USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 62
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
Charles S., of whom this sketeh is written, mar- ried Cornelia May Stevenson, danghter of Sep- timns Stevenson, on the 19th of May, 1880. He commeneed his career in comfortable cir-
·
499
MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES.
, cuinstances, and is now the owner of a magnifi- cent homestead of 1,500 acres of land, and, in company with his sister, owns 1,000 acres more, all of which is well improved. He is engaged in general farming, and is an extensive feeder of eattle, of which he has on hand, at all times, a large herd. Ile is also engaged in breeding the Norman grade of draft horses, and also roadsters. lIe raises enough grain to supply the wants of his farm.
Mr. Rannells is a Republican in politics, and, in company with his family, worships at the Presby- terian Church. He is one of the leading and wealthy citizens of Morgan County, whose reputa- tion is of the very best.
C HARLES W. SWAIN. This enterprising young farmer is industriously devoting his life to his chosen occupation, is doing well financially, and bids fair to become a man of ineans, and one of the substantial citizens of his native township. He is a son of Thomas Swain, a pioneer of Morgan County. He was born Jan. 20, 1862, and was reared to the life of a farmer, on the home farın in this township, receiving a sound, praetieal training in the ealling that he afterward adopted when he arrived at years of diseretion. He gleaned a substantial education in the publie sehools, as he was a bright and faithful seholar, and early entered upon his career as an agrieulturist. Ilis farm of fifty-six aeres, with a fine growth of timber on it, is under excellent tillage, and its soil of exceeding fertility yields abundant harvests in repayment for skillful labor expended on it by the owner. The buildings are well built, and in good order, and everything about the place indieates thrift and method in its management.
1
For the success that he is sure to achieve if he continues to prosper, Mr. Swain will be greatly in- debted to his intelligent, capable wife who gladly eo-operates with him in his work, and makes their home the eentre of comfort and ease, attractive alike to their many friends with whom they often share its generous hospitalities, and to the stranger who for the first time crosses its happy threshold. Mrs. Swain's maiden name was Mary E. Stander-
ford, and she was a daughter of John and Mary E. (Manchester) Standerford, of this township, and a granddaughter of Mrs. Ethia Manchester, the widow of the well-known pioneer of Morgan County, the late David Manchester. She was born in Riehard- son County, Neb., of which her parents were early settlers, having removed from here to that place in the early days of its settlement. Mrs. Swain's mother died when she was a sinall child, and her father subsequently married Miss Mary A. Pursell, of Nebraska. By his first marriage he had three children-Mand, Thomas (deceased), Mrs. Swain. The latter was tenderly eared for after her mother's death, and reared to womanhood by her grand- mother Manchester, and from that happy home she went forth to be the light of another, her union with our subject having been duly solemnized Sept. 9, 1885. Their marriage has been blessed to them by the birth of one son, whom they have named John.
.
Mr. and Mrs. Swain are both representatives of leading pioneer families of this eounty, and they stand high in the social and religious eireles of their community where they are so well-known, and are regarded with great esteem as possessing those fine traits of character that render them desirable as friends and neighbors. Mr. Swain is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as one of its most consistent members, and in him the Repub- lican party finds an earnest supporter.
HOMAS KERSHAW. The Kershaw family comprises one of the old landmarks of this eounty, to which the father came early in the forties and seeured - 400 aeres of land in town- ship 16, range 11, a part of which, to the extent of 154 acres, is occupied by the subject of this sketch, and lies on sections 27 and 28. The land is rolling, and upon it is situated the well-known Dunean Sulphur Spring, which was discovered, in 1839, by Ex-Gov. Dunean, who then owned the land. The spring, however, has been chiefly developed by the Kershaws, and possesses valuable medicinal properties, as has been demonstrated by William L. Dudley, of Cineinnati, Ohio, who has made a
500
MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES.
thorough examination, and recommends it for vari- ous aihnents. Many people who have drunk of the waters have sent strong testimonials as to the virtues of this wonderful spring, which, had it not been for the death of Gov. Duncan, would doubt- less have become a favorite health resort.
