Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 30

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 30
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 30

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The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio, Oct. 15, 1830, and as we have seen was reared on the farm where he still makes his home, having been a mere infant when his parents brought him here. In the years that have passed since he at- tained man's estate his energetie and persistent toil have brought him due reward in the handsome property that he has accumulated. Ilis farm com- prises 480 acres of choice farming land, well fenced, and provided with an exeellent set of well- appointed buildings and with an ample supply of modern machinery for various agricultural pur- poses. During the last few years he has made a speciality of rearing Percheron horses of fine breed, and he has some fine blooded horses of that blood, among which we may mention, Arthur, registered No. 5,546; and Frank, registered No. 6,520, a fine gray, imported from France, foaled April 25, 1885, and brought to this country by M. W. Dunham in 1886.

In the month of May 1868 Mr. Phillips and Miss Margaret E. Berry were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, and in their pleasant home five chil- dren have blessed their wedded life, all of whom are members of the household yet, as follows- William H., Spencer L., Charles E., John II., David E. Mrs. Phillips is a daughter of William and Margaret (Sharp) Berry of this township. She is in every respect all that a true wife and devoted mother can be, and all who come under her influ- ence liold her in high estimation. In her the Meth- odist Episcopal Church finds one of its most valued members.

During the many years that Mr. Phillips has lived in this county as a boy and man he has made

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an extensive acquaintance, and all who come in contact with him either in a business or social way unite in testifying to his integrity of purpose and never failing honesty in action. In all the years of his manhood he has walked the undeviating path of honor, justiee and right, and is looked up to with respect by all in the community. Ile is one of the influential members of the Baptist Church, and always actively cooperates with his pastor and fellow-members in all its good work. He may be said to have inherited his political beliefs from his Democratic ancestry, and ever stands firmly by his party in success or defeat.

C OL. WILLIAM J. WYATT, a veteran of two wars and the hero of many a thrilling event, is one of those rare characters which we meet here and there, and whose history is filled in with experiences which if collected and properly illustrated would fill a good sized volume. He is a self-made man in the strictest sense of the term, one whose early life was bare of opportunities, but who, by the very force of his will and his am- bition, has made for himself a name and a position among men. After the close of the late Civil War he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, im- proved a good farm in this eounty and aeeumu- lated a competency. This farm, 240 aeres in ex- tent, he still owns, but in 1885 rented it to other parties and wisely retired from active labor. Al- though his experiences have been great and many, he is not by any means aged, having been born Oct. 28, 1825. Hle is a native of this county, his boyhood home having been at his father's home- stead in township 15, range 10.

It may be well before proceeding further to glance at the parental history of the Colonel, whose father, John Wyatt, was a native of Culpeper County, Va., and was born in 1796. Hle lived there until attaining his majority, then moved to Ken- tucky and married Miss Rebecca Wyatt, who, al- though bearing his own name, was no relative. They sojourncd in the Blue Grass regions a few years, and until after the birth of one child, then removed to Madison County, this State. Here John

Wyatt purchased a farm, and in due time became a stoek-dealer of no small proportions. In 1821 he again changed his residence, this time eoming to this county, and purchased a farm five miles south- east of Jacksonville. He lived there until 1839, then abandoning the active labors of life, retired to Franklin Village where he spent his last years, passing away in 1849.

The father of our subjeet was a man of much foree of character, and made his influenee sensibly felt in his community. Besides occupying other positions of trust and responsibility, he served in the Illinois Legislature two terms when the capital was at Vandalia, and was a Lieutenant in Capt. Samuel Mathews' company in the Black Hawk War. The parental household was completed by the birth of eleven children, all of whom are de- ceased with the exeeption of the youngest daughter and our subject. The first mentioned, Sarah, was first married to Shelby M. Burch who died, and by whom she became the mother of two children; she is now the wife of Francis M. Scott of Kentucky who is now a retired farmer, making his home in Franklin. Mrs. Scott is the mother of five chil- dren, namely : George, Henry, Elizabeth, Mattie and Sarah.

