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 36
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The marriage of John Gelder and Clara Tolman. daughter of James Tolman of Macoupin County, took place September 11, 1866. The mother of Mrs. Gelder bore the maiden name of Nancy B. Lor- ton. After marriage the young couple moved to the farm which they now occupy, which is a fine traet of one hundred and forty acres. Five chil- dren have blessed their union, namely, Tolman T., Charles C., Stella J., Edgar E. and Edith. Tolman is a graduate of Virden High School, and further carried on his education at the Illinois State Uni- versity at Champaign. After this, he entered the Law Department of the State University at Ann Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one years at Lansing, Mich. He is now associated with ex-Gov. Hamilton of Chicago. Charles C. is a clerk in the wholesale house of Wil- son Bros., of Chicago, in the line of gentlemen's furnishing goods. The three younger children are still carrying on their education. They, with their
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parents, spent several months in Europe in 1890. They visited Antwerp, Brussels, Cologne, Weisha (len, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Heidelburg, Straus burg, Paris; and in England, Brighton, London, York, Liverpool; and crossing into Scotland, the cities of Glasgow and Edinburg. Mr. Gelder is a Republican in politics and always takes an interest in public affairs. He has served for twelve years as School Trustee, and for two terms as a member of the County Board of Supervisors. His lands in Sangamon, Montgomery and Christian Counties, he bought unimproved, and they now form fine and valuable farms. Those in Christian are situated near Ilarvel, on the Wabash railway. His home has recently been re-built and is now in the best modern style of architecture and adornment.
ILLIAM G. BARTELS, President of the Carlinville Coal and Mining Company, is a native of Carlinville and has from his early manhood been engaged in business here. He was born March 20, 1858, and received his early education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen he entered Blackburn University at Carlin- ville, where he carried on an advanced course of study. After leaving school he worked at the carpenter's trade with his father until 1874, then assumed supervision of the work at the South Car- linville coal shaft, of which his father was propri- etor. Since 1883 he has had full charge of the business.
As the patronymic indicates, the paternal ances- tors of our subject eame from Germany. His father and grandfather each bore the name of Henry and were born in Brunswick. The grand- father served in the army of the Empire eight years and with that exception devoted his mature life to the carpenter's trade. The father of our sub- jeet was the only member of the family who came to America. Ile attended school steadily until he was fourteen years old and then began to learn the trade with his father. In 1854 he decided to seek a home in the New World and in October set sail from Bremen, landing at New Orleans six weeks
later. Ile eame up to St. Louis, spent a month there, and then came to Carlinville and began work at his trade.
Mr. Bartels had left his family in Germany in- tending if he did not like America to return to that country. But being pleased with the pros- pects here he seut for them and was joined by his wife and four children about a twelvemonth after his own arrival. He bought a residence and has continued to live in Carlinville. He followed his trade some time and during those years bought thirty acres of land in the city limits and in 1870 opened a coal mine, which he personally superin- tended some years. For a few years past he has been living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. He is advanced in years, having been born April 18, 1816. The lady who became his wife in 1847 was born February 7, 1820, in the same locality as he, and bore the maiden name of Minnie Larke.
William G. Bartels and Emma Singelman were united in marriage September 13, 1883. The bride's parents, Henry and Louisa Singelman, are natives of Germany, and were early settlers in Carlinville. Mrs. Bartels was born here, received a good educa- tion and careful attention from her parents. To her and her husband three children have come, who are named respectively: Eda, Leonora and Leila. Mr. Bartels has served as Collector of Car- linsville Township and represented the Second Ward in the City Council two years. Politically. he is a Republican. The family, including his par- ents, belong to the Evangelical Church. They are classed among the best citizens and have many friends.
ILLIAM M. JONES, who represents one of the oldest families in Illinois and now of Honey Point Township, was born in Mad- ison County, February 6, 1818, at which time Ill- inois was but a territory. His father, Martin Jones, was a Virginian by birth, the son of the Rev. Wil- liam Jones, who, it is thought, was born in Giles County, Virginia. The father of the latter, great-
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grandfather of our subject, John Jones, was of Eng- lish ancestry, and coming from Ireland to America in Colonial times, he settled in Virginia, where he passed the remainder of his life. The maiden. name of his wife was Lovina Pruitt.
