Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 67

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 67

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wards, and his wife, of Cincinnati, in 1883 celebrated the 60th anniversary of their marriage. The En- quirer gave a column report of the occasion, which was attended by numbers of Cincinnati's best citi- zens. The grandfather of Michael Hahn came to this country from Germany, about the year 1770, settling in New York, where he remained during the War for Independence. About 1778 he emigrated with his family to Ohio and settled in what was then the village and trading point of Cincinnati, where he was killed by the Indians. Below is an extract clipped from the Cincinnati Enquirer, from an article headed " Early Days of the Pioneers of Cin- cinnati," published under date of Dec. 2, 1883 :

" In April, 1792, Martin Burkhardt, Michael Hahn and Michael Lutz went out above the town to view some lots. On their arrival at the point of destina- tion the Indians shot and scalped Lutz. Hahn was wounded, but was making a good race for Fort Wash- ington, when another shot dropped him dead. Burk- hardt took to the river, but being badly wounded he soon drowned, his body being found at North Bend six weeks after the above event."

His son, Joseph Hahn, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was under Hull when he surrendered Detroit to Gen. Brock and Tecumseh.

onathan Gibbs. Among the old pioneers who are yet living to tell of the trials through which they passed in making an early settlement in the county is he of whom we write, residing on section 35, Lynn Town- ship Mr. Gibbs came to this county in 1838, and, having resided here constantly since that time, has witnessed its wonderful development from the primitive condition in which it was then to the fine agricultural stand it takes in comparison with other counties of the State at the present time. He came here from Camden County, N. J., where he was born Dec. 22, 1808.

The father of Mr. Gibbs, Maitin Gibbs, was a farmer by calling, was born, reared and married in New Jersey, and was of New England ancestry and English descent. His forefathers came over with William Penn, in 1682, and belonged to the Quakers. His wife, Hannah Beck, was born in the same State,

and of Irish extraction. To them seven children came to brighten their lives, a part of whom grew up to man and womanhood in Burlington County, and part in Camden.

Jonathan Gibbs was the eldest of his parents' children-four sons and three daughters. He lived with the old folks and assisted in the labors of the farm until 20 winters of his life had passed, at which time he engaged to learn the trade of a glass- blower, at Waterford, Camden Co., N. J. He pur- sued this calling for nine years, including his ap- prenticeship, and until he came West. It was during this time that he became acquainted with Miss Tamar Norcross, daughter of Joseph and Mar- tha (Duble) Norcross, natives of New Jersey, and they were married Aug. 14, 1832. Her parents were resident in Camden County, where her father fol- lowed farming and where they both lived until their demise. It was there that Mrs. Gibbs was born, May 11, 1811, and there she was reared and edu- cated and lived until her marriage. Of her union with Mr. Gibbs six children have been born-Joseph P., a resident of Galva and a mason by trade ; Will- iam H. married Julia Grant and is also a resident of Galva and a master of the same trade; Clayton mar- ried Julia Bavier, and lives at Marshalltown, Iowa, where he is engaged in blacksmithing; Richard T. married Mary Reed and lives on the old homestead ; Phœbe became the wife of A. D. Bradley, who is a farmer of Lynn Township; Rebecca married Charles G. Gibbs, also a resident of Lynn Township.

In 1838 the parents of our subject came with their family to this county and located on land now owned by our subject. They made the trip to the Far West in wagons and were six weeks on the road. The house Jonathan Gibbs now lives in was built in 1854. He built a saw-mill in 1849, which he run for 17 years. He now owns 238 acres of land, the major portion of which is under an advanced state of culti- vation, and in this, his afternoon of life, he is enjoy- ing a well-earned competency, surrounded by a happy family. He has been Justice of the Peace for 12 years and Supervisor of his township for many terms. He was the second Assistant-Supervisor. In politics he was an old-line Whig, but joined the ranks of the Republican party upon its organization and has voted with it ever since. The Wall-street king, of New York City, S. V. White, boarded with our subject while he was teaching school in Mr.

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Gibbs' district, during the winter of 1853-4, and our subject visited his old friend on Wall street recently, and was heartily entertained and presented by him with a fine gold watch, as a memento of their former friendship. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1854 and helped organize the lodge at Galva, Ill.

avid Russell. Merit deserves mention, and it is therefore with pleasure that we pen this short sketch of a gentleman who has made what he has of this world's goods through his own individual effort, and not as the recipient of any legacy from any source whatsoever. He is a representative of the agricult- ural class of this county, and follows his vocation on section 5, Persifer Township, where he owns a fine property.

