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 27
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The marriage of our subject occurred in the township we have just named, August 2, 1865. Ilis bride bore the maiden name of Elizabeth S. Me Pherson and she was a daughter of the late Alexander and Tryphena (Shelton) Mc Pherson. Mr. Me Pherson was born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., in September, 1804 and his wife was born near Knoxville, Tenn. February 4, 1808. They made their early married home in Muhlenberg County, Ky., and remained there through all their wedded life. He died August 29, 1858 and his bereaved widow survived him for ten years and then passed away September 11, 1868. They had five sons and three daughters, of whom Mrs. Harris was the sixth in order of age, being born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., November 20, 1841.
Eight children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harris, namely: Emma, Anna, Eunice, William S., Lucy, Thomas L., Thaddeus S. and Estella. Anna died when about eighteen months old, and William died by drowning at the age of eleven years. Mr. Harris has always been engaged in farming and stock-raising and owns two hundred and eighty aeres of fine land upon which he has erected an A No. 1 set of farm buildings. For a long term of years he has satisfactorily filled the office of School Director. His political views ally him with the Republican party, and he pays an intelligent atten- tion to political movements and public affairs, His
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wife who with him is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church is possessed of unusual abilities and her management of domestic affairs has aided greatly in his success. She is highly esteemed by her neighbors and is one of those women who help to make a country neighborhood what it ever should be, the scene of truly friendly intercourse and neighborly enjoyment.
C YRUS W. GRAY. It affords us pleasure to present in this volume a sketch of this gen- tleman, who is well known and respected and is at present serving his third term as a member of the County Board of Supervisors, representing Carlinville Township. Mr. Gray was born October 29, 1827, in Berlin, Rensselaer County, N. Y., a son of Stephen R. Gray, a native of the same town. The grandfather of our subject, the Hon. Daniel Gray, was. it is thought, born in New York. Ile was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ability, and was prominent in public affairs. Ile served as a member of the State Assembly and also in the Senate. Ile was a farmer by occupation and his last years were passed on his farm in Berlin Township.
Stephen R. Gray was reared to agricultural pur- suits, and made his home in his native county until 1836, when he came to Illinois to seek a location and purchased a farm in Pike County, a part of which is now included in the village of Barry. In the fall of that year he returned to Rensselaer County, and the following fall (1837) removed his family, consisting of his wife and four children, to their new home. They traveled with teams and were about six weeks onthe journey. At that time Barry was a hamlet of three or four log houses, and he was among its early settlers and was po- tent in promoting its growth. He and his family removed into the log cabin that stood on his place, and lie actively entered upon the development of his farm. He also soon gave his attention to the manufacture of lumber, and the sawmill that he
built was one of the first erected in that section of the country.
Mr. Gray was influential in the public life of his community, and was the first Postmaster of Barry. The place was originally called Worcester, but when the postoffice was established the name had to be changed and Mr. Gray, at the suggestion of others, proposed the name of Barry. Ile resided there until about 1851 and then, removing to Pitts- field, bought property in that city, and made his home there the remainder of his life, his death oc- curring in 1879. He was a man of firm character and well-balanced mind, and was endowed with good executive and business qualities. In his pol- ities he was a strong supporter of the Democratic party. In 1859 he was elected to the important office of Sheriff of Pike County, and discharged the duties of that position very satisfactorily. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sa- brina Bently, a native of Rensselaer County, N. H. Her death took place in 1884 at Pittsfield, at a ripe old age.
The subject of this biographical review was one of a family of nine children. Ile was in his tenth year when his parents came to Illinois and has quite a distinct recollection of his early home in his native State. During his early boyhood in Berlin Township, Troy was the nearest market, and it was twenty miles distant. He attended the first school ever taught in Barry. When quite young he commenced to assist in the duties of the farm, thus quite early gaining an excellent knowledge of agriculture. Ile made his home with his parents until his twenty-first year and then went to St. Lonis, where he was engaged as a clerk in a com- mission house between four and five years. After that he went into business for himself, doing a general commission business and dealing principally in grain and country produce. He continued in that until 1877, when he came to Carlinville and for a time engaged in milling. Ile subsequently began again to deal in grain and also in live stock, which business he is still carrying on with good financial success.