William Jones, his son, was reared in the Old Dominion, where he married and went thence to Tennessee, and from there came to the Nortli- west Territory, locating in what is now Illinois. For a short time he resided in that part of the Ter- ritory now known as Bond County, and thence went to Madison County and settled on land now included in Wood River Township, where he erected a fort known as Jones' Fort. In that carly day Indians were vastly more numerous than whites and had full sway, ofttimes being hostile to the settlers. For a few years he resided at the fort and then built a dwelling which continued to be his home until his death.
The father of our subject was about twelve years okl when his parents brought him to Illinois. During the time of the trouble with the Indians he joined the Rangers and he was also an active par- ticipant in the Black Hawk War. Upon settling down he procured a traet of land near the old home and lived upon it until death closed his earthly ea- reer. His wife, who bore the maiden naine of Mar- garet Wright, was also born in Virginia, and was the daughter of Toliver Wright, who was, so far as known, a native of the same State. IJe located in what is now Wood River Township in 1806, being one of its first settlers. In 1814, on the 10th of July, Mrs. Reagan, accompanied by six children, visited his home. Just before night she started for her home and the mother of our subject set ont with her. As Mrs. Jones afterward expressed it, Divine Providence seemed to have interposed in her behalf, for all at once she was prompted to re- turn home. In less than five minutes she heard gun shots, which told only too plainly of the mas saere of Mrs. Reagan and her children, not one of whom was left to tell the terrible tale of that cruel slaughter. Mrs. Jones had escaped miraculously from one of the most brutal massacres in the his- tory of the Northwestern Territory. Her mar- riage to Mr. Jones was contracted in 1814 and of their union there were nine children. She was a
devoted member of the I'nited Baptist Church, in which faith she reared her family. Mrs. Jones died August 11, 1861, at the ripe age of eighty- three years.
The early life of our subject was passed in his native county. In his youthful days the schools were tanght on the subscription plan, each family paying for tuition according to the number of chil- dren sent. The people lived principally from the products of the farm and by bunting and fishing. There was no searcity of game, deer, wild turkeys, bears and wolves abounding and having free range of the country. St. Louis was then a small place, in fact, at the time of our subjeet's birth was but a trading post. In common with the other women of that day, Mrs. . Iones used to card, spin and weave all the cloth used by the family. Mr. Jones continued to live in Madison County the greater part of the time until 1866, when he came to this county and bought his present desirable farm in Honey Point Township, where he has ever since lived in comfort and prosperity. He has one hundred and three acres.
Mr. Jones was first married in Bond County, to Elizabeth P. Jones, a native of that county. She (lied in Honey Point Township. July 28, 1882, leaving two children, Emanuel and Melinda A. Emanuel is the father of two children, Mary A. and Robert L. Melinda is the wife of G. B. Ash- ton and has four children: Janetta, Magnolia, Car- rie A. and Lena Belle.
Mr. Jones' second marriage took place in May, 1885, at which time he was wedded to Mrs. Julia Pauline (Powers) Karnes. She was born in Greene County, Tenn., October I, 1839, a daughter of Benjamin and Cynthiana (Gower) Powers. She was reared in her native county and when eighteen years old accompanied her parents to their new home in this county. She was married in 1860 to William Karnes. He was a native of this county, born May 30, 1832, son of Peter and Sarah A. (Proe- tor) Karnes, who were natives of Kentucky. From that State they went to Indiana and thenee coming to Illinois, were pioneers of Macoupin County. They settled in Cahokia Township, where the father took up Government land, improved a farm and made his home as long as he lived. His son
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William was brought up on that farm. Ile learned the trade of a house-painter, which he followed in this county until 1878, when he went to South- western Missouri, where he remained four years. Returning to this county at the expiration of that time, he soon after died at his father's home. By her first marriage Mrs. Jones has two children liv. ing, Oscar A. and Thomas Frederick.
