USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 35
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 35
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Mr. and Mrs. Calverd, after their marriage, lived on a farm in Missouri for three years, and then Mr. Calverd resumed his trade of a carpenter, which he followed thereafter almost uninterruptedly for a period of fourteen years. In 1886 he established himself as an hotel-keeper at Medora, but on the
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1st of February, 1888, having come to Franklin, opened the house which he is now conducting and wherein he is doing a good business. It is the leading establishment of its kind in the village, and the traveler who once takes refuge under its hos- pital;le roof will be sure to repeat the experiment when traveling this way a second time. One daugh- ter, Ida, born April 11, 1874, completes the house- bold circle of our subject and wife, and is now an interesting girl on the threshold of womanhood.
W ILLIAM BATEMAN is one of the many prominent farmers of Morgan County who have started in life with but little, and now can point with pride to their lands and estates. He was born in Greene County, Ill., June 27, 1831, and was educated in the common schools. Samnel Bateman. the father of William, was born in York- shire, England, Aug. 25, 1804. When a young inan he became imbued with the spirit that has sent many people across the Atlantic in search of better homes and better prospects, and in 1830, he took passage at Liverpool, on a sailing-vessel, and in due time landed at New York. From there he pro- ceeded West, going down the Ohio River, finally reaching St. Louis. Thence he came to Carrollton, Greene Co., Ill., on foot, arriving there with just fifty cents as eapital upon which to make a start in life. Ile worked npon a farm by the month for eight years, until his earnings aggregated enough for the purchase for forty acres of land, which he bought, and building a log cabin, he set to work improving his land and making a home. In a few years he sold this place, and purchased a farm con- taining 120 acres. This he sold also in 1839, and in April, 1840, in pursuance of a desire to better his condition, he removed to Lynnville, Morgan County. He lived in the village for eight years, when his old desire to own a farm came back to him. Ile bought a farm in 1850, after which he sold it, and thereafter resided with bis youngest son until his death, which occurred March 24, 1883. His wife, and our subject's mother, was Sarah Lee. She was a native of Yorkshire, England, and came
with her husband to America in 1830, a brother ac- companying her. In after years the balance of her family eame from England to Morgan County. There . were six children in the family, three of- whom are living: Ann E., Thomas, and William. Ann E. married Samuel T. Sanderson, of Morgan County, who is now a farmer in Caldwell County, Mo. They have six children: William, Nellie, George, Lizzie, Ada and Ford. Thomas married Sarah E. Penrose. He is a farmer, and has six children: Clara B., John, Mary, Jessie, Allie and Charles.
William Bateman, whose name appears at the head of this article, was married twicc. His first wife was Charlotte Lcak, of Morgan County, who died in 1860, aged twenty-one years. They were married in 1858. Mrs. Bateman's parents were na- tives of Yorkshire, England. Two children were the result of this union, one of whom is living, Sarah E., while William died at an early age. Mr. Bate- man's second wife was Sarah A. Massie, a native of Scott County, Ky., and who was born Feb. 5, 1832. Her ancestry was Welsh and English. She came from the old country with her people to Morgan County, in 1836, while but four years old. She is the mother of five children: Jesse T .. Mary J., John L., Annie E., and Flora. Mary married Fred Burnett, of Morgan County, who is engaged in farming. The balance of the children are at home with their parents.
. Our subject commenced life on a farm, working for monthly wages, and was also a laborer for three years. He then rented a farm, continuing in that business two years, and before his marriage, he was the owner of a farm of 100 acres of good land, to which has been added thirty acres. His farm is well stocked, well cultivated, and well managed. He is engaged in a general farm business, and makes a specialty of fattening cattle for the Chicago market. Hle has been eminently suceessful in all his under- takings, and is counted one of the solid men of his neighborhood. This record has come to him by reason of merit.
Mr. Bateman is a sound Republican in politics, and has filled several local offices with the fidelity which has characterized his private business, and his neighbors ascribe to him all the attributes that
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surround the name of a good citizen. The offices which he has held, are Road Supervisor, School Director, and Clerk of the Board, and he has served on the county juries several times. Mrs. Bateman is a member of the Christian Church.
