Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 20

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, IL : Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 632

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 20
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 20

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To Mr. and Mrs. Dye were born twelve children, ten of whom are living, four of them born in In- diana, and all have received good sehool advan- tages and are well-bred. Ollie Ann, is now Mrs. Ezra Brown, of Cowley County, Kansas; Engene, who lives at home, married Margaret Miller, and they have two daughters; Belle and Rebecca are at home, the latter a teacher; Sampson is in Cowley County, Kan .; Nancy and Rhoda are at home; Lewis is farming with his father; Benjamin, Jr., and Jolin are at home.

Mr. Dye became a man of prominence in his Indiana home, although he avoided politics, and he served in all. the School and various District offices. On the organization of the Republican party he bravely took sides with it and advocated its principles, although he knew that in doing so in that part of the country where he was then resid- ing his very life was in danger, the pro-slavery element predominating and the Southern senti- ment very strong. He inenrred the hatred and animosity of his neighbors, who called him a "black abolitionist," and pitched on to him and he barely escaped having serions trouble. He was a member of the militia or home guards, Company B, 10th Ind. and accompanied his regiment to Virginia at the time of the call for "100 day" volunteers. Prior to going on this expedition Mr. Dye deemed it ex- pedient to sell his property in Indiana, and did so in the spring of 1861. But he did not come to Morgan County, this State, till the fall of 1861, when he bought his present farm, the land of

which was improved to some extent, and he has ever since been a valued resident of this township. His removal to this place was made with teams and it took ten days to accomplish the journey.

In the twenty-eight years that have elapsed sinee our subjeet eame here to dwell among the kindly, hospitable people of this township, he has shown himself an open-hearted, generous, public- spirited eitizen, one who is ever on the side of the right, ready to snccor the needy and unfortunate, and who has at heart the good of the community. He and his wife are highly esteemed in soeial cir- les, and for a time he was a member of the I. O. O. F.

SAAC HALE. The snug farm of 120 acres belonging to this gentleman is pleasantly lo- cated on section 31, township 16, range 12, and comprises land which he cleared from the wilder- ness mostly with his own hands, building up a comfortable homestead. He has, in common with the men around him, labored early and late, and is recognized as possessing all the qualities of a use- ful and worthy member of his eommunity. Ile is a native of llaneoek County, Ky., and was born Ang. 24, 1823.

The parents of our subject were William and Catherine (Snyder) Hale, who were probably born and reared in Virginia, and removed thence to Kentucky at an early day. The father served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and, after the confliet had ended, turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. Isaae remained in Kentucky until the fall of 1845, thien emigrated to this State and settled in what is now known as Cass County, where he lived until the spring of 1859. Then, crossing the Mis- sissippi, he established himself in Saline County, Mo., where lie sojourned about two and one-half years, and then, in the fall of 1861, made his way to Central Illinois and settled upon a part of the land which he now owns and oceupies.

The first purchase of Mr. Hale in this eounty was eighty acres, mostly covered with timber, which he cleared and brought to a state of culti- vation. His labors, however, were interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War, and, after watching

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the conflict, he finally enlisted, Mareh 18, 1865, in Company K, 28th Illinois Infantry, and was ordered with his regiment to Mobile. In July following he was among those who crossed the Gulf to Mexico with the view of enforcing the Monroe Doctrine. The war had now closed, and he soon after returned to this county, sinee which time he has given his close attention to his farming in- terests.

Mr. Hale was married in Kentucky, Jan. 9, 1845, to Miss Lurissa J. Lake, who was born in Perry, Ind., but was reared in Kentucky. She was the daughter of Jesse and Mary Lake. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, seven of whom are living: Minor P. is a resident of Kansas; Mary C. is the wife of C. W. Hyde, of Meredosia Precinct; Martha J. become the wife of Milton Sibert, of Jacksonville; William J. is a resident of Meredosia; Israel L. resides on the homestead; Charles T. makes his home at Meredosia; Harriet II. is the wife of David Burruss, of Meredosia; and David H. died when nine months old.

