USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 38
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 38
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latter is still living, making her home with her son, in the city of St. Louis, Mo. She was in early life a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later identified herself with the Congregationalists, with whom' she still preserves her membership.
Stephen Paxson, who in earlier days was well known as the pioneer Sunday-school Missionary of Illinois and Missouri, was the son of Joseph and Mary (Lester) Paxson, and was born Nov. 3, 1808, in New Lisbon, Ohio. The name was originally spelled with at. The first representatives of the family in this country were thrce brothers who crossed the ocean from England during the Colon- ial days. Joseph Paxson was born in Virginia, and his wife, Mary, in Maryland. They were married in the Old Dominion, whence they removed to Co- lumbiana, Ohio. They became the parents of seven children of whom Stephen was next to the youngest. The father died while these were young ; her circumstances forced the mother to seek homes for her children among strangers. Each one be- came a child of Him who has made a special prom- ise to the fatherless.
Through his own exertions Stephen Paxon se- cured an education, after mastering untold difficul- cultics, late in life, for he at the age of thirty years was scarcely able to read. He was early imbucd with those sentiments of religion which inclined him to carnest effort in the Master's vineyard, and to strain every nerve in this field of labor. By his untiring energy he established over 1,300 Sunday-schools, by which means 80,000 children were brought under the influence of religious train- ing. He became one of the most effective speakers in the land, holding spell-bound audiences in all the leading cities in the United States as he recited his experiences in the cause to which he had devoted his life.
To Stephen Paxson, Illinois is indebted for her admirable system of county and township Sunday- school organization. Ile was the instigator of the first convention held in the State of Illinois, and frequently assembled mass-meetings in the groves, which were attended oftentimes by as many as 3,000 people. He was never lengthy or tiresome in his discourse; an earnest talk of thirty minutes was usually the time he employed to convince his
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bearers of the necessity and importance of this great work among the young. From his excessive labors grew the present county and township Sunday- school organizations of the Prairie State.
At the seventh annual convention of Illinois Sunday-school workers held in Peoria in June, 1865, Mr. Paxson presented his views on this sub- ject and urged the appointment of a special com- mittee whose duty it should be to take the matter in hand and prosecute it throughout the State. His plan was seconded by D. L. Moody, Mr. Vincent and others, and unanimously adopted by the con- vention. Moreover a fund of $2,500 was raised on the spot. Those interested immediately went to work and never ceased their pious efforts until 102 counties of Illinois were thoroughly organized. The whole life of Mr. Paxson was devoted to religous labors, and thousands of hearts well nigh stood still when the telegram flashed over the country that "Father Paxson" was no more. His death occurred in May, 1881, and the long funeral train which fol- lowed his remains to their last resting place, attested more forcibly than words could do the estimation in which he was held by the people.
The lady now familiarly known in this county as Mrs. Belle (Paxon) Drury was graduated from the Methodist Female College at Jacksonville, in 1863. She continued in that institution as a teacher for a period of four years. Previcus to becoming a student at Jacksonville she had pursued her studies at Mon- ticello Seminary in Godfrey, Ill. Of her union with our subject there were born two children, a son and daughter, Frank E., June 11, 1869, and Editlı, July 16, 1873. The former, a bright and prom- ising young man, has just entered upon his jun- ior year in the college at Jacksonville. Editlı is pursuing a classical course in the Presbyterian Female Academy.
Mr. Drury is identified with the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Deacon, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Drury, politieally, is an earnest Republican, and and has held the office of Township Trustee for a number of years. Mr. Drury first visited the farm which later became and still continues his home, when a lad nine years of age, in company with his uncle and his mother, riding in a carriage once
owned by Gen. LaFayette, and which he rode in while visiting this country in 1824. The General met with the misfortune of having his carriage overturned into the river, and its white silk linings were thereby very much damaged. Taking another, he proceeded on his journey, leaving orders to have his carriage sold, and the uncle of Mr. Drury pur- chased it.
To the parents of Mrs. Drury there were born eleven children, five of whom died in infancy ; six are now living. William is a Presbyterian minis- ter and Superintendent of the missions of the Sun- day school Union for the Southwest, having under his supervision twenty-six men engaged in mission- ary labors. Ile usually spends his winters in the East lecturing in behalf of the mission. The man- tle of his honored father has in a large measure descended upon him. Corey, the youngest brother, and also an evangelist, has for three years been the assistant of Dr. Pentecost in his pastoral work in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. Frederick is a lawyer of note in the city of St. Louis, Mo.
