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 85
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G EORGE DREW, manufacturer and dealer in harness of Bunker Hill, has carried on business in that line longer than any other in the county. He is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Stallbridge, Blackmore Valley, Dorsetshire, March 2, 1828. His parents, John and Hannah (Jeans) Drew, were also born in Dorsetshire. His father was a harnessmaker by trade and followed that business throughout his entire life in pursuit of fortune. He married Miss Jeans, whose father was a blacksmith of Dorset- shire. The parents of our subject spent their en- tire lives in the county of their nativity, the father dying at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother when seventy-two years of age. Both were members of the established Church of England. In their family were twelve children of whom George is the fourth in order of birth, He has one brother and a sister, who came to this country. 'The former, Martin Drew, came to America and after living for two years in Bunker Ilill, went to Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his
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days. The sister, Martha, wife of Thomas Sawyer, lived for a time in Bunker Hill, and then with her husband went to Kansas City where both died.
Our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the parental home and with his father learned the trade of a harnessmaker. After work- ing for a few years as a journeyman he decided to try his fortune in America, and in January, 1851, having bade good-by to home and native land, em- barked on the sailing vessel, "Cato" bound for New Orleans, but during the voyage the ship was stranded on the Island of Little Bermuda in the Atlantic. The passengers were carried by another vessel to Nassan and afterward to New Orleans, from whence Mr Drew made his way up the Mis- sissippi River to St. Louis and on across the coun- try to Bunker Hill, where his brother Martin had located the year before. Ile at once established business in the line of his trade and for forty eon- secutive years has now carried on harnessmaking in Bunker Hill. His trade increasing he has at times furnished employment to several persons. He has always received a good share of the busi- ness of Bunker Ilill and the surrounding country and is well known throughont this section of the State as a straightforward, honest business man, well deserving of the liberal patronage which is accorded him.
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In the city where he makes his home, Mr. Drew was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Mary James, widow of Joseph James. She was born in Hamil- ton in the Province of Ontario, Canada, in 1823. and is of English and Scotch descent. Her par- ents were also natives of the Province of Ontario, where they spent their entire lives. The daughter was a young maiden when she came to Bunker Hill and some years later she married Mr. James by whom she had two children-Robert, who is a har- nessmaker of Athens, Ill ; and Martha, a music teacher of recognized ability in St. Lonis. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Drew have been born six children -Frank, now a student in col- lege at Bloomington, Ill. ; Fannie at home, Edward who is now located in Sacramento, Cal .; Addie, wife of Eugene Barnes, a resident farmer of Bun- ker Hill Township; Mary, wife of John Ayers, a hardware dealer of Ft. Smith, Ark. ; and Charles
who is employed as a salesman in the mercantile es . tablishment of Charles Johnston in Decatur. The Drew household is noted for its hospitality and the members of the family rank high in the social world. Mr. Drew is a sound Republican in polit- ical sentiment and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
W ILLIAM SURMAN, a resident of Carlin . ville, was born in Cannelton, Perry Coun- ty, Ind., April 18, 1852. Ilis father, Frederick Surman, was born in Germany, July 7, 1809. Ilere he was reared and married. He re- ceived a good education and became a teacher, which profession he pursued in his native land until 1850. Then accompanied by his wife and one child he came to America. He located in Perry County, Ind., and there engaged in the mercantile business. In 1867 he removed to Car- linville, and resumed teaching. He continued to reside here until his death, which took place Jan- uary 31, 1881. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Fredericka Post. Her early home was in the same locality as that of her hus- band. Her natal day was October 28, 1806, and she died in Carlinville, February 1. 1888. She reared and trained two children. Her first-born, Frederick, died when twenty-five years old. Our subject, the only surviving child, received his ed- ucation in the public schools. which he supple- mented by attendance upon Blackburn University. At the age of nineteen he commenced clerking in a dry-goods store, and later took a similar position in an establishment devoted to gentlemen's fur- nishing goods. He thus became acquainted with this branch of business. This enabled him in 1875 to establish a business of his own, in which he has been very successful. He has a large and well chosen assortment of goods, in the display of which he exercises great taste.
