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 18
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him, and the etticieney which characterized his every effort was noticeable in this important posi- tion.
Notwithstanding the many official duties which devolved upon him. he pursued the interests of his farm, which consisted of two hundred acres on see- tion 17, and gave especial attention to the breeding of thoroughbred horses. His death was very sud- den and oeenrred in Chicago, this State, at Wash- ington Park, July 13, 1887. Since his demise his widow has superintended the affairs of the farm be- side guarding the interests of her three children- Mary, Edith K. and Richard. Archibel died when three years old. Gen, Rowett was twice married, and by his first wife had one son, Charles, Ilis widow bore the maiden name of Ella Braley, and grew to womanhood among the people of Macou- pin County, of which she is still an honored resi- dent. Her father, Ellison Braley, is spoken of at length elsewhere in his volume; her mother Cath erine (Coon) Braley, was a native of New York. The parents were married in New York City, ana emigrating to Illinois in 1840, settled in Collinsville. Madison County, where Mrs. Rowett was born Feb . ruary 22, 1848. Some years afterward they re- moved to Macoupin County, and are now residents of Carlinville. Of the six children born to them, Mrs. Rowett was the third. The uneventful years of her maidenhood were passed in her father's home where she enjoyed the educational advantages of a common school. On February 12, 1874, she was united in marriage with Gen. Richard Rowett, in Carlinville, and their happy wedded life was ter. minated by the death of the General in 1887.
1 R. ROBERT J. HORNSBY is the owner of one of the beautiful residences of Bunker Hill, and it will probably continue to be his home during the remainder of bis life. He has been identified with the history of the county for about forty-five years and is numbered among its wealthy citizens. He was born in Shelby County, Ky .. September 13, 1819, and is of English descent, the family having been |
founded in America by Joseph Hornshy, the grand- father of our subject, who left his English home and emigrated to America ( Albemarle County, Va .. ) prior to the Revolutionary War. He had followed merchandising in his native land and acquired a good property, but upon coming to this country he became a large landowner. The British learn- ing that he was possessed of considerable silver- ware. through some slaves who had deserted him, threatened to burn his home if he did not reveal its hiding-place and to save a shelter for his fam- ily he revealed the hidden treasure, which he had buried in a hole beneath the smokehouse in order to keep it safe. After the death of his wife he removed with his children to Kentucky, in 1801, locating in Shelby County, where he entered land from the Government and engaged in farming until his death at a ripe old age.
The father of our subject, Joseph Hornsby, Jr., moved with his father to Kentucky, where he lo- cated, and spent his entire 'ife upon the old home- stead, his death occurring at the age of sixty-four years. lle was a successful farmer, owned a number of slaves and his landed possessions aggregated thirteen bundred acres. In politics he was a Whig and one of the great admirers of Henry Clay. In Kentucky be met and married Miss Cynthia Allen, who was born in Pennsylvania, and belonged to the old Allen family, which for many generations had resided in this country. She was but a child when her parents emigrated to Shelby County and there she grew to womanhood. She survived her husband some years and after his death went to live with her son, D. C., near St. Louis, where she died at the age of seventy-three years. She was a faithful member of the Presby- terian Church but Mr. Hornsby was a believer in the doctrine of the Episcopal Church.