The subject of this notice was born in the town of Oldham, Lancashire, England, Feb. 25, 1835, and is of pure English stock. His father, Robert Kershaw, was a native of the same place, where he learned the art of spinning cotton and married Miss Bettie Chadwick, who was also born and reared in Lancashire, and who became the mother of four sons, all of whom came to America, and of whom our subjeet was the youngest. A further history of the family will be found in the biog- raphy of James Kershaw on another page of this volume. On coming to the United States they set sail from Liverpool, landed in New Orleans, and later came up the Mississippi River to this county. The family was first represented here by the father and his eldest son James, the others being obliged to remain in New Orleans on account of the scare- ity of funds. After the father and son had made sufficient money, they sent for the mother and the three younger sons, who landed in this county July 4, 1839.
The father of our subject and his sons made some money by working at whatever they could find to do, and, after the death of Gov. Dunean, the father purchased 400 acres of his landed pos- sessions. Ile was successful in his labors as a tiller of the soil, and both parents lived many years on the homestead which they had built up, enjoying the comforts of life together with the esteem of their neighbors. Thomas, our subject, was the youngest of the family, and remained with his parents until they no more needed his filial services. When about twenty-four years of age he was married to Miss Sophia Wood, of Jacksonville, and a native of his own county in England. She was born in 1844, and is the daughter of Ammon and Bettie (Buckley) Wood, natives of England, where all but one of their twelve children were also born, and of whom Mrs. Kershaw was among the youngest. They came to America in 1845, and settled in the then little town of Jacksonville,
where Mr. and Mrs. Wood spent the remainder of their lives; the father dying at the age of seventy- two years, and the mother in middle life, when her daughter, Mrs. Kershaw, was only twelve years old. Both parents were members of the Church of England. Two brothers of Mrs. Kershaw, John and Benjamin, are residents of Jacksonville. The other children of that large family are deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kershaw there were born two children only, both of whom died young-Albert and an infant unnamed. Mr. Kershaw, politically, uniformly supports the Democratic tieket, and keeps himself well posted in regard to matters of general importance, although he has no desire to assume the responsibilities of office. They have a very pleasant home, and number their friends by the seore in this county.
OSEPH K. SHARPE. The residence of this gentleman in the city of Jacksonville, dates from the year 1865. Ilis business eonnee- tions have been chiefly in the lumber trade. For the past ten years he has been much interested in farming in addition thereto. Mr. Sharpe was born in Pike County, Ill., in 1842, and is the son A. P. and Fanny (Hutchins) Sharpe, who were highly respected citizens of Pike County, to which they re- moved from Putnam, Windom Co., Conn., in the year 1837. They celebrated their golden wedding in September, 1887. The subject of this writing was married on the 15th of September, 1865, at Griggs- ville, being then allied to Miss Martha D. Gibbs. the daughter of Charles F. and Elizabeth E. Gibbs, of Griggsville, Ill., and natives of Kentucky. Of this union there have been born nine children, whose names are: Gertrude E., Helen, Ruby May, Fannie, Joseph K., Arthur Frank, Edith, Josephine M., and William K. In May, 1862, Mr. Sharpe enlisted in Company B, 68th Illinois Infantry, and served until October of the same year. He was chiefly occupied in guard duty. but was in active service at the second battle of Bull Run. He was mustered out at the expiration of his terin of serv- ice, and received his discharge at Springfield, Ill. The first efforts of our subjeet in the work of
501
MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES.
making his way in the world was in the direction of school teaching, which he commenced shortly after his graduation from the High School at Griggs- ville, this State. After following this profession for two years, he began trading in stock, continu- ing successfully engaged in that direction. until he came to Jacksonville to engage in the lumber busi- mess with J. S. & G. S. Russel, in which connection he continued for twenty-two and one-half years.
In 1879, Mr. Sharpe and his brother Fred became the owners and operators of a finely improved and well-stocked farm about 220 aeres in extent; under the firm name of J. K. and F. L. Sharpe. On the first of March, 1888, the full control and sole manage- ment of the farm will pass into the hands of the senior member of the firm, and Mr. Sharpe will then give his whole time and attention to it.
The subject of our sketch is one who has been successful in life from a financial standpoint. This is evidenced by the beautiful home he has been en- abled to provide and sustain for his family in the western part of the city. In the various social or- ganizations Mr. Sharpe is well and favorably known, being a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and the G. A. R. He is also a retired member of the Knights of Honor. His father was a strong Abolitionist, and was active in what was known as "the underground railroad." Our subject is a stalwart Republican. He is very positive in his position, and at all times ready to engage actively on behalf of the party.
