Portrait and biographical album of Warren County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 58

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 58

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In 1876 Mr. Young organized and put into suc- cessful operation the Cold Brook Rural Mutual In- surance Company, and was elected its President. About two years afterwards the State Legislature passed an Act permitting mutual companies to or- ganize, and under that Act a re-organization was ef- fected which includes the entire County of Warren. It then took the name of the Monmouth Farmers' Mutual County Insurance Company. Mr. Young was elected its President, which position he has since held. Under his fostering care and guidance the Company has grown to be second to none of sim- ilar character. The volume of business or amount of policies carried last year aggregated $960,000. The benefits accruing to the farmers of the county can be easily estimated. Much credit is due Mr. Young for inaugurating and carrying forward this en- terprise, which has been of great advantage as secu- rity from loss in case of fire, in the farming districts. Mr. C. M. Young, son of the President, is the Secre- tary of the Company. Father and son perform the

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WARREN COUNTY.

duties of their respective offices for a mere nominal consideration, having the general good of the Com- pany at heart. Mr. Young has held the office of School Trustee and Road Commissioner. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party has been a staunch supporter of it. .

rville Ray, engaged in stock-raising and ag- ricultural pursuits, on section 8, Berwick Township, where he resides and owns 200 acres of land, was born in Kentucky, Feb. 18, 1819, and is a son of Hickerson Ray, a native of Virginia, who emigrated to this State in 1845, locating in Roseville Township, this county, where he died about 1855.

The father was married to Miss Sarah Kelly about 1815. She was born in Virginia, about 1800, and died in 1881, in this county. Of their union the following children were born : Wyatt, Orville, William, Thomas and Elizabeth, twins, Hickerson, John C., Jane, Emily, Harriet and Paradine.

Mr. Ray came to Warren county as early as 1840, for a time worked by the month. By using economy and diligence, for which he is noted, he had put him- self in such shape that by 1845 he was able to pur- chase some land, and began farming for himself. At that time he located in Roseville Township. He moved from there to Floyd Township, where he lived until 1870.

Orville Ray was united in marriage with Miss Jane Smith, Feb. 1, 1845. She was born in March, 1827, in Kentucky, and has become the mother of seven children, six of whom are living, namely, Archie M., Ira T., Harvey L., Eliza, Victoria and Silas O. John H. died in infancy. Archie married Elizabeth Welch, who died leaving two children, Charles and Mary. Ira T. married Miss Millee Ayers, and they have one child. They live in Gage County, Neb. Harvey selected for a wife Milinda Jane Carr : the names of their two children are Mary E. and Mable. Eliza becane the wife of John W. Smith, of Ringgold County, Iowa, and is the mother of four children-Nora, Henry, Arthur and Lena. Victoria is the wife of Joshua Roswell. They have

four children living, as follows : Arnold N., Charles, deceased, Mina Ester and Harvey. Silas O. lives with his parents.

Mr. Ray is the owner of 200 acres of land where he resides, and in addition to its cultivation, is de- voting a considerable part of his time to raising and dealing in fine horses. He has some fine roadsters and heavy draught horses, 23 head in all, and in this branch of his vocation he is meeting with marked success. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Ray are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. R. votes with the Democratic party.

The father of Mrs. Ray, wife of the subject of this notice, John Smith, was born in Kentucky in 1800, and died in this State in 1839. He was married in 1822, to a Miss Usurla Hendricks, who was born in Virginia, in 1800. She died in April, 1873, in this State, after having borne her husband eight children, namely : Elizabeth, David, Nancy, James A. J., John T., William H., Brison B. and Keziah Jane. The parents came to this State during the Black Hawk War, in 1832. They were consistent mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and in politics her father was a strong supporter of the principles advocated by the Democratic party.

ohn A. McKnight, of the township of Spring Grove, is a descendant from a fam- ily that became associated with the history of this country previous to the War of the Revolution. His first ancestor on the Amer- ican Continent was James McKnight, who was born in the north of Ireland of Scotch progeni- tors, and therefore belonged to the class of people distinctively known as the Scotch Irish. Their na- tionality as Scotch is practically intact, as in few instances did they intermarry with the native people of Ireland. They were all Protestants of decided type. The first of the family in this country, who has been referred to, settled in Adams Co., Pa., where he continued to reside until 1808. He then went to Crawford County in the same State, and there, by the purchase of a large acreage, became an extensive landholder. The land was covered with

