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 87
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In the fall he bought a farm near Scottville in this county, for $1,300. paying his hard earned money for a part of it and going in debt to the extent of $1.000 for the remainder.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Montgomery settled on his farm, but still continued his trade as a millwright for some years. There were two log houses on his place at the time of purchase, and in one of these he and his bride commenced house- keeping. In a few years he replaced it by a more commodious frame house, drawing the lumber for it from Alton and Jacksonville. Ile lived on his farm until 1873, when he sold it and bought a res- idence on College Avenue which he occupied a few years. Disposing of that place he purchased his present residence which is very pleasantly located in the northwestern part of the city.
Mr. Montgomery and Miss Elizabeth Sharp were united in marriage fifty-two years ago. June 9, 1839, is the date of their wedding and they have faithfully shared life's joys and sorrows, showing to the world an example of a true marriage. They have had fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew to maturity and two of them are now living, Win- nie and Henry, llenry is an attorney practicing his profession at Carrollton. Winnie married William llicks, and they reside in South Otter Township, two miles from Nilwood. The names of the other children were Barbara, Mary, Ann E., Lucinda, Isa- belle, Emma, Lizzie, John W .. Lucina. Ellen, Jenny and Willie.
Mrs. Montgomery was born October 23, 1820, in Claiborne County, Tenn., and is a daughter of Will- iam and Barbara (Hunter) Sharp. Her father was also a native of Claiborne County, and he was a son of John Sharp, who is likewise supposed to have been a native of Tennessee. lle in turn was a son of George Sharp, who was one of the first settlers of Tennessee, where he carried on farming and cleared a farm from the wilds of Claiborne County, spend- ing the rest of his life there. Mrs. Montgomery's grandfather came from Tennessee to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Scottville Township, becom- ing a pioneer of this county. He bought a tract of partly improved land and resided on it until he closed his eyes in death.
Mrs. Montgomery's father was reared in his native
county. lle learned the trade of a blacksmith in his youth and followed it in connection with farm ing. Ile remained in Tennessee until 1836, and on the 1st of October, that year, he started for Illinois, accompanied by his wife and nine children and by his brother-in-law and family, traveling with a pair of oxen attached to a wagon, and five horses to another wagon, taking along all their household goods. The little party arrived at its destination the second week in November. Mr. Sharp bought a tract of partly improved land near Scottville and resided there some years. He then bought a farm in Christian County, to which he removed and lived on it for a time. Ilis next move was to La- mars, Mo., where he dwelt a few years but subse- quently came back to Illinois and made his home with bis son in Christian County, until his death. Ilis wife died in 1839.
Mrs. Montgomery was sixteen years okl when the family came to Illinois. She was carefully trained in all things that go to make a good house . wife and early learned to spin and weave, so that after she married she made all the cloth used in the family and clothed her children in garments of which the material was made by her own hand. She and ber husband are exemplary members of the Baptist Church, and their unblemished characters, frank, hospitable natures and straightforward, hon- orable conduct in all things have won them a high place among our most respected citizens.
BRAM ISAACS, one of the well-to-do farmers of Dorchester Township, residing on section 1, has been identified with the history of this community for half a cen- tury. The record of lus life is an interesting one; it is the record of perseverance, of industry and of final success. Through a long life. some of it in shadow and some in sunshine, he has retained his belief in human nature and his simple goodness of character. For this reason and also because he is so widely known, he is deserving of representation in this volume.
Mr. Isaacs was born in North Carolina, Novem-
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ber 10, 1810, and is of English descent. Ilis father, Richard Isaacs, was born near Washington, D. C., and when a young man went to North Car- oliva, where he became acquainted with and wedded Miss Mary Stonestreet, a native of Mary- land, and a daughter of Butler Stonestreet, who served throughout the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Isaacs died at the birth of her sixth child, at which time our subjeet was three years old. Abraham Isaacs had a twin sister who died at birth. After the death of his mother his father was a second time married and he went to live with his maternal grandparents who took him to Kentucky. There he grew to manhood, being reared as a practical farmer boy.
