USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 59
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 59
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Upon the organization of this eompany Mr. Wright was elected First Lieutenant, but the Cap- tain being called away on detached duty, Lieut. Wright was obliged to assume command of the company. Ile did not leave the army until the last of April, 1866. Then returning to this eounty he once more turned his attention to rural pursuits, and has now a well-regulated farm of 240 aeres, which yields him a handsome ineome. In the meantime he has interested himself in political affairs, and in November, 1886, was elected to the.
Lower Ilonse of the Illinois Legislature for the term of two years. Prior to this, in 1875, he was the candidate of his party for the office of Sheriff, his opponent being Irvin Dunlap, of Jacksonville. Socially, he belongs to Watson Post No. 420, G. A. R., at Murrayville, and was installed as its first Commander after the organization, which posi- tion he still holds. He is a pronounced Republi- can, politieally. He believes in striet economy, which at times approaches the verge of what some people would term penuriousness, although his in- tegrity in business eannot be questioned, and he enjoys the esteein of a large eirele of friends.
E DWARD E. GOFF. This young man is quietly pursuing his ealling as a praetieal farmer, in township 16, where he possesses a good farm, which he is constantly improving, and he has excellent prospeets of attaining an honorable sueeess in his chosen voeation. He is a native of Illinois, born July 25, 1857, in Menard County, where he was reared and educated, with the excep- tion of three years spent in Jacksonville, where he attended school. He is a son of Murray E. and Lina (Greenwood) Goff, natives of Green County, Ky., the father born in 1818, and who came to Menard County, this State, with their respective parents when they were children. They were there married, and in their pleasant home the following children were born to them: John, a soldier in the late war, died in the service at Padueah, Ky .; Mary married Thomas Dowell, and died in Noda- way County, Mo., leaving a family; Jennie, now Mrs. F. J. Ship, lives in Petersburg, Ill .; Harney W. lives in Menard. County; William A. lives in Montana; Mathew L. is a Baptist minister, in Plano, Ill .; Augustus R. is practicing dentistry in in Washington, Washington Co., Kan .; Edward is our subject; Ida F. is the wife of Dr. Hall, of Chi- cago; David A. lives in Petersburg, Ill .; Vickey died at the age of seven years. The beloved wife and mother departed this life July 4, 1879. The father later married Miss Lizzie Inven, and and they have one son, Ilarry. They now make their home in Petersburg.
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Edward Goff, of this brief life sketch, early en- tered upon his career as a farmer, and his farm of eighty aercs compares favorably with others in the neighborhood in all points. In the establishment of a pleasant home that is a cozy, comfortable re- treat after a hard day's labor, and an attraction to numerous friends, he has had the cheerful co-opera- tion of one who is the best of wives, and the most tender of mothers to the children that have blessed their union. Her maiden name was Mary E. Owens, a daughter of William C. Owens, of whom see sketch, and their marriage was solemnized in the spring of 1879. They have had three children -William M., Rolla J., and an infant, of whom two survive.
Mr. Goff is well educated, and possesses sufficient foree of character and steadiness of purpose to make him a reliable, trustworthy citizen and neigh- bor, and lie is so regarded by his fellow-citizens.
OHN SCHOFIELD. Worthy among the citizens of Scott County, who, though not its earliest settlers, may claim the distinction of being classed among its pioneers, as they have developed fine farms from prairies that thirty or more years ago were wild and uncultivated, stands the subject of this brief life-record, whom we are pleased to represent in this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM. By thrift and good management he has accumulated a competence that enables him and his estimable wife to pass their declining years in the plenty and comfort of a cosy home. His farm, now comprising 240 aeres of arable, highly pro- ductive land, finely located in Winebester Town- ship, is well provided with substantial buildings and everything needful for carrying on agriculture successfully. Mr. Schofield also owns 160 aeres of fine farming land in Stafford County, Kan.
