USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 65
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 65
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his own business, and not meddling with other peo- ple's affairs, and he is well spoken of and liked by the whole neighborhood. He is a good, law-abid- ing eitizen, and has done good service in his native preeinet as School Director and as Road Commis- sioner of township 14. range 12, of which office he is at present an inenmbent. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. In general elee- tions he stands with the Demoerats, but in local elections he votes for the man irrespective of party. He is a temperate man, and a believer in the Chris- tian religion, though not a church member. Mrs. Perkins, a truly kind and good woman, belongs to the Baptist Church, and is zealous in its support.
OSEPH HODGKINSON, who is numbered among the prosperons and enterprising far- mers of Scott County, has risen to his pres- ent honorable position through the quiet foree of persistent labor and indomitable will, that has overeome all obstacles that lay in the pathway of sueeess. He owns a fine, well-stocked farm on seetion 11, township 13, and a pretty, comfortable home pleasantly located just outside the corporate limits of the city of Wineliester. He is mostly engaged in stock raising. and is a prominent mem- ber of the Seott County Stock Breeders' Associa- tion, of which he has been a director for six years, and now has entire charge of the horses belonging to the Association. These animals are the finest in the county, and consist of two Percherons, one Clydesdale, and one French coach horse. Mr. Hodgkinson is eminently fitted for the responsibili- ties of such a position, as he is a dear lover of the horse, has a perfect knowledge of the animal, knows all their best points. and understands the best methods of handling them.
On Christmas Day, 1832, in Kirk Ireton, Eng. land, the subject of this sketch was born to George and Fanny (Dale) Hodgkinson, both natives of Derbyshire, England. His ancestors were a raee of yeomen in old England, and the father and grand- father of our subleet were also tillers of the soil in their native land. In the fall of 1843 the family emigrated to America, and coming directly to Illi-
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nois bought a place, comprising forty acres of wild land, about five miles southeast of Winchester. But the father and mother were not destined to enjoy the new home long, for the former was killed by being thrown ont of a wagon, in the winter of 1844-45, and six weeks later the poor mother died from the shoek of the dreadful blow that had befallen her and her little ones in a strange country so far from their old English home. The. six children born to that worthy couple, comprising three sons and three daughters, are all living, and on the death of their parents they were separated, and bound out till they came of age: Fannie, now Mrs. Megginson, of Morgan County. was bonnd to Adam Allinson till she was eighteen years old; Hannah, now Mrs. Jones, of Scott County, was bound out to James Coultas till she was eighteen; George, who lives in Republie County, Kan., was bound out to Robert Woodall, Sr., till he was twenty-one; Robert, who has lived in Vallejo, Cal., since 1861, was bound out to his uncle, Charles Frost; Ann, who lives in Macoupin County, Ill., and our snbjeet, were bound ont to William Ronksley, of Scott County, till they became of age.
The latter was to work on a farm and to attend school occasionally. He had to work very hard, re- ceived a limited education, and was poorly elad, having the ordinary experience of such boys. He left those people before his time was up, in the fall 1852, and began to look out for himself, being a young man of an ambitious, energetic disposition. He was employed by his uncle, Charles Frost, who ·gave him $12 a month, and he remained with him till February, 1853. He then went to Morgan County, and was there working on a farm when the war broke out, and he then returned to his unele again, and was engaged on his farm and other farms, and also in shipping horses to St. Louis for some time. October 11, 1865, Mr. Hodgkinson took one of the most important steps of his life in his marriage, on that date, to Miss Louisa, dangh- ter of the late Reuben and Martha (Adkisson) Iloward, natives of Tennessee, who were among the earliest settlers of Seott County. The father, who was a practical, successful farmer, died Jan. 17, 1884, and the mother died Feb. 22, 1877. They had six children, four daughters and two sons, one
son and one daughter now being dead. Their son Newton gave up his life in the late war. He was a private in Company 11, 129th Illinois Infantry, was taken sick and died in the hospital in Nashville, Teun., Oet. 2, 1863. Mrs. Hodgkinson was the youngest child, and was born Feb. 21, 1837, in Scott. County. Of the three children that has blessed the happy wedded life of herself and hus- band, two are now living: George R., born May 27, 1878; Viola A., May 31, 1880. They are bright and intelligent children, and are receiving good educational advantages. The greatest sorrow in the wedded life of our subject and his wife was occasioned by the death of their little daughter, Martha F., who was born May 17, 1867, and died April 23, 1871.
