Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 39

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 39

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yugh A. Kelly, a farmer residing on section 15, Cedar Township, is a native of Augusta County, W. Va., and reared in Greenbrier * County, Feb. 26, 1813. He came to Fulton Co., 111., in 1833, where he remained from Novem- ber until the following April, when he moved to Cedar Township. His father, James, was a na- tive of Virginia, and his parents were from Ireland. James Kelly, the father, died in 1819. He married Miss Jane (Hulit) Kelly, also of Irish extraction. This lady died in 1843, but had become the mother of four children-Hugh A., Nancy, Sarah and James. The gentleman whose name heads this biography married Miss Catherine Castle, Dec. 13, 1832, and her death took place March 24, 188t. They had no children. Mrs. Kelly's parents were of German and lrish extraction, and of their family there is one sister living.

Mr. Kelly may be counted as one among the old-

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est pioneers of this township. Altogether he has been Supervisor of the township for three terms, as well as School Director for the last twenty years. He is one among the foremost members of his lodge in the ancient craft of Masonry. He was first made a Mason in 1861, in Abingdon Lodge, No. 185. Mr. Kelly has 240 acres of improved land, on which he erected a fine dwelling in 1865. He is one among the prominent breeders of Short-horn cattle, and his horses are all good grades. He has devoted his life to farming and stock-raising, and has been quite suc- cessful in the accumulation of property. He is re- garded as one of Cedar Township's most thrifty and enterprising farmers. His farm ranks high among the many excellent ones of this splendid county. He is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife, who took an active part in the good of that Christian organization. In poli- tics he favors Democracy, and by that party is con- sidered one of its best friends.

trawther Givens. It is well known that Knox County takes a front rank among the leading counties of the Prairie State. En- terprise, wealth and refined taste are displayed throughout its borders. There are located here many of the leading men of the State, who have more than a local reputation, and classed among the representative men of the county is Mr. Strawther Givens. He is following the quiet pursuit of farm life in Cedar Township, his residence being located on section 32. He is also devoting considerable time and money in breeding Short-horn cattle and Nor- man and roadster horses. He was born in Monroe County, Ind., near Bloomington, May 23, 1843, and is a son of Thales H. and Julia (Carter) Givens. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1854, the family settling in McDonough County, near the Hancock County line. He and the elder Givens engaged in farming and stock- raising, and became one of the best known and most highly respected men in all that section.

Strawther was reared on the home farm in McDon- ough County, receiving his primary education in the district schools of the neighborhood ; subsequently he attended the State University, and also took a bus-

iness course at the Commercial College at Burling- ton, Iowa, and was graduated in 1860. Shortly after leaving school he was united in marriage at Blan- dinsville, Ill., Dec. 25, 1862, with Miss Mary Hus- ton, daughter of John Huston, one of the early pioneers and most prominent citizens of that county. Mrs. Givens was born in Blandinsville, Feb. 11, 1844, and was reared in her native county. She has become the mother of four children, three daughters and a son : Anna is the wife of Will A. Thomas, of Kinsley, Kan .; Laura and Lucy are twins; the former is the wife of Alfred Ryden, a farmer near Abingdon ; Lucy is the wife of George Foltz, also re- siding near that city; Thales H., the son, is residing with his parents.

After his marriage, Mr. Givens embarked in farm- ing and stock-raising in Hancock and McDonough Counties, meeting with quite flattering success. He remained there until March, 1870, when he came to Abingdon and engaged in the grocery business. He continued in this branch of the mercantile trade until 1873, when he closed out and formed a partnership with his father and J. M. Dawdy, and established the Union Bank at Abingdon, which was the pioneer banking-house of that city. The business was con- ducted under the firm name of Givens, Dawdy & Co. until 1878, since which time it has been known as the Union Bank. Of this institution, Strawther Giv- ens is President ; F. P. Foltz, Vice-President ; and T. E. Givens, Cashier. This is a private banking- house and one of the ablest of its kind in the State ; transacts a general banking business, and enjoys the entire confidence of the community.

