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 57
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apt. John P. Higgins, of Monmouth, was born in Cumberland Co., Ky., Aug. 8, 1830, and his parents were Durrett and Mary (Graves) Higgins, who' reared seven sons and four daughters, John being the third son in order of birth, and one of the three sons now living. The sons were brought up as tillers of the soil upon the farm of their parental ancestor. The family came to Illinois in 1835, and the parents spent the rest of their lives in Tazewell County, the father dying in 1851, at the age of 62 years, and his widow in 1860, at the age of 62 years.
From the common schools of Tazewell County, the subject of our sketch took a scientific course at Galesburg Liberal Institute (now known as Lombard University), and in 1855 began teaching school. For nearly 20 years he taught in Warren County. His home was in Swan Township, where he held the office of Supervisor for four years, beginning in 1879, and was also holding the office of Justice of the Peace at the same time. In 1881 he removed to Monmouth, where he was at once appointed County Superintendent, to fill out an unexpired term of that office.
Capt. Higgins has always been a Democrat, and as such has held several minor offices in the county. In 1883, he was the candidate of that party for Sheriff, but was defeated, almost as a matter of course in a county so radical in its blind following of party as to exclude the possibility of recognition of the claims of even a battle-scarred veteran when he chose to assert a conviction contrary to their own.
At Macomb, Ill., in July, 1862, Mr. Higgins en- rolled as a private soldier in the service of the United States, and at the organization of Co. A, 84th
Ill. Vol. Inf., he was chosen Captain, a position he filled until Jan. 25, 1865, when, on account of i health he was forced to resign. Up to that time he was with his regiment all the time, and partici- pated in its numerous engagements. In March, after leaving the army, he came to Warren County and has since made this his home. Capt. Higgins inherited nothing in the way of a fortune. What he has he has earned by the sweat of his brow.
He was married in Swan Township, Dec. 4, 1856, to Miss Zoa A. Simmons, and their three children were named respectively, Hezekiah D., who died in 187 1; Robert P. and Nellie C. The Captain is Past Master in Good Hope Lodge in Masonry, and for two years was first Commander of the G. A. R. Post at Monmouth.
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ichael W. Hall, residing in Cold Brook Township, a gentleman of more than ordinary business ability, owning 1,500 acres of land in Warren County, and a suc- cessful farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Barren Co., Ky., April 30, 1837. The father of Mr. Hall, Robert S. Hall, was also a native of Barren Co., Ky., and followed the occupation of a farmer during his life time. He was married in the county of his nativity to Julia Harber, and six chil- dren were born of their union, in Kentucky. After the demise of his wife he was again married to Julia Madden, a native of Ohio. Of both marriages of Mr. Hall, senior, nine children were the result-six by the first marriage and three by the second, with record as follows: Susan married A. B. Miller and resides in Kansas : six children have been born to them, of whom two are deceased. Mildred became the wife of Alick Anthony, and the mother of five children : she is now deceased, as also are two of the children. Mary Jane married Edward Grover, and they reside in Mercer County and have a family of five. Michael W. was fourth in order of birth. John D. married Phobe Airsmith, and they became the parents of two children : father and mother are both deceased. Joseph lives in Texas. Kate is married and resides in Michigan. Robert S. lives in Mon-
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mouth. The three latter are by the second , mar- riage.
Michael W. Hall came with his parents to this county and located in Monmouth Township. His father purchased partly improved land, whose value he augmented by cultivation, and at the date of his death was the owner of 400 acres. His death oc- curred in Monmouth Township at about the begin- ning of the War for the Union, his wife, the mother of Michael W., having departed this life some five years previous. She was killed near the city of Jeffersonville, Ind., by the train on which she was riding being thrown from the track. The cause of the accident was a bovine, who obstinately refused to give way to the "iron horse." She was at the "time on a visit to her former home in Kentucky, and the accident she received was so severe that, al- though she reached her native State, she lingered but a short time, and then, in Louisville, Ky., de- parted this life.
