USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 54
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 54
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Mr. Ritchie, politieally, is a sound Demoerat, and an earnest worker for his party, frequently serving as a delegate to the county and distriet conventions. Ile occupies with his family a pleas- ant home in the west part of town. Mrs. Ritehie is a member of the Congregational Church.
UGUSTINE A. CURTISS. The young man glaneing fifty years ahead into the future esteems it a long period of time in the life of an individual, but at the end of this time, in looking back, it invariably appears
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brief. The scenes and incidents which have been crowded into a half century, often appear more like the dream of a night, and the labors of men have achieved that which at one time appeared im- possible. Mr. Curtiss has seen much of life, and has noted with keen interest the great changes which have transpired, especially in the Great West, and he has been one of those men whose energy, enterprise, and perseverance have assisted in the growth and development of Morgan County, which has attained to a leading position in the great State of Illinois. He represents a fine prop- erty, and is numbered among the leading mnen of his county.
Of New England birth and parentage, our sub- ject first drew the breath of life in Salisbury, Litch- field Co., Conn., April 3, 1817. His parents were Homer and Cherry (Everett) Curtiss, who after their 'marriage resided in Salisbury three years, then re moved to Warren, in that State. where their son, Au- gustine A., was reared to man's estate on a farm, and received his education in a common school, supplemented by a term in the academy at Warren, Conn. They finally decided to seek their fortunes in the young State of Illinois, and made their way to this county, settling near the embryo town of Waverly, where the father secured a tract of land, and where our subject assisted in opening up a farm.
Young Curtiss remained a member of the par- ental household until a young man of twenty-five years, then, desirous of establishing a fireside of his own, he was married, in 1842, to Miss Laura Ly- man. This lady died less than two years later, leaving one child, a daughter, Laura, named after her mother. This daughter, npon reaching woman- hood, was married to William W. Brown, and died leaving one child, which afterward followed its mother to the better land. Mrs. Curtiss was a native of Vermont, and when coming to Illinois with her parents settled near Farmingdale, in San- gamon county, where slie lived until her marriage.
Our subject, in July, 1848, contracted a second matrimonial alliance with Miss Huldah L., daughter of loseph A. Tanner, who was the first man to settle upon the present site of Waverly. Mr. Curtiss made farming the business of his lifetime, and has
been remarkably successful both as an agriculturist and a business man, investing his capital wisely and having the faculty of developing his land to the best advantage. . He at one time was the owner of over 400 acres, but disposed of a portion of this, and has now 300 acres in the home farm, besides 100 acres of timber, and an interest in a large farm in Macoupin County.
During the latter years of his farming operations Mr. Curtiss made a specialty of stock-raising, from which he realized quite a little fortune. His land is now operated by other parties. He has con- tributed largely to the building up of the town of Waverly, was instrumental in establishing the bank in which he has a controlling interest, and lie is also one of the stock-holders of the Waverly Crea- mery. He has been the uniform encourager of those projects caleulated to elevate the people, morally and socially, and with his estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Congregational Church. He is a uniform supporter of the Repub- lican party. He has discharged the duties of the various local offices, and has always signalized him- self as a liberal and public spirited citizen-onc of those useful to his community, and numbered among its' most honored men.
W ILLIAM A. HUTCHISON, who is promi- nent among the business interests of Wa- verly, is, with his partners, Messrs. Flem- ing & Sons, conducting a prosperous trade in hard- ware and drugs, and has been established liere since 1859. His family is numbered among the pioneers of 1830, at which time James Hutchison, the father, with his wife and one child, William A., settled on a tract of land near Waverly, when there was very little indication of a town.
The ancestors of our subject went by the namc of Hudson, and were first represented in this eoun- try by five brothers, who emigrated from England and settled in Virginia and adjoining States. One of their descendants, Josepli Hudson, the grand- father of our subjeet, was born near Richmond, Va., but at an early day removed to Kentucky, and laid out the town of Hudsonville, in Breckenridge
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County. It is not known positively just how the name came to be changed, but was evidently done after the birth of grandfather Iludson, who in time answered to the name of Hutchison, to which his descendants afterward clung. Ile was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died at the advanced age of one hundred and two years.