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timber and he passed his life in its improvement. Captain James McKnight, his son, became noted for his predilection for military affairs, and at the age of 18 he was made Captain of a militia Company, which he commanded in the War of 1812. His father gave him a tract of land, on which he settled at the close of the war and which he cleared from its original condition. He remained thereon resident until 1864, when he came to Illinois. He located in.War- ren County and bought the southwest quarter of sec- tion 31 in Spring Grove Township and lived there until the date of his death. His wife, previous to her marriage to him, was Miss Lucinda Adams. She was born in Virginia, April 17, 1799. They had nine children: Mr. McKnight of this sketch is the oldest; Mary Ann is deceased; James C. lives in La Bette Co., Kan .; William lives in Mercer Co., Ill .; Margaret is deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of Allen Dunn, a farmer of Spring Grove Township; Thomas resides in the township of Monmouth; David S. lives in Alexis; Lucinda, the youngest, who was the wife of Jeff Calvin, of La Bette Co., Kan., is deceased.

John A. McKnight was born in Mead Township, Crawford Co., Pa., July 10, 1823. His father, of whom an account is incorporated in this sketch, was born in Adams Co., Pa., April 1, 1786. Mr. Mc- Knight was brought up in the county where he was born and was reared in the calling in which all his ancestors had been engaged. He received such ed- ucation as could be obtained in the district schools. On arriving at the age of independent manhood, he fitted himself for the business of a carpenter, which he followed eight years.

Mr. McKnight was married to Elmina C. Dunn, Sept. 28, 1854. She was born in Erie Co., Pa., March 13, 1835. On making ready to locate in life, Mr. McKnight bought a farm in Hayfield Township in his native County. The place had no buildings on it and only 20 acres had been cleared. He erected the necessary buildings for the family and his stock and crops and proceeded with the work of clearing the land. He cut the timber on 15 acres while he continued to occupy the farm, but disposed of it in 1857 and came to Illinois. He settled in Warren County on 60 acres of land situated on the southeast quarter of section 31. The previous owner had erected a log cabin and had placed 30 acres un- der the plow. The family passed the winter in the

log building and in the spring Mr. McKnight built a small frame house. He has since made additional purchases of land and he is now the owner of the whole quarter-section on which he at first settled. The buildings and all the accessories of the place are of excellent character. He also bought land in Monmouth Township.

The first wife of Mr. McKnight died in Septem- ber, 1866. Feb. 25, 1868, he was again married, to Sarah J. Stevenson. She was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Jan. 28, 1838, and is the daughter of James and Margaret (Cameron) Stevenson. Her father was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and her mother was a native of Pennsylvania.

Of the first marriage of Mr. McKnight there were born five children-James E., Emma E., John O., Ida L. and Edward L. Of the second marriage, Alexander C. and Albert S. are the issue.

Mr. and Mr . McKnight are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican in political faith and connections.

amuel Douglas is a resident of Monmouth. He is a veteran of two wars, and is an Irishman by birth and a Scotchman by descent. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in February, 1819. He was brought up on the Green Isle, and educated in the common schools. At the age of 19 he came to the United States, accompanied by his mother and brother. They landed at the port of New York af- ter an ocean voyage of six weeks' duration. After a residence of a few months in the city of New York he went to St. Louis, Mo., and was occupied in va- rious pursuits in that city until 1839, when he rented land on the bluffs of the river near the city, and turned his attention to farming. He was occupied in that vocation until 1846, when he came to Mon- mouth. He was one of the early settlers there, and he bought a house and lot and rented land on the borders of the village, as it then was. The Mexican war attracted him with an irresistible influence, and he determined to enter the military service of his adopted country. He enrolled Aug. 6, 1846, under

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Captain Wayne B. Stupps, and went to the "halls of the Montezumas." The company was independent, and was mounted and did effective service as volun- teers.

