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 21
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C HARLES BLACK. The resident on and owner of the farm located on section 17, of Shipman Township, is the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch. Ilis father was Robert Black who was probably born in Pennsyl- vania. Ilis mother was Isabella (Skelton) Black. They came from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled in the Hocking Valley where both died after a life of usefulness, the mother rearing a family of six children, imbuing their young minds with an early sense of honor and uprightness that has served them well in their relations both business and social throughout their career.
Our subject was born in Hocking County, Ohio, April 3, 1838. He was reared on a farm and con- tinued to live in his native State and county until he grew to manhood. He left Ohio in 1859, and went to Pettis County, Mo., remaining there about thirteen months, during which time he was engaged in farming. Ile then came to Greene County, Ill., and worked out by the month until 1863.
Soon after coming here he was attracted by the sweet face and pleasant manners of Miss Martha J. Baldwin, and in the words of Burns "To see ber was to love her," and August 16, 1863, the young couple were married. The lady was a daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Verner) Baldwin, the for- mer a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. They became residents of Greene County in 1850, where they lived until the time of their death. A large family of thirteen children came to bless and
brighten the evening of their life and to encircle the hearthstone. Of these Mrs. Black was one of the younger members. She was born in Warren County Ohio, April 3, 1839. Soon after the marriage of our subject and his lady they came to Macoupin County, in September, 1863, and settled in Shipman Township on section 17, where they have since resided.
Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of two chil- dren, Charles W. and Eva A. She is the wife of C. A. Andrews. The original of this sketeli has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Ile is the owner of one hundred and sixty-one acres of land, that has rewarded his efforts, by producing large erops, in proportion to the number of acres cultivated. He has erected a fine house surrounded with pleasant piazzas from which a charming view may be had of the surrounding country, that in itself is a pieture which only a C'orot would be worthy of attempting to reproduce on canvas. The other buildings upon the place are all wel !- appointed and in good condition. He has added every im- provement within his means to make the place homelike and comfortable. Politically he is a Democrat, affiliating with that party on every tenet of its platform.
R ICHIARD DU'CKELS came to this county while it was still in its infancy, and casting in his lot with its pioneer farmers, has been no unimportant factor in develop- ing its agricultural resources. He has acquired wealth by unremitting and well-directed toil and a few years ago he retired from active business to his present home in Western Mound Township. though he still retains possession of his extensive and well-ordered farm.
Mr. Duckels was born in the village of Goole, Yorkshire, England, July 4, 1811. Thomas Duck- els was the name of his father, and he was a native of the same village, born in 1770. He in turn was a son of Richard Duckels, who was born in York -. shire in 1734, and there spent his entire life, car-
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rying ou his trade as a blacksmith. The father of our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits, and was a life-long resident of his native shire, dying at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. The maiden name of his wife, a native of Armein, Yorkshire, was Ann Golton. She died at the age of seventy- two years. She and her husband were both devout Christians and members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. They had a family of eight children, three of whom came to America-Nancy, who married John Leach; William, who is dead; and our subject.
The latter of whom we write passed his boyhood and early manhood on his native soil. Deeming that he could better his condition by emigration to America, in 1835 he set sail for these shores from Hull in the month of May, and landed at New York City after a voyage of seven weeks. Hle came directly to Illinois by the way of the Hudson River to Albany, thence by Erie Canal to Buffalo, from there by the lakes to Chicago, whence he con- tinued on his journey by team to La Salle, where he embarked on the Illinois River for Naples, and from that point he proceeded by team to Jackson- ville, that long and tiresome route being the most expeditious in those days. He was a single man at that time and not ready to make a permanent settlement. He therefore remained some three months at Jacksonville, and then after visiting this county he took up his residence at Alton, where he obtained employment in the store of Godfrey & Gilman, general merchants. In 1841 he returned to England and revisited the scenes of his youth a few months.