A man essentially the architeet of his own fort- une, Mr. Hale has labored under many disadvan- tages, but was endowed by nature with the quali- ties of industry and perseverance, which have placed him in a good position among his fellow- men. Ilis education, which was quite limited, was conducted in the primitive log school-house of Kentucky on the subseription plan. The temple of learning in its furnishings was widely different from the buildings of the present day, the floor being made of puncheon and the seats and desks of slabs with home-made wooden legs. Light was ad- mitted through greased paper, which was stretched along the aperture formed by sawing out a log on one side of the building, and a hinge fireplace occu- pied nearly one end of the structure; the chimney was built outside of earth and sticks.

The Western country at that time was less de- veloped than the Blue Grass regions, and Mr. Ilale has been the interested witness of the extra- ordinary changes taking place around him. He is now serving as a School Trustee in a district of well-educated and civilized people, whose chil- dren con their lessons in a shapely and well-fur- nished building from an abundance of books. In

Mr. Hale's boyhood one book usually went through the family, and was used until worn out. He is a Democrat, politically, and in favor of all enterprises set on foot for the general good of the people. The duties of life began with him at the early age of five years, when he was set to work in the tobaceo fields for his father, and from that time on knew little rest or recreation.

While with the army in Mexico Mr. Ilale was principally on picket duty, and was elected Cor- poral. The experience was a useful one, full of interest, and upon which he looks baek with the feeling that it afforded him opportunities for ob- servation of men and a section of country, and which, from actual experience, he ean retain in his memory better than if he had read it from books.

OHN LEACII is a well-known agrienlturist of Morgan Connty, and owns one of the most beautiful farms on the "Mound Road," three miles nearly due west from Jackson- ville. The buildings on this farm are of the kind that exhibit the character of the owner. Every- thing about them denotes skill, intelligence and in- dustry. Mr. Leach is one of the few men in this world who believes that the best is the cheapest. His farm is well stocked with good fattening grades of cattle, and he feeds a large number of cattle and hogs for the market. He also deals in mules and horses.

The home farm of our subject consists of 388 acres, every acre of which is in a high state of cul- tivation. He also owns 112 acres of good land in one farm, and another lot of 175 acres, both highly improved. In another part of the township he has a 40-acre lot in grass, and besides all this land he is the owner of twenty acres of fine timber. In Scott County he also has a farm of 174 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Leach is a firm believer in the principle of underdraining land, and has sev- eral miles of tiling on his different farms. IIe thinks that money spent in this direction will bring large returns on the capital invested. Mr. Leach's homestead is an original purchase made by his father from the Government, the latter having en-

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tered, in 1829, a quarter-seetion of land, upon which his son's house now stands, and where he re- sided until his death at the age of eighty-six years. His name was John Leach, Sr., and he was born in Yorkshire, England, as were his father and mother.

John Leach, Sr., was reared as a farmer in his native country. Ile married Miss Ann Duckles, (langhter of John Duckles. After the senior Leach was married he commenced farming, and so contin- ned until he died. Three children were born to them: Mary, who died at Lynnville, after having been married twice; Sarah was married three times, and died in this county at the age of thirty-six years. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the three that were born in England. His birth occurred March 25, 1823. In the spring of 1829, the father, mother and three children sailed from Liverpool on the ship "Jolin Wells," and after a voyage of six weeks and two days landed at Phila- delphia, whence they came hy land and water to Morgan County. This country then being new, the family endured many hardships, so that Mr. and Mrs. Leach became nearly discouraged, and eontem- plated returning to their mother country. The clouds soon lifted, however, and everything was bright for them until they died. Mrs. Leech sur- vived her husband for several years. She died about 1876, being nearly ninety years old, and in possession of her full faculties of mind and body up to the time she was called away. They were members of the English Church, and the senior Mr. Leaeh, politically, was a Whig.

