USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 33
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Four sons and four daughters comprised the household of Elias Ticknor, Jr., and his estimable wife, of whom Levi F., our subjeet, was the eldest. The children are all living and married, with the exception of one son, Horace. This son, during the Civil War, enlisted in Company K, 27th Illi- mois Infantry, and was killed by the rebels at Mud Creek, Tenn., when about twenty-four years old. He enlisted as a private, and was promoted to Cor- poral. Levi F., like his brothers and sisters, was reared under the home roof, and at an early age taught to make himself useful about the farm. Hle acquired a common-school education, and grew up sound in mind and body, and amply fitted for the future duties and responsibilities of life.
The life of our subject was passed in a compara- tively uneventful manner until his marriage, which occurred in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., at the home of Miss Flora Thompson, who was a native of that county, and was born in 1826. The parents of Mrs. Ticknor were John and Mary Thompson, natives of Vermont, where they were born, reared and married, and whenee they removed to Cattaraugus County. N. Y., while it was still a wilderness. The father took up a traet of Government land. from
which he constructed a comfortable homestead, and there both parents spent the remainder of their days. Their family consisted of five children.
Mrs. Ticknor remained with her parents during her childhood and youth, receiving a common- school education, and being trained to habits of thrift and industry. Of her union with our sub- ject, there have been born four children. The eld- est son. Leroy, married Miss Helen Farnham, and they are living on a farm in Gage County, Neb .; Elmer E. H. married Miss Eva Bramham, and they are living on a farm in township 15, range 11; Alena is the wife of Frank Losee, and they live on a farm near Gibbon, Buffalo Co., Neb .; Ilarry M. is at home with his parents. Mr. Ticknor, politi- cally, is a sound Republican, in the principles of which party he is fully engrafted by the example of his father and grandfather before him, who be- longed to the old-line Whigs.
HARLES S. FRENCII, is one of the repre- sentative farmers and stock-raisers of Mor- gan County. His property is situated on section 2, township 15, range 12. He was born on the 25th of March, 1851, to Samuel (deceased) and Martha (Fox) French, at Chapin, in this county. His father was a native of New Hamp- shire, and was born on the 19th of November, 1813. His mother was a native of Morgan County, Ill. The paternal ancestors of our subjeet were German, while on the maternal side the family is of English deseent.
Samuel French, the father of our subject, emi- grated to Illinois in 1837, came to this county in 1839, and for a number of years lived upon a rented farm near Jacksonville; after which he pur- chased a farm near the present village of Chapin, and settled thercon. Here his widow and younger son still continue to reside. Hle was twice married, the first alliance being with Nancy Thompson, who bore him four children, only one of whom sur- vived, Laura, who is now the wife of John A. Smith, also of this county, The maiden name of his second wife was Martha Fox, who presented him with two children,-Charles S., our subject,
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MORGAN COUNTY.
and Arthur L., who is residing on the homestead near Chapin. At the time of his settlement on the above farm Mr. Samuel French had only about $300 or $400, but by industry, perseverance and practical economy he accumulated 1,200 aeres of land, well-improved and stocked.
The deeease of Samuel French occurred on the 25th of January, 1878. He was a man of firm prineiple, unimpeachable honor, and striet eonseien- tiousness; all his business dealings were marked by such qualities as demanded and obtained the heartiest respect. He was a public spirited man even to the extent of sacrifieing his private interests where they seemed to eonfliet with the publie weal. Ile was one of the representative citizens of the county. For many years he was a thorough Republican, but latterly became a strong Prohibitionist. He was a consistent member and liberal supporter of the Congregational Church, and a friend of every en- terprise of a benevolent or charitable nature.
Charles S. Freneh, the subject of this biography, was reared to manhood in his native eommty. He is the possessor of a good English education, re- eeived in that most excellent and unique institu- tion of the American people, the common school. From his boyhood he was engaged in farming, and made it his ehosen oeeupation in life, supplementing it by stoek-raising. He was married on the 31st of December, 1874, to the lady of his choiee, Adelia Anderson, who was born upon the 15th of November, 1852, in this eounty, and is the daughter of Alexander and Mary (deceased) Anderson, na- tives respectively of Kentucky and Ohio. In the fall of 1830 they emigrated from Ohio, and sinee that time have been residents of this county. Mr. Anderson was elassed among the oldest pioneer farmers in the county, and has always been a staneh friend of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. French are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Rena M., born Jan. 1, 1876; Clarenee A., July 1, 1878, and Laura, born Mareh 25, 1886.
