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 25
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The father of our subject was a young man when he came to Illinois with his parents. He had been
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reared to agricultural pursuits, and at the time of his marriage he located on a farm in the eastern part of Wayne County. A few years later he re- moved to the northern part of the county and en- tered forty acres of Government land. He built a primitive log house, riving shingles by hand to cover the roof, and making the chimney of sticks and clay. His wife cooked by the open fireplace for many years, and her deft hands carded, spun and wove all the cloth of which she made garments for her children, Mr. Clark was much prospered in his calling, invested in other land adjoining his original purchase and in time improved a valuable farm, that remained his home until his death. He was a man of more than ordinary force of char- aeter and intellect, and was very influential among his fellow-citizens, who often called him to fill re- sponsible offices. He was at one time Sheriff of Wayne County, and he also represented his dis- trict as a member of the State Legislature, It was while attending a session of that honorable body at Vandalia, in 1838, that his useful career was closed by his untimely death. He was a devoutly relig- ious man; one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and services were held at his honse. Ile was a Class-Leader in the church,
The mother of our subjeet, who bore the maiden name of Mary G. Witters, was a native of West Tennessee. Her father, Peter Witters, was a pio- neer of that section of the country, and later of Illinois, where he settled in White County, and there spent liis remaining years. The maiden name of his wife was Hannah Green. She was born in North Carolina and died in White County, this State. The mother of our subject was a Pres- byterian in her religious faith. She died on the home farm in Wayne County in 1851, leaving four children-Joseph, Peter, Benjamin F., and Mel- vina.
He of whom this biography is written was reared in his native county. There were no free schools in his youth, each family having to pay according to the number of children sent to school. The country roundabout his carly bome was sparsely settled and not greatly improved from its primi- tive condition. There were no railways for many years, and St. Louis, one hundred and ten miles
away, was the principal market. Our subjeet continued to reside with his mother until her death, and be then spent six months in Iowa. Returning to Wayne County, he taught the first free school in that section, receiving $27 a month for a session of three months. He then turned his attention to the study of medicine in the offices of Drs. Greene and Barrickman, near Jef- fersonville, and subsequently began to practice in Wayne County. A short time after that he re- linquished that calling, and JJuly 4, 1857, came to Macoupin County to establish a drug store in Scottville, which he managed until 1865. May 5, of that year he came to Girard to engage in busi- ness, and has ever since been a valued resident of this eity. In March, 1884, L. C. Deck became as- sociated with him in the business under the firm name of Clark & Deck. They have one of the best equipped and best stocked establishments in the city, and carry a full line of drugs, groceries, books, hardware, etc.
Mr. Clark has been three times married. His first marriage, which took place in January, 1854, was with Miss Mary Frances Maston, a native of Marietta, Ohio. Their wedded life was very brief. as she died in the fall of the same year. Our subject was married a second time May 10, 1859, Miss Mary A. Buteber becoming his wife. She was a native of Greene County, Ill., and a dangh- ter of Eli J. and Vienna Butcher. She departed this life February 20, 1878, leaving four children -Edwin Verner, Mabel, Frank Leslie, and Grace. Mr. Clark was married to Mrs. Kate (Garst) Sherfy March 24, 1883. Mrs. Clark is a native of Ten - nessee, and a daughter of Jacob and Frances Garst. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed with one child, whom they have named Ethel.
For more than a quarter of a century, Mr. Clark has been intimately associated with the growth and welfare of Girard as one of its most intelligent business men and public-spirited citizens, and he has ever sought to clevate its moral, social and re- ligious status. He has taken part in its public life as a member of the City Council and of the City School Board. He was for many years a Demo- crat in politics, but of late he has used his influ- ence in favor of the Prohibition party. He and
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his wife are members of the Christian Church, and are active in its every good work. He has an ex- tensive acquaintance in this county, of which he has been a resident for so many years, and is well- known as a thoroughly honorable business man, whose integrity is beyond question, as is his repu- tation in all the relations of life.