In 1851 Mr. Gray married Miss Sarah E. Long, who died in 1862, leaving one child-Mary L., now the wife of W. C. Bush. Our subject was married
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to hiis present wife, formerly Miss Catherine Whit- taker, in 1867. Mrs. Gray is a native of Pike County and a daughter of Abram S. Whittaker, a pioneer of that section of the State. Of this union there are four children-Paul W., Daisy, Helen and Frank M.
Our subject is a thoroughly upright, honest man, always dealing fairly and squarely by all, and his estimable character, as well as his capability, have given him an important place among the civic officials of his township which, as before mentioned, he is well representing as one of the Macoupin County Board of Supervisors. Politically, he is a Democrat and his party finds in him a faithful sup- porter. Religiously, both he and his estimable wife are devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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2 HIOMAS J. JONES, a self-made and enter- prising farmer whose home is situated on section 16, Brighton Township, is a native of Wales. Ile was born in Radnershire, September 11, 1840, and is a son of James Jones, who was also born in that county and there grew to map- hood, becoming a first-class farmer. Ile wedded Mary Jones, who, though of the same name, was no relation. However, she was born and reared in the same parish as her husband. Unto them were born eight children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom are yet living and are married. The three sons only came to this country and all are successful farmers of Brighton Township. The mother died at the age of fifty years in her native land, after which with his two sons, Thomas and John, the father emigrated to America in 1861, taking passage on a steamer "City of Washington," which dropped anchor in the harbor of New York on the 1st of August. They came direct to Brighton, Ill., where the sons have since lived and made good properties. The father afterward re- turned for a few years to England but once more came to this country and died at the home of our subject on the 7th of June, 1874, at the age of seventy-seven years. In the county of his na-
tivity he was widely and favorably known as one of the best and most successful farmers. In relig- ions belief, both he and his wife were Baptists.
Thomas J. Jones, whose name heads this notice, was reared to habits of thrift and industry such as would prepare him for a successful business career. He was yet a single man man when he crossed the Atlantic to America and some six years later he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Green, a native of the province of Nassau, Germany, born December 28, 1842. Iler parents, John W. and Maria (Kretzer) Green, were also born and reared in that locality and when they had attained to mature years were married. One child was born unto them in the fatherland-Mrs. Jones, wife of our subject, and they then came to America, cross- ing the Atlantic in the sailing vessel "Festaw," which sailed from Antwerp and after twenty-eight (lays reached New York City. Their first location was made in Ohio, but after two years they came to Illinois, settling in llardin County. Another two years passed by and they then removed to Madison County, where the succeeding twelve years of their lives were passed. At the expira- tion of that time they took up their residence in Bunker Hill Township, this county, where Mrs. Green died on the Ist of January, 1888, at the age of eiglity-seven years. Mr. Green is yet living on his old farm in Bunker Hill Township and for a man of his advanced age is wonderfully preserved. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, his wife having also adhered to that faith. In their family were three children of whom Mrs. Jones is the eld- est; Lewis, the son, is married and follows farming in Brighton Township; and Christina is keeping house for her father.
For some time before her marriage, Mrs. Jones earned her own living as a domestic. By their union have been born eight children, six of whom are yet living-William T., Anna M., Emma F., James A., Louis H. and Frank E. John and Ed- ward are now deceased. In politics, Mr. Jones is a stalwart supporter of the Democracy. Ile and his estimable wife, by their unassuming, yet up- right lives have won the confidence and regard of all with whom they have come in contact. The farm upon which they reside and where they have
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY
C. O. Matlack
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a pleasant home consists of two linndred and thirty - five acres of biglily improved land on sections 9, 10, 14 and 16, Brighton 'Township. We have he- fore spoken of Mr. Jones as a self-made man, a title which he well deserves for his possessions have all been acquired through his own efforts, being the result of his industry, enterprise, perseverance and good management.
