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 23
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Our subject was one of the youngest members of his father's family, being born in North Palmyra Township, March 6, 1852. Ilere he was reared to manhood and here he established his home. He was educated first in the common schools and later
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in the college at Eureka. Ile was married in North Otter Township August 6, 1874, and took for his bride Rhoda, a daughter of Andrew A. and Lizzie (Brown) Atkins. This worthy couple died in Greene County, Ill., which was the native county of their daughter Rhoda, her natal day being Sep- tember 28, 1853. John L. Solomon bas always been engaged in agricultural pursuits and has made a specialty of fine horses and bronze turkeys.
A serious disaster befell the household of our sub- ject in the fall of 1879, in the destruction by fire of their pleasant home. He has rebuilt his house in better style than before and now owns one hun- dred and seventy five aeres, most of which is in North Palmyra Township. Three children have blessed this home-Bertha, Jesse and Elzena. Jesse died when he was about a year old. Mr. Solomon has taken an active part in political affairs, being a Democrat both by training and conviction. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for four years and is an active member of the Farmer's Alliance, being ever wide-s.wake to the interests, so- cial and pecuniary, of the farming community. The excellent lady who presides with so much grace and dignity over his home is an earnest and consistent member of the Christian Church, in which she is active for good.
OSEPH H. BARBER, who owns one of the finest stock farms in the county, located on sections 3, 4, 9 and 10, Brighton Township, was born in the Keystone State, his birth having occurred in Columbia County, June 23, 1825. The family was originally of Scotel ori- gin, but in early Colonial days was established in America. Thomas Barber, father of our subject. was also born in Columbia County, and when he bad attained to mature years wedded Miss Mary llenderson, a native of the same county, where they spent their entire lives, both passing away when past the age of three score years. They were representative farming people of that com- munity, highly respected by all, and were members of the Presbyterian Church.
In play and work, in the usual manner of farmer lads, our subject spent the days of his childhood and youth. lle was early inured to hard labor and the lessons of industry and self- reliance which he then learned have remained with him throughout the succeeding years and proved important factors in his success. After attaining to mature years he left the parental roof and started out in life for himself. Ile deter- mined to make the West the seene of his future labor, and on coming to Illinois, located in Chi- cago, where he spent three years and then came to Macoupin County. In the meantime he was mar- ried in Mendota to Miss Elizabeth Sproule, who was born Columbia County, Pa., and on the father's side is of Irish descent, while her mother's people had long been residents of the Keystone State. Her parents both died in Pennsylvania, while she was a child, and she came to Illinois to join her brothers who had emigrated to this State some time before and settled in Lee County. Both Mr. and Mrs. Barber, together with their children, attend the Methodist Church and in polities he is an old Jackson Democrat. They are well-known citizens of the community, having been closely connected with the best interests of the township for many years, and by those who know them are held in high regard.
Throughout his business carcer Mr. Barber has engaged in general farming an.l stock-raising. He now owns an excellent farm of three hundred and thirty-five aeres, much of which is under a high state of cultivation and yields him a golden trib- ute for the care and labor he bestows upon it. He raises a good grade of cattle, sheep and hogs, not an inferior animal being scen upon the place, but, the greater part of his attention has been devoted to the breeding and training of thorough-bred horses. He is a lover of the noble steed and an excellent judge of fine horses. Ile owns some fine specimens of the Wilkes blood and has several young colts who possess all the best points of the thorough. bred. Upon his farm there is a good half- mile course used by Mr. Barber in training and developing the speed of young horses, and he has a reputation as a trainer which extends through- out the surrounding country. At the local fairs
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he has also taken many premiums upon his other stock.
By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barber have been born five children and the family circle yet re- mains unbroken. James C., the eldest, aids his father in the operation of the old homestead; John E. married Miss Wildia Turk and is now engaged as a prominent dealer and breeder of horses in Windsor, Mo .; Robert Lincoln is also engaged in the operation of the home farm; Lural L. and Margaret, both accomplished young ladies, are yet at home.