John Hutchison, a son of the above, and the grandfather of our subjeet, was born in Brecken- ridge County, Ky., where he followed farming, and married Miss Susan Heinemann, of German ances- try. They lived in Kentucky until 1830, then ac- companied their son James, the father of our sub- ject, to Illinois, and settled in this county. The grandfather after a time started to visit his old home in the Blue Grass State, and died on the way there, in Jasper County, Ill., at the age of about seventy years. His wife died in Waverly, this county, when sixty years old. They were the par- ents of five children.
James Hutchison was born in Breckenridge County, Ky., in 1808, and was married, in Indiana, to Miss Elethia Campbell. This lady was born in North Carolina, and in 1830 they came to Illinois, and settled upon a claim of Government land near Waverly. This the father afterward sold, and en- tered eighty acres near by, which he improved and lived upon a number of years. About 1837 lie moved into the village, and built a carding mill and grist inill. Ile possessed considerable mechanical genius, had learned the tailor's trade, and was also a millwright. He operated these mills until 1851, in which year the cholera epidemic visited this region, and he fell a victim to the terrible disease.
The father of our subjeet was an carnest Chris- tian man, and for many years officiated as a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Churel. He was kind and benevolent, both in his public and private life, gave liberally to those in need, and was successful in business, accumulating a comfort- able property. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died about 1840, leaving seven children, five of whom lived to mature years, and of whom William A., our subject, was the eldest. His brother John is a resident of Waverly; JJosepli makes his home in Augusta, Ark .; Margaret became the wife of Dr. McVey, and died in Macoupin
County, this State; Mary is the wife of C. F. Meacham, of Waverly.
The second wife of James Hutchison was Miss Margaret Westfall, and they became the parents of three children: David. a resident of Jacksonville; Samuel and Melinda, of Waverly. William A., our subjeet, was born in Little Orleans, Southern Indi- ana, on the White River, Aug. 2, 1828, and was two years old when the family came to this county. Ilere he lias since lived, and has thus witnessed the changes which have passed over the face of the country, and the transformation of the raw prairie to cultivated farms and prosperous villages. IIe was taught to make himself useful at an carly age, and assisted his father in the mills until leaving home to become a clerk in Waverly, where lic re- mained two years. At the expiration of this time he associated himself in partnership with William Rhodes, and under the firm name of Rhodes & Hutchison they carried on a general store until the death of the father. The firm then disposed of their stock of merchandise, and confined their at- tention to the mills. One of these was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt, and eighteen months later the other was burned, causing additional heavy loss, and leaving Mr. Hutchison without property and in debt.
Making the best of circumstances Mr. Hutchison, now without capital, resumed the occupation of a clerk, and in due time rebuilt his mill, operated it for a time, then sold out, and purchased an interest in the store where he had been clerking. With this he has sinee been connected. Prosperity has at- tended him during these later years, and he is now in the enjoyment of a lucrative patronage. Ile is at present associated with Messrs. Robert Fleming & Sons, the firm name being Ilutchison, Fleming & & Sons.
Mr. Hutchison was married, in 1852, to Miss Julia Church, who was born in Greene County, this State, and is the daughter of Levi and Esther (Kellogg) Church. This union resulted in the birth of four children, one of whom died in infaney, and one at the age of thirteen years. The survivors are Edwin and Hattie. Mr. Hutchison, politically, gives his uniform support to the Republican party, and with the exception of serving as City Treas-
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urer has had but very little to do with public affairs. In religious matters he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he gives a liberal support, and is considered one of its chief pillars. Socially, he is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F. He is regarded as a man of the strietest integrity, and his credit is al- ways A 1. At one time he dealt considerably in grain, and was associated with other leading citi- zens in the building of the elevator at Waverly.
R OBERT D. SMITH, Mayor of Waverly, is occupying a position for which he is emi- nently fitted as one of the oldest residents of this county, and identified with its most im- portant interests. He came to this part of the county when a boy and for many years thereafter was mostly engaged in farming pursuits with the ex- ception of the time employed in securing an exeel- lent edueation. lle completed his studies at 111- invis College, but was prevented from being grad- uated by the failure of his eyesight which compelled him to leave his class during the last term. Later and after his marriage he operated and improved a fine farm, dealt largely in grain and stock and ac- cumulated a handsome property. In the meantime however, he became interested in the grocery trade in which he invested some capital, and in 1883 pur- chased his present business-groceries and provis- ions-and removed to town. Ile, however, carried on his farm until 1887, when he sold his personal belongings, rented his farm, and now confines his attention to trade.
