USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 71
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 71
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MRS. EUPHEMIA CROFT.
Mrs. Croft, widow of H. Croft, whose biography is given elsewhere, was born in Durbin county, Indiana, in 1832, and moved to Marshall county when a child, with her parents in 1833, and located on the farm she is now oo- cupying. She married Hutchison Croft in 1850. He died in March, 1878, leaving four children -Samuel M., Emma (Mrs. Kirkpatrick), Julia A, and James. Are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The estate con- tains about 1200 acres of land, all improved. Her fine residence was burnt down in April, 1880.
MISS SUSAN WOOLF AND MRS. S. P. HALLAM, Dress-makers, Wenona.
The subjects of this sketch, having opened up their establishment in August, 1879, are prepared to do all kinds of dress-making, plain and fashionable, at the shortest notice. Miss Woolf is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio. and came with her parents to Marshall county in 1858. She is a member of the M. E. church, Mrs, Hallam isa na- tive of Guernsey county, Ohio, and moved to Richland county, Ill., in 1861, and to Rutland in 1866. She married Mr. S. P. Hallam in 1867. He is a native of Washington county, Pa. They have three children- Anna M., Myro L. and Henry G. They are members of the Methodist church.
E. M. HUNTER, (widow).
Mrs. Hunter was born in Philadelphia, and came to Ohio with her parents when seven years old. and to La Salle county two years later. She married William Phillips in 1850. She was only 13 years old. He was born in England. They have three children-Nelson Clara, and Fannie. He died in Oct. 1864. Mrs. Hunter owns a farm at Lostant, La Salle county, of 62 acres and a honse and 4 lots. She sold a farm of 160 acres, in 1876, which she dis-
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tribnted among her children, who are all married. Mrs. Hunter is a dressmaker and follows her business indus- trionsly, although having no necessity to do so. She prefers business to occupy her mind. She has purchased the property she is now occupying, subject to minor's claim, having rented her own large residence at Lostant, as she did not require so large a house since her children married.
JOHN I. PARSONS.
Mr. Parsons was born in Putnam county, near Magnolia, in 1848. He is a son of Isaac Parsons, who moved from Missouri and settled in Putnam county at an early day. Mr. Parsons married Ada S. Hopper in 1873. She was born in Sangainon county, near Springfield, Ill. Their children are Hallie, Annie, Edward H. and Mary Ada. Are members of the Presbyterian church. He has the management of his father's property, which, including his home- stead of 50 acres, embraces six farms, consisting of 1030 acres in this state, and 455 acres owned by himself.
L. A. McCULLM.
Mr. McCullm is a hair-dresser living in Wenona. He was born in Putnam county in 1852, and come to Wenona in 1874. In January, 1874, he married Miss Emma Carson, born in Andrew county, Mo. They have two children, Clara Bell and Mary Louisa. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He has a first-class establishment, and is the only . one in Wenona. Has been nine years in the business, and makes money. ..
MRS. H. N. MCCLANAHAN, Widow.
Wenona, Illinois.
WILLIAM M. HAMILTON.
I was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 13, 1816. My father was Rev. Wm. Hamilton. I am the sec- ond son of twelve children, ten sons and two daughters, all of whom grew up to be men and women. The psalmist says, " I have been young and now am old. yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging brcad." I always considered my father a righteous man, and he must have been such, for I never knew of any of his sced begging bread. Five of his sons followed farming, three were doctors, one preacher, and one was an editor-also a member of the Ohio legislature for a number of years ; at the time of his death he was a representative in Con- gress. One son, Dr. J. W. Hamilton, has obtained some notoriety as a surgeon in Columbus, Ohio. His son, Dr. T. B. Hamilton, was surgeon of the 104th Illinois regiment. and died at Nashville, Tenn. My father died in the 78th year of his age. His sons ranged in height from five feet six inches to six feet two. I being the nearest the ninth part of a man, my father bound me to Hon. James Henderson, of Zanesville, Ohio, for the term of six years to learn the tailoring trade. Nothing unusual or strange took place in my life until I was in the 11th and 12th years of my age. In those days almost every family kept liqnor to be drank as a beverage. My father, though averse to drunkenness, kept whiskey in his closet by the barrel and a bottle in the cupboard; thus affording a chance to take a dram when I wanted it. My visits to the old cupboard became more and more frequent. till at length it was noised aronnd that little Bill Hamilton was a drunkard. My sister, becoming alarmed, conveyed to my father the sad news. He called me to him and in an affectionate tone of voice said, " William, yonr sister tells me that yon have become a drunkard, My son, I would rather follow you