ACOB M. IIANSIIAW. Among the old settlers who deserve and receive the esteem and veneration of the entire neighborhood there is none probably more beloved and respected than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Ilis long residence in North Palmyra Township and the character which he has maintained for integrity and true-hearted neighborliness has made him the friend of every man. His father, Benjamin Hanshaw, was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother, Susannah Simpson, a native of Frederick County, Va., grew to wom- anhood in that State. There she was married to Benjamin Hanshaw and after some years of resi- dence in her native county, they removed to Darke County, Ohio, where she died July 15, 1852. Her husband came to Macoupin County, this State, that same year and made his home with our subject until his death which occurred Feburary 5, 1878.
The subject of this sketch was the sixth in a family of cleven children, and was born in Bote- tourt County, Va., August 20, 1823. There he passed the early years of his life up to the age of seventeen, when he came with his father to Darke County, Ohio, where he continued to live until the fall of 1852. He then came to this county and made his home in North Palmyra Township, where he has since been a resident.
Jacob Hanshaw was married in Wayne County, Ind., October 4, 1853, to Miss Melinda M. Kittin- ger, a daughter of David and Peggy (Helms) Kit-
tinger. Mr. Kittinger was a native of Pennsylva- nia and his wife of Virginia. Their death occurred in Wayne County, Ind. Mrs. Hanshaw was the sixth in a family of eleven children. Her birth occurred in Botetourt County, Va., March 10, 1828.
Ten children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. IJanshaw ; their eldest, Rebecca G., died when eighteen months old, and the second, Mary E., also passed away in infancy. Benjamin D. mar- ried Miss Lillie Tonget, and they reside in North Palmyra Towaship and have one child, Olive M. Parthena E. is the wife of Alonzo Gant, and they have four children living: Clarence, Etliel, Jacob and Mary. Hattie A. is the wife of William Bar- ton and the mother of three children: Addie, Eula and Jennie. The next two children, Virginia and Martin L. died in infancy, and Sarah A., Amie M. and Flora E. complete the circle. Agricultural pursuits have engaged the time and energy of Mr. Hanshaw and he has made good improvements on his farm of one hundred and forty acres. From girlhood Mrs. Hanshaw has been an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church, in which she is a power for good.
OIIN A. FULLINGTON, who is one of the honored residents of Carlinville Town- ship, was born in East Tennessee, Decem - ber 17, 1858. When he was twelve years old his father, the late Elijah Fullington, with his wife and children emigrated some three or four hundred miles farther west to the State of Arkan- sas. IIere they established their home. In the hard toil of the farm, John A. Fullington spent the years of his childhood and youth. Very carly in life he developed a taste for agriculture and felt a strong desire to become an able farmer. Upon his arrival in Macoupin County, Ill., in August, 1877, he obtained a situation as a farm lab- orer with a view of becoming, at no distant day, manager of a farm in his own behalf. He remained in this occupation for two years. He was a most exemplary young man, punctual in every duty,
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY (5 1 ....
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never allowing his services to be called for with- out a ready response. Genial and sympathetic in his nature, he has drawn around him troops of friends. Mr. Fullington's father was a Democrat and he adheres to the same faith.
On December 25, 1879, he married Miss Melissa Anderson, of Carlinville, Ill., a lady altogether worthy of him, cultured and refined. She is the daughter of M. M. and Melvina Anderson, a sketch of whose lives is presented on another page of this volume. She was born in Carlinville, January 19, 1857, and is the mother of six children : Carrie B., Malcolm E., Ora M., Walter G. and Lorin E. Death carried away one child in infancy. At the time of his marriage our subject took upon him- self the responsibility and management of a farm, renting one hundred and sixty acres in Carlinville Township on Section 18, where he has since been a resident. Much of his time is given to stock- raising, which he makes a special feature in his list of profitable productions. He is laborious in the care and attention which he bestows upon the acres entrusted to him, the performance of his arduous duties bringing him a very satisfactory return. In the prosecution of his work he expends his energy judiciously allowing himself ample time to culti- vate mind and heart as well as those domestic ties of the dearest nature. Mr. and Mrs. Fullington are members of the Baptist Church of Carlinville.
