Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 25

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 25
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 25

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tive of Kentucky, was born in 1804, and died at the old homestead in 1869.

The father of our subject was reared a farmer's boy, and followed this ocenpation upon the soil both of his native State, and in the Blue Grass re- gions. Industrious, enterprising and resolute, he accumulated a fine property, and was a eitizen of influence wherever he sojourned. Both parents were devout members of the Christian Church. Their family included five sons and four daughters : Charles C., Amanda F., Adelaide, Richard, Jane, IIngh, Elizabeth, Alonzo, and William D., Jr. Our subject was the youngest of the family, and grew up familiar with agricultural pursuits, acquiring his education in the common schools. Ile remained under the parental roof until a man of twenty- seven years. In the meantime the family had re- moved to Morgan County, Ill., and after the out- break of the Rebellion, our subject enlisted as a Union soldier in Company F, 101st Illinois Infan- try, being mustered in Aug. 7, 1862 at Jacksonville. Ile first saw the smoke of battle at Missionary Ridge, subsequently at Resaca, Ga., and Peachtree Creek, and was in the affray at several other points through- out the South. Ile was promoted to Sergeant, and at the close of the war was mustered out at Spring- field, Ill., in June, 1865.

After leaving the army, Mr. Henry emigrated to this county and taught school six months. Next he was employed in the drug-store and post-office at Murrayville, where he remained until the year 1867. We next find him engaged in the grocery trade at Jacksonville, but he afterward returned to Murrayville, and established himself in the grocery and dry-goods trade. Two years later he came to Woodson, and continued in the grocery trade, be- ing appointed Postmaster in 1883. IIe is Demo- cratic in politics, and a man whose career has been that which has gained him the esteem and con- fidence of the community.

Our snbjeet while a resident of Morgan County, began the establishment of a home by his marriage with Miss Jennie Thresher, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride at Springfield, Ill., in 1875. Mrs. Henry was born in 1835, in Illinois, and is the daughter of John and Caroline ( Harney) Thresher, who were natives of Kentucky, and who

John Arison

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spent the last years of their lives in Illinois, the mother passing away in 1883, and the father in 1884. Their family included six children, all of whom are living and residing in Illinois and Kan- sas. Mrs. Henry is the fourth child. She received careful home training from an excellent mother,. and was educated in the common school. She re- mained under the home roof until taking charge of a household of her own. Ilugh Henry, a brother of our subjeet, during the Civil War was also a mem- ber of the 101st Illinois Infantry. He died of dis- case at Columbus, Ky., in 1863. Mr. Henry, so- cially, belongs to thie Masonie fraternity, being a member of the Lodge at Murrayville, and with his excellent wife, is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. They have no children.

M RS. EMMA (MILNER) HEWSON occu- pies one of the most beautiful homes in the city of Jacksonville, at No. 1357, South Clay Avenne. She is a most estimable and highly respected lady of cultivated tastes and am- ple means, and is the widow of John Ilewson, who departed this life March 30, 1885, leaving his wife and two children to mourn their loss. He had been a kind husband and father, a good citizen, and a capable business man, and a resident of this county since its pioneer days.

Mr. Hewson was born near the town of Rippon, Yorkshire, England, July 29, 1812, and in his youth served an apprenticeship at boot and shoe- making. He crossed the Atlantie in 1843, and coming immediately to Illinois, settled on a tract of land which embraced a portion of the mound four miles west of the present site of Jacksonville. Later he removed to a point seven miles south of the city, where he purchased 240 aeres, and brought the land to a high state of cultivation, effecting all modern improvements, among them being the cree- tion of a handsome residence, and the setting out of a large quantity of fruit and shade trees. Ile was prosperous in his labors, and acquired a eom- peteney. In the fall of 1869 he retired from active labor, leaving the farm and moving into the city, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Miss Emma Milner became the wife of John Hew- son, January, 1835. She was born July 9, 1818, in Leeds, Yorkshire, and is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Wade) Milner, natives of England, where they spent their last years. To Mr. and Mrs. Milner there were born seven children. Of all these children, one alone survives.

