USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 51
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 51
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Like all of the pioneers Mr. Hughes was sub- jected to many hardships. He has been an eye wit- ness of the gradual growth of the country, from a wild state into what it is to-day, and he himself has nohly done his part. He was married Feb. 20, 1827, to Elizabeth Webb, who has borne him nine ehild- ren: Sarah A., wife of William McDonald, a native of Scotland ; Mary, wife of A. Gunn, of this eounty ; Allen B., in this eounty; William, in Kansas City, Mo .; Emily, wife of James Dikis, in Murrayville, Ill .; Robert R., Komar, Pratt County, Kan .; John'T. in Sangamon County, Ill .; Harriette E., wife of Stewart Murray, in Kansas; Oliver P., in Cass County, Ill.
Mr. Hughes at one time owned about 1,200 acres
of land which he has mostly divided among his children. He has been married three times. His first wife died in 1860, and his second was Abigail Iliekes, the third who died in 1888 was the widow Entrieen. Our subject is a thorough and self-inade man, and is numbered among old settlers of Mor- gan County. He is now reaping the fruits of his early industry, enjoying life in his old age sur- rounded by his children. In politics, he is a Dein- ocrat, and his two sons, Robert and Oliver, served gallantly in the late war. He has always been at the head of every movement to improve the county or elevate society. He is a Member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Stew- ard for about a quarter of a century, and his usual industry and energy have characterized his deal- ings with the church as well.
G EORGE W. LAURIE. This gentleman is one of the few citizens in Morgan County who have lived on the same land nearly sixty years. Fifty-eight years ago his father, John Laurie, one of the early settlers of township 15, entered this land from the Government, on the last day of August, 1830, and here founded a new home far from the old one, which lay aeross the broad waters of the Atlantic. He became a man of much prominence in this community, and always worked for its highest good. His son, of whom we write, is a worthy descendant of his honored sire. Most of his life has been passed ou this old homestead, and he is a sturdy representative of those who were reared to a stalwart, honest man- hood, amid the pioneer scenes that prevailed in this county less than half a century ago. He has becn elosely identified with the agricultural inter- ests of the township for many years, and is elassed among its most substantial citizens. ITis farm, on seetions 3 and 4, townships 15 and 16, range 10, comprises 285 aeres of choice land, under fine cul- tivation and well improved.
The father of our subject was born Jan. 27. 1787, on the River Clyde, in Scotland, at a town ealled Bigger. When a young man he entered the office of the Craig Leith Quarry, near Edinburg,
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as elerk, and remained there for twenty years and became quite an accomplished man of business. In 1830, when he was about forty-three years of age, he threw up his elerkship in that company in order to try life in the United States, and accompanied by his wife and four children that had been born to them in their Scottish home, he set sail on the ship Eliza, and after a voyage of eight weeks and two days landed in New York August 2.
Leaving his family in that city, and taking with him his eldest son, Mr. Laurie eame to this State by the way of New Orleans and the Mississippi River, his family subsequently coming to join him here by way of the lakes and river. He found the country in a wild condition, sparsely settled, there being but a few families between there and Jackson- ville, and it was all open prairie in the vicinity of that eity. He entered the tract of land men- tioned as being the present homestead of our sub- ject, settled on it, and commeneed its development into a farmn. He broke nearly all of the land, put it under excellent cultivation, and made many needed improvements. But being a man of spe- culative turn of mind and aetive temperament, farming alone did not satisfy him, and he became interested in buying and selling land, and also en- gaged in the loan business. He took a prominent part in promoting the material prosperity of this township, and was active in securing educational and religious privileges. IIe was one of the first to start a school here, the head of each honse- hold paying a certain sum each day for each one of his children, and our subjeet ean well remember the little log building that served the double pur- pose of a school-house and church.
The father of our subject died on the old liome- stead, Oct. 21, 1863, at a ripe old age, having lived to see the wonderful growth of Morgan County from the wild, seareely inhabited condition in which he found it on that August day so many years before, to a wealthy and populous eom- munity, occupying a proud position among its sister counties, he having had an honorable share in bringing about the marvelous ehange. His wife, whose maiden name was Jemima Kirk. died the 8th of the following January, 1864, so that they who had lived in peace and harmony so many years were
not long divided by death. She would have been seventy years of age the 26th of March, 1864.
