USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 40
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 40
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AMES M. BROWN, a pioneer of 1829, be- gan life in this county in very limited cir- cumstances, but is now the owner of a fine property, including a well-appointed farm of 300 acres, on section 18, township 16, range 11. This has been his home for a quarter of a cen- tury, and to it he has given the best efforts of his life, making all the improvements now upon
it, which are first-class, and bringing the soil to a thorough state of cultivation. When first coming to this county he operated as a renter, and endured many hardships and difficulties before he could feel that he was on solid ground.
A native of East Tennessee, our subject was born in Washington County, May 22, 1845, and is the son of Jeremiah Brown, also a native of that State, and who is supposed to have been of Southern parentage. Upon reaching man's estate he was mar- ried in his native county to Miss Mary Stormer, who was likewise born in East Tennessee, but whose parents were descendants of people who came from Pennsylvania. Jeremiah Brown, after his mar- riage, established himself on a small tract of land in his native county, where he lived until after the birth of three children-James M., Catherine and Sarah A.,-then disposed of his interests in the South, and set out with his little family, in the fall of 1829, for this county. They located first near the present site of Arcadia, but the father subse- quently secured eighty acres of land. He, how- ever, was not permitted to live to carry on the work which he had in view, but met his death while digging a well by the falling of a barrel containing mud and dirt, the chain of which gave way, and which broke his back, his death ensuing nine days later. The mother was subsequently married to Robert Martin, and both she and Mr. Martin lived to be quite aged, spending their last years near Ar- cadia.
Our subject lived with his mother and stepfather until a youth of eighteen years, when he started out for himself, and has since made his own way in the world. He found his bride in Cass County, being married there to Miss Sarah A. Buxtou. This lady was born in Ohio, in 1829, and is the daughter of Peter and Susan (Reams) Buxton, the former of whom was born in England and emi- grated to the United States when quite young, set- tling in Ohio, where he was married. A few years later, leaving the Buckeye State, he came to Illinois with his family, locating in Cass County early in the thirties. Mr. Buxton did not live very many years thereafter, passing away in the prime of life. His wife survived him for a long period, living to be eighty-four years of age.
RESIDENCE OF JACOB H. PEAK, SEC. 13. T.14 .- R 9 MORGAN CO.
RESIDENCE OF RICHARD HEMBROUGH, SEC 15 T.15-R.11 MORGAN CO.
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH V. BRECKON , SEC. 5. T.15 .- R 9, MORGAN Co.
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MORGAN COUNTY.
To the parents of Mrs. Brown there was born a large family of children, most of them natives of this State. She was quite young when leaving Ohio, and was reared to womanhood in Cass County. Her nnion with our subject resulted in the birth of six children, one of whom died when four years old; James F. owns and operates a farm in the same township as his father; Philip married Miss Ellen Henderson, and is living on a farmn in Nodaway County, Mo .; Abigail is the widow of Adam Gad- dis, who died very suddenly while shingling a barn; George P. married Miss Anna Harris, and lives on a farm in township 16, range 11; Jane lives at home with her parents.
Mr. Brown east his first presidential vote for Pieree, and gives his unqualified support to the Demoeratie party. Both he and his wife are aetive members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subjeet offieiates as Trustee, aud eon- tributes liberally to its support. Hle has borne no unimportant part in the settlement and develop- ment of Morgan County, and is properly numbered among its representative men.
C HARLES L. HOLLIDAY, one of the oldest inhabitants of Morgan County, and who re- sides in Bethel Precinct, is a native of Allen County, Ky. The man whose industry, bravery, and integrity aids in the developement of a new country is more deserving of praise than the greatest general who ever won a battle. The pio- neer of a new country is building a fabrie that will last until time shall be no more. lle ereets the foundation of a new order of things, and initiates new enterprises that shall benefit generations to . eome. The man (or woman) who leaves all eoin- forts of home, who bids farewell to the early asso- eiations of life, and who turns his baek upon all he holds dear in life, and goes forth into a new country, fraught with dangers from wild beasts and wilder savages, is entitled to more praise from mankind than an army of Napoleons.
