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 22
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LIBRARY OF 1. 5 UNIVERSITY C
Yours huly Balfour lowers
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who died at the age of eighteen months. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are numbered among the prominent people in this part of the county, ranking high io the social world and holding an enviable position in the esteem of their many friends. In the Meth- odist Church they are active workers and Mr. Ma- son las for many years been Steward and Class leader, serving in the former capacity at the pres- ent time. In polities he is a warm advocate of Republican principles but prefers to devote his at- tention to his business rather than engage in strife for public office. He has been eminently success- ful in his business career, being now numbered among the substantial farmers of the community. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of valua- ble land in Brighton Township, and in connection with its cultivation is extensively engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of the breeding of Merino sheep, which he has shipped in large nuni- bers throughout the West. Ample shelter is pro- vided for his stock and grain in large barns and other outbuildings, and in 1883, his first home was replaced by one of the finest farm residences in the county, built in the most modern style, tastefully furnished and supplied with all the conveniences and comfort which go to make life worth the liv- ing. The Mason family are people of intelligence and worth, well deserving of a representation in this volume.
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b ON. BALFOUR COWEN, of Virden, is held in distinction for the loyalty of his citizenship, and for his worth as a man of of unblemished character. As a member of the bar his legal attainments have placed him among the most successful of his profession now practicing before the courts of this and adjoining counties. It is therefore with pleasure that we invite the attention of the reader to his portrait on the opposite page, and the following brief account of his life and lineage.
Our subject comes of sterling New England stock, and is a native of that part of the country, born at Bath, N. H., June 30, 1832. IIis father,
Zachariah Cowen, was a native of the same State, and was a son of another Zacharialı Cowen, who is thought to have been born in New England and to have been of Welsh descent. Grandfather Cowen was a carpenter and millwright, and fol- lowed those trades some years in his early man- hood. lle had a decided talent for music, and finally turned his attention to teaching that art, being an instructor in both vocal and instrumental music. Ilis last years were passed in New Ilamp- shire.
The father of our subject learned the trade of a bricklayer in his youth, and was engaged at that trade in his native State until 1835. In that year he left his old home among the Granite hills of New Hampshire to seek a new one on the fer- tile prairies of this State, being accompanied hither by his wife and three sons. The momen- tous journey was made entirely by land with a pair of horses and a wagon, in which were carried a portion of the household goods. After three months the little family arrived at its destination in that part of Greene County now included in Jersey County. The father entered a quarter of a scetion of land from the Government, four and one-half miles northeast of Jerseyville, and also bought eighty acres of land on Hawkins Prairie, eight miles northeast of Jerseyville. In the double log cabin that stood on the latter place the fam- ily took up its abode, occupying one-half of it, while Mr. Cowen's brother William took posses- sion of the other part. At that time the surround- ing country was in its primitive condition, with the exception of the few improvements made by the handful of settlers that had located here and there; deer, wild turkeys, wolves and other wild animals still lingered in abundance on the prairies and in the timber. There were no railways, no canals, and no good roads, travelers passing from settlement to settlement over trackless prairies or following some Indian trail.
Mr. Cowen busied himself in preparing land and in putting in a crop in the spring of 1886, and then worked at his trade. In July of the same year he was stricken by typhus fever, and on the 29th of that month death cut short his career while he was yet in life's prime, thus depriving
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his family of a kind husband and wise father, and the community of a valuable pioneer, whose place it was hard to fill. His brother, William, had died three days previous of the same dread disease, and both were buried in the old cemetery at Jersey - ville.
The mother of our subjeet, who hore the maiden name of Mary Titus, was reared in Colebrook, N. 11., and was a daughter of Eleazer and Martha (Cleveland ) Titus. Eleazer Titus was born at Attleboro, Mass., whence his parents removed to Landaff, N. Il., in 1764, with their two children, he being borne in the arms of his mother, who rode on horseback, with the other child behind her. The great-grandfather of our subject had visited that part of the country before, and had marked the way by blazing trees. He improved a farm at Landaff, and there died in the fullness of years. The grandfather of our subject passed his early life there, but at the time of his marriage settled on a tract of forest land in Colebrook. Hle developed a fine farm from the wilderness, which is now owned and occupied by his dangh- ter, Mrs. C. B. Libby, and her family. Ile and his wife are reposing side by side in the little fam- ily cemetery on the home farm where they spent their wedded life and toiled hand in hand to build up a home.