After the death of his mother, Mr. Hall engaged in farming on his own account. He had previously purchased about 50 acres of land in Monmouth Township, and on this he began the occupation which he has continued during his entire life. Sept. 8, 1859, at the residence of the bride's parents in Monmouth Township, Mr. Hall was united in mar- riage with Miss Candis, the accomplished daughter of John and Permelia (Tapscott) Miller natives of Barren Co., Ky. Her parents were married in Glas- gow and were of Virginia parentage and Scotch ex- traction. Her father was a cabinet-maker, and for some years after marriage resided at Glasgow Ky., at which place Mrs. Hall was born, Dec. 16, 1843. She was next to the oldest in order of birth of four children, viz .: Charley, who was married to Adaline Parker, now deceased; Candis the wife of Mr. Hall; and two who died in infancy. In 1845, when but two years of age, Candis, now Mrs. Hall, was brought by her parents to this State. They located in Monmouth Township, where her father followed his trade up to within a short time before his death, which occurred June 7, 1854. Her mother was again married, and died in Cold Brook Town- ship Dec. 22, 1876.
After Mr. and Mrs. H. were united in marriage, they located upon a farm in Monmouth Township, which Mr. Hall had previously purchased. Six months later they moved on a farm in Cold Brook
Township, consisting of 124 acres, to which Mr. H. has since added tracts located in Cold Brook and Monmouth Townships to the extent as heretofore mentioned and most of which is under an advanced state of cultivation, with the exception of 125 acres which is timber.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Christian Church located at Talbott Creek, to which denomi- nation they have belonged for some 25 years. The issue of their union has been seven children. The living are Frank (see sketch), George C., Addie B., Ella M., James B. and George M., all of whom are living at home and have received good educations. Edison G. is deceased.
obert S. Patton, Treasurer of Warren County, was elected first in 1879 and re- elected in 1882, term to expire in Decem- ber, 1886. The gentleman whose name heads this notice was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 1837, and was the first child of five born to John S. and Sarah (Morrison) Patton, na- tives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. They were of Irish extraction. The father was married before to Miss McCague, and by that marriage four chil- dren were the result - George A., Mary J., Nathaniel T. and Martha. Of this marriage all are deceased except Nathaniel T. He married Esther Stevenson, she being a native of Ohio and now de- ceased. The five children of the second marriage are Robert S., Carrie S., Eliza M., John H. and Sa- rah; the latter died while young. Cary S. married ' Miss Lizzie Harsha; Eliza married J. B. Woods ; John H. married Sarah M. Woods. Judge Robert Morrison, grandfather of Mr. P., on the maternal side of the house, was an officer in the war of 1812. His grandfather, Nathaniel Patton, on the paternal side of the house, was one of the first defenders of his country.
Mr. Patton settled in Hale Township in 1860. His parents came the next year and in that town- ship spent the rest of their lives, the senior Mr. Pat- ton dying in 1863, aged 64 years, and his widow in 1876, at the same age.
Robert S. Patton lived on his father's farm in Hale
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UNIVERSITY VIILLU.
John Jenpening
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WARREN COUNTY.
Township, which he had previously bought from the heirs, until the spring of 1880, when he removed to Monmouth to take charge of the office that he was elected to fill. He has always been a consistent Republican, but his selection for the office which he so ably filled was made not so much on account of his politics, as his fitness. With the exception of the School Treasury of his township, which lie han- dled for 12 years, the present is the only official po- sition he has ever filled or sought to fill.
Mr. Patton was married in his native county to Miss Sarah Ann Sheppard, on the 2d of February, 1860, and of the seven children born to him, Anna S., George, John and Guy are living, and three were buried in infancy. Mrs. Patton was the daughter of Johnston and Mary (Henry) Sheppard. She was born in Adams Co., Ohio, June, 1839. Her parents came from Ohio. Her parents are of American or- igin as far back as known.
Mr. Patton belongs to no secret order, but has been many years a consistent member of the United Pres- byterian Church.
ohn P. Terpening, a well known resident of Kelly Township, is a settler of Warren County of 1836. He is a native of Sara- toga Co., N. Y., and accompanied his parents to Illinois in 1835. His father, Ezekiel Ter- pening, was born in the town of Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1781. The great-grandfather of John P. came from Holland and settled in New York after i's capture by the English. From there he moved with his family to Ulster County, that State, where he died. One of his sons, Peter, nioved to Saratoga County, to what is now called Clifton Park, where he , passed the remaining years of his life. He served as a soldier during the war of the Revolution. His son, who was the father of our sub- ject, was a soldier in the war of-1812. His grandfa- ther, on the maternal side, assisted in defending the rights of the colonies, and died from the effects of the hardships that he endured while in the service. His name was Peake, and he was of English ances- try.