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Coming back to this country in 1842, Mr. Duckels bought a farm one mile south of Chesterfield, and dwelt upon it three years. He next bought a farm three miles west of the village, upon which he lived until 1889. In that year he took possession of his present cozy and well-appointed home, where he and his estimable wife live retired from active labor, as they have accumulated a goodly amount of property and are well fortified against want, so that they can pass the sunset of life se- renely, untrammelled by the cares and anxieties that beset their earlier years. Our subject has bought land from time to time until he now owns
seven hundred acres of as fine farming land as can be found in this section, and by his industry he has placed himself among the most substantial citizens of the county. Mr. Duckels was married Febru- ary 23, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Morris, and their wedded life has been blessed by the following chil- dren: Mahilda, their eldest born, who married Jefferson Lee, and died at the age of forty-seven years; Edwin, who died at the age of nine years; Richard, who died at the age of five years; George; John; Ilenry C .; Oscar; Ann Lovelace; Laura; Rollie: Clara and Grant.
Mrs. Duckels was born near Thorne, Yorkshire, England, January 18, 1827. Iler father, John Morris, who was one of the early pioneers of this county, was also a native of Yorkshire, and was there reared and married, Ann Sextz, likewise of that shire, becoming his wife. Ile resided near Thorne in that old English shire until 1832, when he and his wife and nine children set sail from Liv- erpool in an American-bound vessel, and after a voyage of seven weeks landed at New York. They came directly to Illinois, and locating in what is now Western Mound Township, Mr. Morris bought a squatter's claim to a tract of Government land, which he entered at the land office at Edwardsville. There was a small cabin on the place at the time of purchase, which the family occupied the succeed- ing nine years, when the father replaced it by a substantial frame house in which he resided a number of years. He then removed to Chester- field and lived retired the remainder of his life, both he and his good wife dying in their home there at a ripe old age.
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OHN M. AHRENS is now living a retired life in Staunton. Of the citizens whom Germany has furnished to this county none are more worthy of a representation in this volume than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in the Province of Holstein, Germany, November 30, 1828, and in that country his parents, John and Antje ( Lucks) Ahrens, spent their entire lives. They were hard-working yet
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respected German people and both lived to about the age of four-score years. Throughout their lives they were members of the Lutheran Churchi and to gain a livelihood Mr. Ahrens followed farm- ing. The family numbered seven children, four sons and three daughters, and five of that number came to the United States. Matilda, now Mrs. Runge, was the first to cross the water and is now living in Nokomis, Ill., where her husband, Fred Runge, now deceased, followed blacksmithing for some years. Peter is now married and resides in Gillespie, where he is engaged in merchandising. John M. was the third to cross the water. Lena was married in Germany to Fritz Barnholdt, who died after they came to America and she is now the wife of John Sievers, of Grand Island, Neb. Catherina was married in Holstein to John Muller, who there died, after which she came to America. Her home is now in Cleveland, Ohio.
Our subject is a self-made man and whatever success he lias met with in life is due to his own efforts. Since the early age of sixteen he had been dependent upon his own resources. He then began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade and when he had mastered the business he sailed from Hamburg in June, 1855, on the vessel "Christian VIII," which after a voyage of forty-two days dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. He entered upon his business career in this country as a cabinet- maker, following that trade until 1862, when he embarked in other pursuits.
In 1858 Mr. Ahrens formed a matrimonial alli- ance with Miss Elizabeth Ruther, who was born in Ilanover, Germany, December 14, 1841, and when a child of six summers was brought to America by her parents, Frederick and Dora (Grim) Ruther, who took passage from Bremen, sailed to New York, and thence came to Illinois, settling on a farm near Alton. In 1851 the family came to Macoupin County, locating in Staunton Township, where Mr. Ruther is still living at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died in Fostersburg in 1848, at a com- paratively early age. She was a member of the Lutheran Church, with which her husband has al- ways been identified. Mrs. Ahrens remained with her parents until her marriage. She has proved a true belpmate to him and has made for him a
pleasant home. Their union has been blessed with twelve children, two of whom are now deceased. Dora, who became the wife of Edgar Golightly. died at the birth of her first child, a son, when twenty-six years of age. Louis died in April, 1872. The surviving members of the family are John C., who married Cora Gray, of St. Louis, and is now a lumber merchant of Riverdale, Ill. Peter, who wedded Gertrude Jacobs, and is now operating the lumber-yard at this place with his brother. Henry A. operates a lumber-yard in Effingham, Ill .; Albert E., a partner of Peter; Mary E., Emma M., Ada L., Sophia C., Walter L. and Carrie B. Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens have also given a home to their grandson, Lester E. Golightly who has resided with his grandparents from infancy.