W ILLIAM BURRUS, is a resident of section 2, township 16, range 12, is a native of Overton County, Tenn., and was born April. 26, 1820. Ile was a son of Martin and Eliz- abeth (Davis) Burrus, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. Ilis paternal ancestors were English while on his mother's side they were of Scotch de- scent.
William Burrus was the eldest child, and is probably the oldest living male member of the Burrus family. Ahout the year 1832 in company with his parents, he moved to Morgan County, Ill., and at the time of their arrival here, Jacksonville was but a small hamlet. Then there was but little prospect of there being built a thriving city. llis father died in 1852, and his mother followed him a few years later. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the following survive: William, Susan, wife of Thomas Hodges of Morgan County; Mary, wife of Robert Ray, of Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of Edward Beecham of Menard County, III. William Burrus has lived in Morgan County,
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nearly all his days. His education was received in the early subseription sehools that were in vogue at the time of his youth, but lie has been obliged to rely upon his own efforts to gain an education. About the time that he reached manhood. Illinois was beginning to emerge from the diflieulties that surrounded her in an early day. Her markets were beginning to improve and society was better. It is safe to say that Mr. Burrus has undergone as inany of the privations that surround a pioneer's life as any man in Morgan County. He rode on the first passenger train between Meredosia and Jacksonville, and has witnessed a wonderful devel- opment of the railroad system in Illinois. When he commeneed life there was not a mile of railroad con- strueted in this State, and transportation of all kinds was made by means of horses and oxen. There were a few miles of canal built, but not enough to do the country much good. Threshing machines were unknown then. The grain was separated from the straw by the old primitive methods of the flail and by means of treading it with horses and oxen. Fanning mills were unknown and when that useful machine was first introduced, some people were su- perstitious enough to say that its use should be discouraged, as the only moral and proper way to elean grain was to let the winds of heaven blow the eliaff away by holding it up in the air and allowing it to fall to the ground. Steel plows were then un- heard of, the old wooden mold-board being consid- ered good enough to plow the earth with.
Mr. Burrus settled on his present farm in the spring of 1848, and has lived there continuously since. He first purchased 160 aeres of land whieli was in a very wild condition. He ereeted a log cabin 16x18 and there resided for over twenty years, and in this house he reared the most of his children. The log cabin is still standing on the farm, and is preserved by the owner for the mem- ories that eluster around it. His present residence which is built of briek, is a model farm house and a practical exhibition of its owner's transition from a poor pioneer to a wealthy farmer. He owns 720 acres of land, every acre of which lie earned. His first start was made as a renter. In five years he made 8500 and invested this in land, and from that small beginning he has attained his present proud
distinction. Ile was married Feb. 17, 1842, to Nancy Masterson, daugliter of Samuel and Jane Masterson, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers. of Morgan County.
To Mr. and Mrs. Burrus have been born eleven children, seven of whom are living: Thomas J., Benjamin F., William M., Alexander, Eliza A., Katie C., and Martha JJ .; the four deceased are Eliz- abeth C., John II., James M. and Felix O. Mrs. Burrus was born May 2, 1826. Both husband and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Churel, and Mr. Burrus has held the office of Stew- ard for many years. He has always been very lib- eral towards churches and schools.
Mr. Burrus is one of the original founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church on seetion 4, town- ship 15, range 12, known as the MeKindry Church, and is the oldest man now belonging to that or- ganization. Politically, he is a Prohibtionist, but was formerly a Democrat, and aims to vote for the best man for ofliee. William Burrus is one of the representative pioneers of his county and is esteem- ed by all who know him.
AMES B. THOMPSON. This gentleman is one of that class of substantial citizens who have done so much in opening up the new West, and who have expended the best, years of life to that end, and now have retired from the more active duties and driving cares to enjoy the rest and comparative quiet that they have earned by the years spent in the unceasing rush of life.
Mr. Thompson is a native of Brown County, Ohio, but was reared to manhood and married in Hamilton County. He counts the years of his life from the 17th of September. 1810. His father was Bernard Thompson, whose wife previous to ler marriage, bore the name of Mary Phillips. Both were natives of the Buckeye State, and were mar- ried in Brown County.