The residence and grounds which comprise the pleasant home of Mrs. Hewson, were purchased in 1869. The estate ineludes three honses, and the store building in the city. Mr. Hewson was a very energetie and eapable business man, and by his lively interest in the upbuilding of Jacksonville, has left his name on record as one of its most val- ucd citizens. He was a stanch Republican, a strong temperance man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he officiated as Steward and Trustec.

Elizabetlı, the eldest daughter of Mrs. Hewson, became the wife of John Fink, and is now deeeased. They were the parents of five children-Frank, Eva, Luella, Stella, and Maude. Ellen, Mrs. James A. Cook, is a resident of Jacksonville, and the mother of two children, Orrin, and Emma. Mrs. Hewson is an active member of the Methodist Epis- eopal Church, and contributes liberally of hier time and means to the furtherance of religions work. She is very popular in her community, and held in universal esteem.

On another page is a lithographie engraving of John Hewson. This will be a highly valued me- mento to his many friends, who mourned his death as a personal loss.

OSEPII W. BAKER, a veteran of nearly seventy-one years, is one among the oldest living settlers of this county, and may be found usually at his well-regulated home on seetion 34, township 16, range 12. Ile was born in Middle Tennessee, July 1, 1818, and is the son of Francis and Mary (Killabrew) Baker, the former a resident of North Carolina, and the mother also, probably born there. The Baker family is sup- posed to be of English descent, while the mother of onr subjeet traced hier aneestry to Wales. A ma-

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ternal unele, Elijah Hancock, served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

The subject of this sketeh was the fifth child and fourth son of his parents, and continued a resident of his native State until 1835. In the meantime his mother had died when he was sixteen years old. During the year mentioned he and his father set out for the West, coming to Morgan County, this State, and the elder Baker located in Bethel Pre- einet, where he died in 1840. Joseph W. attained to man's estate in Morgan County. IIe at an early age began to look out for himself, and never re- eeived any financial assistance in making his way in the world. He had, however, been trained to habits of industry and economy, and with this ex- eellent capital be battled with the difficulties of life in a new country, and came out of the struggle with flying eolors.

Mr. Baker, however, acknowledges that in the accumulation of his property he was greatly as- sisted by his estimable wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Mary Rowe, and to whom he was married June 5, 1855, at the bride's home in Morgau County. Mrs. Baker was born in Scott County this State, aud by her union with our subjeet be- came the mother of nine children, five of whom are living : Melina is the wife of George Brookhouse; Lavonia, Allen, Edwin and Charles are at home with their parents.

Mr. Baker made his first purchase of land in 1846 or '47, and began in earnest its development and improvement. While witnessing the march of progress he has contributed as he was able to the general good, and is numbered among the most re- liable and praiseworthy citizens of this township. He is not a member of any religious organization, but aims to follow the maxim of the Golden Rule, and do unto others as he would be done by. Ile believes in the establishment of schools and churches, and has given of his means and influence to this end, as he has been able. He east his first Presidential vote for Van Buren, and has sinee been a stanch supporter of Democratic principles. Hc was a School Trustee for eleven years, and has served as School Director and Constable, but fur- - ther than this has never sought office, preferring to give his best labors to his farm, and his ehief at-

tention to his family. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have made many and warm friends during their long so- journ in this eounty, and now, sitting under their own vine and fig tree, are reaping the reward of their early toil and sacrifiecs. They endured many difficulties and hardships at the outset, but now that the season of rest has come are fully prepared to enjoy it, and look with satisfaction upon well- spent lives.

OSEPII ALDERSON. A goodly delegation of English Yorkshire men came to this county during its pioneer days, and among them was the subject of this sketeh, who is worthy of more than a passing notice. IIe is eom- fortably settled on a good farm on seetion 35, township 16, range 12, where, after years of faith- ful labor, he is now enabled to rest upon his oars, and view with satisfaction the results of his in- dustry. He is one of those substantial and reliable men, who have not only aeeumulated a good pro- perty, but are held in the highest regard by their fellow-citizens.

The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 23, 1835, and is the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Pratt) Alderson, who were likewise natives of Yorkshire, and who, in the spring of 1850, emi- grated to the United States. They made the voy- age on a sailing-vessel bound from Liverpool to New York City, and were five weeks on the ocean. From the metropolis they came directly to this county, and the father purchased 160 aeres of wild prairie land, which now constitutes the home- stead of his son Joseph. He labored in true pio- neer style for many years thereafter with good re- sults, and added forty aeres to his first purchase. Ile resided upou this homestead until ealled henee, March 12, 1868. Ilis wife had previously died, passing away Nov. 5, 1864.