The subject of this biographical review was born in New York City, and was an infant but eight months old when he was brought to his future home in Morgan County. Here he was bred to the honorable life of a farmer, gaining a good praeti- cal knowledge of the vocation in all its details, and has ever sinee prosperously pursued it. When he eame to establish hinself in life Mr. Laurie ehose as a wife and helpmate Miss Mary J. Massey, who was born in Cass County, this State, just across the line from this township. Mr. and Mrs. Laurie's happy domestic life has proved the wisdom of his choiee, and in their comfortable home six children have come to bless their union : Martha J., Mary J., Esther B., John H., Elizabeth M., and George W., all of whom are at home and liave re- ceived fine educational advantages.
Mrs. Laurie's father, Henderson E. Massey, was born in Roanoake, Va., July 27, 1808, but in his boyhood he went to Tennessee to live. At the age of sixteen he made his way to Galena, Ill., was there at the time of the Black Hawk War, enlisted in the service, fought bravely, and had some close ealls. He married Miss Marthia Marshall, of Cass County, her father, who was of Scotch deseent, . having been an early settler of that county. She died March 29, 1874, aged fifty-eight years, leav- ing a family of twelve children. Mr. Massey was an early settler of Cass County.
Mr. Laurie's career in life as a man and a eiti- zen is worthy of emulation. In every relation that he lias sustained toward others, as son, husband, father, neighbor, he has shown himself to be guided by the highest and holiest principles, and the many . to whom he is known, unite in testifying to his honorable eharaeter and unswerving integrity.
W ILLIAM T. DUNN. This gentleman is recognized as a leading stoek-raiser of this county, being one of the first who intro- dueed the famous llolstein eattle into this seetion, in the breeding of which he is largely interested, and has at the head of his herd " Tim Tulan" and
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MORGAN COUNTY.
" Fenelon,", both registered animals from the herd of George E. Brown & Co., of Aurora, and aged two and three years respectively. The farm of Mr. Dunn comprises 160 aeres of valuable land, where he has all the buildings and applianees suit- able to the requirements of the enterprising and progressive agriculturist. A spring of living water is one of the important adjunets of this industry, and the rich pasturage forms a beautiful range for his herds. The farm is located on section 8, town- ship 15, range 11, and although Mr. Dunn has only occupied it since 1884, he has effected many im- provements, and there are few which exeel it in its loc ition and general value.
Our subject is a native of Illinois, having been born in Cass County Feb. 24, 1850, and is the son of John and Caroline (Treadway ) Dunn, both of whom are deceased, the father passing away in Cass County in October, 1875, at the age of sixty-four years. He had been a resident there for the long period of forty-one years, settling there when the country was mostly a wild prairie, and assisting in developing his township, where he was numbered among its most useful citizens.
The father of our subject was born in Cornwall County, England, where he lived until reaching · man's estate, then eamne to America, and settling in Cass County, this State, was married to Miss Tread- way, who was born in Ohio of American parents, the name of hier father being Edward Treadway. The Treadway family lived for many years in the Miami "Valley, whence they removed to Illinois about 1837, and spent their last years in Cass County. Mrs. Caroline Dunn, after the death of her hushand, retained the homestead until about . two years before her decease, then went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Paschal, of this county, where she spent her last days and died in 1887, at the age of seventy-three years; both she and her husband had been active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church from the time of un- iting with it in 1858.
Our subjeet was the next to the youngest of the nine children born to his parents, four of whom are living, the three besides himself making their homes in Cass County, this State. He was reared and edueated in his native county, and remained a
member of his father's household until twenty-five years old. Ile was then married to Miss Matilda Chalfant, who was born in Beardstown, this State, March 12, 1856. Her parents were Thomas and Ann (Norton) Chalfant, natives of Wheeling, W. Va., who came to Illinois in their youth, and formed, in Beardstown, the acquaintance which resulted in their marriage. M.s. Chalfant died in Cass County in the spring of 1878, at the age of forty-one years. She was taken away very sud- denly with neuralgia of the heart. Mr. Chalfant still resides in Beardstown, where he is employed as a pattern maker, wagon-maker, and general me- chanic, and is now about sixty-six years old.