to your grave than you should become such." Thus, through the watchful care of my dear sister and the timely admonition of a loving father, I was as a fire-brand plucked ont of the burning. This occurrance took place in harvest time just after the organization of the first temperance society in that region, and my father had a number of hands employed. It was my office to wait on them with water and whiskey. One evening all the hands got ready to go to a temperance meeting, and I asked permission to go with them. On the way father's admonition kept ringing in my ears-" I would rather follow you to your grave than have you become a drunkard." After the lecture was over an opportunity was given to sign the pledge. The lecturer requested those who would sign to give their names. One of the young men that went with me sat in the seat in front of me, and I said. "Charles, I will sign," when he exclaimed in a loud voice, "Bill Ham- ilton." We returned home at a late hour I had to pass through my father's bed-room to get to mine, and he was awake. Perhaps the sad news that he had learned from my sister had drove sleep from his eyes, and he may have been praying, as thousands of fathers and mothers are to-day-" Lord kecp my son from the vices of this world and save him from going down into a drunkard's grave and a drunkard's hell." The first question he asked was, ". William, were there many at the temperance meeting." "Yes, sir: the house was full." "Who signed ?" I named all I conld recollect. and closed by saying I signed. He asked no more questions. I don't know how he passed the balance of the night, but think he must have felt like the old father who said, "This is my son that was lost and is found," and he, with those that were invited to the supper, began to be merry. In the fall of that year my father built a large barn, and in asking his neighbors to help him raise it he told them he wonld not have any liqnor on the occasion. All came that were invited, and the frame went up nicely. Never after this did my father keep liquor in his house to be drank as a beverage. In the 13th year of my age I joined the Methodist Protestant church, that was in derision called radical's church. A few years previous to this some of the leading spirits of the Metho- dist Episcopal church published a paper styled Mutual Rights, contending that the laity should have an equal voice in church government with the ministry. For publishing such views they were silenced, if not turned out of church. This transaction gave rise to the Methodist Protestent church, which now has a membership of over 100.000 in the United States. The day I was 15 years old I went to Zanesville to learn my trade, and served as an appren- tice until I was 21. After working at my trade in Ohio until early in the spring of 1843 I took passage at Marictta,
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on the Ohio river, for Cincinnati, remaincd one week, and then started for St. Louis, where I arrived with 25 cents remaining in my pocket. While standing on the deck, up came a peddler with a hasket of jewelry, and my last quarter went for a watch-key. I engage'l board in the city at $2.50 per week, and at the end of three weeks I found myself $7.50 in debt, but I got a joh and soon paid up my board bill, and commenced business in the upper part of the city and remained there until October, then took a trip up the Illinois river to visit my relations abont Mag- nolia. In this month I was 27 years of age. Being highly pleased with the country, I commenced business in Mag- nolia, and continued it from the fall of 1843 to the summer of 1851. During this time made four trips to Ohio, one via the lakes, two by wagon and one on horseback. During my third visit I traded my spring wagon and a lot of clothing I had with me for three more horses, bought on time eighteen mules, and started for New Jersey, where I sold one-half interest in my drove at a very nice profit. Being late in the fall we did not find sale for our stock un- til near spring. Notwithstanding our heavy expenses. I returned to Ohio $250 gainer. [ there bought another drove of 93, pastured them until the next November, and returned to Illinois. The latter part of August I started on horsehack for Ohio. On my way through Indiana I hought seven heed of mnles and one horse. This made me a drove of 40 mules and two horses. At Zanesville, Ohio, I sold about one-half of my drove to California emigrants, and the balance I took to New Jersey. On this trip [ cleared above all expenses $1002. I returned to Ohio and bought another drove of 40 mules and two horses, and hired their keeping until the latter part of that winter, and then drove them to Harrishurg, Pa., where I sold them at $800 profit, and then returned to Ohio. After giving away $500 I returned to Illinois with something over two thousand dollars, with a view to invest my funds in reserved lands of the Illinois Central R. R. They not coming into market as soon as expected. I hought a farm of 160 acres three miles northeast of Magnolia. I farmed one year, and then sold out to Daniel Horram at a handsome profit, I entered my Wenona lands January 10th, 1853, and my Chenoa lands Sept. 24th, 1853.