The grandfather of our subjeet also bore the eognomen of Bernard Thompson. He, with his wife, whose inaiden name was Sarah Bing, was born in Maryland. Hle was the owner of a mill on the
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Brandy wine River, and quite above the average in his prosperity. During the War of the Revolution, and, again, that of 1812, he served on behalf of his country. Ilis son, Bernard Jr., also served in the War of 1812 for a period of six months. Mr. Thompson received a land warrant, and upon it ob- tained eighty aeres of land in this county. He came to Morgan Connty in 1834, and settled in the west- ern part, continuing his residence there until his death, in 1865. Ile sustained the loss of his wife prior to his western removal, in 1831.
Bernard Thompson, Jr., to whom reference was made above, was the father of ten children, of whom but two are now living, namely: Andrew J. and our snbjcet-both of this county. The latter gentleman spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, and, after receiving the hest edu- cation the common schools of the time afforded, became his father's helper in its operation, con- tinuing thus until he had attained his majority. In those days the State of Ohio was not as it to-day, all the circumstances and surroundings going to show that it was a new and undeveloped country, and those who resided within its borders were in very truth pioneers, with all the freedom and opportunity that such a position affords, but at the same time living a life filled day in and day out with its inconveniences, difficulties and hard- ships. Among the latter most assuredly must be reckoned that of the educational institution of that day, which, from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall, was one constant reminder of frontier life.
Among the settlers in Clermont County, of the above State, were Collins and Sarah (Taylor) McGuire. They were both natives of the Key- stone State, and had brought with them many of the characteristics of that people. They had made for themselves a home and farm in the new eoun- try and were prospering. Previous to leaving Pennsylvania there had been born to them a daughter, Mary, who, as she came to more mature years, revealed a womanliness and happiness of disposition that attracted numerous admirers, even in a new and comparatively undeveloped country -among others, our subjeet. Every arrangement being completed, they were married in May, 1834.
In October of the same year Mr. Thompson came to Illinois, and settled in this county, about three miles north of Jacksonville. For four years he rented a farm there, and then removed to Greene County, where he was similarly occupied. Returning to Bethel, in this county, he went into business as a blacksmith, and continued thus en- gaged for three years. Previously he had pur- chased 120 acres of new land, which lay about three miles west of Bethel; and also took forty acres of Government land. Subsequently he pur- chased 160 acres more-a total of 320 acres. As the first purchase was entirely unimproved, he pro- ceeded to put a small frame cottage of two rooms upon it, and set to work to bring about a better order of things. One drawback to the position was the fact that the nearest market was Meredosia, on the Illinois River. In after years, when civiliza- tion had come nearer to his farm, he was enabled to make many improvements that had been long contemplated, and became one of the largest grain and stock-raisers of the district.
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Mr. Thompson has reared a family of six ehil- dren, and has been rejoiced to see thein one by one enter into honorable positions in life. Their names are as follows: Clark M., Mary J., Sarah. Ella E., Perry C., and Owen P. Clark, who is now a resi- dent of Seott Connty and engaged in school teneh- ing, was married, in 1878, to Miss Verenda Pratt, and they are the parents of three children, viz: Maud, Guy and Blanche; Mary is happily married to John T. Crawford, a prosperous ranchman of Colorado, and their family circle includes eight children, whose names are as follows: Zelica, Dill O., Leora, .James, John, Ruth, Mary and Julia; Sarah is Mrs. A. A. MePherson, and lives in Kan- sas-her family cirele includes five children: Alpha E., Etta, Valeria, Ross and Owen. Perry is one of the physicians of Jacksonville, and Owen, an accom- plished lawyer and Judge of Morgan County.
Mrs. James B. Thompson died on the 31st of January, 1881. She was a member of the Protest- ant Methodist Church, as is our subjeet. They were prominent in bringing about the organization and building of the Church of Bethel, her husband being elected one of the Trustees. They took an active part also in promoting the work at Mere-
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dosia, and their efforts were rewarded by seeing similar progress in that place.