In all politieal matters our subjeet shows himself a eapable and worthy eitizen. He is a true and stanch friend of the Republican party and always votes its ticket. In the spring of 1887 he was elected one of the village . Trustees of Chapin, of
which board he is now President. He enjoys the entire confidenee of the community no less as an official than as a private eitizen. Ile is the owner of 400 aeres of land and his farm is one of the best eultivated in the county. His home also is in keeping therewith, being most admirably situated amid pleasant surroundings, and designed to meet the requirements of the domestie cirele. Both Mr. and Mrs. French are active members of loeal society and are everywhere well received, being held in high regard by the community at large.
The first man to cast a vote for the Free-Soil ticket in Bethel preeinet was Samuel French, the father of our subjeet. He was always a very strong advocate of the temperance cause and active in its interests. His wife is a native of Morgan County, Ill., and was born upon the 18th of January, 1832. Her parents, John and Martha Fox, were natives of England. They came to Morgan County in 1834, and were among the first settlers in the dis- triet. She was one of three children horn to her parents, of whom she and her sister, Mrs. Mary Markillie, of Winehester, Ill., are the only survivors. Mr. Fox was a man of large influence, and for many years was a member of the Method- ist Church, and a local preacher, prominent in po- litieal eireles, but always along the line of reform, good, right and true.
M ARTIN L. ROBINSON is a fine represent- ative of the sons of the old pioneers of Morgan County, who were born and reared within its borders, and for several years have been taking a prominent part in the sustenanee and extension of its marvelous agricultural re- sourees. Itis farm, which is in many respects one of the most desirable in the vieinity, is finely lo- eated in township 16, seetion 13, range 9, and on seetion 18, range 8; is amply provided with conven- iently arranged, suitable frame buildings, including a comfortable dwelling, barn, eorn-eribs, ete., all in good repair, and looking neat and substantial. Ile has built all of these himself, with the exception of a part of the house which stood on the place when it came into his possession.
John & Ballett
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MORGAN COUNTY.
The subject of this brief biography was born in in this eounty, on the homestead where his father still lives. His parents were Harrison and Eliza- beth (Thompson) Robinson, pioneers of this eounty.
Our subject gleaned a very good, practical edu- cation in the distriet school, and in his native township was reared to an independent, stalwart. manly manhood. He early began to make his own way in the world, and when he was only nineteen years old established a home of his own, marrying, Oct. 22, 1872, Miss Lydia, daughter of William J. Lathom, of this county. (For parental history see sketch of W. J. Lathom on another page of this volume.) Mrs Robinson is an excellent housewife and has cooperated with her husband in his work, and has been an important factor in bringing about. his prosperity. In their pleasant home five chil- dren have been born to them-Carrie, Anna, Rhoda, Leroy, and Pearl.
Mr. Robinson is a man of unlimited energy, ea- pacity and expedienee, who has met suecess more than half way and has already acquired a com- petence. His farm of 220 aeres is not surpassed in enltivation and polnt of improvement by any other in the neighborhood, and it yields to his su- perior management abundant harvests. It is ad- mirably adapted to raising stoek, and our subject makes a specialty of feeding all the cattle that he can ship at home to advantage.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson stand high in the social eireles of their community, and they have one of the cosiest and most attractive of homes, where the coming guest is eordially weleomed and the parting visitor kindly sped, in accordance with the laws of true hospitality. They have a fine family whom they are edueating and training to be useful and honorable members of society.
OHN G. BOBBITT. A residence of sixty years in this eounty has made this gentle- man quite well acquainted with its history, and he has also become well known to a ma- jority of its older residents. He was brought here by his parents when a child five years of age, and spent his boyhood and youth amid the primitive
seenes of life on the frontier, practically growing up with the country, with little education, but forming those habits of industry which have served him well iu his struggle with the world. In starting out for himself he had no eapital but his perfeet health and strong hands, together with sound common sense and good judgement, but these qualities have served him well and he is now numbered among the independent farmers who, sit- ting under their own vine and fig tree, have few apprehensions for the future, being in possession of a competence and fortified against want in their declining years.
