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 63
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The marriage of our subject with Miss Elizabeth Sharp took place in 1852. and in her he has found one who has always sympathized with him in all his plans, and has co-operated with him cheerfully in carrying them out. A sincere Christian, the Methodist Episcopal Church finds in her an earnest member. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of children, of whom these six have been spared to bless their declining years: Harriet, Katie, Minnie, Julia, Rolla and Nora. Their fourth child, Ella, died at the age of twenty-one years. Their only son, James Freder- ick, who was born January 14, 1873, died Decem- ber 19, 1890. Harriet married John Hurt, and has four children, who are named Jeptha, Hallie, Ora and Lizzie. Kate married Gordon C'rum, they live in Gage County, Neb., and they have three chil- dren: Roy, Cora, and Ralph. Minnie married William Dalton, and they have three children, Clarence, Lela, and Baby ; they live in Clay County, Neh. Julia married William Close; and Rolla mar- ried Frederick Butcher, they have one child living, Floyd.
Mrs. Rohrer is a native of Scottville Township where she still makes her home, born here in the early days of its settlement May 19, 1833. She
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comes of the old pioneer stock of this county, and is a daughter of Isaac Sharp, who was a native of Tennessee. His father was a pioneer of that State, whence he came to this county during the latter part of his life. Mrs. Rohrer's father was reared and married in Tennessee, taking as his wife Chloe Berry, also a native of that State, and a daughter of Jolin and Elizabeth ( Raywood) Berry. She sur- vived her husband some years, and died at the home of a daughter near Waverly. In the prime of a stalwart manhood Mr. Sharp came with his wife to Illinois and was among the first to settle in Scott- ville Township. He bought land on section 13, improved a farm, and there dwelt in contentment, and comfort the rest of his days.
Our subject and his estimable wife are held in high regard for their many excellencies of character that have made them good citizens, kind neighbors and true friends. Mr. Rohrer is one of the strong- est advocates of the Democratic party in his com- munity. He has always displayed true public- spirit in his manifest interest in the well-being of his township and county, and has done loyal service whenever he has been called to responsible positions in civic life. He was the first to represent Scott- ville Township, on the County Board of Supervis- ors, elected to that office the year of its organiza- tion, 1871, and he filled it three terms. He has been School Treasurer many years.
ILLIAM ANDERSON, who is engaged in farming on section 5, Cahokia Township, where he has made his home for seventeen 'ears, has the honor of being one of the pioneer settlers of Macoupin County, where he has resided ilmost continuously since his early childhood. No one in the community is more deserving of a rep- lesentation in the county's history than he, and it s with pleasure that we present his sketch to the eaders of the RECORD.
Mr. Anderson was born in Putnam County, Ind., jear Greencastle, February 14, 1832. His father, ames Anderson, was a native of Tennessee, of
English and Scotch descent, and made farming his life work. He married a Miss Whitehead and they resided in Tennessee until after all of their children were born when they emigrated to l'ut- nam County, Ind., which was then in its infancy, the greater part of the land being still in its prim- itive condition, while the work of civilization and progress seemed scarcely begun. Upon the farm which he there developed James Anderson and his wife abided until death called the mother to the home beyond. He afterward went to Boone County, where he spent his last days with one of his daughters. He had served as a private in the Black Hawk War and was a man of prominence in the community where he resided. He held mem- bership with the Baptist Church and both he and his wife were highly esteemed people.
Thomas Anderson, the father of our subject, was born in the State of Tennessee where he he spent the greater part of his childhood and youth. Soon after removing to Indiana he at- tained his majority and was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Scott, a native of North Carolina, who when a young maiden went to Indiana with her parents, Robert and Martha (Proffitt) Sectt, the family locating in Putnam County, whence the parents removed in 1831 to Macoupin County, Ill. They became pioneers of this region and here died when well advanced in years. One child was born unto Thomas Anderson and wife in Indiana and they then came in 1834 to Macoupin County,set- tling in what is now Honey Point Township, where both died in middle life, the mother in 1838, the father in 1843. Ile was a faithful and consistent member of the Baptist Church, as was also Mrs. Anderson.