I was married to Rebecca Burns, daughter of Andrew Burns, Oct. 18, 1855. five days after I became 39 years of age. Should we live until Oct. 18. 1884, we may give our friends an invitation to attend our silver wedding. I voted the abolition ticket in 1838. After the organization of the Republican party with a plank in their platform opposing the extension of slavery, I became identified with that party, as did the majority of the abolitionists. My father once remarked to an aunt, ' I am afraid that William will render himself unpopular on this abolition question." ['ruth is mighty and will prevail. It was not long until father and all my brothers were ranked among the abolitionists. In those days men were egged, stoned and shot dead for expressing their views. I once made the remark to a fellow stage passenger, "I believe the black man has just the same right to his freedom as you or I." He drew back his fist to strike me, and said, "you may compare yourself to a negro, but you shan't me." In the win- ter of 1838, I heard a minister lecture on temperance who advocated the enactment of municipal state and na- tional prohibition laws, I have been of the opinion ever since that the strong arm of the law as well as every other lawful means should be brought to bear against this soul destroying traffic. In the winter of 1874, the Wenona temperance society elected Rev. Morrow and myself as deligates to attend a state prohibition convention at Bloom- ington. Since then, as opportunity affords. I have voted the prohibition ticket, but, as did the old abolitionists, hold myself ready to become identified with a party that can hring about the desired object quicker than the one I uow snppolt, In the winter of 1873 I drew up an amendment to section 2 of the dram shop act, making it unlawful to sell liquor in any quantity without first ohtaining a license, also making it unlawful for the supervisors to grant license to sell liquor within three miles of any city, town or village. Previous to this time it could be sold hy the quart without license. I sent the bill to Senator Baldwin, which he introduced. It was referred to the Judiciary committee and reported hack to the Senate amended, making it nnlawful to sell in less quantities than one gallon. and debaring the supervisors from granting license to sell liquor within two miles of the corporate limits of cities, towns or villages. Thus amended it passed both houses. Before the assembling of our last legislature I drew up another amendment to section 2, by adding, "provided cities, towns, and villages may enact ordinances prohihiting the sale of intoxicating liqnor in any quantity, thus giving ns a local law by which we could avoid the evils of sell- ing by the gallon. This bill I sent to my nephew, J. M. Hamilton, senator from Bloomington district. This bill was printed and ordered to the second reading. While thus pending I wrote to my nephew to amend the bill be- fore its passage so as to give cities, towns and villages jurisdiction two miles beyond their corporate limits in pro- hihiting the sale of intoxicating liquors. In due time this amendment was presented, and referred to the Judiciary committee and there met the same fate of a number of other prohibition bills. I hope to live to see the day when the people of Illinois will elect representatives that will press the passage of such bills.
I served as school director in Wenona ten years, and was re-elected for a three years term. At the close of one year I resigned I wasonce a candidate for mayor of the city of Wenona on ano-license ticket, and was beaten. In the spring of 1872 i was nominated hy the Republican party for county supervisor. Not feeling disposed to treat or leave money with saloon-keepers, to buy votes, and through the circulation of a lie, that I was opposed to a poor man having a vote, I ran behind my ticket, and was beaten five votes. In the fall of 1875 I went to California with my family, consisting of my wife and four children, with a view 'of remaining there five years. After sojourning there one year, along the coast from Clear Lake, 80 miles north of San Francisco, to San Diago, 600 miles south, I became fully satisfied that the climate had heen misrepresented, and returned home in the fall of 1876, believing the statement once made by David Law, who died at Henry a few years since, was true. Said he, "I have traveled in every state in the Union, and I tell you, taking everything into consideration, there is not a better country in the world than this portion of Illinois." On my return home, I learned the saloon-keepers had hnng me in effigy on the morning of my departure. When I heard George McAdam and other highly esteemed citizens say that 1 had never heen more highly honored, I felt still more joyful in this tribulation. Two years since, Dr. Reynolds, of El- Paso, in an introduction said to Rev. Millsap: "Hamilton was one of the pioneers in the temperance work; that we are now occupying grounds that he occupied forty years ago;" and added, "Don't you recollect the time you vis-
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ited me at Bowlingreen, Woodford county, some twenty-five years ago, that Elder R. invited us home with him on Sunday to take dinner, and that he had wine on the table, and how you opposed the practice?" At this writing I have just entered on the sixty-fourth year of my age. In reviewing my past life I can see where I have erred and misimproved time, and some acts of my life are brought to my recollection that gives me great satisfaction, of which I never will have an occasion to write. WM. M. HAMILTON,
WILLIAM P. DITMAN. Farmer. Postoffice, Wenona.