OHN WELSH. The substantial character of this name itself is quite indicative of the qualities of the man. A well-to-do reliable and unassuming citizen, he never seeks popu- larity, but has been content to pursue the even tenor of his way in his own particular sphere, shedding a healthy influence around him, and being recognized as the encourager and supporter of everything that is worthy and elevating in the community. He is one of those rare characters whose word is consid- ered as good as his bond, and who has a healthy contempt for a mean action.
The native place of our subject was County Tip-
perary, Ireland, and his birth occurred March 10, 1832. His father, Patrick Welslı, was a native of the same county as his son, and there spent his en- tire life, engaged in farming. The maiden name of the mother was Mary Lewis. She was also born and reared near the childhood home of her hus- band, and is now deceased. The parental family consisted of seven children.
Our subject sojourned in his native county until a youth of eighteen years, receiving a common- school education, and employing himself mostly at farming. In early youth he had become interested in the country on the other side of the Atlantic, and from what he could gather from reading and hearsay, it appeared to him that here were oppor- tunities not to be found on his native soil. He de- termined to emigrate thither, and accordingly, in 1850, bade adieu to the friends and associates of his childhood, and embarking at Waterford, landed seven weeks and four days later in New York. Thence he proceeded to Chester County, where he found employment as a farm laborer, and where he continued to live until 1855. The spring of that year found him first in this county, and he rented a tract of land on North Prairie. With the excep- tion of two years spent in Morgan County, and two years in Greene County, he lias since mnade Scott County his home.
Mr. Welshi settled on his present farm in Decem- ber, 1866, and for a period of twenty-three years has given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits. He has wisely made of these a seience and a profession, and from the first set up for him- self a high standard which he has endeavored to follow. It cannot be denied that he has suceeded in an admirable manner. His farm, 160 acres in ex- tent, has been brought to a thorough state of eul- tivation, his buildings are neat and substantial, and his machinery and live-stock indicate in a forcible manner his progressive and enterprising spirit. He makes a specialty of graded horses, Short-horn cat- tle, and Poland-China swine.
Our subject was first married in Jacksonville, in the spring of 1863, to Miss Susan, daughter of Richard Sponsler. Of this union there were born three children-Edward, Lney and Ella, who are at home with their father. The wife and mother died
502
MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES.
in 1873. Mr. Welsh contracted a second marriage, in 1875, with Mrs. Mary (O'Neill) Ryan, a native of Ireland. This marriage likewise resulted in the birth of three children-Katie, Margaret, and John. Mrs. Welsh by her first husband, William Ryan, be- came the mother of one child. Mr. W. meddles very little with public affairs, and has never sought oflice. Upon becoming a naturalized eitizen, he identified himself with the Democratic party, and is a member in good standing of the Catholic Church.
OIIN M. REID, one of the most enterprising young business men of Jacksonville, oper- ates a livery, feed, sale and boarding stable on South Main street, which he established in the summer of 1883. He has spent the greater part of his life in this locality, and in Jacksonville, Aug. 7, 1855, first opened his eyes to the light of day. His parents were John B. A. and Mary (Weir) Reid. the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Sangamon County, Ill.
The father of our subject was brought by his parents to this county in 1826, when a little child two years of age. The father was a farmer by oc- cupation, and died two years after coming to Ill- inois, abont 1828. John B. A. continued with his mother on the farm and followed agricultural pur- suits during the remainder of his life. For many years the family lived northwest of the city.
Of the six sons and three daughters born to the parents of our subject eiglit are living, namely: John M., of this sketch, Albert N., Emma L., Charles, Mary A., William E., Henry O. and Arthur. Jolın M. received a fair education, being gradu- ated from the Business College at Jacksonville in tlie elass of 1875. . IIe then returned to the farm, and was interested in agricultural pursuits until the summer of 1883, when coming into the city lie es- tablislied his present business. He was prospered in this enterprise, and now keeps in his employ from four to nine men, having a fine line of horses and vehicles, and keeps many fine horses to board. The ground devoted to this purpose was purchased by Mr. Reid in the spring of 1882, and that same year he erected his stable, which occupies an arca of
60x190 feet. Upon this he expended $3,000, but has one of the finest equipped stables in the county and enjoys a patronage from its best people. In 1885 he purchased the residence which he now oc- cupies for a like sum.