In Jefferson County, Ky., Mr. Isaacs was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Eaton, a native of Mississippi, born on the 23d of July, 1815, in Adams County. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah (King) Eaton, were natives of Maryland, the lady having been born in the Span- ish possessions. of parents who had emigrated from the New Jersey Colony southward prior to the Revolutionary War. They were married in Mis sissippi and four years later removed to Jefferson County. Ky., where they made their home until 1836, when the family all came to Illinois, our subject and his wife being of the party.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaaes made a settlement upon land which Mr. Eaton had obtained from the Gov- ernment in Madison County. That gentleman and his wife spent their last days in Madison County, Mrs. Eaton departing this life in Edwardsville, in 1836, at the age of forty-eight years, while Mr. Eaton died in 1849, at the age of sixty-nine years. His father, Henry Eaton, was a native of Wales, who left the mother country when young, and in America was reared to manhood. Ile married Miss Violet Wallace, a native of the Emerald Isle, served throughout the Revolutionary War as a inember of the Colonial Army and soon after the cessation of hostilities both he and his wife were called to their final rest.
We see that Mrs. Isaacs was descended from cx- cellent ancestors. She remained under the parental roof until her marriage and then the young couple started out in life for themselves, determined to
work their way upward and win for themselves a comfortable home, if not wealth. They became pa- rents of ten children of whom three died in in- faney, while Sarah, the wife of Alex Sinclair, died leaving one daughter; Richard, who married Lucy J. Burton, is engaged in farming in Dorchester Township; Charles C., who wedded Clara Ogden, of Philadelphia, owns and operates a farm in Dor- chester Township; Thomas W. wedded Harriet. Snedeker, who died leaving one son, and after her death married Almira Robb. lle is engaged in agricultural pursuits in New Douglas, Madison County : Henry K .. also a farmer of Madison County, was joined in wedlock with Miss Susan B. Hayden; Abraham married Naney Fruit and oper- ates the old homestead; Amanda C. is the wife of Reed Ayres, a successful farmer of Madison County.
After a four years' residence in Madison County Abraham Isaacs and his excellent wife came to this county and settled upon land which now forms a part of their home. A half century has since passed, during which time the wild and unim- proved tract which he purchased has been trans- formed into fertile fields and the boundaries of his farm have been extended until it comprises three hundred and twenty acres which pay a golden tribute to his care and cultivation. By their united efforts they acquired a handsome property which numbered them among the prosperous citizens of the community. Their home is one of the substan- tial and comfortable dwellings of the community and is the abode of hospitality. In the rear are all the buildings and improvements necessary to a model farm and these in turn are surrounded by well- tilled fields. In politics Mr. Isaaes is a stal- wart Republican, having supported that party since 1856, when the first Presidential candidate was nominated.
For the long period of fifty-five years, Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs traveled life's journey together as man and wife and as the years went by their mu- tual love and confidence increased. Together they worked in the Methodist Church, with which they united in early life, and their efforts at doing good won the love and gratitude of many. The devoted wife and mother passed from earth May 9, 1891,
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mourned by the bereaved husband and children and a large circle of friends. Prior to her demise Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs were known as the oldest couple living in this locality, and had been longer married than : ny others.
6 HEODORE H. KOCHI, one of the wide- awake and enterprising young business men of Mt. Olive, who holds the position of Postmaster, and is Cashier of the C. J. Keiser & Co. Bank, claims Missouri as the State of his na- tivity, his birth having occurred in St. Louis, No- vember 26, 1863. He is a son of William and Minnie (Sewing) Koch, who were natives of West- phalia, Prussia, and came of respected and worthy German ancestry. They came to this country when young people, their parents remaining be- hind in the Fatherland, and when they reached the United States, made a location in the vicinity of St. Louis, both working for families in that neigh- borhood until, having saved up some money to begin life for themselves, they were married. The father afterward followed his trade of calker at the dry dock of that city, and later became owner of the dock, which he operated until 1875, when he retired from active business life, but, continued to make his home in St. Louis until his death, which occurred in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years. lle was a well-known man of that city, who wit- nessed its growth from a village, and at his death many friends mourned his loss. He voted the Re- publican ticket, and always kept well informed concerning the political issues of the day, but was noi a politician in the sense of office-seeking. Ilis wife still makes her home in St. Louis, and is now sixty-five years of age. She has been a life-long member of the Evangelical Church, to which Mr. Koch also belonged.
