Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 16

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794

USA > Illinois > Warren County > Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 16

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Mr. Karns formed a matrimonial alliance Aug. 20, 1837, in Ohio, with Miss Anna Ellinger, the cere- mony being performed by George W. Sanders, Justice of the Peace. She was born Nov. 15, 1817, in Fair- field Co., Ohio, and has borne her husband 11 chil- dren, six of whom are deceased. The living are : Catherine, born July 3, 1838 ; Margaret A., Oct. 27, 1842; Jacob, Aug. 20, 1854 ; William H., Nov. 24, 1858; Joseph L., Jan. 5, 1863. Catherine married Riley Adams, and now resides in Hardin Co., lowa, and is the mother of eight children. Margarette is ' the wife of George Emerick; they live in Bourbon

Co., Kan., and are the parents of nine children. Jacob married Amanda Johnson, and they live upon the home farm, and are the parents of three children. Samuel L married Edwina Bond; he died Nov. 1, 1873, and left two children, Nora and Hulda May. His widow married Dr. William Randall. John Henry married Clara Nier. He died when about 30

years of age, leaving two children, now deceased. His widow married Charles Thomas. The father of Mrs., Karns, Joseph Ellinger, was born Dec. 30, 1785, in Pennsylvania. He married Miss Nancy Bowman, Feb. 14, 1815, who was born Dec. 10. 1787, and died March 30, 1862, her husband having preceded her to the Tand of the hereafter Oct. 6, 1853. Their- children were seven in number, and named as fol- lows : Catherine, born April 4, 1816; Ann, Nov. 15, 1819: Samuel L., Jan. 17, 1820; Mary, June 20, 1823; Elizabeth, July 30, 1826; John E., twin brother to Elizabeth; and Barbara, Nov. 30, 1828. Catherine and Ann still survive, at the venerable ages of 79 and 76 respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Karns have 22 grandchildren, and are passing the sunset of their lives in peace and quiet on their homestead, enjoy- ing their accumulations of the past. On the cele- bration of Mr. Karns' 70th birth-day, his children and grandchildren, friends and relatives to the num- ber of 90 assembled to do honor to the old gen- tleman.ª

Mr. Karns is a member of the Lutheran Church and his wife of the Baptist Church. In 1836 he cast his first vote, which was for Harrison. In 1856, upon the formation of the Republican party, he' joined it, and from that time to the present has remained a firm, staunch and liberal supporter of the principles of that party.

illiam H. Brooks, one of the representa- tive men and respected citizens of Warren County, is engaged in farming and stock- raising on sections 9 and 10, Roseville Town- ship, where he has always resided. The date of his birth is Jan. 1, 1846, and he is the son of Thompson and Harriet E. (Ray) Brooks, who are natives of Kentucky and who came to Illinois with their parents before their marriage and were among the early settlers of the State. Their mar-

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riage occurred May.18, 1840. They had three sons, of whom W. H. is the only survivor. After coming to Illinois, they purchased 80 acres of land in Rose- ville Township, and afterward added to their landed interests 520 acres. Here they lived until their deaths, the father's occurring April 23, 1871, and the mother's March 22, 1878.

William H., whose name heads this biographical notice, remained on the homestead with his parents until their death. Since these sad events he has had possession of the estate, and has added to the original homestead until at present he is the pos- sessor of 700 acres, which is well stocked with cattle, horses and swine. We are pleased to give a full- page view of his residence and farm buildings, which may be seen on the preceding page.

Mr. Brooks was married to Miss Amanda E. Fort, March 4, 1866. Like her husband, Mrs. Brooks is also a native of Illinois. She is a daughter of Wash- ington Fort, of Henderson Co., Ill. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and prominent settlers of Henderson County. Mrs. Brooks has borne to her husband five children, namely : Effa, George T., John F., Jessie and Harriet.

Mr. Brooks has held the office of Road Commis- sioner of his township, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Brooks is one of the solid and substantial men of Warren County. Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party.

arren B. Jenks, the owner and manager of 100 acres of excellent improved land and 16 acres of timber, residing on section - 26 of Lenox Township, is the son of Eras- tus and Polly F. (Wilber) Jenks, nalives of the Empire State. They were married and set- tled in Warren County, where, in Lenox Township, they have since made their home. Their famly con- sists of five children, -- Alice P., Warren B., Ann H., Gertie and Flora G. Gertie is deceased.

