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 48
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Our subject is a man of sturdy, reliable charac- ter, possessing good habits and in carrying on bis
business he has shown shrewdness and capability in the management of his affairs, and withal has es- tablished himself in the confidence of all with whom he deals. He has served as a member of the City Council and has always displayed proper interest in forwarding the welfare of his commu- nity in whatever way he could. He is a stock- holder in the Carlinville Building and Loan Asso- riation. Politically he is a faithful adherent of the Republican party. Religiously he is a valued mem . ber of the Lutheran Church, his children also be- longing to that church.
G EORGE F. W. HARRIS, a general farmer and stock-raiser in Bunker Hill Township, has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on another part of the county, besides his home farm upon which he has lived for many years.
Ile came to this part of the country in 1853 and took a farm of unbroken prairie, which he now has in an excellent state of cultivation and well stocked. Previous to coming to this county he had made his home in LaSalle County, this State, where he had lived upon a farm for two years. Ile was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1826, and there he was roared and educated. He came to this country in the fall of 1850, and emigrated to Illi- nois in 1851. His parents died in Ireland.
Mr. Harris married while in the old country, being united with Miss Maria Jamison Barry. She was born and reared in the same county as himself, and her parents lived and died in the old home. Mrs. Harris came to this country with her hus- band in 1850. They have become the parents of eight children, four of whom have passed to the other world. The four who are living are: George F. W., who now lives on a farm in this town- ship; Abel, Joyce J., and Sallie J. who married William Tuttle and they reside in Colorado Springs, Col. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are earnest and con- sistent members of the Episcopal Church. This
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gentleman's political views are expressed in the platform of the Republican party, and he takes : lively interest in local polities, although not a seeker for office.
OHN Q. NOEL, who is engaged in general farming on section 25, Bunker Hill Town- ship, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, located on his present farm in 1865, and has resided in the county since March 10, 1859, He came here from Adams County, Pa., where he was born September 14, 1833, ten miles from Gettysburg. His father, John L. Noel. was also a native of that county and was descended from an carly Pennsylvania-Dutch family. Ile grew to manhood upon a farm in the county of his nativity, and there wedded Miss Mary Clunk, who was also born and reared in Adams County. After some of their sons had come to Illinois. the parents emigrated Westward in the spring of 1865. settling in Bunker Ihll, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives, both dying when fifty-six years of age. They were both members of the Catholic Church, and in political sentiment Mr. Noel was a Democrat.
Our subject is the third in order of birth of the family of sixteen children boro unto John L. and Mary Noel, of whom five are yet living. His boy- hood days were spent in the usual manner of farmer lads, and his education was acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood. When he had arrived at years of maturity he led to the marriage altar Miss Rebecca Freebury, whose birth occurred in Adams County, Pa., although she is of German descent. Her father, John Freebury, was a native of Germany, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Adams County, Pa., where he afterward married.
For some years Mr. and Mrs. Freebury made their home in that locality, when later they re- moved to Emmettsburg, Md. There both died at an advanced age, in the faith of the Catholic Church, of which they had long been members. Mr. Freebury was throughout life a cooper and
hrewer, following both pursuits. Mrs. Noel was reared in Gettysburg, Pa., and has proved to her husband a true helpmate. Their union has been blest with a family of ten children, seven of whom are yet living, namely : John L., who married Miss Plitz. and is living at Mt. Olive, Ill .; Ella, wife of Ilenry Ilurb, a resident of Bunker Hill; Frank, who wedded Anna Peters and makes his home in Bunker Hill; Katie, wife of John Seigle, of the same place; Lizzie, Augustus and William, who are still under the parental roof.
On coming to this county in 1859, Mr. Noel and his family located upon a farm in Dorchester Town- ship, where he engaged in tilling the soil for about six years. He then came to Bunker Hill Township and purchased his present farm which now com- prises one hundred and sixty acres of land under a high state of cultivation. Upon it are also good buildings and every improvement is the work of the owner, and stands as a monument to his thrift and industry. He also owns ten acres of timber . land in Dorchester Township. Ile has led a busy and useful life, and the success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. Publie spirited and progressive he is numbered among the valued citizens of the community, and those who know him esteem him highly for his sterling worth. In political sentiment, both Mr. Noel and his sons are Democrats.
