USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 16
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 16
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MORGAN COUNTY.
account of his physical weakness. He died in June. 1865, leaving his wife with two sons-Charles F. and Winthrop.
The father of our subject was twice married, his second wife being Johanna Sturdevant, and of this union there were born three children, the eldest of whom, Homer S., during the war served in the 3d Connecticut Heavy Artillery, which was soon changed to Infantry, and assisted in the defence of Washington City. After the war was ended he came to this county, and died in 1875; Lucy J., Mrs. M. A. Strong, and Frances L., who married Austin R. Humphrey, are residents of Warren, Conn.
Erastus Curtiss was a man of more than ordinary ability, active in politics and bitterly opposed to the institution of slavery. He was one of the first in the movement of the liberty party, which in- sisted upon abolition, and being a man of means was enabled to exert a large influence. He died however, before being permitted to see the extinc- tion of that institution. He was a man broad and liberal in his views, greatly interested in the cause of education, and gave to his children the best of advantages.
Our subject was a little lad of six years when he was deprived by death of the affectionate care of his mother. Hle remained with his father until a youth of nineteen years, attending school much of the time, then began teaching, and followed this several seasons in his native State. He was well fitted for this employment, having completed his studies in the State Normal School, which was in- stituted especially for the training of teachers. During his after labors in the State he introduced many excellent measures in connection with the school system, and was uniformly popular and suc- cessful.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Calista Lyman took place at the home of the bride in San- gamon County, Ill., in 1862. This lady is the daughter of Henry and Mercy (Sanders) Lyman, and was born in Sangamon County, Ill., July 14, 1834. Iler parents emigrated from Vermont to Illinois during the early settlement of Sangamon County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. After his marriage Mr. Curtiss purchased 100 acres of his present farm, to which he added
from time to time, and instituted modern improve- ments. He has substantial and convenient build- ings, forest and fruit trees, all the requisite farm machinery and the general appliances of thic well- regulated country estate.
Mr. Curtiss makes a specialty of stock-raising, and is in the enjoyment of a competence, to which he was assisted, as he generally admits, largely by tbe industrious efforts of his estimable wife. Mrs. Curtiss is a lady of great common sense and intelli- gence and highly esteemed by all who know her. Our subject and his wife have never been blessed with children of their own, but have reared several others, who were without home or friends, giving them proper training and good advantages.
As the son of an Abolitionist Mr. Curtiss could scarcely now be otherwise than a stanch Republican in his political belief. Although having extensive interests to look after he has frequently served as a delegate to the conventions of his party and exer- cised no unimportant influence in its deliberations. In religious matters he coincides with the doctrines of the Congregational Church.
W ILLIAM WOODFORD BROWN, late cash- ier of the Waverly Bank, and widely and favorably known to the people of this county, met his death in a very unexpected manner at the Pacific Hotel in Jacksonville, on the 14th of May, 1889, by an overdose of morphine taken by mistake for quinine. Hle was a man generally re- spected in his community, where both his business and social relations had been of the pleasantest character, and his sudden taking off was not only a source of deep grief to his family and friends, but was generally regretted by the community. The main points of the testimony taken before the Cor- onor's Jury, conclusively proved that the drug was taken entirely by mistake, and whatever fault there was connected with the matter, lay with the person who prepared the capsules, and which were given to Mr. Brown as quinine. This he had been in the habit of taking quite freely, and it was known that he was strongly opposed to the use of morphine in any shape. A post mortem examination showed
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MORGAN COUNTY.
him to be singularly free from disease, and he was thus ent down in his prime, at a time, when but for this sad accident, it would naturally appear that he might have been granted many years of life and happiness.
Our subjeet was born in Waverly, this county, March 26, 1839, and was the son of Dr. Isaae II., and Mary (Woodford) Brown, (further mention of whom will be found in the sketch of Dr. Albert C. Brown, on another page in this ALBUM.) The early years of his life were spent mostly in school, at the home of his parents. After leaving the schools of Waverly, he entered Illinois College in Jackson- ville, and after completing his studies, embarked in the drug business in Waverly, which he prosecuted in company with a partner, until 1872.