Mr. Russell was born in Gallia County, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1822, and had attained the age of 15 years when he came to this county. He is an old pioneer of Persifer Township, having made settlement there in the fall of 1837, and has continued to reside in that township until this writing, a period of upward of 50 years. We cannot, in this brief notice, inform the reader of all the trials through which David Rus- sell passed in making his early settlement here; suf- fice it to say that they were similar to those of many others, which we fully enumerate in the historical part of this work. After making settlement here, he was for many years engaged in thrashing, after which he operated a steam saw-mill in Persifer Township. Aside from this he has been occupied almost contin- uously in agricultural pursuits. He is at present the owner of 80 acres of land, the greater portion of which is in good, tillable condition.

The marriage of Mr. Russell took place in Persifer Township, Dec. 13, 1849, at which time Miss Mary A. Rambo, daughter of Reuben and Charity (Hap- tonstall) Rambo, became his wife. She was born in Gallia County, Ohio, May 9, 1832, and was 12 years of age when her parents came to this county. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Russell six children have been born-Frances E., Lucy J., Olive L., Charles E., Elizabeth C. and George D. Frances E. is the wife of Thomas Osborne, a resident of Haw Creek

Township; Lucy J. married Alonzo Ward, resides in Knox Township, and their union has been blessed by the birth of six children-Effie M., Elizabeth E., Maggie, Thomas, Oscar D. and John; Elizabeth and Maggie are deceased. Olive Russell, next in order of birth of the children of our subject, is the wife of George L. Lacy, a resident of Haw Creek Township, and has borne her husband two children-Retta E. and Clarence R. The remaining children are at home.

Mr. Russell, although a gentleman not seeking office, has been Constable, Collector and Justice of the Peace. He and his good wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and in politics he votes with the Republican party.

eorge M. Swan, a successful farmer and stock-raiser, lives on section 11, Lynn Township, and is considered one of the most progressive and reliable citizens resident within the boundaries of Knox County. . Mr. Swan was born in or near New London, Jeffer- son Co., Ind., on the Ohio River, Feb. 25, 1835 .

His father, Cranston T. Swan, was a blacksmith by occupation, was of Scotch ancestry, came to the Unit- ed States and located in Kentucky when a young man. He was married in the latter State to Mar- garet Dodd, who was born in Pennsylvania. She was of German and Scotch lineage, and came to Kentucky with her father when a young girl. Sometime after, the family moved to Jefferson County ; later to Law- rence County, same State, and in 1859 most of the family, including Mrs. Swan, made up their minds to settle in the interior, where the parents lived out their lives, he dying in 1866, and she in 1874.

Mr. Swan, of this writing, was the fourth of a fam- ily of seven, four sons and three daughters ; two of the latter are now dead. Mr. S. was educated in the district school, and lived at home until his marriage. He united in the holy bonds of matrimony in Jeffer- son County, Ind., Feb. 26, 1855, with Miss Elizabeth Munson. She was born in Lawrence County, Ind., Oct. 15, 1835. She is the mother of 12 chidren, four deceased and two married : Margaret E. is the wife of George F. Bates, who resides in Galva, and they have five children ; Catherina, wife of Thomas Hayes, and resident of Lynn Township; Mr. H. is

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LIBRARY OF THE L ..¡ VERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Shafter Lowry

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a hop-raiser ; Jonathan H. resides in Galva, his oc- cupation being that of a clerk; Cranston is at home ; De Emery, Fred. E., Addie M. and Mary Effie are at home. The deceased are David, Edward, Albertus and James ; the latter lived to be nearly 25 years of age. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Swan lived in Law- rence County, Ind., until 1859, when they came to Illinois, and in September, the next year, went to Lynn Township, so that with the exception of one year they have passed their married lives in that township.

Mr. and Mrs. Swan are the owners of 160 acres of well-improved and productive land. They are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and labor for the good of that organization with heart and mind.