By the death of the father the mother of our subject was left a widow with three small children to care for. January 8, 1839, she married Ezekiel Gillham, a native of South Carolina and a pioneer of Jersey County. At that time he was living nine miles north of Alton, on the Grafton road, and there the mother made her home until Mr. Gillham's death in 1848. She had two children by that marriage-Henry Clay and Maria. The former died at the age of twenty years. Maria married Maj. John W. Lawrence at Carbondale, Ill., and both are now deceased. The mother of our subject was married a third time, October 23, 1855, becoming the wife of the Rev. William Jer- ome, a native of New York and a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They removed to Carbondale, Jackson County, where he died .June 15, 1865.
Mrs. Jerome then came to Virden, and resided
with her son Lewellyn until her death, September .25, 1877. She had three children by her first mar- riage-Llewellyn, Norredden and Balfour. Llew- ellyn C'owen was for a time a teacher, and then engaged in mercantile business. Ile enlisted March 8, 1862, in Company D, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and was promoted to the First Lieutenancy, and then to be Captain of his company. He served with honor with his regiment until the close of the war, and after that resumed his business as a merchant at Virden, carrying it on until 1878. In that year he disposed of his mercantile interests and opened a Home for commercial travelers at Virden, which he managed until his death, April 29,1881.
Norrenden Cowen was reared and educated in Jersey County. After selling his interest in bis father's estate to his brothers, be entered Govern- ment land near Walshville, Montgomery County. He improved a farm, and was a resident there at the time of his enlistment, in August, 1861, in Company L, Third Illinois Cavalry. He was soon commissioned First Lientenant of his com- pany, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain. In the winter of 1861-62 he was Judge Advocate of a court martial of the Depart- ment of Missouri. He was wounded in a skir- mish, and on that account was obliged to resign his commission in May, 1864. As soon as he re- covered from his injuries he engaged in milling at Litchfield with Messrs. Best and Sparks. Subse- quently he went to Carlyle, Clinton County, to engage in the same business with the same firm, of which he became a member, and resided there until his death, October 12, 1872. His wife, Mel- vina J., died in Carlyle Febnary 12, 1890.
Balfour Cowen was but three years old when his parents brought him from his New England birthplace to the frontier wilds of Illinois. The first school that he attended was a free school estab- lished by old Dr. Hamilton at Otterville, and en- dowed by him. That was before the era of public schools in this State, as then the schools were con- ducted on the subscription plan. After the death of his stepfather, Gillham, his mother removed with her children to the land which his father had entered from the Government, and she built
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thereon. The brothers farmed the place together until 1852, when our subject bought out the inter ests of his brothers and continued to till the soil until 1857. In that year he sold the old home- stead and in February, 1858, came to Virden to devote himself to mercantile pursuits with his brothers.
Mr. Cowen continued actively engaged in busi- ness here until 1862, when he left his partner, Gordon Evans, in charge, in order that he might offer his services to his country to aid in subdu- ing the great rebellion that was threatening the very life of the Union. Ile enlisted August 13, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty- second Illinois Infantry, and was honored by being elected Captain of his company. Ile was captured December 20, 1862, at Trenton, Tenn., by Forest's command in a raid on the Ohio & Mobile Railroad. He was marched under guard one week and was then paroled and sent North, where he was exchanged in the spring of 1863. Our gallant Captain then joined his company at Salisbury, Tenn., and was with his regiment in all its subsequent campaigns and battles until peace was declared. Ile did good service at the battle of Tupelo, inspired his company to do brave deeds at Nashille, and again gave proof of his excel- lent soldierly qualities and worth as a leader before Ft. Blakely, Ala. He was honorably discharged with his regiment at Mobile, Ala., July 15, 1865, but mustered out at Springfield, Ill., August 9, the same year.