Onr subject was born in England in the early part of this century, being the youngest of the four children in the family of Samuel and Mary (Whee- ler) Schofield, natives, respectively, of Morley, Yorkshire, and London, England. The father was a non-commissioned officer in the British army, and died in 1813, while yet in the prime of life. Jobn
received a very limited education, and at an early age was bound ont to a distant relative of his father, with whom he stayed until he was nineteen, em- ployed mostly in working on a farm. He then bought a loom and began the business of weaving broadcloth, and was profitably engaged at that the ensuing three years. His next venture was to open a general store, and he also managed that very sue- cessfully, building up a good paying trade, and car- . rying it on until he came to America, marrying in the meantime and establishing a home. Although he was doing well our subject wanted to do better and decided to try his fortunes in the United States, and in 1848 he came here, accompanied by his family, and landed in New York about the time of the re- turn of Gen. Seott from the Mexican War, and had the pleasure of seeing the conquering hero. As soon as he could onr subject started for the West, and in Lynnville, Ill., engaged to work on a farm for Jeremiah Hurd, a countryman of his, stayed with him three months and then returned to the village of Lynnville, and purchasing a house and lot, rented some land and engaged in farming for himself. In 1857 he bought his present homestead, or eighty aeres of it, built a house and began elear- ing the land. . He had but few neighbors here then and some of them were rough and lawless. He has been very much prospered in his undertakings, as we have seen in the opening paragraph of this bio- graphical review of his life. We will now devote a few lines to his domestic life.
Our subject has been twice married. The first time in 1833, in Morley, England, to Elizabeth, daughter of John C. and Rebecca Westerman, of that place. This wife of his early manhood did not long survive her transplantation to American soil, but dicd in 1849, a year after leaving the old En- glish home. The three children who were born of that marriage are all now dead. Mr. Schofield was married to his present wife in 1851, and six chil- dren have been born to them, four of whom are living: Walter, the eldest, a resident of Morgan County, was born Feb. 13, 1855, and he married Eliza, daughter of David Tuke, of Morgan County ; Edward, who resides in Morgan County, was born May 23, 1857, married Fanny Tuke, and they have three children; George, living in Morgan County,
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was born Sept. 27, 1858, married Eliza Schofield, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Schofield, of Morgan County, and they have three children ; Fletcher, born Dec. 13, 1862, is unmarried, and lives at home with his parents.
Our subject comes of a stalwart, long-lived fam- ily, his maternal grandfather living to be one hun- dred and three years old, and is himself enjoying good mental and physical health, although four- score years have whitened his head, and he bids fair to reach the century mark. He has never been sick but once, when he had an attack of typhoid fever, and has never known what a headache is. Mrs. Schofield is also gifted with a fine constitution, al- though she has not been entirely free from sickness, and is now in robust health and very active for one of her years. Mr. Schofield has a cheerful, genial disposition, that neither time nor trial has soured. and he has many warm and close friend- ships in this community, where so much of his life has been passed. He is kind and considerate in his dealings with others, and does all that he can to aid the needy and unfortunate. He has devoted himself so closely to his calling as to have but lit- tle time for public life, excepting that he has served as School Director and Road Overseer. Hle pays but little attention to politics, but at the polls votes the Democratic ticket. Although not con- nected with any church he is religiously inclined, believes in God and the Bible, and tries to do his whole duty. Mrs. Schofield is a devoted and ex- emplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
E DSON R. WATERS was born at Elkton, Todd Co., Ky., Nov. 13, 1821, and died at Winchester. this State, May 30, 1888. When Edson R. was but six or seven years of age his parents emigrated from Kentucky to Manchester, St. Louis Co., Mo., where the father died the fol- lowing year.
The widowed mother removed to St. Louis City, and there reared her little family, acquitting her- self in the great responsibility as only a true Chris- tian mother can. She surmounted all the diffi- culties incident to one who was left without any
resources, and her children are living examples of the fact that she did nobly. Edson learned the trade of a blacksmith and wheelwright, and thereto gave the rest of his busy life. He came to Win- chester in 1847, bringing with him his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Shibley, and to whom he was married at St. Louis, Mo. Here he reared his family and prosecuted faithfully his chosen avo- cation, accumulating thereat a handsome compe- tency. Hle was known and respected as an honest man and a consistent Christian, being always mind- ful of his obligation to God and to man. His devo- tion to his family was proverbial, and the church to which he belonged, the Methodist Episcopal, had upon its rolls no man who was more devoted to its tenets. He was an enthusiastic member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Winchester, and was ever found ready to do his part in charitable works. In fact, there are not any of the duties of good citizenship in which Mr. Waters was delin- quent. In the death of such a mnan the world sus- tains a great loss.
His widow survives him, and is now living at Winchester, and at the time of the writing of this sketch (1889) is about fifty-seven years of age. Of her children the following is believed to be a cor- rect reeord: William Howard is the successor in his father's business; Eliza Jane is the widow of A. J. Hoover; Mary K. is the wife of E. G. Reyn- olds, now of Pueblo, Col .; John T. is a coal opera- tor at Moberly, Mo., and is married; Edson R., Jr., is in business in Winchester; Marthelia died in in- fancy; Charles F. also died while very young; Ada Virginia is the wife of William A. Wells, a dealer in livestock at Winchester; Harry Moreland died at the age of eighteen years; Emma Nevada is a young lady, now in Colorado, and Forrest Rippey is a cigar manufacturer.