After the father and mother of John Leach, Jr., came to this country they became the parents of one child, Eliza, who married Daniel White. She died at Oxville, Seott Co., Ill., leaving no children. The subject of this sketeli grew to manhood at home, and was from the start a successful business man. He was married, in Morgan County, to Miss Mary Bealby, who was born in Lynville, Ill., in 1835. Her father Samuel Bealby, was a native of England, whence he went to Jamaica, and operated a coffee plantation near Kingston. There he mar- ried, and soon after he emigrated to the United States, locating at Lynnville, Ill., and there lived until he died. Mrs. Leach's mother died at the age of thirty-four years, consequently she was left

an orphan young in life. She is the mother of eleven children, two of whom, Ettie and Tillie, are deceased. The latter died when a promising young lady; Ettie was the wife of Stephen S. Knowles, of Jacksonville, and she died when in her twenty-sixth year; Georgiana, the wife of William Coultas, now deceased, is living on West State Street, Jacksonville; Eliza is the wife of Jud Boston, and they are living on a farm in Morgan County ; John married Nellie Denby; Edward is unmarried, and engaged in farming in Scott County; Allie is a farmer of Morgan County ; while Hattie, Laura, Frank and Leslie are at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Leach are prominent factors in so- ciety, of the community in which they live, and are universally respected for their qualities of mind and heart. Mr. Leach is a reliable Republican, and has held numerous local offices, which he has filled with his usual pains-taking manner.

OBERT HILLS is a general farmer and stoek raiser, and is pleasantly located on scetion 32, township 15, range 11, at which place he owns a well-improved farm of 170 aeres. Mr. Ifills has been successful, and is well and favorably known as a first-class farmer. Hle has resided on this farm continuously sinee his marriage.

Mr. Hills came to this country in 1857, from Durham, England, where he was born in the town of Gainford, Jan. 20, 1840. Ile came of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather, Robert Hills, having come from Scotland with his parents when a small boy. His grandfather spent the most of his life in Durham and Yorkshire as a farmer, and died at the age of eighty years, and was buried in Durham County. He married Sarah Gibson, a native of England, who lived and died there. . It is a note- worthy fact that the family are very long-lived people. The grandfather spoken of, and his wife were the parents of thirteen children, and all lived to be nearly seventy years or okler, and some as old as eighty years. The father of the subject of this notice, Edmund Ilills, was one of the younger

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of this remarkable family of thirteen children. They were all well known as temperance people of good habits, and high moral qualities. Edmund Hills grew up in the county where he was born, and be- gan life as an English farmer usually does, and is still living in Durham County, over seventy years of age, and is stout and active. He was married to Mary Howe, of English birth and parentage, and born in Durham County, where she has sinee lived. Edmund Hills and wife are members of the Church of England, and are well thought of in their community. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject of thissketch was the eldest. In the family of children there were five sons and seven daughters, and of these four sons and six daughters are still living. Robert, two brothers and a sister are residents of the United States, and all are married.

Robert Hills, of whom this biography is written, was reared in his native country, and on April 22, 1857, he started for America, taking passage at Liverpool on the Steamship "Kangaroo," of the In- man line, and after a voyage of thirteen days, landed at New York City, when he immediately set his face westward and came to Morgan County. At this time he was under age, and began life in his new home as a laborer. He continued in this occupation until his marriage, which occurred at the bride's home, in this township, April 27, 1862, Miss Sarah Allinson becoming his wife. She was born on the old Allinson homestead on seetion 2, township 15, range 11. She is the eldest child of Adam Allinson, who was born not many miles from Gonld, in Yorkshire, England, in 1801. He eame of English ancestry, and was the son of Adam Alli- son, who had been a blacksmith and veterinary sur- geon, and who was married to an English lady of his native shire, to whom was born two children- Thomas and Adam, Jr. Thomas Allinson learned the trade of his father, that of blacksmith, and when yet a young man left his home for America, being the first of his family to eross the sea, this being about the year 1819. For a time he lived in South- ern Indiana, and later his father, mother and brother Adam came over, in 1820, and joined him. The father of Thomas and Adam died soon after landing in Indiana, being then an old man. In