George Scott married Miss Mattie Easley of San- gamon County and is farming in the vicinity of Franklin, this eounty; Henry also married a Miss Easley; Elizabeth is the wife of William Eador; Sarah Wyatt is the wife of William Dodsworth. To Mr. and Mrs. Burch there were born two chil- dren-John B. and Mary Ann. The son married Miss Helen Rice of this county, is a farmer and has one son, Fred; Mary Ann is the wife of Harry C., Woods, a farmer of this county, and they have a son, J. W.

The subject of this sketch, while a resident of Morgan County was married, Sept. 28, 1848, to Mrs. Eliza A. (Kellar) Williams; this lady is the daugh- ter of William Kellar of Pennsylvania, who with his wife died when Eliza was a child, and upon reaching womanhood was first married to David Williams, by whom she became the mother of two children, the eldest of whom, John C., married Miss Jennie Farrell of this county and is the pres- ent County Clerk, living in Jacksonville. The

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daughter, Ellen, is the wife of Samuel P. McCul- lough, Deputy County Clerk.

To the Colonel and lils wife there have been born three children. The danghter. Mary A., is un- married and remains at home with her parents; James W. died June 10, 1861: George II., was first married to Miss Molly Dodds, of Sangamon County, and who is now deceased. The second wife was Miss Nellie Lambert of New York State. They live on a farm near Franklin, and have two children-Mary L. and George W.

Cal. Wyatt received a very good education, and this with his natural ambition and qualities of reso- lution and perseverance comprised the capital with which he started out in life. When about twenty years of age he was called out with others to sup- press the Mormons in Hancock County, this State, and spent the fall and winter there, returning home on the 14th of March. In the meantime he had been made First Lieutenant. In June, 1846, lie enlisted to go to Mexico as Captain of Company G, Ist Illinois Infantry, the regiment being under the command of Col. John J. Ilardin. They were out twelve months, at the expiration of which time our subject received his honorable discharge, June 17, 1847, at Camargo, Mexico. He still has the muster-out roll of his company in his possession, and he as well as his friends occasionally derive much satisfaction in re-examining the old relic.

After his return from Mexico, Col. Wyatt en- gaged in farming, and as a stock-dealer in town- ship 14, range 9, until the outbreak of the Civil War. In due time he was appointed by Gov. Yates of Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 101ft Illinois Infantry. The regiment was inustered into service at Jacksonville, Sept. 2, 1862, and soon thereafter reported for duty at Cairo. Thence they repaired to Davis Mills, Miss., where they joined the forces of Gen. Grant, and after passing Lumpkins Mills were sent back to Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 1, 1862, for post duty. On the 20th of December following a part of the regiment was captured by the Rebel Gens. Van Dorn and Jackson, and was sent to Benton Barracks near St. Louis, Mo .. for exchange.

In the meantime Col. Wyatt, together with his soldiers had been subjected to great hardships on

account of which his health was undermined. and he was obliged to accept his honorable discharge April 13, 1863, receiving from the army surgeon a certificate of physical disability. lle then returned to this county and resumed the peaceful occupa- tions of civil life, confining himself to the oper- ations of his farm. He cast his first Presidential vote for Taylor, and since that time has been true to the Democratic principles. 1Ie has exercised no small influence among the conncils of his party in this section, and indeed he is a man who, wherever he has been, has left his mark. While not particu- larly aggressive, he is still fearless in the defense and the expression of his principles, and is oue whose opinions are involuntarily looked up to and respected. He has served on the Grand and Petit juries, and is a man generally well read and well informed, and of more than ordinary intelligence. Both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they contribute a liberal support. Their daughter, how- ever, is an Episcopalian in religious belief. The family residence in Franklin is a neat and comfort- able structure, and within its hospitable doors are often gathered the hest elements of the commimity representing its culture and refinement, and the Colonel and his family occupy a leading position therein.

ACOB W. STRAWN is a young man whose elear, well-balanced intellect, and practical knowledge of farming in all its branches, with his ability to do well whatsoever lie undertakes, have already gained him a high place among the substantial members of his calling in Morgan County, and give promise of a bright future. Ile has an excellently improved farm of 120 acres on section 31. township 16, range 9, in one of the richest agricultural regions in this part of the county, all under a high state of culti- vation and capable of producing large crops. It is fenced, and everything about the place is neat and orderly, denoting system and industry on the part of the owner. Ile has recently erected a hand- some, commodious frame house, and has a substan- tial set of farm buildings to correspond. Ile has

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his farm well stocked with cattle, horses, and hogs of good breeds, as he carries on general farming.