The birth-place of our subject was near Chapin in Seott County, this State, and the date thereof, Nov. 11, 1846. He is the son of Wilson and Jane C. ( Willard) Smith, the father, a native of Penn- sylvania, and the mother of Nashville, Tenn. The paternal grandfather, Andrew Smith, was also born in the Keystone State, where he lived until reach- ing man's estate, and until after his marriage and the birth of three children. He then about 1811, determined upon a removal to Indiana which at that time was considered the far West. He settled upon a tract of land among the Indians in the wil-
derness of Switzerland County, where he eree ted his log cabin, improved a farm and lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-six years. His wife lived to be eighty years old. They reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew up and were married, except the old- est son who remained single all his life.
Among the above mentioned children was Wil- son Smith, the father of our subject, who was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 16, 1808, and was about three years old when his parents emigrated to Switzerland County, Ind. He lived at home until a youth of seventeen years, then engaged on a flat- boat, running from Vevay, Ind., to Cincinnati on the Ohio River. . In due time he attained to the position of pilot on the Lower Mississippi and was thus occupied several years, being at Natchez when that city was shaken up by the earthquake.
Mr. Smith first came to Illinois in the latter part of 1833, spending the winter in Scott County, but in the spring returned to the river; subsequently he met with great loss in the sinking of his boat in the Lower Mississippi. He then abandoned the river and secured a tract of land near the present site of Chapin, and in connection with its improve- ment and cultivation followed the trade of earpen- ter, putting up a number of houses which are still in use.
The next important event in the life of the fa- ther of our subject was his marriage, which oceur- red in 1843, with Miss Jane C. Willard. This lady was born in Nashville, Tenn., in September, 1822, and is the daughter of William and Martha (Good- pasture) Willard, who removed from Tennessee to this county in 1830, Mr. Willard entering a half section of as fine land as was to be found in this county. In connection with its care and cultivation he officiated as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Chureli, and lived to the advanced age of eighty- two years. He was the father of a family of ten children, namely: Madison, Jefferson, Alexander. Jasper, Newton C., Jane, Margaret, Martha, Mari- on and Prilla.
'The father of our subject after his marriage fol- lowed his trade about one year and afterward gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1852 he purchased a farm near Chapin, and being
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prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil, grad- ually added to his possessions until he became the owner of 400 acres. Under his careful manage- ment this beeame very valuable, and he embellished it with as fine a set of frame buildings as could be found in the whole county. IIe lived to enjoy the fruits of his labors until he had attained to a ripe old age, and departed hence in November, 1881. The mother is still living, is in good health and oeeupies the old homestead.
The sentiments of morality and piety were re- inarkably strong in the makeup of Wilson Smith, who was a devout member of the Methodist Episco- pal Chureh, and a striet adherent of its doetrines. He possessed some peculiar qualities of character, never sang or whistled, and never used an oath or a slang phrase. He made the Bible the rule of his life, studying it carefully and intently, and with his devoted wife was a faithful worker in the Mas- ter's vineyard. Originally a Demoerat, he in 1864, supported the Republican ticket, and although hold- ing some of the local offices, mixed very little in politics otherwise than to give his support to the men and the principles which he believed would be for the best good of the people.
Of the five children born to the parents of our subject, one died in infaney. Robert D)., our sub- ject, was the first born ; Clara is the wife of Robert G. Ilardeastle, of Greene County, this State; Laura married Albert Tanner, and they reside in Gage County, Neb .; Lenora is the wife of Frank P. Mckinney, of Chapin Ill.
Mr. Smith has in his possession a razor hone owned by one of his grandsires some 200 years ago and made in Ireland by cutting a hiekory stiek which was petrified by a process not now known, but whiel forms one of the finest articles for the purpose ever made. This relie, it is to be hoped will be preserved for generations to eome, and it is something which moneycould searcely purchase.
