USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 31
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
After a sojourn of eight years in the Hawkeye State, Mr. Schwieger reerossed the Father of waters, and coming to this eounty, was thereafter employed as a farm laborer by the month for five or six years. With genuine German prudenee and forethought, he had saved what he could of his earnings, and in the spring of 1882, purchased 160 aeres of land in township 14, range 10. that which constitutes his present homestead. Since that time he has given
his close attention to the improvement of his prop- erty, and the enltivation of the soil. He has ereeted a good house with a barn, and the other necessary structures, and has established a most pleasant home. He operates considerably as a stock-dealer, and is in the enjoyment of a comfortable ineome.
While a resident of Illinois, Mr. Sehwieger was married at Springfield, Jan. 2, 1879, to Mrs. Sophia Wahl. This lady was born in Germany, about 1840, and eame to America with her husband, Mr. Wahl, when twenty-four years old. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Schwieger, she was the widow of John L. Wahl. Both she and her husband are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Schwieger, politieally, is a supporter of Dem- oeratie principles, but as may be readily understood, has very little time to give to publie matters. He is a man prompt to meet his obligations, and oeeu- pies a good position socially and financially in his community.
OHN H. RUSSWINKEL. The Ameriean- born citizens of German ancestry represent some of the best elements in the agricultural distriets, being almost without exception, thrifty, industrious, honest, well-to-do, and thor- oughly reliable. They have been willing to make sacrifiees, and endure hardships and privations. for the sake of future good, and this course in due time invariably brings its reward. The subject of this notice. a son of one of the German pioneers of this eounty, was born Feb. 5, 1858. was reared to habits of industry and economy, and is now eon- fortably established on a good farm of his own, comprising eighty aeres of land on seetion 19, township 16, range 12.
On another page in this volume will be found a sketeh of the brother of our subjeet, George Il. Russwinkel, and mention of the parents, John H., Sr., and Ellen Russwinkel, who are both natives of Germany, and the former of whom emigrated to America probably some time in the fifties. Ile first occupied himself as a farm laborer, then oper- ated on rented land, and finally purchased a farm on seetion 16, township 16, range 12. where he
300
MORGAN COUNTY.
built up a good homestead, and where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away Oet. 12, 1885. Upon his place at the time of purchase, there was a log hut and part of the land had been broken, but a large amount of labor was required in bringing the soil to a fertile condition, and in making the improvements whieli he effected upon it.
The father of Mr. Russwinkel was well known throughout this county for his sterling integrity, likewise his energy and perseverance. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he served as Trustee, and to which he gave liberally of his means. Politically, he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, and in his death the county lost one of her best citizens. John II., our subject, was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and received his education in the district school. As soon as old enough, he was required to make him- self useful about the farm, and remained with his father until he was past twenty-seven years of age.
The 23d of April, 1885, was made memorable in the life of our subject by his marriage with Miss Catherine E. Heitbrink. This lady was born in the Province of Osnabruck, Germany, and came to America with her parents when twenty-one years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Russwinkel there was born one child, a daughter, who died in infancy. Mr. Russwinkel, like his father and brother, supports Democratie principles, and is a reliable citizen, held in respect by all who know him.
G EORGE BRAMHAM. In the settlement of Morgan County, a large number of English Yorkshire men have borne no unimportant part. Among them may be most properly men- tioned Mr. Bramham, who has occupied his present farm for a period of twenty-three years, having set- tled upon it in the year 1866. It was then a tract of land upon which no improvement had been made, and the story of his experience in connee- tion therewith is similar to that which has been re- peated many times in these pages. Suffice it to say that he began the battle of life without means, and by his own persevering industry has arrived at an enviable position, socially and financially. His
farm embraces 150 aeres of land located on seetion 8, township 15, range 11; the wife inherited the land from her father, and there they have a liome- stead which there is no doubt will form for them a safe shelter in their declining years.