On March 11, 1848, Mr. Douglas was discharged and returned to Monmouth. Soon after he bought a farm situated two miles east of the city. He was its owner and occupant three years. He then sold the place and removed to town. He was a resident of Monmouth two years, and managed a tract of land which he had purchased in the same township. He was occupied in its improvement when the civil war broke out, and he was one of the first to enlist in defense of the Union. He enrolled July 5, 1861, in Co. B, First Ill. Cav., and on the organization of the command was made First Lieutenant. The reg- iment was mustered into service July 15, 1861. Mr. Douglas received a severe wound at the battle of Lexington, Mo., and was taken prisoner in the same action by the rebel cavalry under General Price. He was-taken to St. Louis and shortly after was set at liberty on parole. He resigned on account of disa- bility June 23, 1862, and returned to Monmouth. For some years after he was in active business life, but has been living for some years in retirement at his pleasant residence in the suburbs.

Mary A. Merrifield became the wife of Mr. Doug- las. . - She was born in Logan Co., Ky., in February, 1824. She is the daughter of John and Mary A. (Burroughs) Merrifield. A son, Hercules Douglas, resident at Monmouth, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas.

ohn G. Burchfield. Among the many notable events of the late war, there were few if any that at the time of their occur- rence created any greater sensation than' did the killing of Gen. John H. Morgan, the fa- mous guerrilla chief of Kentucky. Many and different versions of the affair have from time to time been given, but generally by persons wholly unac- quainted with the facts other than through hearsay testimony.

The subject of this sketch was one of the princi-

pal actors in that tragedy, being present from first to last, and a participant in the raid that had for its design the routing of Morgan from the vicinity of Greenville, Tenn. The very bitter and unrelenting hatred engendered in the hearts of the whole Union people against the leaders of the Rebellion and par- ticularly against Morgan, was calculated later on to fit the mind of the unbiased reader for the accept- ance as true, of the claim of Basil Duke and others, that their chief had been ruthlessly murdered after his surrender.

Mr. Burchfield, who was a member of Co. G, 13th Tenn. Cav. (Federal), after detailing much, and very minutely, the movements of his immediate command upon the morning of August 4, 1864, makes the fol- lowing statement in explanation of the killing of the distinguished partisan at Greenville, Tenn., upon that occasion : :

" It was just growing light ; we had dashed through the town, completely surprising and putting to rout 1,500 or 2,000 rebels there encamped, and turning back the street through which we had charged, I rode up to the hotel of Mrs. Col. David Fry, and ad- dressing that lady, who was my cousin, by the way, was informed by her. that Gen. Morgan was just back of the hotel at the house of Mrs. Williams., I reported the fact at once to Capt. Wilcox, who was in command of our men, and he ordered us to surround the block. Andrew Campbell ` (now of Hawville, Ind.) was on the west side of the block; Lieut. Wil- cox and myself entered the grounds and passed north towards the premises of Mrs. Williams. In passing an outhouse on the southeast corner of 'Mrs. Williams' lot, two officers, Rodgers and Clay, came to the door and surrendered. At that moment a man in shirt sleeves and bareheaded, ran from behind the outhouse towards the residence. We followed through the grape arbor and got between him and the house and ordered him to surrender. He fired at us and passed behind a bunch of vines. I saw Campbell ·ride out from behind a stable and fire, when we shouted to him not to shoot, as the man was on a line between Campbell and us. The man walked a few paces toward Campbell, who dis- mounted, laid his gun on the fence and was taking deliberate aim, when the man faced about with pis- tol raised, took a step or two towards us, and Camp- bell fired. The ball entered just below the left shoulder and passed out below the left nipple, and

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Gen. Morgan, with the exclamation 'Oh, God!' fell and was dead." The maltreatment of the dead body is all contradicted by Mr. Burchfield.

John G. Burchfield was born at Clark Springs, Tenn., May 5, 1846, and was the youngest of five sons of John and Elizabeth (Gourley) Burchfield, both now deceased. He was brought up to farming and received in his early life only four months' schooling, but a relative, James I. Tipton, who reared him, taught him and placed him at Henry and Emery College, Abingdon, Va. The war closed the college, and young Burchfield returned to Tennes- see to find that his guardian had died ; and he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, John J. Edens, at Elizabethtown, Tenn.

In November, 1861, he went out with Fry's bridge burners, and helped burn the railroad bridges at Union, across the Holistein River, Nov. 9, 1861, and staid in the mountains until February, 1862. In August, 1863, he entered the army and served until Sept. 5, 1865.

