The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 104

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848

USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 104
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 104

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).

HULDAH DORRELL, farming; P. O. Easton; widow of Francis Dorrell, deceased ; he was born in McKeysport, Penn., Feb. 1, 1808, and moved to Hamilton Co., Ohio, with his parents, in 1822, and married Huldah Denman Feb. 23, 1832; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 30, 1806; her father, Nathaniel Denman, was born in New Jersey Aug. 29, 1780, and married Susanna Crow in June, 1802; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1782, and died Feb. 11, 1811 ; he died March 16, 1836, in Hamilton Co., Ohio. Mr. Dorrell was subject to heart disease and consump- tion, but was called to the sick-bed of his son, who was in the U. S. Army Hospital, at Bolivar, Tenn .; he arrived there only in time to close his eyes in death ; attended his funeral, and on his return, himself worn by excitement and overcome by grief, suc- cumbed to the inevitable, in Havana, even before he reached his home; they have had eight children-Susanna C., born Nov. 20, 1832; Sarah H., Aug. 18, 1835; Mary A., Aug. 26, 1837 ; John M., Sept. 22, 1839-enlisted in the Federal army, in 1861, and died of camp disease, at Bolivar, Tenn., Dec. G, 1862; Charles C., born Oct. 30, 1841 ;

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PENNSYLVANIA ' TOWNSHIP.

David. D., Sept. 27, 1844 ; Robceea, April 11, 1847, died April 5, following ; Lauretta, born March 24, 1848, died July 5, following. Susanna C. married William C. Thomp- son in December, 1860; he was born in England Aug. 10, 1821, died July 29, 1873, in Wyoming Territory; they had four children-Franeis D., born Oct. 13, 1861; Car- oline, Jan. 16, 1865, died Aug. 4, following ; Andrew, born Aug. 23, 1867, died at the age of 3 weeks and 3 days; and Riehard, born Aug. 15, 1872. Mrs. Dorrell owns 160 aercs of excellent prairie land, of which she has been sole and successful manager since her husband's decease-now at the age of 73, in the possession of good health and remarkable vigor and wonderful memory of every event in her eventful life.

JOSEPH FINK, farmer and stoek-raiser ; P. O. Teheran ; was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., June 13, 1832; except two years that he was employed clerking in a store, has followed farming; he came to Pennsylvania Township, where he now resides, in 1856. He married Angeline Benscoter Dec. 2, 1855, in Luzerne Co., Penn., where she was born Aug. 4, 1836; her father, Jaeob Benseoter, was born July 7, 1804, and married Jane Moss, in March, 1826; she was born April 2, 1807, and died July 1, 1866, in Mason City, where Mr. B. now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Fink have had nine children-Walker B., born Dec. 7, 1856, and married Fannie Johnson Dee. 22, 1877, and moved to Kansas City July 15 , 1879 ; Emma L. J., born Sept. 22, 1858; Derie R., March 18, 1860 ; Porter H., Sept. 19, 1861; Lot, Nov. 22, 1863, died March 23, 1867; Harvey D., born Sept. 15, 1865; Jacob B., April 6, 1873; Arthur S., March 17, 1875, and Joseph M., Sept. 29, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Fink are members of the M. E. Church, and the four eldest children of the Society of United Brethren. He owns a good farm of 125 acres-good house and outbuildings.

ANDREAS FURRER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Easton; was born in Baden, Germany, Oet. 24, 1839; lie landed in New Orleans in June, and in Havana, Mason Co., July 3, 1853, with his parents ; he has made farming his business ; in 1863, bought eighty acres in Pennsylvania Township, where he now resides. Dec. 30, 1860, he married Mary Ann Dorrell ; she was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., Aug. 26, 1837; she is a daughter of Francis and Huldah Dorrell (see biography of Huldah Dorrell, widow). In June, 1876, Mr. Furrer concluded to take a vacation, by a grand excursion to the Centennial Exposition, in Philadelphia, and a visit to his old home in Germany, visiting all the principal cities on the route, including Paris, the capital of France. On his return, Mrs. Furrer meeting him at Philadelphia, they visited points of interest on their return to the West; they have six children-Huldah D., boru Dee. 11, 1861 ; John D., March 13, 1865; Nathaniel D., June 10, 1867; Sarah E., Dee. 5, 1869; Susanna C., June 22, 1872, and Francis D., Feb. 5, 1875. He owns 440 aeres of land, and a fine house, barn and outbuildings.

JAMES I. HURLEY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Teheran ; was born in Ocean Co., N. J., June 11, 1836 ; there he followed the business of burning charcoal ; they moved to Mason Co., Ill., in the fall of 1832 ; his father, Aaron Hurley, died on board a boat, on their way West, with the cholera, and was buried on Liberty Island, just below St. Louis. (See biography of Christopher Titus.) After they came to Mason Co., Mr. James I. Hurley worked at farming by the month or day, until March 1861, when he purchased eighty acres of improved land, where he now resides, in Pennsylvania Township. He married Emma J. Riggs March 11, 1869 ; she was born in Orange Co., N. C., May 30, 1850, and came to Mason Co. Oet. 28, 1868; they have had seven children-Maggie E., born Feb. 17, 1870; Sybil P., March 18, 1871 ; "Olive M., May 29, 1872 (died July 18 following) ; Petro N., Oct. 25, 1873; Lena F., Sept. 12, 1874; Bertha V., Jan. 5, 1877 ; Royal E., June 8, 1878. He owns 140 acres of land, a good house and barn, and outbuildings, which he has erected since 1867.