Our subject emigrated to America in the fall of 1860, when a young man of twenty-two years. hav- ing been born Nov. 3, 1838. IIe grew to man's estate in his native Yorkshire, and was mostly eu- gaged in farming pursuits. Ile is the offspring of pure English stock, being the son of Richard and Sarah (Stocks) Bramham, who were natives respect- ively of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Stocks family removed to Yorkshire when the mother of our subject was a mere child, where she was mar- ried and where she lived until after the death of her husband. She then came to America and bought a farm in this county, where she lived until a short time before her death, when she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Rachel Lake, until her de- cease, which occurred Nov. 18, 1887. She had then attained to the advanced age of eighty-four years, but retained her mental and physical strength in a marked degree.
Four sons and seven daughters comprised the household of the parents of our subject, all of whom lived to become men and women, and six of them came to America and settled in this county. George, our subject, arrived here in the fall of 1860. He was married November, 1864, to Mrs. Mary (Alli- son) Thomason. Mrs. Bramham was born in this county. and is the daughter of Adam and Mary (Norwood) Allison, who were natives of Yorkshire, England, and who upon coming to America in their youth, located in this county, where they formned the acquaintance which resulted in their marriage. Mr. Allison took up land and engaged in farming, and became well-to-do, leaving at his death a fine property. His decease took place at the old homestead near Lynnville, where he was held in high esteem by the best people of his com- munity. He was a man of more than ordinary in- telligence, the friend of education and progress, and a useful and prominent citizen. Coming here in the twenties, and before the winter of the deep snow, he was a witness of the extraordinary changes which occurred, and performed his full share of the
301
MORGAN COUNTY.
labor attendant upon the building up of the town- ship, and forwarding the enterprises ealeulated for the general good. Hle established the first saw and grist-mill in this section of the country, and prob- ably the first in the State. The wife and mother passed away some years prior to the decease of her husband, she also living to be aged.
Mrs. Bramham was the second ehild and daugh- ter of her parents, whose family consisted of five children. One died quite young, and the other three arc married, have families, and are comfort- ably established in life. Mrs. Bramham was first married in this eounty, to William Rawling, who was a native of England. Of this marriage there were born a son and a daughter, William and Mari- etta; her seeond marriage with William Thomason, resulted in the birth of three sons-James, Allison, and Charles, all of whom are married, have families and are living in this eounty.
To our subjeet and his estimable wife there have been born three children. The eldest, Arvilla, is the wife of Elmer E. H. Ticknor, and they have two children, Leroy E., and Arthur E. Mr. Tick- nor assists in the operation of the Bramham farm. The two younger daughters, Ida and Anna, remain with their parents. Both our subject and Mr. Ticknor vote the straight Republiean ticket.
W ILLIAM THIES. Some of the most suc- eessful and thrifty farmers of Morgan County, are sons of the Fatherland, who erossed the Atlantic, many of them poor in purse, to establish for themselves a home in the un- developed West. They labored early and late as tillers of the soil, and were, as they deserved, al- most uniformly prosperous. Among them the sub- ject of this notice oecupics no secondary position. IIis career has been signalized by industry, honesty, and frugality, and he is now the owner of a good farm of 120 aeres, pleasantly located on seetion 7, in township 14. At the beginning he liad in eom- mon with his neighbors many difficulties to en- counter, but he persevered, and after a few years found himself upon solid ground, and sitting under his own vine and fig tree, surrounded by all the com-
forts of life. He was very fortunate in his selce- tion of a life-partner, Mrs. Thies being in all re- speets the suitable companion of her husband, one who has encouraged him in his worthy ambitions, and who has never evaded any known duty. They are recognized as people of more than ordinary in- telligenee, and are valued accordingly in their com- munity.
Our subjeet was born in the Grand Dnchy of Mecklenburg-Sehwerin, Ang. 1, 1836, and is the eldest child of Frederick and Fredrieka (Engle- bright) Thies, who were natives of the same place as their son, and where they both spent their entire lives, the father dying in 1863, and the mother in 1864. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, and those beside our subjeet, are now in Germany. William was reared to manhood in his native Province, and trained to farming pursuits, which he followed there until a man of thirty-two years.