Mr. Brown in the meantime had displayed more than ordinary business abilities, and, becoming quite prominent in local affairs, was employed as Deputy Cireuit Clerk under Joseph W. Caldwell, which position he held four years. At the expira- tion of this time he entered upon his duties as eash- ier of the bank at Waverly, in which he was a stoek-holder, and whose success was largely due to his excellent methods of transaeting business, and his courteous treatment of the patrons of the insti- tution. It is safe to say that his business interests were probably more extensive than those of any one man in Waverly. He left a valuable estate, consisting of bank stock, houses and lots in the town, and an interest in a farm in Maeoupin County. He also carried a life insurance to the amount of $23,000. Politieally, he was a decided Republican, and held the various local offices of his township. HIe was once a candidate for Sheriff of Morgan County, running far ahead of his tieket, and com- ing within nine votes of being elected. During the progress of the Civil War, he was one of the first to enlist with the three-months' men, and was only prevented from entering the regular army by phy- sical disability. Ile was for twenty-eight years a member of the Masonic fraternity, and officiated as Master of the Waverly Lodge No. 118. A steady, thorough going business man, a genial, honorable gentleman, and an upright, substantial citizen, in his decease the county lost one of its most valued men. Mr. Brown was first married to Miss Laura,
daughter of A. A. Curtiss, who departed this life at their home, in Jan. 20, 1870, leaving one child. His second wife was Miss Mary Hobson, who snr- vives him, and who is the mother of two children, Cornelia and Edward T. No one was more deeply attached to his family than Mr. Brown. He was prosperons in his business relations, beloved by many friends, and apparently was surrounded by everything to make life pleasant and desirable. The funeral was conducted by the I. O. O. F., of which he was an honored member, and the impres- sive ceremonies were attended by a large concourse of people. The last hours of Mr, Brown had been spent in pleasant conversation with a friend, and he had retired in his usual good health and spirits. When he did not make his usual appearance in the morning, and could not be aroused from without, his room was entered, and he was found in a state of eoma from which it was impossible to awaken him, although he was breathing as his friends en- tered the room. Physicians were summoned, and everything possible was done to counteract the effects of the fatal drug, but in vain, and he breathed his last at 10:30 A. M.
M ICHIAEL BODDY. The attention of the the traveler passing the homestead of this gentleman is invariably attracted by the air of thrift and prosperity around it, and the evidences of cultivated tastes and ample means. Similarly, the attention of the reader is attracted to the fine engraving of his home, with its air of refinement and cultivated surroundings. The dwelling is set in the midst of evergreens and a tasteful shrubbery; there is a fine vineyard ad- jacent to the farm buildings, an apple orchard in good bearing condition, producing choice fruit, and other evidences of the enterprising and progres- sive agriculturist. General farming is carried on in this place, and Mr. Boddy is also quite extensively engaged in stoek-raising. The property is pleas- antly located on section 18, township 15, range 11, and came into the possession of the present pro- proprietor in March, 1868.
A native of Yorkshire, England, our subject was
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MORGAN COUNTY.
born Feb. 20, 1829, in Thornton Parish, which was also the birthplace of his parents, Robert and Susannah (Hewbank) Boddy, both of excellent Eng- lish stoek. The Boddy family has been repre- sented in that shire for several hundred years, and, with few exceptions, consisted of people honest and well-to-do. The father of our subject was the greater part of his life employed as keeper of a rabbit farm comprising 1,000 aeres of land, where were bred annually thousands of these ani- mals. He naturally became familiar with their habits, and was an expert in this line of business. lle was taken away in the prime of life, however, when only forty-five years old. The wife and mother survived her husband many long years, coming to America with her children, and dying in this eounty when past the age of ninety years. She came of a long-lived raee, some of her an- eestry attaining the age of over one hundred years. They were mostly Wesleyan Methodist in re- ligion, and staneh adherents of the principles of the founder of Methodism.
The subject of this sketeh was born after the death of his father, being the youngest of the three children comprising his mother's family. At the death of her husband the mother was left in straightened eireumstances, and Michael, as soon as old enough, was required to assist in 'the maintenance of the family. Ilis advantages for education were very limited, but he was a thoughtful boy and embraced every opportunity to acquire useful information, so that, by the reading of good books and studying as he had oppor- tunity, he became quite well informed. He re- mained a resident of his native eounty until after reaching his majority; then, in 1851, emigrated to America, settling at onee in this county. Four years later he returned to England with the in- tention of enlisting as one of a staff corps during the Crimean War. Upon landing at Sebastopol an armistice had been declared, and young Boddy accordingly returned to his old home in Yorkshire. Ile then opened a store of general merchandise, which he conducted four years, and in the mean- time was married to Miss Ann Harrison.