LEX MCCURDY, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of Hilyard Township, re- siding on section 36, claims New Jersey as the State of his nativity. lle first opened his eyes to the light of day in Atlantic County in 1814. The family is of Irish origin. The grandfather of our subject, John MeCurdy, Sr., was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, where where he grew to manhood and was married. Later he came to America, leaving his wife and children in the old country and during the Revo- lutionary War fought onder Gen. Washington. For bis services he received a land warrant and then returned to the Emerald Isle for his family with the intention of establishing a home in the United States, but died very suddenly in his na- tive land. Afterward the three older children, including John, father of our subject, who served in the War of 1812-14, and was born in County Antrim and was then twelve years of age, came to America, leaving the widowed mother and younger children in Ireland, where Mrs. McCurdy died at the advanced age of one hundred and five years. The three sons who came to this country did not improve the land as it was their intention of doing when they left home, but sold the war- rant and removed to different parts of the coun- try to engage in business best suited to their tastes. The father of our subject attained to his majority in New Jersey, and there engaged in working iron ore. He married Miss Elizabetlı Wentling, who was born and reared in that State. They began their domestic life in New Jersey, where the husband died at the age of sixty-four years, after which his widow removed to Penn- sylvania, and died at the home of her son Nich-
olas on the Schuylkill River, about thirteen miles . from Philadelphia. This was in 1855, and she was at that time eighty four years of age. In religious belief she was a Methodist and Mr. Mc- Curdy was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Their family numbered eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom only four sons are now living.
Our subject was only a child when his parents removed from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. He may truly be called a self-made man, for before he was twelve years of age he began life for himself, being the employed in the iron works, where he continued to labor for thirty-seven years. At first he worked as a molder, but his ability won him promotion, and during the last ten years of his residence in Pennsylvania he was employed as foreman of six furnaces owned by David Thomas, "the Iron King." He was thus able to command an excellent salary, and with the money acquired he purchased land in Illinois. He first came to this State in 1861, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Jersey County, where he made his home until 1868, when in the spring of that year he purchased his present farm, compris- ing the northern half of three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 36, Hilyard Township. Every acre is under cultivation, the eye resting upon no spot of unimproved land.
In Atlantic County, N. J., at May's Landing, Mr. McCurdy led to the marriage altar Miss Chris- tina McCauley, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1818, and is a daughter of Henry and Sarah (McCurdy) McCauley, who were also na- tives of County Antrim, where they were married and lived until after the birth of all their children. About 1828, with their family, they came to Amer- ica, settling in Atlantic County, N. J., when the city of Camden was a small hamlet. Some years later they removed to Pennsylvania, locating at the head of the Jumata River, where the remain- der of their lives were passed. The father was a member of the Catholic Church and his wife a Presbyterian.
Mrs. McCurdy is the only surviving member of their family of twelve children. She was quite young when she crossed the Atlantic to America
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and in New Jersey she grew to womanhood. Ten children have been born unto our subject and his worthy wife, but six are now deceased. Catherine died at the age of twenty-one years; John died in childhood; John, the second of that name, who died at the age of two years; Mary, who died at the age of fifteen months; one who died in infancy; and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Nathaniel Pinkard, who is now living in Williamstown, Ky. Unto them two children were born, one of whom survives the mother-Joseph A., who since his childhood has been reared by his grandparents and was educated in Bunker Hill Academy. Those who still survive are: Joseph M., who wedded Melissa Deck and is engaged in farming in Hilyard Township; Sarah, widow of John Stemple, a popular railroad conductor of Pennsylvania, who was killed in an accident; Me- lissa and Jane at home.
In politics Mr. McCurdy was an old-line Whig until the rise of the Republican party, which he has since supported. He belongs to the Pres- byterian Church and his wife is a member of the same church. During the twenty-two years of their residence in Macoupin County they have won many friends and have gained the respeet and esteem of all with whom they have come in contact.