In 1868, Mr. Thies set out for America, accom- panied by his wife and one ebild. They landed in New York, and came directly to this county, lo- cating in Jacksonville, where Mr. Thies engaged as a butcher, and where they remained about three years. He then rented a farm of the late Samuel Wood, for the same length of time, then removed to another in that locality upon whielt hie operated for a period of twelve years. By this time liis ae- eumulations enabled him to purchase his present farm, of which he took possession in January, 1886. He has good buildings, and all the conveniences for carrying on agriculture and stock- raising in a profit- able manner. He has made it the rule of his life to live within his income, and meet his obligations when they became due. He has consequently been enabled to each year lay aside something for a rainy day, and ensure himself against want in his old age.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thies there have been born six children, viz: Frederiek T., William L., Samuel C., Jolin C., Charles J., and Anna L. The eldest is twenty-seven years of age, and the youngest nine, and they are all at home with their parents, except Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Thies are members of the Lutheran Church, and our subject, politieally, is a decided Republican. He is the friend of education,
302
MORGAN COUNTY.
freedom and equality, and occupies no secondary position among the reliable elements which form the basis of all society.
Mrs. Louisa (Germann) Thies was married to our subject in Germany in January, 1864. Her parents were John and Johanna (Beindehnieder) Germann, who emigrated to America in August, 1868, and set- tled in township 14, this county. The father was engaged in farming, and departed this life, Jan. 10, 1880. The mother is still living, at an advanced age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Thies was one of the younger. She was born Aug. 27, 1840, and remained a member of her father's household until her marriage.
G EORGE R. ANDERTON, a retired mer- ehant, was born in Lineolnshire, England, Oet. 11, 1822. Mr. Anderton was the sixthi ehild of a family of seven children, and when he beeame of age learned the saddler's trade, a busi- ness he did not like. In 1847 he accepted a posi- tion on the North Midland Railroad as shipping clerk, which offiee he filled satisfactorily until he resigned to emigrate to America. Ile sailed from Liverpool in November, 1853, on the sailing- vessel "Warbler," and was on the ocean .seven weeks, when he landed in New Orleans, from which place he proeceded to Cairo, and from there to St. Louis, finally making his way to Lyunville, arriving at that place in February, 1854. Here he
engaged in the business of general merchandising, but the financial erash of 1857 caused him to fail in business, after which he took a situation with John Gordon & Co., managing their extensive business until 1877, when his health failed him and he was obliged to retire from active business pur- suits. Since coming to America he has made one trip to England. In Mareh, 1851, he married Miss Luey S. Craggs, the youngest daughter of Benja- min Craggs, Auditor of Accounts of Sheffield, Eng- land. She was born at the latter place, and died at Lynnville, in April, 1870. She was the mother of thirteen children, all of whom died in infaney, except Maria Elizabeth, who was born in Sheffield, England, June 27, 1853, and is now the wife of
William E. Gordon. This marriage oeeurred Mareh 3, 1872, at Lynnville.
Cornelius Anderton, the father of George R., was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and by trade a saddler and harness maker. He died, at the age of sixty-five years, in his native country. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria Walker, was the only daughter of William Walker, a well-to-do saddler in the city of Lineoln, England.
As has been before stated, Mr. William E. Gordon married Maria E., a daughter of George R. Ander- ton. His father, William Gordon, was a native of Ohio, and when a young man came to Illinois, where he engaged in farming, after which he took took up the pork-packing business. The parents of William E. are still living, in Seott County, and had five children: William E., John I., of Ma- eon County ; Henry L., David O., and James B .; they are all married and farming for themselves. William E. Gordon was born at Lyunville, Mor- gan County, June 26, 1850. He was reared on a farm, and attended the distriet sehools until 1867, at which time he went to Bloomington and took a course of instruction in the State Normal School, remaining there for one year. At the age of twenty-two he eommeneed farming on his own aceonnt with sixty aeres of land, which he owned, until he bought his present place, which consists of a half seetion, nearly all under cultivation. His farm is well improved, has fine fenees and is well watered, the Rocky Branch eoursing through it. His house is large containing fifteen rooms, while the barns and other outbuildings are in keeping with the entire place. Mr. Gordon takes special pride in raising graded eattle and Poland-China hogs. lle is a feeder of cattle, which he ships to different markets. Ile is the father of seven ehil- dren: Lucy C., George H., Sarah E., Edith M., Walter (who died at the age of two years), Allen ()., and Gertie. Politieally, he belongs to the Union Labor party. As a business man and farmer lie ranks high, and as a neighbor is well liked.