Some time after his marriage Mr. Boddy, accom- panied by his wife, ouee more sought the shores
of America, and, coming to this eounty the sec- ond time, located on a traet of land in township 15, range 11, where he confined his attention to agricultural pursuits, and was greatly prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil, building up a com- fortable homestead and accumulating something for his old age. In his labors and struggles he had the full sympathy and assistance of his estim- able wife, who remained his faithful helpmate and companion until her deeease. Sept. 20, 1882. She was born Jan. 22, 1834, and her history was simi- lar to that of her husband in two respects. Both were natives of the same county in England, and both were reared in the doctrines of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Industrious and devoted to her family, she was not only deeply mourned by her immediate friends, but regretted by all who knew her.
Of his first marriage there were born to our sub- jeet a family of nine children, only two of whom are living-Ann and John-who remain at home with their father. The only one married was a (laughter, Sarah, who became the wife of J. N. Harvey, and is now deceased. Mr. Boddy eon- tracted a second marriage, in 1882, with Mrs. Mary (Parr) Harvey, a native of Leicestershire, England. Iler father, William Parr, was nearly all his life in the employ of the Government at Belvior Castle, where he died, at the age of fifty- eight years. Her mother had been in youth Sarah Norton, of Lincolnshire. She lived to be eighty- one years old, and spent her declining years in the place of her birth. Both the father and mother were members of the Church of England. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Boddy was the youngest. Two died in England, and five eame to America.
Miss Mary Parr was first married, in Wisconsin, to John Harvey, who died in Illinois, March 3, 1878. Of this marriage there were seven children. Mrs. Boddy received a common-school education, and lived with her parents until her marriage. Our subjeet, upon becoming a voting citizen, allied himself with the Democratie party, and has held nearly all the offices of his township, in which he has been a prominent man for many years. Ilis well-regulated homestead stands as a monument of
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MORGAN COUNTY.
his industry and perseveranee, and, in thus redeem- ing a goodly traet of uncultivated land from its original condition, he has contributed his full quota toward the development of his adopted county. - H. JEWSBURY. Few of the prominent, prosperous residents of Morgan County are "sons of the soil." The majority have been attracted hither by the fame of the broad prairies, and the pleasing aspect of the country, vieh in prospects of future wealth. Some, how- ever, have spent their entire life in the land of their birth, and amid adverse surroundings, have ariseu to affinenee. Such is the character, and such repre- sents the career of J. II. Jewsbury, a sueeessful farmer of twenty years experience. In this vol- ume appears a view of his home, which is situated on a farm of 280 aeres highly improved, and sup- plied with good buildings. Sinee 1865 most of his time has been passed on this farm.
Ile was born four miles northeast of Jackson- ville, and is therefore a native of Morgan County, his birth oeeurring Oct. 2. 1840. He is the young- est son of Riehard and Mary A. (Smith) Jewsbury, natives of Derbyshire, England. Richard JJews- bury was reared as a hardware salesman. while in England. He received au unusually good eduea- tion in his mother country, and while yet a young man, was considered very talented. He married his wife in the county of his birth, and she, like him- self, was possessed of a very good education. They lived in the town of Measam, near Atherton, and there three of their children were born: Richard S., now a resident of this eounty; John C., who lives on a farm in Bourbon County, Kau., and Thomas N., who became a saddler and harness-maker, in Jack- souville, Ill. It was in the spring of 1836, that the parents, with their three little children, sailed for Ameriea, and after a voyage of six weeks, they landed in New York City, and later proceeded to Toledo, Ohio. The wife and children remained in that city, while Mr. Jewsbury came on horseback to Morgan County. There he purchased what was known as the Porter Clay farm, being named for a brother of the great orator and Statesman, Henry
Clay. This farm was mostly improved and well- stocked. He later returned to Toledo, and brought his wife and children in a one-horse wagon to Mor- gan County, shipping his household goods by rail and lake. When he came here he expected to find a new and undeveloped country, and preparing himself for any emergeney, brought along a large supply, not only of the necessities, but also of the comforts of life, ineluding a fine library of 300 volumes, which was, no doubt, the largest then to be found in this part of the State. After some years Richard Jewsbury sold his farm in this county, and located for about three years in Cass County, Ill. In 1846, during the period of their residence in that county, Mrs. Jewsbury died at the age of .
forty-three years. She was a consistent and earnest member of the English Church, and universally be- loved.