Mr. Reid was married, Nov. 22, 1877, to Miss Julia E. Williamson, who was born Jan 2. 1858, in Morgan County, and is the daughter of Samuel and Cynthia (Mullen) Williamson. The parents of Mrs. Reid were natives of Kentucky. Mr. Reid gives his personal supervision to his business and has but little time to meddle with politics, but keeps himself posted upon current events, and uni- formly votes the Republican ticket. He is contrib- uting his full quota to the business interests of Jacksonville, and is numbered among its leading citizens.
EZEKIAH RIMBEY, a retired contractor and builder of Winchester, was born in Frederick County, Md., Dcc. 1, 1817. His father, Peter Rimbey, a weaver by trade, was a native of Pennsylvania, and descended from German aneestry, and his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Stultz, also of German parent- age, was probably born in Virginia. The old gentleman died in Maryland somewhere about 1854, at the age of sixty-three years, and the old lady lived to be eighty-three. They reared a family of three sons and four daugliters, Hezekiah being the oldest son and second child.
Hezekiah Rimbey was educated at Emmettsburg, Md., and for a short time taught school in that vieinity. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, and thereafter devoted the greater portion of his time to it. In 1838 he emigrated to Mont- gomery County, Ohio, whence, two years later, he removed to Illinois and located at Jacksonville. Remaining at that place about two years, he then removed to Lynnville, and made that town his home probably until 1850, in which year he re- turned East. In 1851 he took up his abode in Winchester, and has been more or less identified with the construction of about every first-class building erected in that city since.
In August, 1861, Mr. Rimbey enlisted in Com-
503
MORGAN AND) SCOTT COUNTIES.
pany C, 28th Illinois Infantry, and served with distinction to the end of his three year's enlistment, being a non-commissioned officer, and participating in the battles of Shiloh, Hatchie, Jackson, Miss., ete. While on detached duty at Memphis he met with an accident from the effects of which he will probably never recover. Being mustered out of the service Aug. 26, 1864, he returned home and resumed, as has been indieated, his former oeeupa- tion. He was married at Lynnville, Morgan Co., Ill., Jan. 26, 1843, to Miss Mary Quarton, daughter of Thomas Quarton, who was one of the pioneers of that county, and has had born to lim seven children, of whom we have the following memoranda: Margaret died in infaney; Manassah died at the age of three years; Hammoleketh died, aged eleven years, nine months and twenty-three days; Thomas died aged one year and nineteen days; Helen died aged six months; Hezekiah, Jr., is a clerk in Winehester, and Ada is the wife of Mr. L. Sehierieck, now of St. Louis. The family are enthusiastie and consistent members of the Christian Church. Mr. Rimbey is a stalwart Repub- lican in politics, and a devoted member of Hesse Post No. 203, G. A. R.
Mrs. Rimbey's father, Thomas Quarton, was a native of England, and during his day one of the most extensive farmers of Morgan County. Mrs. Rimbey was born in England in 1819, and was ten years old when her parents eame to America.
W J. WYLDER. The life-labors of the sub- jeet of this notice have resulted in the aeeumulation of a good property, in the shape of a well-cultivated farm, which he has now owned for a period of nineteen years. Ile has con- venient and substantial buildings, and his land, comprising 120 aeres, has, under a course of eare- ful cultivation, become exceedingly fertile and finely adapted to the growth of the richest products of Central Illinois. The homestead is pleasantly located on seetion 17, township 15, range 11, and the proprietor and his family are not only sur- rounded by all the comforts of life, but enjoy in a marked degree the respect of their neighbors.
Mr. Wyłder eame to this eounty in 1852, and for a time operated on rented land. He purchased 120 aeres the year following on section 8 of this same township, and which he occupied from 1853 to 1869. Then selling out, he seeured that upon which he now resides. He is a native'of this State, having been born near Greenfield, in Greene County, March 4, 1831, and is the son of Wylie Wylder, a native of North Carolina, and whose people before him were Southerners. The paternal grandfather, Moses Wylder, it is believed, was a native of North Carolina, and he was one of a family of three sons and two daughters. He was of Scotch-Irish aneestry, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Later he settled down to farming pursuits, and after his marriage and the birth of all his children by two wives, removed with his family to DeKalb County, East Tennessee, where his death took place when he had attained his fourscore years. His son, Wylie, the father of our subjeet, was his eldest born, the child of his first wife, who died when she was in her prime.