In his native city the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, and acqired a good education in both the German and English languages in the parochial schools. At the age of twelve years he began earning his livelihood, and has since been depend- ent upon his own resources. He well deserves to
be classed among the successful, enterprising and ambitious young business men. When a youth he entered the employ of Keiser & Niemeyer, general merchants, with whom he remained from 1876 until 1882. He first began as a salesman, but afterward they gave him permission to attend Bryant & Stratton's Business College of St. Louis, where in 1880 he completed a commercial course of study, and took charge of the books of that firm, being employed as book keeper until 1882, when he entered the C. J. Keiser & Co. Bank as Cashier. For nine years he has served as Cashier, and his connection with the company covers a period of fifteen consecutive years, a fact which indicates his trustworthiness and faithfulness. His employers trust him implicitly, and never have they had reason to believe their confidence mis- placed. In 1889 he was appointed Postmaster of Mt. Olive and still holds that position. We pre- dict for Mr. Koch excellent success in his business career, for a man of his ability is always sure to prosper. In politics he is a Republican, and served for one term as Township Clerk.
S AMUEL LOVE, a resident of Bird Town- ship, is a son of John and Cynthia (Sey- mour) Love, who emigrated from Alabama to Illinois in the early days. They came first to Madison County, where they remained a few months, and then came on to Macoupin County as early as before the '20s, but at just what date the son is unable to say. They made their home in what is now South Palmyra Township, but about the year 1828 they removed to Morgan County, this State, and remained through the life time of Mrs. Love, after which her husband re- moved to Greene County. where he spent the re- mainder of his days.
The subject of this sketch was one of the five children of his parents who lived to maturity, and he was the youngest of their number. It is claimed that he was the first white child born in Macoupin County, as he opened his eyes npon this world in the year 1822 in South Palmyra Township. He
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made his home with his father until his mar- riage to Elizabeth Taylor, who died in Greene Connty. His second marriage took place in that county and was solemnized March 1, 1849. Ilis bride was Minerva J. Laster, daughter of William and Mary (Hill) Laster. They came from Tennes- see to Greene County, this Siate, and after making their home there for several years, removed to Jef- ferson County, this State, where Mr. Laster died. His widow made her home with her son-in-law, Mr. Allen Love, with whom she spent her last days.
Ten children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Laster. Mrs. Minerva J. Love being the eldest of the six who grew to maturity. She was born in Greene County, 111., April 6, 1831. Ten children constituted also the number of hier flock, namely : John J .; James M .; Mollie, who is the wife of Charles Kessinger; F. N .; Douglas A., deceased ; Ada E., the wife of Francis Washburn : Bernettie, the wife of John A. Wood; Delia, George W. and Walter. Mr. Love and his wife are both earnest and active members of the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat in his political views and has filled some of the school offices. He settled in Macoupin County in 1854, when he came from Greene County. Ile has always been engaged in farming, and has good improvements on his productive farm of one hundred and eighty acres.
M EINT ARKEBAUER, who owns and oper- ates a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres on section 10, Mt. Olive Township, is numbered among the sub- stantial and respected citizens of tlus commu. nity and his property has all been acquired since he came to this county in 1855. In addition to the homestead, he owns forty acres of land ad- joining the village of Mt. Olive and a timber tract of one hundred acres. His home and the other buildings upon the farm are first-class in every particular. His fields are well tilled and the stock which he raises is of excellent grades. He is a progressive yet practical farmer, and the suc-
cess which has attended his efforts is due to him- self alone. He may therefore truly he called a self-made man.
Mr. Arkebauer was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, September 8, 1828, and is a son of Harmon and Anna (Johnson) Arkebauer, who were also natives of Hanover, where they were born, reared and married. After the birthi of all of their children, the family started for America in the autumnn of 1846, taking passage upon a sailing-vessel, the "Averhardt." On cross- ing the channel they encountered a severe storm and were forced to remain at Portsmouth, Eng- land, thirty days for repairs. At length, after a tedious voyage, they reached New Orleans in safety, fifteen weeks having elapsed since they left home.
