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 71
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December 9, 1858 Mr. Snell took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Amanda Mayer, a na- tive of Fairfield, Greene County, Ohio, born No- vember 7, 1840. Her father was David Mayer, and he was born in Lancaster County, Pa., a son of Christian Mayer, who was a life-long resident of Lancaster County, where he was engaged both as a blacksmith and a farmer.
David Mayer learned the trade of a miller, and in the early settlement of Greene County, Ohio, he went there to carry on his calling. After marriage he rented a mill at Fairfield, and he subsequently erected a brick building. in which be conducted the mercantile business, while at the same time he operated the mill. Thence he removed to Iluffers- ville, where he bought a mill, in which he engaged in the manufacture of lumber for years. Finally he sold that property and took up his residence in
Miami County. and bought and operated a mill there the ensuing twelve years. In 1864 he sold all his possessions in Ohio, and coming to Macoupin County, invested in a farm in North Otter Town- ship. There his attention was given to agricul- tural pursuits until death closed his busy life April 31,1890.
Mrs. Snell's mother's maiden name was Eliza Huffer, and she was a native of Lancaster County, Pa. Her father, grandfather of Mrs. Snell, was one of the pioneers of Greene County, Ohio, the local- ity where he settled being named Huffersville in bis honor. He purchased an extensive tract of land there and improved a water power by building a woolen mill, a saw and grist mill and a distillery. In addition to carrying on these varied interests he superintended the improvement of a farm. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Stoner, and she was a native of Lancaster County, l'a. Both she and her husband spent their last years in Huf- fersville. Mrs. Snell's mother, who has attained a venerable age, occupies the home farm with her son John.
Mr. and Mrs. Snell have five children living, whose names are Anna Mary, Emma L., John F., Eliza C. and Charles H. Our subject and his wife are people who bear themselves sensibly and up- rightly in their intercourse with others, and are always ready with sympathy and practical help to aid any who are in trouble, and are valued as neighbors and friends in their community. The German Baptist Brethren Church finds in them de- voted members and true disciples of its faith.
EMPSEY N. SOLOMON, one of the old- est settlers of the county now living in the village of Palmyra, was born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., January 11, 1821. Ilis father Lewis Solomon, was born in Franklin County, N. C., in 1778, and the grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name of Lewis, was a revolutionary soldier in North Carolina. The father of our subject was reared
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and educated in his native county, and had but scant opportunities for an education, but being an excellent scholar with a special aptitude for mathematics, made unusual progress in his studies. He resided in his native State until 1813, and then accompanied by his wife and children, emigrated to Kentucky. He bought a tract of timber land upon which he paid part cash, but on account of the depreciation of currency, he lost largely and giving up his property, he emigrated to Illinois in 1825, making the entire distance of land with one horse attached to a cart, and two pack horses (one of them blind), on the backs of which a portion of the household goods were packed. In this way they made the entire journey. The male members of the family who were old enough, walked the entire distance, and they camped by the way.
The Solomon family arrived at Jacksonville, November 2, and found it a village of one frame house, and three or four log cabins. Fifty cents constituted the contents of the family exchequer. They moved into a vacant log cabin located near where the Dunlap House now stands. It had neither floor nor door, and the father split clap- boards and made them a door which he hung upon wooden hinges, and also hewed out puncheons for the floor. The land surrounding Jacksonville was owned by the Government and was for sale at $1.25 per acre; but as Lewis Solomon did not have the money, he could not buy. In the spring of 1826 be rented a tract of land south of Jacksonville, and lived there until 1827, when he settled in what is now Macoupin County, North Palmyra Township. He built a log cabin which was chinked with chips, daubed with mud and had a chimney built of earth and sticks. No sawed lumber was used in the con- struction of this building. The floor was of punch- eon, and Mr. Solomon rived the boards of which the door was made, and it was hung on wooden hinges. The elap-board roof was held in place by weight poles.
At that time deer, wolves, bears and panthers were to be found here the former being abundant. For years there was no railroad and the people lived on the products of their farms. Coffee was a luxury which could be partaken of only on Sun-
day mornings. The mother of our subject used to card and spin and his sisters worked at the loom, and thus the entire family was clothed. In the course of time Alton became quite a market, and the settlers took their grain there. Hogs were taken to Si. Louis where they would sell at $1.50 to $3.00, dressed weight.