ON. SAMUEL S. GILBERT, of Carlinville, has occupied a prominent position among the leading lawyers of this county for many years. He is a native of Massachu- setts, the old seaport town of Gloucester, on Cape Ann, in Essex County, being the place of his birth, and January 28. 1827, the date thereof. Ile is a descendant of old Colonial families that settled in the old Bay State in the early years of its settle- ment.
Jonathan Gilbert, the father of our subject, was born in Gloucester, and was a son of Jonathan Gil- bert, who was also a native of the same town, and was in turn the son of another Jonathan Gilbert, who was also a native of that place, as was his father, who likewise bore the name of Jonathan,
and was of Gloucester birth. The father of the latter, John Gilbert, was born in England or in Massachusetts of English parents. Ile removed from Wenham to Gloucester in 1704, and spent the rest of his days there. Jonathan Gilbert, Sr., and his son Jonathan were both farmers, and were life-long residents of Gloucester, their farm lying in the locality now known as Magnolia, where now many wealthy people have beautiful sea-side homes. The grandfather of our subject also was a farmer and spent his whole life in his native Gloucester.
The father of our subject commenced life as a sailor when quite young, and followed the sea for upwards of twenty years, the most of the time in the merchant service, andi became master of a ves- sel. In 1834 he retired from a seafaring life, and journeying far into the interior of the country, came to Illinois and spent the winter in this State. He was favorably impressed with the country, and returning to Massachusetts for his family came back here to locate the same spring. He and his family started from Gloucester in a sail vessel bound for Philadelphia. While trying to double Cape Cod a storm was encountered and the vessel was obliged to put back to Gloucester for repairs. After a few days the father with our subject and younger brother started again for Philadelphia in the same vessel, while the others took passage in another ship for Boston, whence they went by rail to Providence, and thence by water to Philadelphia, where the family was re-united. They then went by rail to ,lolmstown, Pa., which was at that time the western terminns of the railway ; from there by canal to Pittsburg, where they embarked on a steamer and voyaged on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi to Alton, this State, which they found to be a small but very lively town, as it was the market and depot of supplies for the surround- ing country for many miles around.
Soon after his arrival in Illinois Mr. Gilbert bought a tract of timber land four miles from Al- ton, and there being no house upon it he moved into a dwelling of his brother-in-law near by, and resided in it for some time. lle next bought twenty acres of land on the Carrolton road, upon which he erected a hewed log house, in which he lived until 1837. Then disposing of that place he
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went to Griggsville, in Pike County, and was a pioneer there. He bought village property and was a resident of that place until 1839, when he rented a farm one and one-fourth miles west of Griggsville. In 1842 he bought a tract of land three miles northwest of Griggsville. He built a comfortable residence on that land, and dwelt there until 1845. Returning to the village he stayed there one year, and then, in 1816, went back to his old home in Massachusetts, taking all his family with him, except his two sons, George and Samuel.
In 1853 Mr. Gilbert left Gloucester to again take up his residence in this State. He bought a lot on the west side of the square in Carlin ville, and erected a commodious building a store and dwell- ing, his death occurring here in February, 1869. An honored pioneer and respected citizen thus passed to eternal rest, leaving behind him a good name and an untarnished life record. His worthy wife did not long survive him, but died the fol- lowing April in the home of our subject. She was also a native of Gloucester, and bore the maiden name of Mary Sayward. She was the mother of four children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The following is recorded of the others: George died at Carlinville, May 2, 1877; Fitz William died at Belfast, Me., April 10, 1889; John resides at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Capt. John Sayward, was born in Gloucester, Mass., and was a son of Samuel and Susanna ( Lord ) Say- ward, and was a descendant of Henry Sayward a native of England, who came to America in 1637 and settled near Northampton, N. II. John Say- ward was captain of a vessel in the merchant ma- rine service, and spent his last years in Gloucester. He married Abigail Coos, who was a native of that town. Her grandfather, William Coos, great- great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of England, and he came to this country in early Colonial times. He died at Gloucester in 1773. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Gardner. The great-grandfather of our subject, Mr. Coos, was a seafaring man, and commanded a privateer in the Revolutionary War. His first cruise was very successful, but the second was fatal to him, as his ship, "The Stark," was captured by the En-
glish. lle was taken in irons to Halifax, and after a short confinement in that city was placed on board a ship bound for Boston. The first night out a fearful storm raged and the vessel and its crew were never heard from afterward.