Mr. Givens is a gentleman of considerable enter- prise, and usually successful in every undertaking. He is a man of good judgment, conservative, and yet, at the same time, not so slow as to let opportunities slip by without taking advantage of them. He has a highly improved farm of 120 acres, situated on sec- tion 32, in Cedar Township, and lying adjacent to the west line of the city of Abingdon, and known as the Maple Grove Farm. It was the old homestead where his father settled in 1865. In 1879, he pur- chased a small herd of thoroughbred Short-horn cat- tle and commenced the breeding of that kind of stock. Since that time he has sold upward of $100,- ooo worth of pure-bred Short-horns. His herd num- bers from 50 to 75 head, and consists of such fami- lies as the Kirklevington, Barringtons, Roan Duch-

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ess, Acombs, Long Marys, Phyllis, etc. He has made exhibitions of his herd at Minneapolis, Chi- cago and local and district fairs with flattering suc- cess. At Minneapolis he took the first premium on young herds and the second on large herds. At Chi- cago and other fairs he has won his share of the hon- ors. In addition to his herd of Short-horns, Mr. Givens has some very fine specimens of horses, con- sisting of grade Normans and roadsters.

Maple Grove Farm is one of the most complete in its appointments of any in this county. His res- idence is elegant and capacious, while his stock build- ings are both commodious and tasty, and are constructed after the most modern plan. The mag- nificent display of fine cattle and horses to be seen here is an interesting feature of this model farm.

In political faith Mr. Givens is a Democrat, and has been prominently identified with that party for many years. He was a delegate to the last National Demo- cratic Convention, where he had the honor of helping to nominate the successful candidate of that cam- paign. He has served three terms as Alderman of Abingdon, always giving his time freely to advance every interest of a public and beneficial nature. He has always taken an active part in the advancement of Democratic principles, and has been active in the campaigns both for the success of the National, State and county tickets.

ohn W. Wood, hardware merchant of Yates City, Ill., a prosperous and progressive cit- izen, is the subject of this personal sketch. Previously the business was conducted with S. S. Stone as associate partner, from 1877 to 1879, when Mr. Wood purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until De- cember, 1883, when he took his son into the store as partner ; the firm is now John W. Wood & Son.

Our subject was born in Mason County, Ky., July 18, 1827. His father, William Wood, was a native of Kentucky, born in the same county. His grand- father, Jesse Wood, was a native of Virginia, and his great-grandfather, Christopher Wood, was originally from England, and came to America previous to the Revolution, under the auspices of the Baptist Asso- ciation. He was a minister of that denomination,

and one of the Kentucky pioneers. He was the first Baptist minister of that State, and with his family resided in Daniel Boone's fort in Mason County. He built the first grist-mill in Kentucky, which was lo- cated on Lee's Creek, built of stone and wood, and furnished with two sets of stone buhrs. The stone part of the mill is still standing, and is preserved as a relic in Mason County. It is situated five or six miles from Maysville. Christopher Wood and Jesse, his son, were both in the fort built by Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone, as mentioned above.

The father of our subject grew to manhood in his native county, learning the carpenter's trade when young and later becoming an engineer. In that ca- pacity he was employed for about 30 years on a river steamer, thus visiting the different trading posts on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers long before the country was settled by white men. He died in Ma- son County, Ky., Dec. 25, 1853. His marriage was with Ann Field, daughter of Thomas and Char- lotte (Stark) Shelton, of Virginia. Thomas Shel- ton, the maternal grandfather, was an officer of the Government, and arrested Aaron Burr after he had conspired against it. To the parents of W. Wood were born seven children, of whom our subject was third in order of birth. He lived in Mason County until he attained the age of 16 years, when he went to Pike County, Ohio, engaging in a blacksmith shop. There he served four years ; he then returned to Ma- son County and obtained employment at his trade in a railroad shop, working for the Lexington & Mays- ville Railroad. With them he continued for one year, then went to New Orleans for one season, visiting Vicksburg and Memphis, and in 1853 came to Balti- more, Md., as agent for a patent right. In the fall of the same year he went to New Orleans and traded in Northern produce until the spring of 1854. In March of that year he went back to his old home, and on April 6 entered the State of Iowa, traveled over its unsettled plains until the following May, when he came to Illinois, spent one month in Fulton County, then, coming to Knox County, opened a blacksmith shop in Maquon Township, and did gen- eral work for five years.

Mr. Wood was united in marriage in 1859, with Emma Ruth Kay, a native of England, born in Lan- cashire. Accompanied by his bride, he returned to Fulton County and opened a shop, where he worked at blacksmithing for eight years, and in September,

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1867, came to Yates City, again establishing himself at his trade, and continued thus until 1877, when he engaged in the hardware business, which he still continues.