In 1880, this gentleman was united in marriage with Miss Paulina Loebr, who was born in Carlin- ville, a daughter of John C. Loehr, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. Six children
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY PE : 'INIMIn
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John Le Morrell
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have been granted to these worthy parents, namely: Theodore J., Alpha P., Hugo E., Stella T., Will - jam P. and Earnest F. Mrs. Surman is an earnest member of the Lutheran Church. In 1890 Mr. Surman erected a beautiful residence at the corner of East Main Street and College Ave.
OIIN LEWIS MORRELL. The portrait on the opposite page perpetuates the lineaments of a gentleman who has been a resident of Virden Township since 1851. He is a na- tive of Maine and was born at Cornish, York County, that State, March 10, 1813. His ancestors were Quakers and among the early settlers of Maine. His great grandfather, grandfather and father all bore the Scriptural name of David, and his mother in her maidenhood was known as Anna Ayers. The grandfather was a farmer and spent his last days in Berwick, Me., and his wife bore the maiden name of Lewis.
The father of our subject was a farmer and lum- berman and after marriage bought a farm in Cor- nish and there spent the remainder of his days. His good wife was born in Hiram, Me., and was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Pike) Ayers. As the family home was in the lumbering districts, schools were few, and the father, although in com- fortable circumstances, could scarcely afford to send his children away from home to school. For this reason John obtained his education mostly by studying at night with his older brothers as in- structors. When fourteen years old he was apprenticed to the trade of tanner and currier. Soon after attaining his majority he engaged in the lumber business on his own account, getting out lumber at a sawmill owned by other parties, at so much a thousand. He came to the conclusion that the West offered a better field for a young man of enterprise and energy, and in his twenty- third year he came to Illinois.
Reaching Alton in 1835, he took charge of a steam sawmill in that city, but after a few weeks was taken ill with malarial fever, which continued for about seven months. Before his entire recovery
he began to teach, and in the spring of 1836 he went to what is now Jersey County and taught in the vicinity of Otterville, at the same time under- taking the charge of a mill and a farm.
In 1837 Jobn L. Morrell and Elizabeth Beman were united in marriage. This lady is now one of the oldest citizens in the State living in Macoupin County, having been born December 11, 1818, the year that Illinois was admitted as a State into the Union. Her parents, Orman and Talitha (White) Beman, were natives of Connectient and South Carolina respectively. Mr. Beman was a soldier in the War of 1812 and became an old and respected citizen of Jersey County. Ilis first coming to Illi- nois was in 1810 and both be and his worthy wife died in Jersey County.
After marriage our subject entered Government land and went to farming near Otterville and dur- ing the summer of 1837 he carried the mail between Alton and Gilead in Calhoun County. This business was by no means easy or remunera- tive. There were hardly any roads and no bridges and he was obliged to go on horseback and cut his way through the woods; swimming the swollen streams was one of his frequent adventures. In his hard work of clearing the land he had an op- portunity of exercising his inventive genius antl be constructed a plow which was a decided success in "grubbing" brushy and timber land.
Having accumulated some money by his farming operations in Jersey County, he determined to in- vest in land which would make a first-class farm and which would also increase more rapidly in value. lle therefore purchased land two miles southeast of the present town of Virden, near the line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which was then in process of construction. The following year, 1852, saw the completion of this part of the railroad and property rapidly rose in value. He had previous to this rise invested largely, buying a section and a half of finely located land. He learned the business of surveying while living in Jersey County and is widely and favorably known in this line of work, yet is best known as an exten- sive farmer and land owner. Ile has about two thousand acres, three hundred of which lie in Macoupin County. He has a large farm of eight
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hundred and forty acres in Christian County, eighty acres in Montgomery County and the balance lies in Pawnee County, Kan. At the time he located in Virden there was but one other house for a long distance in any direction from his home. When- ever the men were away after dark Mrs. Morrell placed candles in all the windows, and these, which could be seen for a long distance, formed a sure guide across the trackless prairies.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrell have five children living: Talitha A., the wife of R. N. Terry, of Virden; D. O. Morrell, M. D., a graduate of the Missouri Medical College, now living retired in Virden; Mary F., now the wife of Geo. W. Gilly; Lydia Victoria, now the wife of James Allison, living in Fayette County, and Harriet B. S. the wife of George M. Wilson, who resides in Morrisonville, Christian County. This family has a noble record as regards loyalty and adherence to principle. Being brought up as a Quaker, Mr. Morrell had a deep and conscientious abhorrence of the institution of slavery and when the war broke out he encour- aged his sons to help put down the rebellion which had originated with those who defended slavery. His eldest son, James Henry, enlisted in 1861 in the Eleventh Missouri Infantry. Ile took part in the capture of Island No. 10, was in the battle at Corinth, participated in the assault on Vicksburg, and several other important engagements. He died in camp hospital near Vicksburg, from sick- ness caused by exposure. The son, D. O., enlisted in May, 1862, and served throughont the war, tak- ing part in the Battle of the Wilderness and other important engagements.