The property of Mr. Bobbitt embraces 340 aeres of choice land, located on seetions 7 and 18, the residence being on the former. He secured this land in its wild and uneultivated state, and has brought it to its present condition largely by the labor of his own hands. A native of Southern Missouri, he was born Nov. 6, 1824, and eame with his father's family, to this eounty in 1829, when but few white men had ventured to this re- giou from which the Indians had not yet departed. Wild game of all kinds was plentiful but neighbors were few and far between, and the journey to mill and market, performed frequently by the slow means of an ox team, was a trip occupying several days. The little family established themselves in a rude log cabin, which sheltered them for a number of years, and until their means and cireumstanees enabled them to replace it by a more modern dwelling.
William J. Bobbitt, the father of our subjeet. was a native of North Carolina, a millwright by trade and a natural mechanie. He was the son of Southern parents, and his father Isham Bobbitt, served in the Revolutionary War, from the time the feeble band of patriots took arms against a powerful nation until peace was deelared. He died in this county, at the advanced age of eighty- four years old. William J., inherited from his honored sire, his talent of handling edged tools, and became a master mechanic. Upon leaving his native State he located in Kentucky, where in due time he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hale. This lady was a distant relative of the celebrated John P. Hale. After their marriage the parents of our
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MORGAN COUNTY.
subject settled in Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Ky .. where they lived until after the birth of two child- ren. Then hoping to better their financial condition, they sought the Southwest, locating in Madison County, Mo., where the father put up a mill and engaged as a miller and general mechanic until coming to this eounty.
The elder Bobbitt now purchased forty acres of land from the Government and began the construc- tion of a homestead in the wilderness. He lived but seven years thereafter, resting from his earthly labors in 1836, at the age of sixty-onc years. Both he and his wife were members of the Regu- lar Baptist Church. The wife survived her hus- band many years, dying at the age of seventy-six. She was a number of years younger than he, and of their union there were born eleven children- five sons and six daughters, all of whom had reached mature years and married before a death occurred in the family. One son, William C., was waylaid and killed for his money in the gold regions of California. Three sisters are now deceased, all of whom left families. The eldest brother living has now reached the advanced age of over eighty years and the youngest member of the family is past fifty.
The subject of this notice at an early age was taught to make himself useful around the pioneer homestead. In 1848 he established domestic ties of his own, being married to Miss Martha J. Newton, who was born in Trigg County, Ky., Oct. 22, 1827, but who at the time of her marriage (which took place in Brown County, this State.) was a resident of Bloomington, Ill. Her parents, Henry and Mar- tha (Ezell) Newton were natives of Virginia, and are long since deceased. Henry Newton was twice married and was the father of a large family. Mrs. Bobbitt was a daughter of the first wife, who died when comparatively a young woman. She lived with her father and her sister Mary, princi- pally in this county, growing up with a limited cd- ucation. In those early days the plan of the pres- ent school system had not been developed, for the children were scattered over the desolate country at such distances as to prevent a common meeting ground. Only armed men would traverse the lonely pathis leading from one cabin to another.
Mrs. Bobbitt like her husband, was taught to make herself useful at an early age, learning to be a good house-keeper and to perform all those duties neces- sary to the comfort and happiness of the household. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bob- bitt, one son, Louis M., died at the age of thirty- four years. in township 15, range 10. IIe was married to Miss Ellen Busey, who survives him. They had two children-Walter N, and John C. Mary L., became the wife of J. B. Holliday, and they are living on a farm in township 15, range 11. They have four children-Ralf, Mable, Charles L., and Frank S. Hattie E., remains at home with her parents; she is a very intelligent young lady, greatly interested in music. Mrs. Bobbitt and her children belong to the Christian Church. Our subject, politically, was in former years a Demo- crat, but his warm interest in the temperance move- ment has since led him to identify himself with the Prohibitionists.
This volume will be cherished by its possessors, not only on account of its historical value. but al- so as presenting to view the familiar faces of old friends. Among all these the portrait of Mr. Bob- bitt is important, as delineating a pioneer and prominent resident of Morgan County.