The subject of this sketch is the eldest of five children, of whom four sons by a second mar- riage are yet living. He was left an orphan when only eleven years of age, when he began to make his own way in the world and has since been de- pendent upon his own resources. He may truly be called a self-made man and certainly he deserves no little credit for his success in life. He began as a farm hand and for four years was employed in a saw mill by Columbus Corr. Ile had pre- viously worked for two other farmers in the neigh-
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borhood and his fidelity to his employers was such that he never had to seek for work. but on the con- trary was sought by those in need of such services. At length by industry and economy he had se- cured enough money to purchase a small tract of land and began farming for himself. As a help- mate on life's journey he chose Miss Lydia ,1. Ilud- dlestun, who was born in this county in 1837, and is the youngest daughter of John and Nancy (Dunn) Huddleston, who were natives of Tennes- see and were married after their emigration to the Hoosier State. At an early day they came to this county, locating in Cahokia Township and after- ward made a home in Brushy Mound Township, but in the former they spent their last days. Mr. Huddlestun died before the birth of Mrs. Ander- son. The mother long survived him, passing away at a ripe old age. Both were identified with the Methodist Church.
The combined capital of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson on their marriage was little more than $400 but as the result of their united labors, their persever- ance and enterprise, they acquired a handsome property. The raw prairie which our subject pur- chased in Brushy Mound Township continued to be their home until their removal to the farm in Cahokia Township some seventeen years ago. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, constituting one of the best farms in the county, upon which may be seen substantial im- provements in the shape of good buildings and machinery, together with a fine residence. He also raises excellent grades of stock, which like bis real- estate give evidence of the care of the owner.
After a happy married life of twenty five years. during which she had proved a true helpmate to her husband, Mrs. Anderson was called to her final rest. She was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, a consistent friend and a loving wife and mother. She died April 9, 1881, at the age of forty-three years, leaving six children to share with the husband in his bereavement. John T., the eldest, wedded Matilda Mitchell, now deceased, and follows farming in Honey Point Township. Samuel F. assists in the operation of the home farm ; Clara J. since her mother's death, has pre- sided over the home and taken charge of the house-
hold duties; William Luther who married Cora Winsor, is a farmer living in Clyde; Ida A. is the wife of James MeReynolds, an agriculturist of lloney Pomt Township; and Charles L. is at home. Two children died prior to the mother's death- Joseph and an infant. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has served as Deacon for a number of years. He affiliates with the National Greenback party, and has held a number of local offices, the duties of which were very faithfully performed. His example in many respects is well worthy of emulation and should serve to encourage young men who, like himself. who have to start out in life empty handed. His prosperity is not due to good luck but is the result of years of laborious effort. industry, perseverance and good management.
S IDNEY L. TWITCHELL. though not one of the earliest settlers of this county, is entitled to a high place among its ener- getic, far-sighted, enterprising pioneers, as he came here while it was yet a sparsely settled and but little improved wilderness, and in the years of down-right hard labor that followed, he helped to develop the vast agriculturel resources of this region by transforming a tract of land into one of the best cultivated farms in the locality where he settled more than forty years ago. He is now liv- ing in honorable retirement from active business in the village of Virden, though he still takes a lively interest in the public affairs and takes a part in their administration.
Mr. Twitchell was born in the pretty New Eng- land town of Wyebridge, Addison County, Vt., September 27, 1827. His father was John Twitehell, and he was born in Rutland County, that State, a son of Daniel Twichell, who was born and reared in England. In early manhood he left his old English home to seek another one on American soil, being accompanied hither by one or two brothers. He married in Vermont, and for a time carried on farming in Rutland County, and later
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in Addison County, where he died. He and his wife reared a family of five sons and one daughter.