R OBERT WHITELEY. There is no estimat- ing the force of a quiet life of patient con- tinuance in well doing, of unswerving fidelity to the duties of the hour. As with beautiful flowers hidden behind stone walls, the very air scatters far and near the fragrance of an upright life. If the character is good it refreshes as the dew and makes the memory blessed for years after mother earth claims all that is mortal. Every beautiful virtue shines out in the life and decks with royal purple the robe of humility. The influence of a pure character is as potent in the office, the shop or factory as it is in the quiet of home or amid the worship of the sanctuary.
The friends of Mr. Whiteley recognize the nobility of his nature and hold him in high esteem.
One of our English-born fathers who had brought to this country the sterling qualities of the En- glish yeomanry. Mr. Whiteley has made a success of agriculture in the Prairie State. Ile resides on section 9, Bird Township, and represents that township on the County Board of Supervisors. Ile was born near York, Yorkshire, England, in Au- gust, 1819, and in his native place grew to man's estate. In 1844 he came to America, making the voyage in a sailing vessel and landing in New Or- leans on March 17, of that year. He proceeded directly to South Palmyra Township, this county, and here established his home. But that dire affliction of the Mississippi Valley, fever and ague, soon attacked him and to benefit his health he spent in New Orleans the first seven years of his resi- dence in America. In New Orleans he followed draying.
Mr. Whiteley returned to Macoupin County each spring with hut one exception, when, in the year 1849, he passed the summer season at the old home in England. In 1851 he purchased a portion of the farm where he now lives, and in the follow- ing spring made it his permanent home. He was reared on a farm in England, and agriculture has been his chief occupation through life. He now owns over seven hundred acres, which he has gained by adding little by little to the two hun- dred and ten which he purchased in 1851. Hle has erected upon his farm a complete set of farm build- ings, which are worthy the admiration of a passer- by.
Having by arduous exertions gained a compe- tency for his declining years Mr. Whiteley now rents his farm and lives a retired life. He was married in Western Mound Township, to Miss Adeline Morris, a native of that township, who died in December, 1869. She was the mother of ten children, three of whom are now living, namely: Mary A .; Sarah O., Mrs. James McAliney; and Robert. The children whom they lost died when quite young.
Mr. Whiteley has been Highway Commissioner for nine years, has served as School Director for sometime, and was elected Supervisor of Bird
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Township in the spring of 1890. He has ever taken an active interest in political affairs, and is a broad-minded and intelligent man. ITis earlier atlil- iations were with the Whig party, but later he be- eame a Republican. His carly religious training at home was in the Church of England, and he is here identified with the Episcopal Church. This publie-spirited and representative eitizen is a man of genial disposition, and his neighbors rejoice in his prosperity.
The attention of our readers is invited to the lithographie portrait of Mr. Whiteley which ap- pears in connection with this brief personal notice.
B ENJAMIN F. BOWERSOX. The gentle- man whose name heads this sketch is opel - ating the farm, which belongs to his mother, located on section 9, Nilwood Township. llis father was Jacob Bowersox a native of I'nion County, Pa., and his mother was Mary (Sendder) Bowersox. They came to Macoupin County, about 1863 and settled in Nilwood Township. In 1876 the father bade a long farewell to his sorrowing family and passed to the better land. The mother still survives tenderly and lovingly cared for by her affectionate children.
The original of this sketch is one of nine children, he being the seventh. Ilis birthplace was Miami County, Ohio, from which place his parents emi- grated to Macoupin County. His natal day was July 28, 1845. He was reared under his mother's care until he arrived at manhood, remaining under his father's roof until the family came to this county in 1863. He was married in Montgomery County, IHl., September 1, 1868 to Miss Sarah Studebaker, a daughter of John and Mary ( Neffe) Studebaker who originally came from Elkhart County, Ind., and settled in this county in 1866; here they remained about two years and then removed to Montgomery County, Ill., where the father died November 3, 1887. Mrs. Bowersox was born in Elkhart County, April 16, 1848. The family remained in Macoupin County, until the spring of 1871 when they removed to Morrison,
Montgomery County. Here our subject engaged 'in carpenter work until the fall of 1875 when he returned to Macoupin County.
