USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Scott County > Portrait and biographical album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois > Part 73
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The parents of our subject, upon reaching Amer- ica, immediately proceeded Westward and located in the then unimportant town of Jacksonville, this State. The wife and mother lived only one year thereafter, her death taking place in the spring of 1860. In the fall succeeding, the father, with bis youngest child, Eliza, returned to Scotland, where the child was left in the care of her aunt. The
father came back to Morgan County in 1866, and died in 1874. In the meantime, Walter L., after the departure of his father to Scotland, was taken into the home of his uncle, Dr. John Simpson, of Woodson, where he lived until the fall of 1864. Then, with his eldest brother, Ilenry, he, too, crossed the ocean again, and for two years attended school in the town of Turriff, Scotland. Upon his return to America he was accompanied by his father, brother and sister, and he subsequently en- tered the Iligh School in Jacksonville, where he completed his education.
Our subject, upon leaving school, engaged for a time in farm pursuits, and July 16, 1875, was united in marriage with Miss Emma B. Wyatt, of Jacksonville. The young people began the jour- ney of life together on a farm which had been left to William and Walter by their paternal uncle, John Simpson. It is situated ten miles southeast of Jacksonville, and is still owned by Walter, as the liome of his childhood and the scene of many happy days. Mrs. Simpson's health failing, in 1880 they removed to Jacksonville. Then Mr. Simpson, abandoning agriculture, entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad as Check Clerk. Ilis strict at- tention to his duties secured his promotion at dif- ferent times, until he was given his present responsi- ble and lucrative position.
Mrs. Emma B. Simpson was born Dec. 19, 1858, in Morgan County, and is the daughter of Will- iam T. and Margaret (Harndy) Wyatt, natives of the same county, and who are now residents of Jacksonville. The parental family included eight children. The father is a dealer in live-stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Simpson there have been born four children-Maggie May, Annie D., Minnie Pearl and William Henry.
John Simpson, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Scotland, and lived in Aberdeenshire, two miles from the village of Turriff. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and belonged to the Established Church of England. He married a Miss McIntosh, a native of his own country, and to thein were born five children, Alexander, the father of our subject, being a twin to William. William and John came to the United States in 1835, and settled in Lexington, Ky., where they were intend-
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ing to follow teaching, for which they had fitted themselves by careful education. William died about 1840. John entered upon the study of med- icine, and was graduated from the Medical College of Lexington, under the famous Dr. Dudley. Sub- sequently he came to Morgan County, where he practiced successfully until his death, in 1878.
John II. Simpson, a brother of our subject, is a traveling salesman for the firin of A. J. Jordan & Co., of St. Louis, Mo .; Annie, a sister. is the wife of John McAlister, of Jacksonville; Charles and Catherine died in infancy in the city of Liverpool, England. William M. was drowned, Ang. 8, 1878, while bathing in the River at Alton, Ill. ; he was by occupation a railroad engineer, and was in the em- ploy of the Chicago and Alton Railway at the time of his death. Eliza, the youngest sister, makes her home with her sister Annie.
G EORGE W. MOSS, one of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of township 16, range 11, has a fine homestead of 150 acres of land well improved, besides twenty acres of timber. In addition to general agriculture, he is able to exhibit some fine stock-high grade Nor- man and French draft horses and Short-horn cattle. He has expended much time and labor in bringing his farm to its present condition, which with its appurtenances very ncarly approaches the ideal country estate.
Mr. Moss has occupied his present farm probably twenty years. Ile is a life-long resident of Morgan County, having been born at his father's old home- stead, Nov. 5, 1842. William Moss, an old resident of the township, was one of its earliest pioneers. He was a native of South Carolina, and died at the advanced age of eighty-three years. . The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Moss, and he came with the family to Morgan County, dying here when ninety-two years old.
William Moss, the father of our subject, was a young man when his parents removed from South Carolina to eastern Tennessee, and he was there married to Rachael Bratten, who was born and reared there. After the birth of most of their
children, they emigrated in the spring of 1828 to Morgan County, settled upon a tract of wild land in township 16, range 11, and began building up a homestead, upon which they spent the remainder of their days. The mother of our subject died when the latter was four years old, and his father was married a second time to a lady who also died before her husband. Mr. Moss was a true specimen of the hardy pioneer, expert with his rifle, an old- fashioned flint-lock, and brought down many a deer-sometimes five in a day-as well as other wild game.