The father of our subject was reared to the life of a farmer among the hills of his native county. When a young man he went to Addison County, and there married Annie, daughter of William and Harriet Sanford. In 1831 he left the home that he had established there, and with his wife and seven children made his way to Illinois, traveling overland and bringing all his household goods with him. His brother-in law Evarts Griswold also came with him. Mr. Twitchell spent the first year after his arrival in Greene County, and then became a pioneer of Jersey County, where he entered a tract of Government land near the present site of Kemper. Ile bought and removed a log house to his claim for a temporary shelter, and at once busied himself in the hard labor of developing a farm from the surrounding wilds. In the spring of 1833 he began to build a frame house, but he died before its completion, and Jersey County was deprived of the services of one of its most indus- trious pioneers. Ilis death was a severe blow to his family as he left them in limited circumstances. The mother worked hard and kept her children to- gether as hest she could, and as soon as they were large enough they had to help earn their own living.
Our subject was educated in the primitive pio- neer schools of his boyhood, that were taught in log houses, which were furnished with rude seats made of slabs and without backs or desks. A slab along the side of the room served as a writing desk for the older scholars. The schools were con- dueted on the subscription plan, each family pay - ing according to the number of scholars sent. Our subject was early thrown on his own resources, and developed into a sturdy, self-reliant, capable lad. Soon after his father died he went to live with a farmer in Greene County, and remained with him three years. He then returned home, and was employed by different people by the day or month until he was fifteen years old. At that age le and his brother, Gaston D., commenced farming the old homestead together. In 1849 he came to this county and entered two hundred acres of Goverment land in North Otter Township. Years
of hard and well-directed labor followed his settle- ment upon it, which resulted in the improvement of a valuable farm, with fields neatly fenced and well tilled, and provided with suitable buildings. In 1882 he left his son in charge, and coming to Virden bought thirty acres of land finely situated, and erected his present home, that is replete with comfort, and hospitality abounds within its walls.
Mr. Twitchell was first married in 1852 to Miss Celia C. Saunders. She was a native of Greene County, and a daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Woodman) Saunders, who were pioneers of both Greene and Jersey counties. In November, 1861, after a brief but happy wedded life, Mrs. Twitchell was removed from her household by the hand of death. There are three children living born of her marriage with our subject,- Allena L., Ransom L. and Ernest. In 1873 Mr. Twitchell was united in marriage to Mrs. Augusta V. (Bartlett) Cox, and two children have blessed their union, John and Eugene. Mrs. Twitchell is a native of Seneca County, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph Water- man and Mary (Twombly ) Bartlett. Her first hus- band was Lansden 1. Cox. Ile was a native oť North Otter Township, this county, and a son of Jesse and Cynthia Cox, who were pioneers of this section of Illinois. During the war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, and died while in service.
As a gentleman of stainless character, of a sound and sensible mind, and of an even, kindly dis- position, no man stands higher in his county than our subject. He has always discharged his duties as a citizen with fidelity, and in the various offices that he has held, has sought to promote the welfare of the community. He has always taken a warm interest in educational matters, and has helped to enlarge the school facilities of the town- ship where he formerly lived and of his present place of residence. For a number of years he was a member of the School Board of North Otter Township and three years was one of the School Board of Virden. For six years he was Ilighway Commissioner of North Otter Township, and is now Treasurer of the Virden Board of Highway Commissioners. Politically, he is a Republican of the truest type. Religiously, both he and his
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estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their names are associated with whatsoever of good it has accomplished in this community.
