USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > Portrait and biographical record of Macoupin County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States > Part 109
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Mrs. Lucretia J. Crouch passed away from this life in South Otter Township, January 13, 1875. Mr. Crouch again contracted himself in marriage this time to Winnie Clarady who died in South Otter Township, after but a short time of marital
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experience. The gentleman's present wife was Mrs. Margaret (Shipp) Jeter, formerly wife of George Jeter, by whom she was the mother of two children, Noah, who died when six and one half years old and Ella.
Mr. Crouch is an adherent of the Democratic party, favoring its platform of free trade as he con- siders that most favorable to the agricultural fra . ternity. I'nder his party he has filled offices of Iligh way Commissioner and School Director very satis- factorily to his constituents. Socially, he is a mem- ber of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. Mrs. Crouch is a member in good standing of the Christian Church.
The father of our subject was William Crouch who was born in North Carolina and was married in Tennessee, his wife's maiden name being Re- becca Tipton. She was the mother of our subject. Both parents passed away in Tennessee. They had twelve children of whom our subject was one of the junior members of the family. Our subject's paternal grandfather was Solomon Crouch, who also died in East Tennessee. The home of the gentleman of whom we write is characterized by the geniality and hospitality that are always un- derstood to be inherent traits of Southern charac- ter. He is popular with his townsmen and is a useful and an interested member in the community.
AMES W. GIBSON. There is probably no family in Virden Township more thoroughly in sympathy with the most progressive movements of the day, both social, religious and educational than that which is represented by the name which appears at the head of this sketch For the early history of the family the reader is referred to the biography of C. C. Gibson, of Girard Township which is to be found on another page of this RECORD.
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Our subject, who is the eldest son of his father's family was born in Morgan County, INl., January 9, 1847, and was about eighteen years old when his parents removed to Macoupin County. Hle re-
mained under the parental roof until the date of his marriage and has continued to make his home in this county. Agriculture has ever been his life work and upon his father's farm when he was a boy he received that careful drill which has given to him the success which is now his. Ile received such educational advantages as his parents couldl give him and made such abundant use of them as to fit him for an intelligent manhood and a life of usefulness.
The happy marriage day of dames Gibson and Mary M. Wright, was February 27, 1868 and this union was solemnized in Virden Township at the home of the bride's parents, Preston and Susan (Dawson ) Wright. The father of Preston Wright was Allen Wright, who was born November 26. 1789, probably in Hart County, Ky., and died De- rember 17, 1855, in the same county. He took an active part in religions work and was an earnest and consecrated member of the Methodist Church. Ilis wife, who bore the name of Hannah Peebles and was also a native of Kentucky, was born July 30, 1793. and died in Hart County, Ky., September 12, 1851, having been the mother of a large family. She was a woman earnestly devoted to her relig- ious work and a consistent member of the Metho- dist Church.
The father of Susan Dawson ( the mother of Mrs. Gibson) was Thomas T. Dawson, a native of Bed- ford County, Va., where he was born February 19, 1792. Ile was the son of a native of Normandy, France, who died in Virginia. Thomas Dawson was a man of wealth and his last days ended in Hart County, Ky., December 8, 1879. The mother of Susan Dawson bore the maiden name of Nancy Fitzhugh, and her natal day was August 4, 1794. She passed from earth in Hart County, Ky., June 25, 1883. Mrs. Gibson is thus honorably connected with a number of the most highly respected and in- telligent families of Kentucky in the early days and it is not too much say that in her own life and con- duct she abundantly fullils the record which might he expected of one who is so descended. Her par- rents were married in Kentucky and removed from that State to this in the fall of 1849, making their home in Virden Township, where the mother died. The father long survived but finally passed away
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June 29, 1888. He was a prominent man in every eircle and for many years acted as School Director most efficiently and advantageously.
The German Baptist Brethren Church is the re- ligious body with which this couple have been long united and for a number of years Mrs. Gibson has been largely connected with church work in the direction of the development and religious training of the little folks. Her truly maternal heart has found in this work what she loves hest and the sphere of activity in which she can do the most good and it is indeed a blessing to the community that one so wise and judicious should be bending her energies to the best method of developing the religious life of the children of the church that they may grow into systematic and beautiful Chris- tian lives.