One of the most remarkable traits of this charac- ter which we are trying to describe is the indepen- dence with which this honest man has held and advocated his own views without regard to their unpopularity. He believes thoroughly that "truth is mighty and will prevail," and has lived to see principles which once he supported almost alone receive at last the crown of popular approval. During the War of the Rebellion he made several trips into the South. In the spring of 1863 the train was captured by the rebels between Memphis and Corinth. He was taken prisoner and confined in the swamps for four days; he was then paroled
and sent back into the Union lines at. Ft. Pillow, whence be proceeded to Memphis. The next day he again took the train for Corinth and disinterred the remains of his brother-in-law, for which pur- pose he had made this perilous journey, and returned home. In the fall of 1863 he went to Vicksburg and again passed through perilous ad- ventures, bringing home his hat with a bullet hole through it.
The subject of our sketch has accomplished a great deal of hard work without serions injury to his constitution and appears to possess peculiar recuperative powers. The loss of a tooth has been followed by the growth of another in its place and some of his teeth have been renewed four times in succession. Few men have preserved so late in life the appearance of youthful vigor, and few men deserve higher lionor than John L. Morrell.
OHIN GOSCH, who for thirty-one years has engaged in the boot and shoe business in Bunker Hill, was born in Schleswig-Hol- stein, Germany, March 16, 1844, and is a son of Clause and Christiana (Kolb) Gosch. They both belonged to families that for generations had resided in Germany, and in their native province both the father and mother lived and died, the former passing away at the age of seventy years and the mother's death occurred when she was fifty years of age. They were members of the Luther- an Church and were worthy and respected people. Their family numbered ten children, eight sons and two daughters, seven of whom grew to mature years and were married, while four brothers still survive. A daughter and four sons came to America. Our subject was the first to cross the ocean and several years later the others of the fam- ily sought homes in America. One brother, Thomas A., is now a resident fariner of Bunker Hill Township.
John Gosch, when a youth, learned the trade of a shoemaker in Harndurf, a little village near his home, and afterward worked as a journeyman for about three years. With the hope of bettering his
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financial condition he resolved to emigrate to America, and when, on the 7th of April, 1857, the threc-mast American sailing vessel "Onward," left the harbor of Hamburg. he was on board. The voyage lasted seven weeks and at length the ship droped anchor at New York. From that city Mr. Gosch went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and after two weeks' stay continned his journey to Davenport, Iowa, from whence lie came to Bunker Hill after two years. In 1861 he led to the marriage altar Miss Julia Roettger, daughter of Henry Roettger. who with his family sailed from Hamburg to New Orleans in 1857. Coming up the Mississippi River they halted at St. Louis, and then traveled across the country to Bunker Hill, where the par- ents spent the remainder of their days, Mr. Roett- ger dying at the age of seventy and his wife at the age of sixty-five years. Mrs. Gosch was born in Braunschwig, Germany, March 16, 1834, and reared in her native province. She had reached womanhood when with the family she came to America, and a few years later her marriage was celebrated.