After marriage Mr. Hodgkinson settled on fifty acres of land, four and three-fourth miles southeast of Winchester, on the Manchester Road, which he bought Sept. 8, 1865, and still owns. He has added to it since, having bonglit sixty acres in 1867, and ten acres in 1882, besides two and ninety-eight one-hundreth acres on the outskirts of the city, where he has built his home. He has greatly in- ereased the value of his farm since it came into his hands, has set ont shade trees, built two barns, sheds, etc., and made many other improvements.
Mr. Hodgkinson is a frank, warm-hearted man, with a pleasant manner, that wins him esteem from all with whom he comes in contaet, either in a busi- ness or social way. He is gifted with firmness, sa- gacity and natural taet to a large degree, and so manages his affairs as to produce the best results financially. His fellow-citizens rightly judge him to be a good man for office, and wished him to serve as County Commissioner, but he refused to allow his name to be used for that position. Ile has, however, been School Director and Road Su- pervisor of the precinct, and in both cases did good work for the community. He occasionally takes part in polities, and uses his influence in favor of the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Christian Church, he being an Elder in the same. Mrs. Hodgkinson is pro- nounced by those who know her well, to be a very fine woman, kind, sympathetic, and motherly, and a true Christian. When her parents became infirm
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through age she and Mr. Hodgkinson kindly under- took the responsibility of caring for them, and ful- filled this duty faithfully, and after the death of the mother Mrs. Hodgkinson took entire care of her father, till his death from a cancer relieved his snf- ferings.
HOMAS P. COULTAS, a native-born citizen of Winchester Precinct is a grandson of one of its earliest settlers and the son of one of its well-known citizens, and on the old homestead south of Riggston which his grand- father had purchased from the Government nearly sixty years ago in the early days of the settlement of Scott County, he was born Oct. 8, 1842. Sinee attaining manhood he has identified himself with the agricultural interests of his native county and township, and owns a valuable farm of 240 aeres of rich arable land lying on section 24, which is under excellent cultivation, has a neat and cosy dwelling, ample barns, and other necessary build- ings, besides good machinery for carrying on the farm so as to produce the best results with the least expenditure of time and labor. There are about fifty acres of timber on the place and a fine orchard. Mr. Coultas has his farm stocked with more cattle than it can support and he has to buy feed for them every year. Ile began three years ago to intro- duce full-blooded Red-Polled cattle, buying stock of Gen. L. F. Ross, the noted cattle breeder, of Iowa City, and he now has six fine specimens of that breed.
The father of our subject was born in Yorkshire, England, Oct. 20, 1815, and in 1830 he accom- panied his parents and other members of the family to the United States, and settled with them in Illinois, on section 3, this precinet. That winter was a memorable one to the early settlers of this state as the "Winter of the Deep Snow," which fell to the depth of four feet on a level, and in contrast with that he can compare the mild winter of thirty. seven years later, when the weather was so warm that the corn actually sprouted in the fields an inch on Christmas Day, as witnessed by our subject and two companions, and doubtless by many others.
While the snow was lying on the ground to such great depth, Mr. Coultas and three others went out one day on a dcer hunt, and by ten o'clock had killed fourteen of the wild animals, the deep snow having impeded their movements. The hunters stripped the hides off of their game, took the shoulders and hams and left the remains to a very large pack of wolves who had been hungrily eyeing them while they worked. Times were very hard then for the pioneers of Illinois, prices were low and markets were far distant. They had to hanl their wheat to the Illinois River, after having threshed it by having the horses trample it out on the ground, and then they obtained only twenty- five cents a bushel for it. Hogs that weighed 175 pounds only brought seventy-five cents a hundred weight when marketed.