This family occupies the oldl homestead of the late Preston Wright, comprising some one hundred acres of finely improved land. Upon it is a beau- tiful residence that is delightfully surrounded and within the walls may be found a harmonious home and the abode of true hospitality. This public- spirited man has ever taken a great interest in all matters of public note.
In this connection we give more fully the ances- tral history of Mrs. Gibson. John Wright, her great grandfather, was born in 1760 and died in 1839, at the age of seventy-nine. His wife, Phebe, was born in 1754, and passed from earth in 1826 at the age of seventy-two. Their family comprised eight children -- Vincent. Allen, Carter, John, Niey. Elizabeth, Sarah and Anice. The second son, Allen, was born November 26, 1789, and died De- eember 17, 1855. He married a lady whose maiden name was Hannah Peebles, and who emigrated from South Carolina to Hart County, Ky. She was born July 30, 1793, and closed her eyes on the scenes of earth September 12, 1854. Eleven chil- came to bless their home, viz: John, born October 24, 1811; Elizabeth, July 15. 1813; Sallie, August 9, 1815 ; Carter, June 9, 1817: Lewis, December 14, 1819; Preston, June 8. 1822; Blatchley, Au- gust 31, 1824 ; Phebe, March 2, 1827; William, De- cember 29, 1829; Robert, February 26, 1832, and David, April 29, 1835.
Mrs. Gibson's great-grandfathers Wright and
Lee, served in the Revolutionary War, and the former with his son owned mills and operated as a farmer. Great-grandfather Peebles and his wife reared a family of children whose names were: Abram, Jessie, Bird, John, Mary, Hannah and Betsy. Preston Wright, the fourth son of Allen and Hannah Wright, was born in Hart County, Ky., June 8, 1822, and died January 31, 1888, aged sixty-five years, seven months and twenty-two days. A man of honest principles, he was liberal to the poor and kind to all His wife, Susan, was born in Hart County, Ky., May 3, 1822, near Mun- fordsville, in a two-story brick residence along the pike road leading from Louisville to Munfords- ville. She was a noble woman, with fine brain power, somewhat poetical, generous, kind-hearted, devoted to her husband and children, religious, temperate in all things, and naturally was highly esteemed by all who knew her. Iler death occurred October 3, 1865, and was very sudden, with but a few moments warning to husband and children.
Going back four generations in the Dawson fam- ily we find it originated in Normandy, a province of France; Mrs. Gibson's great-great-grandfather, Dawson was with William the Conqueror when he subdued England, and held high office in his army, for which his skill and bravery especially fitted him. Ile possessed commanding talents, and was a Prot- estant. At an early day he settled in Bedford County. Va., and laid the first plank floor in Win- chester, Va. His occupation was that of a gun- sinith, carpenter and warrior Great grandfather Dawson was born in Bedford County, Va., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War under Gen. Green. He was a Methodist in religion and lived to a good old age. Ile possessed a superb phy- sique, being over six feet tall and a well propor- tioned man. Late in life he removed to Kentucky. His wife bore the maiden name of Naney Dollard, was of Scotch-Welsh descent and also attained to great age. Her temperament was poetie and her intellectual abilities of a superior order. Their eight children were named-John, Susan, Thomas, Nancy, Elizabeth, Malindia, Ransom and Boiey Ann. All were Methodists.
Thomas Dawson, the grandfather of Mary M. Gibson, was a native of Bedford County, Va., and
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was born in 1794. He accompanied his father to Kentucky and married Nancy Fitzhugh. To them ten children were horn: Elizabeth. born in 1812; Robert, 1814; Nancy, 1816 : Mary, 1818; Jeremiah, 1820; Susan, ( Mrs. Gibson's mother) 1822; Mar- tha, 1824; Peter. a physician. 1826; Malinda. 1828; Thomas, 1830. The mother of these children was born in Hart County. Ky., and her father. Peter Fitzhugh, served in the Revolutionary War under Gen. Green. Peter Fitzhugh's family comprised the following children: John, Gabriel, George, Robert, Saul, Patsey, Mary and Naney. The Fitz- hugh family was English by descent, a noble race. heroic and honorable, and several members were officers in the Mexican War and also served in the late rebellion.