S AMUEL S. CLARK, a retired merchant living in Bunker Ilill, is numbered among the honored pioneers of that cit;', of De_ cember, 1840, his residence there cover- ing a period of more than half a century. He came to Macoupin County from the Empire State, where he had sojourned a few years after leaving Massachusetts, the State of his nativity. lle was born in New Braintree, Worcester County, Decem- ber 4, 1806, and is descended from one of the early New England families. His father, James Clark, was born in the town of Mansfield, Conn., and learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. Throughout. the greater part of his life he engaged in the furni- ture business, but after his emigration to the West followed farming. In 1840 he accompanied our subject to Macoupin County, and secured a piece of open prairie land north of Bunker Hill, where he developed and improved a farm, making it his home for sixteen years, when in 1856 he went to the city, where his last days were spent. He passed away in 1858, at the age of seventy-five. Ile was a successful business man, and took a prominent part in all public affairs. Ilis first wife was in ber maidenhood Mary Shumway, a Massachusetts lady, who came of a good family. She died in 1839, while they were living in New York City, being then fifty-six years of age. She left four children, but two have since died-Mary, e the wife of S. J. Bacon, and died in New York City; and Nancy, who became the wife of Moses True, one of the oldest settlers, and for years one of the most prominent men of Bun- ker Hill. lte is also now deceased. She died in 1875, leaving one son, James C. True, of Wichita, Kan. The surviving members of the family are Samuel S. and James. The latter married Laura Sanford, and is now engaged in the manufacture of cider in St. Louis, Mo. After James Clark came
to Illinois, he was a second time married, Mrs. Mary (Spooner) Daniels, of North Brookfield, Mass., becoming his wife. She died in 1863 at the age of seventy five years. Mr. Clark and his two wifes were all devoted members and active work- ers in the Congregational Church.
We now take up the personal history of our sub- ject, who has so long been prominently connected with the history of Macoupin County. Under the parental roof the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, and he learned the trade which his father had followed. In West Brookfield he led to the marriage altar, in 1838, Miss Jane S. Pritchard, who was born in that place in 1814. They began their domestic life in the East, but after two years, following the course of human emigration which was steadily flowing Westward, they landed in Bunker Hill, and Mr. Clark embarked in the mer- cantile business. llis wife was not long permitted to enjoy her new home, for her death occurred in 1844. She was a most estimable woman and a menrber. of the Congregational Church. Three chil- dren were born of ber marriage, but all died in childhood.
It was in Jacksonville, Ill., that Mr. Clark led to the marriage altar Miss Phobe Pierson, who was born in Cedarville, N. J., March 28, 1818, and is a daughter of Dr. Daniel C. and Naomi C. (Nixon) Pierson. They were natives of the same State and were married in Cumberland County. In 1833 they emigrated with their family to Illinois, and for a time lived upon a farm until Dr. Pierson bought out the drug business of a Mr. Ayres, carry- ing on the store for some years. Later he built a grist mill in Jacksonville, and on selling out, re- moved to Augusta, Hancock County, Ill., where he (lied in 1857, at the age of sixty-five years. Ile was a prominent man wherever he lived and won many friends. His wife went to Kansas, where she made her home with her son George until her death in 1884, at the age of eighty-four years. The Doctor and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church, and had a large family of children, of whom six are yet living.
Mrs. Clark was carefully reared, and in Jackson ville obtained an excellent education. In an early day she came to Bunker Hill to teach school, being
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERS ..
A. W. Loper
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one of the first teachers of the place, and here gave her hand to Mr. Clark. The marriage, however, was celebrated in Jacksonville. This worthy and respected couple are active workers in the Congre- gational Church, in which for twenty-four years our subject has filled the office of Clerk. He has also filled the office of Town Clerk six years, and School Treasurer, having served in the latter position since 1869, and is the present incumbent. In poli- tics he is a stalwart Republican and is a prominent and well-known citizen of the community. In his business life he has formed an extensive acquaint- ance. Soon after loeating in Bunker Hill, Mr. Clark became associated with Maj. P. C. Huggins in the mercantile trade, which connection was con- tinued for four years, when our subject embarked in business on his own account as a general mer- chant. His courteous treatment and fair dealing soon won him a liberal patronage, and he became a prosperous citizen of the community. As his financial resources increased, he made judicious in- vestments in real estate, and when he had acquired a handsome property, he laid aside business cares and is now living in the enjoyment of the fruits of former toil. Although in his eighty-fifth year, Mr. Clark is superintending the remodeling of a house.
M RS. SUSAN (KELLER) LOPER, one of the surviving pioneers of Macoupin County, now resides in Western Mound Township. in the pleasant home in whose upbuilding she assisted her husband, the late Adrian W. Loper, who was for many years one of the leading fariner of this section. His portrait presented on the op- posite page perpetuates for coming generations the lineaments of one universally esteemed and he- loved.