Ezekiel Terpening had learned the trade of a
blacksmith. He gave his attention to that business until the proceeds of his labor enabled him to buy a farm, after which he abandoned his trade for the pleasures of agriculture. In 1835, accompanied by his family, he set out to seek a home in the West. They started on the Erie Canal, by which they reached the city of Buffalo, whence they took a steam- boat to Cleveland. From that city they again took passage on a canal extending from that place to Portsmouth, on the Ohio River, where they embarked on a steamboat on the same river and reached the Mississippi River, on which they journeyed to St. Louis. The freezing of the river detained them there a month, and at the end of that time they proceeded to Quincy, where they arrived on the ist day of Jan- uary, 1836. No vacant house could be found at Quincy, and, in company with other emigrants, they took possession of a camp three miles from the city, where they remained a month. About the Ist of February, the father and son (the latter the subject of this sketch) set out for Rock Island County to see the claim J. P. had previously bought, but met a man, who was then living where Moline is now located and whom he knew was living near the place he had purchased. Mr. T. learned from him that the claim had again been sold, the man getting only $5 more than' Mr. T. was to give. He had agreed to pay him $450 on taking possession, the Ist of March. They were then some 30 miles south of Monmouth, but thought best to go to Hendersonville, Knox County, and look around. They finally found a de- sirable location, on section 33, in township 12 north, of range I west (Kelly Township). Previous to starting, the family had removed to a vacant house in Quincy, where the remaining members were com- fortable situated while the father and son were away seeking a place for their future home. They re-/ turned to Quincy and remained in that city until . spring, when, with a pair of horses and a wagon they drove to their new home. There were a few im- provements on the place, consisting of a log house and stable and four acres of prairie broken. This was the homestead during the remaining years of the life of the father, and he also bought additional land, until he was the owner of 480 acres. He died July 16, 1864. The wife and mother died Feb. 8, 1867. Their family included 11 children.
Mr. Terpening of this sketch is the third in order
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of birth. He was born in the same town in which his father was born, April 12, 1811. He was reared on the homestead in Saratoga County and received a good common-school education. At the age of 2 1 he became a clerk in a grocery, at Rexford's Flats, in the county of his nativity. In May, of that year (1835), he set out for Illinois. He stopped in vari- ous places in the intervening States of New York and Ohio, and after he reached Jackson, in the Buck- eye State, he came the remainder of the distance to Illinois on foot. In September of the same year he returned to Saratoga County for the sake of fulfilling a promise to a young lady named Mindwell Smith, to whom he was joined in marriage, Sept. 24th after he arrived home. She is the daughter of Richard and Sally (Peck) Smith, and was also born in Clifton Park Township, Saratoga County, April 2, 1813.
Mrs. Terpening was the eldest of a family of eight children, namely: Abijah, Eliza, Nathan, Richard P., Samuel, Solomon P. and one who died in in- fancy. Eliza married Solomon Waite, and now lives in St. Clair Co., Mo. Samuel now lives in Pettis Co., Mo. Solomon C. resides at Waterford, N. Y. He was a Colonel in the late war, in which he lost one of his arms. Of the paternal side, as far back as she can trace, Mrs. T. is of American ancestry, and on the maternal side is of English origin.
Upon the 2d of. November, 1835, the elder Ter- pening and his family, including the bride of his son, set out for the journey to Illinois that has been re- lated in detail in connection with what has been told above concerning the fortunes of the father. The ar- rival of the entire party in what is now Kelly Town- ship, occurred March 9, 1836. The elder Terpen- ing bought the southwest quarter of section 33 of L. W. Billups. Upon this was a log cabin, 18 x 20 feet in size, and Mr. Billups . and his family of ten and Mr. Terpening's family of twelve, twenty-two in all, lived in it for three weeks. Mr. Terpening says that " we were thicker than three in a bed, as the floor, our only bed, was covered. " At the end of three weeks,. Mr. B. had completed his house in the vi- cinity and moved out. (It should have been stated that the elder Terpening assisted a man and his fam- ily to come with himself. This inan settled in Scuy- ler Co., Ill.)
