USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 41
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 41
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Mr. Boston was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1807, and came to Illinois in 1832. He was a Democrat, politically, and in religion, a Baptist. Mrs. Patterson was the eldest daughter and second child in a family of six sons and three daughters, One son and one daughter are deceased; the latter, Martha, was the wife of James Dyer, and died in Wichita, Kan. George Boston was married to Miss Melvina Caldwell, and died at his home seven miles east of Jacksonville, in 1879.
Mrs. Patterson was born April 18, 1838, and re- mained a member of the parental household until her marriage, acquiring her education in the com. mon school. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, one son, Ulysses G., died when a promising young man of twenty three years old. The survivors are recorded as follows : Louisa B., is the wife of John Williamson, a painter by trade and they reside in Jacksonville; Nettie, married
Ernest Dewees, a farmer of this county; G. Wal- lace remains at home and assists in operating the farm; Irvin A., Mattie, Edward, Leonard and W. Mande, are also at home with their parents. Mrs. Patterson has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the past twelve years. Mr. Patterson, politically, is a Republican, "dyed in the wool," a man withi decided ideas and one whose opinions are generally respected.
ENRY KITNER is a pioneer of Morgan County, who came to these parts more than fifty years ago, and has lived not only to witness its wonderful development from the wild, sparsely settled prairies, but, while aiding its growth and advancing its agricultural interests, he has accumulated wealth for himself, and is now one of the most prosperous farmers and stock-raisers in this section. He owns a large and beautiful farm of 480 acres on section 34, township 15, range 10, one of the finest and most valuable in many respects of any in this locality. He still has it under his personal supervision, and is actively en- gaged in general farming and stock- raising.
Mr. Kitner was born March 26, 1818, in North Carolina, and that State was likewise the birthplace of his father, Francis Kitner, who was born near Salem, and there grew to maturity. On reaching man's estate he (the father) married Mary Fiddler, and they reared a family of seven children. In 1838 he resolved to leave the old home and found a new one in the West, and started for the Terri- tory of Iowa with a four-horse team, taking with that all his family except our subjeet, who had a two- horse wagon of his own, in which all the household utensils, restricted to only those things that were absolutely necessary, were conveyed. When the weary travelers finally arrived in this part of the country within three miles of Jacksonville, they were so enchanted by the beautiful scenery, and the evident fertility of the soil, that they concluded to make their abiding place here and not seek further and perhaps fare worse. Mr. Kitner, Sr., took up a traet of 120 acres of land north of Jacksonville, all of which he improved in time into a valuable
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farın. He at first built a little log house for the shelter of his family, and afterward added to it a small frame house. He continued to live on that farm until his death at the age of sixty years, his wife preceding him to the other shore seven or eight years. He was one of the early settlers of the county, and while he lived here was a good, law- abiding eitizen, and did all in his power to advanee its material prosperity and to elevate its social and moral status, and his memory should be held in veneration with the other pioneers of the county.
The son of this worthy man of whom we write was twenty years old, just entering upon a vigor- ous, self-reliant manhood, when he eame with his parents to Morgan County. He bought a piece of land north of Jacksonville, and his first work was to build a log house, which he covered with elap- boards, and in that humble dwelling he and his young wife spent the ensuing fourteen years. He then sold that place and bought his present farm, where they have resided ever sinee. In 1871 our subjeet erected a fine, roomy house, faeing the vil- lage, and he and his family moved into it on its completion and still make it their.home. When Mr. Kitner first eame to Morgan County the coun- try was so sparsely settled that the most accessible markets were far distant, and he aud bis father had to take their first prodnee to St. Lonis, going by the way of the river, and many times after that they drove hogs and eattle to that city, where they ob- tained from $1.25 to $2.00 a hundred weight for them, and thus our subjeet laid the foundation of his present competenee.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kitner was sol- emnized in North Carolina, their native State, in February, 1837, and of the nine children born to them six are living, of whom the following is re- corded: Elizabeth married Isaac Kaufman, a farmer of this county, and they have six ehildren; Frank, who lives in the southern part of the county, mar- ried Jane Harney, and they have four girls; Mary married Frank Harney, who lives one mile west of her father's homestead, and they have three ehil- dren; Jefferson, who lives on this road one-fourth of a mile west, married Franees Massey ; William, who lives in the southern part of this county, married Lou Tunnel, and they have three chil-
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dren; Edward, who lives on his father's home- stead, married Mollie Letton, and they have one daughter, Bessie Marie. Mrs. Kitner's maiden name was Mahala Crouse, and she was born in North Carolina July 26, 1815, and lived at home with her parents, Andrew and Peggy (Alford) "Crouse, until her marriage. Her father was a farmer in North Carolina.