In 1849, Mr. Jewsbury with his second son, John C., set out for California. ITis eamping outfit was complete, and his mode of transportation was with wagons, drawn by ox-teams. Ile left Cass County in March, and erossed the Missouri River at St. Jo- seph, and westward over the trail then used by those seeking the gold fields. They reached the Ameriean Eldorado, in August, after a trip devoid of any startling incident. For some two years they mined with but little suceess, then bought a place near the coast, and engaged as farmers for three years, with but little better sueeess than they had experienced in mining. Becoming tired of California, in the spring of 1854, they started home by the Isthmus route, taking passage on the same vessel that carried Gen. John C. Fremont, on his first trip from Panama to New York. After Mr. Jewsbury landed in New York City. he proceeded to Morgan County, and from that time lived with his children. His death oceurred at the home of one of his sons, near Jerseyville, Jersey County, III., in February, 1886, when within two months of being eighty years of age. He was a member of the Bap- tist Church, and politieally, a Demoerat.
J. HI. Jewsbury was well educated by his parents in the publie schools of Morgan County. Ile lived at home with his father for three years after the death of his mother, and sinee that time, has earned his own living. He was married near Waverly, Ill.,
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MORGAN COUNTY.
to Miss Lneinda E. Adams, who was born in the southwestern part of Morgan County, on April 2, 1846. She is a daughter of Phelps and Matilda A. (Jones) Adams, natives of North Carolina and Ken- tueky, respectively. Mr. Adams was born in 1815, and eame to Morgan County with his father, John Adams, in 1832, they becoming necessarily early settlers. They located land in the southwestern part of the county, where John Adams died, aged about fifty years. Matilda A. Adams nee Joncs, eame North with her father, Thomas Jones, to Morgan County, in 1825, and here he died, aged seventy- two years. Her mother also died here when she was more than seventy years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams were the parents of eight children, Mrs. Jewsbury being seeond. After the children were born, Mr. and Mrs. Adams removed to Sangamon County, Ill., settling near Waverly. Mr. Adams died suddenly of heart disease, while on a visit to Jacksonville, in July, 1883. He was a good eitizen, and trained in the Demoeratie party. His wife, who survives him at the age of sixty- seven, lives with her children, and is in good health.
Mrs. Lucinda E. Jewsbury was carefully reared to all kinds of domestie work, and was well edu- eated. She is the mother of four children, one of whom, Joseph, died when he was seven years of age. The living are: Albert W., Frederick H., and Wilmuth P. Mr. and Mrs. Jewsbury attend the Christian Church, at Chapin. Politieally, Mr. Jewsbury is an ardent Demoerat. Ile is one of the very best citizens of Morgan County, and has at- tained his eminenee as a business man and a neigh- bor, by striet attention to his own affairs, and fair dealings with all men.
W ILLIAM A. BERRYMAN, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Morgan County, was born in Barren County, Ky., Dee. 16, 1828. His career is a splendid objeet-lesson to il- lustrate the possibilities of a man who possesses energy, to become the owner of his own vine and fig tree. Ilis father, William Berryman, was a na- tive of North Carolina, and was born in 1794. Ile lived in that State until he attained his majority,
when he removed to Washington County, Ky. At the age of twenty -five he married Mary Landers, of that eounty. Her people came from Virginia, but were among the earlier settlers of Kentucky. After their marriage they removed to Barren County, Ky., and lived there until the death of the senior Berryman, which oeeurred in 1860. Mrs. Berryman, the mother of the one of whom this sketeh is written, died in 1873. In this family were twelve children, four of whom are living. John M., married Zurilda Seott, of Barren County, Ky .; Susan married Zachariah Buckingham, of Tennessee; Sarah married William Jones, of Bar- ren County, Ky .; Benjamin married a lady in Iowa; they now live in Texas, and have seven children. Green married a Miss Queen, of Iowa. He was a volunteer in the late war, and died in Arkansas in 1862.