Mr. Strawn is a son of Isaiah Strawn, a pioneer of the county (of whom see sketeh on another page of this volume), and he was born and reared on the farm where he now makes his home. He was given a liberal education, and after leaving the local school was sent to Jacksonville to pursue his stud- ies in the business college. Ile was a elose student and stood high in his classes and left eollege with honor to himself and credit to the institution. Ile wisely concluded that a good business edueation would profit him as much in agriculture as in any other voeation, and having a natural taste for that ealling hc adopted it, and is pursuing it with the sueeess before remarked.

The marriage of our subjcet with Miss Jennie, daughter of Richard Lambert, of Jacksonville, was consummated May 22, 1877. Into their pleasant home six children have been born to them, four of whom are living, as follows: Josiah died at the age of fourteen months; Jacob, Julius, Elizabeth, Lam- bert (deceased), and Harry. The pleasant, roomy home of our subjeet and his wife is tastefully fitted up, and is rendered attractive to their many friends by the open-hearted hospitality so cordially ex- tended hy the amiable hostess and genial host.

Mr. Strawn stands well in the estimation of the people among whom he has always lived, and who have watched his career with friendly interest. He is gifted with foresight, firmness and taet in a large degree; his life is guided by principles of truth and honesty, and he is an honor to the citizenship of his native township.

D R. LOUIS A. MALONE, junior member of the well-known medieal firm of Pitner & Malone, enjoys with his partner a fine prae- tiee in Jacksonville and vicinity. He is a young man a little over thirty years of age, having been born May 14, 1858. Harrodsburg, Monroc Co., Ind., was his native place, and his parents were Dr. David R. and Julia C. (Yerkes) Malone, na- tives respectively of Owensville, Ill., and Pennsyl- vania. Dr. Malone, Sr., was a highly educated gen-

tleman, a graduate of Yale College, and of the Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. He eom- menced practice when a young man in his native State, and eame to Jacksonville in 1863. Ile only followed his profession four years in this eounty, re- turning to Indiana in 1867, and loeating at Edens- burg, where his death took place in 1883. The mother is still living and makes her home with her son in Jacksonville.

Dr. Malone is the deseendant of Irish ancestry on the father's side, and on the mother's of good old Holland stoek, which erossed the Atlantie probably during the Colonial days, and settled in Pennsyl- vania. To his parents there were born five ehil- dren, four living, namely : Mrs. Alice Morrison, of Iowa; Mrs. Emma MeCurdy, of Indiana; Mrs. Mary Crum, of Cass County, this State, and Dr. Louis A.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were John and Elizabeth (Ilunter) Malone, natives of Kentucky, where they were reared and married. They left the Blue Grass region, soon afterward loeating in the vieinity of New Owensville, Gibson Co., Ind., where grandfather Malone entered 160 aeres of land from the Government. There he re- mained as a tiller of the soil, and with his excellent wife spent the remainder of his days. On the ma- ternal side, the grandparents of our subjeet were Jaeob P. and Huldah (Skinner) Yerkes, natives' of Pennsylvania, and the former a farmer and carpen- ter combined. When leaving the Keystone State, they settled near Evansville, Ind., and the grand- father Yerkes lived only a short time thereafter. There was a large family of ten children, of whom six are living, including the mother of our subject. She was the eighth child. Mrs. Malone is a lady of much culture and refinement, and a member in good standing of the Christian Churel.

The younger days of Dr. Malone were spent mostly in the common schools until he had reached his eighteenth year. He had in the · meantime improved his opportunities, and now eommeneed teaching in Morgan County. Later he entered the Jacksonville High School, from which he was grad- uated in 1877. Hle now supplemented his educa- tion by a three years course of study at Bethany College in West Virginia, and upon returning, re-

ID. encham

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sumed teaching in this county and Cass, being thus occupied three ycars. In the meantime he im- proved his leisure hours reading medicine and by this means prepared himself to enter the Chicago Medical College, and was also graduated from this institution. Later he was installed as physician and surgeon of the Chicago Orphan Asylum during the three months absence of Dr. M. P. Hatfield.