Our subject on the 16th of February, 1875, was married at Mt. Sterling, Brown County, this State, to Miss Irene, daughter of Leven and Mary C. (Putnam) Marshall, a native of that county. The newly wedded pair settled on a farm of 160 aeres, located near Waverly, and forty acres of it was presented to the groom by his father. It lay over
the line in Sangamon County and upon this our subject labored and was successful, erecting good buildings and bringing the soil to a fine state of eultivation. He in due time added eighty aeres to his possessions and for many years raised large quantities of grain and swine. Besides his build- ings he put up neat and substantial fenees, and laid a large amount of tile. The farm was considered a model one, second to none in this part of the State.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of one ehild only, a son, Wilson II. M., who was born April 28, 1881. Mr. Smith like his honored father belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his esti- mable wife is a member of the Christian Church. Politieally, our subjeet affiliates with the Democ- racy, and besides his present office, has held many other positions of trust and responsibility. He is a man of striet integrity, gives close attention to his business and has unquestionably made a suceess of life. He is President of the Waverly Building and Loan Association; holds the same office in con- neetion with the Waverly Y. M. C. A., and is Superintendent of the Sabbath Sebool of his Church.
SAAC HILL was born in Hamilton County, Ill., April 15, 1827, and is one of those men, who, thoughi unacquainted with the knowledge that books impart, possess a fund of that scarce commodity, hard common sense. Richard Hill, Isaac's father, was born in Virginia on Mareh 12th, in the last year of the last century. He removed to Kentucky when but a lad, and after living there a few years, he came to Hamilton County, this State, arriving there in 1815, before Illinois as sumed the dignity of a sovereign State of this Union. Ile died while in the prime of life, in 1837. He was united in marriage with Mary Ann Webb, a native of Kentucky. Her people came to Ilamilton County, this State, at an early day. She was of German descent, and traeed her ancestry to the Green Isle. They had two children-John W. and Isaae. John W. married Margaret Beatty, of the village of Franklin, Ill .; he died July 29,
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1876, leaving the following children: Richard, James B. George W. Isaac N., John W., Naney J., Robert, Margaret, and Andrew J.
Isaac, of whom this sketch is written, is the father of thirteen children, nine of whom are liv- ing, as follows: John R., Margaret J., Sarah E., Martha A., George M., Charles R., Minnie B., Til- den C., and Grace L. The deceased are Mary Ann, Naney, William L., and Isaae N. John R. married Martha A. Wright, is now a farmer of Christian County, this State, and is the father of four chil- dren-Lulu E., Ilarry O., Charles W., and Mabel; Margaret married James Ellwright, of Morgan County, who is farming in Cass County, Mo .; they have four children-Roy, Leslie, Grace and Olin. Sarah E. married II. D. Staples, who is a carpenter now living in Clinton, Henry Co., Mo .; they have three children-Winnie, James, and Harrison. Martha A. married L. O. Berryman, who is a far- mer of this eounty; they have one child, Goldie. The rest of the family are unmarried, and are liv- ing at home with their parents.
Isane Hill has a military record of which his children need never be ashamed. When the Mexi- ean War Broke out he enlisted, June 6, 1846, under Capt. W. J. Wyatt. He participated in the hard- fought battle of Buena Vista, and served with dis- tinction to the end of the war, when he was dis- charged at Camengo, Mexico, June 17, 1847. The Government gave to each Mexiean soldier a land- warrant, which entitled him to 160 aeres of land. This he received, and it aided him to make a start in the world. His first purchase in this eounty was that of 127 acres of land, which by industry and economy he has inereased to 204 aeres, in a high state of eultivation, and upon which are erected the necessary buildings for suceessfully carrying on his well-regulated farm. He is assisted by his boys, who have entered into their father's spirit, and will all develop into good eitizens, and prosperous farmers. He is engaged in diversified farming, which is the only safe plan.
The family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hill has held the office of Justice of the Peace for twenty consecutive years, which is an evidenee of the esteem in which he is held hy those who know him best. Ile is a prominent member of the
Masonie fraternity, and is a Demoerat. Mrs. Hill is the daughter of John and Mary (Spires) Dough- erty, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina res- peetively, and who emigrated to Illinois in 1830 with their two children, Mary J., and Charles. Sarah A., and Polly A. were born in Morgan County, Ill., and all are living.