George R. Anderton has been President of the Board of Trustees and Justice of the Peace. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M. Blue Lodge at Lynn- ville, and the Chapter at Jacksonville. He is a Republican in politics, stanch and firm, and for
303
MORGAN COUNTY.
twenty years was Depnty Postmaster at Lynnville. When Mr. Anderton was in business he was counted as one of the shrewdest men in this sec- tion of the country, and, were it not for physical infirmities, he would now take his plaee as an ener- getic and reliable business man.
OHN C. HAMILTON. This gentleman who prior to his decease oeeupied a prominent position in the county came to this State from Kentucky in the year 1834. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for many years, when he sold his farm and embarked in business as a mer- chant in Jacksonville. In this he was so suecess- ful as to be able to retire and enjoy a l rge eom. peteney that had aceumulated as the result thereof, and for the latter thirty years of his life was free from the active engagements of business. Ilis resi- denee, which is situated on South Main street, Jacksonville, was the center of hospitalities and gatherings of a social nature that were always most enjoyable.
Mr. Hamilton was born in 1797, and at his death, which occurred on the 10th of March, 1880, was eighty-three years of age. He was a highly re- spected member of the Masonic fraternity, and in religions circles was much esteemed. Ile was a man of pronounced Christian eharaeter and eon- sistency. For several years he was the local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, eon- tinning to sustain that relation until his death. For many years he was engaged in the interests of the Church, preaching at points distant widely from each other, and aeeounting no difficulty too great to prevent his filling an appointment when onee it had been made. He was always well received as a preacher, aud it was gratifying to know that his labors were a pronounced suceess.
Upon three different occasions the subject of our sketch stood before the altar of Hymen. He was first married to Miss Mary Reece, who pre- sented him with five children, who received the fol- lowing names: Susan, John S., Mary, Reeee and Alphonso. He afterward hecame' the husband of Miss Sarah Smith of Kentucky. This union was
fruitful in the birth of ten children. In 1858 he was united in wedlock to Mrs. Eliza Glenn. This lady is a native of Harrison County, Ky .. and was born in the year 1815. She is the daughter of George and Susan ( Barrett) Reece. The name of her first husband was James B. Glenn, who prior to his decease, was a prosperous merchant at Mon- ticello, Mo., but a native of the Blue Grass State, They were the parents of the following children: Sarah Ellen, who became the wife of John Smed- ley; James Irvin, Henry H., and George R., who received in marriage the hand of Miss Mary Buck- ingham of Jacksonville. Mr. Glenn died in the year 1847 at Monticello, Mo.
Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation she has sustained for about sixty years. In all works of religious enterprise or charity she is a generous supporter. She still continues to reside at the beautiful home referred to above, situated on South Main street. She holds a very high place in the esteem of the people of Jacksonville, more especially in the re- ligious and social circles, where she is best known, and where her many virtues are most appreciated.
NDREW MCFARLAND, M. D., LL.D., proprietor of Oak Lawn Retreat, an estab- lishment for the treatment of the insane, has for sometime been favorably known to the people of Morgan County, as being a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and as one taking a deep interest in that unfortunate class of people, whose treatment, to be successful, requires extraordinary tact and skill. A native of Coneord, N. H., he was born July 14, 1817, and is the son of Rev. Asa McFarlaud, D. D., of the Congregational Church. The latter was a native of Massachusetts, and the family, as the name readily indieates. came originally, and at a very early date in the history of this country, from Seotland.
The subject of this notice reeeived his literary education at Dartmouth College, and in 1840 was graduated from Dartmouth Medieal School. For a short time after receiving his diploma he prac- ticed medieine in a general way, and then being
304
MORGAN COUNTY
appointed Superintendent of the New Hampshire Insane Asylum, he turned his attention to this branch of the medieal profession. From that date to the present time the sueeessful treatment of that peculiar malady, known generally as insanity, has been the aim and purpose of his life. In 1850 he resigned his position in the 'New Hampshire Asy- lum to fortify himself for his appointed work by a year of travel among the hospitals of Europe. Soon after his return to Ameriea he came to Jacksonville to enter upon the duties of his position as Superin- tendent of the Illinois Insane Hospital-a position which he filled with distinguished ability for a period of sixteen years.
