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 33
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people of rare merit, who led exemplary lives, and were devoted members of the Christian Church.
The subject of this biographical review was seven years old when he accompanied his parents in their migration to Missouri and was twelve years of age when they retraced their steps East- ward and settled in this county. From the time that he was six years old he attended school in the winter and worked on the farm at other seasons until he was eighteen years old, when he started ont in life for himself. He found employment on a farm, and being of a studious turn of mind he devoted his spare time to his books, and when twenty-one taught one term of school. He was ambitions to prepare himself for a professional life, and selecting the law as best suited to his tastes, he entered the law office of Robert M. MeWilliams at llillsboro. Under the instruction of that gentle- man he pursued his legal studies and in 1858 was admitted to the bar.
On September 1, 1861, Capt. Kerr threw aside his law business to take up the military profession, animated by the same patriotie spirit that had made his great-grandsire take up arms at the time of the Revolution and had caused his grandfather to become a soldier when war again broke out withi England. He enlisted as a private in Company E, Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry, but was mustered in as Second Lieutenant, He displayed such excel- lent qualities as an officer that he was subsequently promoted to the position of First Lieutenant, and in that capacity commanded his company for some time before he was commissioned its captain. He took an active part in many important battles, in- cluding Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Little Rock and Tupelo, Miss., and accompanied Gen. Banks on his Red River expedition. He also served under Gen. A. J. Smith in Missouri while he was fighting Price's army.
After the battle of Nashville Capt. Kerr was sent in charge of a detachment of soldiers to dis- lodge a party of bushwhackers that were stationed at the mouth of Sand Creek. He performed his difficult and dangerous task in an able and brilliant manner, and so as to win the commendations of his superiors for his coolness and skill in routing the enemy. That was the last battle in which he
fought, and he was honorably discharged in Padu- čah, Ky., in 1865.
In the fall of the year after his retirement from the army Capt. Kerr went to Savannah, Tenn., to practice law. In 1866 Parson Brownlow, then Governor of that State, appointed him Attorney- General for the Twelfth Tennessee Circuit, and he served with distinction in that responsible office for eighteen months during the trying period of reconstruction. He then resigned and returned to Illinois, and for a year resided in Carlinville. At the expiration of that time he adopted the calling of a farmer, and carried on operations in Bird Township for some years. In 1881 be sold his property there and bought his present farm on section 4, Honey Point Township. This is a fine, bighly productive prairie farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, and since it came into his posses- sion he has greatly increased its value by the many excellent improvements that he has made, includ- ing the substantial set of farm buildings which he has erected.
Capt. Kerr was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Purviance October 4, 1866. To them have been born eight children: Henry W. Jr., M. Cornie, Annie E., Jennie M., N. Blanche, Speed, John F. and James W. P. Mrs. Kerr is a native of this county, Polk Township her birthplace, and she is descended from the old pioneer stock of this State. Her father, Robert W. Purviance, was born in Madison County, III., December 22, 1813. Her grandfather, William Purviance, was a native of North Carolina. At an early date he removed from there to this part of the country then known as the Northwestern Territory, and located In what is now Troy Township, Madison County. Mrs. Kerr's father spent his early life in his native county, remaining there until 1838, when he started with his bride for Macoupin County, traveling thither with a team, and bringing all their house- hold goods with them. A few months prior to that he had entered a tract of land from the Govern- ment in Polk Township. He built a log cabin and and in that humble dwelling he and his young wife commenced housekeeping. He improved a good farm, and replaced his first home by a good frame house and erected other buildings. Ile resided
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there for many years, but spent the last part of his life at Carlinville, where both he and his wife died. Her maiden name was Morinda Gaskill, and she was also born in Madison County.
Capt. Kerr has always been a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and since the war has voted with that party. His services as a soldier are commemorated by his connection with the Dan Messick Post, G. A. R. Socially, he is a member of Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M. He is engaged in stock-raising, in which he has met with success. Of his herd of fifteen registered cattle, six are imported. This brief record of the life of Mr. Kerr shows that he has ever been an honorable man and a loyal citizen, and no higher eulogy can be pronounced on anyone.