Edson R., Jr., to whom we are indebted for mnuch of the foregoing information, is one of the married sons of the family. He was edu- cated in the common schools, and has been in act- ive business, which he has prosecuted successfully, ever since arriving to man's estate. His character- istics are that of a promising business man, and, it is safe to predict, that his name will be placed high on the roll of meu who make a prosperous
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community. About eight years of the life of Ed- son R., Jr., were spent in Missouri and Kansas. and he has been in business in Winchester since 1884. He was married to Miss Julia Burns Jan. 19, 1887, and a bright baby boy in the household bears the euphoneous name of Russell.
AMUEL McCURLEY is a native of Mor- gan County, Ill., and was born on the 3d of September, 1829, and has resided here since his birth. His father, Ezekiel Me- Curley, was a native of Alabama, and was born in 1815. He was united in marriage with Jane Criswell, of the same State, whose parents caine to Morgan County in an early day. Ezekiel MeCur- ley first settled here in 1827, but returned to Ala- bama the same fall, and, in company with his father and mother, returned the following spring, and settled on Government land. Their first pur- chase was eighty acres, but, by additions in later years, the farm was inereased to 900 aeres. At the time of the senior McCurley's death, which oeeur- red April 13, 1835, the homestead comprised 200 acres of land. Mrs. McCurley his wife, and mother of the subject of this sketeh, died Oct. 15, 1883. She was the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are living: William M., Julia, Emeline, Mar- garet. Susan, Mary E., and Samuel. William M. married Telitha Davidson, of Macoupin County. They are now living in Morgan County, and have seven children : Amanda, Aliee, John, Ella, Ezekiel H., Mary E., and Rue. Julia married John C. Spires, a farmer now residing in Cherokee, Kan. The result of this union was the birth of five ehil- dren: Francis, Albert, Amanda, Susie, and Nellie. Emeline married Garrett Seymour, a farmer now living in Nebraska. Margaret married James D. Ilenry, of Morgan County. They are the parents of eight children: George, William, Peyton, Gussic, Carrie, Gertrude, Eva, and Ernest. Susan was married twice. Her first husband- was G. W. Ilenry, by whom she had two children-Sylvia and Ethel. Her second husband is Thomas Mae- Lamar, of Ohio; he is the father of one child,
Olin. Mary E. married Henry Seymour, of Mor- gan County; they have three children: Eflie, Lulu, and Dora.
Samuel MeCurley was married twice. The maiden name of his first wife was Elizabeth Sey- mour, who was born in March, 1854, and by whom he has one child living, James P. James married Clarinda Moore, and is farming in Morgan County. Mary Mooreland was the name of his second wife. Her parents came from Columbiana, Ohio, in 1852. She is the mother of nine children, six of whom are living: Naney J., Lavina, Julia A., Caroline, William E., and Agnes. The names of those de- eeased are Mary. George E., and Emna. Nancy J. married Lucien Haynes, of this county, and is the mother of two children-Birdie and Stella. Lavina A. married George Nichols; they are now residing in Greene County, Ill., and are the parents of six children: Leonard B., Ella, John, Olive, Orrin, and Albert (deceased). Julia A. married Thomas E. Storey, a farmer of this county, and is the mother of one child, Elmer. Caroline married Edward Radford, a farmer of Morgan County.
Samuel MeCurley now owns a farm of 300 acres of the average Illinois prairie land, than which there is none better on the face of the earth. His farm is a model in every respeet, and the owner takes especial pride in exhibiting his stock and the products of his farm. While he had a fair start in life, it goes without saying that he has made the most of his resourees.
Mr. MeCurley is one of the three original mein- bers of the Baptist Church in this locality, which the entire family attend. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and, politieally, is a Demoerat.
