Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 21

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 21
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 21

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RESIDENCE OF F. C. HOMES, SEC.2. T.13 .- R.8. MORGAN Co .

SCALES

RESIDENCE OF JOHN E. BAYLISS, SEC. 14. T.16 .- R.12 MORGAN CO.

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early learned the earpenter's trade, and was en- gaged at it as a contractor and builder until two years after his marriage, when he moved onto a farm with his family, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, living mostly in Morgan County. His death, Jan. 6, 1886, was a severe blow to the interests of his community, which then lost an upright, sober-minded eitizen, who had had its welfare at heart; his family lost the kindest of husbands and most devoted of fathers, and his neighbors a true friend. By steady and well- directed industry he accumulated a competence, and left his family in comfortable circumstances.

Mrs. Dunavan is a notable manager, and after her husband's demise she invested some of her money in this farm, which comprises 141 aeres of land, and is finely located, its nearness to the inc- tropolis of this region making it a valuable pieee of property to own, aside from its excellent im- provements and highly cultivated soil. Here she has established a cosy home, where she and her children live in peace and contentment, enjoying all the comforts of a well ordered household. Mrs. Dunavan rented her farm one year and moved into town, but with that exception has lived here since purchasing the place. She is a consistent and val- ued member of the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church at Jacksonville, and it is the united testi- mony of all who have the pleasure of knowing her that she is a truly good woman, of fine character and large heart, that evinees itself in many kind deeds for the benefit of those about her.

OHN E. BAYLESS deserves more than a passing notiee in reviewing the lives and labors of the representative men of this county. It may be a sordid sentiment which gives prominence to the man who has been sueeess- ful in the accumulation of dollars and eents, but it cannot be denied that these contribute greatly to the comfort and happiness of mankind; and he who has been successful in his efforts in this direction, is in voluntarily accorded a dignity and respect to which he is undeniably entitled. Mr. Bayless, a self-made man, who began life at the foot of the

ladder, dependent upon his own resources, is now the owner of 380 broad aeres, comprising one of the most valuable farms in Morgan County, and pleasantly located on seetion 14, township 16, range 12. He began as a general agriculturist, but of late years has been engaged in stoek-raising, and has realized from this industry alone a snug fortune.

A Kentuekian by birth, Mr. Bayless first opened his eyes to the light in Mason County, in the Blue Grass Region, on the 24th of April, 1826, and is the son of Ezra and Annie (York) Bayless, who were natives of the same State as their son. The father died when our subjeet was a mere boy, and his mother passed away when he was a youth of fifteen or sixteen years. They had, however, in the mean- time removed to Franklin County, Ind. John E., abont 1845-46, eame to this county and sojourned in Jacksonville Preeinet about two years, after which he returned to Indiana, lived there two years, and then came back to this county, of which he has sinee been a resident. About 1855-56 he purchased ninety-five aeres of land, the nucleus of his present homestead, and which he had prior to this time operated upon as a renter. He labored early and late for several years, improving his land and cultivating the soil, and was greatly prospered. . He invested his surplus capital in additional land, thus placing it where it could not be carried off by the abseonding bank eashier, until he attained to his present large possessions. The family for a num- ber of years oeeupied a small frame house, until Mr. Bayless ereeted his present residenee, which is represented in this volume, and which is a very tasteful and commodious structure, and with its surroundings very nearly approaches the ideal country home.

Mr. Bayless was wedded March 10, 1853, to Miss Melissa J. Green, who was born in this eounty May 3, 1836. Her parents, William and. Catherine (Long) Green, were natives of Tennessee, and eame to this eounty during. its pioneer days. Their family consisted of nine children. . The father died in Iowa, and the mother in Morgan County, Ill.

The household eirele of Mr. and Mrs. Bayless was completed by the birth of five children : Luther F., who married Miss Addie Johnson, is farming the home place; Dora V., the wife of W. F. Deterding ;

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Chalmers D., Nellie and Marcus D .; the latter is deceased.