The estate of Mr. Noel is universally conceded to be one of the finest in the township, and we are pleased to present on another page a view of the comfortable home.
OIIN JONES. Of the young farmers in this part of the county none are more suc- cessful than he whose name is at the head of this writing. Mr. Jones occupies and owns the farm of one hundred and seventy-to acres on section 22, Brigliton Township. He has lived here since 1862, and what he has accumulated has been by his own persistent effort and unweary - ing industry, for like so many others who have set,- tled here, when coming into the country his oniy
RESIDENCE OF J. QUINCY NOEL, SEC. 25., BUNKER HILL TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL.
TENANT HOUSE, SEC 21.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN JONES , SEC.22., BRIGHTON' TP. , MACOUPIN CO. , ILL.
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wealth was a strong constitution and an abiding faith in a bright prospect for the future. A view of his comfortable residence and rural surround- ings appears on another page.
Our subject is a native of Wales, having been born in Rodneyshire, November 1, 1851. He is the youngest of the family bora to his parents. James and Mary (Jones) Jones, both natives of Wales. There the mother lived and died being about fifty years old at the time of her decease. The father suent his last years in the I'nited States and died in this township and county when seventy- four years of age. He and his wife with their family belonged to the Baptist persuasion, but at the time of his death he was a member of the Church of England.
Our subject with two brothers are all the chil- dren that came to this country, and live sisters are yet living in Wales. He of whom we write was only about twelve years old when with his father and another brother he came to the United States. Their passage across was made in the month of Au- gust, 1862. having taken ship at Liverpool and landed in New York City. One can readily imagine the impression that the American metropolis with its push and hurry made upon the little Welsh lad. lle early got the idea that if he would succeed he must be up and stirring, allowing no one to step in ahead of him. Shortly after their advent into the country they proceeded to this township and county.
Soon after he became of age he entered into the matrimonial relation with Miss Clara E. Mason, their marriage being celebrated June 2, 1878. The lady was born in this township and county, her birth occurring on her father's farm, August 23, 1858. She was here reared and educated and is the eldest of the living children of her parents. ller father, William Mason, is an old settler and prominent and well to-do farmer in this township. A biographical sketch of Mr. Mason may be found in another part of this volume.
Mrs. Jones is one of the women whose office in life is to help and encourage by the kind words and tender looks. those who are dearest to her. She is the mother of six children, two of whom are de- ceased. The children who have passed away were
an infant and Gilbert E. Those living are Ray M., Levi C., Ilarry E. and Cyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and liberal supporters of the same. Politi- cally Mr. Jones is a Democrat, holding that the doctrines of the old original party in all their purity are most suited to the growth and advancement of this great country. He is the owner of a beauti- ful country home located on a slight elevation overlooking a fine landscape. The prairie is dot- ted with high-bred stock, and water and clouds with a rare variety of trees lend the view an en- chanting perspective.
ILLIAM T. BRISTOW, a Justice of the Peace at Girard, is one of the oldest set - llers in the county. He was born in Over- ton Compte Tenn., February 13, 1829. Ilis father, James Phistew. was a native of Virginia, and his grandfather, also namned James, was born in Eng- land, and coming from there settled in Virginia where he ended his days. The father of our sub- ject was reared in his native State, and removed from there at the age of eighteen years, making his home in Overton County, Tenn. In 1829 he brought his wife and four children and settled in the northwest part of a tract which became a por- tion of Macoupin County at the time of its organi- zation. He took up land which afterward was included in Scottville Township, and when the land came into the market bought it from the Government. Ho erected a log cabin in which there were no nails used and the door was hung on wooden hinges and had a wooden latch. with the traditional latehstring, which hung outside in those friendly days. He also split puncheon for the floor.