To the parents of our subjeet there were born eleven children, only seven of whom are living: John moved to Colorado and died in 1887; he had lived in Morgan and Seott Counties prior to that time, and was for one term Deputy Sheriff of Seott County, Ill. Charles is a resident of Cham-

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paign County, this State; Mary the wife of John Munson, of California; Elizabeth (Mrs. Kevey), a widow of Washington; Annie, the wife of Henry Gilbert, of California: Joseph, our subjeet; George, a resident of this county; and James, who lives in Nebraska. The elder Alderson possessed all the ex- cellent traits of his substantial English ancestry, and was a member in good standing of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church. He had received but a limited education in his youth, but kept himself well posted upon current events, and was eapable of transacting in an intelligent manner the business connected with his farming operations. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and made it the rule of his life to do unto others as he would be done by.

The subject of this sketch began his early studies in the schools of his native county in England, and was at an early age taught to make himself useful to his parents, and thus there were bred in him those habits of industry which have been the secret of his later success. He received 100 acres of land from his father's estate, and to this has added until he is now the owner of 600 acres, the home farm comprising 285 acres. It has all been brought to a good state of cultivation, and Mr. Alderson has put up a fine residence, a good barn, and the other buildings necessary for the successful prosecution of farming and stock-raising. It is conceded by all that he has one of the most desirable homes in this township.

Over thirty years ago, on the 28th of October, 1858, our subject took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Elizabeth A. Henderson, who has borne him ninc children. Seven of these are liv- ing, namely : Lewis, Jolm, Edward, Ilenry, Eva Etta, Carric B., and Myrtie A. The deceased are Emma and Ella, who were taken from the home circle at the ages of one and ten years respectively. The Alderson family removed to their present home in the fall of 1850, and have now occupied it for a period of nearly forty years. Mr. Alder- son is a self-made man in the broadest sense of the term, liberal and public-spirited, and fully identi- fied with the interests of his adopted country. He gives his unqualified support to the Democratic party, but is no offiee-seeker, having simply served

his district as School Director, holding this posi- tion many years. Both he and his estimable wife belong to the Methodist Protestant Church at Bethel.

Mr. Alderson has been an eye witness of the growth of Morgan County from its primitive state into what it is to-day, and in the development of a large area of land, has contributed thus much to the value of its taxable property. In his labors and struggles he has been materially assisted by his faithful wife, who has borne with him the heat and burden of the day. Mrs. Alderson was born in this county Feb. 11, 1840, and is the daughter of Silas and Sarah (Gorham) Henderson, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of New York State. Mr. Henderson was taken to Ohio with his parents when quite young, and from there they came to this county at an carly day. After his marriage Mr. Henderson settled in Arcadia Pre- cinct, but finally removed to the place which his son, Francis M., now occupies, where he sojonrned many years. Ilis death took place at the old homestead in Concord Precinct, Aug. 16, 1886. The mother had passed away prior to the deeease of her husband, June 30, 1862. Mr. Henderson per- formed a great deal of hard labor in common with his brother pioneers, and was a man careful and conscientious in his dealings-one who endeavored to do by his neighbors as he would be done by. His father having died when he was but a youth, he at an early age assumed the responsibilities of a family. IIe looked upon the present site of Jacksonville when there was not a house to mark the spot, and when the labor of going to mill occu- pied several days. For long distances there was not even a wagon track, the traveler having to fol- low simply an Indian trail. Frequently being un- able to reach the mill, the pioneers parched their corn and ground it in a coffee-mill, and made bread from the meal thus obtained.

The Henderson family included eight children: Francis Marion, Elizabeth; Lucretia, the wife of George Renchiler, of this county; Stephen, living in Missouri; Emma, the wife of Jacob Lable, of . Iowa; Ellen, Mrs. Felix Brown; Miriam, the wife of Charles Craig; and Henry ; the latter three of Missouri. The mother was a member of the

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Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father, politi- eally, in his latter years a stanch Republican. The eldest son, F. M., served as a soldier in the late Civil War. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Al- derson was one of the very first pioneers of this county, and a Justice of the Peace many years. Mr. Alderson for the last few years has been breeding thorough-bred Holstein cattle.