In Mr. Jones Honey Point Township finds a worthy citizen, who lives an upright life and is ac- corded full respect by all who know him. He is an earnest worker in the United Baptist Church, of which he has been a member forty years, and ev- ery project tending to uplift the people and ad- vance the cause of Christianity has in him a liberal supporter.
ANIEL E. WITT, a well-known citizen residing upon section 28, Polk Township, is the son of the late James S. Witt who was born in Tennessee, Mrs. James S. Witt bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wagner, who is a native of Madison County, Ill. They first settled in Ililyard Township, and afterward removed to Polk Township, where they ended their days, Mrs. Witt dying in 1877 and her hus- hand in July, 1888. They had two children, Dan - iel E. and James T.
The subject of this sketch was born in Polk Township, this county, July 12, 1857. Here he grew to manhood and received thorough training in farm duties and the benefit of a common-school education. His native township has been his resi- dence through life and he has followed farming as a vocation and now owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land.
Mr. Witt was married at Carlinville, Ill., Octo- her 11, 1877, to Miss Martha E. Stewart, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Barnes) Stewart. The father was born in Tennessee and the mother is a native of the Prairie State. She died in Honey Point Township in April, 1884. Mrs. Witt who was the fourth in a family of seven children, was born in Morgan County, Ill .. November 20, 1858.
Three children have come to bless the home of our subject, James R., William E. and Grover C. The name of the youngest son of this family tells the story of the father's political preferences, as can easily be seen his convictions have led him into the Democratic party with which he votes and works. His fellow-citizens have placed him in the position of Supervisor of Polk Township, in which oflice he began to serve in the spring of 1890,
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AMES TUCKER, who is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising on section 16, Brighton Township, is a native of Eng- land, born in Somersetshire, on the 15th of March, 1846, and the only son of James and Betsy (Browning) Theker, who were also natives of Somersetshire, and came of pure English stock, their ancestors having for generations resided in that locality. In the county of their nativity they were reared and James Tucker became a mason, following that occupation until bis death. He died when a young man only a few months after his marriage and before the birth of their only child, our subject. Ilis widow was afterward again mar- ried in her native county to William Eddington who was also born and grew to manhood in Somer- setshire. Soon after their nuptials were celebrated and when our subject was only a year old, Mr. and Mrs. Eddington crossed the Atlantic to the United States and came on at once to Macoupin County, Ill., locating in Brighton Township, where the death of Mr. Eddington occurred when in the prime of life. Mrs. Eddington was a third time married to a brother of her second husband, Samuel Edding- ton, who after some years also passed away. She survived him until she had attained the age of fifty-eight years. By her second marriage she had three children and unto the last union were born five children. The mother and her family were all Methodists and she was a lady of many excel- lencies of character.
James Tucker, whose name heads this sketch, has practically spent his entire life in this county where his education was acquired in the public
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schools which he attended during the winter months, working upon the farm during the remain- der of the year. After he had attained to years of maturity he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Lee, who was born in this county in 1857, and here passed the days of her girlhood, while she too was educated in the common schools. She is the. second daughter and third child of Joseph Lee, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tucker has been given an inter- esting family, numbering six children, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Allen E., James, Betsy, Mary, Emma and Joseph F. The family circle still remains unbroken and all are yet under the parental roof.
The farm upon which Mr. Tucker now resides has been his home for two years. It comprises one hundred and fifty-nine acres of valuable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. It is well supplied with good build- ings for the care and shelter of his stock. The fields are well tilled and the place presents a neat appearance which indicates the thrift and enterprise of the owner. The stock which he raises is all of good grades, no inferior animals being seen upon the farin and he may well be numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community. In poli- tics he is a stalwart Republican and is a stanch ad- vocate of the principles which he has long support- ed and upheld by his ballot. Mr. Tucker and his wife attend the Episcopal Church.