The subject of this sketch was the younger of his mother's children, and after her death made his home with his father and stepmother. He was mar- ried in 1868 to Miss Elizabeth P. Morrison, who was born near Concord, Morgan County, Nov. 9, 1850. Her parents, Robert and Elizabeth A. ( Pur- yer) Morrison, were among the earliest pioneers of Morgan County, and her father died in middle life. Mrs. Morrison married a second time, and again became a widow. She is still living, is seventy- two years old, and makes her home with our sub- ject. She is an excellent old lady and highly res- pected by all who know hier. Mrs. Moss was quite young at the time of her father's deatb, and sup- ported herself until her marriage. She is now the mother of nine children, three of whom are de- ceased-Mattie L., Grove and an infant unnamed. The survivors are: Charles A., Ada O., Walter L., Nettie M., Oscar R. and a babe unnamed. Mr. Moss is politically a straightforward Democrat, and has held the office of Road Commissioner, besides serving in other positions of trust and responsi- bility.
W ILLIAM G. RUSSELL, a well educated gen- tleman, and a successful farmer, is located on section 30, township 14, range 9. 1Ie was born in Morgan County, April 30, 1858, and prosecuted his education in Jacksonville College, taking a business and commercial course. Ile is the son of William Russell, who was born in Ayr- shire, Scotland, and came to America with his parents in 1833, shipping from Glasgow and land-
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ing in New York City, whence they came directly to Morgan County.
Grandfather Russell purchased a large tract of land, and built up a fine estate, of which his son William is now superintendent. The latter married Miss Emily Gallagher, and has been for some years a prosperous merchant of Jacksonville. The par- ental household included ten children, namely: Andrew, James, Jane, Mary. Elizabeth, Margaret, Thomas, Catherine, Isabelle and William G., our subject. Andrew is cashier of the Jacksonville Bank and a very capable young business man. With the exception of our subject the others are unmarried, and the younger ones attending school.
Our subject, upon reaching man's estate, was married to Miss Virginia Martin, of Ralls County, Mo. The father of Mrs. Russell is deceased, but her mother lives on the farm in Ralls County. Her five children are all living and residents of that county. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell are Emily, Jane, Susan and a babe un- named. Their farm comprises 200 acres of choice land, finely adapted to general agriculture and stoek raising, in which latter industry Mr. Russell is meeting with success, keeping usually fifty head of cattle, fifteen horses, about one hundred head of swine and a goodly number of sheep. Politically he helongs to the Republican party, and religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Pres- byterian Church, in which onr subject is an Elder and one of its chief pillars.
C APT. E. L. GILLHAM, a prominent figure of Scott County, was born near Winchester, Ill., on July 14, 1823, and is a well-to-do farmer, operating 260 acres of land. His father, the HIon. James Gillham, was a native of South Caro- lina. His grandfather, Isaac Gillham, was a native of the same State, and served through the Revolu- tionary War. He was wounded in the head and left on the field for dead, but recovered sufficiently to crawl to a house, where he recovered. He rc- moved to this State in the first year of this eentury, and located on the opposite side of the present lo- cation of St. Louis, on what is ealled the "Ameri-
can Bottoms," where he engaged in stock raising and farming until his death, which occurred in 1847, he being at that time eighty-nine years of age. The Gillhams are of Irish deseent.
The father of Capt. Gillham was four years old when he came to Illinois, where he engaged with his father in farming until the War of 1812 began, when he enlisted as an ensign, and served with dis- tinguislied bravery for two years. In 1820 lie re- moved to what is now Scott County, and entered a half section of land, which he improved and opera- ted. When the Black Hawk War broke out lie en- listed as Captain of a company, afterward being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and as such served until the close of the war. Ile returned to his farm, which he operated until his death, in May, 1870, when he was seventy-four years old. Col. Gillham held inany politieal offices, among them that of State Senator, serving in the years 1842-43. He was an old-line Democrat, a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Superintendent of a Sunday-school, and always took great interest in church affairs, for in the early days his house was always open for worship. His wife, Sarah L. Lof- ton, was a native of South Carolina, but reared in Kentucky. She died in 1882, at the good old age of eighty-three years. She pinned her faith to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of eight that formed the first Methodist class in this section of Illinois, which event occurred in 1821. She was the mother of eight children, three of whom are living: William A., Capt. Gillham and Margaret A. The following are deceased: LeRoy L., Al- vira A., Elsie J., Wesley C. and Milton F.