As improvements came, the father erected a dwelling house which was weather-boarded, and in it they resided until his death in 1849. He was a man of rare good judgment and common sense, and at that period in the history of the county, few men possessed more business ability tian he. Ilis integrity and honesty of purpose was never ques- tioned. He was an active and useful member of the Baptist Church, which he joined under the mistration of that noble man and eminent pioncer divine, Elder Peck. In February 1849, he was called to part with his wife and he survived lier only a few months, when, on the 28th of July, he passed from life to the realms of eternal rest. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sarah Bowden, and she was born in Franklin County, N. C., being the daughter of John Bow- den. Lewis Solomon was elected to the office of .Justice of the Peace soon after the organization of the county and many of its legal documents are signed with his name.
We will now turn to the more direct personal history of our subject. He was in his fifth year when he came with his parents to Illinois, and remembers well the incidents of pioneer life here, especially his early school life, which was in one of the first schools ever taught in this part of the county. It was taught in a log house which had no window, but a part of a log was taken out on one side of the house and a piece of board was hung over the opening on a leather hinge, so that it could be raised to admit light whenever the weather was favorable. The seats were made of puncheons and had no desks in front.
The boy assisted his father on the farm and also learned of him the shoemaker's trade. After doing a days' work on the farm, he would spend his evenings on the bench, and by making shoes he earned the money to enter the first tract of land he ever owned. It was in the year 1839 that he
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entered this land which was located on section 20, North Palmyra Township. Here he commenced to work when he reached his majority and here he settled at the time of his marriage. After a year spent upon the new farm, the young couple re- turned to the old home to care for the parents. In the spring of 1850 they returned to their own farm, but in 1854, Mr. Solomon placed it in the hands of & tenant and moved to Commington, now a part of Palmyra, and engaged in the mer- cantile business, which he bad carried on, with the exception of one year, up to the present day.
In the spring of 1855, Mr. Solomon laid out the southern part of the village of Palmyra, and during the same year opened a store, the first one ever started in Palmyra. He took as his partner, J. F. Nifong. He has been extensively engaged in farming all the while and has nearly one thousand acres of farming and pasture land, besides his town property. On the 4th of June, 1846, he was married to Elizabeth C. Newell, a daughter of James and Ann Newell. This lady was born near Franklin, Ky., and has the following children: Mary J., wife of Z. C. Ridgway, of Palmyra; Sarah A., wife of William C. Martin, who is a partner with Mr. Solomon in merchandising; George W., Salome F., who married Dr. R. M. Wilson, of Lincoln; Charles D .; Minnie F. wife of Dr. Marvell Thomas of Gillespie, and Carrie Josephine who resides at home.
The political record of Mr. Solomon begins with his vote for Martin Van Buren, and he is and always has been a Democrat. During the late Civil War, he was a stanch supporter of the Government, and assisted in raising a company for the suppression of the Rebellion. He was appoint- ed Assessor for the county in 1843, and soon after was elected School Director, and served as Super- visor several terms until in 1878, he declined further service in this line. He served as School of South Palmyra Township for twenty-two years. He is a member of Palmyra Lodge No. 463 F. & A. M. and joined the Masons in 1849, he was made a Mason at the Mount Nebo Lodge No. 70. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon are members of the Christian Church with which they united themselves in 1867, and their oldest daughter belong to the same
church. Our subject was the first Postmaster of Palmyra and served in this capacity until the breaking out of the war. The social success of Mr Solomon is the natural sequence of his genial nature and the prosperity which has attended his efforts is the result of integrity and honesty rather than a love of worldly gain.