OHN B. MASTERS is a descendant of some of the earliest pioneer families of Illinois, and is one of the native-born citizens of this State who las materially assisted in its agri cultural development. For many years he was actively identified with the farmers of this county, "owning and managing very profitably a large and well-improved farm. January 8, 1825, is the date of the birth of our subject in the pioneer home of his parents, fifteen miles northeast of the city of Jacksonville, in Morgan County. Ilis father was William I. Masters, a native of South Carolina
whose father is thought to have been born in Wales or to have been a native of this country, but of Welsh parentage. Ile spent his last years in the Palmetto State, after having served faithfully as a soldier during the Revolution.
William I. Masters grew to manhood in his na- tive State, and when about twenty-five years of age emigrated to Illinois in 1817 in the Territorial days of the State, accompanying a neighboring fam- ily hither, the removal being made with a team. Hle first settled for a time in Sangamon County, but after marriage took up his abode on a forty- acre tract of Government land in Morgan County. Someone unknown to him entered the land, and being thus deprived of his claim in 1827 he lo- cated on Government land that lay on both sides of the line between Morgan and Macoupin Counties. That part of his homestead in this county was situ- ated in what is now North Palmyra Township and he was one of the pioneer settlers of this section, building a log house on the Morgan County side of the line. Not a nail entered into the construc- tion of that dwelling, and he rived the shingles by hand for the roof, hewed puncheon for a floor, split boards for the door, which was provided with wooden hinges, and the chimney was made with sticks and mud. At that time the people were home-livers, subsisting on the products of their farms. The father of our subject raised sheep and also planted flax and hemp, and the mother used to card, spin and weave the wool and the fibre of the flax and hemp to make cloth for garments for her children. There were no railways in this part of the country for years, and for some time the father of our subject used to market his grain at St. Louis with ox-teams. His busy life was terminated by his death on his homestead in 1840.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Nancy Jones, and she was a native of Kentucky. Her father, Clayborn Jones, was also a native of that State and was of Welsh descent. In the year 1800 he emigrated from his old home to the wilds of that part of the Northwestern Territory now embraced in Illinois, and was one of the first perm- anent settlers of the commonwealth. Ile secured a tract of timber land fifteen miles west of Spring- field and resided upon it until his demise in 1840,
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his wife also dying there. The mother of our sub- jeet died on the home farm on the county line, 1838.
The parents of our subject reared four children, named as follows: Betsy, John B., Melissa and Phebe Ann. They were young when their parents (lied, and as John was the only son the care of his sisters devolved upon him and nobly did he shoulder his burden, supporting himself and them hy working out by the month. In the fall of 1845 he went to Southwestern Missouri and renting laud put in a crop in the spring of 1846. He soon sold his crop and returning to Illinois worked for a time near Carlinville. We next hear of him at Shaw's Point Township, where he was employed by the month for two years, and during that time saved money enough to buy a team. After that he was enabled to enter eighty acres of land on section 2, Honey Point Township. He built a small frame house thereon, and resided there three years. Meanwhile he bought other land adjoining his first purchase and erected a dwelling on the line be- tween Honey Point and Shaw's Point, the house lying in both townships. As there were not people enough between his residence and Litchfield to or- ganize a school district he decided to declare Honey Point Township his residence instead of Shaw's Point Township on account of its superior educa- tional facilities. He has been very successful as a farmer and at one time owned five hundred acres of fine land, a part of which he has since deeded to his children. In 1891 he bought a residence at Carlinville, and now lives retired from active labor, enjoying an income ample for all his wants.
May 3, 1846, our subject took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Nancy Sims, a daughter of James and Margaret (Robinson) Sims, and a native of this county, born April 3, 1826. The following are the children that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Masters: James and John, now de- ceased; Melissa A., wife of Andrew Robinson, of Honey Point; Telitha M. and Margaret, both of whom are deceased; Charles, a resident of Shaw's Point Township; Emma, deceased; Kattie and Myrta who are at home; Philui Jane, wife of Dr. Buffington, of Atwater, and Henry I. who lives in Honey Point Township.