Mr. Kitner is in every way worthy of the high regard and veneration that is eoneeded to him, and it gives us pleasure to present this brief review of his well-spent life to his many friends. His eourse in life both as a man and a eitizen has been honora- ble to him, showing as it does his persistent indus- try, guided by discrimination and sound common sense, and his manifest desire to promote the inter- ests of his community to the best of his ability. The wife to whom he was united in marriage, almost before he had reached man's estate, and who has faithfully shared with him life's joys and sorrows for fifty-two years, is, for her many kindly qualities of head and heart, equally esteemed with her good husband by their neighbors and all who know her. Mr. Kitner avoids all political issues, not earing for offlee, but does his duty at the polls, easting his vote for the Demoeratie party.
OIIN ANGEL. There is always a certain dignity and air of respeetability attached to the citizen of long standing, and as such an one Mr. Angel deserves more than a passing mention, as he has oceupied his present homestead for the long period of thirty years, having estah- lished himself upon it on the 15th of March, 1859. It is pleasantly located on section 36, township 16, range 11, and comprises 270 aeres of choice land, which is well improved and largely devoted to stoek-raising. A spring of living water adds to its beanty and value, and thie proprietor has gathered around him all the convenienees and appliances necessary to the well-regulated farm.
Our subject eame to this eounty as early as 1826, with his father, George Angel, who was born in Feb-
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ruary, 1794. The latter seeured a tract of Gov- ernment land, and by the exercise of unremitting labor and wise management succeeded in improv- ing a good farm, where he lived many years in comfort, and where his death took place in 1856, thirty years from the time of his settlement here, at the age of sixty-two years and three months. He was born in North Carolina, and was the son of a native of Germany, who emigrated to America and fought as a private all through the Revolu- tionary War, being one of the earliest men to en- list from North Carolina. After the war was ended he engaged in farming, first in North Carolina, then removed to Kentucky, thence to Speneer County, Ind., where he was one of the earliest pio- neers. Ile died there when quite aged. It is be- lieved that he was married to an American lady, who probably died in North Carolina when middle- aged.
The father of our subject was the third son in a family of four sons and two daughters, and was reared to manhood in his native State. Shortly after reaching his majority he emigrated to Ken- tucky and enlisted under Gen. Jackson for the War of 1812. Ile fought under Old Hickory at the battle of New Orleans, and distinguished him- self as a brave and courageous soldier, being in the thiekest of the fight in that memorable battle. After receiving his honorable discharge he made his way to the Territory of Indiana, and in Spencer County met and inarried Miss Elizabeth Turnhan.
The mother of our subjeet was born and reared in East 'Tennessee, and was the daughter of Thomas Turnhan, a gentleman of Irish ancestry, who served in the Revolutionary army seven years prior to his first marriage. He had five wives. His second, third and fourth wife were living after his mar- riage to his fifth wife. He died a very old man, in Speneer County, Ind., leaving his fifth wife a widow. He was the father of children by four of his wives. Our subject remembers seeing him, and that his manner of dress and style of wearing his hair were similar to that of the ohl colonial days.