Capt. Gillhamn was a child of the frontier. The rudiments of his education were received in the old log sehool-house, whose benches were eon- structed of slabs, and which contained no window except an aperture in the side of the building. An abundance of wild game in those days abounded, deer in large droves were daily seen, in fact there were "none to molest or make them afraid." The Captain is elearly entitled to the honor of being a pioneer, as he attended the first school-house ereeted in Morgan County, and there learned the lessons that in after life were so valuable to him. In 1846 the Mexican War broke out, and Illinois furnished
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many brave men for the army, and among thiem was Capt. Gillhamn. He enlisted in the 1st Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Montgomery and Col. John J. Hardin. His regiment was mustered in at Al- ton, and was sent South to Texas, from where it marched overland to Mexico. Thie regiment was engaged in the battle of Buena Vista, under Gen. Taylor's eommand. It remained at Saltillo until their time had nearly expired, when it proceeded to Monterey, where the regiment was mustered out of service in July, 1847. After the war, and in 1848, Capt. Gillham bought 120 acres of land, whiel he improved and developed into a good farm. Here he employed himself in a general farm business, and was one of the first of Morgan County to engage in breeding thoroughbred live stoek, which he continued for a period of twenty- five years, and was very sueeessful. He has added to his farm, and at the time of his enlistment in the Civil War he was in the possession of 240 aeres of land.
On Aug. 13, 1862, our subjeet enlisted, and pro- ceeded immediately to the rendezvous at Pontiae, where, on the 8th day of September, he was mus- tered into the 129th Illinois Infantry, as the eom- manding officer of Company F. His regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and from there it went in pursuit of Bragg. The command was in the battle of Bowling Green, after which it was ordered to duty guarding railroads. At Buek Lodge, Tenn., on account of disability, Capt. Gillham was inus- tered out of the service, on May 14, 1863.
After leaving the army Capt. Gillham came home and purchased more land, which added to his old farm, made a place of 500 acres. He has sinee continued in his old business, and with notable sue- eess, that of breeding good eattle. The Captain made an unfortunate move financially when he was persnaded to sink a eoal shaft, losing a great deal of money, but he still has a fine farm of 260 aeres, and highly improved, with commodious buildings, his house being built of briek, 36x50 feet.' Ile also has a warehouse at Merritt. On the whole Capt. Gillham has one of the best loeations in his pre- einet.
Our subjeet was married to Miss Elizabeth Be- craft, near Jacksonville, in 1848, Ilis wife is a na-
tive of Bourbon County, Ky., and attended sehool at Jacksonville. They have four children: James B., Hester A., Sarah E. and Erastus N. Three of the children are married, while the youngest re- mains at home. Capt. Gillham is the oldest native resident of Seott County. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, both Blue Lodge and Chap- ter. He worships at the Methodist Episcopal Chureh, and has been Class-Leader for twenty years. He has also been Superintendent of the Sunday-school, Steward and Trustee, and was largely instrumental in ereeting the ehurel build- ing where he now worships. Politieally, he is a Democrat, and has represented his party in both County and State Conventions. By self culture Capt. Gillham has beeome a man of a great deal of general information, and by his neighbors he is ae- eorded the praise of being a good eitizen, which verdiet is fully confirmed by his every day life.
ACOB STRAWN was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was born May 30, 1800. His father was Isaiah Strawn, who came of a family of nine sons born to Jacob Strawn, Sr., the latter being born in the city of London, England, and left an orphan when he was a small boy. In company with his mother, in his boyhood days, Jacob Strawn, Sr., emigrated from England to America, eoming on a ship that had among its pas- sengers, William Penn, the founder of Pennsyl- vania. When the widow Strawn and her son, Ja- eob, landed in Philadelphia after a long voyage, they were strangers and friendless. When the boy grew to manhood, they removed to Bueks County, Pa., where many of his deseendants now reside. Ile was married to a Miss Pureely, whose parents had emigrated from Wales to Pennsylvania when she was quite young. They had nine sons and three daughters, and those who grew up to maturity, had families. This eouple died in Pennsylvania, and their son, Isaiah Strawn, the father of the subject of this sketch, married Miss Rachael Reed, of Sus- sex County, N. J. Just after their marriage they removed on to a farm in Turkey Bottom, Somerset Co., Pa., and there Isaiah and his wife spent the
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rest of their active days as farmers, and there also their children, four sons and two daughters were born, Jacob being the youngest child. In 1817 some of the Strawn family moved to Licking County, Ohio, where the elder children had settled, having grown up and married there.