WILLIAM MCQUAID. Painter, Wenona.
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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.
JOSHUA D. BULLMAN.
Mr. Bullman was born in Morris county, New Jersey, February 21, 1806 He enjoyed the advantages of a common school education, and labored on a farm until twerty-two years old. when he married Catherine Hall, born May 30. 1808, and started west the same year, in company with his mother and younger brother Lot. They found a stopping place on the Wabash until the spring of 1832, when they came to Marshall county and selected the place where he has ever since lived and hopes to die. He was a good worker, and so was his wife, and the prairie was soon transformed into a thriving farm, with fields loaded with wheat and corn. In course of time children were born to them, five in number-Hattie, Theodore, Mortimer, Clementine and Theresa, After a long and useful life Mrs. Bullman, the faithful companion of his better days, died, and they laid her beneath the daises. Mr. Bnllman still lives at the old farm, which his son Mortimer carries on, and where his children and grand children come to visit him. Of the latter there are five.
AUGUST QUIRAM.
The subject of this sketch is a farmer in Hopewell township, born in Germany, March 23d. 1848. He came to Marshall county in 1862, and married Miss Rosey Reabshler. She was born in Germany, Sept. 25th, 1846. They have five children,-William, Mary, Emma. Edward and John,
MARGELAND JASON.
Mrs. Jason is widow of the late John Jason, and was born in Germany in 1819. She came to the United States in 1843, and the following year was married, in New York city. She lived there four vears. and came with her hus- band to this county in 1848. He was for several years a ferryman, and lived some time at Sparland. He was born at Dane, Germany, in 1820, came to the United States in 1843, and died in 1877. He was a prudent. industrious man, and accumulated a large property, owning six hundred acres of land at his death. They had seven children,-Mary,, John, Peter, Frederic, Charles and Elizabeth.
EDGAR MYERS.
Mr. Myers is a son of William Myers, and was born in Edgar county. Ill., Sept. 24th, 1857. He came to Mar- shall county in 1873, and married Addie Cora Strawn, June 3d, 1879, and in about six months after she died. leav- ing him a widow at 22. She was a daughter of Enoch Strawn, and was born in Hopewell township, July 19th, 1859. Mr. Myers is a good worker and an honest man.
LUTHER HANCOCK.
Mr. Hancock was born in New Hampshire, Sept. 7th, 1815, and married Martha J. Colby, March 27th, 1844. She was born July 10th, 1825. They have three children, Lydia A., James and John, living, and two deceased.
JACOB PURSEL.
. Mr. Pursel was born in Huntington county, N. J., in 1804, and located in this county in 1857. He married Miss Mary Cole in 1826. She was born in Somerset county, New Jersey. They have five children,-Peter, Rebecca, Selinda, George and Jane. He owns 80 acres of farm land and 20 of timber. His farm is in a good state of cultivation.
MRS. MARY VERNAY, (widow).
Mrs. Vernay is a resident of Hopewell township, and was born in Baltimore county, Md., Jan. 11, 1809. She married David Vernay Oct. 18. 1832, and located in Marshall connty in the spring of 1833. He was born in Hartford county Md., June 20, 1799, and died Sept 17, 1865. They had two children. James, born Dec. 34, 1834, and William (deceased). Mr. V. was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Verney owns 80 acres of land in her homestead and 60 acres of timber land. She rents her farm and lives on the income of her property.
WILLIAM STRAWN.
Mr. Strawn was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1814. and came to Illinois in 1829. He married Helen M. Broaddus in 1840. born in Caroline connty. Va., in 1821. They have ten children-Lucy B., Jacob, Leland. Leroy, Caroline V., John J., Helen and William (twins), Ralph. W. E. and Alford T. Are members of the Congregational church. He was assessor one term, has been a school director several years, and road commissioner. He owns in his homestead 160 acres, Also a farm in Iroquois county, and one in Bennington township. He gave his children
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each a farm. He served in the Black Hawk war and was granted a section of land as bonnty. He has been a noted hunter in his day and remembers the prairie when from the Illnois river to: Washington, Ill., there was not a single white man. His ten sons and danghters were all born here, and he has seen them grow up to men and women and comfortably provided for.
AUGUST COLESON.