In January, 1866, he came to Illinois, worked at various places, landed at Monmouth in 1879, and has since been in the employ of the Weir Plow Company, He is a skillful mechanic and highly re- spected by all who know him. He is Past Master of Monmouth Lodge, A'. F. & A. M .; Principal So- journer in the Chapter, and illustrious Grand Master of the Council. He is also Past Master of A. O. U. W., and Officer of the Day in the G. A. R. In 1880 he was the candidate of the Greenback party for Circuit Clerk; he is now a Republican.

He was married in Springfield, Ill., Dec. 10, 1868, to Miss Margaret Bumgardner, and they are the parents of six children-William E., Martha E., George S., Charles M., Orion and Nellie V. The three last named are deceased.

enry C. Mlles represents one of the most important industries of Warren County. He is a brick and tile manufacturer and is lo- cated on section I, in the township of Cold Brook. He is also interested in the manufac- ture of lumber and is the owner of a saw-mill.

He was born in Kelly Township, July 6, 1832, and is the son of John and Sarah (Froman) Miles. He is

a member of one of the earliest of the pioneer fami- lies of the county in which he has passed most of his life. After he had spent about the allotted time at school and had worked on the farm until about 17 years old, he commenced to learn the trade of a carpenter. He operated for a short period as a jour- neyman, and afterward commenced to act in the ca- pacity of an independent builder and contractor and has since managed his business as a craftsman in those departments, to which he has also added bridge building.

In 1858 Mr. Miles bought the Ferris steam-mill in Henderson, Knox County, and was engaged in its management until 1862. The civil war interfered with his business and he took up arms in the de- fense of the union. In August of the second year of the war he enlisted in Co. B, 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and after a service of six months he was discharged for disability. He returned to his home, resumed his former business and continued to conduct the affairs of the mill for four years, when it was burned. He im- mediately rebuilt the structure and continued to con- duct it for a period of two years. Then the boiler exploded and blew the mill to pieces, killing two men. The pecuniary loss to Mr. Miles was $3,000. He then turned his attention exclusively to the busi- iness of a contractor and builder, in which he was occupied two years, after which he bought a quarter interest in the steam-mill in Kelly Township, and in which he is at present interested in connection with other business. For the first six years he had a partner, but at the end of that time he became by purchase the sole owner and has since operated singly. He added the tile and brick business in 1882, and is prospering in the several industries in which he is interested. The clay beds are situated about two miles from the factory.

Miss Harriet T. Rogers became the wife of Mr. Miles in September, 1854. After their marriage they located in Galesburg, and after a residence there of two years went to Brown Co., Kas., and pre-empted a claim of land, on which they resided six months.

At the expiration of that time they returned to Henderson, which was their place of abode until 1882, when they removed to section 1, in Cold Brook Township. The farm of Mr. Miles contains 120 acres and is in thorough, good condition for prosper- ous farining. He is also proprietor of 160 acres of land in Kelly Township, situated on section 24, and

UNIVERSITY WILLING!9

E'LSIO

"REPUBLICAN "SCHOOL DIST. NO. 3 -

TENANT HOUSE , N. W. SEC. 8

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SCALES

RESIDENCE & STOCKFARM (560 ACRES.) OF JOHN CALDER, SEG . 8, KELLY TOWNSHIP .

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has a tract which includes 20 acres on section 25, of the same township. The farms are under the man- agement of his sons. The household comprises seven children-John H., Eddie H., Frank G., Geo. C., Willie, Theodore and Helen. Mrs. Miles is a native of New York. Mr. Miles is a Republican.

ohn Calder. One of the most substantial farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Kelly Township, is John Calder. He is a - native of Somersetshire, England, and was born Jan. 12, 1819. He is the son of William and Elizabeth Calder, who were engaged as farmers in their native land. John remained at home until he attained his 14th year, when he was apprenticed to the trade of a butcher. He served his time faithfully and then went to London to fol- low the calling lie had thus chosen. He remained in that city during the winter of 1839 and 1840, and in the spring shipped for South Australia. From. there he went to Van Diemansland, where he re- mained engaged in different avocations several months. He then went to China, where he stayed for 18 months, going thence to Bombay City, India. He remained a citizen there for six months, when he returned to England. After a six-months sojourn at home, he became restless, and the desire for a change was too great for him to resist. He therefore ship- ped for Aden in Arabia, and from there up the Per- sian Gulf, then back to India, where he remained six months and then returned to England. There he was content to remain during the winter, but on the following spring he embarked for South America and stopped at Monte Video, Buenos Ayres and other places along the River La Platte and in the Argentine and Uraguay Republics a little over two years. From thence he went to the Brazils, stop- ping at Rio de Janeiro six or seven months, and returned to England in March, 1848.