At the close of his military life Capt. Cowen re- turned to Virden and at once commenced the study of law. April 5, 1867, he was examined before the Supreme Bench and was admitted to the bar, after passing the crucial test successfully, Judges P. H. Walker, Sidney Breeze and C. B. Lawrence signing his certificate. He immediately opened an office at Virden, and has been in active practice here since. He has an extensive clientage to whose interest he pays the closest attention, and has thus secured the undounded confidence of all who ap- peal to him for legal advice, or who have entrusted to him the management of important affairs. ITis standing as one of our best lawyers is too well- known to need comment here.
Mr. Cowen and Miss Amanda Bartlett were united in marriage March 29, 1855, and they have been eminently happy in their domestic relations. Mrs. Cowen is a native of Wellsville, Me., born December 28, 1833, and a daughter of Joseph W. and Mary (Twombley) Bartlett. For her parental history see sketch of Dr. Bartlett. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen have live children-Nora, Amanda, Blanche B .. Elmer A., Henry IT. and Mary A. Nora is the wife of the Rev. Eben C. Sage, Ph. D., a gradu- ate of Yale College, and pastor of the Grand Ave- nue Baptist Church, New Haven, Conn. They have three children-Nora A., Eben Balfour and Tru- man Bartlett. Elmer married Miss Nettie Reed, and they have one child. They are residents of St. Joseph, Mo.
Although chielly aborbed in his profession, our subject has given some of his time and talent to public service, and has filled positions of trust with dignity and ability. Ile was the first Police Mag- istrate of Virden, and has served several terms as City Attorney. llis fellow-citizens honored him him and themselves by electing him to represent this district in the Thirty-second Legislative As- sembly of the State of Illinois. He cast his first vote for J. C. Fremont, and has ever since been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Socially he is a valued member of John Baird Post, No. 285, G. A. R., and of Virden Lodge, No. 161, A. F. & A. M.
LIVER C. FORWOOD. The name at the head of this sketch is that of a worthy mem- ber of a family that bas held an honorable position for centuries past, its members counting among them the distinguished professional men as well as agriculturists who have done much to im- prove the general condition of the community in which they respectively live. The scion of this family whose history it is our pleasure to here chronicle, resides on section 21, of Shipman Town- ship, where he has a fine farm in an enviable state of productiveness.
Our subject's father was Dr. Parker Forwood
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who was a native of Maryland. He was a practic- ing physician in his native State for many years, and there owned a large farm. Our subject's pater- nal grandfather was John Forwood, who, like his grandson, devoted himself to cultivating the gifts that God allows to spring up from mother earth. Ile died in Harford County, Md. Our subject's mother was Mollie Smithson in her maiden years. She was born in Harford County, Md., where she was married and where her husband died in Janu- ary, 1866, the mother still surviving.
Mr. Forwood is one of thirteen children, he being the ninth in order of birth. Like his parents he was born and reared in Harford County, Md., his natal day being February 6, 1847. He continued to live in Maryland until February, 1865, when he came to Shipman Township. On his arrival in this State he made his daily bread until 1870 by work- ing by the month for the farmers in the vicinity. He found his wife in Shipman Township, and was married October 12, 1870. His wife's maiden name was Miss Emma Jolly, a daughter of Henry Jolly. Her birth place was Shipman Township, Macoupin County, Ill., and her birth occurred on October 1, 1857. Mrs. Forwood's mother was Marian Hay- craft. Previous to her marriage she was the widow of Joel Parker, who died in Shipman Township, November 28, 1843. Mr. Parker and his young wife were married in Kentucky, and came from there to Macoupin County in 1835, settling in Shipman Township. The wife became the mother of seven children by that marriage. They are Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Frances H., Elmira, Benja- min E., and Luvinia N. The eldest daughter is now the widow of John L. Rhoads; Mary is the wife of F. B. Simpson ; Sarah is the widow of Jaek- son Calvard; Frances H., is the widow of William M. Simpson; Almira is the widow of James L. Sherman; Luvinia is the wife of Thomas B. For- wood.