3 rs. Mary A. Lowrey. This lady, the widow of Shaftoe Lowrey, deceased-who was the seventh son in a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters-is known as one of the most energetic and enter- prising women of Cedar Township, and pos- sesses a large business capability, and is endowed with more than ordinary financial acuteness and fore- sight. She was born in Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 8, 1817, and is the daughter of John and Mary (Barron) Arm- strong. The former was of Scotch lineage and blood, but was American born, claiming the State of New Jersey as his birthplace. The mother was of En- glish ancestry. Mr. Armstrong died of pneumonia, in 1852, while visiting in Canada, and his wife, in 1879, in Iowa. They were the parents of seven children, as follows : John lives in Missouri ; he mar- ried Miss Nancy Morrison, who died, when he again married; Harriet married Wm. Tracy and lives in San Francisco, Cal .; Matilda married H. J. Sanders, and lives in Abingdon; William A. died in California, in 1850; Rebecca is married and lives in Minneapolis; Margery married G. H. Flanders; and the subject of our sketch.

Mr. Lowrey was born near Geneva, N. Y., Oct. 4, 1814, and died July 12, 1870, having only reached middle life. He united heart and hand with the sub- ject of this narration, Oct. 4. 1842, and a few years after his marriage, in 1849, he went to Canada West, where, on Grand River, he engaged in lumbering,

which occupation he followed for the space of six years. A brother-in-law, Mr. J. Z. Reed, whose home was in Buffolo, N. Y., was associated with him in business as a partner. They subsequently added a lumber-yard to the original enterprise. At the ex- piration of the six years, Mr. Lowrey came West and purchased 260 acres of land, where he lived con- tentedly until called home by death. Mrs. Lowrey's bereavement occurred July 12, 1870, but, bravely putting aside her womanly weakness, she took her place courageously at the head of the business affairs of the farm, which she managed until two years ago, reflecting great credit upon herself by her judicious planning and execution. At that time she rented the greater portion of her farm, and in 1877 erected a handsome dwelling, two stories high and finely fin- ished in every particular. She was the sole super- intendent and designer of the building, and when it was finished at a cost of $3,000, it was the pride of that part of the county. It stands on a heavy foun- dation, enclosing a large cellar, which underlies the entire structure. The walls of the cellar are com- posed of Sagetown limestone, heavily lined with brick. The grounds surrounding the house include about two acres and are laid out in the most tasteful and attractive manner, forming a beautiful lawn in front, planted with evergreens. This is made still more inviting by the addition of rustic seats, flower beds, etc. She has one large barn, 31 x 60 feet, and another not so large, but finely finished. She is engaged quite extensively in the breeding of blooded fowls -- the Light Brahmas, White Leghorns and Plymouth Rocks. The quarters provided for them are elegant and are supposed to be among the finest in the county, the houses being finished with zinc floors and plastered. Among her other enterprises is the breed- ing of Galloway cattle, which has proved very profit- able. She bought Prince Jumbo at a high price. He is numbered 2180, in the American Herd-book, and is considered one of the finest animals in the coun- try.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lowrey was product- ive of three children, all girls, who were born as follows : Alice M., July 6, 1844; she married Charles Mount, and died Sept. 23, 1875, leaving one son-Shaftoe Lowrey ; Mary M., June 3, 1846, died in Canada, Dec. 24, 1852; and Jane E., was born Dec. 12, 1847, and was married in the State of Illinois, to Franklin Mount, and died Aug. 4, 1874, leaving two

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daughters -- Jennie and Matilda. Matilda lives with our subject. Jennie is endowed with a remarkable artistic talent, specimens of her painting showing skill seldom met with in one of her years. Mrs. Lowrey is educating both of the granddaughters, giving them the best advantages in music and painting that the schools afford.

Mr. Lowrey, husband of our subject, was quite prominent in public affairs, and a useful man socially. He was for 20 years Justice of the Peace and Super- visor, and was at the time of his death School Treas- urer, which office he held for a number of years. He was a man of affable and courteous manner and pos- sessed of a first-class education, besides being truly cultured and refined. By calling he was a farmer, and his hearty and frank manner gained him friends on all sides, so that he was widely lamented at his death. He made a religious profession of the Prot- estant Methodist faith, and lived in his daily life the true principles of that noble Chistianity as shown in the Word of God. Mrs. Lowrey is a Baptist by pro- fession, joining their church when 15 years of age, but was congenial in spirit with the faith of her hus- band, who lingered for some time with that deceptive disease, consumption, but who finally yielded up life in patient resignment. He was a Republican in pol- itics, and an honest, upright, conscientious man; striving to do unto his neighbors as he would have them do unto him. Among the numerous persons who are represented in the portrait department of this ALBUM, none are more deserving than of Mr. Lowrey.