EWTON CLOUD ANTROBUS, who has so long been the skilled blacksmith of Chapin, and in that capacity won golden opinions from those who have sought his services, is a na- tive of the county, and a true Illinoisian. He was born upon the 29th of December, 1821 ; his parents were Thomas and Mary (Wyatt) Antrobus, who were natives of Kentucky, and who came to Mor- gan County in its early days, and were among the pioneers. His father served as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and passed through some most exciting and thrilling experiences.
The subject of our sketch was reared to manliood in this county, and received what education was obtainable, although at that time the facilities for such acquisition were not what they now are, and it is therefore somewhat limited. He began to learn his trade at the age of eighteen, after which he went into business for himself at Winchester. In 1852 he came to Bethel Village, in this county, and there continued in business until 1885, when he removed to Chapin, where he has continued since that time. He has quite a large trade built . up, and is considered a good workman.
Mr. Antrobus was married, on the 3d of Octo- ber, 1854, to Naney J. Sullins. This lady was born on the 6th of October, 1833, in Tennessee, and came to this county with her parents, Larkin and Mary Sullins, in 1834. They decided to locate in Scott County, but when their daughter was about twelve years of age came to Morgan County, where they remained until their decease. The family circle of our subject included four children, only two of whom, however, it was given him to bring to years of maturity, viz: George T. and Edward F. George. T. is a blacksmithı and dealer in agri- cultural implements at Bethel. He married Minnie Turner, and they have one child, a daughter, Mil- dred. Edward F. lives in Chapin; he married
Ella Eagan, and by occupation is a telegraphi oper- ator. The two deceased are William and Josephine. The parents of Mrs. Antrobus had quite a large family, of whom but five survive: Martha, the wife of Burton Funk, of Scott County ; Margaret, now Mrs. Perry Jones, also of Scott County; Thur- inan, of this county; Wesley, who resides in Scott County, and the wife of our subject, who was the youngest member of the family. She was brought up to attend the Methodist Protestant Church, and has always continued an active member.
The subject of our sketch was formerly a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. society; he is a true citizen and of public spirit. He has always been a stanelı Republican, supporting both by his ballot and in- fluence the principles and policy of the party. Ile makes his religious home within the pale of the Methodist Protestant Church, and has filled many important offices connected therewith. In both religious, business, and political circles he is es- tecmed and enjoys the confidence of the community at large, which sentiments are also extended to his family.
RS. NANCY STRAWN, whose home is situated upon section 23, township 15, range 9, of Morgan County, was born in the year 1825, in this county, and is the daughter of John and Fanny (Elkin ) Bradshaw. Her father was a native of South Carolina, her inother of Kentucky. Her father was born on the 5th of January, 1788. He was reared on a farm, and for the greater part of his life continued to follow that calling. He came to Illinois in 1818, and settled near the site of the present city of Jacksonville. He entered a tract of land, to which he afterward added by various purchases until he became the owner of 840 acres, the whole of which he brought to a well-nigh perfect state of cultiva- tion. He continued thus employed until his death, which occurred on the 17th of March, 1846. Then the farm was divided and sold to different persons. During his life he had been quite prominent as a citizen, and was a consistent and energetic member of the Christian Church, to which his wife also was attached. They were the parents of twelve chil-
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dren, the subject of this sketch heing their tenth child. Charles Bradshaw, a leading lawyer of Los Angeles, Cal., is a brother of Mrs. Strawn; the other members of the family are chiefly identified with the agricultural interests of the different places where they reside.
Our subject became the wife of James G. Strawn on the 19th of September, 1844, which relation was happily sustained until his death, which occurred on the 18th of February, 1887. He was the son of Jacob and Mathilda (Green) Strawn, and was the third child born to them. He was appointed Postmaster at Orleans, and continued to hold the same for a number of years, but never attended to the active duties of the office, which were left to the care of a deputy. He was actively engaged in farming, in which he was prosperons beyond the average. He was an npright member of the Church of the Disciples. In political matters he took his stand with the Republicans, and was always ready to act in concert with his party as far as it was pos- sible to do. In the fall of 1845 he moved on the farm still occupied by his wife. It was 320 acres in extent in the beginning, that being the gift of his father, but at his death comprised 2,240 acres. Different portions were given to the chil- dren who reside near the old farm, so that it is now reduced to 370 acres, which are operated under the supervision of Mrs. Strawn. Before its division it was one of the largest farms in the county, and is still well furnished and heavily stocked. «
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Strawn, whose naines are recorded as follows: John A., Jacob II., William S., Charles B., Isah, James G. and Joel G. Isah, the only member of the family deceased, departed this life on the 9th of May, 1874. With the exception of William, who is the proprietor of a mercantile honse in Alexan- dria, all are agrienlturists.