Mr. Bayless eame to this county without means or other resources than his strong innseles and eonrageous heart, together with those principles of honor and integrity in which he had been trained by his excellent mother. Ile experienced his full share of the difficulties of pioneer life, bringing his land from a state of nature to its present pro duetive condition, and he himself perfected all the improvements which we behold to-day. These have involved a large amount of labor, time and money, but he rightly considers that it has been capital well invested. While his personal interests have absorbed the greater part of his time and attention, he has in the meantime maintained a warm interest in the progress of his adopted county, and eon- tributed as opportunity has offered to the further- ing of those enterprises calculated for the best good of its people. Mrs. Bayless has been the efficient counselor and helpmate of her husband, and has labored with him in the accumulation of their property. They enjoy an extended acquaint- ance in this county, and welcome under their hos- pitable roof its best people. In polities, he is a staneb Republican. He, his wife, and daughter, Mrs. Deterding, are members of the Christian Church, at Concord.

RED C. HOMES. The Homes family have been represented in the United States for several generations and in Illinois for nearly fifty years. William Ilomes, the father of our sub- ject, and a native of Boston, Mass., was a man of excellent education, and came to this State in his youth. He was graduated from the Illinois Col- lege, after which he identified himself with the inin- istry of the Presbyterian Church, and was pastor of a congregation at St. Louis, Mo., until about 1856. Then becoming interested in the legal profession he studied and praetleed law at the same time, and finally drifted into the newspaper business, becom- ing eonneeted with the editoral staff of the Mis- souri Republican, the leading Democratie paper of that State. Later he was employed as an Attor-

ney for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad for a num- ber of years. In 1864 he went to California, on business, and was absent two years. Upon his re- turn he again beeame connected with the Republican and died in its employ in 1869. In early life he was a Whig, but later joined the Democracy, and although not a politician, always maintained a warm interest in questions of national importanee.

Mrs. Julia R. (Salter) Homes, the mother of our subject, was a native of New Haven, Conn., and the daughter of Cleveland J. Salter, who was the first child of that name in the United States, and whose parents were natives of England. She is still living and resides near Philadelphia, Pa. The parental household included seven children, namely -- Fred C., William F., Henry B., Frank K., Julia B., Mary L., and John C. The paternal grand- father, Henry Homes, was a member of the well- known firm of Homes & Homes, hardware mer- ehants. The subject of this sketch was born in Springfield, Ill., May 18, 1844, while his mother was on a visit to that place. The family were then living in St. Louis, Mo., and there remained until the boy was eleven years old. In the meantime lic had attended the common school, and after pur- suing his studies a short season at Palmyra, Mo., repaired to Springfield, Ill., where he studied three years, and then went East, to Andover, Mass., and spent two years. Later he passed the same length of time on his grandfather's farm in Waverly, Ill. In the meantime the family made their home at St. Louis, although spending the summer monthis out of the city.

Upon attaining his majority our subjeet repaired to New Haven, Conn., where he attended seliool three years. In 1865 he joined the family at St. Louis, and engaged as elerk in a hardware store until 1869, when he came to this county and established himself in Waverly Precinct on a farm, that he now owns and ocenpies, but then the property of his uncle. In 1871 he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Myra A., daughter of Orlando and Martha (Piekett) Wadhams, and born near Wav- erly in Sangamon County. Iu due time his uncle, Charles L. Ives, presented Mr. Homes with the farm and in addition to, agricultural pursuits he has carried on quite a flourishing lumber business

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in Waverly. His homestead lies just north of the corporate limits of the town and embraces 160 of land with excellent improvements. It is repre- sented in this volume, and is a remarkably pleasant place, and the frequent resort of the best people of this part of the county.

The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Homes were named, respectively: Charles I., Susie W., Fred C., Jr., Myra W., and Mary L. Our subject, politically, is a sound Republican, and in religi -. ous matters is a Congregationalist.

S AMUEL KILLAM. After a busy life, and the battle against the world has been won, it is pleasurable to see the winner retire and take his ease, and such is the ease of Sam- uel Killam. His fine farm is situated on section 27, township 15, range 11, where he has lived since his father first purchased the land from the Govern- ment in 1829. Here the subject of this sketch has passed most of his life in active work as a general farmer and stock-raiser. At one time he was the owner of about a half-scetion of land, but he has given away the most of it to his children, only re- taining ninety-six acres as a homestead, which is known as the Killam Mound Farm. This place is situated on an eminence, and overlooks the city of Jacksonville, four miles away. Mr. Killam has al- ways been regarded as one of the substantial and intelligent farmers of this county, and he has sus- tained that reputation admirably.