The subject of our sketch removed to Jacksonville in 1884, where he has made his home ever since. In matters politieal he is allied with the Demo- eratie party, and has always taken great interest in promoting the advancement of their cause. Ile is a eitizen valued in the community because of his high personal eharaeter, his integrity and efficiency as a business man, and the social status he is privi- leged to enjoy by reason of the large measure of success that has attended him through life.
ASSELL HOPPER. This gentleman, who is now pursuing the voeation of a farmer on seetion 30, township 16, range 9, Morgan. County, is a veteran of the late war where- in he fought gallantly and faithfully for his adopted country. He is of English birth and parentage. Ilis father, Thomas Hopper, was born in Yorkshire, England, and was the son of a farmer, a friend of the celebrated John Wesley, the Methodist divine, who preaelied many times in the home of his father when he (the father of our subject) was a boy, and his parents were strong defenders of the Wesleyan Methodist faith. Ilis mother was a Miss Gorton previous to her marriage with his father. Ile was reared to man's estate in his old English home, and was married to Jane, daughter of Hassel and Ann Poad, natives of Yorkshire, and they in turn reared their family of children there. In 1856 they brought them to the United States in the sailing-vessel Ellen Austin, making the voyage in five weeks and two days, landing in Castle Garden, N. Y., and coming from thence to Jacksonville, this eounty. They lo- cated there a few months, and then removed to this township, where the father spent his last days, dy- ing in Deeember, 1887, leaving a widow and nine children to mourn his loss, namely: Annie, who married George Edson, and died in this eounty; John, who died in 1887; Jane F., now Mrs. Robert Hunter; Hassell, Richard, George T., James P., Han- nah, Thomas W., Charles. Philip II. The beloved mother, aged seventy-eight years, is a welcome in- mate of our subjeet's household. She, like her
husband, early became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and she is a true and earnest Christian.
He of whom we write was in the prime of early life when he erossed the waters with his parents to build up a new home in the United States. In An- gust, 1862 he determined to enlist to aid the brave soldiers of the Federal army to preserve the Union of the country that he had adopted as his own, and he enrolled his name as one of the members of Coin- pany E, 101st Illinois Infantry, and did efficient serviee until the elose of the war. Among the prin- eipal battles in which he fought were those at Mis- sion Ridge, Resaea, Dallas, Peachtree Creek, and the engagements around Atlanta, whence he ac- eompanied Sherman on his marchi to the sea, and he was afterward present at the Grand Review at Washington, where he was mustered out of service with his regiment in June, 1865, having won an honorable reeord for bravery. He was wounded in the left knee by a shot at Resaea, which, though not serious at the time, became quite so as the re- sult of his rashly going into serviee again too soon afterward without giving it time to heal. On his - retirement from a military life, Mr. Hopper engaged with Lambert & Hopper in the market house at Jacksonville, remaining there twelve years. At the expiration of that time, he turned his attention to farmning, and bought his present farin, which comprises 130 acres of land, all in a high state of cultivation, with good improvements, and from this he derives a very good income.
Our subject is undoubtedly mueh indebted to his wife for the eomforts of a cosy home, as it was his good fortune to marry Miss Anna Wood in June, 1867. Her parents, James and Martha (Beach) Wood, were natives of England, and emigrating to the United States, they eame here quite early in the settlement of the county, and their last days were passed here.
Mr. Hopper is a man whom to know is to respect, as he possesses the qualities that make a des'rable citizen. He is fairly prosperous in his calling as he deserves to be, having been steadfast and unweary- ing in his endeavors to build up a comfortable home for himself and family, and thrift and indus- try have placed him far above the reach of want.
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In his political views, he is a strong Republican, taking an intelligent view of the different questions of public import that are discussed on every hand. Ile is a man of earnest religious feelings, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church, and act in accordance with its teachings as far as in them lies.
G ODFRED TENDICK, who is widely known throughout Morgan County, is a manufact- urer of bricks, and proprietor of the old Edgemond Yard, situated on the corner of Morton and Tendick streets, of Jacksonville. He was born in Germany in 1830, and is the son of John and Jennie (Finmans) Tendick, also natives of the Fatherland. His father was engaged in farming from his youth. In 1853 he determined to come to this country, but did not live long enough after his arrival to appreciate its institutions and liberty. His death occurred four weeks after coming to this city, and the mother followed him two weeks later, leaving a family of eight children, only three of whom are living, viz .: Hannah, now Mrs. Ring- meister, of Logan County, in this State; Derric, and our subject, both of Jacksonville.