Mrs. Dunn was given a good education, being graduated from the High school at Beardstown, and afterward occupied herself as a teacher some time before her marriage. The two children born to our subjeet and his estimable wife, a son and a daughter, Jolin and Alice, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subject officiates as Steward, and in politics he upholds the princi- ples of the Republican party.
P ETER ROBERTS first saw the light of day Jan. 12, 1812, in Washington County, 'T'enn., where he resided until he was twenty-one years of age, and in company with Alexander Pitner, emigrated to Morgan County in 1833. He commenced life by working on a farm by the monthi.
Mr. Roberts, in 1837, was married to Miss Eme- line MeGinnis, a native of Washington County, Tenn. Her parents came to Morgan County in 1825. Mr. Roberts is now the happy possessor of 600 broad aeres of land, well improved, and in a good state of cultivation.
William Roberts, father of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Washington County, Tenn. He married Miss Eve Ruble, of Pennsyl- vania, whose parents emigrated to Tennessee at an early day. Our subject had cleven brothers and sisters: One brother, Joseph, married Caroline Sargent, of Sangamon County, Ill., where he is en-
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MORGAN COUNTY.
gaged in farming; they have six children. Samuel married Eve Seymour, of Morgan County; he en- listed in the late war, and was one of the many thousands who gave their lives in defense of their country. He was killed at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga., leaving a widow and three chil- dren, who are now living in Morgan County.
In the family of Peter Roberts, whose name heads this sketch, are four children: Thomas, James, Douglas, and Hardin. Donglas married Miss Lulu Diekinson, of Morgan County, and is a farmer; they have seven children. Hardin married a lady in Texas. where he is residing, following the oeeupation of lawyer and teacher. The rest of the children are at home.
The subject of this sketch is one of the pioneers of Morgan County, and is a man of ability. He was elected Colonel of the 22d Illinois Militia, a position he filled with eredit to himself and the serviee for seven years. He inherited his soldierly qualities from his father, who served with distin- guished honor in the war of 1812. He is engaged in a general farming business, and has been emi- nently sueeessful in business affairs. His neighbors can testify to the faet that there is no more publie- spirited man in the community than Col. Roberts. His son, Douglas, is superintendent of the farm.
Col. Roberts is a Demoerat, and east his first vote for Andrew Jackson, so that it will be seen that he is not a recent reeruit in the Demoeratie party.
HOMAS B. CULLY is one of the younger generation that has grown up sinee this eounty has been settled, and who have in- herited their fathers' homesteads. The farm upon which Mr. Cully is now residing was loeated by his father very early in the history of Morgan County, about 1834, and is situated on seetion 36 of town- ship 16, range 11, and consists of 170 acres of average Illinois prairie land, which means as good as there is under the sun.
Mr. Cully's father, Joshua Cully, bought this place when it was partially improved. He came here from his native State (Indiana), where he was reared to manhood and married, and after the birth
of two children eame to Morgan County. He eame overland with teams, and located on the farm that Joshua Cully had previously selected. After the selection was made Mr. Cully sent for his wife and children. About a year after they came to Morgan County Mrs. Cully died, while in the prime of life, leaving two children, one of whom, Elizabeth, died at the age of forty-five years, and left two children, her husband having died before her. The living child of Mr. Cully by his first marriage is J. M. Cully, now a resident of Kansas, where he is engaged in farming. Joshua Cully married for his second wife Miss Mary E. Shart- zar. She was born in Virginia of German aneestry, and was quite young when her parents removed from Virginia to Illinois, where they located in township 15, range 11, near the County Poor Farm, and there her parents died. Her father was a very successful farmer, aud was well liked by his neighborhood. Joshua Cully was fortunate in his selection of a wife, and together they built up a good home and a most excellent reputation. Mr. Cully was born in the first year of this eentury, and died in 1859. His wife survived him, passing away in 1881, when she was sixty-seven years of age. The house that was built by his father and mother is owned by Thomas B. Cully, and by him is held in reverence. In this country people think too little of old landmarks, and the march that is being made toward riches is never stopped, nor even obstrueted for a moment, by any of the old monuments that ought to be retained for the asso- eiations that eluster around them. The old log eabin, in which the early struggles of our fathers and mothers were made, ought to be preserved as a precious relic of the heroie days when it eost something to be a resident of Illinois.