Mr. Wood has two children living, who bear the following names: John W., with whom he is associ- ated in business, was born in November, 1852, mar- ried Mary Balcom, of New York State; Lula V., born July 16, 1868, became the wife of J. W. Dixon, and lives in Yates City. Mr. Wood is a member of Yates City Lodge, No. 370, I. O.O. F., and in politics is a Prohibitionist, supporting that party by example and vote.

le Anderson. The little kingdom of Nor- way has contributed her quota of sturdy, energetic men who have done their part toward the development of this country. In Sparta Township that country is well repre- sented, and as one of the representatives of that country, and in fact we might say, one of the foremost men in the county, is the subject of this notice.

Ole Anderson, who is at present residing on his fine farm on section 12, Sparta Township, was born in Norway, in 1820. His parents were Andrew and Harriet (Christian) Olaf Anderson, natives of that country. Our subject lived there with his parents until 16 years of age, after which he worked out for four years. His ambitious spirit at this age of life prompted him to engage in other than hard labor, and he turned his attention to the buying and selling of stock, which he followed for four years. In 1846 he purchased a farm in his native country and for three years was occupied in its cultivation. He then sold his place, and, expecting to better his financial condition in the land beyond the salty waters of the Atlantic, he concluded to emigrate. He set sail for this country, and in 1849, after disembarking at an Eastern seaport, he came almost directly to this county. On arriving here, his funds being exhausted, he commenced work for Mr. B. Leighton. He re- mained with the latter gentleman but a short time when he purchased 80 acres of land, and once more engaged in farming.

The judgment of Mr. Anderson, on first coming to the country, was that the broad, uncultivated prai-

rie lands were not only productive, but would in a short time rapidly increase in value. He conse- quently has been engaged in the buying and selling of land ever since he came here, together with the raising of stock. At the present time he is the pro- proprietor of 1,400 acres of land in the State, and on his fine farm, on section 12, has some splendid improvements, his residence and barn costing him about $5,000. On his home farm he has a herd of about 180 head of cattle, 150 head of hogs and 30 head of horses. In addition to his real possessions in this State he owns a large tract of land in Texas, which he is improving. His Texas land amounts to 12,500 acres, which he intends to make a stock ranch. It is all under fence, and 2,500 of it joins the town of Big Springs.

The marriage of our subject took place in Norway. A short time after coming to this State his wife died of cholera ; she lies buried at Ottawa. By their union one child was born-Mary, now Mrs. H. Mitchell. The second matrimonial alliance of Mr. Anderson was with Betsey Anderson, born in Norway. The issue of the latter union was 1 1 children, named Wil- lie, Henry, Andrew, Alfred, Christian, Arthur, Har- riet, Annie, Jennie, Sophia and Emil.

Ole Anderson is a self made man in every sense the word implies. His motto has always been, " Never put off until to-morrow what can be done to-day." He is independent in politics, and has held the office of Roadmaster and School Trustee, and is one of the well-known and respected citizens as well as an energetic and successful farmer of Sparta Town- ship.

elson Cunningham, one of Knox County's successful farmers, and a gentleman who has followed that vocation more or less all of his life, is at present residing upon section 21, Salem Township. Mr. Cunningham was born in Indiana County, Pa., Jan. 7, 1834. His father was Joseph Cunningham, born in August, 1808, in the same county. His father, grandfather of our subject, Thomas Cunningham, also a native of the Keystone State.

The father of our subject grew to manhood in his native State and was there married to Sarah Harbi- son. He purchased a farm in Indiana County and

RESIDENCE OF ALEXANDER SHANNON , SEC.11, HENDERSON TOWNSHIP.

1817%

RESIDENCE OF OLE ANDERSON, SEC. 12. SPARTA TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. JOHNSON, SEC. 1, KNOX TOWNSHIP.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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there engaged in the cultivation of the soil. He also purchased land in Westmoreland County, in the same State, remaining there until 1865, when he dis- posed of his farm and came to Knox County, locat- ing in Salem Township. In this township he purchased land situated on the southwest quarter of section 21, upon which he resided until Oct. 28, 1873. when he died. The parental family consisted of five children, two now surviving, with whom his widow resides. The subject of our sketch was the eldest of the family. His brother, Thomas, now lives in Johnson County, Kan.