The ceremony which united the destinies of Pres- ton Wright and Susan Dawson was performed De- cember 14, 1841. and thirteen children were born unto them: Nancy Jane, born October 26, 1842; David Allen. January 2, 1844; Sarah Frances, No- vember 16, 1816; Carter E .. May 3t. 1848; Mary Margaret. April 10, 1850; an infant unnamed, July 6, 1851; Malinda Darinda, July 26, 1852; Phebe C'., April 5, 1854; Thomas Benton, April 1G. 1856; Ahira Reed, June, 1858; a child unnamed, November 20, 1859; Arabelle, November 16, 1860; Carrie A., February 10, 1865. The parents re- moved from Hart County, Ky., to Macoupin County, Ill., in the fall of 1849, accompanied by their four children. The fourth child, Carter C., died the day they arrived with friends and rela- tives at Chesterfield. After visiting there a short time they came twenty or thirty miles northwest and settled upon the fine prairie land. Preston Wright and his brother purchased farms of one hundred and sixty acres each at $3 per aere an.l built log houses within a quarter of a mile of each other.
At that time deer, wild turkeys and poisonous reptiles were in abundance. and Preston Wright broke many acres of the prairie land in and around where Virden now stands. The nearest market was Alton; hogs brought from two to three cents per pound, and wheat from seventy five to eighty-five cents per bushel. The parents endured all the hardships incidents to frontier life and the present
generation is now enjoying the rich blessings of the labor of their hands. Five children survive -- Naney Jane, Sarah Frances, Mary M .. Malinda D., and Thomas B. The four daughters are farmers' wives. Thomas B. is a Methodist minister, and prior to beginning his ministry was a school teacher receiving the highest salaries for country schools, $80 and $85 per month. lle is a good exhorter, a splendid singer and a wis . counselor among his Mock. From generation to generation the mem- hers of the Wright family have been good singers and zealous working Christians of honest, princi- ples.
The lady who became the wife of our subject was born April 10. 1850, and was united in mar- riage with James W. Gibson February 27. 1868. This being 1891 is the twenty-third year of their wedded life and during the past ten years they have resided at the home of Mrs. Gibson's child- hood days, which is as lovely a spot as the eyes of our human nature may behold. Seven children have been born to bless this happy union, viz: Carrie B., born January 5, 1869; Lauta E., April 1, 1872; William E., November 27, 1873; Preston C., September 25, 1875: David C .. September 20, 1878; Lemuel E., December 7, 1880, and Eva Lena. September 20, 1881. Laura E. died at the age of ten months. Carrie, the ellest child. com- menced teaching school at the age of nineteen and is now, at twenty-two, hokling a first-grade certifi- cate with the honor of getting the highest grade of any one in the county.
Mrs. Gibson has made it the object of her life to work for Christ and Him crucified, striving to honor Him in word or deed. It was always her longing that Christ would give her a life-work for His sake, and this Ile did when she was thirty-six years oldl. In working in the Childrens' Mission in behalf of the German Baptist faith, in writing for the press. addressing the children, collecting pennies for the spread of the Gospel in its primi- tive purity and simplicity, her time is fully ocen- pied and she may feel she is doing something in Ilis name and for His glory. It is her prayer that the good work may go on and be kept sacred after all that is mortal of her shall be laid away in the silent carth. It has been her delight and her hus-
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band's also to take into their home orphan children and rear them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, together with their own children, all of whom accepted the cross of Christ in their youth- ful days.
R EV. A. ZURBONSEN is the spiritual direc- tor placed over the St. Michael's Catholic Church of Staunton, Macoupin County, and has held the pastorate since January 12, 1888. The church has a following of about one hundred heads of families and is strong in every way, the parish being well looked after by its able young pastor. Both church and parsonage are first- elass structures, perfect in all their appointments, the former containing some fine works of art, whose subjects are of course taken from the Scriptures. The buildings were ereeted in 1867, under the di- rection of Father O'Hellenran, who founded the church and laid the corner stone, but the edifice was completed by his successor and has been in good running order ever since, although our sub- jeet is the first resident priest stationed in the place. and the beautiful parsonage has been erected under his direction, as has also the parochial school known as St. Michael's School. This last named institu- tion has an enrolled membership of one hundred pupils in daily attendance.