Mrs. Elizabeth Angel came North with her bus- band and survived him a number of years, dying March 12, 1873, in Arenzville, Cass County, this State, when quite aged. Both she and her husband
were people greatly respected, and she was a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. John, our subjeet, is the eldest survivor of the nine children born to his parents-four sons and five daughters. He first opened his eyes to the light at the homestead, fourteen miles from the county seat of Speneer County. Ind., March 18, 1823, and was a lad of three years when his parents first came to this county. Here he was reared to man's estate, and in the township where he now lives was mar- ried Jan. 4, 1844, to Miss Susan Smith. Mrs. An- gel was born May 19, 1827, in Hiekman County, Tenn., and is the daughter of John and Mary (Moss) Smith, who were also natives of that State, and the father a farmer by occupation. After marriage and the birth of a part of their children, the parents eame to this county, loeating about 1840 in township 16, range 11. Here occurred the death of John Smith, Oet. 17, 1867, when he was a man quite old in years. He had pursued that conscientious and upright course in life which gained him the esteem of all who knew him, and he exerted a good influenee upon those around them. Ilis aged widow is still living and has now attained to the age of eighty-seven years. She makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Angel, and, notwith- standing her years, is very active in mind and body.
Mrs. Susan 'Angel was about ten years old when her parents came to this county, where she has sinee spent her life. She was one of the elder chil- dren of quite a large family, and of her union with our subject there have been born fourteen children, three of whom are deceased, having died young- James, David and one unnamed. Lavina, the eld- est daughter, is the wife of Henry Bridgeman, and they live on a farm, in Shelby County, this State; Mary E. is the wife of Thomas B. Cully, a farmer of township 16, range 11; Thomas married Miss Sally Weston, and operates a tile-factory in Chris- tian County; Elizabeth married George II. Jordan, a farmer of Shelby County; Margaret, Mrs. W. Il. Foster, is a resident of Jacksonville: John W. mar- ried Elizabeth Jolly, and they live on a farm in Shelby County; Addie M. remains at home with her parents; Sarah I. is the wife of Charles W. Martin. a farmer of this county; George remains
Jours Sol qr. P. James
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at home, also Henry B., the youngest; Lewis E. is a resident of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. and Mrs. Angel and nearly all of their chil- dren are active members of the Methodist Episeo- pal Church, in which our subjeet officiates as Stew- ard and Trustee. He east his first presidential vote for James K. Polk, and gives his unqualified support to the Democratie party.
DDISON J. LESLIE. In noting faets eon- cerning the building interests of Meredo- sia, the name of this gentleman is found to figure prominently therein. He is a skilled mechanic with a good understanding of his trade, and has operated as a contractor for many years. HIis promptness and reliability have secured for him a good patronage among the business men of his community, where he has erected a large number of buildings.
Mr. Leslie is essentially an Ohio man, and was born in Trumbull County, that State, June 2, 1844. His father, Samuel Leslie, a native of Pennsyl- vania, is long since deceased, but his mother, Mrs. Mary (Covert) Leslie is still living, and is now in the ninetieth year of her age; she makes her home in Rockford, this State, with her daughter; she also is a native of the Keystone State. They left Ohio about 1845. emigrating to the vieinity of the pres- ent site of Beloit, Wis., and later removed thence to Winnebago County, this State, where our subjeet attained his majority. lIc attended the publie school in Beloit, and at an early age became famil- iar with the various employments of farm life, also learning the trade of a carpenter, at which he served two years.
As a journeyman carpenter, Addison J. Leslie subsequently worked in Galesburg, Ill., a number of years, and in due time began operating as a con- tractor, being thus ocenpied three years in Knox County. He came to Meredosia in the spring of 1873, and has built up a good business, giving em- ployment now to usually four workmen, and some times more. Besides his village property, he is the owner of 240 neres of land in Meredosia Precinet. Like many of the men around him, he commenced
life for himself without means, and has arisen to his present position solely through the exereise of his industry and good management.
On the 27th of November, 1873, our subjeet was united in marriage at the home of the bride in Mere- dosia with Miss Emma Agnew. Mrs. Leslie was born in Indiana, July 30, 1855, and by her union with our subject, is the mother of three children, only one of whom is living, a daughter, Alta. Their home is pleasantly located in Meredosia, and they eount their friends by the score in this county. Mr. Leslie supports the principles of the Republi- can party, and has served in some of the local offices. Socially he belongs to Benevolent Lodge. No. 52, A. F. & A. M., and has filled all the offices in the Blue Lodge. Ile also belongs to Meredosia Chapter No. 11, R. A. M., and for some years has been Secretary of the Chapter. In religious mat- ters, he is identified with the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He has watched the growth and de- velopment of Central Illinois, with the warmest in- terest, and has given his uniform encouragement to all the projects tending to elevate the people, so- cially and morally, and better their financial con- dition.
