The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 132

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092


USA > Illinois > McLean County > The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 132


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153


968


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIES :


upon the meat of dead norses, upon the retreat of the army from Moscow. Of 300 soldiers, only two survived to reach home. The children of John and Barbara ( Lutz) Holforty were eight in number, as follows : Catharine A., John, George, Arthur B., Barbara, Miranda and Marion (twins), and Charles W. Mr. 11. has been a member of the Church of the United Brethren for the past forty two years, Mrs. H. having joined about the same time. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and has never made use of intoxicating liquors or tobacco in any form. Of the above children, Catharine and Miranda are deceased.


JOHN HOLFORTY, JR., farmer, See. 30; P. O. Ileyworth. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Clair Co., Ill , May 21, 1848, where he attended the common school, and assisted his father in farming until 1860, when he emigrated to McLean Co. and located in Downs Township, in the spring of 1861. He then engaged in farming with his father during the summer, and attended school in winter until 1864, when he attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington one term, and, the following year attended the Normal University. He farmed during the sum- mer of 1866, and the following winter taught school and has since devoted his attention to farm- ing. In the spring of 1870, he rented land, and has since farmed upon rented land, and upon land of his father, John Holforty, Sr. His marriage with Mary E. Adams was celebrated July 1, 1869; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 3, 1851 ; they are the parents of two children-Ber- tie L., born Aug. 28, 1872; Ella Frances, Oct. 12, 1878. Mr. Ilolforty is the oldest son of John and Barbara ( Lutz) Holforty, whose sketch appears in this work. Mrs. H is a daughter of Wiyett Adams, who lived upon Sec. 16, Downs Township.


EBER HORNOR, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Downs ; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1818. He was a son of Joseph Hornor, who was born in South Carolina in the month of Novem- ber, 1790, and who emigrated, with his parents, to the Territory of Ohio in 1802, and lived in Ohio until 1834, then removed to Boone Co., Ind., in which State he was united in marriage with Miriam Ilollingsworth ; she was born in South Carolina about the year 1794. They were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living. Mr. Hornor died in Indiana May 26, 1869. Mrs. Hornor died in the same State a few years later. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he attained his majority, when, upon the 12th day of December, 1839, he was united in marriage with Anna M. Sweet ; she was born in Richmond, Ind., Aug. 18, 1822 Their children were eleven in number-Francis M., born Sept. 16, 1840; died Oct. 3, 1863; William Perry, born Oct. 28, 1841 ; died April 1858; Miriam C., Feb. 29, 1844 : Esquire II., Aug 10, 1845 ; John J. N., March 26, 1847, died May, 1858; Joseph E., July 11, 1849; Winfield Scott, May 26, 1851 ; Sarah J., June 12, 1854, died in infancy : Isaac Newton, Jan. 14, 1856 ; Charles M .; March 3, 1860, died in infancy ; A. Lincoln, Oct. 20, 1865. Francis MI. enlisted in the 94th Reg., Co. B, I. V. I., and died in Louisiana, while serving his country, in 1863. Upon the marriage of Mr. Hornor, he commenced farming upon his own land of 160 acres, deeded to him by his father, and continued farming in Indiana until 1851, when he disposed of his prop- erty, and, ou the 11th of April, 1852, located upon his present place, where he had previously purchased 120 acres, to which he has since added until he now owns 200 acres, all under a good state of improvement, and upon which he has good farm buildings. Of township offices Mr. H. has had his full share, having held the office of Supervisor, Collector, Highway Commissioner and is now appointed Township Treasurer. Ile is a member of the M. E. Church, and, with his wife, has been a member since 1859.


T. J. IDEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 28; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Licking Co., Ohio, March 10, 1841 ; his father, Thomas Iden, was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1792, and emigrated to Ohio and located in Licking Co., in 1829 or 1830, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred March 5. 1876. IJe married Elizabeth Hill; she was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in 1803, and is now living at the advanced age of 76 years. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools in Ohio, and followed the manufacturing of stoneware until 23 years of age, when he came to Illinois and located in Downs Township in the fall of 1863, where he worked as farm laborer until the 24th of December, 1868, when he was united in marriage with Rebecca Cochran ; she was born in Athens Co., Ohio, Jan. 5, 1839, and raised in Muskingum Co. : they have three children by this union-John W., born July 23, 1870; Edgar H., born Ang. 4, 1873; and an infant, born Feb. 15, 1879. Upon the marriage of Mr. Iden, he rented the farm of Joseph Kershaw, and farmed one year ; and the year 1869, he purchased his present place, upon which he located, and where he has since lived. He owns 160 acres upon his home farm, which he has mostly made by his own hard labor, and in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife.