Mr. Coultas, our subject, inherited 120 acres of his father's homestead, and by unremitting toil, and judicious management of his affairs, he has increased its value and has added to its original acreage till he owns a 300-acre farm that is classed among the best in this part of Scott County, and he is considered one of the substantial, reliable citizens of the township which he has helped to build up. He still takes an active inter- est in politics, and stands by the Democratic party as firmly as in days of yore when it was his privilege to east his vote for "Old Hickory" the first presi- dent that he helped to elect after he obtained his majority, and he also had the honor of voting for Cleveland, the last Democratic president. He received his education partly in England and part- ly in America, leaving school when about eighteen years old, and when twenty-one years old he began life for himself, his father hiring him to assist him in the management of his farm. He has been twice married. His first wife, who died in 1855, was Mary Pickering, daughter of Thomas Picker- ing of Yorkshire, England. Our subjeet was the eldest of the six children born of that marriage, four sons and two daughters, five of whom are still living, and the names of the others are Robert, Mary. Henry and George. Mr. Coultas was married to his second wife, whose maiden name was Mary Dean, April 10, 1856. She was a daugh- ter of Robert and Elizabeth (Robinson) Dean, of
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Cheshire, England, and her death occurred Sept. 4, 1876. Of the ten children born of that marriage nine are now living, as follows: Isaac James, Mattie May, wife of Edward Chrisman; Adela, wife of Garland Overton; Aliee Hardwick, wife of John Kirkland; Sallie Belle. wife of John A. Ober- meyer, William Edgar, Charles Burr, Samuel John, Florenee Lulla, and David Brengle.
Thomas P. Coultas of this biography received a common education in the loeal district sehool, com- pleting his studies when about eighteen years old, and after that devoted his time to assisting his father on his farm. He remained at home till he was twenty-one, and then married, taking unto himself as a wife and companion Miss Lizzie F. Hawk, their marriage being solemnized Feb. 25, 1863. She isa daughter of A. J. and Jane (Frame) Hawk. Robert Hawk, her grandfather, was an early pioneer of Illinois, and his home was three miles northeast of Winehester, and there he died many, years ago. His wife died only fourteen years ago, having attained extreme old age. He took an active part in the Black Hawk War, and figured prominently in all the scenes of pioneer times. His son A. J., Mrs. Coultas's father, was a prominent farmer in his day and owned several hundred acres of land. Hle died in June, 1863, and his wife survived him eight years, when she too passed away. They had six eliildren, five of whom are still living. Mrs. Coultas was the second ehild of the family, and she was born in Scott County, Nov. 29, 1842. She was educated in the district school and remained an inmate of the parental household till her marriage with our subject. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living, of whom the following is the record: Clayton E., residing half a mile northeast of the paternal homestead, was born Aug. 6, 1864, and is married to Alice Stainsby; Minnie L. was born June 13, 1866; John A., Feb. 7, 1868; Annie B., Sept. 29, 1870; Allie R., Dee. 10, 1872, and died July 28, 1873; David F. was born Oct. 18, 1874; Nellie F. was born 16, 1876; Raymond W., Jan. 26, 1880; Mary Ella, March 2, 1883, and died August 12, of the same year. There has been considerable siekness in the family, and the beloved wife and mother was stricken with paralysis in her left side six
years ago, and is still suffering mnuch from it, but bears this affliction nobly and with cheerfulness.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Coultas settled on a farm belonging to his father that had been pur- chased of William Cox, and the young couple began housekeeping in an old frame house, in which they lived three years. Mr. Coultas then purchased 240 aeres of land where his present home stands, and on it was a good house and barns, and all but twenty aeres of the land was broken. He has been prospered in his calling and is comfortably well-off.
Our subjeet is prominent among the farmers of this locality, and possesses pleasing social qualties that make him personally popular with all in the community. He is a skillful manager and brings a elear head and sound common sense to bear on his work. He has hield publie office with credit, and has always worked for the highest interests of his natitve preeinct. He has been School Director and Road Overseer. In polities, he is: a decided Democrat and has always aeted with that party, with the exception of the time when he worked for the election of Peter Cooper, the Greenback candi- date for the presideney. He is a valued member of Saladin Lodge, No. 48, K. of P. Mrs. Coultas has been connected with the Christian Church as one of its most consistent members.
R OBERT J. WOODALL, of township 13, range 12, being a native of Scott County is consequently closely identified with every- thing eoneerning its welfare and prosperity. He owns and oceupies a good farm on seetion 1, near the old homestead of his father and where he was born, Jan. 6, 1839. Ile is the son of Robert Woodall, one of the early pioneers of this region, a native of Yorkshire. England, and now a resident of Winehester.