RS .. WESLEY MATHERS, who was born at Warsaw, Ky., Sept. 25, 1827, was the youngest of six children of Henry and Millicent (Yates) Yates. These children who have grown up and taken their places in hon- orable walks of life are as follows: Thomas Yates, and Richard, Ex-Governor of Illinois, deceased; Abner, who until recently resided in Jacksonville, but now lives at Yates Centre, Kan., a town platted by and named after him; Martha, the wife of John Seott, of Berlin, in this State: Jane, now Mrs. F. H. Elliott, also living in Berlin; and Millicent our subject.
Henry Yates, the father of our subject, and also his wife are natives of Virginia. In the early days of their married life they emigrated to Kentucky, and resided at Warsaw, where our subject was born. About the year 1830, Mr. Yates came to Spring-
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MORGAN COUNTY.
field, in this State, and remained for a few years en- gaged in mereantile pursuits. Closing up his business he removed into the country in the same county and bought a traet of land and there founded both old and new Berlin. At the time when the Wabash railroad was built the cars were drawn by horses, and thus came into town. There he resided until his death, which occurred in the year 1866. Hle carried on until that time a flour- ishing business in Berlin, and was enabled to give each of his children a good start in the same place. : The first wife of Mr. Yates died at Warsaw; in the same town he was remarried, the name of the lady being Mary Ann Shuff, a native of that place. There was one ehild born to thein to whom the name of Henry was given. He was educated at Jacksonville, and subsequently engaged in business with his father, in which he continued until the outbreak of the War, when he entered the Union service, was commissioned Captain in the 26tlı Regiment, and after some months was promoted to be Colonel of the Regiment. The second wife of Mr. Yates died at Berlin. Subsequently he was married to Miss Elizabeth McMillan, of that town. This lady was a first cousin of his second wife. Of this union there were born six children : William, John, Hawes, (the family name of the great grandmother), Marshall, Mary, and James, who died in infancy. The others came to mature years, but are all dead excepting John, who resides in Allburg, Iowa, and Hawes in Jacksonville.
Wesley Mathers the husband of our subjeet, now deceased, was born on the 17th of October, 1821, near the city of Dublin, Ireland, to Wesley and Mary Ann (Drennan) Mathers, and was the young- est child of four, viz: John, Mary Ann, Eliza and Wesley. Mr. Mather, Sr., came with his family to this country and settled in Lexington, Ky., in 1823, but removed to Jacksonville in the year 1830, and resided there until his death, which oc- curred in 1852. Ilis wife survived him about one year. After the death of his parents, Wesley was married to our subjeet, the event being celebrated on the 30th of May, 1854, at Berlin, Sangamon County. Ile brought his wife to Jacksonville, to his home on East State street, which has sinee that time been the family residence. Of this marriage
one daughter-Marietta, was born on the 1st of January, 1857, and has always lived at home. She graduated at the Methodist Episcopal College, at Jacksonville, 1875, and became the wife of Fred- erick Harvey Rowe, of Poultney, Vt. in the year 1884.
Both families represented in the above have been prominent in the State and have taken an active part in the work of building up that section thereof with which they were more immediately connected. They have always moved in the best of society and enjoyed to an unusual degree the confidence and es- teem of the community, which has been in nowise denied to the lady, who is the subject of this sketelı. Her life, temperament, disposition, education and culture all bespeak and insure for her the highest regard of all, more especially those who have the lionor to know her best. The various trials of her life not excluding her bereavement, have been borne in a spirit of Christian resignation and womanly fortitude, that while exciting the sympathy at the same time won the respectful admiration of her friends.
R OBERT NEWBY owns and operates a fine farm on sections 21 and 22, township 15, range 11. He is engaged in general farm- ing and stoek-raising, and has lived on his present farm sinee 1856. Since he bought his place he has made many improvements on it, and all these show the marks of ingenuity and enterprise. He has made his farm a model one for the purposes of breeding stock.