OHN C. GIBBS, an active and progressive farmer residing on section 23, North Pal- myra Township, is the son of a sturdy and honorable Englishman, John C. Gibbs, who was born in Yorkshire, England. The mother of our subjeet was Mary Ward, who was born in Yorkshire and married in her native county. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs emigrated to Canada, many years ago and in 1835 settled in what is now Scott County, Ill., but their home in the new country was not to be long undisturbed as the father was snatched away from the household, leaving his widow with four children to rear and educate. She was a faithful and judicious mother and brought them up in habits of industry, economy and thrift, and dying in Winchester, this State, in 1872, left them the inheritance of her worthy example.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest of this household and was born in Toronto, Canada. January 28, 1835. He passed the early years of his life on a farm until the age of fourteen years, . when he learned the trade of a wagon and carriage maker, at which he served for three years. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade for others for a number of years, and then opened a shop in Milton, Pike County, this State.
At the breaking out of the war this young man, not enjoying the privilege of being born in this land of freedom, felt that he must fly to the defense of his adopted country, and enlisted August 12,1862, in Company 1, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry, spending about three years in the service. He took part in the battles of Hartsville, Vicksburg, Cham- pion Hill and other important engagements. He was slightly wounded at Vicksburg in the neck and at another time was seriously wounded in the
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left foot. Upon being discharged from the army he returned to Winchester and for a short time fol- owed his trade, but he had decided to take an interest in agricultural affairs and engaged a farm in Scott County upon which he resided until 1869.
Since that time Mr. Gibbs has been a resident cf North Palmyra Township, and has followed farm- ing, making himself a successful and thorough agri- culturist. He owns ahout two hundred acres, upon which he has made improvements. He was married in North Palmyra Township, March 12, 1871, his wife being Mary M. O'Neal, a daughter of Lewis L. and Elizabeth (Crum) O'Neal. Mr. O'Neal was born in Bourbon County, Ky., and his wife was a native of Clark County, Int. After their marriage in Morgan County, Ill., they resided there for a few months only and then settled in North Palmyra Township, where they lived until his death, March 23, 1854. They had six children, of whom Mrs. Gibbs is the third in order of age. She was born in North Palmyra Township, Decem- ber 20, 1842.
Two children only came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs: James M. and a little one who died in infancy. The subject of this sketch is an active and useful member of society and he lias efficiently filled the office of School Director. He and his valuable wife are both earnest and active Christ- ians, he being connected with the Christian Church and his wife with the Presbyterian body. Mrs. Elizabeth O'Neal who is the mother of Mrs. Gibbs, will be written of more fully elsewhere in this volume.
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AMUEL J. HAYS. The owner and resi- dent of the farm located on section 34, North Otter Township, is he whose name is above. His father was Samuel Hays, who was born in Martin County, Ind., July 5, 1812. He continued to live in his native State and county until be arrived at nineteen years of age, when he removed to Macoupin County, being one of the early settlers in the State. At that time the pco- ple in Illinois were scattered and the present me- tropolis of the State was only an airy figment in
the brains of traders who passed through the coun- try along the lake.
While yet a young man Samuel Ilays took to himself a wife from among the maidens in his adopted State. His wife's name was Rebecca ( Mo- len) Bond. She was a daughter of Aquiila Molen, of Kentucky, and the widow of Joel Bond. Mrs. Hays was born in Virginia, March 11, 1807. Af- ter their marriage they settled in South Otter Township, but removed to North Otter Township in the fall of 1848, where they have since residedl. Mrs. Hays died early in October, 1887. They had four children, three sons and one daughter. Our subject was the third child. His birthplace was South Otter Township, and his natal day, Novem- ber 10, 1845. The years that intervened between his coming into the world and the time he reached his majority were passed as were the days of the average pioneer settler. Ile lived with his parents until he was married.
Our subject learned the blacksmith's trade, but farming has been his chief occupation and his at- tention has been almost exclusively devoted to the improvement and culture of the one hundred and fifty-eight acres that his farm on section 34 includes. He was married in Carlinville, March 24, 1864, to Miss Ellen F. Shores. She is a daughter of Jon- athan and Marinda (Jennings) Shores. Her pa- rents came from Tennessee and settled in Macoupin County about 1859, selecting North Otter Town- ship as the place of their abode. There the mother died ; the father passed away in Marion County, this State.
