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 86
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ACOB T. JOHNSON, who resides on see- tion 26, Staunton Township, is one of the worthy German settlers of this county. The people of his nationality have been mainly instrumental in upbuilding and developing the southern part of the county, and in this work he borne no inconsiderable part, especially has he been identified with the agricultural interests. As he is widely and favorably known, we feel assured that his sketch will prove of interest to many of our readers.
Mr. Johnson was born in East Friesland, in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, February 1, 1833 and is a son of Tonjas Johnson, who was born in the same locality and grew to manhood as a farmer. He was married in Hanover to Fredrica Reiners, and eight children were born unto them, her death occurring at the age of thirty-eight years. Our sub- ject was about ten years old at that time. The father with five of the children later bade good-hy to their old home and on the 15th of September,
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1848 sailed from Bremen on the vessel " New Orleans", which reached the city of that name after a voyage of nine weeks. When another week had passed away they had reached St. Louis, from whence they went to Alton and the spring of 1859 witnessed their arrival in Staunton Township, Macoupin County, where Mr. Johnson, the father purchased forty acres of land and began farming. He spent his last days under the roof of our sub- ject, his death occurring in 1875, at the age of eighty years. He and his wife were life long members of the Lutheran Church.
The education of our subject was acquired in his native land where he grew to manhood and then accompanied his father to this country. Farming has been his life work and his first purchase of land consisted of forty acres on section 26, Staurton Township. The boundaries of that farm have since been extended until it comprises three hundred and forty aeres and in addition to this he also owns one hundred and twenty acres of highly improved land on section 23, eighty acres of timber and two hundred and eighty acres of arable land in Mont- gomery County. The last is a good farm, highly cultivated and supplied with all necessary improve- ments and buildings. The home farm of Mr. Jolinson is accounted one of the best in the south- ern part of the county. lle has a pleasant, sub- stantial and tasty residence, in the rear of which may be seen barns and other outbuildings for the care of his stock while the eye can gaze abroad over beautiful fields of grain.
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Mrs. Johnson, the honored wife our subject, was in her maidenhood Miss Margaret Eckhoff and their union was celebrated in Staunton Township. A native of the Kingdom of Hanover, she was born April 17, 1838. Her parents spent their entire lives in their native province and both died at an advanced age. They were members of the Luther- an Church. Mrs. Johnson was about twenty years old when she came with an unele to this country and in Maconpin County she met and married her husband. They are worthy and respected citizens of the community who figure prominently in social circles and both are members of the Methodist Church, to the support of which they contribute liberally of their means. Mr, Johnson and his sons
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vote with the Republican party, of which he is a stalwart advocate and for many years he has served as Commissioner of Highways. The housebold once numbered the parents and ten children but two are now deceased, John and Margaret, and others have left the parental roof for homes of their own. Sophia, the eldest living, is now the wife of 1. Endlemann, who resides on a farm near Ray- mond, Montgomery County; Meta is the wife of William Egelhoff, a farmer of the same locality ; Henry assists in operating the home farm; Lena wedded Otto Adams, an agriculturist, living near Bunker Hill; John, Gesena, Albert and Emma are at home.
C HARLES A. WOOLLEY, an extensive far- mer and stock-raiser of North Otter Town- ship, now residing in Girard, was born on a farm eight miles west of Carrolton, Bluffdale Township, Greene County, this State, May 9, 1835. llis father, David Woolley, was born in Washington County, N. Y., and his grandfather, Tilton Woolley, spent his entire life in New York State. The grandmother's maiden name was Slo- cum.
The father of our subject was reared in his na- tive county, and there married and resided until 1822, when he came to Illinois. There were no railroads or canals in that early day, and they came by the most convenient and expeditious route-by way of team to Olean Point, hence by the Alle- ghany and Ohio Rivers to Shawneetown, Ill. Ile resided in Hamilton County, this State, for one one year and then removed to Morgan County. At that time Jacksonville boasted of but a few straggling houses and Springfield was unheard of. lle bought a tract of land near Jacksonville and lived there for a few months. He then sold out and removed to Greene County, purchasing eighty acres of land in what is now Bluffdale Township. He made a fine bargain in purchasing this land. The man who owned it had got himself into trouble and a fine of $100 hung over his head. He told Mr. Woolley that if he would furnish the money
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with which to pay his fine he might have the land. He purchased Illinois serip, which was then selling at fifty cents on the dollar, and thus secured eighty acres of land for $50 caslı.