In 1872 Dr. MeFarland established Oak Lawn Retreat-so named from its beautiful location upon an elevated plateau, one and a half miles from Jacksonville Square, shaded witli forest oak, ear- peted in its season with blue grass, drained by nat- ural ravines that make their way to a little ereek or branch some hundreds of yards to the west of the buildings, and abundantly supplied with the purest of water from natural springs, or raised by wells from fountains which lie deeply hidden beneath ledges of solid limestone. The first building ereeted, with a capacity of thirty patients, was destroyed by fire in 1887. The present one has a capacity of fifty patients. It was originally de- signed for males only, but the destruction of the first rendered an inerease in size necessary, to the end that both sexes could be comfortably eared for.
The faet that this excellent institution is always crowded to its limits, is abundant indieation of its popularity as an asylum for the most unfortunate of earth's ereatures. It also attests the skill of the gentleman at the head, who has devoted his life to this benevolent work. The man who brings to this great work a superior equipment and makes it the altar upon which he places the studied and eom- bined efforts of a lifetime, is one who deserves the commendation of all, and, like Abou Ben Adhem, ean write his name as a lover of mankind.
While abroad Dr. McFarland wrote a series of letters, which were published from time to time in the periodieals of the day, and their popularity was sueli as to warrant their compilation and' pub-
lication in a neat volume, which came out in 1852, under the euphonious title of " Loiterings Among the Seenes of Story and Song." The last eopy re- tained by the author was destroyed with his build- ing in 1887. Aside from his reputation as an expert in the treatment of insanity, the Doetor is well-known to the medical profession of the eoun- try as a reliable general physician and surgeon. He has been onee President of the Illinois State Medieal Society, and three years President of the American Society of Superintendents of Insane Hospitals.
Dr. MeFarland was married at Gilmanton, N. H., soon after reaching the twenty-first year of his age, to Miss Annie H. Peaslee. He is the father of two sons-George C. and T. F., both of whom are edu- eated physieians.
OHH V. RICHARDSON, one of the practical and sueeessful farmers of Morgan County, lives on seetion 28, township 15, range 11, where he owns and operates a magnificent farm, and lives in one of the finest residenees in his township. The barns are in keeping with the rest of the place. Everything around his farm denotes the intelligence of the owner, and is an object les- son of American independenee.
Mr. Richardson has lived on his farm sinee 1862, and has made most of the improvements that now adorn the place, sinee he purchased it. He owns eighty aeres in another part of the township also. He was born not far from Franklin, this eounty, on Feb. 14, 1840. His father Vineent Riebardson, whose biography appears in another part of this volume, is one of the prominent men of the county. He came here in 1830, and was one of the men who origin- ally bought his land from the Government. IIe was born in Yorkshire, England, and was married to Miss Lydia Rawlins, who died some twenty years ago. He married a second wife, who is still living.
John V. Richardson was the second child and eldest son of a family of five sons and two daugh- ters. As has been before stated, he was reared and educated in this county, where he was married,
305
MORGAN COUNTY.
near Lynnville, to Miss Mary Combs. She was also a native of Morgan County, and was born May 8, 1851. She is the daughter of Richard Combs, who was a native of Devonshire, England. After her father attained his majority, he came to the United States, where he married his wife, who died when she was in the prime of life, and when her daugh- ter, Mrs. Richardson, was quite young. After her death, Mrs. Richardson was reared by her father, who is yet a resident of Lynnville, this county, where he has retired from active life, and is living with his second wife.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, they took up their residence on their present ele- gant farm, and in 1879 returned to the native land of their parents, in England. They returned with new ideas of the early life of their parents, and how it was spent in England. Mrs. R. died at her home Dec. 7, 1887. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in that faith. She was a woman of fine character, and well be- loved by all who knew her. She left four chil- dren, the following of whom are deceased: Walter C. aged four years. IIe was accidentally killed by swallowing carbolic acid: Minnie B., died aged eighteen years. She was a bright and intelligent young lady. The two living children arc John W., who is fifteen years of age, and Annie S., seven years old. Mr. Richardson is a Republican, and takes great interest in the welfare of his party, and though he is not what may be termed a politician, he is always foremost in the councils of his party. Ile belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in religions matters, displays the same enthusiasm that he does in secular affairs.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.