No family in Staunton has been more promi- nently connected with the business interests of the place than the Ahrens. Our subject, in 1862, opened a furniture store and about the same time established a lumber-yard, the first in the place and these two lines of business he successfully carried on until April 24, 1874, when he sold out the fur- niture store to Jaeob Moehrman, the present pro- prietor. He continued the lumber business and afterward associated with him his son, P. F., while in connection with another son he established a lumber-yard in Worden, Ill. Soon John C. became sole proprietor and sold out in 1888, removing to Effingham, where he again established business in the same line. The lumber-yard in Staunton be- came under the control of P. F. and A. E., in 1887, and they are now doing a good business. In July, 1888, II. A. Ahrens and W. I. Gates purchased a stock of general merchandise continuing business until March, 1889, when Mr. Gates sold out to our subject, who continued a member of the firm until September, 1890, when he turned over the business to his son. Mr. Ahrens came to Staunton when it was a small town and with its development and growth he has been prominently identified. His business interests have been extensive and lie has thereby acquired a handsome property, yet he has also found time to devote to public interests and has frequently served his fellow-townsmen in offi- cial positions. Ile filled the office of Councilman,
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was one term President of the Board, for four terms was Township Clerk and for the long period of fifteen years has served on the School Board. In polities he is a stanch Republican and the duties of the offices he ever faithfully discharged. Both he and his wife are leading members and active workers in the Methodist Church in which he has served as Class Leader, Sunday school Superin- tendent and is now Trustee. Ilis upright life has been such as to win the confidence and regard of all and the prosperity which has crowned his efforts is but the just reward of a well-spent life.
ILLIAM T. BEEBY, It is pleasing to see a man who, having attained years that en - title him to the rest and enjoyment of a retrospective view of life, can retire from the active pursuits and enjoy the afternoon of his ex- istence in the peace and serenity consequent upon a knowledge that he has made his struggle well and bravely, and that the results are the award of his present peaceful condition. The gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, after a long life spent in agricultural pursuits, is now en- joying the fruits of his labor in his pleasant home at Piasa.
Mr. Beeby, who is a retired farmer, is of English birth and parentage, his advent into this world being in Lincolnshire, England, March 27, 1833. His father belonged to the class of mechanics, being a plumber and glazier, and having but little else with which to endow his son he early taught him his own trade, and by working with his father, our subject soon became an expert.
William Beeby disposed of a small farm which he had owned in the Mother Country and with the proceeds emigrated to America in December, 1851. After landing he proceeded at once to Piasa where he arrived two weeks before Christmas. Ile first made his living by working out by the month at farm labor which course he pursued for eight years. By that time his attachment to a bright young lady whose name was Mary Ann Ballett, a fellow-countrywoman of his own, caused him to i
look forward anxiously for a home of his own. The young couple were married March 27, 1859, and they immediately settled on section 3t, where he had purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres. Mrs. Beeby as before said was born in Eng- land, her birthplace being Dorsetshire, and her birthday being July 11, 1838. She was about eleven years old, when with her parents she came to America in the spring of 1851. They belonged to the farming class and made their living in this way.