M RS. SARAH J. (ARMSTRONG) HALL, widow of Edson Chase Hall, a former well- known business man of this county, is a lady greatly respected in Chesterfield, where she is pleasantly situated in a home that is replete with coziness and true comfort. She was born near Athensville, Greene County, and is a daughter of one of the pioneers of that section of Illinois, Jobn Armstrong. Her father was a na- tive of Northumberland, Scotland, and was a son of William and Jane Armstrong, who were also of Scottish birth and spent their entire lives in their native land.
John Armstrong left his old home when he was a lad of fourteen years to accompany an English family to the United States. They came directly to Illinois, and were among the first to locate in Greene County. Indians were then more numerous than whites, and the country was mostly in its primitive condition, the greater part of the land being owned by the Government and for sale at prices ranging from twelve and one-half cents to $1.25 an acre. When Mr. Armstrong attained manhood he entered a traet of land near Athens- ville, and erected two log cabins, one for a dwell- ing and the other for a store, as in addition to farming he intended to engage in mercantile pur-
suits, keeping a general stock of merchandise, including groceries, dry goods, boots, shoes, etc. There were no railroads there then, and he had to team all his produce to Alton, where be purchased his goods, the trip occupying three days. Ile re- sided at Athensville until his death, which occurred in 1859. That town was then deprived of a good citizen who had interested himself in its welfare and had been active in promoting its commerce, as well as in developing the agricultural resources of that county.
The maiden name of Mrs. Ilall's mother was Elizabeth Gelder, and she was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Gelder. For an account of her par- ents see sketch of Jolin Gelder that appears else- where in this book. After the death of her husband Mrs. Armstrong came to Chesterfield and passed her remaining days here, dying February 20, 1878, at a venerable age. She was the mother of these six children: Thomas H., Mary A., Sarah J., John W., Charles and Elizabeth.
Mrs. Hall was carefully reared and was well trained in all that goes to make a good housewife. She remained with ber mother until her marriage, November 20, 1872, to Edson Chase Ifall. Her wedded life with Mr. Hall was hallowed by the birth of three children: Grace, Horace Chase and May.
Edson C. Hall was a native of Wisconsin, born February 2, 1837. Ile was a son of Dr. Jeremiah HIall, who was born in New Hampshire. He was educated as a physician in Boston, and going to Wisconsin in Territorial days he was one of the pioneers of his calling in that section of the coun- try. After a time he removed to Iowa, and was one of the early settlers of Danville, Des Moines County, where he practiced medicine until his death, becoming one of the leading men of his pro- fession in that part of the State. The wife of Dr. Hall was Harriet Conning, who was born in New York and died at Danville, Iowa.
Mr. Hall, the husband of our subject, was reared and educated in Danville. At the age of nineteen he entered upon his mercantile career as a clerk in a store in that place, and continued thus engaged until the Civil War broke out. He was then in the prime and vigor of early manhood with the promise
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of a successful life before him, but he laid aside personal consideration to enlist in defense of the Union, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Iowa Infantry. He took part in every battle in which his regiment engaged, re- maining with it until the end and winning an lion- orable record as a patriotic and efficient soldier, and after peace was declared he was discharged with his comrades.
Returning northward after leaving the army Mr. Hall sought and obtained a position as clerk at Alton, Ill. He subsequently established himself in business at Chesterfield, and was thus prosperously engaged up to the time of his death, which occur- red June 3, 1884. Chesterfield then lost a valuable citizen who had materially promoted its commerce as one of its leading merchants. The Congrega- tional Church was deprived of the help and liberal support of one of its most esteemed members. He was missed not only by his family, but by the friends and acquaintances that he had gathered around him during his residence bere, as he was a man whose sterling integrity of character and geniality won him regard. Mrs. Hall shared the consideration in which her husband was held, and she stands high in the social eireles of this town. She is of the Episcopal faith, and is a member of the church of that denomination.