Mr. Masters is a man of self-respecting character,
is well dowered with those qualities necessary to sueeess in life and to secure the confidence of others and no one is more deserving of trust and esteem than he. His fellow-citizens have recognized his worth and capability, and have called him to im . portant offices. He served many years as School Director and Highway Commissioner and repre- sented Honey Point Township on the County Board of Supervisors at the time the county debt was funded. His political sentiments are in accord with the policy of the Democratic party.
C HARLES TOWSE, a resident of Bird Town- ship and a brother of the Hon. W. A. Towse, is a son of Simpson Towse, an Englishman from Yorkshire. The mother of these gentlemen was Ann Kettlewood, who was also a native of the same shire, where she was born in 1799. When they emigrated to America in 1850 they first made their home in Oriskany, N. Y., where they lived about two years and in 1853 came to Illinois and settled in Macoupin County. They lived in Ches- terfield and Bird Townships. Mrs. Towse was bereaved of her husband in the fall of 1865 and she lived until January 14, 1886, when her days ended in Western Mound Township. They had a fine family of nine children who were born in Eng- land, seven sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of age. His birth took place in Yorkshire, England, February 24, 1834.
Charles Towse passed his boyhood days on a farm in Yorkshire, and came with his parents to America. He continued with them until he mar- ried in Macoupin County, when he made his home in this county and resided here from that day to this. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and now owns three hundred and ninety acres. U'pon this property is erected an attractive and commodious home and good farm buildings, ill- cluding large barns.
February 22, 1859, was the wedding day of Mr. Towse and Miss Louisa Dews, a daughter of
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John and Sylvia (Morris) Dews. The marriage took place in Western Mound Township where the bride resided. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, and the mother was also a native of that Island. They both came to this country when young and were married in Alton, Ill. They made their home in Western Mound Township for many years and there Mr. Dews passed away from carth. His widow who survives is making her home with her children by whom she is truly honored and cherished.
Of a large family of nine children, Mrs. Towse was the second. She was born in Western Mound Township, December 9, 1840. The first home of this young wedded couple was in that township. After a residence there of seven years they came to Bird Township, where they have since resided. Seven children crown this union, namely: Selina A., Albert W., John D., Annette, Lillie M., Abiah S. and Annie E. Selina is now the wife of Wil- man E. Haley, and Annette is Mrs. Leonard E. Leach, while Albert has married Miss Ella M. Hun- ter. The father of this family has ever taken a deep interest in educational matters and is now serving on the School Board. He has always act- ively promoted all efforts to improve the district schools. Ilis political views and his vote are with the Republican party. Both he and his good wife are earnest and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and they have ever contributed liberally in all church affairs.
ETER F. AHRENS, senior member of the firm of Ahrens Bros., lumber dealers of Staunton, and a representative of one of the early families of the county, was born in the city which is yet his home January 25, 1864, he is a son of Jolin M. Ahrens, a pioneer merchant and prominent citizen, who is now living a retired life. lle was carefully reared, and in the common schools began his education, which was completed in the commercial department of the college of Warrentown, Mo. He was graduated in the Class
of '80, when sixteen years of age and carried off second honors.
Since that time Mr. Ahrens has been actively en- gaged in business and is now at the head of the oldest and largest lumber interest of Staunton. His father established a lumber yard in 1867, the first in the place and operated it on his own account un- til 1883, when he associated with him his sons, J. C. and P. F. Together they carried on operations un- der the firm name of John M. Ahrens & Sons for a short time, when the father and J. C. established a yard in Worden, Madison County, of which the lat- ter had the management and soon became sole pro- prietor. He sold out in 1887, and is now doing a good business in the same line in Riverdale Ill.
From 1884, until October, 1887, the father and our subject was associated in the management of the yard at Staunton, but at the last-named date John Ahrens withdrew and a partnership was formed be- tween the brothers P. F. and A. E. which has con- tinued to the present. This yard has every little opposition. One firm which established business was bought in 1881, and another in 1885, each having existed only a short time. The present business of Ahrens Bros, is located on the half block of which they became owners at the time of their first purchase in 1881. They are dealers in all kinds of pine lumber for house-building purposes and all other building materials.
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