It was in 1837, that we find the first families of the Strawns settling in this State, loeating in Put- nam County, where Isaiah S. died at very advanced age, Aug. ,4, 1844, his wife dying ripe in years April 4, 1843. They were Quakers, and eame of a hardy, robust stoek. Sueh is a brief aeeount of the Strawn family in America. The progenitors of this family were of that good, old honest sort of people, that it would be refreshing to see in these latter days.
Jacob Strawu in carly life had limited advan- tages for obtaining an education, and as the people of Somerset County, Pa., were as a rule, not well- off in this world's goods, the district schools were operated on as economieal a plan as possible. But Jacob was a determined boy, of good habits, and possessed a great deal of physical endurauce. Ile went through the distriet sehools in a satisfactory manner, and thereupon decided to make his life- work that of a cattle raiser and dealer in live-stock, and with this determination in his mind, hc set out to fight his way through the world. When seven- teen years old, his parents removed to Lieking County, Ohio, and at the age of nineteen, he was married to Miss Matilda Grecu, daughter of the Rev. Josepli Green, of Licking County. As a basis upon which to erect a fortune, this young couple started out in life with an indebtedness of $7. From that time forward Mr. Strawn's financial suc- cess in life was extraordinary. The first $100 he made, was invested in wild land in Ohio, and while there he bought and sold eattle quite largely, but believing that Illinois was a better field for more extensive operations, he came to this State in 1828, and was struck with the rich soil of the prairies, and the remarkable fattening qualities of the grasses. Instead of purchasing cattle with his money, Mr. Strawn invested it in land, a part of which after- ward beeame his homestead. In 1831 he returned to Ohio, where he disposed of his property, and came back with his family, settling in Morgan
County, on the land he had previously purchased at such a low price.
Mr. Strawn at onee started out on the highway of prosperity, and in his long march, which covered a great many years, he never met with an obstruc- tion. And it was not luck that was the foundation of his remarkable victory. He was clear-headed, energetic, and above all, exhibited excellent judg- ment in all his investments. He became one of the largest cattle-dealers of the United States, and be- sides this, was a very extensive land holder in Illi- nois. When he died he was the wealthiest and best- known man in Morgan County. His death oc- curred in 1865.
Jacob Strawn was a man of generous instincts, and possessed an eminently Christian spirit. Ile did not seek political preferment, and would have nothing to do with politics as a business, but he al- ways exhibited great interest in his party. He was an Old-line Whig, and a Republican. During the War of the Rebellion he was very enthusiastic in doing what he could to support stalwart war meas- ures, he being a friend of Abraham Lincoln, and willing to follow where the great war President might lead.
SRAEL ARMITAGE. The valuable farm prop- erty of this gentleman comprises 140 acres of land lying on seetion 26, adjacent to the village of Exeter, Scott County. He is numbercd among the leading men of his township, is more than ordi- marily intelligent and possesses a good education, being an especially fine penman. He was born and reared in Yorkshire, England, first opening his eyes to the light Nov. 27, 1828. He lived there until a lad of twelve years, then, in the spring of 1840, eame to America with his parents.
In making this voyage, the Armitage family boarded the sailing vessel "Sidney" at Liverpool, which landed them six weeks later in the city of New Orleans. At that point they boarded a Mis- sissippi steamboat, the "Meteor," upon which they remained five days and five hours, and were then transferred to the packet "Eagle," which conveyed them to Greene County, thuis State. The balance of their journey was completed on a prairie schooner drawn by oxen, and the father took up a tract of
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land, where he improved a farm, and upon whiel our subjeet grew to man's estate. In 1853 Mr. Armitage, leaving the farm, eame to Exeter and secured the land which he now owns and oeeupies. This he operated in partnership with his father and brothers, and also purchased land adjoining the town limits, together with mill property, and in due time was the owner of 280 aeres. Hle eulti- vated the soil and carried on the mill suecessfully, shipping flour to New Orleans, Chicago, New York and Boston, some of it going to Europe and assist- ing to provision the army during the Crimean War.