The first eight years of the life of our subjeet were passed in the seaport town of his birth, and since then he has lived in this State, and he retains a vivid recollection of pioneer days in the western wilds of Illinois. He was naturally of a thought- ful, studious disposition, and made the best of his opportunities to secure a liberal education. His first knowledge of books apart from what he had learned at home was gained in the pioneer schools of early times that were taught in log houses, and provided with rude home made furniture. He lived with his parents until he was fourteen years old, and then went to Griggsville to attend school, and was also engaged there as clerk until the fall of 1843, when he went to Alton and entered Shurtleff College, where he puisned a fine course of study the ensuing four years, remaining there until 1847. In June of that year he commenced teaching at Upper Alton, and tanght until the spring of 1848. Like many another man he made that profession a stepping stone to the bar, entering the office of the Hon. John A. Chestnut when he left off teaching to prepare himself for his new voca- tion. He was admitted to the bar in 1850, and formed a partnership with his preceptor, continu- ing with him until the retirement of the latter three years later. After that he was in partnership with Thomas Jayne for a time, and subsequently was with Gen. Rinaker from 1858 until the General entered the army, since which time he has been alone.
Mr. Gilbert and Miss Frances McClure were united in marriage August 12, 1851. Mrs. Gilbert was a daughter of James and Frances McClure, and was born in Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Ky. She departed this life November 9, 1888, after a happy wedded life of thirty-seven years, leaving behind her a pleasant memory of one who filled in a perfect measure the sacred offices of wife, mother and friend. Our subject has three children, Edward A., Charles F. and William W. Edward is an attorney at York, Neb., and was a mem-
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ber of the State Legislature in 1888. Charles is an attorney in Kansas City, Mo. William is a resident of St. Louis.
Through years of constant devotion to his professional duties Mr. Gilbert has attained an honorable position among the legal luminaries of this State, and is known for his thorough knowl- edge of the law as applied to all cases that come under his practice. He has been called to re- sponsible legal offices, and has filled them with dignity and ability. In 1852 he was elected County Judge, and he subsequently served two terms as Master in Chancery. In 1874 he was elected a member of the State Legislature. His social relations are with Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Cass in 1848, and remained with the Democrats until 1864, when he gave his support to Lincoln for the presidency. In 1868 he used his influence for Gen. Grant, and in 1872 was a warm advocate for Greeley. After that he returned to his early love, and has ever since adhered to the Democratic party.
M ALCOLM M. ANDERSON, who is now living retired in the city of Carlinville, is one of the most extensive landholders in the county,and has taken a leading part in its agricultural development, His birth took place in Christian County, Ky., December 24, 1830, and he is a son of Col. James Anderson, a Virginian, who was a prominent pioneer of this section of the State in the early years of its settlement.
The paternal grandfather of our subject emi- grated to this country in Colonial times and resided for a while in Virginia before his removal to Ken- tucky, where he became a pioneer of Bourbon County. He entered a thousand acres of Govern- ment land there, but suffered reverses and lost all his property before his death, which occurred in that county.
Col. Anderson was quite young when his father took him from his Virginia birthplace to the pio- neer home in Kentucky. At the age of thirteen
he left the parental roof and after that time made his own way in the world, as he was perfectly able to do, for he was well endowed with physical and mental vigor. He learned the trade of a hatter but did not follow it long as his tastes led him to farming, and he settled on a farm in Christian County, Ky. He met with fair success in his new venture, but unfortunately, by endorsing notes for friends, he lost all his property, and in 1834 came to Illinois to seek a new location. Ile visited Macoupin County in the month of June and entered a tract of Government land on section 11, Carlinville Township, and then went back to Ken- tucky for his family. On the 12th of the follow- ing October, with his wife and their six children, he started for their new home, and journeyed hither with a pair of oxen, a wagon and two horses and a carriage, arriving at his destination in twelve days' time.