The subject of our sketeh married Mrs. Nall, of Morgan County. Her people came from Muhlen- berg County, Ky., and were among the first settlers there. In company with two sisters and their hus- bands, she came to Maeoupin County, this State, in 1834. She is of German aneestry as was her husband. Six children have been born to this couple, three of whom are living, whose records are appended : Levi married Isaae Hill's daughter, of Morgan County, and is following agricultural pursuits. They have one child, Goldie. Isabelle, married John Heddiek, of Maeonpin County; they have three children, two of whom are living,-Ada and Osay. Ilenry A. married Clara Dugger; he is a farmer.
The wife of the subject of this sketch is the mother by her first husband of the following family, and whose record is as follows: Franklin married Martha Evans, of Morgan County, and is now living in Clay County, Neh. They have nine children: Eva, Hannah, Serva, Anna, Amy, Will- iam, Frank, Mamie, and Minnie. Franklin was a volunteer in the late war in the 32d Illinois Infan . try, serving in Company HI, commanded by Capt. Ross. He served nine months when he became blind while in the line of duty, and is now the re- eipient of a pension from a grateful country, amounting to $72 a month. Susan married Haden Berryman, brother of the subject of this sketeh.
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MORGAN COUNTY.
He is dead but the widow is now living in Morgan County with her seven children: Belle, William, Carlin, Frank, George, Julia and Lizzie. Felitha, deceased, married Felix Berryman, also a brother of the subject of this sketch; they had four child- ren: Benjamin, Oscar, Mary and Charles. Nancy, deceased, married Eli Austin, of Morgan County; three children were born to this couple: Eli, Mary and Bert. Malinda, deceased, married John Scott, of Barren County, Ky .; they had four children: Dora, Ailsie, William and IIannah. Hannah, de- ceased, married John Crisswell; two children were in this family, Edgar and Clara. Eliza died at the age of seventeen, while Elizabeth and Russell dicd in infancy.
William Berryman, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, commenced an active life poor, working on a farm at monthly wages. He slowly aseended the ladder of success until now he owns a farm of 320 acres, and has also aided his children to a start in life. Ile is now enjoying the fruits of his early industry and intelligence. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and politically, he votes the Democrat tieket.
ON. ISAAC L. MORRISON. This book contains portraits of many illustrious men, whose names are indelibly impressed upon the history of Morgan County. Among these valuable engravings, certainly an important place belongs to that of the Hon. Isaac L. Morrison, Attorney and Counselor at Law. Ile took up liis residence in the city of Jacksonville (then an un- important village), in 1851, almost forty years ago. Hle was born Jan. 20, 1826, in Barren County, Ky., and is the son of John O. and Elizabeth (Wilbourn) Morrison, who were natives, respectively, of Vir- ginia and North Carolina. After their marriage they settled, about 1793, in Garrett County, Ky.
The paternal grandparents of Isaac L. Morrison, Andrew and Polly (Burdett) Morrison, were na- tives of the North of Ireland. Grandfather Mor- rison emigrated to America at an early day in time to do good service as a soldier in the Revolution- ary War. Ile fought for his country's freedom,
but his earthly warfare ccased prior to the termina- tion of the conflict. The patriots met with many disastrous defeats in 1777, one of the most serious being sustained in the battle of Brandywine. There the starving soldiers were cruelly slaughtered, and" left to die on' the battle-field or linger in pain for days and weeks. Among the fatally injured in this battle was Andrew Morrison, who gave his life for the land of his adoption. On the mother's side the grandfather of our subject was James A. Wilbourn, a native of North Carolina, who removed to Ken- tucky in 1800. There he engaged in farming dur- ing the remainder of his life.
John O. Morrison, the father of our subject, de- parted this life in Barren County, Ky., in 1841. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him a period of twenty-two years, her death taking place in Barreu County, in 1863. She was the second wife of Mr. Morrison, who, by his first marriage had become the father of six children. Of his union with Eliza- beth Wilbourn there were born seven children, of whom Isaac L., our subject, was, with one excep- tion, the youngest.
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