A log house was on the place when Mr. Woolley took it and into this he moved liis family. Later he entered four hundred acres of Government. land in the same township, but there were then no railroads and none came through that region for many years. Markets for grain and produce were inaccessible. He used to take the products of his farm to the river three miles distant and ship it on flatboats to Alton or New Orleans. He remained a resident of that township until his death.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden of Laura Hodge. She was born in Connecticut. She survived her husband and the last years of ber life were spent with her daughter, Mrs. A. H. Eld- red, in Polk Township. She reared to maturity nine of her twelve children. They are named as follows: John H., now deceased ; James R., a resi- dent of Western Mound Township; Norman C. and Edwin, who reside in Greenfield; Emeline, who married E. B. Eldred and is now deceased; Maria, who was the wife of W. H. Ellis, of Greene County, is now deceased; Laura, Mrs. A. H. El- dred, who resides in Polk Township; and Julia, the wife of John Ernst, of Western Mound Town- ship.
The subject of this sketch was trained to agri- cultural pursuits and attended the public schools, which were then taught on the subscription plan, free schools not being yet inaugurated. They did not come into general use until this young man was nearly grown up. He resided with his parents until he had attained his majority, and after the death of his father bought the old homestead and resided there until 1865. He then sold his prop- erty and purchased a farm in Carlinville Town- ship. There he made his home until the fall of 1867, when he sold out and purchased ten acres of land in the city, which is now known as C. A. Woolley's Addition to Carlinville. He platted the land and in February, 1868, traded it for his father-in-law's homestead in North Otter Township, there resided continuously until 1882, when he
purchased his present home in Girard. Although a resident of the city, he still superintends the management of his farm, where he is extensively engaged in raising horses, cattle, etc. This farın of three hundred and fifty acres is mostly in a finely improved condition and furnished with good buildings and all necessary accessories for farm work.
In 1858 Mr. Woolley was united in marriage with Miss Eunice M. Langley. She was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of James and Jane (Weston) Langley. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Woolley, namely : Della, wife of William M. Evans; Mae, James D. and Dale. Mr. Woolley is a wide-awake citizen and one who takes hold with energy of all movements for the promotion of progress and prosperity in the county. He is a Republican in politics but is not a seeker for office. He is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, K. of P., and a stockholder in the Ma- coupin County Agricultural Board. He is an ac- tive promoter of all movements which tend to the prosperity of the farming community, and de serves the high esteem in which he is held by the neighbors. Mr. Woolley is engaged in the lumber business in connection with overseeing his farm. His office and lumber yard are located just south of the Public Square, where he keeps a full and complete stock of lumber, lime, cement, buggies and wagons.
G EORGE MORRIS, one of the prosperous and efficient farmers on section 1, Bird Township, is a son of English parents, Char- les and Maria Morris, who came from Yorkshire where they were married, and made their home in America about the year 1851. They established their first home in Morgan County, Ill., and then came to Macoupin County and settled in Carlin- ville Township, where Mr. Morris died in 1878. His worthy wife is still living and makes her home with her children. They have ten children of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth.
He of whom we write was born in Carlinville
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Township, September 12, 1860. He grew to man- hood upon his father's farm in Carlinville Town- ship, and attended the district school and was trained in the practical details of farm life. Ile early determined to pursue agriculture as his life work, and now owns three hundred and twenty acres, two hundred and forty of which are in Bird Town- ship, and eighty acres in North Palmyra Township. Here he has erected a pleasant residence, capacious barns and other outbuildings necessary to a farm, and he gives his attention wholly to farming and stock-raising.
The late Charles Morris was an extensive farmer in this county and owned abont seven hundred acres of rich and arable soil in Bird and Carlinville Townships. He and his worthy wife had five children who lived to maturity. They were by name, William. Mary A., George, Harriet and Sarah. William married Charlotte Yard and died in Car- linville Township; Mary A., has also passed away from earth; llarriet is the wife of Thomas Pierson ; and Sarah is now Mrs. Harry Brown.
The prosperous condition of Mr. Morris' farm, the fine appearance of the farm buildings, and the neatness and convenience of their internal arrange- ments tell the story of English thrift and industry. broadened by the influence of Western life.