Mr. Killam is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born at Sackhouse. Dec. 8, 1808. He is the son of Jolin Killam, and the grandson of Samuel Killam, who died when about sixty years of age. The latter married Ann West, who died at the age of sixty-two years. The Killams in those days, were members of the old English Church. John Kil- lam, father of the one whose name heads this sketch, grew up in his native shire, and in his younger days followed mechanical pursuits, being a general me- ehanic and millwright. He was married in York- shire, to Elizabeth Parsley, and to her was born four sons and one daughter, all of whom came to America with their parents. They embarked at

Hull, on April 14, 1829, on the vessel "Trenton," and after a voyage of seven weeks and four days, which was somewhat tempestuous, they landed at Quebec. This country then possessed but few rail- roads, so the journey from Quebec to Illinois was a tedions one, but they finally reached Morgan County, July 21, 1829. Very soon after their ar- rival the family located on land which is now oc- cupied by Samuel Killam. John Killam at one time owned a large tract of land in this eounty, and be- came comfortably well-off. Here be made his home until he died in 1845, at the age of sixty-three years. He was an industrious and ambitious man, and en- joyed a good reputation among his neighbors. In person he was an athlete, and was capable of per- forming a great deal of hard work, which was one of the essential qualifications of a farmer in the early days of Illinois. Politically, hie acted with the Whig party. Ilis wife, and the mother of Sam- uel, passed away about six years after his death, at the age of seventy-four years.

Samuel Killam, of whom this sketch is written, was the second of a family of five children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and were married, and Samuel is the only one now living. He grew up to be of age before he left England, and with his natural mechanical ability, lie there soon mastered the trade followed by his father, that of a millwright. After his arrival in this country, he pursued his trade, and so continued for seven or eight years, and his reputation as a mechanic in this part of Illinois, is of the highest. He was married in Morgan County, to Miss Margaret Haxby, who was a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born Feb. 10, 1819. She was the youngest daughter of six children born to William and Ann (Brewis) Haxby, also natives of Yorkshire. William Ilaxby was the son of William Haxby, Sr., a farmer who lived and died in Yorkshire, his death occurring in 1797. He was then in the prime of life, and had married a Yorkshire lady by the name of Minnie Willis, who survived her husband for sometime. They lived on a farm which they owned, being very well-to-do people. The Haxbys were all members of the English Church. William H., the father of Mrs. Killam, was one of three children born to his parents. He was a farmer, and spent the early por-

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tion of his life at this vocation in liis native land, where he married, and became the father of three sons and five daughters. On May 7th, 1834, this fam- ily took passage on the "Victoria," at Whitby, and started for America, and after a voyage of five weeks and five days, landed at Quebec. They at once came to what is now Winchester, Seott Co., Ill., where they located on a farm, and lived for nine years, until 1843, when Mr. Haxby, with his wife and family, changed locations by going to Greene County, Ill .; and settling on a farm near Whitehall. In the next year, 1844, Mrs. Haxby died, after which her hus- band lived with his children until his death, which occurred at Mrs. Killain's, Dec. 1st, 1867, at the age of seventy-five years. He was always closely connected with the English Church, and was a strong believer of the old Whig party.

Of the family of nine children born to the par- ents of Mrs. Killam, she is one of the younger, and of whom four are living: Elizabeth, widow of Dan - iel Avery, who lives at Whitehall, Ill .; William is a resident of Plattville, Colo., and is a drug and hardware merchant; he married Elizabeth Rowen; Thomas took to wife, Mary Evans, and lives in Rapid City, Dak., on a ranch.

Mrs. Killam had the benefit of being reared by prudent and conscientious parents, and her father and mother were counted as people wliose motives were entirely laudable. After she came to this country she stayed at home until she attained ma- turity. She is the mother of ten children, two of whom are deceased: Henrietta B. died in infancy; Alfred married Elizabeth Lee; they settled in Ma- coupin County, Ill., where on May 16, 1871, he was killed during a violent storm by a stroke of lightning. ITis two horses were killed at the same time. His widow and several children yet survive him.

