion of the property which was left to her by him, amounting to So acres in Ontario Township, im- proved, and 11 acres in the city, besides the fine home property on which she resides. She is a woman of strong character, possessing fine executive ability, a clear, vigorous mind, and an especially excellent memory. Her husband, while living, was a firm and reliable Republican, and a good honest man of kind and friendly disposition, alike toward rich and poor. Mrs. Ellis is an active member of the Congregational Church, and for many years, while living in the country, their home was noted for its generous hos- pitality and unfailing good cheer, and was called by many of the traveling public the " Taveler's Home. " She is the mother of two children : Mary E. Mur- dock (see sketch of Frank Murdock); Alonzo, a siu- gle man, now living in Elvada, Butler County, Kas., the owner of a large farm and a stock-feeder. The excellent mother, now approaching the seventies in years, has led an irreproachable life, cheered and guided by the light which gleams from the por- tals of another world, entrance into which she awaits in confident faith, happy to stay with loved ones here or ready to join the throng of friends awaiting her coming on the other shore. In all her life, she has been blessed with loving friends and dutiful children, and she approaches old age with neither regret nor repin- ing.

ohn Hobbs, formerly one of the most prominent farmers of Knox County, where he lived from the time he was a year old till his death, which occurred at Oneida, Feb. 21, 1885, was born in. Knox County, Ohio,

States after the birth of their first child, William, ard settled in Knox County, Ohio, a short time after John was born. A year later the family located in Knoxville, Ill., where they resided for ten years, when they settled in Copley Township, purchasing and improving a farm of 320 acres, on which they lived until their decease, the mother dying in Sep- tember, 1861, while the father followed in April, 1879.

John Hobbs, our subject, remained at home with his parents till he was married May 1, 1862, to Miss Jennette McSkimming, who was a native of Ayer- shire, Scotland, and who, when 14 years old, came with her parents to America. Her father's name was Hugh and her mother's Anna Wallace. They at once settled in Knox County, where her parents resided for many years, removing in March, 1878, to Adams County, Iowa, where they are yet living and rank among the active and successful farmers of Union County.

Mrs. Hobbs was the eldest but two of a family of 15 children, 10 of whom are yet living. The names of these are: Mary, who became the wife of Ezra Fosmire, and they are now living in Adams County, Iowa; William married Jeanette Russell and they are the parents of one child, Hattie; Mrs. Hobbs of this sketch is next in order; Anna became the wife of Christian Gehring and their union has been blessed by eight children-William, Mary, Anna, Frank, Alice, Stella, Harry and Mabel; Lillie mar- ried William Griffith and they have five children- George, Alice, Harry, Arnold and Hugh; Jeannie became the wife of Edward Town and mother of one child, born March 5, 1886; Joan became the wife of Thomas Montgomery, and they are the par- ents of two children-George and Luella; Hugh married Adella Burkhart, and they now have two children, named Maud and Pearl; James is now living in Colorado; David married Delia Humphrey and one child has blessed that union-Hugh. The five children that are deceased died in infancy, ex- cept Campbell, who died at the age of 17. Mrs. Hobbs is the mother of four children, one of whom, Stephen, is deceased. The living, Sarah, John and Ella, were all educated in the Oneida High School and are all affectionate and intelligent children, a comfort and blessing to their widowed mother, who

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 14

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