Warren B. Jenks, of whom we write, was born in Lenox Township on the 19th day of September, 1846, and received a fair English education and has al- ways made this his place of residence, When a

young man he had accumulated sufficient of his earn- ings to procure a good farm of 100 acres, which op- portunity he took advantage of, and now is the proprietor of as nice a farm as there is in his town- ship. The appearance of the same presents that thrift and hard labor characteristic of our subject, and his farm is now cultivated to a high degree, with a fine residence and all the necessary and suitable farm buildings erected thereon.

Mr. Jenks, was married on the 7th of February, 1875, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Asa Capps (see sketch of F. L Capps). 'The ceremony was per- formed in Lenox Township. Mrs. Jenks was born there, Oct. 15, 1855. Of this union were born four children, -- Mabel L., Wilber B., Edna F. and Chester G. Mr. Jenks has served his township as School Director, besides having held other minor offices, and with his wife is a member of the Baptist Church. In political opinion he is identified with the Republican party.

lorance K. Morris, M. D., practicing physician residing at Berwick, was born in Greene Co., Pa., April 18, 1849, and is the son of James B. Morris, a native of Mt. Mor- ris, Pa., where he was born in 1827. The father was a miller by trade, and soon after the breaking out of the late Civil War, enlisted in the cause for the Union, joining a regiment of infantry, and was selected as Captain of Co. F, and served in that position for two years. At the expiration of that time, he was commissioned Major in the 7th W. Va. Inf. and served until his discharge in 1864. He participated in several hotly contested engagements while in the service. The father was married in 1848 to Miss Kezia Way, a native of West Virginia, where she was born in 1825. They are both living, and have been blessed by the birth of seven children : Florance, the subject of this notice ; Sturgis W. was born Aug. 8, 1850; Josephine S., April 8, 1852; Mary J., September, 1854 ; Arabella, April 28, 1856; Emma L., Dec. 15, 1858; George T., October, 1860.

Dr. Florance K. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Kelley, June 22, 1876, in West Vir- ginia. She was born in that State in 1851, and has borne her husband three children, namely: Lena ·

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May, born April 9, 1877 ; Mary M., March 28, 1879; and Emma B., Oct. 11, 1882. Dr. Morris com- menced the study of medicine at Mt. Morris, his na- tive State; there he read one year under the instruc- tion of Dr. Spencer Morris and two years under Dr. Leander McMillan. He then attended Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, followed the curric- ulum of that institution two years and graduated thereat with honors March 11, 1876, receiving his diploma. In April of the same year, he engaged in the practice of his profession in his native State, and then, in April, 1884, came to Berwick village, and has since followed his practice at that place. By carefully diagnosing his cases and bringing his ex- perience and study directly to bear upon them, to- gether with his close application to each and every case he has in hand, the doctor has built up a fine practice, both in medicine and surgery. That he might be sure of pure drugs, which to use with his practice and which are so essential in the treatu ent of cases, he engaged in the drug business at Berwick, which he is at present conducting in connection with his practice. In politics he is a Republican.

oseph M. White, a well-to-do and suc- cessful farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 27, Monmouth Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Honey Brook, Chester County, that State, April 12, 1833. The father of Mr. White, of this notice, Thomas White, was a native of the same State as his son, his father also having been born in that State. Thomas was of Irish descent and in early life learned the trade of blacksmith, which, in the sunset of his years, he abandoned to follow the vocation of a farmer. The parents of Thomas White always resided in their native State until their death. Thomas was the third child in order of birth of a family of five sons and one daughter. He was married in Chester Co., Pa., to Catherine Mar- ple, who was a native of the same county and State in which she was married, and was the only daugh- ter in a family of four children by her father's first marriage, the issue of his second marriage being two children.

The gentleman whose name heads this biographi-

cal notice was the oldest and only son of his father's family, the remaining child being a daughter, Mary J., who attained the age of majority and became the wife of George Brown, a merchant in Fayette Co., Pa. The early education of Mr. White was ac- quired in the common schools, after which he at- tended college at Meadville, Crawford County, his native State. He continued to reside on the old family homestead until he attained the age of man- hood, in the meantime engaged in teaching. On at- taining his majority he set forth upon the road of adversity to fight the battles of life single-handed and alone, and engaged in farining. His marriage occurred in Fayette Co., Pa., where his parents had removed when he was two years old, March 18, 1858, when Miss Sarah J. Rankin, the daughter of James and Rachel (Hill) Rankin, natives of Penn- sylvania, became his wife. Her father and mother were both children of Pennsylvania farmers and were of Irish extraction and American parentage. Her father's family consisted of seven children, of whom Mrs. White was next to the oldest. She was born in Fayette County, Nov. 20, 1834. Her father died in Pennsylvania about 1875, aged 67 years, and her mother is yet living and resides on the old homestead in that State. Mrs. White was educated in the common schools at the college at Waynes- burg. Greene County, her native State. She lives at home, and for a portion of hier time prior to her mar- riage was engaged in the occupation of a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. White have become the parents of three children, one of whom is deceased. Thomas is a resident of Lenox Township; Lucian resides at home, and Roclanea is deceased.