Charles L. Holliday is a pioneer in every sense of the word, and was born, as before mentioned, on June 20, 1820. He was the son of Iliram and
Agnes Holliday, both natives of the Old Dominion. When but a small boy, not then being eight years of age, he eame with his parents to Illinois, and in 1831 the family removed to Morgan County. They were among the first settlers of Whitehall, Greene County. Mr. Holliday's father and Mr. Jarbo erected a small building about 16x24, with the in- tention of making a harness and saddle shop in one end and a store in the other. They white- washed this building with lime, and from this inei- dent the village of Whitehall derived its name. A petition was then cireulated for the purpose of establishing a post-offiee in the town, and the father of Charles L. Holliday became the first Postmaster. From Whitehall the family removed to what is now ealled Murrayville, Morgan County, the for- mer name of which was Elkhorn Point. They resided here for several years, and after the mother died-the family became seattered, the most, how- ever, remaining in Morgan County. Charles L. was a farmer's boy, and received but limited edn- eation, as the advantages to be seeured in those days were extremely limited, but sinee he ceased attending school he has read books on different subjects and thus has kept posted. Interspersed with work upon the farm, he learned the earpen- ter's trade, and by the time he became of age he was a first-elass meehanie. He followed this busi- ness about thirty-five years, but latterly he has run his farm. When the Holliday family first settled where Murrayville now is, Charles L. mowed wild grass on the identieal spot upon which the village is now loeated. Ile was married on Jan. 7, 1841, to Margaret Taylor, a native of Nieholas County, Ky., and daughter of James and Katie (Bishop) Taylor. To this union were born eleven children, the following of whom survive: Agnes; Mary S .; Sarah L., who married Pierce Lamb, of Missouri; Melissa, wife of James Anderson; James B., Charles R., William W .; Fannie, wife of Charles Williams; Ada F., wife of Clarke Funk; Maggie, wife of John Moody. Katie is deceased, dying at the age of fifteen years.
Mr. Holliday is the owner of 250 acres of as niee land as the sun ever shone upon. These broad aeres, in connection with his wife, he has earned. In the winter of 1842-43, Mr. Holliday
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chopped wood for twenty-five cents a cord and split rails for thirty cents per 100, and was obliged to board himself. Ile sold the first crop of corn he raised in this county for eight cents a bushel, aud wheat for thirty one cents a bushel, and de- lived at Exeter Mills. He also sold pork for $1.50 per 100 dressed.
Politically, Mr. H. is a Republican, but was formerly a Whig. He has held the office of School Director and served with satisfaction to his con- stituents. Mr. and Mrs. Holliday are members of the Christian Church, and are active members of society.
OHN T. SAMPLE, the son of a pioneer of Morgan County, David Sample, is pursuing agriculture in his native township, with the success that is due to his unflagging indus- try and skillful management. He has a good farm on section 24, township 16, range 10, which, with it's numerons fine improvements, and its broad, well-tilled fields that smile with abundant harvests in the pleasant summer and autumn months, com- pares with the best in this locality.
The father of our subject was a son of John Sample, a native of Kentucky, where he himself was born. His parents were in poor circumstances and he early became independent and self-reliant, and made his own way in the world from a youth- ful agc. In 1830, ever memorable to the pioneers of this part of Illinois as the "winter of the deep snow," he made his way to Morgan County, and cast in his lot with the few settlers that had pre- ceeded him, and has ever since made his home here, and is now living in township 16, range 10.
John Sample. of this biographical review was born in this township, in November, 1856, and here he received the foundation of his education in the local district schools, and supplemented it by a course at the County Schools. Hle had a natural taste for agriculture, and when he arrived at years of discretion chose it as his life-work, and has ever since pursued it with marked success. His farm comprises 244 acres of as fertile farming land as is to be found in this part of Morgan County, and admirably adapted to mixed husbandry, and
well stocked with cattle, horses, and logs of good breeds.
Oct. 13, 1875, the marriage of our subject with Miss Harriet Cox was duly solemnized. Mrs. Sample is a daughter of Charles Cox. (For pa- rental history see sketch of Hardin Cox, on another page of this volume). She was born in Morgan County, Ill. In the happy home of our subject and his wife, two children have been born to thiem, Bertha L. and Charles C.
Mr. Sample brings a well-balanced, well-trained mind to his chosen calling, and is indeed classed among the mostactive and intelligent of the young men of this precinct. He is high minded and honorable, is exemplary in his habits, and enjoys an enviable reputation botlı as a man and a citizen. lle and his wife are among thie most zealous and valued members of the Baptist Church, of which he is a Deacon.