In 1870 our subjeet and his partners dissolved, and there fell to Mr. Armitage 120 aeres, to which he afterward added twenty aeres adjoining, and this comprises his present homestead. Here he has made all the improvements, and it is regarded as one of the most desirable estates in the township. There is a sufficient quantity of native timber and an ex- cellent vein of eoal, in places about three feet thiek, under eighty acres. The land is watered by Mau- vaisterre Creek, and admirably adapted to raising all kinds of grain. Mr. Armitage raises consider- able live-stock, eattle, horses and swine. Ile keeps about twelve head of horses, using two teams in the farm work. His operations have been eon- ducted with that system and good order which are the surest guarantee of sueeess.
Our subject was first married in Macoupin County, this State, Oet. 20, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Cundall. This lady was born in Chesterfield, Ill., and died in 1872. The eldest of their five chil- dren, Charles E., is married, and is employed as a machinist in Waterbury, Conn .; Mary Ann died when about two and a half years old; Israel W. and Elihu W., twins, are at home with their father. Carrie is the wife of Douglas Borum, a farmer and veterinary surgeon of Exeter, who was graduated in one of the schools of Toronto, and has a good understanding of his profession.
In 1873 Mr. Armitage eontraeted a second matri- monial alliance with Miss Almara J. Sweeney, who was born in Sangamon County, this State. and is now the mother of six children, namely: Belle, William C. deceased, Judith A., Annie, Stewart and Fred. Mr. Armitage is a sound Republican, and
has frequently been sent as a delegate to the county conventions. Ile was for a number of years School Director in his district, and has served as Road Supervisor.
The father of our subject was Elihu Armitage, a native of Yorkshire, England, and the son of Joshua Armitage, who was also born there, and en- gaged as a farmer and miller. The latter became well-to-do, and was numbered among the English gentry. The great-grandfather of our subject en- gaged in a limited degree in farming, but was mostly eounceted with educational matters, gained the title of Professor, and conducted a school.
In 1840, as before stated, the father of our sub- ject eame to America, and locating near Carrollton, purchased 280 aeres of improved land. He sold this in 1852, and purchased land in Scott County, where he prosecuted agriculture a number of years, and then retired from active labor. He spent his last days with his son, our subject, and died in 1880, at the advaneed age of eighty-four. IIe was a member of the Episcopal Church, and a Repub- lican in polities. The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Judith Johnson, and she was born in Yorkshire, England. Her father was also a native of Yorkshire, but of Welsh descent. Grandfather Johnson carried on farming and mill- ing in Yorkshire, and was the owner of a good property. Mrs. Armitage died in Greene County, this State, in 1851. The parental family ineluded thirteen children, all of whom, with one exception, lived to mature years. Elihu lives in Exeter, Scott County; Ann lives in Alton; Annis and Isaae are deceased; Christiana resides in Texas; Elizabeth is -deceased ; Israel, our subjeet, and Mary were twins, and the latter is a resident of Chicago; Hannalı lives in Sadorus, Ill .; Job died of eholera about 1873; Felix died in Camp Butler; Sarah is de- ecased, and Adalı lives in Chicago.
IIOMAS GADDIS, a representative farmer and one of the early settlers of township 16, range 16, owns and oeeupies a well- regulated homestead of 160 acres on seetion 20. A residenee of forty-three years at this place lias made
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him fairly acquainted with the people of this sec- tion, who have learned to look upon him as one of the old landmarks and respeet him accordingly.
Mr. Gaddis eame to Morgan County in 1836 and spent the first ten years northeast of Jacksonville, after which he purchased the farm which he now occupies. It was then a wild prairie without im- provement and the labor of bringing it to its pres- ent state has been no small task. The whole is en - elosed with good feneing and embellished with neat and substantial buildings which, without mak- ing pretentions to elegance, shelter a family happy and contented in their home life.
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