Mr. Newby has been a resident of Morgan County since the spring of 1833, eoming here from Pennsylvania with his parents. He was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 12, 1827. Ilis parents, Jolm and Hannalı (Green) Newby, were also na- tives of Yorkshire, and there were married. John Newby was a meehanie, having learned a trade while a young man. He was the father of only two children, both of whom were born in England: Robert, and a daughter, Sarah, now deceased, and who died in Maeoupin County, Ill., in 1882. She was twiee married, having children only by her first husband, Mr. Thomas Wheat. In the spring
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MORGAN COUNTY.
of 1831 John Newby and, his wife concluded to try their fortunes in the New World, when they took passage on a sailing-vessel from Liverpool, and landed in Baltimore, after a voyage which covered nine weeks and six days. In Baltimore John Newby was occupied as a house carpenter, but later removed to Pittsburg, Pa. At that time the emigration to Illinois was large. The reputa- tion of its virgin prairies, coupled with the easy manner of procuring land by pre-empting it and after a nominal residence, paying but $1.25 an acre, all these induced Mr. Newby to emigrate to the new State. He accordingly located in town- 15 and range 11, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1881, at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Newby were members of the Methodist Church, and were consistent Christians. Mr. Newby was a Republican in polities. His wife followed him to the grave in 1882, and at the time of her death was about eighty-two years of age.
Mr. Robert Newby, whose name heads this sketch, lived at home until he became of age. and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was first married in Morgan County to Miss Hall, who was born here of English parentage. Her father and mother, William and Mary (Kil- ham) Hall, are both deceased, They died in this county, where they settled at an early day, having emigrated from England. Their daughter, Mrs. Mary Newby, died in 1874. She was a Christian woman, being a member of the Methodist Church, and in which religious organization she took great interest. She left six children to mourn her loss, four of whom are living: Robert F. is at home, and is assisting his father in the management of his farm; Mary E., G. Albert, and Emma J. are also at home; John W. was killed by a horse, which became frightened, and rearing up, fell upon him, injuring Johu so badly that he died five days after the accident. His death occurred in 1885. He was a single man, twenty-eight years of age, and was employed by a cattle rancher. Charles L. married Miss Sarah Moody, and died in this county in 1886. He left a wife and one child.
Mr. Newby took for his second wife Miss Julia A. McGinnis. She was born in Morgan County, in 1851, and lived here up to the time of her mar-
riage. She is the daughter of American parents, both of whom are deceased. She is the mother of four children, whose names follow: Lodella, Walter R., Clarence, and Emily. Mr. and Mrs. Newby are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically, Mr. Newby is a stanch Democrat. He is not what may be termed a politi- cian, but takes interest in public affairs, as all wide-awake and intelligent citizens shoukl.
HOMAS BUTLER, whose place among the prosperons and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Morgan County is unques- tioned, resides on section 21 of township 14. He was born near the ancient city of Chester, England. in the year of 1832. He was the fourth child in a family of eight born to William and Mary (Sheffield) Butler both of whom were born in the same country. His fatber followed the avocation of farming throughout the greater part of his life, and died in the year 1871. His wife survived nn- til the year 1885, and during that time did every- thing in her power to fill the place of both parents to the children that had been given her.
Our subject was raised upon a farm, and from his earliest years fulfilled various tasks of ever increasing magnitude and importance, until he was enabled to take charge of any department of agri- cultural labor; his education was received in the dis- trict schools of England. He camne to this country when twenty-six years of age, bringing with him his wife and family. He had been married in the year 1858 to Miss Sarah Filkin. This lady was born in the year 1833 near Chester, England, and was the fifth of nine children, who comprised the family of Richard and Elizabeth (Fisher) Filkin.
Mr. Butler sailed from Liverpool in the year 1858 on the Ocean Monarch, a sailing vessel that occupied three full weeks in making the trip; partly owing to the rough weather encountered throughout the greater part of the passage, whichi we may rest assured did not greatly assist in mak- ing those who were on shipboard for the first time, feel at home and in no wise added to the comfort of their ocean experiences. Landing at Castle
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MORGAN COUNTY.
Garden, New York City, they came direct to Morgan County, arriving on the 12th of June, 1858. They finally determined to settle in Lynn- ville, in this eounty, and there made their home for about two years, when they removed to a farm at Franklin, and remained for a like period. From that place they went to Woodson and remained for one year.
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