He of whom we write was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native State, and removed with his parents to Westmoreland County in 1854, remaining at home until 1857. Nel- son Cunningham, in March, 1857, was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Buchanan, who was born in Westmoreland County, Pa. After marriage Mr. C. rented land until 1864, when he purchased a farm in Westmoreland County. In 1865 he had an opportunity to sell out at an advanced price, which he did. Soon after he came to Illinois and located in Peoria County, where he, purchased a farm, on which he resided one year. This he sold and removed to Elba Township, remaining there for eight years. After the death of his father he re- moved to the old homestead, which he farmed and improved. He is extensively engaged in the breed- ing of stock and the cultivation of the soil. They are the parents of five children living: John T. is in Vermont, Fulton County; Ed. F. is a teacher in Yates City ; Jennie M. is also a teacher; and the others are Sadie and Flora. Two died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Presbyterian Church, in Yates City. In politics Mr. C. affiliates with the Republican party.

dmund Russell. There were a few sturdy pioneers to be found here and there throughout Knox County as early as 1837, but the number was few. The great railroads that opened up this fair section, and made it possible to be cultivated as a garden, had not yet been planned nor dreamed of by those of the most vivid imagination. Among the number of these

hardy people, to whom the present generation owe so much, was Mr. Edmund Russell, Sr. He was a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he married Miss Elizabeth Weed. They settled there and remained for a time, but soon removed to Gallia County, Ohio. In the autumn of 1837 they came to this county, and located on section 31, where they passed the remain- der of their lives, and upon which section our sub- ject continues to reside. The wife and mother was the first to be called to the future world, her demise occurring June 11, 1877. Mr. Russell survived until Dec. 27, 1884. To this union were born 1 I children -Chas. M., David, Lusenia, William, George W., Louisa, Mary J., Edmund, Lucretia M., Olive A. and Melissa D.

Edmund Russell, our subject, was born in Gallia County, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1836, and was an infant of a year old when he was brought to Knox County by his parents. Here he grew up to manhood, receiv- ing a good common-school education, and has con- tinued to make his home in Persifer Township, with the exception of six years passed in Oregon and Idaho. He has devoted his time while in Knox County to agricultural pursuits, and to-day is the owner of a good farm of 127 acres, 100 of which are tillable. He has taken no little interest in the pub- lic affairs of the township, and has served as Road Commissioner, School Director and Overseer of Highways. In his political connection he is identi- fied with the Republican party.

Mr. Russell was united in marriage at Knoxville, April 6, 1875, with Miss Emma Risor, daughter of William and Sarah (Lawrence) Risor, natives of Ohio. They were also early pioneers of Knox County, having settled in Knoxville as early as 1839, where they at present reside. They were the par- ents of seven children, namely : Caroline, Samuel B., Ann, Haney, Emma, Ella and Ada. Mrs. Russell was the fifth in order of birth of the family, and was born in Orange Township, Jan. 13, 1851. Almond C., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Russell, was born Oct. 2, 1879.

The following family record, 180 years old, was furnished by Mr. Ed. Russell :

Joseph and Mary Russell, both natives of Massa- chusetts; no record of their age, marriage or death. William, son of Joseph and Mary Russell, born at Dartmouth or New Bedford, Mass., Oct. 20, 1706, and died March 6, 1793, in Dutchess County, N. Y.

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in the 87th year of his age. Elizabeth, his wife, died in Dutchess County, N. Y., aged 67 years. Samuel Russell, son of William and Elizabeth Russell, born in Dutchess County, N. Y., June 10, 1736, and died at Saratoga County, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1824, aged 88 years; Margaret his wife, died in 1829, at the age of 84 years. William, their first son, born Jan. 27, 1773, in Dutchess County, N. Y., married Patience Duel, Feb. 13, 1794 ; she died in Knox County, Ill., June 23, 1841, in the 73d year of her age; he was married the second time when he was 80 years old. He died in the city of Galesburg, Ill., Oct. 17, 1856, in the 85th year of his age. At the time of his death he was as smart and spry as a man of 40, and could walk 18 or 20 miles in a day. He was standing on the railroad track in Galesburg, when an engine ran over him and killed him almost instantly. The old grandfather was a strange old man, and our sub- ject states that he saw him dig and wall up his own grave and cut and letter his own tombstone. He also helped him erect his tombstone at his grave, several years before he died.