After Mr. and Mrs. White were united in marriage " they continued to reside in Pennsylvania for a short time, when in the fall of 1858 they came West and located on a farm of 101 acres, which was partly im- proved. Mr. White has since devoted his time to that pursuit in life. In 1869, in company with A. M. Black, Mr. White leased 1,400 acres of land in Monmouth Township, which embraced the present site of the Monmouth Mining Manufacturing Com- pany. This company was first organized by Joseph M. White and A. M. Black. They bored for coal at an expense of about $1,000, and found a coal vein of two feet; but the most important discovery was fire-clay. The first vein of fire-clay is about three

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feet thick. Going still farther down, they found su- perior quality, a vein of fire-clay, eight to ten feet thick. As the coal could not be economically worked, and the fire-clay being found of great value, they turned their attention to the full development of that discovery. In order to do that successfully, a stock company was organized by Messrs. White & Black for the purpose of 'manufacturing sewer-pipe, fire- brick, etc. The stock was $50,000. The capital stock was subsequently raised to $100,000. Mr. White was a director in the first board, and a stockholder until the fall of 1884. The establish- ment now is among the largest of its kind in the State; and much credit is due to Mr. White for his energy in aiding to establish this great en- terprise. He has done his full share in building up the city of Monmouth. Mr. White continued his connection with it until recently. At present he is the owner, in Monmouth Township, of 182 7/2 acres, and 40 acres in Lenox Township. He has a fine, we might say magnificent, residence on his place, and is meeting with that success in_ life which his energy, perseverance and good judgment have brought him. He and his wife are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination Mr. W. is at present Trustee. In poli- tics Mr. White is classified as a " true blue " Repub- lican.

rs. Mary C. Klingingsmith is the widow of Philip Klingingsmith, one of the pio- neers of Roseville Township, and for many years a prominent and influential business man of the village. He was born in 1820, in Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in 1855, selecting a quarter of a section of land in Roseville Township. Here for over 20 years, until 1877, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Dur- ing that year he moved into the village of Roseville and purchased the Roseville Flouring-Mill. This he continued to run until his death, which occurred Nov. 27, 1884. Besides his mill he owned six dwell- ing-houses, and 160 acres of land lying three miles northeast of Roseville, all of which he managed him- self. He was an enterprising man and a valuable

citizen to any village, and in his death Roseville lost one of her most esteemed citizens.

Mr. Klingingsmith was married to Mrs. Mary C. Rogers, widow of John Rogers, Sept. 25, 1875. She was a native of Virginia and the daughter of James and Elizabeth Jane (Robinson) Clemmer. Her par- ents were natives of Fayette Co., Pa., came to Illinois in 1862 and settled upon a farm in Berwick Town- ship, this county, where they lived until 1879, when. they removed to Iowa, and in 1884 removed to Ne- braska. Mrs. Klingingsmith, who was born in 1847, resides in Roseville and has one daughter living with her, Emily U. Rogers, who was a child by her former husband.

Mr. Rogers was a native of Missouri and a resi- dent of Berwick Township at the time of his mar- riage to Miss Mary C. Clemmer. He died in 1868, in Quincy. Mrs. Klingingsmith was raised in Dod- dridge Co., Va., and remained there until she was 14 years of age, when her parents caine to Illinois and to Berwick Township. He also owns the flour- ing-mill.

Josephus Kirby, a successful farmer and respected citizen of Warren County, resid- ing on section 7, Berwick Township, was born in Greene Co., Pa., Dec. 26, 1834, and is a son of Joseph H. Kirby, who was born in the same county and State, Feb. 21, 1802. Joseph H. Kirby was married Oct. 26, 1824.