R OBERT S. COWAN, M. D., has been prac- tieing medicine at Girard for more than twenty years,and his high professional stand- Ding among the physicians of this county is indicative of the success that he has attained in his career. Ile is a native of Sullivan County, Tenn., born March 9, 1833, a son of George R. Cowan. a native of East Tennessee and a grandson of Robert Cowan, who was born in the North of Ireland, being a de- scendant of Scotch ancestry. He came to America before the Revolution in the prime of young man- hood and when the war broke out between the Col- onists and the Mother Country he entered the Con- tinental army, and did brave service in the cause of liberty. He fought under Gen, Washington,
and was with the army when it crossed the Dela- ware. When peace was declared he resided in Vir- ginia for a time, and then removed to Tennessee, of which he was a pioneer, and there his life was brought to a close at a ripe age. The maiden name of his wife, great-grandmother of subject, was Nancy Rutledge. She is thought to have been born in South Carolina, and she died in Tennessee. She was the mother of five sons,-James, Andrew, William, George and John. The three elder sons served under Jackson at the battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.
The father of our subject was reared and mar- ried in Tennessee, Mary May becoming his wife. She was a native of that State, and a daughter of Dr. Samuel and Catherine (Shelby> May. Her father was a native of England, and a surgeon by profession. Mr. Cowan early learned the trade of a tanner, and engaged in the business at Paper- ville, Sullivan County. He also had an interest in a paper mill and other manufacturing industries. He was a man of marked energy of character, of many resources, and very capable. In 1838 he resolved to try his fortunes in the State of Mis- souri, that was still in the hands of the pioneers, his bold, resolute spirit, hardy nature and powers of endurance fitting him to cope with the many difficulties to be encountered in settling in a new country. With his wife and six children he em- barked on a flat-boat and floated down the Holston River to the Ohio, where he boarded a steamer that bore him and his family down the waters of the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Missouri riv- ers to Boonville, Mo. He located in Polk County, and entered large tracts of Government land in different counties, which he subsequently improved with slave labor. He resided for some years in that part of Polk County now included in Cedar County, and then sold his property there and re- moved to St. Clair County, where he had previ- ously entered land. He erected suitable buildings and improved a large farm, which he made his home until 1854. In that year he went to Bolivar, the county-seat of Polk County to reside, and soon after he was appointed Judge of Probate, and held that office with distinction until the breaking out of the war. Ile then retired to private life, and
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passed his remaining days in the home of a daugli- ter at Sarcoxie, Jasper County, Mo., dying Janu- ary 1, 1874. He had been bereaved of his wife many years before, she dying in St. Clair County, Mo., in 1852. She was the mother of six children, of whom these are the names,-Catherine, George, Nancy, Robert S., Mary and Salina. Our subject was but a child when his parents migrated to Mis- souri, and he was reared under pioneer influences. There were no free schools in Missouri in his younger days, and he gained the preliminaries of his education in the school house that his father erected on bis land, under the instruction of a teacher that his father employed. Later he became a student at Ebenezer College, ten miles north of Springfield, Mo., and there he laid a solid founda- tion for his medical studies, which he commenced at the age of twenty-three, under the tuition of Dr. Samuel B. Bowles, of Greenfield. He afterward further prepared himself for his profession by at- tending lectures at the Missouri Medical College, and he began upon his career as a physician in Dade County.
From that county the Doctor went in a short time to Newton County, where there seemed to be a wider field of usefulness, and he was engaged in active practice there when the war broke out. Having been reared in a slave state his sympathies naturally went out to the Southern cause and he offered his services to the Confederate States in 1861, many of his life-long friends enlisting at the same time, and he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Third Missouri Cavalry. He was soon promo- ted to be Surgeon of his regiment, and did valuable service in that capacity in Price's army for three years, gaining an experience in those trying times that added to his professional knowledge and in- ereased his reputation for skill and ability. At the expiration of that time be resigned his position and went to Mexico, where he spent six months. After that be staid in New Orleans until the spring of 1865, when he came to this county and opened an office at Nilwood. In 1869 he came from there to Girard, and has been in contin- nous practice here since. The Doctor's success may be partly attributable to his frank, generous nature, and his courteous and thoughtful treatment
of all with whom he comes in contact, his manner gaining him popularity and friendship on all sides. He is a member of the Macoupin County Society for Medical Improvement, and also of the State Medical Society.
