USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 66
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 66
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P ATRICK O'DONNEL. In Township 13, Range 12, Seott County, there is no man more favorably known than the subject of this notice. He is self-made in the broadest sense of the term, having begun life with literally nothing and by his industry and perseverance has become wealthy. He owns and operates a'fine farm and makes a specialty of thorough-bred horses, being able to exhibit in this line some of the best stoek in Central Illinois. He is a man who has been prompt to meet his obligations, is upright and honorable in his dealings, and numbers his friends by the seore among the people who have watched his career with admiring interest.
A native of County Tipperary, Ireland, Mr. O'Donnell was born March 17, 1836, and is the son of Patriek O'Donnell, Sr., a native of the same eounty as his son and who spent his entire life in
Erin's Green Isle, dying when middle-aged. Our subject, in 1848, after the death of his father, came, with his widowed mother, to the United States, and the family settled in New Jersey where Patrick, Jr., eommeneed working on a farm at the munifi- eent wages of $5 per month. Shortly afterward, however, he ehanged his oeeupation to that of elerk on the steamer "Ocean Wave," plying the Shrews- bury river. Later he officiated as fireman on the same boat and in due time, having made good use of his opportunities for learning the art, was pro- moted to assistant engineer.
Our subjeet was thus occupied three years, then ehanging his employment, engaged in gardening with his brother, Dennis, for the New York market. He followed this two years, then in 1856, set his faee westward and coming to Winchester, this eounty, had charge of an engine in the Harlan Mill three years and the latter part of the time was both miller and overseer of the establishment. In the meantime he purchased 120 aeres of land three miles south of Winehester upon which he placed his brother, Dennis, who worked it for him one year then Patrick took it in charge himself. Ile soon purchased additional land and the brothers farmed in partnership four years. Dennis subse. quently began buying land for himself and is now the owner of 700 aeres, while Patrick holds the warrantee deeds to 637 aeres.
Mr. O'Donnell commenced his stoek operations about 1861. His favorites are the Norman horses, both draft and roadsters, among them "Flying Dutchman," who has attained to great popularity in this part of the county. Mr. O'Donnell has one pony which paces a mnile in a little over three minutes. In the cattle line he operates mostly with Short-horns. Our subjeet while in New Jersey was the chief support of his mother and edueated his sisters. The mother eame to the West with her children and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Stephen Moore, in Alsey, in 1883.
The 31st of March, 1862, witnessed the marriage of our subjeet with Miss Mary, daughter of Jesse and Lizzie Young, who were among the earliest pioneers of this eounty and a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Young dng the first well upon the present site of Wineliester.
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He was mostly engaged as a farmer and departed this life at his home in Seott county, April, 1889. The mother of Mrs. O'Donnell is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell there were born eleven children, nine of whom are living. The eldest son. John, married Miss Emma Roberts, is the father of two children-Lena and an infant named Gracie- and lives on a farm near the old homestead. Lizzie B. became the wife of Lineoln MeLaughlin of Cerre Gordo, Piatt County, this State, and is the mother of one ehild, Jesse. Olive, Mrs. James Doyle, lives in township 14 and has no children; Charles, Mary Nannie, Nellie, Thomas, Lilly and Susie, remain under the home roof.
Onr subjeet is regarded as one of the most extensive stoek-raisers in Seott County. During the Civil War he purchased horses for the Union Army, his transactions in this line yielding him handsome profits. He also during those days ae- eumulated a snug sum of money iu buying eattle and selling to the farmers of this region. He is a demoerat politieally and has offleiated as road supervisor and sehool director but prefers to be relieved from the responsibilities of office. He and his children are members of the Catholie Chureh.
In the fall of 1888 Mr. O'Donnell returned to the Atlantic coast, visiting his old haunts in New Jersey and finding things greatly changed. He also visited Long Branehr and the National raee course at Monmonth Park. The farm whereon he first [labored after coming to America is now a beautiful park, upon which the owner spent $250,000 in the beantifying of the ground alone, before erecting any buildings. Mr. O'Donnell erossed the famons Brooklyn bridge and saw the great St. Patrick's cathedral on Fifth Avenue, opposite the mansion of William H. Vanderbilt in New York eity. He also looked upon the statue of "Liberty enlightening the World," on Bedloe Island. He crossed the Suspension Bridge to Sandy Hook and other points, which with all these other wonderful structures had been brought into existence since he left there in 1856. He had a pleasant interview with his old boat-eaptain," Henry Parker, formerly of the "Ocean Wave," and who now commands the steamer "Sea Bird" plying
between Shrewsbury and New York city. Ile wisely considers the time and money employed on that trip well spent. He also visited Niagara Falls and had a very fine tine.