Mr. Kirby of this sketch traces his ancestry in this country back to Richard and Anna Kirby, who had a son, Joseph, who was born Oct. 18, 1731. Joseph Kirby was married and had a son, Isaac, who was born Sept. 23, 1756 Isaac was married and had a son, Joseph H. Kirby, the father of the subject of this notice. Joseph H. Kirby came to this State in 1853, and located in Berwick Township, this county, where he purchased 270 acres of land, on which he located with his family and engaged vigorously upon the task of its improvement. Of their union nine children were born, whose names are Isaac B., born June 25, 1825; Emily, Jan. 23, 1827; John M., Dec. 24, 1830; Margaret, Feb. 5, 1833; Josephus, subject of this sketch, Dec. 26

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1834; Phebe A., July 22, 1837 ; Sarah J., Sept. I I, 1839; Mary E., Oct. 26, 1842; and George W., April 24, 1847. Of the nine children, three only are now living,-John M., Isaac B. and Josephus. . Joseph H. made his trip to this county overland with wagons and teams, and was occupied 27 days in the journey. Since coming here he has devoted his time exclusively to agricultural pursuits, and yet survives, at the venerable age of 84 years. In pol- itics, he is an adherent of the Democratic party, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Prot- estant Church. 4

Josephus Kirby, subject of this biographical notice, -has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He · received such education as was to be acquired in the common schools and worked on his father's farm in Pennsylvania until his parents emigrated to this county, when he emigrated with them, and has-here continued to follow the vocation which he had learned in early life. He was united in marriage to Fannie E. Townsend in 1862, Rev. P. P. Sirley officiating. Miss Townsend was born April 19, 1843, in New York and has borne her husband six chil- dren,-Jennie S., born June 29, 1863; Nellie A., Jan. 24, 1865 ; Leeny F., Aug. 26, 1869; Harry T., Aug. 29, 1871; Ross J., Aug. 13, 1874; and Ralph, June 13, 1880.

Mr. Kirby, in addition to the cultivation of his land, is devoting considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, in which he is meeting with success. He belongs to the Order of Good Tem- plars, and religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

illiam P. Speakman, raiser of sugar cane and manufacturer of sorghum, and also a general farmer, residing on section 31, Monmouth Township, was born in New Lin, Chester Co., Pa., June 29, 1836. Jacob Speakman, father of the gentleman whose naine heads this notice, was a native of the same county and State as his son, and was of English descent and American parentage. He was married in Chester Co., Pa., to Miss Hannah Mitchner, a native of the county and State where she was married. After their

marriage they continued to reside in Pennsylvania, where Jacob Speakman was engaged in farming and operating a grist-rnill until 1854. During that year they came West and settled in Tompkins Township, this county, where they purchased and improved a tract of uncultivated land, on which they resided until 1864. Jacob then moved to Monmouth Town- ship, where, near the city limits of Monmouth, he purchased 36 acres of improved land. On this land he and his family moved and there resided until the death of the mother, which occurred in 1879, in her 69th year. Jacob is now in his 8rst year. In his politics he is a strong adherent to the principles of the Republican party, and has always taken an act- ive part in local politics.

After the parents of William P. had moved to this county, the subject of this notice continued to reside with them until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he and his brother, Henry C., enlisted in the 83d Ill. Vol Inf., Co. A, the date of their enlistment being Aug. 2, 1862. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and was under com- mand of Gen. Thomas. It participated in the bat- tle of Fort Donelson in February, 1863, in that of Pulaski in 1864; also the battle of Athens, Tenn., and many skirmishes. The two 'brothers were in all the engagements in which the regiment participated, and both received an honorable discharge in Chicago, in 1865. After his discharge Mr. Speakman returned to his home, and two weeks later was married, on the 2 Ist of July, 1865, to Miss Parnee L. Harroun. She was born near Meadville, Crawford Co., Pa., June II, 1839. Her father, J. E. Harroun, was Captain of a militia company and engaged in the various Indian troubles on the Pennsylvania frontier, near Erie. His life occupation was varied, and he died when Mrs. Speakman was but seven years old. She then went to Wisconsin with her mother, Lucinda (Hastings) Harroun, and there resided for seven years, when her mother died After the death of her mother, Mrs. Speakman resided with relatives until her marriage. Of her union with Mr. S. six children have been born, three of whom are deceased. Hur- bert G., Rutherna and Fannie are living, and El- wood, Mary and Ruth are deceased. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. S. located on the farm and followed that vocation in life for a while, when Mr. Speakman purchased eight acres, on which he is at present residing and engaged in his present occupa-

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WARREN COUNTY.