The Strawn family were for several generations identified with the Quaker community, but in later years became Methodists. The father of Mr. Strawn was born in the year 1830, and came to this county in 1831, and was largely engaged in farming and stock raising throughout the greater part of his life. He was one of the leading and influential citizens of the county, and owned land to the extent of
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several thousand acres. His wife took the greatest delight in her home, and endeavored at all times to make it the most desirable place on carth for each of its members. She succeeded in rearing her family thercin with such an appreciation for it as have led them to prize its memory through life. Her husband's death occurred Aug. 23, 1865.
Mrs. Strawn has received only the cdueation ob- tainable in the common schools, but is nevertheless now a well-informed woman, and without detracting in any wise from the dignity of her sex, is abnd- antly capable of superintending the proper working of her farm. She is a worthy member of the Christian Church, and in that cominnnion is held in high regard, and also in the community at large.
G EORGE W. WHORTON. A man has not lived in vain when leaving behind him those who hold his name in loving remembrance. The subject of this memoir, who passed from carth on the 28th of May, 1888, m Concord Precinct, had spent nearly his entire life in this county, whose people had learned to estimate him at his true worth. He belonged to an excellent family, was rearcd to manhood healthful and vig- orous in mind and body, and built up a valuable estate on section 24, township 16, range 12.
Mr. Whorton was born in this county, and was the son of John and Mary Whorton. The boyhood and youth of George W., our subject, passed in a comparatively uneventful manner, nothing of im- portance transpiring until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted in Company B. 101st Illinois Infantry, and did good service as a soldier until the close of the war, participating in many important hattles thereof-being at Bull Run, and marching with Sherman to the sea. During this time he sel- dom missed a roll-call, was never wounded, and, although suffering hardship and privation in con- mon with his comrades, he returned home com- paratively nuharmed.
On the 4th of April, 1867, George W. Whorton was united in marriage with Miss Naomi Ream. This lady was born Nov. 4, 1844, on North Prairie, Cass Co., Ill. She is still living, and ocen-
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pies the valuable homestead left her by her hus- band, and whiel is located as noted in our opening paragraph. Mrs. Whorton is the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Parr) Ream, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky. The Ream family is of Ger- man aneestry. The parents of Mrs. Ream were early settlers of Cass County, this State, and loeated on North Prairie. Their family included six ehil- dren, three of whom survive, namely : Mrs. Whor- ton; Lydia, the wife of James Van Dyke, of Gallatin, Mo., and Maggie, the wife of Anderson Hood, of Cherokee City, Ark.
Mrs. Whorton suffered the loss of her mother when about twelve years old, and was then taken into the family of the late John H. Fox, of this county, where she lived until her marriage, whieli occurred April 4, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Whorton eommeneed their wedded life together in Coneord Precinet, and for years labored with the mutual purpose of building up a homestead for themselves and their children, and giving to the latter advan- tages beyond what they themselves had enjoyed in their youth. They were greatly prospered in their labors, and Mr. Whorton at his death left a valu- able farm of 200 aeres and other property. As an agrieulturist he was thorough and skilful, and as a man and a eitizen possessed all the elements which inspire esteem and respeet among men. He was a man of decided views-one whose opinions were held in respeet -- and gave his support, politi- eally, to the Republican party. In his death Mor- gan County lost one of her best eitizens and most enterprising men. He was not a member of any G. A. R. Post, but, at the request of immediate friends, the funeral was conducted by Chapin Post No. 524, under Commander Anderson, assisted by Camp No. 40, of Chapin, and Camp No. 20, of Coneord. A sermon was delivered by the Rev. A. J. Ives, at the residenee, and was listened to by a large audience which had assembled to show their respeets to the deceased. When the last ear- riage had passed down the drive-way at his late home the hearse had almost reached the cemetery, about a mile distant. The beautiful burial serviee of the Grand Army was then delivered by the officers present. Most all of the brothers and a goodly number of the comrades attended in regu-
lation uniform, and the services were exceedingly impressive. To Mr. and Mrs. Whorton was born a family of five children, only two of whom sur- vive namely : Jessie M. and Graee E. The others are Oscar, Charles W., and a babe unnamed, who died in infancy.