G EORGE II. PALMER, senior proprietor and editor of the Winehester Standard, a bright, newsy and aggressive sheet, notieed else- where in this volume, first saw the light in the his- torie city of Limerick, Ireland, on the 9th of Mareh, 1827. His father, David Palmer, and fam- ily erossed the sea, and landed at Kingston, Can- ada, in 1836. He remained in Canada abont two years, when he went to New York State, and in 1843 eame to Illinois, settling in Carroll County in 1845, being then thirty-seven years of age. The educational advantages of George H. were eom- paratively meagre, and he was, when ten years of age, apprenticed to learn a trade, that of a tailor. Ile eommeneed this vocation in the State of New York, and, after coming to Illinois, he gave many years of assiduous and painstaking application to his business in the towns of Exeter and Winches- ter, Ill.
In August, 1861, our subjeet saw that his coun- try needed his serviees, and, therefore, enlisted, at Exeter, this eounty, as a minsieian in Company B, 27th Illinois Infantry, and served to the full end of the term of enlistment. He rose to the rank of Orderly Sergeant in Company 34, 2d Battalion, Invalid Corps, this promotion being fully de- served. Ilis war record is one of which he should be proud, as he took part in all the battles in which his regiment participated, among which was the siege and capture of Island No. 10; battle of Farm- ington, Miss., May 9, 1862; siege and eapture of Corinth, Miss., May 28, 1862; battle of Stone River, Dee. 31, 1862, and Jan. 1, 1863. Being in- eapacitated for active service in the field, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and May 27, 1864, was promoted to the peculiarly re- sponsible position of Orderly Sergeant of Company 34, 2d Battalion. He was discharged at Paduealı, Ky., Aug. 17. 1864, and returned to Exeter. In November, 1865, he removed to Wineliester, and in
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October, 1866, was appointed Postmaster of that city and held that position until July, 1868, from which time up to January, 1886, he was the Postmaster's Deputy, filling that office with rare fidelity and in- telligence. Since leaving the postal service lic has devoted his whole time to the advancement of the interests of his newspaper.
Prior to the war Mr. Palmer was Postmaster at Exeter. Ile has also held the office of City Clerk of Winchester; has served as Justice of the Peace four years, and as Notary Public for the same length of time. He is a member of the Christian Church; of Pioneer Lodge No. 70, I. O. O. F .; Saladin Lodge No. 48, K. of P .; Scott Lodge No. 30, I. O. M. A .; Ilesse Post No. 203, G. A. R., and Winchester Encampment No. 66, I. O. O. F., of whiel he is serving his twelfth year as Seribe of said encampment. He was three years Commander of Hesse Post No. 203, G. A. R., and is now In- speetor of the last-named order for the Twelfth Illinois District.
Mr. Palmer was married at Jacksonville, Sept. 12, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth F. Covington, and there have been born to them two children-Frank M. and Frederick E. The latter died, in 1852, at the age of nine months. To this list may be added the name of a much beloved adopted daughter, Ma- dora E., now Mrs. J. S. Wilson. Mr. Palmer's varied experience has been one to which he ean proudly refer. Ilis positive convietions, his in- domitable will and singleness of purpose may well be emulated by the rising generation.