S ARAH P. IIOCKENHULL. The subject of this biography, a lady widely known and highly respected throughout the eity of Jacksonville, is a native of Southeastern Pennsylvania, born at Columbia, the county-seat of Lancaster County, Aug. 28, 1814. Iler father, Dennis MeMackin, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and her mother was in her girlhood Mar- garet Nelson, a native of Wilmington, Del. Den- nis MeMackin spent his early years in County Ty- rone, and was one of a large family of children, and the lirst one of the family to come to the United States. He made his first journey hither in 1803, lived for a time in Pennsylvania, then returned to Ireland, and a year later came back to America, ae- companied by his sister, Martha. They settled first in Soudersburg, Lancaster Co., Pa., and a year later removed to Columbia. Mr. MeMaekin was married soon after his second visit to the United States.

The father of our subjeet was a boot and shoe manufacturer by occupation, and about 1819 left Columbia and took up his residence with his little family in the city of Philadelphia. There he fol- lowed his trade until coming to Illinois, in the spring of 1836. Hle settled in Jacksonville, but only lived two years, his death taking place in the fall of 1838. The mother was one of a family of six children, and was born in Wilmington, Del. She accompanied her husband to Illinois, and sur- vived him many years, her death taking place in Jacksonville, about 1865, at the ripe old age of eighty-four. Her father was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to America about 1764, settling in Wilmington, where he distingnished himself as a successful physician, and allied himself with the cause of the struggling Colonists, abandoning his

profession for the time, to take an active part in the Revolutionary War. Prior to this he was a very wealthy man, but his property was confiseated by the British. Hle was stigmatized as the "learned Scotelman." Ile leased to Cæsar A. Rodney, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, a tract of land known as the Cold Spring Farm, situated on the Christine, for a term of ninety-nine years. Gen. Washington frequently sojourned un- der his roof while passing through that section of country. Not only was his grandfather ruined financially during the agitation of those terrible times, but was broken down physically. The Brit- ish offered a prize for his head, esteeming him a power among Colonists to be feared. Ile was a man of enltivated and literary tastes, a firm believer in the Christian religion, and published a number of works controverting the doctrines of Thomas Paine. Hle took a lively interest in educational matters, and taught Greek and Latin to the young men of his town. He built the First Presbyterian Church at Wilmington, a venerable pile . which is still standing, and in the society officiated for many years as Elder.

Miss Martha MeMackin, the aunt of our subject, was the mother of John MeClintock, D. D., who at the time of his death was President of Drew Theo- logical Seminary. For a number of years he was a professor in the Dickinson College, of Carlisle, Pa. To her and her husband, John MeClintock, there was born among other children, he who became known as the celebrated Dr. James MeClintock, one of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the city of Philadelphia.

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Hockenhull are recorded as follows: Jane P. was born in 1811, and married Stafford Smith, of Philadelphia; Margaret, who was born in 1813, became the wife of Joshua Moore, of Jacksonville, now deceased; Sarah P. was the third child; Catherine married Insley T. Goudy, and became the mother of several children, all of whom are deceased, with the exception of one son, Ainsley, who is now a resident of Jackson- ville, this county; Matilda was born in 1818, in Philadelphia, and became the wife of Robert Hoek- enhull, a banker of Jacksonville, Ill .; she died in 1882; Eliza, who was born in 1820, is unmarried,

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and a resident of Atlantic City, N. J .; Mary A., born in 1822, became the wife of William Divine, of Philadelphia, where she now resides.

The subject of this sketch accompanied her par- ents to this county in May, 1836, there coming with them also, Stafford Smith and wife. Jackson- ville was then an unpretentious village. Mrs. Hock- enhull was then a young lady twenty-two years of age, and had been educated in the schools of Phila- delphia. She was first married to Joseph C. Thomp- son, a native of New Hampshire, but at that time, in 1845, a resident of Meredosia, Ill., to which he had come in 1834. Ile was an extensive farmer, and interested in merchandising and pork packing. 1Ie had previously married, and of his first union there had been born a son, Joseph W., who is now a resident of Jacksonville. Of his union with Miss McMackin there were no children. Mr. Thompson departed this life at liis home in Mcredosia, on the 17th of July, 1855.