During the last year named, 1848, the expedition was being fitted up to go in search of Sir John Frank- lin, under the command of Sir James Ross and Cap- tain Bird. Mr. Calder shipped in H. M. S. Investi- gator, under the command of Captain Bird. The fleet set sail in the spring of 1848, and passed through David's Straits, Baffin's Bay, Lancaster

Sound into Barrow's Strait, at Prince Regent's Inlet, and wintered at Leopold Bay, North Somerset, but discovered no traces of the fated explorer, and, una- ble to push further North, returned to England, in November, 1849.

The country had now become thoroughly alarmed for the fate of the great explorer and his party and immediately set about organizing an expedition that would make a thorough search for Sir Jolin and his crew. The Government fitted out the Enterprise, commanded by Capt. Collison, and the Investiga- tor, under Commander McClure. They set sail in January, 1850, and parted company after passing through the Straits of Magellan, never seeing the Enterprise afterward. The Investigator, the vessel upon which Mr. Calder shipped, as Captain of the forecastle, passed the winters of 1850 and 1851 at Prince Royal Island, in the Arctic Ocean. In the spring of 1851 Commander McClure turned his ves- sel southward around the southern extremity of Bar- ring's Island, and commenced to force a passage to the northward, between the western shore of that land and the enormous fields of ice which pressed upon it. The cliffs rose up like walls on one side, while on the other the stupendous palaeoerzostic sea arose from the water to a level with the yards of the Investigator. After many hair-breadth escapes, Mc-J Clure took refuge in a bay on the northern shore of Banksland, which he named the Bay of God's Mercy. Here the Investigator remained, never to move again.

In the summer of 1852 Commander McClure, with a part of his crew, among whom was Mr. Calder, niade a journey across the ice to the Melville Island and there deposited some papers which were after- ward found by the commanders of the " Resolute " and "Intrepid," giving them a clew to McClure's company. The supply of food, however, ran short the third winter, and all hands were compelled to go on extremely short rations. The cold was intense, often ranging from 60 to 66 degrees below zero. Wa- ter was scarce, in fact their only supply was ob- tained by melting snow, and during the extreme cold weather the snow fall was very light. Water and food were husbanded with the greatest care, and every precaution · taken to withstand the terrible suf- fering and starvation as long as possible. In the Spring of 1853 McClure was preparing to abandon

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the vessel and with the crew attempt to reach the American coast, the same as Sir John Franklin did. In the meantime, however, the government of Eng- land was fitting out the Resolute and Intrepid to rescue McClure and his men. The latter vessel, for- tunately, found McClure and his crew just as all ar- rangements had been perfected, and they were ready to make the start for the trip across the ice to the coast of America.

After suitable arrangements could be made they finally deserted the "Investigator," June 4, 1853, traveling across the ice to the east side of Melville Island, where the "Resolute" and "Intrepid" were stationed. During their short sojourn on this Island they killed several musk ox. From there, on board the "Resolute," they sailed out into Melville Sound, making a journey of about sixty (60) miles, when they were bound in by ice and obliged to remain there during that winter. On April 14, 1854, they abandoned the "Resolute" and "Intrepid," making their way down to "Beechey Island," where they found the "North Star" awaiting them. Lying there until September, they started for England. They finally reached England, having been gone four years, nine months and fifteen days, and thus closed one of the most noted Arctic expeditions known in all the his- tory of explorations to that far-off region. Mr. Calder had spent five winters in the Polar seas. The many incidents, narrow escapes, the intense suffer- ing and heroic conduct of officers and crew if told would fill a large volume. A grateful government recognized their eminent and heroic services, and presented the crew with medals appropriately de- signed, and in addition Parliament voted them £10,000. Mr. Calder was presented individually with a medal for "meritorious conduct," in addition to that received as one of the crew. With a just pride he regards them as his most valuable treasures. There is not a man in Warren County, and but few to be found anywhere in America who have traveled so extensively, visited so many foreign ports, or passed so many months in the distant Polar sea.

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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 58

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

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