Mrs. Ellen F. Hays was born in Wilson County, Tenn., January 4, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Hays are the parents of ten children. The eldest died in infancy; Mary E., is the wife of James Swift; Eli married Miss N. Seymour; the fourth child died in infancy ; Thomas J. died at the age of nineteen; Charles E. and William E., were twins, the former dying in infancy; the next child also died in infancy; the two youngest are George E. and Herby H. Mrs. Ellen F. Hays died in North Otter Township April 18, 1888, having filled the sacred office of wife and mother most graciously and having been an example of patience and un- selfishness to her friends.
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Mr. Hays was again married, January 6, 1889. Ilis second wife was Miss Marinda M. Lowdermilk, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Bentley ) Lowder- milk. Mrs. Marinda M. Hays was born in Ten- nessee, May 3, 1847. One child has been the out- come of this union-Albert Ray. The present Mrs. Hays has conscientiously and lovingly taken the place of mother to the children that were be- reft of their maternal parent.
Mr. Ilays takes an active interest in political affairs and is a follower of the Democratic party, finding its platform consonant with his own ideas of equity and justice. Under his party he has held several minor offices, having been Justice of the Peace for fourteen consecutive years. Ile also has been Ilighway Commissioner for six years and has satisfactorily discharged the duties of School Trus- tee and Director. Our subject with his wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. lle was the first ordained Deacon of the Union Baptist Church in North Otter Township and has been Clerk of that body ever since its organization.
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INCENT SMITHI, who for many years fol- lowed general farming, but is now living a retired life, is the owner of a pleasant home and valuable property situated on section 14, Bun- ker Hill Township. He was born in the city of London, England, June 7, 1808, and is the only child of Vincent and Hannab (Ridgley ) Smith. The family is only three generations removed from the crown, and upon their coat of arms is inscribed the stag and seven stars. An unele of our subject was Lord Mayor of London for some years, and other prominent positions have been filled by his relatives. The father of our subject died when the latter was only three years of age, after which the mother crossed the Atlantic to America in 1816, sailing from Bristol to Boston, Mass., whenee she afterward removed to Baltimore, Md., where ber death occurred in the prime of life about two years later. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were mem- bers of the Episcopal Church.
After the death of his mother, Mr. Smith lived
with an nnele in Maryland for some years, during which time he arrived at man's estate. Shortly af- terward he started out to seek his fortune, and went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he spent a few years. He then came to Illinois. locating in Warren County, and a short distance from Mon- mouth, developed a good farm. It was during his residence in that county that on the 25th of Jan- uary, 1840, Mr. Smith led to the marriage altar Miss Rhoda Bird, who was born December 19, 1824, in Massachusetts, and is a daughter of Lemuel and Rhoda ( Ridgley ) Bird. Her father was a native of Dorehester, Mass., but her mother was born in Will- shire, England, and when sixteen years of age came to America with her parents, Thomas and (Cross) Ridgley. who were also natives of Willshire. They embarked from Bristol upon a sailing-vessel, and after eight weeks reached Boston. They settled in Medford, where later Miss Ridgley gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Bird. With her husband and her parents she came West. Her father died in St. Louis, Mo., at the age of eighty-four years, and Mrs. Ridgley spent her last days in Warren County, dying when well advanced in years, being seventy- four years old. This worthy couple were mem- bers of the Methodist Church, and were highly respected people. From Warren County, Mr. and Mrs. Bird came to Macoupin County, where the former died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Smith, in 1870, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife also dying at the home of Mrs. Smith, aged ninety-two years, three months and three days. She was wonderfully preserved for a person of her age, being as bright and active as she was when in the prime of life. Her eyesight had never failed her in the least, and she yet bad perfect use of all her faculties. She was a member of the Congrega- tional Church, to which Mr. Bird also belonged. Her father was an Episcopalian in religion, but at the time of the persecution of the Wesleyans in England, he became a Methodist, and erected a church upon his farm, which church is still stand- ing. Ile had eleven children, as follows: George, John, Thomas, Rhoda, William Stephen, Robert, Eliza and Richard, and threc died in infancy.
Our subject and his wife began their domestic life in Warren County, whence they came to Ma-
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSIT" .