JESSE JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Le Roy ; one of the old settlers of McLean Co. ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1808; his father, Isaac Johnson, was born in Washington Co., Penn .. and emigrated to the State of Ohio, when it was a Territory ; he died in Butler Co., Ohio. Ile married Nancy Thomas ; she was born in Virginia, and died in Preble Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch lived at home, and contributed all his earnings to the support of the family until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the cabinet trade until 1838, at which date he emigrated to Decatur Co., Ind., and followed farming and working at his trade until 1849; he then emigrated to Illinois, and located in Bloomington Township; the following year engaged in farming in Old Town Township, and in the spring of 1854, settled upon his present place, where he has since lived ; he has forty acres of land. His marriage with Barbara Chambers was


-


969


DOWNS TOWNSHIP.


celebrated in Ohio, Jan. 1, 1832 ; she was born in Ohio ; she died Nov. 8, 1832, leaving one child -Barbara, now Mrs. Eliza Cusey. His marriage with Wilhemina Chambers, was celebrated in 1834: she died in Indiana, leaving four children-William C., Isaac, Thomas J. and Nancy J. His marriage with Lavina McAhren was celebrated May 26, 1840 ; she was born in Washington Co., Penn. ; her father, William McAhren, was born in North Carolina, and died in Shelby Co., Ind., in 1854; her mother died in the same place, in 1847 ; the children by this marriage were ten in number, of whom seven lived to grow up. viz. : Benjamin H., enlisted in Co. B, 94th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died while serving his country in Brownsville, Texas, in the summer of 1864; George W., was also a volunteer of the 94th, but on account of sickness was not mustered into service : Sarah Jane ; Mary A. ; Elizabeth M .; Samuel M .; Lucinda F. and Lydia M. ; of the above, four served in the Union army during the late war of the rebellion. Mr. Johnson was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he with all his sons have been strong supporters of the same.


JAMES C. JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Heyworth ; one of the old settlers ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Sept. 13, 1823 ; his father, Nicholas Johnson, served as captain during the Black Hawk war; was born in Montgomery Co., Penn., and emigrated to Indiana, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred in 1864. He was married in Indiana, to Malinda Cloud ; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., where she died in 1850. The subject of this sketch was raised upon the farm until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage, Sept. 13, 1846, to Elizabeth Hargitt ; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., March 3, 1828; they were the parents of twelve children, of who n one is deceased ; the living are-Malinda, born June 26, 1847; Thomas W., June 17, 1849; Mary E .. Dec. 28, 1850; George S .. Jan. 23, 1854 ; Richard M., Jan. 3, 1856; William R., June 26, 1858; Sarah J., Nov. 11, 1860 ; Charles W., March 18, 1866; Alfred E. and Albert W. (twins), April 10, 1869; James A., Jan. 4, 1871 ; the deceased died in infancy. Upon his marriage, he rented land and engaged in farming until 1852, when he drove an ox team from St. Joe, Mo., to Sacramento, Cal., within a period of eighty-five days, which, at that time, was the quickest trip on record, of which mention was made in the Sac- ramento papers; he there engaged in mining several months, when he returned to Indiana and purchased a farm, and in 1856 sold out, and coming to Illinois, purchased 160 acres in Livings- ton Co., which he afterward exchanged for eighty acres of his present place in 1859, where he has since lived ; he now owns 120 acres of prairie and five acres of timber. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, with seven of their children and two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, are members of the Campbellite Church.


GEORGE W. JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Le Roy ; born in what is now Downs Town- ship, McLean Co., Feb. 10, 1845 ; he is a son of James R. Johnson-one of the early pioneers- who was born in Kentucky in the year 1808, and emigrated to Illinois about the year 1830, and located in Downs Township, where he enteredl eighty acres of land, upon hich he lived until his decease, which occurred in August, 1866. He was married in White Co., to Mary Satterfield ; she was born about the year 1812; she is now living in West Township, McLean Co. The sub- ject of this sketch lived with his father until the decease of the latter, when he continued to manage the old place for five years, after which he lived in West Township four years, and in January, 1878, purchased his present place of eighty acres, upon which he then located and where he now lives. His marriage with Maranda P. Collins was celebrated Oct. 12, 1871 ; she was born in MeLean Co., Nov. 6, 1853; they have one child by this union-Nora Mabel, born Nov. 5, 1874. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Robert Collins, who was one of the early settlers, and whose biography appears in another part of this work.