Our subject received the advantages of a com- mon school education, and at an early period in in his life ehose farming for his oceupation. Ile grew up familiar with this oceupation, and was trained to habits of industry and economy which are the surest basis of success. Just before the
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age of twenty-one he was married in February, 1860, to Miss Sarah Jones, daughter of William Jones, also a pioneer of this connty. Of this union there were born three children, the eldest of whom a son, William, was first married to Miss New, who died soon afterward, and he was then married to Miss Lizzie Burk, and is now living in Winchester. Hle is the father of one child, a daughter. Annie became the wife of Frank Dolen, of Winchester, and has two children-Addie and Vincent. Sam- uel married Miss Bridget Lollis, and lives near his father on the old Thomas Mason place; they have one child, a daughter. Mrs. Sarah (Jones) Wood- all departed this life at the homestead May 14, 1869.
Our subject Jan. 18, 1870. contracted a second matrimonial alliance with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James Bell of this county. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, viz: Ella, Eliza, James, Lee, Charles, Olive, Jesse and an infant daughter, Lillian Bell. The farm of our subject embraces 400 acres of choice land which is largely devoted to stock-raising-graded short-horn cattle, Poland-China swine, and Norman, Clydesdale and English coach horses. In this industry Mr. Wood- all has been more than ordinarily successful and devotes to his farm his best efforts, paying little attention to politics and carefully avoiding the responsibilities of office. Ile, however, keeps him- self posted upon matters of general interest and votes the straight Republican ticket.
OSIAH H. McDONALD. Among the home- steads that adorn the landscape of township 13, range 12, Scott County, that belong- ing to the subject of this notice, invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler. The first glance reveals it as the abode of cultivated tastes, and ample means. The farm, 1773 acres in extent has been brought to a thorough state of cultivation and in the fall of 1888, Mr. McDonald completed a fine new residence. The main building is two sto- ries in height, 48x18 feet in dimensions and there is a one-story "L" 26x32 feet. The barn and other outbuildings are creditable alike to the good
taste and judgment which have evidently been exercised in all the appointments of the premises.
In addition to general agriculture Mr. McDon- ald makes a specialty of fine stock, including graded Short-horn cattle and Poland-China swine.
Franklin County, Mo., was the early tramping- ground of our subject, and where his birth took place Aug. 21, 1843. His father, Jesse McDonald, was a native of Kentucky and died when his son, losiah HI., was two years old. The mother, Mrs. Ann (Horr) McDonald, was subsequently married to Benoni Sappington, by whom she had four child- ren-Samuel, Julia, Belle and Emma. In 1855, the whole family emigrated to Morgan County, Ill., and the following year changed their residence to this county. They sojourned here until 1859, then removed to Greene County, where they lived until 1863, then returned to Scott.
While a resident of Greene County, this State, the Civil War being in progress, our subject, en- listed in Company C, 6th Illinois Cavalry in which he served three years, four months and seven days. He participated in the battle at Ft. Donelson, the Grearson raid, the siege of Port Hudson, the en- gagements at Buck River, Franklin and Nashville, (Tenn.),besides meeting the enemy at other points. He fortunately escaped wounds and capture and considering the hardships and exposure to which he was subjected while on duty, came out in compar- atively good health. He then returned to his old haunts in this county where he has since lived.
Upon his return from the army, Mr. McDonald for three years was engaged as a conductor on what was then the Rockford & Rock Island Railroad. Later he established himself at the livery business in Winchester which occupied him one year. In the spring of 1876,he located on his present farm, and since that time has given to it his undivided attention, as its condition indicates. He took unto himself a wife and helpinate -- Miss Jennie Dawson -Sept. 29, 1870, the wedding being celebrated at the bride's home in Scott County. Mrs. McDon- ald was born in 1844, and is the daughter of Jesse and Ann Dawson, the latter being deceased. Four children completed the household circle of our sub- ject and his estimable wife, only three of whom are living, viz: Jesse, Clarence and Lecy Bellc.
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Mr. McDonald has troubled himself very little about political matters althoughi he keeps himself posted upon current events and uniformly votes the straight Republican tieket. Hle is identified with the G. A. R. at Winchester, and both in so- eial and business cireles is highly esteened among his fellow citizens. His property has been aeeum- ulated by his own industry and frugality, and he is now far beyond the reach of want, having sufficient for his deelining years. He has witnessed with warm interest the great changes which have oc- curred in Central Illinois during his sojourn here and in building up one of its finest, homesteads has added thus mueh to the value of its real estate.