Three children have been born of this union who are yet living and they have lost three-Minnie, Julia and IIenry, all of whom died in childhood. Herman, is now assisting his father in his business; Otto is engaged in business in Webb City, Mo., and John is clerking in Huber's store in Bunker Ilill. The family all attend the Methodist Church, of which Mrs. Gosch is a member. Socially Mr. Gosch is a member of Encampment No. 31, and subordinate lodge No. 258, I. O. O. F., of Bunker Hill, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now Treasurer of both lodges. Ile is also a member of the German Lodge of Bunker Hill, the Harrigari, No. 402, and has filled all the offices in that order. In politics he is a stanch Republican who does all in his power for the interest and success of the party, and has been honored with public offices of trust. He has for seven years served as Council- man of Bunker Hill, and for one term filled the position of Mayor.
The year after his arrival in that city Mr. Gosch established business as a manufacturer of boots and shoes, and from the beginning had an excellent trade which constantly increased. Often he had
as many as seven employees working under him. In 1883 he abandoned this branch of business and established his present boot and shoe store, located on Warren Street, where he carries a full and com- plete stock and now has a thriving trade. Ile pos- sesses thrift and industry, perseverance and good management-qualities essential to success. and is accounted a wide awake and successful business man and a public spirited citizen.
C HARLES C. RHOADS. There is an incli- nation in our country of recent origin to found an aristocracy, not considering indi- vidual advantages and power, but upon the fame attained by the carly ancestors of a few families res- ident in the East. We hope that the sentiments of right minded and sensible people will make this attempt abortive. At the same time one cannot help taking a pride in the fact that one's ancestors have taken a prominent part in the Colonial strug. gles that resulted in the successful establishment of a Republic, the like of which has never been known. Were there in reality a blue book the family of our subject would rank high therein, for several of them have done good service both in the Revolu- tionary War and the patriotic War of 1812.
Charles C. Rhoads who resides on section 17, Shipman Township, is the son of Henry Rhoads who was born in Greyson County, Ky. His mother was Mary Cleaver, who was born in Meade County, the same State. They came from Greyson County to what is now Jersey County, Ill., May 1830, and after living there for about one year they removed to Macoupin County, and settled in Chesterfield Township, where the mother's death occurred in 1835. The father passed away in Shipman Town- ship, August 20, 1854.
Our subject is one of six children, being the fourth in order of birth. He was born August 11, 1824. He was nearly six years old when his parents removed to Illinois and he grew to man- hood in Chesterfield Township. Ilis marriage took place in Jersey County, Marcit 15, 1846, his wife's maiden name being Emeline Darr. After a mar-
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ital experience of twenty-six years, she departed this life in Shipman Township, September 15, 1872. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Rhoads settled on the farm where he now lives and upon which he has ever since been a resident.
He was again married in Jersey County, Il., Oc- tober 9, 1873, his second wife being Mrs. Elinor Randolph, a daughter of William and Delilah (Waggoner) MeDou. the former of whom was born in Madison County, Ill., and the latter in Vir- giria. He departed life in Otterville, Jersey County, March 14, 1887. The second Mrs. Rhoads was the widow of Moore Randolph of Jersey County. Her first husband died in the same county near Delhi, July 4, 1858. She had one daughter by that mar- riage, whose name is Eva. This lady is now the wife of Joseph Blackstock. Mrs. Elinor Rhoads was born in Jersey County, May 30, 1835. Two children are the fruit of this union, their names being respectively Della C. and Bernie.
The original of this sketch has always been en- gaged in agricultural life and at the present time is proprietor of a fine farm comprising two hundred and forty acres, which he has brought up from a raw state to one of high cultivation. Ilis home is a good brick house, commanding a delightful pros- pect of the surrounding country with every con- venience and many elegancies that make life pleas- ant. He has made many valuable improvements on his farm, and altogether it is one of the best in the township.
Various offices have been conferred upon our subject by virtue of his known loyalty to true Governmental principles and because of his high reputation for honor and integrity. lle filled the office of Constable for one term and Justice of the Peace for one term. He has ever taken an active part in political affairs, casting the weight of his influence and vote with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads and daughters are members of the Baptist Church of which body our subject has been a Trustee for nearly forty years.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Rhoads was Ja- cob Rhoads, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He acted as a spy at that time for the Colonists,and as a return for the risk that he ran and the dangers that threatened his life at every turn he was
awarded seven thousand acres of land by the Gov- ernment. Our subject's father served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and has left behind him an en- viable record that is precious to his son of bravery and loyalty to the principles involved in the struggle.