Mrs. Whorton and her two daughters reside at the homestead-a very pleasant place, where they are surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mrs. Whorton and her daughters are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are promi- nent and popular in the social clreles of their community.
C. STEVENSON, Postmaster at Orleans, and a well-to-do farmer of Morgan County, has a fine estate on township 15, range 9, section 27. Here he has earried on agri- culture and stock-raising for a term of forty years. He has been a prominent man in his community, oceupied many positions of trust and responsibility, and has taken an especial interest in educational matters. IIe has been a Seliool Director for more than thirty years, and his voice and influence have ever been heard in the encouragement of those en- terprises caleulated for the general welfare of the community. He is noted for his liberality in all works of charity, and during the late Civil War donated large sums of money to the Union eause.
The subject of this sketeli was born Sept. 21, 1821, in Scott County, Ky., and is the son of Will- iam and Martha (Elliot) Stevenson, natives re- spectively of Westmoreland County, Pa., and Woodford County, Ky. William C. Stevenson was born June 21, 1779, and was the son of James and Jane Stevenson, who emigrated to Kentucky and settled near Louisville, in March, 1780. He followed farming his entire life. Ile was married, Mareh 1, 1803, to Miss Martha, daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth Elliott, at that time residents of Woodford County, Ky. They became the parents of nine sons and one daughter, four of whom are living.
-The parents of our subjeet, with their family of eight children, eame to this eounty in the fall of 1829, and settled five miles east of the then un-
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pretentious village of Jacksonville. There the father labored industriously as a tiller of the soil, and resided until his death, which occurred April 27, 1863, after he had reached the advanced age of cighty-four years. IIc had ontlived his faithful companion a period of seventeen years, the death of the mother having taken place July 27, 1846, at the age of sixty-five years. The birth of both ocenrred on the 21st of June, and both died on the 27th day of the month.
S. C. Stevenson was the seventh child of the par- ental family, and settled in Morgan County in 1829. The homestead now embraces 320 acres of fine farming land, a large portion of which, how- ever, he has divided among his two children. His early school privileges were exceedingly limited, but being fond of reading and study, he has kept abreast of the times, and is a man well-informed and of more than ordinary intelligence. Upon ap- proaching manhood he began making his arrange- ments for the establishment of a home of his own, and was married, in February, 1847, to Miss Evc- line Hill, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of John and Charlotte Hill, natives of Kentucky. She became the mother of seven children, and departed this life at her home in Morgan County, Sept. 14, 1867. She was a lady highly estcemed in her com- inunity, an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and a teacher in the Sabbath-sehool.
Of this union there were born the seven children named respectively, Irvin, Fanny F., Thomas, Charlotte, John W., Cornelia May, and Fred. Fan- ny is the wife of James M. Cully. and lives on a farm in this county ; Charlotte is the wife of George Guthrie, a merchant of Zanesville, Ohio; Cornelia May married Charles S. Rannells, a farmer of Mor- gan County.
Mr. Stevenson, on the 16th of December, 1868, contracted a sceond marriage with Miss Minerva, daughter of IIenry and Love D. (Snow) Bosworth. This lady was the eldest child of her parents, and born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Ang. 25, 1821. Mr. Bosworth was a jeweler, and carried on busi- ness a number of years in Fredonia, N. Y. The parents spent their last days in Fredonia, the mother dying in 1850, and the father in 1859. Mrs. Stevenson, together with our subject, is a
member of the Presbyterian Church, and active in all good works, serving as President of the For- eign Mission Board, is a teacher in the Sabbath- school, and devotes much of her time and energies to the Christian cause. She is a lady of exeellent education, having completed her studies in the famous Mount Holyoke Seminary, in Massachu- setts. She tanght school first at Westfield, N. Y., and later in Jacksonville, this State, in the Presby- terian Female Academy. She was thus occupied several years, and until her marriage with one sub- ject. The residence of the Stevenson family with its surroundings forms one of the most complete homes in the vicinity of the city of Jacksonville.