The Doctor was the sixth child and fifth son in a family of ten children, numbering eight boys and two girls, of whom all but one lived to be grown while three yet survive. In the usual manner of farmer lads he spent the days of his boyhood and youth, until twelve years of age, after which he was sent by his father to school in Jefferson County, Ky., for two years, after that to Danville College, for a short time, and then to college at Shel-
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byville, Shelby County. Having determined to make the practice of medicine his life-work he entered the office of Dr. Benjamin W. Dudley, of Lexington, Ky., a prominent physician with a world-wide reputation as a surgeon. After study- ing under his direction for two years, and graduat- ing. Dr. Hornsby began the practice of medicine in Kentucky, where he remained three years. From Shelby County, he came to Illinois and entered some tracts of land from the Government in Madi- son County, and purchased other lands, settling near what is now Prairie Town, in 1846. The country round about was all wild and unimprove '. IIe also saw the advantage of buying cattle and feeding them upon the succulent grasses which covered the prairies and in this way also realized a handsome profit. From November, 1849, until 1862, the Doctor made his home near Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, where he was actively engaged in the practice of his profession, having at that time bought land in the vieinity of St. Louis, which he still owns. In 1854 be laid out and founded the town of Clyde, Macoupin County. Four years later in connection with L. L. Dorsey, he laid out the village of Prairie City and his land at that place soon sold for a good profit. At one time he owned over twelve hundred acres in Madison County, but as values have increased he has dis- posed of the greater part of it. He still owns two hundred and seventy-five acres near Prairie City, one hundred and sixty acres in Dorchester Township. Macoupin County, and six hundred and forty acres near Clyde, Ill. Most of his land is well improved and is under the charge of enter- prising farmers.
Dr. Hornsby wedded Miss Frances Cordelia Dorsey, a native of Jefferson County, Ky., born December 1, 1825, and a daughter of Elias and Martha R. (Booker) Dorsey. Mrs. Dorsey was the daughter of Col. Richard Booker, who served in the War of 1812. Elias Dorsey enlisted under him at the age of seventeen years and on the promise of good behavior, the Colonel promised to give him one of his daughters in marriage on his return, which promise was fulfilled. Elias Dorsey and his wife were natives of Maryland and Kentucky respectively and their married life was
spent in Jefferson County of the latter State. They went on a prospeeting tour to Iilinois, preparatory to determining whether they would make that State their home and while on the return trip Mrs. Dor- sey was thrown from a carriage while crossing a bridge in Indiana. A limb was fractured and the accident resulted in the loss of her life. Mr. Dor- sey continued his residence in Kentucky and after- ward married Mrs. Williamson, a lady of Balti- more, Md., after whose death he came to Illinois and died at the home of his son-in law, Edward C. Winchester, at the age of seventy-six. He was one of the largest landowners in this part of the State, being the possessor of more than twenty thousand acres of good land. He was very suc- cessful in all his business undertakings and although he had little when he started out in life he became very wealthy. Io polities he was a strong Jackson- ian Democrat.
Mrs. Hornsby was one of thirteen children and her education was acquired in a Catholic school near Beardstown, Ky. She has proved a good helpmate to her husband and this honored and worthy couple have the respect and esteem of all with whom they have come in contact. Both are members of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and is well-informed con- cerning the political history of the country but has never been an office-seeker. The Hornsby house- hold numbers the following members: The Doctor and his wife, Robery J. and Martha D. Four chil- dren of the family are now deceased, William Walker, Thomas Levin, Elias Dorsey and Robert Henry. The eldest of the surviving daughters is Julia B., who is married and resides in Bunker Hill; and Carmelite W. is the wife of Prof. Stiver, whose sketch appears on another page of this work.
Dr. Hornsby located in Gillespie, Macoupin County, in 1862, where for four years he curied on a successful practice and then came to Bunker Hill, where he has since made his home. Only a short time had elapsed before he was again engaged in attending to a large practice and he always had all that he could take care of, often more than he wished for, until be announced that he intended to retire and would no longer engage in practice. He deserves the greatest credit for his success in life,
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which is due not to good luck but to his own en- terprise and sagacity. He knew how to make the most of every opportunity, was industrious and enterprising and possessing good management and much natural ability he worked his way upward until he had attained a position among the wealth- iest of Macoupin County's citizens. His life has been characterized by honesty and fair dealing and is well worthy of emulation in many respects. Mr. Hornsby is now an old man of seventy-two years but in appearance seems hardly past the prime of life as he possesses both a mental and physical vigor which accompany younger years.