Dr. Malone now returned to Jacksonville, and engaged in regular practice until 1887. During that year he spent three months in the New York City hospitals and Post-graduate schools on special work. He is a member of the Morgan County Medical Society, the Jacksonville Medical Club, and the American Medical Association. Politically, he is strongly Republican, socially belongs to the I. O. O. F., and in religious matters is a member of the Christian Church. He associated himself with Dr. Pitner in the summer of 1885. They form one of the leading firms in their profession in this county.

The marriage of Dr. L. A. Malone and Miss Charlotte Martin, of Newark, New Jersey, was cele- brated at the home of the bride in Newark, Jan. 3, 1888. Mrs. Malone was born on tlie 1st of April, 1864, in Newark, and received a good education, having graduated from the High School at Newark. She is the daughter of Henry C. and Sarah C. (Colie) Martin, who were natives respectively of Massachusetts and New Jersey, and who now reside in New Jersey. Mrs. Malone is a very pleasant and intelligent lady, and is a member of the Christian Church. They have a pleasant home on College Avenue, and enjoy the friendship of a circle of cultivated people. '

L D. GRAHAM, one of the oldest settlers of section 8, township 16, range 12, is a veter- an of eighty. three years, having been born Oct. 2, 1806, in Sussex County, Md. Ilis parents were George and Henrietta (Willis) Graham, the father supposed to have been a native of Ireland, and the mother of England. When about eight - years old the parents, leaving Maryland, emigrated to Ross County, Ohio, where the subject of this notice was reared to man's estatc.

In Ohio, Mr. Graham was first married, Oct. 25, 1827, to Miss Elizabeth Newman, by whom he be- came the father of seven children. Three of these are living ; namely : George W., Elizabeth, the wife of M. F. Andre; and Mattic, the wife of H. F. Hysinger, of St. Louis, Mo. The mother of the these children died Dec. 18, 1871. Mr. Graham con- tracted a second marriage, April 17, 1873, with Mrs. Caroline Looman and of this union there were born , three children-Benjamin F., Matilda and Lorenzo C.

In 1829, Mr. Graham, leaving the Buckeye Statc, came to this county and located on land near the present site of Jacksonville. In 1831, he settled upon his present farm, which was then a wild and uncultivated prairie. He first purchased forty acres from the Government, and the story of the few years which followed, is similar to that of other men, who made their way to the frontier and nerved themselves to endure its hardships and privations. We, of this generation, surrounded by the com- forts of life, scarcely realize the struggles our ancestors were compelled to make in order to leave us this goodly inheritance. The first dwelling of Mr. Graham in this county was a round log-house, with a clapboard roof and a puncheon floor- although for a time the only floor was simply the mother earth. Their present fine residence was erected in about the year 1855 or 1856. During the early days of his settlement in this county, decr and all kinds of game were plentiful, together with wolves and other wild animals. Mr. Graham was prosperous in his labors as a tiller of the soil and gradually purchased additional land. Of this he has given liberally to his children, and he is yet the owner of nearly 400 acres. This property has been accumulated by his own industry and skillful management, as he commenced in life as a poor boy, with nothing to depend upon but his own resources. He had a limited education, but his habits of thought, reading and observation have resulted in his becoming more than ordinarily well informed. He is a Democrat in his political views, but has meddled very little in public affairs, other- wise than serving as a School Director in his Dis- trict. The first school organized in his neighbor- hood was conducted in a cooper-shop, without a

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floor, and lighted largely through the eracks be- tween the boards. It was taught by John Priest. Mr. Graham east his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He is the only man who has the original patent for land entered in the western portion of the county, and which has not been transferred from the original entry, he still hold- ing the original elaim.

A fine portrait of Mr. Graham is shown on an- other page of this volume, and is a valuable addi- tion to a volume which contains many portraits of old settlers, among whom he is regarded with affec- tionate interest. .

AMUEL CROWTHER is a thrifty and in- telligent farmer, living on sections 1 and 2, township 16, range 11, where he owns a good farm of 140 acres. When he eame here the place which he now occupies was heavily wooded, and by hard work he has sueeeeded in making a model farm. Those who have opened farms on the prairie, have but little eoneeption of the labor that is attached to the elearing up of tim- ber land. On the prairie farm the first improve- ments are easily made by breaking the land, but in the timber the trees must all be taken out by the roots, and here the labor is.