Irvin Stevenson, ths eldest son of our subject, married Miss Kate Clark, and is farming in this county ; Thomas also following agricultural pursuits, married Miss Alice Snow, of Fredonia, N. Y., but she is now deceased; Jolin W. married Miss Libby Reynolds, of Jacksonville, and is engaged in the practice of law at Aurora, Neb., where he holds a position among the leading lights in the profession ; Fred Stevenson was married Nov. 20, 1888, to Miss Loulic M. Greenleaf, of Jacksonville. Mr. Stevenson, politically, is a stanch Republican, and maintains a warm interest in the success of the temperance cansc.
OHN C. O'NEAL. The farm property of Mr. O'Neal, while in itself of great value, has a peculiar significance to him, as it comprises the old homestead of his father, which was purchased by the latter upon coming to this county during the period of its carly settle- ment. It embraces 200 acres of choice land, which is under a thorough state of cultivation and im- proved with good buildings. Mr. O'Neal carries on general agriculture, but makes a speciality of graded Short-horn cattle, keeping usually in the neighborhood of 100 head. In this industry he has been remarkable successful, and takes pride in the fact that he is able to exhibit some of the finest animals of this description in Central Illi- nois. He also breeds horses and swine, but his
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chief pride is in his cattle, and it probable that in this department of farming he takes the lead in the county.
Our subject was born in this county, Aug. 12, 1845, and grew up amid the peaceful pursuits of rural life. He remained a member of the parental household until marriage. When approaching the thirty-fifth year of his age he was married Oet. 19, 1880, at the bride's home in Clinton County, Mo., to Miss Kate Duval, of that county.
Mr. O'Neal and his bride commenced the jour- ney of life together at the homestead where they now live and where they have since resided. Mrs. O'Neal is the daughter of William T. Duval and wife, who were natives of Kentucky and Missouri. The mother died and the father is still a resident of Missouri. Their family consisted of five children, four of whom are living. The eldest son, Edward, married a Chicago lady, and is the manager of the Electric Light system of Milwaukee, Wis .; Claude, a railroad man, is unmarried and makes his head. quarters at St. Louis, Mo .; Maude married Fred O'Neal, a brother of our subject, who died in 1888, and she now lives in Clinton County, Mo .; she has three children-Ernest, William, and Maude.
The four children of our subjeet and his estim- able wife were named respectively: Duval, Carlton, Fred, and Donald. The father of our subjeet was of Scotch ancestry, while the mother's people came from Ireland. Thomas O'Neal, the father of our subject, was born in Nelson County, Ky., in No- vember, 1794. and lived there until reaching his majority. He served in the War of 1812 with the Kentucky Rangers under Capt. Wickliffe, and was a pensioner under the Aet of March, 1873. He was first married in 1823, in his native county to Miss Langley, who died in 1837. Of their five children four are living: Osear married a Miss Foster, and leaving his native State, was for a long time supposed to be dead, but it has since been learned that he is a resident of Arizona, the owner of a large ranche in the Territory. Melvina became the wife of James Clark, of this county, and they lived in San Francisco, Cal., where Mr. Clark operates extensively as an arehiteet and con- tractor. Ruth is the wife of N. D. Graves, of this
county, and the mother of three children-Thomas, William, and Charles. Bryant married Miss Mary Arrt, of this county, and is now farming in De- catur County, Iowa.
The second wife of Thomas O'Neal was Martha Ratcliff, of Fayette County, Ky., and they were married in 1840. Of this union there were born five children, only one of whom is living-John C .. our subjeet; his mother makes her home with him. The father died in March, 1877.
Our subjeet, politically, votes the straight Repub- liean tieket .. He enjoys a large acquaintance throughout the county, and is classed among its representative men.
HOMAS NAYLOR fully exemplifies what can be achieved by a constant and intelli- gent adherence to any business. llis early training was of that kind that leaves an indelible imprint of the industry, intelligence and integrity of the parents. While he was denied the privilege of an education that would serve him to gain a livelihood, he was not discouraged, but pushed steadily forward, and by his own efforts has made a place for himself on the list of those who have gained a success unaided by rank in society. or political preference. Of such men as he, is a great State constructed, and a nation made strong. All honor is due to the pioneers of this grand country for training their children in a manner so that when they take their place on the stage of action their parts may be well played.
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