Mrs. Loper was born in Crawford County, Ind., September 4, 1818, and comes of old pioneer stock. Her father, John Keller, who was of German de- scent, was young when his parents removed from his native State, Maryland, to the wilds of Ken- tucky, and there he was reared and married. In 1800 he went to Indiana and was one of the first
settlers in Crawford County, where he bought a tract of wild land. He immediately entered upon the hard pioneer task that lay before him, and his first work was to clear away the brush and trees to make room for the log cabin that he intended to build for the shelter of his family. In 1833 he dis- posed of that place and with his wife and eleven children penetrated to the primeval wilds of Illinois with an ox-team, bringing bis household goods along, and camping and cooking by the wayside at night. He also drove about one hundred sheep and fifty cows to his new home. He found a suitable location on the Kickapoo River, in Coles County, of which he was a pioneer.
In 1836 Mr. Keller sold his property in Coles County, and coming to Macoupin County, was a pioneer of Chesterfield Township. He entered a tract of Government land, improved it into a fine farm, and dwelt thereon many years, receiving from his neighbors and associates the respect due to an upright life. He finally removed to Chester- field, and his last days were spent in that village in honorable retirement. The maiden name of his wife was Zilla Van Meter, and she was a native of Grayson County, Ky. Her father, Jolin Van Meter, is thought to have been born in Kentucky, and was of French ancestry. He was a pioneer farmer of Kentucky, and spent his last years in that State. lle married Diana IIolselaw. Mrs. Loper's mother resided at Chesterfield during the latter part of her life, and at her death her body was deposited be- side that of her husband in Kirby Cemetery.
Mrs. Loper was eleven years old when she ac- companied her parents to this State, and she was fourteen years of age when the family removed to this county. Her early life was thus passed amid the pioneer scenes that characterized this county in the opening years of its settlement, and she has been an intelligent witness of much of its growth. The people were then mostly home-livers, that is they subsisted on the products of their farms, and many articles of food that are now considered in- dispensable, were then unknown luxuries. Our subject was taught all the useful household arts that were at that time in vogue, and early became an adept in carding, spinning and weaving wool and flax, and in her carly married life she made the
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clothi in which her children were clad. When she was initiated into the mysteries of cooking, it was before a fire in a huge, old-fashioned fireplace, and many a delicious meal she has prepared by such a fire.
When she gave her hand in marriage to Adrian W. Loper, December 22, 1837, she was well pre- pared to assume the responsibilities of wedded life and to make a home comfortable and happy, and her husband could have made no better choice of a helpmate and life companion than she proved to him in the fifty and more years that they journeyed together. She has also been a wise and tender mother to the children oorn of their marriage, of whom there are six as follows: Lodusky, Mrs. Hayward; Gideon B,, Cruise V .; Lena Lota, Mrs. Creaser; Ophelia, Mrs. Duckles; and Adrian C. Wright.
Adrian W. Loper was a native of New Jersey, and a son of James Loper, who is also supposed to have been born in that State. Ile was a seafaring man, and at the time of the War of 1812 was the owner of two large vessels, but losing them on ac- count of the war be removed to Indiana. He was accompanied in his migration by his wife and two children, making the journey across the Allegheny Mountains in a one-horse wagon. He located near Fairfield, and after residing there for a time, in 1829 he again started Westward, and coming to Illinois took up his abode in Greene County, where he lived through the "winter of the deep snow." In 1831 he made still another move, and coming to this county, became an early settler of Chester- field Township, where his earthly pilgrimage ceased and he was gathered to his fathers at a ripe age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Fitzgerald, spent her last years in Chesterfield Township. James Loper and his wife became the parents of seven children, namely: George, A. W. James, John, Eliza, Margaret and Phœbe.
At the time of his marriage Adrian Loper lo- cated in Western Mound Township, and from that date until the day of his death, which occurred January 18, 1890, he was one of its most success- ful farmers. He was wide-awake, endowed with activity and firmness of purpose, more than ordin- arily far sighted, shrewd and sound of judgment,
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