Mrs. Marian Parker was married to Henry Jolly in Shipman Township, October 10, 1850. But one child came to grace this marriage, that is the wife of the gentleman of whom we are writing. She was born in Shipman Township, October 1, 1851. Soon after the marriage of our subject be settled in Brushy Mound Township, where he lived from
the years 1871 to 1876 inclusive, after which time ·be removed to Shipman Township, and settled on section 21, where he has since been a resident. The chief occupation of his life has been farming, and he has brought to bear a native energy and stick- to-ativeness that have insured him a success. He owns eighty acres and has good buildings on his farm. Mr. Forwood has held the office of Town- ship Assessor. His temperance principles are evi- dent in the fact that he is a voter with the Prolib- itionists, and adds to that party his influence. Mr. and Mrs. Forwood are active members of the Bap- tist Church, taking a conspicuous part in every good word and work that is there done.
REDERICK STEIDLEY, one of the best known of the old settlers of Barr Township, is a son of Solomon Steidley, who was a Marylander, and Rachel Barr who was born in New Jersey. They came from Frederick County, Va., to this county in 1834, and settled in the township which is known as Barr Township, and there lived until their death. He passed away in 1848 and his good wife followed him eight years later.
Our subject is the third in a large family of nine children, being born in Virginia, July 8, 1817. He came to this county with his father in 1834, and has lived in Barr Township and in Greene County. Ill., from that time to this. His first marriage united him with Catherine Heater, by whom he had two children, who with their mother have passed to the other world. She died while they were liv- ing in Greene County. His second marriage gave him as a wife Mary C. Martin, who bore him eleven children, namely: Joseph, Martin, James, Anna (deceased,) Mary, George, Rebecca, Rachel and John (deceased,) Charlie and Minnie (deceased). Mrs. Mary C. Steidley died in Barr Township, Jan- uary 20, 1885.
Mr. Steidley learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed in connection with farming, al- though agriculture has been his principal pursuit in life. He owns two hundred and forty acres of
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rich and arable soil which he has placed in excel- lent, condition and has rendered doubly productive. He is looked up to as one of the oldest settlers in the township, and his knowledge of the early days makes him an attractive companion, as he can en- tertain the younger generation with many narra- tions of the pioneer days.
ACOB MOEHRMAN, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business on Main Street in Staunton, where he opened his doors for public custom April 24, 1874, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 23d of March, 1839, and for many generations, as far back as history tells us, his ancestors were resi- dents of that land. His father, Jacob Moehrman, Sr., was also a native of the same province, where he lived and died, passing away at the age of six- ty- five years. He was a shoemaker by trade and had followed that occupation throughout his busi- ness career. He married a Wurtemburg lady, Miss Margaret Herb, who grew to womanhood in the same locality as her husband. After his death she came to America and is now living with a dauglı- ter, Mrs. Rosin Jochim, in Columbus, Ohio, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. She is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which Mr. Moehrman also belonged. In their family were seven children, five of whom came to this country, while one is yet living in the Fatherland.
The subject of this sketch is the eldest. He re- mained at home until fifteen years of age and then started out in life for himself, since which time he has been dependent upon his own resources. He began to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker at which he served a full apprenticeship. Also during his residence in his native land he was a member of the regular army, serving as a soldier in 1860, 1861 and 1862. Subsequently, in 1866, he served in the rebellion which was then in progress in his country, being on active duty for fourteen weeks, during which time he participated in the battle of Tauberbischofsheim.
Mr. Moehrman was united in marriage with
Catherine Grossmann, who was born and reared near the childhood home of our subject. They began their domestic life in the Fatherland, where one child came to bless their union and then they started for America, taking passage at Antwerp upon a steamer which sailed May 21, 1869. They landed in New York and thence made their way to Alton, where they spent two and a half years, Mr. Moehrman working at his trade of a cabinet- maker. lIe also worked in the same line and for a similar length of time in Mattoon, whence he came to Staunton and here purchased the furniture es- tablishment of John M. Ahrens. Seventeen years have since passed during which time he has met with signal success. His stock is full and complete and in addition to the store located on Main Street he has a large wareroom well filled. He also carries on the undertaking business and by enterprise and ability has succeeded in building up a good trade. Although he had no capital when he came to this country he has succeeded in acquiring a handsome competence and is num- bered among the substantial citizens of the commn- nity.