1821 the younger brother, Adam, father of Mrs. Ilills, constructed a primitive flatboat, which he launched on the Wabash River, placed all his worldly possessions thereon, and started down the river. Ile floated down the Ohio to Cairo, and then poled his boat up the Mississippi River to Naples. On his way up the Illinois River to reach Naples, he passed through, what to him was a very lonely country. He, however, set out for Jackson- ville, and in the same year began to look around for some of the rich Government land that was then to be had in this county. He found what he wanted, and preempted the land on which the County Poor Farm and the Illinois State College are located, but later, to procure just the home he wanted, he eame on to township 15, range 11, and preempted several hundred aeres of land. Ile here found the most eligible building spot in the county, on a knoll of considerable elevation, over- looking a large scope of country, and here he built his first house before he was yet married. He has built and re-built sinee, until his now beautiful homestead stands as a monument to his memory. His death occurred in 1880, he having reached the age of fourseore. It was soon after he had come to this county that the mother and an older brother, Thomas, came on and joined him. Thomas located the property where Mr. Robert Hills now lives, and made that his home until 1856, when he went to Macon County, Ill., and purchased 1300 acres of railroad land and improved it. He there died, in 1863, at a ripe old age. The mother of the two boys, Thomas and Adam, lived with the latter until her death, which occurred some years after she came to Morgan County, aged sixty-six years.

After Adam Allinson had come to this county he married Miss Mary Norwood, who was a native of Yorkshire, and whose parents, Robert and Sarah Norwood, eame to the United States in 1827, and made a settlement in Morgan Connty. Here Mr. and Mrs. Norwood lived and died, the former dying in 1836, of cholera, the period when that disease was epidemie in Illinois; his wife dying some years later. Mr. Norwood was a miller, and ran the mill which his son-in-law, Mr. Allinson, had built, which is probably the first one ereeted in this eounty. Its motive power was supplied by oxen, eight or ten

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of these animals treading a wheel forty feet in diameter. The customers of this mill eame from sixty miles around.

Mrs. Mary Allinson was a young woman when her parents came to America. She died in 1874, some years before her husband, at the age of sixty- six years. She attended the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a good mother and neighbor. Three of her six children are now deceased : Thomas, Sr .; Thomas, Jr .; and Ann, who was the wife of John Funk. She died in Morgan County, leaving two sons. The living children are: Mrs. Hills; Mary, wife of George Bramhamn, and the youngest of the family, Adam, whose biography ap- pears in another part of this volume. Mrs. Hills. is the mother of four children, one of whom, Rob- ert, is deecased; he died at the age of nineteen years, and was a bright young man. The living are as follows: Leonard married Sarah MeFarlane; they are living on a farm in Morgan County. Mary, the wife of Thomas Packard, lives on a farm near Franklin; Adam E. is at home, and a bright boy. Mr. and Mrs. Hills attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Hills believes that the Republican party is right.

G EORGE JAMESON, Sheriff of Morgan County, became a resident of the city of Jacksonville over thirty years ago, in the fall of 1856. Ile has consequently witnessed its transformation from an unimportant village to its present wealth and prosperity. He first opened his eyes on the other side of the Atlantic, in North- umberlandshire, England, Feb. 17, 1837, and is the son of George and Mary (Chat) Jameson, who were also of English birth and parentage. The father followed blacksmithing through life, and departed henee in 1859, at Wales. The mother survived her husband a period of twenty-seven years, re- maining a widow, and passed away at Hexham, in Northumberland, England, in March, 1886. There were only two children in the family, both sons, of whom George is the only one living. His brother, John, met with a violent deatlı in England, having been run down on a railroad track and instantly

killed. He was a contractor by occupation, and fifty years old at the time of his death.

The subject of this sketch commenced work at blacksmithing in the shop of his father when a lad of thirteen years. He was thus occupied six years, and when a youth of nineteen crossed the Atlantic, settling first in Toronto, Canada, where he remained three months. Then coming to the States, he made his way at once to this county, where he worked as a journeyman blacksmith until the spring of 1859. Then opening a shop he began business in a modest manner, and has still continued thus em- ployed, being very successful, and having usually from six to ten men, including three of his sons. These latter now have the general charge of the business. Mr. Jameson has been quite prominent in local affairs, being first elected Alderman of the Third Ward and holding this office two terms. Ile was elected County Sheriff in 1886, and was the seeond Republiean elected to this office in Morgan County. He has had four deputies-John G. Loomis, William D. Matthews, A. G. Austin (who died in August, 1887,) and W. T. Layton. Ile also has a turnkey, Charles E. Goodrich.