alter Bailey. Among the suocessful farm- ers of Elba Township is the gentleman whose name heads this notice, and who resides on his fine farm on section 26. He came to this county in October, 1849, from Delaware County, Ohio, and some few years later purchased the 160 acres of land where he is at present residing. He has subsequently increased his landed interest, and at this writing is the owner of 860 acres, 80 of which are timber. On his fine place he erected a good residence in 1871, barn and other necessary out-buildings, and the farm is indicative of that push and energy characteristic of its proprietor. Mr. Bailey was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1827, and is the son of James and Eve (Kitts) Bailey. They were natives of St. Lawrence County, N. Y. James Bailey was a farmer, surveyor and mechanic, and was engaged in various other occupa- tions, but farming was his chief business in life. When he was ten years of age his parents removed to Ohio, and there lived until they came to Galva, in Henry County, where the good mother and loving wife passed away, Sept. rr, 1873. The father after-

ward returned to Delaware County, Ohio, where his demise occurred in June, 1875. Walter, however, came direct to Knox County from Ohio.

Walter Bailey was married in Elmwood Township, Peoria County, this State, Feb. 14, 1855, to Harriet L. Parsell, daughter of Joseph and Hetty A. (Ralston) Parsell. Her parents came to Fulton County, Ill., from Hamilton County, Ohio, and lived in the foriner county for about one year. In 1840 they moved to Elmwood Township, Peoria County, where the mother died April 17, 1850. The father was again married, and in 1864 removed to the village of Elmwood, that county, where he lived for 11 years, and until 1875, when he came to Elba Township and lived with his daughter, Mrs. Bailey, of this notice, until Jan. 3, 1880, the date of his demise.

Mrs. Bailey was born in Sycamore Township, Ham- ilton Co., Ohio, July 30, 1835, and has borne her husband five children, named Edith A., Lura D., Bertha B., Addie G. and Nena H. Edith is the wife of W. D. Ware, a resident of Summit, Ill., and to them three children have been born-Catherine S., Winfield B. and Edna D .; Lura married George F. Hughes, who lives at Table Grove, Fulton Co., Ill. The remaining children reside at home. Mr. Bailey has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, and also various school offices within the gift of the people of his township. In politics he is a stanch and active Republican. When Mr. B. came here, his land was uncultivated and the improve- ments now to be seen are due to his own thrift and energy. He had but little means, and what he now possesses has been the accummulation of his own toil and economy.

ohn R. Smith. One of the successful farmers and respected citizens whose in- terests have been identified with this coun- ty since 1850, and who is at present residing on section 34, Sparta Township, where he is act- ively engaged in the honorable calling which he has chosen, is the subject of this notice. Mr. Smith was born in Clinton County, Ohio, April 17, 1829. His parents, Stephen and Hannah (Rannells) Smith, were likewise natives of that State, the former being born in 1806, and the latter in 1808. The mother died in her native State in 1848. Seven

مست (حسب

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children were born of the parents' union, all of whom lived to attain the age of maturity. They were John R., Elizabeth, Mary L., William, Stephen, Nancy and Sarah E., and all are yet living, except Elizabeth, Mary L. and William.

The father of Mr. Smith came to this State in 1850, and made settlement on section 31, Sparta Township, where he purchased So acres of land, and there lived, engaged in its improvement and cultiva- tion, until 1858. He then went to Fremont, Iowa, where he lived until his death, in 1878. His son, John R., of whom we write, was an inmate of the parental household until he was 22 years of age. He was reared on the farm, received a rudimentary edu- cation in the common schools and supplemented the same by attendance in the Academical Department of Knox College. He was the first pupil to recite a lesson in anatomy, physiology and hygiene in the Illinois Liberal Institute, now known as Lombard University, which was i.1 1852. Prof. P. R. Kendall was then President of this institution.

Mr. Smith was an industrious scholar and soon fitted himself for a teacher. In 1851, he taught his first term of school, and continued in that vocation until he had taught 15 terms. He was married April 9, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Conlee, a native of Putnam County, Ill., and a daughter of Levi and Jane (Gillock) Conlee. Her parents were natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively. They came to this State in 1830, and made settlement in Tazewell County, where the father died in 1870, and the mother in 1864. Mr. Smith, after his marriage with Miss Conlee, erected a residence in Wataga village, where he resided for one year, engaged in teaching. In April, 1857, he purchased the farmn on which he is at present residing, moved on it with his family and engaged actively in agricultural pursuits, and has there lived until the present time. His place consists of 106 acres, and he has erected a good residence thereon, together with substantial out- buildings, and has the land under an advanced state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have taken into their household three orphan children. The eldest is Amanda Smith, and the other two Olive and Sid- ney H. Munden, twins.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 39

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