M RS. ELLEN THARPE. In 1830 William and Frances ( Richardson) Wilkinson, of Yorkshire, England, crossed the Atlantie to seek a new home in the Western World. Coming directly to Illinois, they settled on a farm- in Morgan County, where they became the owners of 250 aeres of land. The third daughter of this pioneer couple is the subject of the present sketch. Her mother died in 1851, and her father in 1856. Ellen Wilkinson was born in Morgan Connty, Feb. 6, 1833. Educated in the branches usually taught in the subscription schools of those early days, and,
no doubt thoroughly instrueted by her mother in all domestie duties, she remained an inmate of the parental household till she went forth to preside over a home of her own on her marriage with Sanders Tharpe, which took place Oct. 28, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Tharpe immediately rented a farm in Morgan County, on which they lived till March, 1854, when they bought their present homestcad of 120 aeres in Scott County, on section 25, Win- chester preeinet, No. 14, range 12. The work of improving the farm went on till the breaking out of the Civil War, when, responding to his country's eall, Mr. Tharpe enlisted, in August, 1862, in Company H, 129th Illinois Infantry. He was with his regiment three months and five days, taking part in its toilsome mareles and other act- ive duties till disabled by illness. Congestion of the lungs caused his death at Nashville, Tenn., Dee. 10, 1862, and thus early a brave and efficient soldier was lost to the cause. Mrs. Tharpe by this sad event was left a widow with five children of tender age, three sons and two daughters. She proved an excellent manager of the farm as well as her household, conducting her affairs with marked success. A part of the land she rented out for two years. With this exception, she attended to its cultivation herself, when her boys were small, often accompanying them to the field and sharing in the actual labors of seed-time and harvest. Iler son Cornelius and his wife Ilebe, nee Reed, live on Henry Todd's place; they have seven children. Iler daughter, Martha A., wife of William D). Wells, of Seott County, is the mother of four chil- dren. Her other children-Frances A., Lyman, and William W., as yet unmarried-live with their mother in the pleasant home built by her two years ago. Lyman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Winchester. The Tharpes are a family of readers. Thus, in a measure, self- educated, they have thriven by their own indus- try and intelligence.
Mrs. Tharpe is of a deeply earnest, religious nature, but no bigot. Blessed with a sound eon- stitution, a cheerful disposition, and an objeet in fife stimulating her to generous exertions, she has enjoyed good health and a fair share of worldly prosperity. A Penelope in faithfulness
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James Weise
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to the memory of her patriotic husband, she has untiringly devoted herself to her children, of whom it is little to say that they do credit to their ances- try and their training.
AMES W. SIX, one of the enterprising farmers of his community, and one who, by industry and intelligence, occupies a high place as a successful agriculturist, is a native of Scott County, and was born near Winchester, Oct. 25, 1829.
His father, Abraham Six, was a native of Vir- ginia, and in 1826, when but a young man, came to Illinois, and located in Winchester. Herc he en- tered a quarter section of land, which he improved and resided upon until his death, which oceurred June 6, 1849. John Six, the grandfather of James W., was born in Germany, but when quite young came to America and located in Virginia, later removing to Kentucky, where he was one of the early settlers. In 1830 he came to Scott County, and purchased a farm near Exeter, where he lived as long as he was actively engaged in busi- niess. He died near Perry, Pike County, III.
As indicated, the ancestors of James W. Six were farmers, and to this occupation James W. was at- tracted. Ile was educated at good schools, and re- mained at home until he attained his majority, when he commenced farming for himself on rented land. He finally bought the old homestead, and after passing a few years there, sold out and removed to Morgan County, where he purchased a farm of 200 acres, near Waverly. This he operated for two years, but not liking prairie land, he sold it and went back to Winchester, buying 200 acres of land four miles from town. He continned the. farming business until August, 1862, when he en- listed in Company D, of the 129th Illinois In- fantry. He was mustered into service at Pontiac, and immediately sent to the front and took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. Ile saw service on the fields of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Snake Creek Gap. Dallas, Kenesaw Moun- tain, and was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. ITis regiment operated before Atlanta, and
was in the innumerable skirmishes that occurred previous to the capitulation of that town. At Nashville he was taken ill with rheumatism, a re- sult of the exposures incident to a soldier's life, and was in the hospital for two months, but in a measure recovered, and then served until the close .of the war. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington, after which he received his honor- able discharge, and came back to Winchester to en- gage in farming.
But the result of the exposures that surrounded his army life was such that he was unable to per- form a great deal of manual labor, and he was therefore compelled to do light work. In 1879 he bought his present place, improved it, and is now en- gaged in raising stock, grain and small fruit. He was married twice, the first time to Miss Mary Ray, on Dec. 27, 1850. She was a native of Scott County, and died in 1857, leaving two children-Warren and George (the latter deceased); Warren is en- gaged in the mercantile business in Macon County, this State. Mr. Six was married the second time to Miss Louisa Ilale, on the 24th of De- cember, 1858. She is the daughter of Allison Hale, and was born in Tennessee. Her father came to Illinois and located in Scott County as a farmer, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1875. He was a Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Superintendent of the Sun- day-School. The mother of Mrs. Six, whose maiden name was Abigail Ford, was born in Tennessee and died in 1844, leaving six children-William, John, James, Thomas, Louisa and George. James was a soldier in the late Rebellion, and served in the 129th Illinois from 1861 until hostilities eeased. George was also in the same regiment, and served from 1862 until the close of the war.