Mr. Bowersox's occupation has been for the greater part of life that of farming, in which he carries on a general agricultural business. Ile re- sitles on a part of the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Bowersox are the parents of three children. They are: Jacob II., Mary M. and Darwin D. Our subject has been the Collector for his township for several years; both he and Mrs. Bowersox are members of the German Baptist Church.
Ile of whom we write is a man of sterling integ- rity and strong principles, unpretentious and simple in his manners and style of living, and is a true friend and enthusiastic supporter of any means that promise to be to the advantage of his fellow-towns. men. ITis wife has been his helpmate for many years and like Cornelia she could say to her neigli- bors to whom life is but a festive occasion for dis- play, in reference to her children, "these are my jewels." Her care for her home and family mark . her a model housewife.
E NDIMON FANSLER is a prosperous farmer of Barr Township, whose farm is on section 4. His father, David Fansler, was born in Stokes County, N. C., and his mother, Polly Ship- ley, was a native of Sullivan County, Tenn., where the father finally died and where our subject was horn, October 12, 1827, the eldest in a family of eight children. Here he was reared to manhood and remained until the fall of 1847, when he en- listed in Company A, Fifth Tennessee Regiment, and served in the Mexican War for about five months. Peace being declared, he returned to Tennessee and resumed the occupations of peace.
The marriage of our subject to Miss Amanda King, who was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., oc- eurred soon after his return from the war. They settled in their native county and there remained until the spring of 1852, when they came to Ma- coupin County and settled in Barr Township,
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which has since been a family home. Eight chil- dren graced their home, namely : William, who be- eame a teacher in the public schools and died in Palmyra; Thomas, who is a resident of Chicago; Ilenry, who is farming in Barr Township; Mary; who is now Mrs. James Searcy ; her first husband was Allen Duncan and after his death she married Mr. Searcy; Ella, the wife of R. M. McCollom; James, who is living in this township; Joseph, who is a farmer: and Halley. The mother of these children passed away from earth in Barr Township nearly twenty years ago.
The second marriage of Mr. Fansler united him with Mrs. Mary E. (Dalby) Bell, the widow of Stephen Bell and daughter of Israel and Eliza (Og- den) Dalby. They have three children: Jennie, Belle and Carroll. The second child died in child hood.
Mr. Fanster has always been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits and has made good improvements upon his fine farm of two hundred and forty-five acres. His political views led him to affiliate with the Democratic party and he has been Highway Commissioner of the township. Both he and his excellent wife are earnest and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they find a broad field of influence and effort. Mr. Fanster fills the offices of Steward and Trustee and is highly trusted in these official capacities.
SHBEL G. DAVID. Among the promi- vent and well-known citizens of Carlin- ville, we are pleased to mention the name which appears at the head of this sketch. the name of the gentleman who has been for years identified with the Democrat of that city, and who. since 1881, has been sole proprietor of that enter- prising sheet which he had helped to bring to its present prosperous condition. He was born near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa., March 25, 1832. His father, Jesse David, born in the same county, was a son of David G. W. David, who, as his name indicates, was born in Wales, but came to America when a lad in company with a brother. . He re-
ceived a good education and for many years was a teacher. Ile became a pioneer in Fayette County, buying lumber land near Ft. Necessity. Ile was one of the pioneer teachers of that region and for a number of years taught during the winters, and devoted the rest of the year to his land. He thus spent the remainder of his life.
The father of our subject was reared on his fa- ther's farm in his native county, and resided there until 1839, when he came to Illinois and settled in Jersey County. He came by team to Brownsville, and then by way of the Monongahela, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Alton. There be took team again and traveled to Jersey County, where he en- tered a trart of timber land in what is now Piasa Township. There be built a shanty without any floor, in which his family lived for five months while he was building a comfortable frame house. He cleared quite a traet of the land, and made his home there until 1850 when he sold out and re- moved to Maeoupin County, buying land two miles cast of Bunker Hill, where he died in April, 1852.