Dr. Cowan was happily married in 1854 to Eliz- abeth Weir, a native of Cooper County, Mo., and a daughter of the Rev. Samuel and Mary B. (Stephens) Weir. Our subject and his wife have five children living, namely: George R., a gradu- ate of the St. Louis Medical College, and now his father's assistant; Mary, wife of Ed E. Mc- Coy, of Springfield, Ill .; Florence; Dollie and Elizabeth G.
E DWARD B. MEATYARD. The late Mr. Meatyard is well remembered by many citi- zens of this county, as he was born at Piasa and there spent the years until after he had grown to manhood. Ilis natal day was February 13, 1839, and his parents were Robert and Betsey (Brown) Meatyard, who were natives of England. In his early boyhood Edward displayed the bent of his genius and he was educated as a civil engineer, making a thorough study of mechanics. At the death of his mother be inherited a large sum of money, and he was thus enabled to do more in the way of investigation and invention than is the case with some who possess an inventive genins.
December 24, 1873, Mr. Meatyard was united in marriage withi Miss Anna E. Boswell, daughter of John G. and Ann (Nightingale) Boswell, who live in Shipman Township. The bride was born in London, England, but was brought to the United States by her parents when an infant, and is lo all intents and purposes a thorough American. She possesses an estimable character, a well-informed mind, and much capability for affairs, so that since she was left a widow she has been able to look after her monied interests very satisfactorily. Her home is brightened by the presence of four children. named respectively : Maynard M .. James E., Bessie N., and Mina E.
About four months after his marriage Mr. Meat- yard removed to Walworth County, Wis., and
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found a pleasant home on the shores of Lake Gen- eva. He then gave his attention to inventions and seenred patents on about twenty, the most import- ant of which were a car wheel and a press used in making the same, and a steam hammer. For his patent-right on the last named he was offered $75,- 000, but as he considered it the foundation of his work he refused the offer. He accomplished a vast amount of work, and had the foundation laid for a large fortune, but his career was cut short by death, May 13, 1889, when he was but little more than fifty years old. On being taken sick he sold out his property at Lake Geneva and spent some time in a hospital at Chicago, then came to Ship- man where he died three weeks later.
Mr. Meatyard was the author of many valuable papers on works in which he was interested, and published a volume on the "Transportation Prob- lem." This is a working-man's manual, treating of eurves, grades, locations, permanent way, heavy rails, rail joints, bridges, uniform distribution of moving load on tracks and bridges, light strong cars, steel-cushioned wheels, train brakes, self-lubri- eation, radial axles, traction resistance, and many crude ideas to be worked out with bard and tough steel. Hle enlisted on the I'nion side at the break- ing out of the war as a private, but by bravery and true worth he was promoted snecessively through the various offices, and at the close of the war came out with the shoulder straps and rank of a Major of Engineering and Artillery.
ILLIAM N. CULP is a native-born citi- zen of this county who is classed among its foremost farmers and stock-raisers. His extensive and well equipped farm in Honey Point Township, shows every evidence of careful cultiva- tion and superior management, and its fertile har- vest fields and rich pastures yield a liberal income. Mr. Culp was born October 1, 1839, at Rivesville, Ill. His father, the Rev. Samuel B. Culp, was a native of Nicholas County, Ky., born February 1, 1813, a son of one Thomas Culp, who was also of Kentucky birth, and was a descendant of the old
pioneer stock of that State. He was a tanner by trade. In 1815 he migrated to the territory of Missouri, and was one of the first settlers of Ripley County. He became a prominent figure in its public life, and represented it in the State Legisla- ture. In 1811 he removed to Arkansas, and locat- ing in Izard County on a traet of timber land, he erected a saw-mill and manufactured lumber in connection with farming. llis death occurred there in 1848. The grandmother of our subject married a second time, becoming the wife of Thomas Kennedy, and died at the home of the father of our subject in September, 1844. Her maiden name was Mary Gahegan, and she was a native of Nicholas County, Ky. Her father was John Gahegan, and he was born in Maryland. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and it is thought that he served throughout the entire conflict. He took part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Ilill. After the Revolution he removed to Kentucky, and was one of the first settlers of what is now Fayette County.