ANSOM F. EVERETT. The sons of New England have contributed in no small meas- ure to the growth and development of Cen- tral Illinois, which has found in them some of its most efficient and reliable men, both as agri- eulturists and members of the business community. A resident of thirty years standing, Mr. Everett, although making no great stir in the world, has pursned the even tenor of his way honestly and uprightly, and as such is amply entitled to repre- sentation in a work designed to record the lives and deeds of the early settlers of this county. Ile owns a snug farm of 120 acres on seetion 27, town- ship 13, range 8, Waverly Precinet, where he has constructed a comfortable home and obtained a competenee for his deelining years. He at one time owned 240 acres of land, but in order to relieve himself of much eare and responsibility, disposed of the greater part of it.
In Sharon, Litehfield Co., Conn., our subjeet was born July 26, 1822, and was the second in a family of nine children, one of whom died at the age of twelve years. The others lived to maturity, and five are now living. The father Gamaliel Everett, was likewise a native of Sharon, and the mother, Mrs. Naney ( Woodward) Everett. was born in Galway, Saratoga County, N. Y. The paternal grandparents of our subjeet were Isah and Eliza- beth (Chafee) Everett, who spent their last years in Connectieut. The old Everett homestead in Sharon has been the property of some of the family for no less than 150 years.
Isah W. Everett, the eldest brother of our sub- ject, died at the old homestead in Sharon, Conn., in 1883. Ransom F., our subjeet, was next in order of birth; Susan E. married John C. Lovell, and started for Illinois, in 1850, but died on the
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journey, and was buried at Grass Lake, Mieh .; Abel continues a resident of his native State; Newton F. lives in Broome County, N. Y .; Charles B. remains at the old homestead; Julia L. beeame the wife of Styles M. Beecher, and lives in Oneida County, N. Y .; Jessie married George Holeomb, and died in Conneetieut.
Our subject spent his boyhood and youth quietly - at the old farm, attending the common school mostly during the winter season, and assisting his father during the seasons of sowing and reaping. Life in New England was vastly different to that which he spent in the West a few years afterward. On the 13th of March, 1851. he was united in mar- riage with Miss Ellen II. Curtiss, and the young people settled down near the old homestead where they lived, until 1860. For some time rumors had reached them of the rich soil of the Prairie State, and they determined to leave the New Eng- land hills, and come hither. Upon his arrival in this eounty our subject purchased sixty aeres of land in Waverly Preeinet, to which he added from time to time, and upon which he has spent the best efforts of his life. Year after year has seen the homestead improved with buildings or trees, and the various other comforts and conveniences natu- rally suggested to the thrifty farmer and the man eareful of the happiness of his family, so that, . although not making any pretensions to eleganee or style, they enjoy life perhaps better than many who follow the fashions and shine in society.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett became the parents of two children-Erastus C. and Adeline L. Erastus mar- ried Miss Aliee Everett, and they have three chil- dren-Ellen M., Hattie G., and Newton F. Mr. Everett is a sound Republican, politieally, and Mrs. Everett is a member of the Congregational Church.
W ILEY SMITH for thirty years has lived at the farm upon which he is now loeated on seetion 13, township 16, range 11. lle has 159 aeres which composes his homestead, and also owns 142 aeres in Seott County, all of which is well improved. Mr. Smith does a general farm- ing business, and is one of those men who have been
principally the arehiteets of their own fortune. He has always worked hard for the achievement of his present possessions, and in a word, has earned every - thing he has.
Mr. Smith eame to this State with his father in 1835, and is a native of Hiekman County, Tenn .. having been born on Kane Creek, Oet. 30, 1829. His father, was also a native of Tennessee, and was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native State, where he was afterward married to Elizabeth Moss, who was born and reared there also. After mar- riage, he pursued farming until four children were born, when they started for Illinois with an ox-team, and arrived there safely in the year indicated. When Peter Smith came to Morgan County, it was a wilderness of prairie, and there were few people living here. Ilis early life in this county was passed in much the same manner as the lives of other pio- neers were, full of hardship, but he lived nntil he saw his adopted eounty rise to the eminenee of being one of the best in the great State of Illinois. Those who are now enjoying the fruits of these early suf- ferings, should remember that the men who came here and prepared the way for their children, deserve greater respeet than an army that conquers by the sword. Peter Smith died on his original farm, May 18, 1876. He was then seventy-three years of age, and his wife preceded him to the shadowy realm, in May, 1875. She was nearly sixty-seven years old. This respected couple were members of the old school Baptist Church, and were well-liked by their associates. They made a good reeord, of which their posterity ought to feel proud.
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