The living children of Mrs. Killam are: John W., who resides on a farm in this county; he mar- ried Miss Ellen Scott; Mary J., wife of John Clary, also lives on a farm in this county. Thomas H. Is a farmer and stock-raiser at Washington Center, Mo .; he married Miss Lydia Clark, a graduate of Jacksonville College. Maggie married Charles Gibbs; they are living on a farm in Scott County, Ill. Fannie E. is at home, Clara A. is the wife of

William Hounsley; they reside on a farm in Ma- coupin County, Ill .; George S. married Miss Bird- sall. Mrs. Killam is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Part of her children are also members of the same church. She is a woman of remarkable strength of character.

W ILLIAM C. OWEN. In the spring of 1840, this gentleman, then in the prime of a vigorous young manhood, came to Mor- gan County, and marrying shortly after, he and his bride began life together in the humblest way, and by their united thrift, financial ability, and judicious management, they have accumulated wealth. The little log cabin in which they once lived has given place to a commodious, beautiful home, replete with all the modern comforts and conveniences that go to make life worth living. The forty acres of land presented to them by Mrs. Owen's father was in their hands but the nucleus of one of the most extensive farms in the county, and to-day they own 1,600 acres of land of un- surpassed fertility, finely located iu township 16 north, range 8 west.

Our subject was born in Tennessee, coming of good pioneer stock, that was among the earliest settlers of that State. His paternal ancestry was born in North Carolina, his grandfather, William Owen, being of Welsh descent, his father coming to America from Wales, before the Revolution and settling in Anson County, N. C. The grandfather was reared and married in the place of his nativ- ity, Elizabetlı Fare becoming his wife. In 1789, they removed to Hawkins County, Tenn., their son, James, father of our subject, being a babe of six months at that time. In that region they reared their family of four sons and three daughters, and there spent the last years of a busy, useful life. The grandfather became very prosperous and was a large land-owner, having a tract on the Tennessee River four miles square.

The father of our subject was reared in the pleasant pioneer home of his parents, and after at- taining man's estate was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of Mordecai Lanter. She was born in

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MORGAN COUNTY.

Virginia near the famous natural bridge over Cedar Creek. To her and her husband came the following children : Elizabeth, who married Abra- ham Rinehart; Naney the wife of Archibald Hous- ton; William C., of whom we write; and James L. Feb. 6, 1830, the parents with their family started for the wilderness of Floyd County, Ind., our snb- jeet then being eleven years old. The fatlier took up land, thirty acres of which had been eleared in the heavy timber, and vigorously entered upon the pioneer task of improving a farm. The mother died in that home Aug. 8, 1835, before she had scareely passed the meridian of life. The father died in Henderson County, Ill., Oct. 20, 1845, he having removed to that eounty a few years before.

In the spring of 1840, our subject came to Mor- gan County, and on the 28th day of the following- ing June he took one of the most important steps of his life by his marriage on that date to Miss Mary J., a daughter of Z. W. and Elizabeth Flinn, whereby, he gained one of the most helpful of wives. In the fall of that year he and his wife wentto Mc- Donough County, where they lived eighteen months, and returning to this locality in 1842, have resided here ever sinee. Our subject has met with more than ordinary success in the prose- eution of his calling, and owns a good deal of val- uable property. Ile paid $50,000 for a farm in Sangamon County for his son, James, and also pre- sented his daughter Almarinda, now Mrs. Andrew Harris, with a fine farm of 270 acres near Virginia, in Cass County. Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Owen. Their danghter, Damaris, lives with her brother James, both being unmarried. Their son Josiah W., lives near Ash- land, in Cass County. Anna E. is the widow of Charles Butler, who was drowned in a fish-pond in this county, nearly fourteen years ago, and she with her two sons, Robert and Leonard, live with our subject and his wife. Their danghter Mary, is now Mrs. Edward Goff, of this township. Mr. Owen makes a speciality of cattle-feeding, shipping about 200 head a year, and his farm is well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs of good grades.

As pioneers, though not among the earliest set- tlers of Morgan County, it has been the good for- tune of our subject and his wife to contribute

largely to the development of its agricultural re- sourees, and so to its material advancement in other directions, and it gives us pleasure to represent them in this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. Mr. Owen is a man of broad public spirit, and his hand is felt in all enterprises that will in any way benefit thie community. He and his wife have nearly reached the golden mile-stone that marks a wedded life of half a century, and the most of that time has been passed in this eounty and among these people who know them well and hold them in true regard and veneration for the rectitude of their course and for characters nnblemished by acts unworthy of them as kind neighbors and true friends.