The surrounding country was sparsely settled. The land where Carlinville now is, was bought of the Government the same year when Mr. Bristow purchased his tract. Deer, wolves and wild tur- keys were plentiful. The settlers lived chielly on the products of their farms and wild game. Our subject relates that oftentimes his father would
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start out in the morning and return before break- fast with a deer which he had shot. The mother used to card, spin and weave, and dressed her children in homespun, making all their clothes her- self. The father of the subject of this sketch pur- chased quite a tract of land and resided there about twenty years. This he sold and removed to Waverly, Morgan County, where he resided for two years. lle then came to this county and took a tract of wild and unimproved land in Nitwood Township and resided there until the death of his wife when he sold his property and made his home with his children until his second marriage, when he with his wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Edwards, removed to Greene County, where he spent the remainder of his days.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Cherry. She was born in Kentucky and was the daughter of Patterson Cherry. She died on the farm in Nitwood Townsbip, having been the mother of eight children. Our subject was five years old when he came to Illinois with his parents, and remembers well the incidents of the journey. lle says he received his education in Brush College, meaning the pioneer schools in the woods. These pioneer schoolhouses were built of logs with stick chimneys. The seats were made by splitting logs and hewing one side smooth and boring holes to insert sticks for legs. There were no backs to the seats and no glass in the windows, greased paper being pasted over the openings which answered for windows. A slab resting on pegs in the wall, formed a desk for writing.
William Bristow resided with his parents until his marriage, and then bought a farm near home and lived upon it for three years. In 1850 he united with his brother and two brothers-in-law in buying four hundred and twenty-eight acres of land at $5 an acre, situated near the present site of Girard. In 1851 he built and settled on the place. At that time there was not a house where Girard now stands and in fact not a house in sight of this new home of his. In the winter of 1851-52 the first building in Girard was removed there from the country by Dr. Miller, and in the following spring another building was erected there. Our subject devoted his time and efforts to the improvement of
his land until 1854, and then removed to the vil- lage of Girard and engaged in the mercantile business. After awhile he began buying and selling grain which he pursued until 1862. lle was then for two or three years in other business enterprises after which he settled up his affairs and worked for some years at the carpenter's trade. In 1881 he was elected Justice of. the Peace and has since continued to serve in that office as well as that of Notary Public. During this time he has continued buying and shipping hay.
The marriage of William Bristow with Sarah Sharp was solemnized March 28, 1847. Three children blessed this union, William W., Mary E., and Lemuel P. (deceased). Mary married Dr. Fuller, and makes her home in Cherry Vale, Kan. Mrs. Sarah Bristow died in 1857, and in 1858 Mr. Bristow was a second time married taking to wife Miss Louisa l'. Burgess, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; there are no children of this union.
Mr. Bristow cast his first vote with the Demo- crats, but in 1856 he became a Republican and has ever since adhered to that party. He belongs to the Girard Lodge No. 192, I. O. O. F., and both he and his good wife are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church with which Mr. Bristow has been connected since he was fourteen years old.
AVID W. GOOCH is one of the oldest of the native-born citizens now living in this county. He is carrying on a black- smith shop in Atwater, where he has made his home for a number of years, and where his rep- utation is excellent. He has a good war record, although he was not able to remain in the service as long as he wished, being discharged on account of physical disability. He, however, did what he could to maintain the Republic and when he could no longer fight her battles, he could and did use all of his influence for the encouragement and sup- port of those who were stronger than he.
The families which Mr. Gooch represents be- longed in the Southern States, and he shows in his
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manners and habits of thought the influence of heredity. His father, Clayton Gooch, was born in Virginia, but went from that State to Kentucky when he was quite young. He attained to bis ma- jority in the Blue Grass State and continued to re- side there until early in the '30s, when he came to Illinois. He had married Sarah Jeffrey, an estim- able Kentucky lady, and in his journey hither was accompanied by her and five children. They trav- eled overland in a large wagon drawn by six horses and settled on Government land, in what is now North Palmyra Township, this county. Mr. Gooch soon had a two-story double log house on his land, in which his son David W. was born, February 25, 1838. The father improved his farm and resided upon it until his death. After that sad event the widow lived with her sons and died under the roof of William. She had reared tive sons and two daughters.