The first year of his stay in Warren County, Mr. Terpening rented a farm on section 28, and in 1837 he bought 80 acres of land on section 26. It was
nearly all covered with timber, but a small log cabin had been erected, of which he and his wife took pos- session for a short time, until a more comfortable and convenient dwelling could be prepared for their use. The new house was built of logs, but it was the home of the household for seven years. At the end of that time, Mr. Terpening bought a farm on the southwest quarter of section 34, to which he re- moved. They were there resident five or six years, after which the proprietor bought and removed to the place a frame house. He continued to manage the place until he had broken and fenced about 50 acres, when he again sold his farm and bought a place on. section 2, of the township of Cold Brook. The family were the occupants of this until 185 1, when Mr. Terpening bought the farm on which he is at pres- ent residing. It was then unbroken prairie. He moved a log house to it and commenced to improve his property. He has placed it in a condition which will compare favorably with others in the township of similar pretensions.
Mr. Terpening's household included eight chil- dren. Smith, the eldest son, resides in Galesburg, Ill .; J. Wesley is a resident of Marion Co., Mo .; Sarah is the widow of William M. Armstrong, who was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion and Cap- tain of Company B, 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., to which ref- erence has so often been made in the course of these records. At the battle of Averysburg he was se- verely wounded and never recovered from the con- sequences of the injury. After his return he was elected Sheriff of Warren County, but did not live to fill his term of office. Harrison P. is a resident of Marion Co., Mo .; Olive is the wife of W. B. Arm- strong, and they are settled in Vernon Co., Mo .; Nathan is a citizen of the same county ; Charles is the manager of the homestead; Edwin lives in the township of Cold Brook. The son, Harrison, was aª soldier in the Rebellion, and served in the 59th Ill. Vol. Inf. William, Wesley and Nathan were soldiers in the same company and regiment of which their brother-in-law was the chief officer. All served through the war.
The record of the brothers and sisters of Mr. Ter- pening is as follows : Maria T. is the wife of George W. Brown, of Galesburg, the inventor of the corn planter that bears his name ; Olive is Mrs. Boswell ; Peter lives in Vernon Co., Mo. ; George is a resident on section 28, in Kelly Township; David lives on
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WARREN COUNTY.
section 33, of the same; William H. is a citizen of Pettis Co., Mo.
Mr. T. has held various township offices, such as Collector, Assessor, School Director and Superintend- ent of Highways. He was appointed Postmaster of. the office at Utah, under the administration of Zach- ary Taylor, and held the office for eight years. Dur- ing the late war, he was enrolling officer. He wanted to enlist himself and follow the fortunes of his three sons in the service of his country, but owing to liis age the recruiting officer would not accept him. His friends very justly thought he had already shown sufficient patriotism and done enough by sending to the front three of his sons, two of his sons-in-law and one brother, Samuel Terpening. Politically, he is a Republican, and he was elected President of the Union League. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Church.
As one of the best known of the early pioneers of this part of the State, as well as a venerable and [highly respected citizen of the county, the portrait of John P. Terpening will be regarded as one of the most valued in this ALBUM.
illiam D. Miller, of Berwick Township, Warren County, who is the owner of a fine farm, with beautiful surroundings, on sec- tion 10, was born in Perry Co., Ind., Feb. 16, 1848. John Miller, father of the sub- ject of this notice, was born in Kentucky, in January, 1805, and came to Illinois in 1851. He was a farmer by occupation and died on his home farm, in this county, Oct. 8, 1878. He was married to Miss Lucy Carrin 1830. She was born in Ken- tucky, in 1807, and died in this county, Nov. 21, 1861. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller eight children were born, five of whom still survive them.
William D. Miller is the present Supervisor of Berwick Township, and has faithfully served the township in that capacity for seven years. He has also served as School Director for ten years, and as Assessor for three years. By industry , enterprise and frugality he has accumulated a handsome prop- erty, and has beautified his farm with a neat resi- dence and inviting surroundings. In addition to his
agricultural pursuits, he has devoted considerable time to raising stock and dealing in graded cattle.
May 21, 1873, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Georgia Cable. She was born Sept. 27, 1851. To them a son, Walter, was born, Dec, 19, 1879.