Father Zurbronsen, since coming hete, has estab- lished a new parish at Mt. Olive known as the Church of the Assumption, which was dedicated January 1, 1891, with a charter membership of sixty-five families. The pastor has not spared hin - self as a worker since coming here, having followed the precepts set by the Master. Although yet a young man our subject has entered his work with sueli a love and desire to accomplish much that he has lived a long life as accounted by the amount he has accomplished. The property over which he has an ecclesiastic jurisdiction is now entirely free from debt and this is due to the efforts of him of whom we write.
Prior to coming here the original of our sketch was stationed at Grand Fork, Madison County,
Ill., where he had charge of the St. Gertrude Church and also of the setool of the same name and this was the first parish of which he took charge, hav- ing taken orders in 1885 under the late Arch- Bishop lleiss of Milwaukee after which he was at once assigned to the parish of Grand Fork, Ill. Father Zurbronsen is a graduate in the classical course in the seminary at Metropolis, Ill., finishing with the Class of '80. lle later made a speciality of the study of philosophy at Montreal, Canada,and graduated in that branch in 1882. Later he entered the St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee and com - pleted his theological course in 1885, soon after taking orders and was licensed to preach the same year, as before stated.
Our subject was reared and educated in this country, having come hither when a small child from Germany. The reverend gentleman is a skilled linguist, being master of French, German and English. He comes of good parentage and has been well reared and carefully exlucated. He is a broad- niinded man to whom the dogmas of religion must appear broad before he can accept them. lle is a genial, well-bred young man of more than ordinary ability as a church- worker.
R EV. Z. WATERS, Few citizens of Ma- coupin County were for a longer time or more closely connected with its growth, both in a material and spiritual direction, than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch and who was formerly a resident of Bird Township. lle was born in Casey County, Ky., January 7, 1805, and there grew to a stalwart man- hood. When ready to establish a home of his own, he chose as his wife Miss Elizabeth Canaday, with whom he was united in marriage March 25, 1824. Mrs. Waters was born in Casey County, Ky., May 9, 1806 and passed her maidenhood amid the pio- neer surroundings of the Blue Grass State.
In 1825 Mr. Waters, accompanied by his wife, einigrated to Morgan County. Ill., where he re- sided until the fall of 1847. That date marked his arrival in this county and his settlement in Bird
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Township, where he continued to live until called hence. Six children came to bless his home, four sons and two daughters. In July. 1828, he be- came connected with the l'nion Baptist Church in Morgan County and in May, 1840, he was or- dained to the ministry. In this work, which was very dear to him, he continued until a few months prior to his death. He was instrumental in the or- ganization of the Charity Baptist Church in Bird Township, as well as in the building of the house of worship located on section 14. Though passed from the earthly scenes long familiar to him, he has left behind him a memory which is revered by those who are enjoying the fruits of his lahors.
OHN C. NIEMAN. Few residents of Ma- coupin County have done more for its in- terests or been more closely connected with its growth than Mr. Nieman. As a general farmer and stock raiser he has been very successful and now in the evening of his days, has retired from the active labors which formerly occupied his time and is enjoying the accumulations of past years. His history will justly live through com- ing years and his good work will be felt by future generations. His home lies within the limits of the thriving German town of Mt. Olive, where he is quietly passing his declining days surrounded by a host of genial friends. His has been a well spent life and those who know him best love him most. With pride may he speak of his efforts here and his success, which is duc entirely to his unaided exertions.
Since coming to Macoupin County Mr. Nieman has always resided in the village of Mu. Olive and has aided to make it one of the best towns in the county. He came here a poor man and endured hardships and vicissitudes common to old settlers, being one of the first settlers in this section and also the first German settler for miles around. At an early day he made his first wagon and in this, drawn by oxen, he journeyed to St. Louis with a few bushels of grain. The grain was made into meal of a coarse kind and then sifted through a
poor sieve before it was made into coarse bread, the chief article of diet for the pioneers. Mr. Nieman is fond of telling how the neighbors la- bored together for their mutual good and how they would all meet in a log house to listen to the ex- hortations of the minister, who in his shirt sleeves with bare and sun-burnt arms would proclaim to them the Gospel.