The early education of our subjeet was obtained in the schools of his native country, which he con- tinued to attend until twelve years of age, then learned the spool and weaving business. When seventeen years of age, he commenced boot and shoe-making, and continued to work at that trade for about thirty-three years. In 1850 he came to America, and was soon well established in his busi- ness, which he followed for ahout twenty years, keeping in constant employment throughout that time from seven to ten men. Closing up his busi- ness in 1878, he engaged in brick-making in Jack- sonville, and was for two years a member of the firin of Caspold, Reid & Tendick; the firm continued for the succeeding three years under the name of Reid & Tendick, but at the end of that period, our subject bought Mr. Reid's interest, and sinee that time has conducted the business alone. He has al- ways in his employ from fifteen to twenty-five men,
and in addition to local trade, ships largely into the surrounding towns and country.
Mr. Tendick has built two stores and numerous houses in the city, always seeking its advancement and improvement. Ile also finds time to supervise the farming of his landed property, comprising 300 acres of some of the best agricultural land in the district. He is the head of a family that occupies a high position in local society, and is regarded as one of Jacksonville's substantial, public-spirited, and loyal citizens.
In the year 1854, the subject of this biography, was joined in wedlock with Miss Belle Tendick, the (laughter of Peter and Jane (Schutten) Tendick, who also were natives of Germany. Her father was oc- cupied in agriculture in the Fatherland, but learn- ing from friends of bright prospects in America, concluded that this country would be better for his children, and therefore came hither in the year 1853, and settled in Jacksonville. The home cir- cle included five children, four of whom are living, viz .: Mrs. Tendick, the wife of our subject; Will- iam; Catharine, now Mrs. Kastrup; all residents of the above city; and Jolin, whose home is in Texas. The father and mother continued to reside in Jack - sonville until their death, which occurred in the year 1854, the father's death succeeding that of the mother in two weeks.
The family of our subject comprises also five children, to whom have been given the names here subjoined: Jennie, now Mrs. Porten of this city, who has become the mother of four children-Lil- lie, Clarence, Elmer, and a child who died in in- fancy; Peter, (deceased); John S., who is engaged in business at Canton, this State, and who mar- ricd Rosetta Thompson, a native of Canton; Ed- ward and Clara K.
Both our subjeet and his wife are members in good standing of the German Methodist Church, of which Mr. Tendick is one of the Trustees. In matters relating to political economy, he espouscs the cause of the Republican party, and has always been one of its firinest adherents and warmest sup- porters.
This volume, designed to perpetuate the names of influential citizens of Morgan County, would be incomplete, did it not portray the faces of those
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men, known and honored by all as powerful agents in upbuilding the county. Among such Mr. Ten- dick oeeupies a prominent place, and consequently his portrait contributes to the value of the work.
W H. BROADWELL. Upon South Lane street, in Jacksonville stands the agricult- ural implement establishment of the gen- tleman whose life is here briefly sketched. He was a native of Morgan County, Ill., and was born on the 14th of September, 1823. He was the son of Baxter and Mary (Lindsley) Broadwell, both of whom are natives of Morris County, N. J. The earliest associations and memories of the father of our subjeet, are connected with the farm upon which he was brought up. He was educated in the usual institutions of his native place, and after that taught school for a number of terms, and discovered sueh an aptitude and ability for this employment as to occasion some thought of continuing permanently therein. Ahout the year 1810 he removed to the neighborhood of Cineinnati, Ohio; thence he went to the front in the War of 1812, serving through the whole period, and was finally mustered out at Cineinnati. During the greater part of the time he lived in Ohio, he continued teaching school, re- maining until the year 1818. Then he came to this State and settled at Grafton, which is situated at the mouth of the Illinois River. After about three years he came to this county, but prior to its organi- zation, in which he afterward took part. He took up a farm of 100 aeres, and continued to operate it so successfully, that it grew to some 600 aeres in "extent, and he became one of the most extensive farmers in the county. He erected a single eabin, adding to it from time to time as he was able. His market place was St. Louis, ninety miles distant. He was a firm adherent of the Whig party, and passed his last vote for Henry Clay. His death oc- curred in December of 1832.
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