E DWARD H. DAVIS, a retired farmer living on a farm which adjoins the city hmnits of Bunker Hill, is numbered among the hon- ored pioneers ot the county, few having longer re- sided in this locality. Ile has not only been an eyewitness of the growth and progress of the county but has also taken an active part in its up- building, especially has he been prominently cou- neeted with its agricultural interests. lle has seen its once wild lands transformed into beautiful farms, its cabin homes replaced by substantial and beautiful residences, towns and villages spring up and has witnessed the introduction of many manu factures and industries, also the adveni of the rail- road, the telegraph and telephone. But we will speak more of his pioneer experiences in the re- cital of his life work.
Mr. Davis was born in Concord, N. H .. Febru- ary 25, 1821, and belongs to one of the prominent families of the Granite State. His grandparents, natives of England, emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War, and when the Colonies re- solved to throw off the yoke of British tyranny the grandfather, David Davis, enlisted as a musician and became a notable patriot. The father of our subject, Robert Davis, was a jeweler of Concord, in which city he spent his entire life, dying at the age of seventy-one years. lle was a prominent, politician and as such gained a State reputation.
Ile served as Postmaster of Concord and was also Quartermaster General for the State Militia. His political views were those of the Democracy.
Our subject is the eldest son and second child born unto Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davis. He ae- quired an excellent education in the schools of Con- cord and Pembroke, N. Il., and under his father's direction learned the jeweler's trade, which he fol- lowed for three years in Savannah, Ga., before coming to Illinois. The year 1839, witnessed his arrival in Macoupin County, since which time he has been numbered among the leading and influ- ential citizens of the community. Farming has been his life work and at his present home he has resided since 1852 engaged in general farming and stock-raising, whereby he has acquired a handsome competence. Although he has led a busy life he has yet found time to devote to publie interests and upon the Democratic ticket, being a stanch supporter of the Democracy, he has been elected to various publie offices. He was the first Clerk elected after the organization of his township, for the period of five years was Deputy Assessor of the county and for a term of eight years served as Deputy Sheriff. Every enterprise calculated to benefit the community receives his hearty support and co-operation and no man has done more for the upbuilding of the community in which he makes his home.
It was after his arrival in this county that Mr. : Davis, on the 5th of October, 1840, was united in marriage with Miss Jane H. Cavender. For more than half a century they have traveled life's jour- ney together, sharing with each other the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity which cheek. ers the lives of all. Their union has been blessed with ten children and only one has been called away-Eliza J. who died in childhood. Henry, the eldest, wedded Minnie Fansteil and resides in St. Paul, Min 1 .; Charles who wedded Catherine Fullerton of Minnesota, is now an engineer of Minneapolis; Frank led to the marriage altar Miss Margaret Colman and they are living in Nevada, Mo .. where he is employed as an engineer : Calista is the wife of llarry Winder, a farmer of Anoka, Minn .; Albert operates the home farm; Walter is a resident of Nevada, Mo .; Rebecca is the wife of
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Ilenry Sneeringer, a resident farmer of Bunker Ilill Township; Luey is the wife of Charles Oliver, a painter of Bunker Hill; and Fred, who wedded Julia Alexander. makes his home in Bunker Ilill.
Mrs. Davis, the mother of this family, was born in Hillsboro County, N. II., May 22, 1823, and is a daughter of Charles Cavender, who was born and reared in New Hampshire and early in the spring of 1838, left that State in company with his dangh- ter and emigrated Westward to Illinois, settling on an unbroken farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land just west of Bunker Hill, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty. three years. lle was a prominent Democrat, a member of the Christian Church, and one of the leading citizens of the community. Mrs. Davis was only a child, when with her father she came to this connty. She has now resided in the vicinity of Bunker Hill longer than any other lady resident of this locality. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are mem- hers of the Congregational Church. They are numbered among Macoupin County's best citizens and are held in universal esteem.