D. C. KAZAR, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Downs. The subject of this sketch was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., Sept. 28, 1848; he is a son of Lathrope Kazar, who emi- grated from Ohio, and located in what is now the city of Le Roy in the year 1833, where he has since lived for a period of nearly one-half a century. David C. was the oldest son; he attended the cominon school in his youth. and followed farming with his father until 21 years of age, when he engaged in farming upon rented land about two years ; he then located upon his pres- ent place in 1873, where he and his wife have 110 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Mrs. Mary J. Williams was celebrated March 7, 1871 ; she was born in McLean Co., III., April 6, 1840; they have one child now living by this union-Ira B., born June 4, 1874. Mrs. Kazar is a daughter of Alexander P. Craig-one of the early pioneers of McLean Co .- who located here about the year 1835. She was first married to Capt. C. Williams, one of the patriots of the late rebellion. He was captain of the 39th Ill. Regt., and was killed, while serving his country at the battle of Deep Run.


JOHN W. KERSHNER, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 15, 1833, where he attended the common school in his youth, and made his home with his father until 29 years of age, when, on the 22d of February, 1863, he was united in marriage with Malinda Liming ; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1845. Upon his marriage, he rented land and engaged in farming, in Ohio, until 1870, when he, with his family, emigrated West and located in Empire Township, when, after farming one year, he removed to Randolph Township and farmed upon rented land, until the fall of 1878, when he purchased his present place, and, upon Jan. 23, 1879, removed upon the same ; he has eighty aeres of well-improved land, upon


970


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:


which he has good farm buildings. The children of John and Malinda (Liming) Kershner are three in number, as follows: Samuel E., born Nov. 20, 1854; Joseph M., born May 14, 1867; Lewis O .. born Aug. 27, 1877. Mr. K. is a son of Conrad Kershner, who was of German descent ; he was born in Berks Co., l'enn., Jan. 1, 1789; he was a member of the German Reform Church from infancy, and served for many years as Elder and Deacon, in Pennsylvania ; he located in Licking Co., Ohio. in 1857, where he died, Jan. 22, 1864; he was married to Susan Keller, in Pennsylvania ; she was raised in Northumberland Co., Penn .; she died several years previous to the death of her husband ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are now living.


JAMES E. KILLION, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. O. Downs; born in Clay Co., Ind .. March 3, 1828; his grandfather, Adam Killion, was a Revolutionary patriot, and served in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle, until he was captured by the British, from whom he, with two others made their escape ; he died in Indiana, about the year 1821. The father of James E. Killion was Matthias J. Killion, who was born April 26, 1804; he mar- ried, upon the 18th of March, 1824, Nancy A. Barnett ; she was born in Indiana, Jan. 21, 1805 ; she died Nov. 13, 1843, leaving nine children, of whom six are now living ; Mr. K. married a second time, and has by his second wife twelve children, making twenty-one in all ; he now lives near his son James E., at the advanced age of 75 years, and in possession of all his faculties. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son ; he attended common school in his youth, and assisted his father upon the farm until 18 years of age, when he commenced as farm laborer, working by the month at farming and contracting at clearing timber and cutting rails until 23 years of age, when he purchased 106 acres of land in Clay Co., and for which he paid in full with the receipts of his savings for the last five years previous. Upon the 27th day of August, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Ratliff; she was born April 25, 1830, and died Feb. 16, 1858; they had four children by this union-Nancy E., born June 20, 1852, died Oct. 29, 1857; Emily J., born March 31, 1854; Sarah A., born March 23, 1856 ; John N., born Feb. 5, 1858; died Oct. 10, 1858. His marriage with Elizabeth Brown was celebrated Jan. 9, 1859, in Indiana ; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., May 1, 1836 ; they have five children by this nnion-Malinda E., born Dec. 22, 1862 : James O., Feb. 26, 1863 ; William J., born March 14, 1865 ; Charley B. horn July 1, 1870, and Nettie L., born Oct. 15, 1873. Upon the marriage of Mr. Killion, he built him a log house, with a stick chimney, in which he lived until 1861, when he erected a brick residence, in which he lived until 1865, when he disposed of his whole farm and came West ; he first pur- chased 106 acres, in Indiana, for which he paid $2.50 an aere, and which was perfectly wild and heavy timber; he cleared the timber and disposed of the same for $40 per acre. In April, 1866, he emigrated to Illinois and purchased 160 acres of land, upon Section 14, Downs Township, McLean Co., npon which he then located and where he now lives ; he has since added, until he now owns 240 acres, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He and his wife are both members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Mr. K, having been a member for twenty-two years, and Mrs. K. for a period of nineteen years; they also have three children, members of the same church.