Coming up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, a few months were spent in that city, during which time two of the nine children died. Their next place of residence was on a farm in Moro, Madison County. They lived on a farm belong- ing to Samuel Dorsey for about five years and then came to Mt. Olive, where the father died in 1857. at the age of sixty years. His wife sur- vived him some years and met her death in 1886, while crossing the railroad track of the Wabaslı line. A fast passenger train struck her, killing her instantly. She was then eighty-four years of age. They were both members of the Lutheran Church and were people whose worth and ability won them many friends.
The subject of this sketch was the second of the family. When a youth be accompanied his par- ents to this country and was residing in Madison County when he attained his majority. Not long afterward he led to the marriage altar Miss 'Tette Keiser, who was born in Hanover, and when a young lady came to America in 1854. After liv- ing in Madison County for some time she removed to this county with her parents, John and Johanna (Jerguna) Keiser, both of whom are now deceased. They lived to quite an advanced age, the mother having reached her eighty-second year at, the time of her death. Both were communicants of the Lutheran Church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Arkebauer were born six children, four of whom are yet liv-
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ing -Johanna, wife of Fred Druster, of Mt. Olive; Ilarmina, wife of Henry Gehner, a resident farmer of Cahokia Township; and Auna and John H., who are yet at home. The former attends to the household duties, while the latter assists his father in the operation of the farm. The two children, Anna and Herman H., are now deceased.
In 1874 Mr. Arkebauer was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at the age of thirty-eight, after a happy wedded life of seven- teen years. She was a Christian woman, a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church and in her death her neighbors lost a faithful friend and her family a loving and tender wife and mother. Mr. Arke- bauer and the children are all members of the Lutheran Church and constitute one of the re- spected families of this community. In politics he is a Republican.
ENRY CLARK, an industrious and intelli- gent farmer residing on section 27, Staun- ton Township, was born in this township, January 7, 1855, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county. His father, William Clark, was a native of the Emerald Isle and came of a good Irish family. Ilis parents, who were honest, worthy and respected people and members of the Presbyterian Church, spent their entire lives in the county of his nativity. William grew to manhood upon the farm, became a freeholder, and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ireland until he came to America.
Eliza Little, who became the wife of William Clark, was born and reared in the same neighbor- hood as her husband and belonged to a family who embraced the Protestant faith. Her father died when she was a small child, after which the widowed mother cared for ber four daughters, devoting her- self exclusively to their interests. William Clark and his wife came to the United States with their three children in 1842, zailing from Belfast on the "John Bull", which landed him and his family in New York after a voyage of six weeks and three days. The autumn of that year found them estab-
lished in a home in Pittsburg, but soon after they came to Illinois, locating in Staunton Township, Macoupin County, where Mr. Clark entered eighty acres of land from the Government and began developing a farm, after building a log house.
Not a furrow had been turned nor an improve- ment made, but Mr. Clark soon had a large tract under cultivation and the crops which were gar- nered proved ample for the maintenance of the family. Some eighteen years later he sold to a good advantage and then made the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, of the same township. An additional traet of eighty acres was afterward added on the west and the entire farm of two hundred and forty acres was improved with good buildings and other evidences of the thrift and enterprise of the owner. Mr. Clark was a hard- working and energetie man, fair in all his dealings, and to his business interests he devoted his entire attention, caring nothing for publie honors or polit- ical offices. He supported the Republican party hy his ballot, and in religious belief was a Presby- terian. His widow, who yet survives her husband, finds a pleasant home with our subject. She is now seventy-five years of age. A member of the Pres. byterian Church, she has led a consistent life and for her many excellencies of character and her great kindness is beloved by all.
We now take up the personal history of Henry Clark, whose entire life has been passed on the old homestead farm. Midst play and work his boy- hood days were passed, and when he attained to mature years he was joined in wedlock with Miss Louisa E. Powers. This estimable lady was born in Staunton Township, July 10, 1854, and is a daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Cormack) Powers. Her parents were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and they were married in Illinois where they have lived since childhood. Their domestic life was begun upon a farm in Staunton Township, where they made their home until called to their final rest. Mrs. Clark was left an orphan during childhood. By marriage she has become the mother of four children, one son and three daughters: Grace, now deceased ; Samuel 1)., Mary E. and Martha A., twins. On the death of his father, January 17, 1878, Mr. Clark came into
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RES. OF SAMUEL WOOD, SEC. 35,, BUNKER HILL TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILLS.