AMUEL CLARK, who carries on general farming and stock-raising on section 28, Staunton Township, is a representative of one of the early families of the county. He now lives upon a part of the old homestead where almost his entire life has been passed, having been brought to this State when a child of only a few months. He was born in County Dare, Ire- land, on the 8th of June, 1842, of which county his parents, William and Eliza (Little) Clark, were also natives. The Clark family is of Scotch-Irish origin and in the neighborhood of his birth the father of our subject grew to manhood and was married. Some years later, with their . family, numbering three children, they started for Amer- ica, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which after several weeks reached New York Harbor in safety. They at once came on to Illinois, travel- ing by water to Alton, and thence across the prai- nie with teams to Staunton Township, Macoupin
County, where Mr. Clark entered eighty acres of land from the Government. The family began life in true pioneer style in a little log cabin which the father had built and the efforts of Mr. Clark and his sons were devoted to clearing and improving the land. He sold after eighteen years and made purchase of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tions 27 and 28, Staunton Township, part of which is now occupied by our subject. Again he per- fonned the arduous task of converting raw. prairie into rich and fertile fields and the pleasant home which he there made continued to be his place of abode until his death, which occurred January 17. 1878, at the very advanced age of ninety-seven years. He had been very successful in his business operations and in the second farm which he devel- oped owued two hundred and forty acres of valu- able land. A honest and industrious man, he lived in harmony with his professions as a member of the Presbyterian Church and when called to bis final rest many sincere friends mourned his loss. In politics he was a supporter of Republican prin- ciples. His wife, who still survives him, is likewise a member of the Presbyterian Church and is living with her younger son at the age of seventy five years.
The early life of our subject passed unevent- fully. As soon as old enough he began work upon the farm and during the summer months labored at home, while in the winter season he attended the district schools of the neighborhood where his ed- ucation was acquired. laving arrived at years of maturity he began business on his own account and as a helpmate on life's journey chose Miss El- eanor Williamson, their wedding being celebrated in Madison County The lady was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1846. and is a daughter of John and Mary (Gallagher) Williamson, natives of the same country, and both descendants of Pro- testant families. At length they bade good-by to their native land and in 1857 with their five child- ren crossed the broad ocean to America, landing in Philadelphia, Pa., whence they went to St. Louis, coming on to Macoupin County immediately after- wards. U'pon a small farm in Mt. Olive Township they began life in the New World and there Mr. and Mrs. Williamson resided until having become
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too old to work they went to the home of their children in Olive Township, Madison County, where the father died at the age of eighty-four years. There the mother is still living with her three sons at the age of seventy-five. They united with the Presbyterian Church in early life and are numbered among the respected citizens of this community.
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Only one child has been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Alice B., who is a bright young maiden. The mother is a member of the Covenanters' Presbyterian Church and to its sup- port Mr. Clark contributes, although he does not belong. In polities be is a Republican and what- ever tends to elevate or upbuild the community is sure of his hearty sympathy and co-operation He is numbered among the practical and progressive farmers of Staunton Township and owns one hund- red and twenty acres of good land, a part of the old homestead which he developed from its primi- tive condition. His pleasant and tasty residence has in the rear good barns and outbuildings and surrounding these are well tilled fields, while au additional forty acres of timber land in Staunton Township is also the property of Mr. Clark.
R. JOHN ASH, who stands in the front rank among his professional brethren of this county, is now engaged in practice in Brighton, where be has made his home since 1853, He claims Pennsylvania as the State of his nativity, having been born in West Callen Township, Chester County, November 29, 1818. The family is of German origin and was founded in America by the great grand father of our subject, Joseph Ash, who emigrated from Germany prior to the Revolutionary War. He lived in the city of Philadelphia for a short time and there married a German lady, after which he removed to a farm in Chester County, where be died at the age of ninety-seven years. Ile was a man small of stat- ure but very wiry and only a few years before his death worked as a hand in the harvest field. Our subject is one of the four great-grandchildren who
attended his funeral as pallbearers. llis wife reached the ripe old age of ninety-five and both she and Mr. Ash were members of the Luth- eran Church. William Ash, the grandfather of our subject. was born and reared on his father's farm in Chester County, Pa., and there spent his entire life. He died in 1850, at the age of seventy years, from a cancer on the lip. In the county of his nativity he had married Nancy Stepler, who was a member of the Society of Friends and lived to an advanced age.