JOSEPH KINSEY, farmer, See. 26; P. O. Le Roy ; Republican; Methodist ; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Jan. 29, 1833; he is a son of Thomas Kinsey, one of the early settlers of MeLean Co, now living in Randolph Township. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and attended school in his boyhood and worked upon the farm, until he emigrated to Illinois, with the family, and located in Randolph Township, where he hired out by the month, with Robert Stewart, for two years ; he farmed on shares one year, when he rented eighty acres of his father, in Downs Township, which he farmed for two years, when he purchased his pres- ent place, of eighty acres, upon which he located in 1874, where he has since continued to reside. His marriage with Mary Ann Kershaw was celebrated Dec. 10, 1857; she was born in Williamson Co., Ill., and died Sept. 10, 1877 ; she was a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Ker- shaw, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work ; upon the 26th of Aug., 1877, she, with her husband, started to visit a sick relative in Le Roy ; the horses became frightened and they were both thrown from the carriage ; Mrs. Ker- shaw received injuries causing a total paralysis below the shoulders ; she retained perfect con- sciousness until the last, and died in great peace at her home, Sept. 10, 1877; the grace of God sustained her in her affliction, and she repeatedly exclaimed "The Lord's will be done! all is bright." A large concourse of friends attended her funeral. His marriage with Mary C. Van Winkle was celebrated Jan. 3, 1878; she was born in Mclean Co., June 1858; she is a daughter of John Van Winkle, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., now living in Downs Township ; they have one child by this union-Charles Henry, born Nov. 5, 1878.


WILLIAM KINSEY, farmer, Sec. 27 : P. O. Le Roy ; born in Wayne Co, Ind .. Ang. 31, 1837 ; he attended the common schools during his yonth, and assisted in farming until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled in Downs Township, in the spring of 1854, where his father, Thomas Kinsey, purchased 240 acres, upon which he moved, with his family. The subject of this sketch remained upon the farm until 23 years of age, when, upon March 5, 1862, he was united in marriage with Hannah Waddington ; she was born in Williamson Co., Feb. 9, 1846 ; she is a daughter of George Waddington, who was born in England, June 9, 1818,


971


DOWNS TOWNSHIP.


and emigrated to America in 1842: he was married in Williamson Co , III., to Elizabeth Ker- shaw ; she was born in England, Dec. 11. 1827, and is a daughter of Joseph Kershaw, now liv- ing in Le Roy, and whose sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work ; Mr. Waddington emigrated from Williamson to McLean Co. in the fall of 1857, where he purchased 160 acres of land, upon which he settled and lived until 1874, when he returned to England upon a visit ; after he returned home. he died, upon the 19th day of June, 1876 : Mrs. Waddington died March 10, 1870; they are both buried in the Gilmore graveyard, in Empire Township; they were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are now living, and nine are living in McLean Co. In August, 1862, Mr. Kinsey enlisted in Company B, 94th Regt. Vol. Inf., and served the fall and winter in Missouri and Arkansas, and was wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., upon the 7th of Dec., 1862. and was sent to the hospital at Fayetteville, where he remained two months, and was then sent to Springfield, where he received his discharge, in March, 1863; he returned home and engaged in farming which busi- ness he has since successfully followed. lle removed upon his present place in the spring of 1867, where he has 160 acres of land under good cultivation, and upon which he has good build. ings. The children of William and Hannah ( Waddington) Kinsey were five in number, of whom one is deceased ; the living are-George T., born May 18, 1864; Laura J., born Oct. 29, 1865 ; William Edgar, born Feb. 25. 1869; Elmer C:, born Nov. 7, 1872: the deceased died in infancy. The parents of Mr. Kinsey live in Randolph Township, MeLean Co.