Our subject carried on his farm for over twenty years, making it pay handsomely for the care that he bestowed upon it. At the end of this time he sold his place and free from business cares he paid a visit to his native land, being gone about six months. He could not, however, make up his mind to remain there, so strong was the hold that his adopted country had upon him. He settled in Piasa in the spring of 1881 where he has since lived a retired life, The issues of the day as to local and national government are of great inter- est to Mr. Beeby and his preference in politics is with the Republican party. Mrs. Beeby is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. The parents of our subject lived and died in Lincolnshire, England. The father was Casar Jones Beeby. His mother was Elizabeth (Kew) Beeby. Mrs. Beeby's parents emigrated to this country in the spring of 1851 and passed away in Shipman Township. Hler father was William Ballett and her mother was Elizabeth (Cobb) Ballett.
OLIN JASPER COX, a prominent citizen and business man of Virden Township, was born in Illinois, about a mile and a half from Gilham's Mound in Jersey County, January 20, 1835. His father, Henry Cox, was a Kentuck- ian, born near Lexington, and a son of one of the pioneers of that State, who was murdered by the Indians, Being left an orphan at an early age, Henry Cox was reared by strangers, and learned the trade of a brickmaker, which he followed at various places in Kentucky and Ohio until 1834,
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when he removed to Illinois. He was accompanied in his journey by his wife and six children, and they came by team, camping out on the way.
Henry Cox purchased a tract of land near Gil- ham's Mound, and there built the house in which our subject was born. Ile developed his farm and at the same time worked at his trade. In 1837 he went to Calhoun County, and settled four miles south of Harden, buying one hundred and sixty aeres of land. Here he built a log house and made it his home until his death in 1816. The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Louisa Utt. She was born in Scioto County, Ohio, and her father, Jacob Uit, was a native of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. She died in Calhoun County, about the year 1849 having reared and given faithful training to eight children.
Being left an orphan, John Cox went to reside with his uncle, Jacob U'tt, of Jersey County, and attended the first publie school which was estab- lished in the log schoolhouse. The seats were made of split logs, one side being bewu smooth, and with wooden pins for legs. There were no desks in front and no support for the backs of these primi- tive seats. He assisted his unele on the farm and at the age of nineteen began to learn the trade of a blacksmith at Waverly, Morgan County, and Virden, this county. After some five months he came to this county, in 1853, and settled in Virden where he worked for Aaron Manlsbury for two years, and then engaged in farming which he car- ried on successfully until 1862.
During the second year of the war this young man was deeply stirred by the repeated calls of President Lincoln for more troops to carry on the War of the Rebellion, and he finally decided to en- list February 13, 1862, in Company F, First Illi- nois Light Artillery in which he served until the elose of the war. For two weeks this company was guarding prisoners at Camp Butler, and in March was sent to St. Louis, and then on to Shiloh, arriv- ing there on April 7, the day after the battle. From there these brave boys were sent forward to Cor- inth to guard the supply trains, and spent the sum- mer in the vicinity of Memphis. In November, 1862, they started on the Vicksburg Campaign and wintered at Grand Junction, Tenn. Continuing
their march in the spring toward Vicksburg, they participated in that campaign. At the time of the Fall of Vicksburg they were guarding the Black River at Oak Ridge. They took part in the battle of Jackson, Miss,, and then returned to Oak Ridge and camped there before returning to Vicksburg and Memphis, whence they marched to Chattanooga and took part in the fight at Missionary Ridge. They were sent forward to Knoxville to relieve Burnside, and finding the rebels had retreated, re- turned to Scottsborongh, Ala., and spent the winter there guarding railroads.
The Atlanta campaign next engaged the services of this valiant body of artillery, as in 1864 they joined Sherman's forces and took part in the battles of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Rome, and other encounters. They were engaged in the conffiets around Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro. They returned to Nashville in time to be present at Hood's defeat, after which they did garrison duty at that city until March, 1865, when they were discharged and returned home.
The brave soldier was ready to settle down to more peaceful pursuits, and now resumed his old trade of blacksmithing, and soon formed a partner- ship with Mr. Lafayette Higgins to do general blacksmithing and farm work. This connection lasted until 1872 when our subjeet formed a part- nership with Messrs. A. C. Hutchinson and Richard Ball with the firm name of Cox, Hutchinson & Ball. Mr. Hutchinson's death in 1880 removed him from the firm which is now known as Cox & Ball.