The father of our subject did not go to Missouri with his father, but remained in Kentucky with his mother. He lived in his native county until he was fourteen years old, and then went to Bourbon County, and lived at Millersburg two years. From there he went to Paris, where he finished an ap- prenticeship of seven years, begun at Millersburg, to learn the trade of a tailor. When he was twenty- one he went to Cynthiana, and carried on his call- ing there a few months. Ilis next move was in the spring of 1834, when he came to Illinois, trav- eliag by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi Riv- ers to Bushnel's Ferry, now Columbiana, landing there the Ist of March, and walking from there to the vicinity of Greenfield, where he visited an okl neighbor. At that time there were but three buildings on the present site of that town, and those were of logs, the only store in the village being kept in one of them. Mr. Culp rented the back part of that building for a time and plied his trade. Ile remained there two years, and we next hear of him at Rivesville, this county, where he opened a shop and carried on business as a tailor.
In 1839 the father of our subject turned his at- tention to farming for two years, engaging at his
1
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trade a part of the time. In 1845 he came to Scottsville and established himself at his tailor bus- iness, which he conducted four years. At the ex- piration of that time he bought forty acres of land in Bird Township, at $2 an aere, going in debt for it. After he had paid for the land he bought other reality, until finally he had two hundred and ten acres of rich farming land. He resided on it bus- ily engaged in its improvement, until 1881, when he disposed of it at a good price, and bought in Cold Spring, Shelby County, where he is still liv- ing. He married April 28, 1838, Gahilla Finley, and for more than half a century they shared life's joys and sorrows until they were called upon to part by her death April 12, 1890.
Her father, William Finley, was born and reared in South Carolina. He went from there to Geor- gia, thenee to Kentucky, whence he came to Illinois in 1816, in the territorial days of this State, and lo- cated at Wood River Fort, now in Madison County. At that time there was not a white settler within the present bounds of Macoupin County, and In- dians occupied the greater part of the territory now included in the State of Illinois. A few years later the grandfather of our subject settled on the edge of Greene County, and afterward entered a tract of land from the Government a mile and a quarter from Greenfield, where he improved a farm. He finally sold that, and passed the rest of his days with his children, dying in the fall of 1845, November 12. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Stanford, and she was also of South Carolina birth. She died in 1839.
William N. Culp was reared under pioneer influ- ences in . this county, and was educated in its schools. From his youth up he has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and from the very start showed a special aptitude for his chosen call- ing, displaying a keen appreciation of the best mod- ern methods of farming in the management of his farming interests, and he has so profited by ex- perience and observation that he is to-day one of the most prosperous men of his calling in Honey Point Township. He took possession of his present farm in 1864, and now owns upward of five hun- dred acres of land. He enjoys to the full the re- speet accorded to an honorable, upright man, whose
habits are exemplary, and whose dealings are strictly just and fair, it being the universal testi- mony of his many friends and acquaintances in this county where his life has been passed, that his character is thus rightly summed up in the forego- ing words. In him and his amiable wife the Bap- tist Church bas two of its most carnest members, who are zealons in helping forward every good work in the community.
Mrs. Culp bore the maiden name of Rachel E. Frazier. She is a native of South Palmyra Town - ship, and a daughter of William C. and Melinda Frazier, pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Culp have seven children-Flora, Carrie, Samuel, Frank, Mabel, Cladius and Mattie.
C HARLES F. BAUER. It is a question whether there is any people on earth who have the varied experiences afforded by travel, of the Americans. The West has been con- stantly beckoning with alluring hand to golden fields that promise opulence to the enthusiastic seeker. After the mighty Father of Waters had been erossed by eager seekers for the golden treas- ures of the earth, Pike's Peak flashed fascinating gleains of opalescent light in the eager eyes of the Western traveler. Then California, like the sirens of the sea, induced weary travelers to leave their homes and come overland to partake of the intoxi- cating delights of unparalleled climate and hopes of riches, The life of Charles F. Bauer is one of the many, varied and made interesting by his trav- els and experience in the West, The subject of this sketch had come to the State of Illinois in 1852, where he made his home in Dorchester Town- ship to the end of his life, excepting four years that he spent in California in the mining regions, Ile died at his home on seetion 17, Dorchester Township, November 16, 1889.
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