Mrs. Six was born in Oxville, Scott County. Aug. 29, 1842. IIcr mother died when she was two years old. She remained with her father for ten years, when she began to fight her own way in the world. She was the mother of nine children by her marriage with Mr. Six. Their names are: Allison, Mary, Lanra, Ilaws, Thomas, Clara, Har- vey, William and Stella. Allison is married, and is a merchant at Warrensburg, this State; Mary mar- ried Willard Little, a farmer of Bluffs; Laura mar-
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ried George T. York, also a farmer of Bluffs; Clara is attending High School at Maeon, and the rest of the children are at home.
Mr. Six has a splendid war record, and is now drawing a pension of $50 a monthi, as a partial recompense for the services he rendered and for the sacrifiees he made for his country. His disa- bility-rheumatism-has steadily increased, and for the last eiglit or ten years has left him entirely helpless, being deprived of the use of his limbs. lle is ealled in the neighborhood, " Uncle Jimmy," which is an evidence of the respect borne him by the community. He belongs to the G. A. R. of Bluffs, and is a Republican.
A full page lithographed portrait of Mr. Six ap- pears in this volume, and forms a valuable addition to the work.
AMES M. WARD. Soon after the advent of the pioneers in Central Illinois, and their discovery of a soil more than usually pro- ductive, the establishment of a nursery be- eame a necessity among the other industries inau- gurated by the enterprising men who drifted thith- erward. Among these latter was the subject of this sketch, who is now recognized as one of the largest nurserymen and fruit growers in Seott County. He has eighty acres of finely cultivated land on section 35, township 15, range 14, and has for some years given nearly all of his attention to the propagation of choice nursery stoek. Ile is of that genial, courteous and obliging disposition, which has not only gained him many personal friends, but which has been the means of securing him a large patronage, both in this and adjoining counties.
An Ohio man by birth and training mostly, our subject first opened his eyes to the light in Newark Township, Lieking Co., Dee. 3, 1831. His father, Stewart Ward, Esq., was born in Beaver County, Pa., in 1792, and was the son of John W. Ward, a native of England, who came to America in 1790, lived for a time in the Keystone State, [and then in 1800 emigrated to Ohio, settling in Licking County, before the Territory had been transformed into a
State. He improved a farm from the wilderness. and there spent the remainder of his days.
The father of our subject was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, in Licking County, Ohio, where he received a limited edueation, but grew np healthy in mind and body, and like his father before him, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His life passed uneventfully (with the exception of serving as a Corporal in the War of 1812) until 1830, when he set out for the farther West, and located first in Putnam County, this State, near the present site of Magnolia. Two years later he re- moved to the vicinity of the Fox River, in Kendall County, where he entered a claim, but was driven ont by the Indians, and took up his abode near Ottawa.
In the fall of 1832, Stewart Ward changed his residenee to a point near the present sitc of Bloom- ington, where he engaged in farming until 1841. That year, erossing the Mississippi with his family, he took up his abode in Gentry County, Mo., re- pcated the experiment of reelaiming a portion of the wilderness, and built up a comfortable home- stead, where he remained until his decease, in July, 1841. He possessed all the sturdy elements of the pioneer, and for a long period officiated as a Dea- con in the Baptist Church. Hle married Miss Anna McGinley, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1843, aged fifty years.
James MeGinley, the maternal grandfather of our subjeet, was born in the North of Ireland, and upon emigrating to America, located first in Penn- sylvania, and then like the Ward family pushed further westward into Ohio. He was one of the pioneers of that region, and engaged as a contractor during the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal from Cleveland to Portsmouth. In 1830, however, he made another removal, coming to Illinois and loeating near what was then the hamlet of Bloom- ington, and where his deathi took place in 1836.
To the parents of our subject there were born six children, viz .: James M., our subject, who is the eldest; Martha A., and Catherine, who are resi- dents of Bloomington; Rebecca, who died when four years of age; Orlando, who died in 1839, and Henry, a resident of Daviess County, Mo .; James M. with his brothers and sisters spent his life in a
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manner common to the sons of pioneer farmers, ac- quiring his education in the district school. He was a lad of nine years when the family set out from Ohio to Illinois, overland by team, and still remembers many of the incidents of the journey, the settlement near Bloomington and Fox Lake, and how the Black Hawk Indians frequently passed through the country. He also recollects the agita- tion which culminated in the removal of the family to Ottawa for safety from the Indians. Later in life he attended the High School, which was estab- lished in Bloomington, and at the age of nineteen years engaged as a teacher, which profession he fol- lowed about three years.