Mr, Coleson is a farmer in Hopewell township, who was born in Sweden in 1855. He came to the United States in 1869, and located In Marshall county. He married Anna Lindgen in 1877, born in Germany. They are members of the United Lutheran church. He rents 160 acres of land which he cultivates, and is a hard working farmer.
JOSEPH ST. CLAIR BULLMAN.
Mr. Bullman is a son of Lott Bullman and was born and reared in Hopewell township. He has a good farra of his own, and a pleasant home, is industrious and knows how to take care of himself. He married Susan, dangh- ter of Henry Wier, Sept. 22, 1875, and to them has heen given one child, Ullman J.
T. W. STONER.
Mr. Stoner was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 2, 1841, and came to Illinois in 1864, finding a home in Marshall conuty, where he has a splendid farm of 240 acres in cultivation and 100 acres in timber. His wife was born in Putnam county. and his five children are Wilbert L., Effie M., John R. and Edna A. Mr. Stoner is much respected in his township, where he has held the office of town collector and school director.
WILLIAM F. MYERS.
Mr. Myers was born in Ohio, October 14th. 1833, and was married in 1856, his wite being a native of Ohio, and born in 1832. He first settled in this state in Edgar county, and removed from thence to Indiana and stayed two years, lived in Michigan one year, came to Marshall connty and lived three years, was in Kansas three years, and returned to Marshall county. They have ten children-Edgar, Italy L., Robert, Riley, Jacob. George, Laura, Lilly, John and Rosey. He owns a fine saw mill and cultivates a large farm of 120 acres. Mr. Myers is industrious and honest, but has been very unfortunate, having had his mill burned down and his leg broken through accident.
FREDERICK JASON.
Mr. Jason is by occupation a farmer, and lives on section 16. where he owns and cultivates sixty acres of land. He was born in Sparland, April 1st, 1853, and married Miss Emma Jones in 1877. She was born in Missouri, July 26. 1857. They have one child, whom they call Andrew Jackson.
A. W. JONES.
Mr. Jones is by occupation a farmer, owning and cultivating 280 acres of land in Hopewell township. He was born in Chillicothe, Ill .. in 1836. and has lived in Marshall county since 1844. He enlisted in Co. B, 17th Ill. Vol., was elected lieutenant. and badly wounded at Fort Donelson, from the effects of which he has since been a snffer- er. Being debarred from active service, he resigned in 1962 and returned home, where he married Miss Emma M. Hall, a very accomplished lady, born in Marshall county in 1842. They have two children, Julian Charles and James Hall. Mr. Jones is a man of influence in his township, has filled important local offices. and is a gentleman of good address and more than average abilty. Mrs. Jones was well educated, and in 1879 was a candidate for county superintendent of schools, for which she is well qualified.
PHILIP MARTIN.
Mr. Martin is a farmer by occupation, living in Hopewell township, where he cultivates fifty acres. He mar- ried Mary Berry in 1868, and they have five children, John, Mary, Catherine, Philip and Charles. .
LOTT BULLMAN.
Mr. Bullman was born in Morris county, New Jersey, July 9th, 1811 , and came west in 1830. He stopped on the Wabash river one season, and came to his present location in 1832. He married Ann Babb, daughter of Joseph Babb, of Somerset, Ohio, in 1836. She was born in 1815. They have four children, Eleanor Ann (Mrs. Blackstone), Margaret Jane (Mrs. Hancock), Joseph St. Clairland Clarissa Frances (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Bullman have led long and nsefnl lives, and their good deeds will be remembered after they have paid the debt of nature. Besides their own children they have reared several orphans, giving them good educations and otherwise aiding them. Few persons are so widely known, and fewer still so generally respected.
WILLIAM W. HANCOCK.
Mr. Hancock was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 17th, 1813, and comes from an old Protestant fam- ily. When 15 years old his father died, and he was sent to his grandfather, a large farmer, to be edncated, where he made himself nseful, and was promoted to keep the books of the farm. He remained until 20, and then embarked for the new world, landing at Philadelphia. Letters of introduction found him friends, and npon their recommen- dation he went to the conatry and bargained with a man named Walker to labor a year and a half for the privilege of learning the mysteries of farming, but all he learned was that Walker got his services free and learned him nothing. Then he hired one ycar to a neighbor for $140, after which he joined a young man named Chapman and came to Dayton, Ohio, where he made the acquaintance of Ira and Norman Fenn and accompanied them to
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