A mere trail marked the roads across the prairie, which was inhabited by wild animals. Since Mr. Nieman came to Mt. Olive he has ocenpied the farm which he entered from the Government. He now owns large landed estates in this county and in Emmet County, Iowa, owning in the latter place nearly fourteen hundred acres. He built the first store in the village of Mt. Olive and was engaged in different enterprises there for many years. He belonged to the company that opened large coal mines in this place, now under the control of the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis.
Mr. Nieman was born in Borgholzhausen, Ravens- burg Halle, Prussia, April 12, 1817. His father, Casper Nieman, was a German farmer of good standing, who lived and died in his native land. Ilis mother was a good German lady, and with her husband a member of the Lutheran Church. Be- tween the ages of seven and fourteen our subject attended the public schools and afterward worked upon a farm. l'pon arriving at manhood he de- cided to come to America and accordingly took passage at Bremen and after a voyage of seven weeks landed in Baltimore May 13, 1839. His capital consisted of $3.80, and after a few days in Baltimore he left on foot over the turnpike for Cumberland, Md. The canal along the Potomac was then being built and he worked for half a year upon it, receiving $1.25 per day.
Later Mr. Nieman went to Hermann, Mo., to join some German people of his native Province, but not being satisfied with the country he 'eturned to Louisville, Ky. After working on a farm near that place for nearly two months without receiving any compensation he was taken seriously ill and remained so for five months. Without money or anyone in particular to care for him his situation was distressing, but he finally recovered and en- gaged to work upon the farm of William Edwards,
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near Louisville. With that gentleman he came to Illinois in 1841, working for him on a farm near Carlinville for three years. In the meantime he saved $250 with which he opened up a new farm in what is now Mt. Olive. From that small be- ginning he has attained to his present competency and furnishes an excellent example to those just starting out in life of what may be accomplished by perseverance.
Politically Mr. Nieman is a Republican and dur- ing the time of the Civil War gave material assist- ance to the suppression of the Rebellion. Ile is a pillar in the Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, which he has supported very generously ever since its organization. His first wife, Margaret Stulken, with whom he was united in marriage in 1817, was a native of Germany and died in September, 185.1. His second marriage was to Miss Anna Stulken, a sister of his first wife, who was also born in Olden . burg, Germany, and there reared to womanhood. She is a true and devoted wife and mother, a kind friend, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. The children born of the first, mar- riage are: Mary C., wife of C. J. Keiser, of whom see biography on another page; Sophia, wife of William Niemeyer, represented elsewhere in this volume; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-live in 1876, was a promising young man. Of the second union the following children have been born: Matilda, Lydia. Louisa, Edward, William and Anna.
D AVID W. RIIOADS. The man who fur- nishes good flour is supplying a need that is universal and is thus discharging one of the primal duties-that of aiding his fellow-men to promote physical well being. All must agree that there are none of the manufactures more important than that of converting grain into flour and that a good miller is entitled to the respect of his fellow- inen. It is therefore plain to he seen that the gen- tleman above-named must fill a reputable place on the roll of residents of Palmyra, as he has been en- gaged in milling there for several years past and
previously carried on a similar occupation else- where.
Mr. Rhoads was born in DeKalb County. Mo., November 19, 1857. His grandfather, David Rhoads, was for some years a resident in Kentucky and removed from that State to Illinois and was one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Medora. this conny. After living there a few years he went to Missouri and bought a tract of land on which he made the customary improvements. After residing thereon some years he returned to this State in 1864 and settled upon a farm in Jersey County, four miles east of Kane. There he spent the remnant of his days.
His son, John V., father of our subject, was married in Jersey County and subsequently re- moved to DeKalb County, Mo., where he occupied a rented farm until 1864. fle then returned to Jersey County, this State, and on a rented farm carried on agricultural work until the following year, when he was called hence. His wife, Sarah M. Tatman, a native of MeDonongh County and daughter of Iliram Tatman, was left with three children. Abont 1868 she married JJohn Costley, a resident of Greene County, and made that ber home about two years. She and her husband then removed to Jersey County where Mr. Costley died, and she subsequently came to Palmyra, where she still makes her home. The children of her first marriage are David W., Mordecai and Branic, and of her second marriage, Mary M., John W., Jacob E., Emma J. and Luey B.
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