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homas R. Walter is a successful farmer and stock-raiser, residing on his productive farm on section 16, Maquon Township. He has been closely identified with the agri- cultural development of the county since his arrival here in the fall of 1837. He emigrated to this county from Highland County, Ohio, with his parents, and resided on the home farm in Maquon Township, west of Maquon, remaining there until his final settlement on his farm on section 16. The parents of Mr. Walter are John W. and Hannah (Sumner) Walter. The father was born in Virginia and was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother was a native of South Carolina. Mr. Walter is the

third in order of birth in a family of ten children, namely : Betsey (deceased), William J., our subject, Jincy, Lettice (deceased), James (deceased), Bowater, John W. (deceased), Cynthia (deceased) and Rich- eson C. William J. married Catherine Housh and they live in Nebraska; Betsey was the wife of Edward Smithson, deceased; subsequently she mar- ried Isaiah Stephenson; Jincy became the wife of Milo Preston, deceased, and she lives in Iowa ; James married Catherine Lawrence; Lettice became the wife of Joshua Needles, now deceased; she was a second time married to William Darnell; Cynthia became the wife of Joel Darnell; and Richeson C. became the husband of Polly Hall; the latter resides in Ne- braska.

Mr. Walter's first purchase of land was 160 acres, on which he erected a set of comfortable and sub- stantial buildings and made other convenient im- provements, subsequently adding to his first purchase until he is now the proprietor of 1,481 acres of well- improved and cultivated land in Knox County. He is also the owner of property in the village of Ma- quon.

Thomas Walter was born in Highland County, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1817. He had attained the age of 19 years upon his arrival in this county, and has al- ways followed the honorable calling of an agricult- urist. It is needless to say that he is one of the largest land-owners and most substantial farmers within the county of Knox.

The date of the marriage of our subject, in Ma- quon Township, was Aug. 8, 1854. The lady of his choice was Sarah J. Stephenson, daughter of Edward and Mary (Keys) Stephenson. The father was a native of Maryland and the mother of Delaware. In June, 1840, the date of the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. S. in Knox County, they settled in Haw Creek Town- ship, subsequently removing to the township of Maquon, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Their family consisted of six children, and bear the names of Sarah J., William, John, James K., Lewis N. and Edward O. Sarah J., the wife of our subject, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1835.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter, of whom we write, have be- come the parents of ten children, as follows : Vianna, Mary E., Ethzelda, two who died in in- fancy, Lyman, Elnora, Thomas Ulysses, Laura B. and Albertie. Vianna is the wife of B. F. Adams

VIEW OF SPOON RIVER VALLEY, LOOKING NORTH FROM RESIDENCE, MAQUON IN THE DISTANCE

RESIDENCE OF T. R. WALTER , SEC . IG. MAQUON TOWNSHIP.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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and resides in Peoria ; Ethzelda married Frank D. Pickrel ; this lady died in Haw Creek Township June 2, 1881. Mary E. is deceased, and the remain- ing children reside at home.

Mr. Walter has held the position of Road Com- missioner and also that of School Director. In pol- itics he affiliates with the Republican party. The publishers take pleasure in presenting a view of Mr. Walter's fine homestead in connection with this sketch.

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on. Joseph E. Latimer. The name of the subject who heads this brief sketch, apart from his connection with one of the most striking family records in Knox County, is suf- ficiently known to need but little comment. He is by occupation a farmer and breeder of pure- blooded Jersey and Short-horn cattle; his farm and residence are located on sections 28 and 29, of Cedar Township.

As one among the oldest and most venerated fam- ilies of Knox County, this gentleman has won the re- spect and confidence of not only his immediate neighbors, but hundreds of substantial friends throughout the country. He was born on the 15th of April, 1840, within the township and upon the farm where he now resides, and is the son of Jonathan and Nancy (West) Latimer. Brought up on his father's farm, he received his earliest educational course at the district schools and Cherry Grove Sem- inary. Subsequently he entered Knox College, and in the class of 1864 graduated.

He enlisted in the army on the 5th day of June, 1864, and was commissioned Lieutenant in Co. G, of the 137th Ill. Inf .; is now a member of Abingdon Post, No. 580, G. A. R.

After his return from the army he was appointed Principal of the Cherry Grove Seminary, a position which he held one year. Elected to the chair of Nat- ural Sciences, in Lincoln University, Lincoln, Ill., he proved beyond a doubt his skill as an instructor. This post was given him in 1866, but, little more than a year later, he was compelled to resign in conse- quence of his failing eyesight. Soon, again, he re- sumed farming in Cedar Township.