C APT. JAMES S. CHILES, Macoupin County was well represented in the Union Army during the late war, and Capt. James S. Chiles, a well-known farmer and stock-dealer of South Palmyra Township, is one of her loyal and intrepid citizens that she sent to the front to de- fend the old flag. And on many a hotly contested Southern battlefield he won a noble record for valor and efficiency that raised him from the ranks to be one of the leading officers of his regiment.
Capt. Chiles was born in Smith County, Tenn. August 16, 1822, a son of John G. Chiles, who was a native of Orange County, Va. Ile in turn was a son of James Chiles. The father of our sub- ject learned the trade of a wagon-maker in his na- tive State. After marriage he went to Tennessee,. and two years later removed thence to Todd County, Ky., where he manufactured wagons, and also en- gaged in farming. In 1833, with his wife and seven: children, he migrated to Illinois, making the jour- ney with a wagon, to which were attached a yoke of oxen and a pair of horses in the lead. After three weeks of travel he arrived in Madison County, and after staying there a few weeks, he came to this county the last of November. Hle entered Government land, and in the busy years that followed developed a fine farm. Ilis death in the home that he thus made for himself and family removed a most worthy pioneer who had con- tributed his quota to the upbuilding of this section of the State. In early manhood he had married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Smithson) Wills, a native of Fluvanna County, Va. They had eight children.
Our subject remembers well the incidents of pioneer life after he came to this county with his father and mother when he was a lad of eleven
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years. At that time there were but few settlers in all this region, which was still in its primeval con- dition, except where the pioneers had begun to eliminate farms and build up homes in the wilder- ness. The greater part of the land was in the hands of the Government and for sale at $1.25 an acre. There were no railways here for years, and our subject had to take grain to Alton for his father with a team, that being the nearest market. It took six days to make the round trip with oxen, and he used to take his food with him and camp on the way at noon and nightfall. The schools that he attended were of the old fashioned pioneer type, taught in a log house, furnished with rude seats made by splitting logs and hewing one side smooth, wooden pins serving as supports. A log was cut out the entire length of the building to admit the light, and the room was heated by a fire in an open fireplace.
Capt. Chiles resided with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. At that age he went to Selman's Island and started a woodyard to supply steamers with fuel. He managed it successfully two years, and then high water swept everything away. Returning to Macoupin County after that disastrous ending to his enterprise, he engaged in breaking prairie until after his marriage, when he turned his attention to farming and stock-dealing, making St. Louis his market. He was actively en- gaged in that business when the war broke ont, and in 1862 he abandoned it to take up arms in defense of the Union, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry. He was at once commissioned First Lieutenant of his company, and later his coolness and daring in battle and his acknowledged efficiency as an ollicer received further recognition by his promotion to the rank of Captain. He served with his regiment in all its marches, campaigns and battles until at last the dreadful conflict was brought to an end, and his gallant conduct during those long and try- ing years reflected credit on the military of his State. He was honorably discharged from the army in July, 1865, and returning home, quietly resumed his business as a farmer and dealer in stoek, and has ever since carried it on profitably. He is honored and esteemed throughout the com-
munity for those fine traits of character that have made him loyal in his citizenship, manly and straightforward in his conduct, and true to his friends and associates. Ile is a member in high standing of Chiles Post, No. 278, G. A. R.
Capt. Chiles has been twice married, his first marriage taking place November 2. 1845, on which date he was wedded to Miss Amelia J. MeMullen, a native of Shelby County, Ky., and a daughter of Angus and Jane ( Richardson) MeMullen, natives of Kentucky. For more than thirty years our sub- jeet and the companion of his early manhood passed life together and then were separated by her death April 17, 1877. There are eight children of that marriage living, Georgia, John, Thomas, Lincoln, William, Florence, Cady M. and Samuel. Deeem- ber 2, 1879, the Captain was united in marriage with Mrs. Naney ( Ridgeway ) Searcy, who kas made him a devoted wife. Mrs. Chiles is a native of Boone County, Mo .. and a daughter of John D). and Sophia Ridgeway. See sketch of J. B. Searcy for further information.
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