Joseph Ash, father of the Doctor, was also born in Chester County, Pa., where members of the fam- ily are still living. He married Miss Elizabeth Zigler, daughter of Tilehman and Catherine Zigler, who were natives of Germany but spent the greater part of their lives in Chester County, Pa., where they passed away when well advanced in years. Joseph Ash and his wife emigrated Westward in 1853, locating in Brighton, where the lady died at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. Ash long survived her and was called to his final rest when ninety years of age. In the East they had both united with the Baptist Church, but after coming to this county joined the Methodist Church. They lived consistent lives and were numbered among the highly respected people of the community.
We now take up the personal history of the Doc- tor, who is the second in order of birth in a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, are married, have families and are prospering. Our subject acquired his literary education in the public schools and having deter- mined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered the Pennsylvania Medical Col- lege of Pinladelphia, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1851. He also attended the Straws- burg Academy for two years. Believing in the West there were better openings than in the more . thickly settled States of the East, he came at once to Illinois, locating in Delphi, Jersey County, but the same year removed to Piasa, where he remained until coming to Brighton in 1853. He hung out his shingle, opened an office and announced that he was ready to attend to any in need of medical ser- vices. From the beginning his business constantly increased and it was not long before Dr. Ash was
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considered one of the best physicians of the county.
In Brighton the Doctor wedded Miss Mary E. Loveland, who was born in Rhode Island, in 1830, and came to this State when a child, with her par- ents, Leonard and Elizabeth Loveland, who spent the remainder of their lives in Brighton Township, Macoupin County. She is a lady of culture and intelligence, having been educated in Monticello Seminary and Jackson Female College. Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born four children, but Charles died in childhood; Lena and Dora are both graduates of Monticello Seminary; the latter is now the wife of Dr. James Mason, a leading dental surgeon of the town of Carlinville; and John R., who graduated from the Vermont Hospital Medical College of St. Louis, is now engaged in prac- tice with bis father and is a leading and enterprising young physician. Mrs. Ash is a prominent and ac- tive member of the Methodist Church and the Doctor holds membership with the Baptist Church. He is also a Knight Templar Mason. belonging to Belvi- dere Commandery, No. 2, K. T. of Alton, and in polities he and his son are Republicans. His skill and ability are recognized by his fellow-practition . ers and the liberal patronage which he receives is well merited. He is still a student of the profes- sion, keeping abreast with every discovery con- nected with the science of medicine and in his forty years' experience he has gained a practical knowl- edge which classes him high in the ranks of his profession. During the late war he served for some months as surgeon in Memphis, Tenn.
C HARLES J. C. FISCHIER. M. D. Carlin- ville is the home of professional men of ability, whose success in their various lines has been commendable to them and satisfactory to the people whom they have aided. In the ranks of medicine Dr. Fiscber is numbered as one of the most successful in the city. He was liberally edu- cated, and from his early youth applied himself to those studies which would be of benefit in the field of labor which he desired to enter. Not content with that which he learned in books, he has thought
deeply and observed carefully, making of the human form and its needs a book in which to find continual interest. In the work of various medical societies he finds opportunity to further advance his theoretical knowledge and with a practical mind he applies every principle learned to good purpose.
Dr. Fischer is of German parentage, being a son of Jacob and Catherine (Furch) Fischer, who were born in Wurtemberg, Germany. His father came to America when a young man and joined an uncle who had located in New York many years before. He lived in that city for a time and while there learned the trade of a blacksmith. He then went to Rochester. but returned to the metropolis and thence removed to Missouri in 1838. He established a home in Perry County and engaged in farming, hut after a residence of six years removed to C'oll- insville, Madison County, this State, and opened a wagon and blacksmith shop. At a later period he engaged in mercantile pursuits. His death occurred in that place in 1879. Mrs. Fischer came to this country with her sister Rosa, when fourteen years old. She now makes her home in St. Louis, Mo. She reared nine children, named respectively: Caroline, Mary, Martha, George, Charles, Gustavus, Harry. William and Albert.
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