ULIUS F. PRATT. The Pratt family is widely and favorably known throughout this county, and is recognized as forming a part and parcel of its best element, representing its intelligence, enterprise, industry and virtne. The homestead of this gentleman, comprising 160 acres of thoroughly cultivated land, is finely located on section 6, township 15, range 11, and he also has 174 acres on section 5. He has been his own archi- teet and builder, and his dwelling, barns, and out- houses furnish an admirable illustration of the character of the man. They are neat and substan- tial, provided with every convenience and finely adapted to the requirements of the proprietor, and for the prosecution of agriculture after the best methods.
Mr. Pratt came to this county in 1845, poor in purse, and occupied himself as a renter until hc could become a land-holder. Two years later he realized his desires, securing a tract of land which had never been subjected to any cultivation, and he thereafter labored early and late for a number of years before feeling assured of his ultimate suc- cess. Appearances would indicate that he should be well satisfied at the present, for he is in the en-
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joyment of a handsome ineome and a competence sufficient to keep himself and family from want during their natural lives. Cultivated tastes and ample means have been exereised in the adorn- ment of the dwelling both within and without, and the home with all its appointments very ncarly ap- proaches the ideal of peaceful rural life, where na- ture and art alike contribute to the comfort and happiness of mankind.
A native of Bridport, Addison Co., Vt., our subject was born Aug. 25, 1819, and is the son of Lyman Pratt, the son of David Pratt, the latter of whom was a native of Massachusetts, whenee he removed to Vermont during the early settlement of the Green Mountain State. He located on a traet of wild land in Addison County, from which he improved a farm, and where he spent the remain- der of his days, attaining to the advaneed age of eighty-three years. He was the seion of an exeel- lent old family of South Adams, Mass., and was distinguished for his kindly Christian character, his stern integrity, his high morality and Christian principles.
Lyman Pratt, the father of our subject, also a native of Bridport, Vt., was carefully reared and educated, and like his father before him chose farming for his life oceupation. He was surrounded by all the healthy influences of the time and place, and grew to an admirable manhood, well-fitted for the future duties of life. When of suitable years and circumstanees he was married to Miss Asenath Williams, who was born and reared not far from the ehildhood home of her husband, and was the daughter of Joseph and Polly (Gray) Williams, the representatives of a fine old family who spent the greater part of their lives in Bridport, and died there. Mr. Williams was a elothier, but being fond of rural life beeame owner of a farm, and also engaged in agriculture. They were peo- ple blameless in their lives, and when departing henee left to their children the heritage of an un- tarnished name.
After their marriage Lyman Pratt and his young wife settled down to farming near the old Pratt homestead in the vieinity of Bridport, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father died at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother
when forty-five years old. They were prominent members of the Congregational Church and widely and favorably known throughout their community. Mr. Pratt was a member of the old Whig party until its abandonment, and then identified himself with the Republicans. The parental honsehold ill- cluded seven ehildren, two sons and five daughters, all of whom are living. Four of them are residents of Illinois and Kansas, two being of this county. All are married and have children of their own.
'The subject of this sketch was the eldest child of his parents, and spent his boyhood and youth in his native county, attending the common school and developing into a worthy manhood. IIe was em- ployed as a teacher some time before his marriage, which event occurred on his twenty-sixth birthday in the township of Middlebury, Vt .. his bride be- ing Miss Loranie Snow. Mrs. Pratt was born in Bridport, Vt., Jan. 18, 1816, and is the daughter of Leumnim and Aliee (Bennett) Snow, the father a native of New York State and the mother of Con- nectieut. They were married in Addison County, Vt., and began their wedded life at Bridport, where Mr. Snow pursued his trade of a stonemason. Sub- sequently they changed their residence to Shore- ham Township, where the death of Mr. Snow took place in 1820, at the early age of thirty-eight years. The wife and mother, remaining a widow, lived to come to Illinois, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Pratt, in 1851, at the age of sixty-seven years. She had been identified with the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches, and was a lady of rare qualities, one whose name is held in kindly remembranee by all who knew her.