WILLIAM S. LAFFERTY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11, Town 21 ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in De Witt Co., III., Aug. 16, 1847; he is a son of W. H. Lafferty, who was born in Ohio, May, 1807, and emigrated to Illinois and located in De Witt Co. in 1835, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred April 18, 1875. He was Judge of the Probate Court of De Witt to, for a term of four years. During his residence in Ohio he was a Colonel of a regiment of mili- tia until his removal to Illinois, when he resigned. lle married Amanda Anderson ; she was born in Philadelphia, and now lives in De Witt. W. S. Lafferty lived with his father and attended school and followed farming until 15 years of age, and, on Feb. 24, 1864, he enlisted in the 39th Reg., I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he served in the Army of the James River, under Gen. Grant, in Virginia, and was engaged in many severe battles, among which we mention Fort Darling, Bermuda Hundred, siege of Petersburg, capture of Richmond and surrender of Lee. He then remained in Richmond until the fall of 1865, when he was sent to Norfolk, Va., where he was discharged December, 1865, having served in the army nearly two years. Hle then returned to De Witt Co., and followed farming until he located upon his present place in 1873, where he owns eighty acres of land, and farms 160 acres belonging to his wife. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, feeding from fifty to seventy-five head of cattle ard some one hundred hogs. Ifis marriage with Laura E. Crumbaugh was celebrated Dec. 5, 1872; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Aug. 26, 1852. They have two children by this union -Charles A., born Nov. 7, 1873; Blanche May, June 16, 1877. Mrs. Lafferty is a granddaughter of Esquire Hiram Buck, who has a very extended sketch among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work. She is the oldest daughter of J. H. L. Crumbangh, whose sketch also appears among the sketches of Empire Township.


WILLIAM R. LINTON, farmer, Sec. 3. Town 21 ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Ohio, May 22, 1831. He attended school in his youth and followed carpentering and railroading until he emi- grated to Illinois about the year 1859, and located in McLean Co., and engaged in farming, which business he has since successfully followed. He removed upon his present place in 1871, where he has since continued to live. His marriage with Nancy M. Brittin was celebrated Feb. 17. 1861 ; she was born in McLean Co., Aug. 28, 1837: nine children were the fruit of this union, of whom four are deceased ; the living are-Dorsey D., born Oct. 11, 1861 ; Andrew E., May 8, 1863; Minor B., Oct. 25, 1869; Cora, March 28, 1874; May B., Dec. 20, 1876. Mrs. Linton was the second daughter of Nathan T. Brittin, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., whose sketch appcars among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work


HENRY C. LOTT, farmer, Sec. 10, Town 21 ; P. O. Le Roy ; born in Jefferson Co., Ind., June 2, 1829. His father, Jesse Lott, was born in Clark Co., Ky., July 15, 1800. He emigrated to Indiana with his parents at an carly day, about the year 1812, where he entered land, and now lives upon land upon which he entered upwards of half a century ago. Ile was married in Indiana, to Elizabeth IIeaton : she was born in Virginia, and died in Indiana, August, 1853. The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm until 28 years of age, when he emi- grated to Illinois, and located in Dale Township, MeLean Co., in October, 1861. Here he fol- lowed farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. F, 94th I. V. I. lle served in the campaigns of Arkansas and Missouri, and was engaged in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. In the spring of 1863, he was sent down the Mississippi to Milliken's Bend ; then crossed the Mis- sissippi River at Warrenton, and joined the army of Grant, then in the rear of Vicksburg, taking a position upon the extreme left of the army, and continued the siege until the capture of Vicksburg. upon July 4, 1863. Upon the 12th of July, he went up the Yazoo river, and, after the capture of Yazoo City, went down the river to New Orleans; then to Texas; from there to Mobile Bay, where he was engaged in the capture of Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort. In the


1


972


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :


spring of 1865 he was sent to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and received his discharge at Springfield, 111., Aug. 7, 1865. He then farmed upon rented land for five years, and, in 1870, purchased his present place of 120 acres, where he has since lived. Ifis marriage with Susan A. Phillips was celebrated Dec. 25, 1856; she was born in Jefferson Co., Ind., May 17, 1832; they have six children by this union-Charles G., born Oct. 18, 1857 ; Franklin P., Sept. 8, 1860; Florence N., July 20, 1866; Leleah U., April 20, 1869 ; Jennie H .. Oct. 14, 1870; Annie E., Sept. 14, 1872. Mr. Lott is a Republican in politics, and has always supported the Republican party since its organization. He has been a strong temperance advo- cate for the past quarter of a century. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for upwards of eleven years, Mrs. Lott having been a member at that time. Mrs. Lott was a daughter of Robert Phillips. Ile was a native of North Carolina : he removed to Kentucky when 3 years of age ; he married Rebecca Graham ; she was a native of Tennessee. They were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom lived to grow up and become the heads of families, and all lived until April, 1879, when the circle of the children was broken by the death of the oldest brother. Mr. Phillips died in Indiana in 1857; Mrs. P. died Dec. 29. 1878. When Mr. Lott was 21 years of age, he was employed by the month upon a flat-boat, running from Cincin- nati to New Orleans, taking down from fifty to one hundred tons of provisions. hay, etc .; the boats cost from $100 to $200 to build, and, upon reaching New Orleans, would be sold for old lumber ; he would then work his passage back upon steamboats, and worked in this business for a period of seven years.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.