The gentleman of whom we write was reared ou the farm and received his education in the pioneer schools, conning his lessons in the old-fashioned schoolhouse, whose picture is historical. For many years after the family settled here there were no railroads in this section, and the father marketed his grain in Alton and brought his supplies from there, The mother cooked by a fireplace and clothed her children in homespun, which she herself prepared. Mr. Gooch looks back to primitive times when the settlers lived primarily upon the pro- duets of their farms and the game which could be secured in the vieinity, and seeing the present con- dition of things he rejoices in what he has behield of progress, and in the prosperity of the people of this locality.
In 1856 young Gooch left the farm and began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. Ile served two years as an apprentice, then did jour- ney work until the breaking out of the Rebellion. At the first call for troops he enlisted in Company K, Seventh Illinois Infantry, and upon the expira- tion of the three months for which the enrollment had taken place, he re-entered the service in the same company. His discharge was dated Septem- ber 14, 1862, and prior to his being disabled be had fought bravely and borne hardships uncom- plainingly, glad that he had the strength and spirit
to serve his country. As soon as his health was sufficiently restored he resumed his trade, and after few a years at Shaw's Point Township, he went to Girard and operated a shop there until 1884. That year he established himself in Atwater.
Mr. Gooch has a pleasant home which is made attractive by the lady who became his wife in Sep- tember, 1865. She was known in her maidenhood as Miss Cynthia Carpenter. They have one child living, a daughter, Sadie, Mr. Gooch was Super- visor of Shaw's Point Township at the time when the county debt was refunded. His political sup- port is given to the Democratic principles and policies. He is well and favorbly known as a re- liable citizen and a thorough workman at his trade.
OIIN G. LIPPOLDT, a large landowner and one of the successful farmers and stock- raisers of Hilyard Township, whose farm lies on sections 26 and 35, was born in Saxe-Weimar, Germany, February 2, 1825, and was one of a large family of children whose parents were Christoff and Maria (Brever) Lippoldt. They were a'so natives of Germany, where they grew to manhood and were married and there began their domestic life upon a farm. Their children were all born in the Fatherland and attained to years of maturity. It was in the year 1853, that the parents crossed the Atlantic to America and settled near Jerseyville, Ill., where Mr. Lippoldt secured a wild and unbroken tract of land from which he de- veloped a good farm, making his home thereon until ealled to his final rest at the age of sixty-six years. His wife also died on the old homestead at the age of sixty-four. Both were members of the Lutheran Church and were numbered among thie best citizens of the neighborhood. Their children all came to America and six are yet living. All are married and reside upon farms, four being re- sidents of Illinois, while two make their homes in Kansas.
Our subject grew to manhood in his native pro- vinee and when of age began work as a farm lahor- er, serving in that capacity until the spring of
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1854, when he bade good-by to home and friends and took passage upon the sailing vessel, "Herman" at Bremen. For seven long weeks he was upon the bosom of the Atlantic and at length safely arrived at New Orleans, from whence he made his way up the Mississippi River to Alton, where he arrived a week later. His parents had already come to America and he went to his father's home in Jersey County, Ill., where a short time after- ward he was joined in wedlock with Miss Hen- rietta Lippoldt who had crossed the Atlantic in the same vessel with her husband. They were distant relations and this tie of blood prevented their mar- riage in the old country so they came to the United States. The lady was born in the same province as her husband, June 13, 1821, and is a daughter of Godfred and Christina (Neimaker) Lippoldt. For some generation their people bad resided in Saxe-Weimar, Germany. The parents and their chil . dren all came to this country, though at different times and located in Jersey County, near the Macoupin line, where Mr. Eippoldt died at the age of sixty-two years and his wife at the advanced age of eighty- five years.