W ILLIAM P. HARRIS. It is with difficulty one can picture the prairies of Illinois as they lay sixty years ago, their surface seareely disturbed by the foot of a white man, much less by the plowshare. There were miles of level prairie, over which the Indian wandered and wild ; animals ranged in unrestraincd freedom. The time came, however, when the white man was not willing that these great resources should longer lie undeveloped, and accordingly earavan after ear- avan, began pushing its way toward the Mississippi.
Among the scores who flocked to Central Illi- nois in the early part of the thirties, and even prior to this, was William P. Harris, who arrived in this county on the 1st day of April, 1829. In due time he established himself upon a tract of wild land and with his brother pioneers began the creation of a homestead. The years which followed were plen- tiful in toil and hardship, and after the passage of a decade, Mr. Harris, like his brother settlers, found
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himself upon solid ground, financially, and felt that he had been repaid for all he had endured. Ile is now a veteran of eighty-two years, remarkably well preserved, and able to relate with intelligence many of the incidents which were crowded into the years of his pioneership, and which are ever preg- nant with interest to those who have the faculty of contemplation and appreciation. To those who came to the West and were foremost in the devel- opment of her rich resources, too much praise can- not now be given, for they are fast passing away, and we cannot too soon gather and preserve the story of their lives and labors.
Our subject was born in Green County, Ky., May 7, 1807, and is the son of Charles and Sarah (Penticost) Harris, natives of Virginia. The pa- ternal grandfather, George Harris, was born in Wales, and upon emigrating to the United States settled in the Old Dominion, where he reared a family of four sons and three daughters. He like- wise served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and spent his last days in Virginia.
The father of our subjeet resided in his native State until 1806, then removing to Green County, Ky., settled on a farm near Greensburg, where his death took place in 1821, at the age of fifty-six years. The wife and mother survived until 1851, spending her last days in Green County, Ky. All their children, eight in number, lived to mature years and were married. They were named, re- spectively: Hattie, Sarah, William P., Elizabetlı, Polly, Martha, Catherine, and Nancy.
The carly life of our subject, who was the only son of his parents, was spent amid the quiet scenes of the agricultural districts, and he remained a member of his father's household until after he had attained the twentieth year of his age. He was then married, Aug. 10, 1827, to Miss Melinda Miler, then a resident of Harrison County, Ind. She was born in Tennessee, and was the daughter of John and Martha Miler, who spent their last years in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Harris began their wedded life together on a farm in his native county, but less than two years later determined to seek their fortune in another part of the world, and gathering together their household effects, started overland with teams for this county. They first
halted near the present site of Waverly, where they spent about two weeks, and then Mr. Harris rented land in the vicinity of Jacksonville. npon which he operated until 1837. He had then aceumulated a little capital and was enabled to purchase 200 acres of land in Macoupin County. He lived upon this until the spring of 1849, then selling out re- moved to Sangamon County, where he purchased 320 acres. IFc improved a portion of this and bouglit land until he became the owner of 800 acres, all of which he brought to a state of cultiva. tion and upon it erected good buildings.
In 1874, having accumulated a competence, Mr. Harris divided the greater part of his land among. his sons and retiring from active labor, removed from the farm and took up his abode in Waverly, where he put up a large and comfortable residence, which he still oceupies. At the farm during his later years, he made a speciality of stock-raising with most excellent results. He had in the mean- time become the father of eight children, but was deprived of the companionship of his devoted wife, who died in 1851.
Miss Caroline Harris, the eldest daughter of our subject, became the wife of James Arnold, and died in Sangamon County, this State, several years ago; Elizabeth, (Mrs. William Calbert) is a resi- dent of Arkansas; Charles lives in Sangamon County, Ill .; Naney is the wife of Dr. R. E. Mc Vey, of Topeka, Kan .; Martha married Enoch Gil- pin, and died in Sangamon County ; William HI. H. H., is a resident of Waverly; Thomas J. and James M., (twins) are residents of Sangamon County ; Emerson T. died in Waverly in 1881.