Mrs. Sarah P. Thompson continued her residence in Mercdosia until her marriage with Mr. John Ilockenhull, a retired merchant, of Jacksonville, who died in 1885. Mr. Hockenhull was a man of means, enterprising, active and industrious, and a citizen esteemed by all. Ile took an active part in the support of the Union cause during the Rebel- lion, and contributed liberally of his means to this end. He was a native of Manchester, Cheshire, England, and crossed the Atlantic during his youth. During the early days of that church, he identified himself with the Westminster Presbyterian Church, and after becoming a voting citizen, allied himself with the Republican party. He retired from active business about 1858, and purchased a place in Mor- gan County, which he named Mulberry Grove, and in the beautifying of which he took great delight. Ile possessed more than ordinary taste in matters pertaining to landscape gardening and floriculture, and his suburban home was literally an Eden of beauty. Mrs. Hockenhull, however, was injured by a fall, and on this account he sold his country home and moved to Jacksonville in the fall of 1875.

Mr. Hockenhull, in company with his wife, re- turned to his native land in the spring of 1871, and traveled all over England, visiting the principal scenes of its historical events, many of its old cas-

tles and ruins, and therefrom gathered many a sou- venir in the line of choice paintings and engrav- ings. Not only a lover of nature in all its forms, he was also a connoisseur in art matters, and his home was a model of taste and beauty. Providence had blest him with this world's goods, and lie was numbered among the public-spirited, and liberal men of his State, giving freely to those less forti- nate, and to the projects calculated to benefit the community. In all this he was careful that his right hand should not know what his left one did. His benefactions were made quietly and unostenta- tiously as one who felt that it was more blessed to give than to receive. Educational and religious institutions found in Mr. Ilockenhull a never fail- ing friend. In his private life and the home cir- cle, lie was kind and indulgent, and lived closely up to those principles taught by the great Master.

The father of Mr. Ilockenhull, who was also of English birth and parentage, was an architect of rare ability, and there are still standing in the city of Manchester, in the shape of many of its public buildings, the monuments of his taste and skill. Notable among these is the famous Manchester Theatre. This worthy gentleman came to his death by being thrown from a horse while on his way to Balmoral, which is now chiefly notable as contain- ing one of the favorite palaces of Queen Victoria. The town of Hockenhull, adjacent to the residence of Lord Byron, was named in honor of a member of this family.

G EORGE Z. TAYLOR, a native of this county, and known to a large proportion of its leading citizens, was born at the old homestead of his parents in Township 14, Sept. 20, 1847. Ile there spent his boyhood and youth, re- ceiving such educational advantages as the schools of that time afforded, and also under careful parental training acquired those habits of industry which have been the secret of his success, for he is without question one of the most successful and enterprising men of Central Illinois. ' Ile owns and occupies a fine homestead, 170 acres in extent, where he has good buildings, and everything about

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him to make life pleasant and desirable. lle is in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness, and coming as he does from an excellent family, occupies no secondary position among the leading men of Morgan County. His property is pleasantly located on section 36, and his land has been brought to a thorough state of cultivation, produc- ing in abundance the richest erops of Central Illinois.

George Taylor, the father of our subject, was a native of llarrison County, Ky., and married Miss . Polly E. Tucker, who was born and reared not far from the childhood home of her husband. They were married in their native State, and settled in Shelby County, where they lived about three years. They came to Illinois in 1831, settling in the southeast corner of what is now Township 14, where the father constructed a good farm, and where he and his estimable wife spent many years. Finally retiring from active labor they removed to Jacksonville, where the death of the father occurred Sept. 20, 1886; the mother is still living. They had sojourned happily together for a period of fifty-nine years, two months and two days, and reared a family of ten children, all of whom are living, and making their homes mostly in Illinois. They were named respectively: Maxamilia, Edward A., Benjamin 11., William P., Cassabianea R., Phebe J., Sarah F., George Z., our subjeet; John Il. and Shelby D.

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Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 25

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