C HARLES O. MATLACK, who resides in Shipman, was born near Haddonfield, Cam- den County, N. J., December 4, 1828. ITis father, William E. Matlack, had his nativity in the same place March 14, 1802, and was the son of Josiah Matlack of Welsh ancestry. This grand- father was a millwright by trade, and spent his en- tire life in New Jersey. He served as an officer in the War of 1812. The father of our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits and resided in his native State until 1857, when he came to the Prairie State in time to spend one week in the home of his affectionate son, our subject, before his de- parture to the spirit land.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Hope Osler. She also was born near Haddon -. field, N. J., and died in her native State in 1839, when Charles was a lad of eleven years. The fa- ther married a second time, being then united with Frances Ferry, who died in Martinsburg, Mo., while on a visit there about the year 1881. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and assisted his father in carrying on a farm, taking hold of agricultural pursuits as soon as he was large enough to be of help. Ile resided on the old homestead until 1855.
In the fall of that year Charles Matlack came to Illinois and spent the first winter near Brighton. The following spring he bought a tract of land in Shipman Township. There was a frame house then in process of construction and about eighty acres of the land was improved when he took it. Here- sided there until 1873 and during that time placed the land under cultivation, erected a barn and
completed the house, besides planting orchards which are now in full bearing condition.
In 1873 Mr. Matlaek placed his farm in the hands of a tenant and removed to Shipman where he has since that time lived a retired life. His marriage which took place in 1855 united him with R. A. Abbott, who was born in Salem County, N. J. Her father William and his father Joel, were natives of the same county and of English an- cestry. The American progenitor of this family is said to have come to this country at a very early date. The father of Mrs. Matlack was finely edu- cated and a teacher by profession, but in his more advanced years devoted himself to agriculture. He came to Illinois in 1855 and settling near Brighton spent his last years there. He died April 21, 1884, at the home of a daughter at Springfield, Mo .. where he was visiting.
The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Mat- lack was Abigail Steward. She was born in Salem County, N. J., of which her father, Nathan Steward, was also a native. Ile was the son of Joseph Steward, who was born in that State March 19, 1768. From him the family genealogy is traced back through Joseph Steward, the third, who was born May 13, 1746, and his father, Joseph Steward, the second, who was born September 12, 1702, to the original Joseph Steward, who with Aliec Wright, his wife, came from Scotland to America in the Colonial days and settled in New Jersey. Joseph the second married Bridget Middleton a daughter of John and Esther Middleton, and died March 12, 1780. Joseph the third married Ann Robbins, daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth Robbins, and died in 1813.
Nathan Steward, the grandfather of Mrs. Mat- lack, married Rachel Morgan, the daughter of Jon- athan and Bathsheba Morgan. He was a farmer and spent his entire life in New Jersey, dying April 9, 1811. The mother of Mrs. Matlack died in Salem County, N. J., July 16, 1847. The fa- thei married a second time, his wife being Sarah Hutchinson who passed away March 27, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Matlack are earnest and conscientious members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they have laborers in the Sunday-school for many years. He has also been Steward of the church for
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a long time. The Republican party embodies in its platform the political views to which he gives as- sent. He takes an interest in educational matters and was a member of the School Board, serving in that capacity with credit to himself and advantage to the district.
A lithographie portrait of Mr. Matlack appears in connection with this biographical sketch.
D RED DUGGER, of Scottsville Township, is not only one of the foremost of the enlight- ened and progressive farmers and stock- raisers of this county who have contributed so largely to its present important position as a highly developed, wealthy agricultural centre, but he is likewise a leader in its publie life, having held various responsible civic offices from time to time for several years past, and is at present a prominent member of the Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Dugger is a native of this State, born in Gallatin County, June 13, 1838. Ilis father, John Harrison Dugger, was born in Summer County, Tenn., March 14, 1814. His father, who bore the same name as our subject, was a pioneer of that State, and he was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. In 1829 he emigrated to Illinois, and was one of the early settlers of Gallatin County, where he entered land from the Government, which he developed into a farm, whereon he spent his re- maining days, which were long ir the land.