E. BAILEY was born near Bradfordsville, Marion County, Ky., April 20, 1831. Mr. Bailey was raised on a farm and received his education in the common-schools. His fath- er kept him at home until he was nineteen years old, when he hired him out to work on the turnpike road in Kentucky. He continued this business for seven years, when he removed to Lewis County, Mo., and engaged in farming. He remained there
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three years, when in 1860, he removed to Morgan County, Ill., and worked on a railroad section for one year. At the first call for troops by President Lincoln, he responded by enlisting on April 16, 1861, in the 10th Illinois Infantry and was mus- tered in at Jacksonville, whence he was sent to Cario. Ilere he assisted in hauling down a rebel flag. Ile was mustered out at Cairo, after three months' service, and returned home for a short time, when he re-enlisted at St. Louis in the 11th Missouri Infantry. He was in the battles of New Madrid, Point Pleasant, Corinth, Inka, Guntown, Tupelo, Jackson, Miss., and accompanied the expe- dition up the Yazoo. Ile then joined Grant at Vieksburg, and engaged in the siege of that city for forty days. . His company guarded Gen. Grant's headquarters, which was situated 120 yards from the breastworks, making it a somewhat dan- gerous duty. He took part in the charge on the 2nd of May, 1863. After the surrender of Pem- berton, he went with his regiment to Mobile. They proceeded from there to Tennessee, and afterward skirmished around Nashville, and was also in tlie battle of Nashville two days. At Grand Junction he re-enlisted in the "veteran corps" and came liome on a furlough, returning to his regiment be- fore his time expired and served until the close of the war, being mustered out in January, 1865, hav- ing served four years and three months. Mr. Bailey was not wounded, although his comrades fell all around him, and he was in sixteen different engagements.
After the war, Mr. Bailey returned to Morgan County and worked on the railroad for several years. In 1867 he bought his present place of sixty acres, with no improvements, but has added to it until now he has a fine farm, well-improved, and well-watered. He planted an orchard in an early day which now yields an abundance of apples, peaches, and plums. Ile also has a fine vineyard. Upon his farin he erected a comfortable farm-house, the main part of which is 16x28, with a wing 12x24, while he has a capacious barn, 30x40.
John Bailey, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Taylor County, Ky. Reu- ben Bailey, the father of Jolin, and grandfather of J. E. Bailey, was born in Virginia of English de-
scent. He was an early settler of Taylor Connty, where he was a prominent farmer until his death. John Bailey engaged in farming in Kentucky until 1859, when he came to Scott County, Ind., locating near Jeffersonville. Ile is now living on his origi- nal purchase at the age of eighty-five years.
Politically, Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, and is also a member of the Baptist Church. J. E. Bailey's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Carpenter, was born in Marion County, Ky., where she died. She was the mother of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. William A., the eldest served in the Mexican War and enlisted from Kentucky under Capt. Ilardin.
J. E. Bailey married Mrs. Phobe Peters, Oct. 11, 1866. She is a native of Indiana. Mr. Bailey is a member of the G. A. R., and also of the Bap- tist Church, and in politics he is a strong Repub- lican. In this community he is reckoned as a inan of excellent judgment and a good citizen.
L AFAYETTE LAMB, one of the many suc- cessful farmers and stock-raisers of Mor- gan County, is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, and was born March 18, 1837. He is exten- sively engaged in feeding cattle and swine, selling about 200 head of the latter annnally. Mr. Lamb, gives his entireattention to his business and is what inay be termed a practical man.
Mr. Lamb came to this county in 1865 and pur- chased a farm. He later sold this place and in 1868 brought his present farm, which contains 300 acres, and where he has resided since. This farm is situated on section 17, township 15, and range 11. He also owns forty-seven acres in township 17 in this county, which is partly timber. Mr. Lamb has established an enviable record as a thorough business man and a progressive stock- breeder.
Mr. Lamb's father, Erie Lamb, was a native of North Carolina, and his ancestors for generations lived in that State. The father of Erie L., Jolin, lived and died in North Carolina, and was a promi- nent farmer and citizen. Jolin Lamb was a patriot through the War of 1812. He married a Southern .
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lady and she lived and died in North Carolina. Erie Lamb was the eldest one of a family of five sons and two daughters, and was reared as a farmer in his native State, and at the age of twenty-four years he emigrated to Clinton County, Ohio. His first wife was born and reared in Ohio and died in Clinton County, leaving two children: Isam, a farmer now living in Davis County, Iowa. Ile married Harriet Everhart and has a family. Saralı died at the age sixty-two years in Spring Valley. Ohio, leaving a husband, L. D Jones. Erie Lamb took for his second wife, Miss Beeky Pierson, who was born in Virginia, and whose parents, John and Ilannah Pierson were also natives of the Old Do- minion. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson came in later life tỏ Greene County, Ohio. where they both died, he at the age of ninety-years, while his wife was about sixty. Mr. Pierson was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served as a private from the beginning to the end of that struggle. Mrs. Becky Lamb was one of a family of six daughters and two sons. She eame to Ohio from Virginia when quite young, and after her marriage with Erie Lamb, began life in Clinton County Ohio, when it was almost an unbroken wilderness, and there they both lived and died. Mr. Lamb's death oceurred in the year 1878, at the age of eighty-three years, while his wife died in 1865, after passing the three-seore and ten mark. This worthy couple belonged to the old orthodox Quakers, and died in that faith. Mr. Lamb, when the Whig party was alive, belonged to that organ- ization, and afterward enthusiastically embraced the Republican faith.