Mr. Ward, in 1845, made his first purchase of land about eight miles west of Bloomington, and the improvement of which he carried on very suc- cessfully. In due time, by additional purchases, he became the owner of 360 acres, the whole of which he brought to a good state of cultivation. This accomplished, and desirous of more land to con- quer, he disposed of his interests in McLean County, and in April 1866, emigrated across the Missis- sippi into Macon County, Mo. There he pnrehased eighty acres first, and afterward became owner of 300 acres in Randolph County, all of which he im- proved, and lived there nntil 1869. In January of that year he came to Scott County, and purchased the land which he now owns and operates.
Upon this place Mr. Ward has effected' fine im- provements, and is well equipped with all the ap- pliances necessary for carrying on the nursery busi- ness. About thirty acres is devoted to the grow- ing of apple, peach and evergreen trees, while he has a large assortment of flowering and other choice plants. Ilis specialty, however, is the smaller fruits, great quantities of which he ships annually to Peoria, Chicago, and other points. A portion of his land is devoted to farming on a small scale, and he raises a goodly number of Poland-China swine.
Near Bloomington. McLean County, this State, on the 6th of February, 1842, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Clarinda Barker. This lady was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1823, and is the daughter of Samuel Barker, wlio located near Bloomington in the spring of 1832.
being among its earliest settlers. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward there were born eight children, only four of whom are living. Charles died in 1858, when a promising youth of sixteen years.
George Ward, during the late Civil War, enlisted in the 94th Illinois Infantry, was mustered in at Bloomington, in the fall of 1862, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment engaged, serving until the close. Then returning home, he is now engaged in farming. Albert is married and engaged in the commission business at Saulsbury, Mo .; Levi died at the age of eleven; Alice be- came the wife of Amos W. Harrison, of McLean County, and died April 12, 1881 ; Samuel is a resi- dent of Canton, Mo., and is engaged in teaming; Henry died when a little lad of five years; Daniel was gradnated from the Christian University, at Canton, Mo., and is Principal of the Fountain school in Pueblo, Colo.
Mr. Ward cast his first Presidential vote for William H. Harrison. He is now a lively Prohibi- tionist, and frequently is sent as a delegate to the County Conventions. He has served on the Grand and Petit Juries, and as School Director, Justice of the Peace, and Township Clerk. He is an active member of the Christian Church at Naples, in which he has been an Elder for the long period of thirty years, also served as Clerk, Trustee and Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school at Naples, twenty years. Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F., at Naples, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge at Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are proud in the possession of twenty-eight grandchil- dren, and one great-grandchild.
R EV. HORACE SPALDING, an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was also for many years identified with the educational interests of this part of Illinois, for a long time as principal of Howard Academy, Jacksonville, and subsequently as principal of other schools in the city, besides teaching in other places outside of the county. He held high rank among the members of his profession here, was well known, and was respected for his learning, while
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his simple, unostentatious, pleasing manner. com- bined with gentle dignity, made him beloved wherever he went.
Our subjeet was of New England birth and edu- eation, born May 27, 1802, in Moretown, among the beautiful hills of Vermont. There the thought- ful, studious lad passed his boyhood, and by his own exertions gleaned a substantial education, and, at the youthful age of fifteen years, entered upon luis career as a teacher. Ile taught some little time in New York State, and thenee went to the eity of Lynn, Mass., where he engaged in his voea- tion some years. June 19, 1825, the young teacher was united in marriage with one of his profession, Miss Elvira M. Ladd, and in her sweet companion- ship he found intelligent encouragement and aid in his life-work as an instructor and preaeher. She was born in New Hampshire, a daughter of Will- iam and Abigail (Spalding) Ladd, who were also natives of that State, and there married, Jan. 20, 1795. They had ten children, two of whom died in infancy, and the other eight, who grew to ma- turity, received excellent edneations, and at some period of their lives were teachers. Two of the sons, Laban and Azel P., both adopted the medieal profession, and the latter became an eminent phy- sieian in Wiseonsin, where he died. The names of the other members of the family are Levi, Will- iam, Martha, Cynthia, Maria, Abigail, and Elvira. Our subjeet and his wife both taught school in New Hampshire prior to their marriage, and after that they pursued the profession in Lynn six years, and from there went to the city of New Bedford, also in Massachusetts, where he had charge of a school four years. At the expiration of that time he was ealled on to preside over How- ard Academy, in Jacksonville, and, as before noted, served as its Principal for several years, and also was connected with other of the city schools.
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