Mr. Harris in November, 1852, contracted a second marriage with Polly C. Tinnon, who was born and reared in Logan County, Ky., and who died in Waverly, this county, in January, 1888. Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for J. Q. Adams, becoming a member of the Old Whig party. Upon its abandonment he supported John C. Fremont, and has since been an ardent Repub- lican. He has served as Justiee of the Peace, both in Sangamon and Macoupin counties, and has been a Deacon of the Baptist Church for many years. Hle identified himself with this Church fifty years ago. He says that the winter of 1888-89 was
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the mildest he has known since the famous season of 1829-30. On the 10th of March, 1830, his wife gathered a handsome boquet of wild flowers. He experienced the rigors of the winter of 1830-31, well known in history as the winter of the deep snow, and this was repeated in 1855-56, althoughi not to so aggravated a degree. The eyes which have looked upon so many wonderful- scenes and the tongue which is able to relate so many thrill- ing incidents will in due time have failed their office, but the name of William P. Harris will be held in kindly rememberance long after he has been gathered to his fathers.
We give elsewhere a lithographed portrait of Mr. Harris, which to his many friends will be a valuable memento.
OHN H. ECKHOFF, a native of this county and one of its most enterprising young farmer and stoek-raisers, owns and operates 200 acres of land on section 21, township 16, range 12. He has just passed his thirty-second year, having been born May 11, 1857, and is of German parentage, being the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Oberkotter) Eckhoff, the father a native of Hanover, Germany, and the mother born in Prussia.
'The father of our subject emigrated to America abont forty years ago, and for three years was a resident of Cleveland, Ohio. There he met his future wife and was married, and to them were born five children, of whom four are living, namely : John HI .; Annie, the wife of Albert Uhnken; Henry and T. F. Upon coming to Illinois early in the fifties they established themselves in Meredosia Precinet, and for several years thereafter the father rented land in both Morgan and Scott counties. In the fall of 1865 he secured the property now owmed and occupied by our subject, and here the parents both died, the mother in 1872 and the father in 1883.
The elder Eekhoff was a poor man when coming to this county, but at his death left an estate of 160 aeres of land in addition to $8,000 worth of per- sonal property. This fact indicates the success
with which he labored and the manner in which he overcame the hardship and difficulties incident to pioneer life. Without making any great stir in the world he pursued the even tenor of his way in an honest and upright manner, and while ac- cumulating the wherewithal to make life com- fortable and desirable, established himself in the esteem and confidence of his neighbors. He was the friend of religious and educational institutions and a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church, in which he served as a Trustce, and to the support of which he contributed liberally. Politi- cally, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and served in the district as School Director.
The subject of this sketch obtained his education in the public schools and grew up amid surround- ings far different from those of the young men of to-day. He was thoughtful and intelligent beyond his years, and by a course of reading has always kept himself posted upon current events. His 200- acre farm is steadily growing in value under his good management and careful cultivation, and he has already become a man of note in his communl- ity. Like his honored father he supports the prin- eiples of the Democratic party.
R ICHARDSON VASEY was born in York- shire, England, May 9, 1843, and after a most useful life, died at his home in Jack- sonville. March 21, 1884. He had retired somewhat from active business, but had carried on his farm most of the time until his death. He en- tered the mercantile business in partnership with Adam Funk about one year before his death, and was fast attaining distinction in this calling, when he was called away.
Mr. Vasey was the son of John and Hannah ( Rich- ardson) Vasey. A full family history of the Richard- sons appears in another part of this volume in the biography of Vincent Richardson. John Vasey, after marriage lived in England until all his family was born. On May 27, 1849, they bid farewell to their native land, and after a journey of eight weeks and three days, landed in New York. whence they im- mediately proceeded to Morgan County, and there
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settled in township 15, range 11, and here John Vasey and wife spent their last days in affluence, and died in the old home that was the scene of their battle for independence, and which they gallantly won. John Vasey died July 20, 1871. He was born Oct. 1, 1804. His wife survived him until June 16, 1884, when she died at the age of seventy- four years. Mr. and Mrs. Vasey were members of the English Church, and were mueh beloved by all their acquaintances.
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