The wife of our subject was the third in order of a birth in a family of thirteen children, all of whom came to the United States but only three are now living. By her marriage she has become the moth- er of five children-Bertha who died at the age of one year; Fannie, wife of Herman Bartell, a resid ent farmer of Hilyard Township; Anna, wife of Casper Jaco, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Theodore who wedded Mary Brinkman and operates a farm in Hilyard Township; Herman at home. Mr. and Mrs. Lippoldt were reared under the auspices of the Lutheran Church but the lady is now a Methodist. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and a strong advocate of the party principles but has never sought or desired public office. The farm upon which he now resides has been the family homestead since 1866. It com- prises three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land and in addition to this he owns a one hundred sixty-acre tract, his landed possessions therefore aggregating four hundred and eighty acres. The residence is surrounded by good buildings such as are necessary to a model farm and these in turn lie
in the midst of fertile fields. He raises a good grade of stock and the neat appearance of the place indicates the care of a thrifty manager.
R ICHARD R. BARNSTABLE, one of the prosperous tillers of the soil of this county, is a resident on section 5. Polk Township, where he has a fine and attractive farm. lie is a native of England, having been born in that country on the 23d of December 1830, in Othery, Somersetshire. After having grown to manhood in his native place he decided to seek what the New World held for him and coming to this country in the spring of 1852 proceeded to America, where he remained but a short time before returning te New York State to get a wife. The one whom he chose to be his life partner bore the maiden name of Ellen S. Pitmon, a native of the same country as himself, where she was born December 31, 1834. The wedding day of this happy couple was November 4, 1852.
The wife of our subject came to America when but a lass of seventeen years and made her home in Clay, Onondaga County, N. Y., until united in marriage with our subject. In the spring of 1853 this young couple came to this county, thinking it the best place to begin their new life. They settled on a tract of land in Polk Township where Mr. Barnstable has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, of which he has made a great success. On this place will be seen a fine set of farm buildings and the other now has an arable tract of two hun- dred and thirty acres.
The home of our subject and his estimable wife has been blessed by the advent of five children, all but one of whom still survive. They are as follows: Emily J. died when nearly four years old ; Walter J. is married to Miss Anna Dowland; Ella T. is the wife of Alonzo T. Keele; Nettie A. is the wife of T. M. Lawrence; and Norman R.
Mr. Barnstable in his political views casts his vote with the Republican party, which he thinks is the party to govern this nation. He is not in any way an office seeker but has been made the incum-
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
yours truly M. V. Kigmiller
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bent of the office of School Director of his district which he filled with great satisfaction not only to himself but to his constituents. He and his worthy and efficient wife are active and consistent members of the Congregational Church, with which they have heen united since the year 1855. These good people are held in the highest esteem by all their neighbors and fellow-men.
R EV. MARTIN V. KITZMILLER, Post- master at Girard, residing in a beanti- ful rural home in the western suburb of the city, is known far and wide as a former prominent minister of the Baptist Church. For many years he was very active in promoting the growth of the denomination, being instrumental in establishing churches in va- rious places, and though ill-health obliged him to abandon his beloved calling he is still a power in religious circles. He was born in Washington County, Tenn., January 20, 1826. Ilis father, Henry Kitzmiller, was a native of the same county, and was a son of one of its early pioneers, Martin Kitzmiller, who was born in Pennsylvania, and was a descendant of early German settlers of that State.
The grandfather of our subject was a farmer and also a blacksmith and wagon-maker. He removed from his native State to Tennessee, and was one of the first to settle in Washington County, where he bought a large tract of land, and in connection with farming carried on blacksmithing and wagon manufacturing, many of the wagons that he made finding a market in Kentucky. With the proceeds of the sale of some of them he bought a farm in the locality then known as Ohio Falls, and now in- cluded in the city of Louisville, Ky. Though he owned that farm for several years he never lived upon it. Ile died when eighty-six years old at his home in Washington County. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Devault, was a native of Maryland, and died at the age of eighty-four. Those worthy people reared a family of six sons and two daughters, named David, John, Henry, Martin, Jacob, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth.
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