Thomas B. Cully is the second child of eight children, five sons and three daughters. All the daugliters and two of the sons are now dead. William W. and John J. are now residents of Mor- gan County, where Thomas B. was reared and edu- cated. He was married here to Mary E. Angel. who was also a native of Morgan County, and was born in 1847. She is the daughter of John Angel, whose biography appears in another part of this ALBUM. Mrs. Cully had the advantage of being
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MORGAN COUNTY.
trained to womanhood by careful, conseientions. and intelligent parents. She is the mother of eight children : Ida M., Thomas H., James O)., Nellie C., Johanna, Elmer and Albert (twins), and Frank.
Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cully have lived on the farm which they now own and occeupy, and where they have seored a great success in life. They are members of the Methodist Church, an or- ganization in which they take a great deal of inter- est. Politically, Mr. Cully is an ardent Democrat, and has held about all the local offices.
W ILLIAM FLETCHER SHORT, D. D., Presi- dent of the Illinois Female College. This gentleman who holds an advanced posi- tion in religious and educational eireles in Illinois, was born in Butler County, Ohio, near the city of Hamilton in the year 1829. He is the son of Daniel and Diana (Petefish) Short, and was the first-born of a family that ineluded eleven children. The brothers and sisters were named as follows : Martha J., Oliver Francis, Sarah Ellen, Thomas B., Samuel P .. Elizabeth, Mary A., Harriet, Ezra D. and Char- lotte.
The grandfather of our subjeet, William Short, was born in Virginia, and eame to this State about the year 1848, and settled in the vicinity of De- eatur in Macon County. Ilis life oeeupation was that of farming, which he followed with varying suceess, yet withal no little financial progress, and died at the advanced age of ninety years at the home where he had so long enjoyed the eompe- tency he had made. Ilis political position was in the ranks of the Democrat party, of which he was a firm adherent. The mother of our subjeet was born in Rockingham County, Va., in the year 1810. After her marriage with Mr. Short they remained in Virginia for a time, but removed to Ohio, and later to this county, where they settled in 1834. The next year following her parents also settled in this county. After a happy married life of about thirty-five years she died, in Sangamon County, aged about sixty years.
The early days of our subjeet were spent in this county, he being but five years of age when his
parents removed hither. After receiving the usual course of instruction in the ordinary schools, at the age of twenty he entered Mckendree College, and after studying through his junior year entered the Illinois Wesleyan University, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1854 as A. B., and three years later reeived the degree of A. M. in course, and was made a Doctor of Divinity by the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1877. During his senior year he was appointed to a Missouri Conference Seminary at Jaekson, and served three years teach- ing in the same. At the end of that period his health failed and he joined the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He commenced his labors as a elergyman at Island Grove, which pulpit he filled for two years. From there he went to Williamsville, Sangamon County, serving for the same period. The next two years were spent at Waverly, in Morgan County, after which he went to Winehester, Scott County, for a like term. The subsequent three years he was at Carlinville, thenee he removed to Hillsboro, remaining one year and then went to Jacksonville, where for three years he was Pastor of Grace Church. At that period he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Jacksonville District, holding the same for four years, after which he received the appointment to his present position, in which he has continued for fourteen years.
The nuptials of Dr. Short and Miss Sarah B. Laning were celebrated in the year 1854. This lady was one of a family of nine, and the only daughter born to Jacob II. and Hannah (Silvers) Laning, who were natives of the State of New Jer- sey. They migrated to Illinois and settled in Me- nard County, at an early date in the history thereof. The above interesting event occurred at Peters- burgh, Menard County. There has been given to them five children, whose names are as follows: Luella Belle, Catherine, Flora M., William Fletcher, Jr., and Edward Laning.
The eldest daughter of our subject was edneated in the Illinois Female College and was graduated in 1873; the name of her husband is Edward Lambert, of Jacksonville. Their family now ineludes three children, viz .: Annie Watson, Edward Laning, and Helen May. Annic is attending the college of
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MORGAN COUNTY.
which her grandfather is principal. Catherine, who was born in the year 1858, was graduated from the same institution in 1876, as was also her sister Flora, who is now Mrs. Julian S. Wadsworth; her husband is pastor of the Methodist Church of Centerville, Rhode Island; Catherine is now Mrs. Dr. J. D. Waller; William was born in 1866, at- tended Illinois College, and is now a salesman in the dry-goods store of Mr. Patterson, of Jackson- ville.