C IIARLES B. JOY. Those who are familiar with history and biography can scarcely fail to notice the fact that the most solid and substantial families are they, who, reaping wisdom from the maxim, that, "a rolling stone gathers no moss," have clnug to the property of their forefathers, each generation effecting addi- tional improvements, and usually increasing its value. An extended residenee always gives dig- nity to a family or individual, and this fact is finely illustrated in the subject of this notice, who occu- pies the old homestead, comprising land which was entered by his paternal grandfather, John Joy, in 1837, from the Government. Here Charles B. was born, Jan. 31, 1859, and here he has spent the greater part of his life. He is the owner of 320 acres of cultivated land, besides forty acres of till- ber. and also operates the farm of his mother, com- prising 150 aeres. To successfully conduct these various interests, requires no small amount of judgment and management, and the indications are that Mr. Joy is proving himself quite equal to the task.

While carrying on general agriculture, Mr. Joy, is likewise largely interested in fine stock, es- pecially horses, having the celebrated young stal- lion, "Mayroc," a registered animal No. 15,819, three years old and imported one year ago by J. W. Ramsey, the noted breeder of Springfield, Ill. . This animal weighs about 1,700 pounds, has a coat of

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MORGAN COUNTY.

shining black, and has already made for himself an enviable reputation. Mr. Joy has also a number of thoroughi-bred mares, and in fact is able to exhibit some of the best specimens of the equinc race in this county. All his operations are characterised by that thoroughness, method and system which is indispensable to and is almost invariably followed by success.

The Joy family is represented elsewhere in this volume, and is recognized as occupying a leading position in its social and business circles. Charles B., our subject, is the son of John P. and Jane B. (Bridgeman) Joy. The maternal grandparents of our subject were also natives of the Buckeye Statc, where Grandfather B., carried on farming and died. The mother, later, came to the home of her daughter in this county, where her death took place. To the parents of our subject there were born four children, two of whom-Walter and Clarence died in infancy. James Allen, the elder brother of our subject, is a resident of Pueblo, Col., where he is engaged as a wholesale grocer ; he is also interested in a stock ranch in Arizona.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth at the parental homestead, his life passing in a comparatively uneventful manner, until assum- ing the graver duties attendant upon man's estate. He is more than ordinarily intelligent, keeps him- self well posted upon current events, and in politics gives his unqualified support to the Republican party. He is a regular attendant of the Congrega- tional Church, to which his mother belongs, and is regarded as one of the rising young men of this county. His mother, who has now nearly attained her threescore years, makes her home in Jackson- ville, with our subject.

Le YMAN F. JOY. The subject of this notice is full worthy of mention in connection with the early history of this county, to which he came during the period of its early settle- ment when a lad five years of age. The journey thither was performed overland by team from Pitts- field, N. H., and the Joy family settled in a small log cabin which they occupied until enabled to

build a better dwelling. In the meantime the father occupied himself in developing the land which lie had purchased, and for a few years they endured all the difficulties of life on the frontier. Industry and economy in due time placed them upon solid ground, and the result of their labors and sacrifices was a well-regulated homestead, and a large meas- ure of the comforts of life.

Our subject is of excellent New England ances- try, and the grandson of James Joy, who was born in Durham, N. H., and was a blacksmith and ship builder by trade. He also engaged considerably in agricultural pursuits. He was a man of much force of character, active and enterprising and prominent in his community. He lived to be eighty years of age, and spent his last days retired from active life at Groton, Mass. In the meantime, however, he, in 1837, had visited Illinois, and by entry and pur- chase secured about 1,000 acres of land on sections 4 and 5, township 15, range 11, this county. At this time very little of the land in this region had been turned by the plowshare. Grandfather Joy began making improvements, but after a time re- turned to the old Granite State, and sent his three sons, John, the eldest, and the father of our sub- ject, Charles, and Sylvester, to finish what he had begun. John Joy was practically the manager of the property, and upon a part of this he lived and labored the remainder of his life. He finally be- came the owner of 480 acres, which he improved into a good homestead, and where his death took place in February, 1879. He had been very suc- cessful, and made a specialty of stock-raising, from which he realized a good fortune.

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Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 21

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