The Colonel rented a log house in which the family lived during the winter and in the mean- time he built a log house on his own land, riving boards for the roof and splitting puncheon for the floor. In the spring of 1835 lie and his family removed to their new home and he commenced to improve his land. He also became an extensive trader in live stock, driving cattle to St. Louis, and in 1846 and again in 1847 took a drove to Wisconsin, taking three hundred and fifty head each time. In 1851 an attack of cholera ended his useful career and this county lost one of its most useful citizens. His wife also died of cholera thirteen days after his death. Her maiden name was Ann Rice Harris and Virginia was her native State. She reared a family of seven children, named as follows: Crittenden Il. C., Maria C., Erasmus S., Augustus E., Malcolm M., Henry C. and Mary A.
Malcolm M. Anderson, of whom this biography is principally written, was in his fourth year when he came with his parents to this county, and he remembers well the incidents of pioneer life under which he was reared. His mother used to do her cooking by the fireplace and the children were clothed in cloth the product of her spinning wheel and loom. Our subject took every advantage to secure an education and early attended a pioneer
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school that was taught in a primitive log house with an earth and stick chimney, the furniture being rudely fashioned by hand, the seats made by splitting logs and inserting wooden pins for sup- port, and for a desk a plank was laid on wooden pins that were inserted in holes bored in the wall of the building. On one side of the house a log was sawed out and a row of glass put into the aperture and thus made to serve for windows. In those early days game was plentiful, and deer, wolves and other wild animals were often seen roaming over the prairies.
Mr. Anderson made his home with his parents until their death, then settled on a farm on the northeast quarter of section 12, Carlinville Town- ship, and commenced housekeeping in a log house. Two years later he sold that place and bought the south half of section II, locating there in 1854, and made that his home until 1880, when he bought the residence he now occupies on North Broad Street, Carlinville. Here he and his estimable wife live very pleasantly surrounded by all the comforts of life, and have the satisfaction of knowing that their prosperity is due to their united labors, directed by wise economy, foresight and sound judgment. Mr. Anderson has been more than ordinarily successful as a farmer and now has in his possession fifteen hundred acres of valnable land, one hundred and sixty of which is located in South Otter Township and the remainder in Carlinville Township.
The marriage of Mr. Anderson to Miss Malvina Ann Moore was celebrated February 11, 1851. Mıs. Anderson was born April 16, 1833, in Carlin- ville Township, and is a daughter of one of its first settlers, Thomas G. Moore. It is thought that he was a native of Simpson County, Ky., and in 1831 came to this county and entered Government land on section 24, Carlinville Township. He erected a log house to shelter his family and in that hum- ble dwelling Mrs. Anderson was born. Hle con- tinued to live on his homestead until death called him hence in 1844. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sylvia W. Sublet, was a native of Vir- ginia. She died at Shaw's Point Township a few years after he did.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been blessed with
five children, as follows: James T., who married Ann Goodpasture, resides in South Otter Town- ship; Laura A. is the wife of J. S. Thomason, of Montgomery County; Melissa is the wife of John A. Fullington, of Carlinville Township, and John B., also a resident of Carlinville Township, who married Mary Turvey, and Malcom M., a resident of Carlinville, who married Laura Rue.
ULIUS BEHME, JR. The gentleman who is the original of this sketch owns a good farm located on section 21, Nilwood Township He is of German parentage and birth and now is in the meridian of life, having been born April 2, 1840, in Brunswick, Germany. The early years of his life were spent in his native place where he received the drill in technical as well as mental education that is an indispensable adjunct in Ger- man school life. When fifteen years of age he em- igrated with his parents to America. His father was Julius Behme, and his mother Anna (Dorethe) Bebme. They were both natives of Germany and came thence to this country in 1855.
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