He is a prominent member of the Congregational Church. In politics, the subject of this sketch has

always been an earnest Republican; although an active member of his party, he holds liberal views, allowing no party to dictate on points of conscience; believing that honesty should characterize a man's actions in politics, as well as in other affairs of life. He was elected in 1 870 as Representative for the 22d District to the 27th Assembly. He removed to Iowa in 1872. Returning to Illinois, Mr. Latimer was elected to the 30th and 31st Assemblies. During the last campaign the electors gave him a majority of 700 votes over and above the regular ticket. His influence and ability as a legislator were recog- nized during the last two Assemblies, and he was given the Chairmanship of the Committee on Towns and Township Organization, besides serving on other important committees.

He was married in Atchison, Kan., on the 19th day of November, 1872, to Miss Joanna Humiston, daughter of Hartson and Mary (Church) Humiston. His wife, Mrs. Latimer, was born in Broome County, N. Y. Among the early pioneers of Knox County, this lady's parents and paternal grandparents were numbered among the most sturdy and praiseworthy of the settlers. In 1836 the grandfather first settled here, and in 1846 her father took up his abode in the vicinity.

To the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Latimer there were two children born, a son and a daughter: Jon- athan G. was born in Iowa, near Hopkins, Mo., on Nov. 25, 1874; and Lillian H., in Cedar Township, Knox County, Aug. 9, 1876.

Mr. Latimer's farm is in a highly improved condi- tion and numbers 327 acres. It is situated just north of the city of Abingdon and one mile distant from that place. The residence which he now occupies was erected in 1875.

ranklin Parsons. The subject of the fol- lowing sketch is without doubt one of the thoroughly representative men of Hender- son Township, and resides on section 25. In his farming operations he has proved himself a man of wide and practical experience. Ar- riving from Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1844, he settled in Knox County, and was first compelled to work out by the month and continued to do so for

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two successive years. Subsequently he rented land and worked it profitably for a number of years. He then took up his farm in Henderson Township (which he had previously purchased), and in a short space of time turned the same into highly productive land. He is now extensively occupied in agricult- ural pursuits, and has erected some excellent build- ings and outhouses on his farm. Of his 370 acres 30 only are under timber. He keeps about 60 head of horned cattle, and it takes about five teams to properly conduct his farming operations. He fat- tens annually about 170 hogs, all of a good breed.

Mr. Parsons was born in Hampden County, Mass., on the 9th of January, 1826. His parents were David Hastings and Lydia T. (Warren) Parsons, na- tives of Massachusetts. On the paternal side he is of English origin, and on the maternal side, as far as can be traced, of New England ancestry. The grandfather of Mr. Parsons, Mr. Warren, was of Irish descent and fought in the War of 1812, in which he was killed. Mr. P. was the third son in a family of nine, five of whom are deceased. The father and mother came to Knox County from Ohio, in 1843, with their family. The mother is now deceased, her death taking place in 1883. The father is living at this writing (June, 1886), at Galesburg, at the ad- vanced age of 85 years.

Franklin Parsons was quite young when his par- ents came westward. While a mere youth he worked out by the month, and often received but two dollars in the whole 30 days as remuneration. His educa- tional advantages were of the most limited order, but by application and perseverance he has learned much since those early days.

The subject of our sketch was first married in Knoxville, Ill., to Sarah Bullard, on the Ist of March, 1848. She was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Gilchrist) Bullard, and was born in Can- ada in 1828. Her father was a native of Vermont and her mother of Canada, of Scottish parentage. She was one of a family of nine children. The father died in Knox County in 1867. The mother still survives and lives in Iowa, at the age of 77 years. Mrs. Parsons became the mother of nine children-Leonard U., Edatha E., Frank D., Ellen A., John R., Lincoln E., Sarah L., M. Emma and Effa M. Of these, Leonard married Jennie Redfield, a very estimable lady, and resides in Ne- braska; four children were born to this union, all of

whom are living, namely : Cora, Arthur, Joseph and George; Edathy is the wife of Howard Griffith and now resides in Cedar Township; she has one child, named Warren T .; Frank D. is married to Carrie M. Walker and lives in Henderson Township; they have two children-Lillia B. and George F. ; Ellen A. was the wife of Charles Shepherd, and resided in Henderson ; by this union there was one child- Frank D .; this good mother and careful wife is now deceased; John R. died in Henderson Township when only in his 17th year; Lincoln E. is married to Clara Goff, and resides in Henderson ; Sarah died in Henderson in her infancy; M. Emma resides at home; Effa also died in infancy.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 67

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