Mrs. Pratt was the only child of her parents, and was quite young at the time of her father's death. She was carefully reared by her mother, and eom. pleted her studies in Middlebury Seminary, after which she oeenpied herself as a teacher for ten sea- sons in the public schools. She is a lady of fine intelligence and well fitted to become the partner of such a inan as her husband. Of this union there have been born four children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Alice, is the wife of John B. Joy, a well-to-do fariner living in township 16, range 11; Lyman L. married Miss Franees Stcele, of Oberlin, Ohio, and they oeeupy the farm of our subject, on
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section 6; Ellen E. makes her home with her par- ents, but at this writing (May, 1889) is visiting in California; Thurlow H. remains at home and as- sists his father in the operations of the farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are devoted members of the Congregational Church, with which their children are also connected, and in which Mr. Pratt has been a Deacon for the long period of twenty years. Politically, he is a sound Republican, and is at pres- ent the Treasurer of his school district. The fam- ily occupies a position in the front ranks among the foremost people of this county.
AMES MORRISON, M. D., a venerable and highly csteemed resident of Jacksonville and one of its pioneer physicians, was born near Paris, in Bourbon County, Ky., Jan. 11, 1803. The father was a native of Ireland, and one of a family of seven children. The parents of our subject spent their last years in Henry County, Ky. William, his only brother, learned surveying, .and at an early day, about 1820, went to Texas with a company of fifteen others, and was mas- sacred by the Indians. He left a wife and one son, whose whereabouts are unknown. James, our sub- jeet, spent his early years in Kentucky, pursuing his first studies in the common schools. When about eighteen years of age he commeneed the study of medicine in Lexington, Ky., in the office of Dr. Benjamin Dudley, one of the most cele- brated physicians of that time. When sufficiently advanced he entered the Cincinnati (Ohio) Medi- eal College, from which he was graduated, and, before fully entering upon the regular practice, was united in marriage, in 1829, with Miss Lucinda Henderson, a native of his own county. They spent the first two years of their wedded life in Bourbon County, Ky., and then in 1831 came to this county, settling first in the little town of Arcadia. In the above-mentioned place Dr. Morrison prac- tieed a number of years successfully, then returned to the Blue Grass regions and attended a course of lectures in the city of Louisville. This completed, and thus fortified for his future duties, he resumed practice in Arcadia. Ile was constantly anxious
to advance himself still further in the knowledge of this most important calling, and, as soon as his circumstances would permit, proceeded to Philadel_ phia, Pa., and took another course of lectures. His prompt attention to his duties and his evident skill soon secured him an extensive patronage, and he found himself on the high road to prosperity with something laid by for a rainy day.
The first great affiiction of our subject was the death of his excellent wife, Mrs. Lucinda Morri- son, who departed this life on the 24th of October, 1850. Of this union there were no children. Dr. Morrison contracted a second marriage, May 16, 1853, with Miss Mary A. E. Troutinan, and followed his practice thereafter for a period of thirteen years. In 1865 he retired, and spent his last days in the enjoyment of a handsome home in Jackson- ville, of which be had been a resident for a period of twenty-three years. His death occurred Dee. 7, 1887. His remains were laid to rest two days later in a pleasant spot in Diamond Grove Ceme- tery. He had attained the ripe old age of nearly eighty-four years, and during his long and useful career was acknowledged as one of Morgan County's most distinguished and honored citizens. The doe- trines of the Presbyterian Church coincided the most nearly with the religious ideas of Dr. Morri- son, and he was a regular attendant upon the services thereof. In carly manhood he was an old-line Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party identified himself with the latter. Socially, he was a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F. He had no ambition for office of any kind, and, although frequently importuned to be- come one of the directors of the Jacksonville Na- tional Bank, he invariably declined.
Mrs. Morrison still occupies the pleasant liome left her by her husband. She was the fourth of a family of ten children and the eldest daughter of Peter II. and Catherine M. (Giltner) Troutman, who were natives of Kentucky, and spent their last years in that State. Mrs. Morrison was born Nov. 1, 1824, in Bourbon County, Ky. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and her childhood and youth were spent amid the quiet scenes of country life. After the death of her excellent mother. which occurred in 1840, in accordance with the
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mother's request, this daughter continued at home and took charge of the household. She is a lady of cultivated tastes, domestic in her inelinations, and greatly attached to her home. This she sel- dom left after her marriage with Dr. Morrison unless at his espeeial request.