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RES. OF HENRY CLARK, SEC. 27,, STAUNTON TP .. , MACOUPIN CO .. , ILLS.
LIRBARY
ME
UNIVER.
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possession of the old homestead under whose shel- tering roof his childhood days were passed, and a view of which is presented on another page. In addition to the one hundred and twenty acres of arable land which he owns he has forty acres of timber land. Industrious and energetic, he is meet- ing with excellent success in his undertakings and is regarded as one of the progressive and public- spirited citizens of the community.
8 AMUEL WOOD, who resides on section 35, Bunker Hill Township, is numbered among the honored pioneers of the county, and since 1832 has resided upon his pres. ent farm of three hundred and twenty acres, hav- ing entered the land from the Government on July 4 of that year. He still has in his possession a deed signed by President Jackson. He has wit- nessed almost the entire growth and development of the county since the days when its lands were all wild and unimproved, settlements few and far between, and the work of civilization and progress seemed scarcely begun.
Mr. Wood came to this county with a double yoke of oxen, and was thirty -four days upon the road, traveling from Kentucky to Bunker Hill. He was born in Cumberland County, Ky., Decem- ber 25, 1804, and is descended from one of the old Virginian families, which was founded in Amer- in 1755 by Samuel Wood, who was a line scholar and became Gen. Washington's Secretary. He served during the Revolution as a member of the Virginia Blues, and also participated in the battle where the French and Indian army defeated Brad - dock. The great-grandmother of our subject, whose maiden name was Sarah Bean, was the daughter of a prominent Englishman, of London, who owned large possessions there, including the London Bridge across the Thames River. Miss Sarah, when a child, was kidnapped and carried away to America, where she was sold as a nurse to a tobacco planter near Jamestown. There she grew to womanhood and gave her hand in marriage to an American, who took up arms against the mother country. When the war was over she returned to England to claim
the estate of her father who had died, but, though she established a just claim to the heirship, King George confiscated the property on account of her husband having been an American soldier.
The father of our subject, James Wood, fought in the War of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and after his discharge his brother, Maj. William Wood, fought under Gen. Richard M. Johnson, and took part in the battle of Tippecanoe, where Tecumsch was defeated. For a fuller account of the parents of our subject see the sketch of James E. Wood on another page of this work.
Samuel Wood grew to manhood in the State of his nativity, and no event of special importance occurred in his childhood's career. In Cumber- land County he married Keziah Dougherty, who was born in Tennessee, of Scotch-Irish parentage, but grew to womanhood in Kentucky. Twelve children grace their union, six of whom were born in Kentucky, and six in Illinois. Iliram D., who served as a soldier in the Mexican War, married Lydia Lukin, and is engaged in merchandising in Dundee, Delaware County, Iowa; Rosa is the wife of ff. C. Smith, who was a Mexican soldier and was woundedlathe battle of Buena Vista, and is now Judge of the Police Court of Hot Springs, Ark .; Sarah J. is the widow of William R. Wood, and is living at the home of her father, for whom she cares in his old age. She has two daughters, Mrs. John Russell and Mrs. G. A. Manley, of St. Louis, Mo .; Althea is the wife of William Patrick, a mechanical engineer of Staunton; Jasper N. is a photographer, artist and minister of the Christian Church of Hot Springs, Ark., who married Eliza- beth Cooper; Dr. B. K., who wedded Fannie Choate, is now engaged in merchandising in Ver. non, Tex .; John died at the age of twenty-seven years; Silvers and Oliver were both married, and at their deaths left families; Thomas, Clayborn and Susanna died in infancy. Mrs. Wood, the mother of this family, was born on the Ist of February, 1805, and died in 1882. She was a noble woman, and one of the leading members of the Christian Church. In her death the family lost a loving and tender wife and mother, her neighbors a faith- ful friend, and the church one of its active workers.
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