The father of our subject was a lad of fifteen years when he came to this State with his parents. The remainder of his youth was passed in Gallatin County, where in due time he married and establish- ed a home. He made a claim to a tract of Govern- ment land, and in the log-house that he built upon it his son of whom we write was born. It was a primitive structure, the roof covered with boards rived by hand and held in place by poles, no nails entering into the construction of the house, and the floor was made of split puncheon. In 1845 the father sold that place, and on Christmas Day started for Macoupin County with his wife and four children,
traveling with ox-teams, and bringing all his carth- ly possessions with him, driving his stock before him, and camping by the wayside at night, Two weeks were consumed by this slow mode of journey- ing, and after his arrival at his destination Mr. Dugger rented land in Scottsville Township, which he farmed two years prior to buying a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on Apple Creek, to which he later added forty acres entered from the Gov- ernment adjoining his original purchase. He lived there until 1856, and then sold that property and made another move, going to Missouri and taking up his residence in Adair County. In 1860 he re- turned to this county, and bought a part of some land that he had formerly owned. He has since sold that and now resides on section 6, of the same township (Scottsville), where he is very pleasantly situated. He has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, mother of our subject, was Minerva Pritchett. She was a native of William- son County, Tenn., and a daughter of William T. and Peggy Pritchett. She died in 1854. She was the mother of ten children. Mr. Dugger's second wife was Lucinda Sharp, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of llenry and Jane Sharp. Eleven chil- dren have been born of this marriage.
Dred Dugger was in his eighth year when the family came to this county. His education was obtained in the pioneer schools of the early years of the settlement of this region, that were taught in log-houses, which were heated by fires in rude open fire .places, and furnished with seats made by splitting logs that were bewn smooth on one side. Each building was lighted by the primitive method of removing a log the entire length of the room, and a row of glass being inserted in the aperture thus made.
As soon as be was large enough our subject com -. menced to assist in the labors of the farm, and thus early became thoroughly drilled in agricultural pur- suits. Ile resided with his parents until he com- menced life for himself on rented land in Morgan County. He lived there from 1856 to 1862, and then invested in sixty acres of land in Scottsville Township, at $4 an acre, to be paid on time. He built a hewn log-house, with an earth and stick chimney, and for a time a blanket served for
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a door. Later he made a door with wooden hinges and a wooden latch. Four years after he purchased that place he exchanged it for the farm that he now owns and occupies. Ile has four hun- dred and seventy-five acres of choice land, the greater part of which is tillage and pasture, and it ranks as one of the best farms in this part of the county, its harvest fields being under fine cultiva- tion, and its improvements of a high order, includ- ing a commodious and well-arranged set of frame buildings.
Mr. Dugger has been very happy in his domestic relations, as by his marriage December 3, 1857 with Miss Sirnea J. Hart, he secured a helpmate that has been all to him that a true wife can be to her husband. She was born at Ilartland, in the southern part of Morgan County, and is a daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth ( Rhodes ) Ilart, pioneers of that part of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Dugger have eleven children, named as follows, Elizabeth, Edgar A., Lillie M., Alice L., Clara L., Ilattie B., Ro- zella, James E., Magnolia, Luru E. and Ralph Emerson.
The life of our subject has always been guided by the highest principles of right and honor, and the power of honesty and unswerving integrity is shown by the implicit confidence in which he is held by all, and by the various positions of trust that his fellow-citizens, in just recognition of his great worth and bis capacity for affairs, have often called upon him to hold. lle has a strong, well- balanced mind, is a wise and safe counselor, and has a just appreciation of the best business methods, all of which make him a man of weight in the public life of township and county, and lie is one of our best-known civic officers. He keeps well informed on all topics of general interest, and es- pecially in regard to politics, using his influence in favor of the Democratic party. He has served three years as Assessor, three years as Highway Commissioner, a like number of years as Collector, and several years as a member of the District School Board.