The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Morrison arc recorded as follows: Elijah, the eldest, died in Ken- tueky, Jan. 21, 1841 ; Frank died in Coles County, Ill., in 1881; JJacob is a resident of Jessamin County, Ky .; Eliza J. became the wife of Andrew Darling, and lives in Carrolton, Ky .; Nancy A., Mrs. Alfred M. Clark, lives with her sister, Mrs. Mor- rison ; Bernard G. is engaged in business in Coles County, this State; John G. is a resident of An- drew County, Mo .; Thomas A. died at his home, in Coles County. Ill., in 1867; and Sarah K. is the wife of S. K. Baker, of Lexington, Ky.
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W ILLIAM PATTERSON. The faet is be- gining to be recognized that the art of sueeessful farming requires as mueh skill and intelligence as that of any other oceupation, and the man who is successful in this line deserves as muen credit as those who belong to the learned pro- fessions. Mr. Patterson, who has been more than ordinarily prosperous, is pleasantly located on see- tion 1, township 15, range 11. In addition to general farming he makes a specialty of short-horn eattle, Poland-China swine and Pereheron horses. He is one of those rare characters who maintain that it eosts but very little more to raise a good animal than a poor one, and he much prefers to give his best efforts to the former. He has been established in his present homestead since the year of 1866, and has 240 aeres of choice land with first-class improvements. A part of this is devoted to pas- turage, and the cultivated ground is treated under a methodieal system, which produces the best re- sults.
Mr. Patterson has been a resident of this county since December, 1853, and oceupies the land which he purchased that year. Prior to eoming here he had been a resident of both Iowa and Mis- souri, owning land in each State. He sold out
upon coming here from Missouri, and afterward operated as a renter until ready to purchase again. Ile was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1832, and lived there until Dee. 18, 1853. His father, Jolın Patterson a native of Seotland, was born near the city of Dumfries and eame of pure Seoteh Presbyterian stock. He was reared to farm pursuits and emigrated to America when a young man, prior to his marriage, preceding his family to this country and loeating in Carroll County, Ohio. Later lie was joined by two brothers and one sister-Adam, William and Jane-locating in Pennsylvania.
John Patterson was married in what is now West Virginia, to Miss Isabelle McGaw, who like himself. was a native of Scotland and eame with her parents when a young girl to the United States. The latter settled in West Virginia and it is prob. able there spent the remainder of their lives. The young people after their marriage, lived for a time in the Old Dominion, then located on a farm of 160 aeres in. Ohio, to which he afterward added a like amount and built up a good homestead. He was a eautious and careful business manager and aceumulated a good property. Ilis death took place Sept. 18, 1859. The wife and mother had preceded her husband to the silent land, Nov. 17, 1846. They had been reared in the doetrines of the Presbyterian Church, to which they loyally ad- hered all their lives.
Five sons and four daughters completed the household cirele of the parents of our subjeet. of whom, Margaret, wife of Mathew Niehol, a farmer of Pennsylvania, and Adam are deceased. The latter met his death on the battlefield at Golds- boro, N. C., March 19, 1865, after three years ser- vice in the 98th Ohio Infantry, Company Il, under Capt. A. G. Thomas. He was aged twenty- seven years, having been born May 1, 1838.
William Patterson our subjeet, was reared to man's estate in his native county and soon after reaching his majority, emigrated to Cass County, Ill., where he sojourned two years, then erossed the Mississip- pi into Iowa. Later he moved on to Missouri and from there eame to this county. From his boy- hood up he had been familiar with farming pur- suits and chose these for his life oeeupation. Ile
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was married at Jacksonville, March 11, 1858, to Miss Mary A. Boston, who was born in Cass Coun- ty Ill., April 18, 1838. Her parents, Anthony and Louisa (Stephenson) Boston were natives of Jessa- mine County, Ky .; the father was of German an- cestry, while the mother traced her origin to Ire- land.
Mr. and Mrs. Boston emigrated to the United States when quite young and were married in Cass County, where Mr. Boston subsequently entered 200 acres of land from the Government. They began life in limited circumstances, having nothing but their land, and this in order to become pro- ductive, necessarily involved a large amount of hard labor. The country around them was wild and unbroken, and thinly settled. They battled with the elements of a new soil and the difficulties of a distant market, and lived there until 1856. Mr. Boston then sold out and coming to this coun- ty purchased a farm three miles east of Jackson- ville, upon which he labored a few years and then with his estimable wife, retired from the active du. ties of life and removing to the city there spent his last days, departing this life April 9, 1879. The mother is still living and makes her home with her daughter Mrs. A. J. Bacon, near Jacksonville. She is now seventy-three years old and belongs to the Baptist Church.
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