AMES F. CRAWFORD, a representative man of Scott County, and an ex-county ofli- cial, is a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., where he was born March 25,1832. His father, Samuel Crawford, was a native of Augusta County, Va., while his paternal grandfather was born in the same State, and was a Revolutionary soldier, serv- ing seven years as a Lieutenant in that memorable struggle. He died in Virginia.
Samnel Crawford, the father of James, was a young man when the War of 1812 commenced, and enlisting he served through until peace was de- elared. Ile later moved to Tennessee, where he married and settled down as a farmer. In 1836 he came to Seott County, and located where Bluffs is now situated. He bought a tract of land, broke it up, and commeneed farming on a prosperous basis. His farm contained 480 aeres. Later he gave up active pursuits and removed to Pike County, Ill., where he lived in retirement until the 8th of Octo. ber, 1870, when he died at the age of eighty-two years. He was a Republican in polities, and had belonged to the Presbyterian Church for fifty years. Ilis wife, the mother of the one of whom this sketch is written, was named Janet Gibson. She was a native of Rockingham County, N. C., and of Seoteli- Irish deseent. Like her husband she was a mein- ber of the Presbyterian Church. She died in 1854, at the age of fifty-four years, and was the mother of fourteen children, whose names are herewith
given: Jolın G., Rachael C., William C., Margaret S., Levi P., Polly A., Felix M., George W., Samuel, Eliza, James F., Harriet N., Alexander N. and Mar- tha A. Levi P.was the chaplain of the 105th Illinois Infantry, and enlisted in 1862, but resigned before the close of the war.
James F., whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was four years old when he came to Illinois. The journey from Tennessee was made by ox team, and occupied about four weeks. At this time all kinds of wild game was plenty, and espec- ially deer, which afforded meat in abundance for the pioneers. Common schools were the only means of gaining an education, and they were of the most primitive kind. James remained at home until he became of age, when he began operating a farm for himself by renting land from his father. Ile was thus occupied until he enlisted, in August, 1862. Ile joined the 129th Infantry, and was ten- dered a captain's commission by Gov. Yates, which he declined and accepted that of First Lieutenant. Ilis regiment was mustered into service at Pontiac, on September 8, from which point it was ordered to Louisville, just in time to participate in a raid conducted by Buell. The hardships surrounding a soldier's life completely broke down Lieut. Craw- ford's health, and he was therefore obliged to re- sign. Ile was discharged at Bowling Green, in De- eember, 1862, and on account of his severe diss - bilities was sent home to die. He was confined to his room for a long time after, but slowly recovered, when he again engaged in farming for a short time, after which he was employed as a stonemason, which he followed for over twenty years, being a master at the business. In the meantime he carried on farming on a small seale, and in 1872 purchased his present homestead, with no improvements, but by degrees he has brought his farin up to a high state of cultivation, and has ereeted thereon comfortable buildings.
Lieut. Crawford has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Martha E. Peoples, who was born in Guilford County, N. C. The marriage oeeurred Sept. 29, 1853, and resulted in the birth of one child, May, now the wife of Charles Lineoln, a mer- chant of Naples. On the 8th of June, 1856, he was again married, this time to Miss Eliza Grady, a na-
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tive of Bluffs, and whose birth oceurred Dec. 23, 1836. She is the mother of thirteen children, as follows: Royal, Edward E., William G., Samuel G., Clara J., Margaret E., John F., Rachael A., Martha E., Annie E., Graee F., Fannie and James Blaine. Of these Royal, Rachael and Annie are de- ceased. Edward E. is a farmer of Clayton County, Kan., as is also Samuel G .; Clara J. married Charles Bloyd, a farmer of Clay County, Kan .; Margaret married William Murphy, also a farmer of the same plaec. The rest are at home.
Mr. Crawford has held the office of County Coro- ner, the term of which extended from 1881 to 1883. He was Township Trustee for eight years, Justice of the Peace for six years, and School Di- rector for twelve years. He is a prominent mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M., at Naples, and has been Master of his lodge. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., at Bluffs, and has filled all the Chairs in that organization. He has also held the office of Post Commander of the G. A. R., of Bluffs. Politi- cally, he is a staneh and reliable Republiean. He is particularly proud of the fact that President Harrison was his brigade cominander during his serviee in the army. Mr. Crawford's reeord as a eitizen and soldier is perfect.
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