Mr. Crowther is a native of Laneastershire, En- gland, and was born in Oldom, March 23, 1833. His father, James B. Crowthers, was also a native of Oldom, and by trade was a batter, an oceupation that he followed in England, and for some years after reaching the United States. His father was mar- ried in his native town, to Charlotte Tyson, who was also a native of the same place. After their marriage, the parents of Samuel, lived in their na- tive town until the births of most of the family. five of whom came to America. On March 16, 1842, they sailed from Liverpool on the ship "Sheridan," and were one month making the voyage, landing in New York, April 16. The family lived in New York City for five years, the father meanwhile work- ing at the furrier business. From New York they proceeded to Danbury, Conn., where they remained three years. They later returned to Brooklyn,

N. Y., residing there for five years, where the elder Crowthers was oceupied at his trade, that of a hat- ter, and in the meantime, Samnel beeame quite profi- eient in making hats. Life in a eity beeoming irk- some, thie father concluded that he would seek his fortune in the West, and accordingly in 1854. he proceeded to Morgan County, where his son, of whom we write had come the previous year. The parents resided here until their death, the father dying at the age of sixty-five, while the mother reached seventy-three years. These people had an excellent reputation in this eounty.

Samuel C. eame to Morgan County without any money or friends. He was obliged to walk a part of the way from. Chicago to Jacksonville, because he had no money with which to pay for a ride, he having the misfortune to lose part of his money while on his way from the East. But he overeame all obstaeles, and aided by his good wife, he has suc- ceeded in making a good home. His wife's maiden name was Naney Ater, who was a native of Mor- gan County, and a daughter of Bossel and Nancy (Thompson) Ater, both of whom are deceased, her father being a man quite old when he died. IIer mother died in 1877, at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Ater, eame here froni Ohio, and were pioneers in this eounty. Mrs. Naney Crowther died at her home, in May, 1879. She was then about forty-five years old, and was tlie mother of seven children, four of whom are de- ceased. Catherine was fatally burned by her elothes catching fire when she was seven years old; Mary J. died in infaney : Edwin died of diphtheria at the age of six years, The others are: Elizabeth A., wife of Henry A. Bridgeman, who is a groceryman at Arenzville, Ill .; Hattie married T. B. Hogan, a farmer of this eounty; Nettie, now deceased, was the wife of William Webb; Laura A. is unmarried.

Mr. Crowther took for his second wife, Mrs. Claek nee Morrison. She was born in Kentucky, and is the daughter of Hige and Elizabeth (De- frease) Morrison. Her father died in Kentucky while her mother and the rest of the family eame to Cass County, in 1862. Her mother spent her last days in Cass and Morgan counties, dying at about four-seore years of age. Mrs. Crowther married her first husband in Kentucky, leaving no children.

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Mr. and Mrs. Crowther are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Crowther is Steward; he has been Class-Leader and Sunday-school Superintendent. Mr. Crowther is a Prohibitionist, and an ardent advocate of temper- anee.

UGUST H. SCHWIEGER. The enterpris- ing German eitizen is to be found all over the West, and in other parts of the United States, pushing his way to the front, and almost without exception, industrious and well-to- do. His descendants have lost nothing by being American-born, and have united with the traits of their substantial aneestry, the adventurous and progressive qualities distinguishing the people of a country which leads the world, and we find among them some of our most reliable and responsible eiti- zens. They have contributed their full share to the development of the rich resources of Illinois, and in Morgan County have particularly illustrated their worth in all the walks of life.

The subject of this sketeh is the son of Frederiek and Louisa (Muller) Sehwieger, who were natives of Germany, and who emigrated to America in 1853. They settled in Erie County, N. Y., where the father died two years later, in 1855. In the meantime August H., our subjeet, had been born in the city of Buffalo, Dee. 2: 1853. His mother after the death of her husband, was married to Mr. Henry Pruss. When our subject wasa boy thirteen years, leaving the vieinity of Buffalo, where he had spent his early life, he went with his mother and step- father to Museatine County, Iowa. They took up a traet of land from which they constructed a good homestead. The mother is still living in Carroll County, Iowa.

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Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois, Part 30

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