The subject of our sketch is a man of strong, patriotie sentiments, and he took occasion during the late war to express himself forcibly in that con- neetion. He made quite a number of fervid and loyal speeches, aiming to arouse the most loyal en- thusiasm of his fellow-citizens, and was actively engaged in raising recruits to do active service. Ile was a member of the party known then as War Democrats, and none could possibly have taken a firiner stand, both in private and public, in oppo- sition to the rebellion and in support of the Union than did he.
The Short family is of Seoteli-Irish stock, and blends at once the national characteristics of botlı, giving all the firmness and hardy manhood of the one and the keen-witted, bright vivacity of the other. Dr. Short has been a resident of Morgan County and vicinity for over fifty years, and is thoroughly well-known and that also most favora- bly. His administration of the college has been such as to keep it upon the top wave of popularity, financial success and intellectual power. As a re- sult the attendance is always strained to its utmost capacity, and usually there are more waiting to take their places in the elasses than ean possibly be received.
OHN II. COX is a native of Morgan County, where he was born March 1, 1838. He is in the possession of a good common-school education, supplemented by a good fund of common sense. His father, Harris Cox, was born in Mercer County, Ky., Oct. 20, 1807. He lived in his native State until he attained his majority. He married Nancy Mcclellan, who was a distant relative of Gen: George B. McClellan. She was born
July 12, 1809. After his marriage Harris Cox re- moved to Boone County. Ind., and lived there four years, but becoming dissatisfied with that country, he made up his mind to better himself, and eonse- quently, in 1834, came to Morgan County and located on a piece of land, which he afterward de- veloped into a splendid homestead. He died in 1864, his wife preceding him. They had six chil- dren, three of whom died in infancy, and three are living, a record of whom follows: Ailsie mar- ried Melchi Hart (deceased). She was married again to Ilelms Roberts, of Sangamon County. He is now a farmer of this county. Julia Ann married James Hill, of Morgan County, who died in Franklin, leaving one son, Robert. John H., of whom this sketch is written, married Mary F. Boyer. Her father came from Kentucky, while her mother was a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the parents of seven children, six of whom are living, namely : William H., George, Charles, David N., Naney, and John E. George married Susan Edwards, daughter of Marion and Rachel Edwards, of Morgan County. He is farm- ing. The rest of the children are living at home with their parents.
The father of the subject of this sketch was married twice, his second wife being Mrs. Mary Sims, and to this union there were born eleven children, eight of whom are living: Williamn HI., Jane, Lueinda and Er (twins), James L., Sarah, Miriam and Mary M. Jane married Luther Cline, of Ohio, who is now a farmer in Morgan County. They have six children. Lueinda married David Cham- bers, of Morgan County, and they are the parents of two children. Er married Emiline Rees, and is a farmer of Morgan County ; they have six children. James L. married a lady in Jackson County, Mo., to whom was born two children; he is engaged in railroading. Sarah married George Smith, of Athensville, Greene Co., Ill .; he is engaged in the lumbering business, and they have four eliil- dren. Miriam married Marion Smith, a farmer of Greene County ; they have five children. Mary M. married Ransom Chambers, a farmer of this county. The result of this union was three children.
John H. Cox, in common with most of the people who go to a new country to seek a home
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MORGAN COUNTY.
and to better themselves, had little upon which to build his present fortune. Seven years after his marriage he had but eighty aeres of land, partially improved, but by industry, intelligence, and eeon- omy he has inereased his holdings, so that now his farm contains 167 aeres of unsurpassed land, every spot of which is improved, and which brings large returns to the owner. Besides raising grain, he takes great pride in good stoek, and finds that it pays.
The members of Mr. Cox's family are consistent members of the Baptist Church, of which he has been Clerk for a long time: Politieally, Mr. Cox is a sound Prohibitionist, leaning toward Demoe- raey. He has held the office of Constable and School Director, is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is also a Patron of Husbandry. Mr. Cox is reekoned by his neighbors and acquaintances as being a solid, substantial farmer-a reputation well earned.
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