Mr. Jameson sometime ago wisely invested a portion of his capital in land, purchasing a farm of 420 acres, four miles south of the eity. This is un- der a high state of cultivation and provided with all modern improvements. It is operated by a tenant. The residence of Mr. Jameson, which, with its surroundings, comprises one of the finest dwellings in this city, is located at the corner of Harding and Morton streets, and has in connection with it three acres of ground. Surrounding the residence are beautiful shade and ornamental trees, the buildings are in the modern style of architeet- ure, and the whole forms a lovely home. P'residing over its domestie affairs is a very estimable lady, formerly Mrs. James Spires, to whom he was mar- ried in November, 1886.

Mr. Jameson was first married in 1860, when twenty-three years of age, to Miss Mary Jane Coul- tas, who was born at .Lynnville, this county, and was the daughter of William and Jane Coultas, who were numbered among the prominent residents of the county. Of this union there were born nine children, six of whom are living, namely: Jennie,

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Mrs. Spires, is a resident of Jacksonville and the mother of one child, a son, George; William L. married Miss Neil Seymour, and they live in Jack- sonville; John R., George, Grace and Frank are all residents of Jacksonville.

Mr. Jameson cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln, and since that time has uniformly given his support to the Republican party. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Mary Jameson departed this life, at her home in Jacksonville, in 1879. It has been remarked of her by those who knew her best, that she was an "every-day Chris- tian." A kind wife and a devoted mother, she sought only the good of those around her. She had been for many years a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and adorned her profession in her daily walk and conversation.

Considering the fact that Mr. Jameson came to this country poor in purse and without any other resources than his stout heart and willing hands, in noting his position among men to-day it will be acknowledged that he merits the plaudit of " well done." Not only has he given strict attention to his own business affairs, but he has signalized him- self as a liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen, giving cheerful assistance to the projects set on foot having for their object the general good of the community. He has twice revisited his native land, taking in also Scotland and France.

M RS. HANNAH E. DUNAVAN, widow of the late James W. Dunavan, is a woman of more than ordinary force of character and business capacity, and is numbered among the successful, substantial agriculturists of Morgan, her native county. She comes of sterling New England stock, and is a worthy daughter of a pioneer family. After her husband's death she bought the fine farm on which she lives, which is beautifully located on section 24, township 15, range 10, three miles from the centre of the public square in Jacksonville.

Timothy Chamberlain, the father of our subject, was born in the historical old city of Salem, Mass., and lived there until after his marriage with Miss

Mary Dennis. He subsequently moved to this State and located in this county. Here his wife died after the birth of ten children, and Mr. Cham- berlain afterward married. Miss Julia Fairweather and our subject was the only child born to them. Mrs. Chamberlain was the daughter of Richard Fairweather, a native of Connecticut, and a land- owner there and here. The father of our subject took up a tract of raw land, and by persevering in- dustry and the aid of his good wife, he built up a comfortable home, in which he passed his remain- ing days, until death called him hence in July, 1872. His widow survived him until Jan. 25, 1888, when she too passed away, dying at the home of her daughter. They were people who were well known and widely respected for their inany kindly traits of character.

Their daughter, of whom we write, was born July 8, 1846, in this county, on the parental homestead, on the Vandalia Road, three miles from Jackson- ville. Her education, begun in the local schools, was completed in that city. From her mother she received a careful training in all that goes to make a good housewife, remaining at home until the time of her marriage. Jan. 13, 1862, her union with James W. Dunavan, a worthy young man of this county, was duly solemnized. In the happy years that followed six children were born into their pleasant home, all of whom are living: Julia Ellen married Silas T. Whitelicad, who died Jan. 25, 1888, leaving her with one child, Ellen Mabel, and they are now living with our subject; Mary Eliza- beth married Richard Phillips, a farmer by occu- tion, living one mile north of her mother's home; Mattic Jane married Peter C. Maddox, of this town, and they have one child; Lute D., James HI. and May are at home with their mother. Mr. Dunavan was a Kentuckian by birth, born in the town of Hopkinsville Feb. 26, 1839. His father, Wyan J. Dunavan, was also a native of Kentucky. In Sep- tember, 1846, he emigrated to these parts with his family, and established himself at his trade of a car- penter, in town, and was a resident here until death. His son James was a child of seven years when he came to Morgan County with his parents, and his boyhood and youth were passed in Jacksonville, his education being conducted in its schools. He

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Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 20

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, IL : Chapman Brothers Number of Pages: 632

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, IL : Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 632