Mr. and Mrs. Moehrman are members of the Lutheran Church. They now have a family of three children, the eldest of whom, Charles F., was educated both in the English and German lan- guages and is now associated with his father in the furniture store, being a promising young man possessed of excellent business qualifications. Em- ma and Elizabeth, the daughters, are still at home. Mr. Moehrman and his son are Republicans in politics.
OHN L. SOLOMON, who resides on section 17, North Palmyra Township, is a son of Judge Lewis Solomon, deceased, and a nephew of D. N. Solomon, of Palmyra. The father was one of the oldest settlers of Macon- pin County and was intimately identified with the history of this part of the State. He was born April 1, 1812, in Muhlenberg County, Ky., and came of Welsh and English origin. llis grand-
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father, who bore the name of Lewis Solomon, took part in the Revolutionary War, being one of that daring band who, under the gallant Marion, did such good service in the campaigns in South Caro- lina. Judge Solomon's grandmother was a woman of remarkable bravery and determination and on one occasion drove the British out of her house with a poker.
The grandfather of our subject removed from Kentucky to Illinois in 1825. The mother and three youngest children rode in the cart with the household goods and the remainder of the family trudged on foot. The family fortunes had been sadly impaired by the breaking of the Common- wealth Bank of Kentucky and they had no money with which to purchase land. Their first settle- ment was in Morgan County, but in the spring of 1827 the family removed to Macoupin County and located two miles north of Palmyra. The grand- parents died here in 1819 and 1850.
Judge Solomon was in his fifteenth year when he came to this county. lle had attended a subscrip- tion school in Kentucky for a few months only and here in the summer of 1829 he attended a school kept by his brother-in.law, James Howard. Ile was a boy of bright faculties and learned rapidly, excelling in mathematics. In the year 1832, when twenty years old, Lewis Solomon volunteered in the Black Hawk War, and during this two months' campaign experienced considerable hardship. He was in the engagement twenty miles from Dixon and at one time the men in his regiment were five days without bread. On starting out he weighed one hundred and fifty pounds and lost twenty-five during service. Subsequent to this active experi- enee he was made Major of the Sixty-second regi- ment of State Militia and was considered one of the best militia officers in Illinois.
The mother of our subject was Nancy Ann Fink, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of John Fink, one of the early settlers of Barr Township. Iler marriage to Lewis Solomon was solemnized June 23, 1856. By hard work and untiring enterprise the young man accumulated a few hundred dollars and at the time of his father's death purchased the interest of the other heirs to the estate and moved onto the homestead farm, but two years previous
to his marriage he had purchased three hundred .and sixty acres of land in North Palmyra Town- ship, where he has since made his home. He is the owner of the largest body of land in the pos- session of one man in this township. His first wife died September 18, 1863. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom nine grew to maturity. Ilis second marriage was with Mrs. Mary Ann (Ba- ker) Butcher.
During the War of the Rebellion the father of our subject was a prominent war Democrat and as- sisted in sending to the South forty-three men from Palmyra precinct, two of whom he placed in the field with his own means. lle has ever adhered to the party which was made illustrious by the naines of Jefferson and Jackson. He received numerous tokens of the confidence and esteem of the people and at different times served as Constable, Assessor, Justice of the Peace, member of the Legislature and County Judge. In 1861 he was made a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention, the nomina- tion to which was entirely unsought. In 1870 he was elected to the State Senate and while in the Legislature he was an active and efficient member, devoting his attention to sneh legislation as would secure the best interests of the people. In the Senate he served on three or four important com. mittees and his views commanded the respect of even his political opponents. Ile was the author of a bill giving landowners a right to redeem lands sold at tax sales at twenty-five per cent. addition the first six months, fifty per cent. the first twelve months. one hundred per cent. for two years and after that no redemption; the previous law required an addition of one hundred per cent. penalty any time after the sale. Scarcely a man in the county held so many positions nor received so many marks of public favor. Upon his character for honesty and integrity a suspicion was never breathed. His life was open to the view of the citizens of the county and not a stain can be found on his record as a public officer or as a private citizen.
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