Mr. Lafayette Lamb, inherited the Quaker relig- ion from his maternal and paternal aneestry, and botlı his grandfathers were prominent people of that faith. He is the fourth child and the third son of a family of nine children. Mr. Lamb re- mained at home until he became of age, when he came West, and later enlisted at Jacksonville in 1862 in the 101st Ill. Infantry under Capt. Morse and Col. Fox. His regiment was in the army of the Tennessee and fought at Resaca, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and all through the Atlanta Campaign. Mr. Lamb sustains the repu- tation of being a brave soldier and was with his regiment in all its battles. He was wounded in the
left arm at Lookout Mountain, and was eonfined in the hospital for a short time, but with this exception, was on duty during his entire service. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill., on the 20th of June, 1865, since which time he has been actively engaged in farming.
Mr. Lamb was married on the 31st of Oct. 1865, at Jacksonville, Ill., to Mary J. Thompson, who is a native of that eity, and was born Deeember 6. 1846. She is a daughter of Alfred and Catherine (Broadhead) Thompson. Her father died near Jaek - sonville on Jan. 14, 1874, while in the prime of life, heing about forty eight-years of age. He was one of the early settlers of Morgan County, coming here when a boy from North Carolina. His wife survives him, and is now past three- seore years, and is making her home with her children near'Jackson- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were members of the Christian Church and were eounted among the best eitizens in their part of the State.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamb are now the parents of nine children, one of whom, Lee, died at the age of ten months. Those living are: Erie, Alfred, Joseph, Lafayette, J., Mary J., George, John, and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb are members of the Methodist Church and are leaders in religious work. Po- litieally Mr. Lamb is an enthusiastie Republiean, and takes great interest in all publie affairs. He is a man of sound principles and possesses good judgment as his success in life fully exemplifies.
R. JAMES LEIGHTON, of Manchester, may be considered to have been a pioneer physician of Seott County, although not among the earliest here, and for many years he was a leading member of his profession in this part of Illinois. He is widely known and hon- ored, for he has not only been the beloved physi- eian but the elose friend in many a household, where his soothing touch has healed disease or . stayed death's ravages. Ile has now retired from aetive practice, though notwithstanding his ad- vaneed age, he is in full possession of his mental faculties and preserves his physical powers to a wonderful extent, enjoying excellent health, and
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frequently may be seen riding horseback to look after some of his farms or other property near here. While attending to his professional duties our sub- ject has displayed an active propensity for business and finances and has accumulated wealth, and owns considerable valuable real estate in Greene, Morgan, and Scott counties, besides houses and lots in Manchester.
The doctor was born May 20, 1806, in Harmony, Somerset Co., Me., coming of sterling New England stock. His father, James Leighton, a miller by trade, was a native of the ancient town of Kittery, in York County, that State, and his mother, whosc maiden name was Betsy Quinby, was born in New Hampshire. Of a family of eleven children, of whom but three survive, our subject . was the third in order of birth: He was carefully reared by his parents and given the advantage of a liberal cduca- tion, attending at first the district school, and at the age of sixteen entering Bloomfield Academy preparatory to studying medicine, and in that in- stitution he was a pupil portions of three years. Shortly after his twentieth year he began to study medicine in Bowdoin College, and received his diploma in 1831, having pursued a thorough course of instruction and taking high rank for excellence of scholarship. He established himself in the prac- tice of his profession in the town of Monson, in his native county. Jan. 30, 1832, the doctor was united in marriage to Miss Ann Hall, a lady of superior intelligence and culture, who was edu- cated in Bloomfield Academy, of which her father, the learned Rev. James Hall, was preceptor. He afterward accepted a similar position in Anson Academy, the same county, and dicd there in 1835. The doctor remained in Monson six years, and then deciding that the West offered great attractions for a young and well-instructed physician, he re- moved with his family to the then far-distant Ill- inois, it requiring a month to make the journey by public conveyances, overland and by water. He
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