In politics, Mr. Miller, like his father before him, affiliates with the Democratic party, and is one of the recognized leaders of the democracy of Berwick Township. His wife united with and is a-member of the Baptist Church of Berwick .:
B urr Sheldon, owning 304 acres of good farm land, located on section 32, Floyd Township, where he resides and is active- ly engaged in its improvement and cultiva- tion, was born Nov. 8, 1838, in the same township, and is a son of Wilson Sheldon, born in New York city, Feb. 3, 1811, and now de- ceased.
The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to this State in 1837, located on the northwest quar- ter of section 32, Floyd Township, and became the owner of 640 acres of land, where he resided, follow- ing the vocation of a farmer, until 1868, when he moved to Monmouth and lived there until his death, Sept. 13, 1873. He was married to Sarah Matteson in 1831. She was born in Rhode Island, in 1813, and when eight years old her parents removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., where she continued to reside,un- til the fall of 1837, when she came to this State with her husband, the subject of this notice. Of their union nine children were born - Hiram, Martha, . George, Seneca M., Burr, Alma, Aurilla (who died on attaining her 21st year), Mary and Jerome, the latter dying in infancy.
Burr Sheldon was married to Miss A. J. Morey, Oct. 13, 1869. She was born Dec. 10, 1845, in Knox Co., Ill., and bore her husband two children -- Clar- ence M., born Jan. 18, 1871; and Carrie, Jan. 16, 1879. The father of Mrs. Sheldon, Hiram T. Morey, was born in New York, about 1820; married Miss Caroline I. Patrick, a native of Kentucky, January, 1845. She was born in 1825, and bore him five chil-
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dren - Anna J., Caroline, William F., Hiram and Jane. He came to this State about 1840, and lo- cated at Knoxville, Knox County, where he contin- ued to reside for 20 years, during which time he served as Circuit Clerk four years. He then moved to Monmouth, where he is at present residing, and is keeping books for his son, Hiram Morey, engaged in business on Main Street.
The farm of Mr. Sheldon of this notice is under an advanced state of cultivation, and in addition to the tilling of his land, he is to a considerable extent en- gaged as a stock-dealer, and has also added to these interests the baling and shipping of hay. He has a fine hay press and is doing a very extensive business in that line.
Socially, Mr. Sheldon is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 619, Berwick. In religion, he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and in politics, Mr. Sheldon always casts his vote with the Democratic party. He served his township as School Director for a number of years.
yman H. Young. The subject of this sketch is among the substantial and pro- gressive farmers of Warren County. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., Feb. 25, 1822, and is the son of Stephen and Annis (Smith) Young. The former was a native of the above named county, but his father was born in Scotland. He came to America and settled in Connecticut, while it was yet under colonial government. There he lived, and when Stephen was but five years old, died. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Joel Smith, was of English nativity. He came to Con- necticut, where he followed the vocation of a farmer. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Young is descended from the best English and Scotch ancestry.
Mr. Young was reared and educated in his native state, attending the excellent schools, and also re- ceiving a good academic education, which he has supplemented with a careful and extensive course of reading, and is not only well informed on general and current topics, but has a mind stored with valuable and practical information, After leaving school he
engaged in teaching for the next six months. He ventured West in the Spring of 1854, and settled in Cold Brook Township, Warren County, where he purchased land on Section 7. Here he has since followed farming and stock raising, in both of which departments he has been more than ordinarily suc- cessful.
Mr. Young was united in marriage Oct. 11, 1846, with Miss Emeline A., daughter of Walker and Con- stant (Humaston) Cole. The ceremony was per- formed in Medina Co., Ohio, where Mr. Cole and family resided. They were also natives of Connect- icut, but had settled in, Ohio, at an early day. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young seven chil- dren, whose names in the order of birth, are as fol- lows : Stephen Nelson, who is married and living in Nodaway Co., Mo .; Clark Milton, a farmer of Cold Brook Township, and a sketch of whom is given else- where in this Album. Clarence is married and a farmer of Kelly Township. George L. is also mar- ried, and is a resident of Nance Co., Neb. Elmer died at the age of four years. Levi E. is married, and also a resident of Nance Co., Neb. Dr. Arthur Young, now a student of Monmouth College, is the youngest of this family. Mr. Young has given all his children the benefits of a thorough practical ed- ucation, and they have gone forth into the world fully equipped to meet the responsibilities of life.
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