G EORGE JACKSON, who was formerly act- ively engaged in farming and stock-raising, is still connected with the agricultural in- terests of this county as the proprietor of one of its finely improved farms, pleasantly located in Chesterfield Township. There he and his wife are serenely and happily passing the declining years of lives spent in usefulness and well-doing, enjoying an ample income and the respect and regard due to their genuine worth.
Mr. Jackson is of English birth and antecedents, born in the village of Wistow, Yorkshire, England, January 18, 1823. His father, William Jackson, was a native of the same village, and a son of George Jackson, who was also born at Wistow.
The latter, who spent his entire life in his native land, was well-educated, and was a practical sur- veyor. The father of our subject learned the trades of a wheelwright and carpenter, and follow- ed them during his active business life in the vil- lage of his nativity, where he always lived. Ile married Mary Durham, who also passed her last years at Wistow.
He of whom this biography is written was the only member of the family to come to America. When quite young he worked with his father and learned the trades that he carried on, and he re- mained with him until he was twenty-one. On February 14, 1844 he set sail for this country from Liverpool in the vessel "Caledonia", and landed at New Orleans after a voyage of six weeks. He came by the way of St. Louis and Alton to this county, and located in Chesterfield Township. His means were limited at that time, but in the practice of his trade as a skillful carpenter, at which he worked until 1849, he procured the wherewithal to purchase one hundred and twenty acres of land that year in Chesterfield Township. Fifty acres of his land were under cultivation, and a small frame house and a log cabin constituted in improve- ments at the time of purchase. He resided there eighteen years, and then rented the place and bought the farm upon which he now lives, and which constitutes three hundred and twenty acres. Two hundred and forty acres are well improved prairie land, which yield fine harvests, and are amply provided with substantial buildings. A view of this estate appears on another page.
Though he still retains possession of his farm and looks keenly after his interests Mr. Jackson has retired from active labor. He and his wife know well how to enjoy the good things that life has brought them, and have also extended their pleasures by much traveling in the land of their adoption, and in 1876 they returned to England to revisit the scenes of their childhood. They are people of high character and standing in this coun- ty where so many years of their lives have been passed, and they are universally esteemed for those traits that have made them true to all obligations in the relations that they have sustained towards others. Mr. Jackson was reared within the fold of
ESIDENCE OF THOS. BIELBY, SEC. 32., WESTERN MOUND TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILLS.
SON'S RES.
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE JACKSON, SEC. I., CHESTERFIELD TP, MACOUPIN CO., ILL S.
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LIBRARY Of THE -IUNIE.J . 1.MAINO
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the Episcopalian Church, and still holds to that belief, while Mrs. Jackson gives her sanction to the Baptist faith by her attendance at the church of that denomination.
Our subject and his wife, who were married Feb- ruary 11, 1849 have been eminently happy in their domestic life. They have nine children living, namely : Alice, wife of Joshua Rafferty; Zerilda, wife of Ebenezer Kerby; Nettie, wife of Samuel Waters; Maud, wife of Benjamin Brown; Gresham, married Irene Bosemworth ; Estella, wife of Edward Marshall; Captilla. wife of Edward Miller; Villa Bella, wife of Edgar Middlecof; and Rufus, who married Nellie Daniels and lives at home with his parents.
Mrs. Jackson bore the maiden name of Mary Morris, and she is, like her husband, a native of England, born four miles from the village of Thorne. Yorkshire, May 6, 1825. Her father, John Morris, was also born in that shire, and he there grew to manhood and married Ann Sexty, who was likewise of Yorkshire birth. In 1832 he emigrated to this country with his family, taking passage on the vessel "Sarah ", and landing at New York eight weeks later. He came directly to Illinois by the most convenient and expeditious route at that time, traveling by the Hudson River to Albany, thence by Erie Canal to Buffalo, by Lake Erie to Cleveland, from there by the Ohio Canal to Ports- mouth, by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to St. Louis, and from there to his destination in this county with an ox-team.