Peter JLefluger
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coupin County, and upon their present farm they have now resided for forty years. Unto them have been born twelve children, but six of that number are now deceased : Ella M., Lucy and Anna, died in childhood; Clnilus, Hattie and Mary, all died after they had attained to mature years; Mary E. became the wife of Henry Parker, and died five months after her marriage; Stephen, the eldest of the surviving children, is extensively engaged in farming in Franklin, Iowa; Haney V. is at home; Hannah is the wife of John Boswell, a farmer of Shipman, Ill .; Katie E. is living with an uncle in St. Louis, Mo .; Lemuel B. is now in Monmouth; and Edward L., who completes the family is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their children are members of the Methodist Church, and take a prominent part in the work and in its upbuilding. He has served as Steward, Trustee and Class-Leader. A warm friend of temperance, he supports the party which has taken a pronounced stand in its favor, and votes with the Prohibitionists. True to his convictions of right and wrong, he has lived so that the confidence of the community is accorded him and he has won the good will and good wishes of his many acquaintances and friends.
P ETER KEPLINGER. Among the old resi- dents and worthy citizens of ioney Point Township is Peter Keplinger, who was born in Washington County, Tenn., August 7, 1815. His grandfather, Jacob, removed to that county from Pennsylvania, and buying timber land for a farm became a pioneer and resided in Tenne- ssee until his death. lle had a son John who came to Illinois with his wife, Elizabeth Rubel, to whom he was united in marriage December 18, 1806, and with them they brought their nine children. They came overland with five horses attached lo one wagon and four horse s to another, and in addition had a one-horse gig. They journeyed slowly, camping out on the way and after several weeks arrived in Morgan County.
John and Elizabeth Keplinger were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was fifth in
the order of birth. Hle was fifteen years old when he came to Illinois, and he had enjoyed but seant opportunities for obtaining an education and school advantages were still poorer in the new home. The family spent some time in Morgan County and then eame to a point near Jacksonville. The settlers gathered around the edges of the timber, reserving the prairie for grazing purposes, as it was not then known that the prairie land was good for farming. Peter Keplinger remained at home and worked for his father until he was twenty-one and then began life on his own account.
The marriage of our subject to Miss Sarah E. llarris was celebrated February 28, 1839. She was also a native of East Tennessee, being born in Eliza. bethtown, Carter County, May 10, 1820. IIer father, Benjamin Harris, was a native of Maryland and a soldier in the War of 1812. Her mother, Mary Ragan, was a Virginian, whose father, Jere. miah Ragan, bad been one of the Revolutionary heroes. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keplinger had brothers who served in the Black Hawk War. Primitive housekeeping was "all the rage" in those days and homemade furniture was most popular. By indus- try and economy the young couple gathered to- gether enough money to purchase some land. Upon it they moved in the fall of 1843, put up a little log house and began breaking the land.
The nearest market in those days was Alton, and to this place Mr. Keplinger hauled his wheat and oats, selling the former for forty cents, and the lat- ter for ten cents a bushel. Flouring mills were scarce, the nearest one being at Edwardsville. There was a rude kind of horse mill which was nearer bnt it turned ont a black looking substance which no housewife now-a-days would think of making into bread. Our subject has braved the hardships of a pioneer life, and has lived to see the country dotted over with farm houses of architect- ural beanty, to see first-class flouring mills in every town in the county, and to find a good home mar- ket for every kind of farm produce. His first log house was of crude material and structure and he rived boards to cover its roof.
Money was very searce then and almost every- thing had to be obtained by barter. Just before coming to the new home he had sold a pair of
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three-year old steers for $7.50 each, and when a man offered to go to a sawmill to get boards which Mr. Keplinger needed he pulled out his pocket book and the neighbors were astonished at the sight of $15.00. Such a large amount of ready cash was notable indeed, and he was called the moneyed man of the neighborhood. At one time a brother- in-law was hard beset to raise the money to pay his taxes. Ile had grain but there was no sale for that in the neighborhood. He finally traded some oats for pigs which he was able to dispose of to Mr. Keplinger for cash and thus obtained the where- withal to pay his taxes. For many years the peo- ple lived almost entirely upon the products of their farms and the women spun and wove and made all the cloth that was used in the family.
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