Mr. Dugger was elected Supervisor from Scotts- ville Township in 1885, and has been re-elected each year since without opposition. As a member of that Board he has been on various committees, |
was at one time Chairman of the Board and of the Judiciary Committee, and is now Chairman of the Committee on Abatement and Assessment. He is identified with the U'nion Alliance, No. 74, is Presi- dent of the County Alliance, and was delegate from Macoupin County to the State Alliance at Spring- field and is now elected a Delegate to the State convention at Springfield. Both our subject and his wife are people of true religious convictions, and are members in high standing of the Baptist Church.
OHN WESLEY DUNCAN. This gentle- man is engaged in the lumber business in Palmyra and also handles lime, coal, hair, cement and grain. He devotes himself closely to his business and is doing well in that line in which he decided to embark a few years since. 1Ie is associated in business with his brother, Joseph B., and the lumber yard they now own was purchased by them in the fall of 1888. Mr. Duncan is quite a young man, having been born October 26, 1865, but he is showing the qualities of which the good business man is made, and carry- ing on his work according to the truest principles, remembering that even in matters of trade, honesty is a duty as well as good policy.
James Duncan, paternal grandfather of our sub- jeet, is thought to have been born in Virginia. For many years his home was in Washington Conn- ty, Tenn., and there his son James was born and reared. The latter began his lifework as a school- teacher, but having been reared to agricultural pursuits he abandoned the profession after he had taught several terms and took up farming. Hle had come to this county and his first term of school was at Simpson Hill in South Palmyra Township. Ile began his farm work near Girard, but after a time removed to the village and for two years was occupied in the grain trade. He then bought land in South Palmyra Township and resumed farming, giving it his entire attention un- til 1881, when he took up the lumber business, al- though he still occupied his farm. He died there in 1888. Ile left a widow and three children, John
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Wesley, Joseph B. and James T. The widow still occupies the homestead. She bore the maiden name of Abigail Proffitt. She was born in Wash- ington County, Tenn., and is a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Proffitt, pioneers of this county. Grand- father Duncan came bither after the death of his wife and spent his last days with his son James, dying about 1863.
The birthplace of our subject was the village of Girard, but he was reared on the farm. After tak- ing the course of study in the publie school he spent a year in Shurtleff College in Upper Alton. He made his home with his parents until his mar- riage, then located in the village of Nilwood, but still gave his attention to farming. lle lived there two years, then moved to Palmyra and entered upon the work he is now pursuing. He was mar- ried in 1888 to Miss Fannie B. Thacker, who was born in Nilwood Township and is a daughter of Zachary and Naney Thacker, a biographical sketch of whom appears on another page of this RECORD. Husband and wife belong to the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Duncan's mother is also a member and his father for many years was a Deacon. Our subject and wife have one daughter living, Bertie F. ; Trible, of Waverly, this State. Mr. Duncan votes the Republican ticket. He is connected with the Palmyra Building & Loan As- sociation and socially belongs to Palmyra Camp, No. 149, M. W. A.
8 AMUEL TRIBLE, M. D., became a resi- dent of this county in 1836, and from that time to the present, with the exception of a few earlier years, has been a potent fac- tor in its prosperity, particularly in agricultural affairs. He is now living at Piasa, to which place he removed from the homestead in 1885. Hc is the owner of the celebrated Mad Stone, which was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadel- phia and which has been tested many times and suc- cessfully demonstrated its curative properties. Dr. Trible guarantees to cure bites and wounds caused by mad dogs, and bydrophobia, and makes no charge if he does not succeed. He frequently goes
with the best physicians in the county to points where rabid animals have bitten people, and be is looked upon quite in the light of a publie bene- factor. Although he does not practice medieine he holds a diploma from the College of Philadelphia.
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