Casting in his lot with the early settlers of what is now Chesterfield Township, Mr. Morris was one of the first to settle there. He entered land from the Government, and also purchased land which had been entered by others, which be improved inito a good farm, and he devoted himself assidu- ously to agricultural pursuits until death closed bis earthly career. His wife also passed her last years at Chesterfield. Their daughter, Mrs. Jackson, is one of the oldest if not the oldest inhabitant in this county in point of settlement, She was seven years old when the family located here, and she still has a clear remembrance of the wild condition of the country then, when deer, wolves, bears, wild turkeys and other game were plentiful. In those
early days there were no railroads and her father and husband used to team their grain to Alton, the nearest market. She has thus witnessed the entire development of the county from the wilderness to its present populous and flourishing condition.
2 HOMAS BIELBY. Although not brought up as a farmer, having been a manufacturer and tradesman in his early life. Thomas Bielby carries on successfully the large farm of four hundred acres which he owns on section 32, Western Mound Township. He is of English birth and parentage, having been born in Yorkshire, England, August 14. 1818, where he remained un- til manhood. In his early youth be learned the trade of a boot and shoemaker, serving as an ap- prentice from the time he was thirteen years old until he became of age. This is why English goods are so superior to those made in America. the man- ufacturefs lagern their trades thoroughly and do not presume to think themselves fitted to carry on a business unless they have been trained to it.
Mr. Bielby followed his trade of shoemaker un- til he came to America, in 1850. Previous to his coming to this country he was married and brought his wife hither with him. He first located in New York State, remaining there for two years, engag- ing for a time in his trade. Ile, however, gave up his trade and took up that of butchering, follow- ing it for about two years. He then came to Illi- nois and settled on the section where he at present resides.
Since coming to Macoupin County our subject has followed the calling of a farmer, but in connec- tion with his agricultural work he has been the proprietor of a flouring-mill and also a saw-mill at Chesterfield. He has erected a good set of build- ings upon his farm and has made great improve- ments thereon. He engages in general farming and the little domain is so productive in so many branches as to be almost independent of the out- side world. A view of his commodious residence and pleasant rural environments appears on another page.
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Mr. Bielby's marriage took place in Yorkshire, England, June 5, 1841. His wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Towse, and is a sister of the Hon. W. A. Towse in Polk Township. A sketch may be found of this gentleman in that of his parents, chronicled in another part of this volume. Mrs. Bielby was born in the place where she was mar- ried, September 12, 1820. The union of Mr. Bielby and his wife has never been blessed with children, but they have been parents in every sense to several little ones who would otherwise not have known the tender love and eare belong- ing to a real home. This worthy couple celebrated their golden wedding June 5, 1891, when about one hundred neighbors and friends participated in the anniversary.
Our subject has taken an active interest in polit- ical affairs and is a Republican in belief and prac- tice. In religious and educational affairs he has taken a real interest and is a generous supporter of Gospel work. Our subject's experience in America has not been wholly without drawbacks. In the spring of 1880, in April, a eyelone visited the por- tion of country in which he resides and did much damage. Ilis house was unroofed as was the barn, and nearly all the trees in his orchard were up- rooted and blown away. Our subjeet and his wife were away from home at the time and on their re- turn found that their place was damaged to the ex- tent of about $3,000.
1 GNATIUS SNEERINGER. On February 19, 1891, there passed from earth a gentleman who for years had been closely connected with the growth of the State and whose life was a clear and blotless page of noble deeds more nobly donc. Hle it is whose name introduces these paragraphs and whose life we thus briefly record for posterity.
" What need his virtues to portray ? What need his memory to defend? As husband, father, sage and friend,
He walked in bis Great Master's way."
Just outside the city limits of Bunker Ilill he
had a small farm and there retired from the active duties which fell to his lot in younger years, he passed his declining days. In his pleasant home he enjoyed all the comforts of country life as well as the advantages and privileges of the city. Ile had witnessed almost the entire development of Macoupin County, although he resided in Madison County until August, 1881, when he located in Bunker Hill Township. His residence in Illinois covered a period of thirty-six years, dating from 1855. He went to Madison County from Adams County, Pa., where he was born on the 12th of December, 1819. IIe is descended from old Penn- sylvania Dutch stock. Ilis father was a life-long farmer of Adams County and died at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Obold, first opened her eyes to the light of day in Adams County, Pa., and there she lived until some years after her husband's death, when she was called to her final rest.