The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Barbara Pentzer. This lady was of German ancestry but a native of Pennsylvania, being born in Little Cove, in Bedford County, which is located near Gettysburg. Iler father, George Pentzer, was a native of Prussia, and his father, Valentine, came from Prussia to America with his family soon after the Revolutionary era. He and his faithful wife did not live long after their emigration to this country, and left two sons and three daughters to mourn their loss. George Pentzer was about ten years ofl when his parents brought him to America and soon after his father's death he was hired out by the county authorities, to a distiller, who taught him his business. Ile married in Pennsylvania, a lady of Irish birth, and when the Washingtonian movement opened his eyes to the iniquity of the manufacture of liquor, he gave up the business of dlistilling, and in 1824 removed to Fayette County and engaged in farming. Nine years later he re- moved to Jersey County, Ill., and buying a tract of land in Piasa Township, made it his home for some years, after which he resided with his children and died at the home of his daughter Barbara, Mrs. David, passing away in 1852, and this daughter
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dying in August, 1879 at Lineoln, Ill. She reared six children: our subject, Jacob P., George ()., Jane, Lewis D. and Samuel W.
The gentleman of whom we write is the eldest of his father's family and after receiving a fair educa- tion, taught school for some time and then clerked in a store in Gillespie, until 1857. He then entered the grain and grocery business for himself in Gillespie and afterward in Bunker Hill. During the days of the war, he spent several months at Camp Butler, Springfield, as Post Sutter for the Ninety-seventh Regiment, Illinois Infantry, and later he went down the Mississippi River as sutter on a boat. In July, 1863, he located at Brighton, and formed a partnership with L. P. and E. B. Stratton, in the grain business. In 1866, he aban- doned this on account of his wife's failing health, and returned to Bunker Ilill, and there remained until after the death of his wife which occurred July 3, 1866. After this he was engaged variously in the milling, commission and mercantile business in Bunker Hill, St. Louis, Leavenworth, Kan., Lin- coln, Ill., and Hamilton, Mo. After working for some time on the Caldwell County Sentinel, he came in November, 1870, to Carlinville and en- gaged with the Democrat in the capacity of travel- ing agent and correspondent. While traveling through this eounty as correspondent, Mr. David made his reputation as a pleasant, ready, descrip- tive writer. Ilis articles were widely read and copied by other local journals. In August 1871, he entered the office as local editor and book- keeper. He has a pleasant, even style of writing and the local columns of the Democrat, were given a new vigor and raciness by his work. In August, 1879, he bought one half of the stock of the paper, and in 1881, he bought out his partner's interest and since that time has been sole proprietor.
In politics, Mr. David is a Republican and he cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont. As a man he is regarded as an upright and exem- plary citizen and as such, he enjoys the esteem and respect of the community. His marriage, in October, 1855, united him with Miss Elizabeth Carter, a na- tive of Lexington, Ky. They had one child, a son, who has grown to manhood, and has been eon- nected with one of the St. Louis daily papers. Mrs.
Elizabeth David died July 3, 1866. On April 16, 1871, our subject was again married, being united with Mrs. Eliza A. Stagg, of Mason City, Ill., and a native of New York. His two sons are named Frederick E. and Herbert A.
Mr. David has been a Director of the Carlin- ville Loan and Building Association since its or- ganization and is an active member of the Presby- terian Church in which he bas been an Elder for about fifteen years. Ile is also prominently con- nected with some of the social orders and belongs to Mount Nebo Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M., and to Silver Lodge No. 249, K. of HI.
ANIEL BLODGET, deceased. Only by written record can we perpetuate the lives of those who have passed away and surely no one more deserves mention in this volume than Daniel Blodget, who for a half century was connected with the history of the county and did more to upbuild Brighton than any other man.
He was born in New Hampshire on the 15th of Jannary, 1810, and came of good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having served as a soldier in the war for independence. His people be- longed to a highly respected New England family. His parents, Darius and Ellen (Flanders) Blodget, were also natives of New England, and died in the Granite State not many miles from the White Mountains. Our subject lost his mother when he quite young, after which his father was again mar- ried. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and when a young man of twenty-five years he emigrated Westward, locating in this community in 1835. From that time he was prominently identitied with the history of the com- munity and the growth and upbuilding of Brigh- ton. He embarked in business as a general mer- chant, soon built up a flourishing trade and be- came one of the leading business men of the place. In the carly days when others would hold their property high he would sell lots very cheap so as to induce settlers to here locate. Often times if a poor man wished to engage in some business, if he
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