The father of our subjeet was reared to manhood in his native county, and was bred to farm pur- suits. He married a maiden of his own neighbor- hood, Miss Temperance Melton, who was of South- ern parentage and reared not far from the town of New Salem, N. C. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wylder, together with the Melton family, removed to DeKalb County, Teun., and engaged in farming pursuits, as before. They lived there until after the birth of seven children, then, in the fall of 1830, made their way to Greene County, this State, and settled in the wilderness, five miles from any neighbor. Mr. Wylder took up a traet of Government land, from which he eonstrueted a comfortable homestead, and, with the exception of three years spent in Texas, there passed the re- mainder of his life, his death oceurring in 1860, when he was a little over seventy-five years old. The wife and mother had departed this life when little past middle age.
The subject of this sketel was the eighth child of his parents, whose family consisted of six sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to mature years, and all, with one exception, were married. One son, Thomas N., enlisted as a Union soldier in
504
MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES.
Company K, 27th Illinois Infantry, and at the hat- tle of Mission Ridge was shot through the leg, and died in the hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn., at the age of twenty-seven years. One other brother died when six months old. W. J., our subjeet, re- mained a resident of his native county until reach- ing man's estate, and learned the trade of harness. making. He came a single man to this eounty, and in 1852 was married at the home of the bride, in Lynnville Preeinet, to Miss Willinnth W. L. Jones. This lady was born in Howard County, Mo., and is the daughter of Joel and Nancy (Anderson) Jones, who were natives of Kentucky. This branch of the Jones family is of Welsh deseent, while the Andersons trace their ancestry to Holland. The parents of Mrs. Wylder were reared and married in the Blue Grass State, whence they removed to Missouri, and in which State their two children- Mrs. Wylder and her sister Saralı-were born.
When the Jones family came to this eounty, they located on a tract of wild land, on section 16, township 15, range 11, where they established a permanent home, and where the parents resided until their deeease. Mr. Jones was accidentally killed by a runaway horse, attached to a sleigh, from which he was thrown and received such in- juries that he only survived a short time. He was then about fifty years of age. Mrs. Jones survived her husband until August, 1879, and died at the age of seventy five years. Both were members of the Christian Church.
Mrs. Wylder was but a child when coming to this county. She was reared to womanhood under the parental roof, and attended the district school, while at the same time she was taught to make her- self useful, and became an expert housekeeper. Of her union with our subject there is one child only, M. Anna, who was born in Greene County, this State, June 29, 1854, and is now the wife of Thomas Pasehal. Mr. Paschal is the son of Coleman and Sarah (Street) Paschal, the former of whom died in Cass County when her son Thomas was four years old. The mother died ten years later, and thus at the age of fourteen years the boy was left to fight the battle of life singly and alone. He employed himself at whatever he could find to do until a youth of seventeen years, and then, the Civil War
being in progress, enlisted as a Union soldier in Company F, 47th Illinois Infantry. He served one year, met the enemy in battle at Spanish Fort, and, escaping unharmed, received his honorable dis- charge.
Mr. Paselial, upon leaving the service, came di- rectly to this county, and has sinee made his home within its limits. Since his marriage, which oe- enrred Nov. 22, 1877, he has lived on this same farm, near his father-in-law, and the two families oceupy a good position among the representative people of the county. Our subjeet, with his wife and children, is identified with the Christian Church, in which Mr. Wylder is an Elder and Mr. Pasehal a Deacon, attending services at Chapin. Both gentlemen, politieally, are pronounced Re- publieans.
ANIEL SMITH, known to the commercial world as a eigar manufacturer and whole- sale dealer in tobaeeo, is reckoned among the leading capitalists of Winehester. He was born in the village of Rautenhausen, Ger- many, Jan. 1, 1838 and came to America in - Aug. 1854. Ilis parents, Conrad and Christina (Walber) Schmidt, both died in the old country. They reared a large family of children, of whoin Daniel, one brother John, and a sister, eame to the United States. John now runs a large sheep ranch in Oregon, and the sister resides in Bloomington, Ill. Daniel Smith, who it will be observed, adopts the English spelling of the family name, was edu- cated in the Fatherland and there learned the trade of a shoemaker.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.