Upon his father's farm in the county of his nativity our subject grew to marhood and in the common schools of the neighborhood obtained his education. Ilis early life was marked by no event of special importance until his marriage which was celebrated in 1851. The lady of his choice, Miss Elizabeth Lansinger, was born in Littlestown, Adams County, l'a., December 22, 1830, and is a daughter of William and Catherine (Eline) Lansinger, who were also natives of the Keystone State, and be- longed to early l'ennsylvania Dutch families. Her father was a carpenter and mechanic and through- out his life followed his trade in Littlestown, Pa. Ile lived to the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His wife died some years later in the ninety-fifth year of her age. Both were members of the Catholic Church.
As before stated Mr. Sneeringer arrived in Illi- nois in 1855, and located in Madison County, on the 5th of September. He had but a limited cap- ital at that time and in consequence purchased only a small traet of land, located in Moro Township, but he was very successful in his operations and as his financial resources were thus increased he ex- tended the boundaries of his farm until three hun- dred and thirty acres paid to him a golden tribute for his care and cultivation. He also made many
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improvements such as are found on a model farm and devoted some attention to stock raising. Wishing to lay aside business care he sold part of bis land, retaining only one hundred and ninety acres and removed to Bunker Hill Township, Macoupin County, where he passed the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Sneeringer, five of whom are yet living, Henry F., a farmer of Bunker Hill Township, married Rebecca Davis; William J., who wedded Lizzie Bivens, is also living on the farm of that town- ship; Catherine C. is the wife of Richard Fleming, an agriculturist of Bunker IIill Township; Augusta F. and Edmund E. are at home, Rosalia M. died at the age of eight years and Charles I. died when ten years old. Mr. Sneeringer was a member of the Catholic Church, as was his wife, and in politics he was a Democrat. Whatever success he met with in life, and it was not a little, was due to his own efforts. His industry, good management and perseverance won for him a handsome competence which nun- hered him among the substantial citizens of the community. The confidence and regard of his fellow citizns he won by an upright life and fair dealing, and as the result of his sterling worth he gained many friends.
OSEPH MONTGOMERY, who is now living in retirement at Carlinville, is honored as a pioneer of this county who has contributed his quota to its development, and we take pleasure in representing him in this BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. He was born February 23, 1815, twelve miles from Wheeling, West Va., near the Pittsburg Road, at the mouth of Turkey Run, in what was then Ohio County. His father who bore the same name as himself, was born two miles from the city of Armagh, Ireland. He was a son of William Mont- gomery, who was born in the same county as him- self and was of Scotch descent. Ile was reared amid the scenes of his birth, and came from there to America when a young man. Ile subsequently
returned to Ireland, where he res:dled for a time but in 1812 he came back to this country and set- tled in what is now West Virginia. where he died at the ripe age of eighty years.
The father of our subject was reared and married in Ireland, and emigrated to these shores in 1812. He landed at New York and made his way from there to West Virginia by land. He bought a tract of forest covered !and on Turkey Run, twelve miles from Wheeling, and settled in the primeval wilder- ness of that region. A few acres of his land bad been cleared and a log house stood thereon, the same in which our subject was born. The father busied himself at the pioneer task of improving a farm and made it his home until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Gray. She also died on the home farm, and her remains were bur- jed in the Presbyterian churchyard five miles from Wheeling. The parents of our subject reared six children, two others dying young. Joseph Mont- gomery, of whom these lines are principally writ- ten, attended the pioneer schools in his native State, which were taught on the subscription plan, in a rough log house that was heated by a fireplace and provided with plain board benches without backs. Our subject lived with his parents until he was nineteen years old when he commenced to learn the trade of a millwright, serving three years at $5.25 a month and his board. After his apprenticeship expired he did journey work a year and then went into the business himself as a contractor. In 1837, sbrewdly judging that in a newly settled country he would find men of his calling in demand as the population increased, he resolved to come to Illi- nois. He left home in the month of March with all his earthly possessions tied in a handkerchief, and voyaging on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Bridgeport, Greene County, this State, lie landed there April 2, with fifty cents in his pocket. He walked six miles to where an acquaintance lived to visit him. While on the boat be,had made a contract with a man then residing near Winchester, Scott County, to erect a sawmill, beginning work on it in June. In the intervening time he was by no means idle, but erected a mill in Greene County. He worked hard, was frugal in all his expenditures and in the first year after his arrival saved $300.
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