tion of manufacturing sorghum. He has a mill on his place with a capacity of 25,000 gallons for the season, and he is at present making about ·20,000 gallons annually. The mill is owned by himself and brothers, who raise sugar cane for their own manu- facture and also manufacture sorghum for the neigh- borhood. In politics Mr. Speakman is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

R udolph A. Beck, a member of the mercan- tile firm of Beck & Lewis, at Berwick, was born in Ehingen, Wurtemburg, Germany, Aug. 18, 1834, his parents being Henry and Anna Beck. He received his education in the public schools of his native country, at- tending them until he was nine years of age, when he entered college and there remained until he was 14. The father of our subject, Henry Beck, died Dec. 21, 1848, aged 42 years. Rudolph, after this . sad event, was sent by his mother to a friend of his father's, at Morger, to learn the confectioner's trade. He lived in that beautiful country for some six months, and on returning home he stopped at Berne and fell in with Sigel's German insurgents, with whom he remained for awhile and then returned to Germany. After his return he was sent to Hoch- ingen to finish his apprenticeship, and there remained for two and a half years. He then again went to France, from there to Switzerland and then back to his native land, Germany. After staying at home six weeks, in 1853, he emigrated to the United States via Liverpool, Eng. After a voyage of 30 days, he landed in New York, where he remained for about one and a half years, and then went to Lancaster, Pa., on foot, and from there to Wheeling, W. Va., and then to Sabina, Ohio. In the latter place he worked sonie six months, at the enormous salary of $5 per month !

Leaving Ohio, 1855, Mr. Beck came to Illinois, where he found work on a farm near Berwick village. During the spring of 1861 the war for the Union be- gan, and Mr. Beck enlisted in October following in Co. E, 13th Ill. Cav., under Capt. Rolland. After participating in several skirmishes in Arkansas and Missouri, he was sent to Jefferson Barracks Hospital, Missouri, where he was discharged. He was mus-

tered into the service at Chicago, and from there his company went to Pilot Knob, Mo., and from there to Arkansas, on the White River, where they were en- gaged in the battle of Cotton Plant, after which they went to Helena, Ark., where Mr. Beck remained for some three days, and from which place, as stated, he was sent to the hospital, the occasion of which being the falling of his horse upon him in the last battle in which he participated, and from which he has never fully recovered. He received his discharge at Jefferson Barracks, Oct. 9, 1862. Returning home, Mr. Beck remained in the vicinity of Berwick, endeavoring to regain his health, until the 22d day of May, 1863, when he started for his native home. On arriving in that country and after remaining there some three or four months, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Mederle, Sept. 21, 1863, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Fulgey. She was born July 24, 1846. He started back to the United States with his bride in October of the same year of their marriage, and arrived here in No-1 vember following.

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Mr. and Mrs. Beck are the parents of four chil- dren,-Ida T., born July 8, 1866; Cora A., Oct. 17, 1868; Grace A., Jan. 16, 1873; Irma A., July 30, 1875. Mr. Beck has a fine residence in the village of Berwick, 36 x 36 feet in dimensions, and two. stories in height. In politics, he is a Republican. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 619, at Cameron, and, religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

The present firm of Beck & Lewis, at Berwick vil- lage, carry an average stock of $3,000. They handle a general stock of dry goods, hardware, groceries, and in fact everything that pertains to their business, and by fair and honest dealings with their patrons have built up a good and constantly increasing trade.

Mr. Beck has held the office of Postmaster at Ber- wick for the last 25 years, and still acts in that Ca- pacity.

S. Henderson. One of the progressive and energetic farmers of Warren County is Mr. S. S. Henderson. He was born in Fayette Co., Pa., on the 27th of May, 1848, and is a son of Harvey and Eliza (Harris) Henderson, who were natives of Pennsylvania and had a family consisting of 13 children, five of

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WARREN COUNTY.

whom are living. Mrs. Henderson died in Pennsyl- vania, March 12, 187c. The father is still a resi- dent of Fayette Co., Pa.

The subject of this notice remained at home until he attained his majority, and while there assisted in the farm duties and also attended the district schools. He afterwards took charge of his father's farm, on shares, for six years, which proved very successful, and our subject managed to accumulate sufficient to enable him to emigrate West, arriving in Larchland, this county, in the spring of 1875, and in the fall made a purchase of 160 acres, where he now resides, and owns 240 acres all together. On this land he is engaged extensively in general farming. About the year 1881 he was very unfortunate, having his house and other buildings burnt, but since has replaced them by an elegant residence costing $2,000, and good, substantial outbuildings.

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Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 16

Author: Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 794

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 794