The happy marital union of John J. Cox and Mary A. Emerson was solemnized at the home of the bride's parents in 1867. This lady is English by birth, her natal day being July 16, 1847, and her parents being William and Elizabeth Emerson. She was three years old when she came with them to the United States, and was a child of seven years when she reached this county. For a more ex- tended history of this family the reader will con- sult the sketch of Mr. William Emerson in this volume.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cox are earnest Christian workers, the former in connection with the Baptist Church, where he labors in Sunday-school, and for three years was the Superintendent, and his wife in
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connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He cherishes the memories and associations of war times, and is a charter member of the John Baird Post, No. 285, G. A. R., in which he is Past Com- mander. He is well-known in this vicinity as the author of a series of sketches entitled "The Sol- diers' Experience." These were written from mem- ory and were published in the Virden Reporter, where they were read with great interest, not only by his neighbors but by all who had participated in the trying scenes of the Civil War.
ILLIAM MASON, who is extensively en . gaged in farming and stock-raising in Brighton Township, his home being on see- tion 15, claims New York as the State of his nativ - ity. He was born in Potsdam on the 15th of Aug- ust, 1830, and comes from one of the prominent New England families. His father, Lawrence S. Mason, a native of Connecticut, had learned the trade of a cabinet-maker and wheelwright when a young man, and following those occupations met with excellent success. lle was a first time mar- ried in the State of his nativity but after the birth of two children, that wife died, and in the Green Mountain State, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Sarah French, who was born in New Haven, Vt. Her father, Nathaniel French, was a promi- nent farmer and honored early settler of Addison County, where in the midst of the forest he devel- oped a farm, upon which he resided more than sixty years, his death occurring when past the age of eighty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Beulah Champion, passed away some time be- fore at the age of eighty-two years. After Law- rence Mason was a second time married he removed with his wife to Potsdam, N. Y., where three sons and two daughters were born unto them. Of that family all are yet living and are married. They recently held a re-union in New Haven, Vt., where for the first time in more than forty years the live children had been together. They are all now well-to-do and prosperous people and have become respected members of society. Mr. Mason, the
father, spent his last years in Potsdam, N. Y., . where for so long be had made his home and fol- lowed his trade. lle passed away at the age of seventy-two years, after which his widow returned to her father's old homestead in New Haven, Vt., where she remained until called to her final rest in 1877, or about at the age of eighty-four years. She was a life-long member of the Baptist Church and a noble Christian lady who won the love of all with whom she came in contact. The old home- stead in New Haven, upon which she was born and died, is now owned by her son, C. W. Mason.
In the State of his nativity, the subject of this sketch was carefully reared and received a good practical education. Believing that the West fur- nished better opportunities for young men, he started for Illinois, when twenty-two years of age and in October, 1852, became a resident of Brighton Township, Maeonpin County. Two years later he purchased two hundred acres of land, a part of his present farm and built thereon a dwell- ing. Ilis arrangements for a home were further completed by his marriage with Miss Nancy M. Hoyt, an old acquaintance whom he had known in the East, but who was then living in Kendall County, Ill. She was born in New Haven, Vt., July 2, 1833, and is a daughter of llarvey and Hanna L. (Wynn) Hoyt. She, too, belongs to an carly family, her grandfather being Dr. Jacob Iloyt, who lived and died in New Haven, Conn. Her parents were natives of the Green Moun- tain State, and her mother died at the age of thirty-two years, when Mrs. Mason was a young girl of ouly nine summers. The father died at the home of his daughter at the age of seventy-one years. Ile was four times married and was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church.
Mrs. Mason came to Illinois with her family in 1850, the family first locating in Kendall County. By her marriage there have been born six children -Clara E., wife of Jolin Jones, a resident farmer of Brighton Township: Flora M., wife of John A. Bennett, a farmer living m Princeton, Franklin County, Kan .; Charles A., a prominent stock dealer living near Denver, Col., on the Union Pacific Railroad; William H., Albert L., and Franklin E., at home. They also lost one child, Lucius H.,
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