JOHN W. PUGH, Supervisor, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Mason City ; was born in Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penn., Aug. 5, 1824. His father owned a large farm, a grist and saw mill, which gave him plenty of miscellaneous and general employment while at home. Ile moved to Mason Co. (Havana Township) in 1850; entered eighty acres of land that fall, in Section 27, Township 22, Range 7, and has since followed farming, mainly, though during the year of 1854, was captain of a boat

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running between Havana and Chicago, on the Illinois River. June 8, 1854, he married Miss Sarah Apple, daughter of Maj. Henry Apple, of Fulton Co., Ill. She was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug. 7, 1827. Mr. Pugh was elected Supervisor in April, 1866, and has held the office ever since, except two years that he was in the State Legislature, to which he was elected in November, 1874. They have had six children-Henry A., born Feb. 22, 1855 ; Mary E., Nov. 21, 1856 ; Charles W., Sept. 7, 1859; George B., Oct. 22, 1861; Clara E., April 19, 1864; John F., born July 29, 1867, died Aug. 26, 1868. He owns a fine home, and 343 acres of land. They belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Pugh is a Democrat.

GEORGE W. SCOVILL, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Mason City. " Yankee" was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., Oct. 31, 1837 ; moved to Adams Co., Ill., in . 1857 ; worked by the month for wages about four years; he then returned to his old home, but returned, in August, to Mason Co., and leascd 200 acres of new unbroken prairie, of Harvey Scovill, for five years. In 1865, he bought a farm, where he now resides. He married a daughter of Pulaski Scovil, of Salt Creek Township-Mrs. Maria L. Paul, April 17, 1867. She was born in February, 1833, and married Thomas E. Paul Sept. 6, 1854, who was born Feb. 13, 1830, and died at Nashville, Tenn. (in the Fcd- eral army), of typhoid fever, Dec. 8, 1861. They had three children-Sarah E., born May 9, 1856, died April 2, 1862; Fantley R., born April 6, 1858 ; Stephen A., born Dec. 25, 1860, died Dec. 25, 1862. Mr. George W. Scovill's father, John W., was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., and married Martha Wilson, of the same county ; died March 4, 1863. She resides on the old homestead, in Connecticut. After his father died, Mr. Scovill rented his farm out, and returned to farm a portion of the old home- stead, but soon tired of his efforts to obtain wealth from the little earth distributed among the rocks of Connecticut, and gladly returned to his rural Western home. They have had four children-George W., born Feb. 3, 1867; Mary L., born Feb. 14, 1869, died Aug. 17, 1872; Addie L., born Sept. 27, 1871; Martha C., born Nov. 22, 1876, died March 4, 1877. He owns a fine farm of 230 acres, a new house, cost $2,000, and fine outbuildings, also a house and two lots in Mason City, and began life in the West without a dollar of his own.

CHRISTOPHER TITUS, farmer ; P. O. Mason City ; was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., Aug. 25, 1832, where he worked at farming, carpentering, boating, etc. ; moved to Mason Co. in August, 1852. The next spring, he bought eighty acres in Salt Creek Township, where he resided a year ; after that, lived in Havana and Quiver Townships ; moved on to his farm where he now resides, in Pennsylvania Township, in February, 1867. He married Mary Jane Hurley Nov. 23, 1858; she was born in Occan Co., N. J., Aug. 15, 1830. Her father, Aaron Hurley, married Fannie Dennis ; they both were born in New Jersey ; he died Oct. 2, 1852, with cholera, on board a boat while on their way to the West, and was buried on Liberty Island, just below St. Louis ; he was born Nov. 21, 1803. She was born Feb. 18, 1804, and now resides near Mr. Titus. Mr. and Mrs. Titus have had six children-James, born Oct. 12, 1859; Halleck S., Oct. 9, 1862; Margaret and Fannie, April 24, 1865 ; Sarah, born Jan. 26, 1868, died Dcc. 1, 1874, and Mary A., born Aug. 11, 1871. Mr. Titus is a member of the society of United Brethren in Christ. He owns 160 acres of land in Pennsylvania Township.

JOHN VAN HORN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mason City ; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Sept. 16, 1816 ; his father, David, was born in the same county March 27, 1781, and married Sarah Gillen ; she was born Aug. 11, 1786. They moved to Warren Co., Ohio, and then to Miami Co., Ohio; he died there in September, 1854 ; she died in Wabash Co., Ind., in August, 1870. John Van Horn, the subject of this sketch, learned the business of stone-cutting in Miami Co., Ohio, and followed the bus- iness a number of years. He married Jane Mathers Dec. 24, 1840 ; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1822; her father, David L., was born in the same county Nov. 15, 1797, and married Margaret Williams March 22, 1821; she was born in New Jersey July 1, 1798; he died in Miami Co. Sept. 11, 1850, and she died near Mason City, Mason Co., Ill., Jan. 24, 1875. John Van Horn, the subject of this sketch, moved to Mason Co., where he now resides, in the spring of 1857, has been

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CRANE CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Justice of the Peace, but, after serving two years declined a renomination, preferring to give his whole attention to his farming interests. They have had ten ehildren -- David P., born Feb. 4, 1842 ; Sarah J., Oct. 16, 1844; Jolin E., Nov. 11, 1846 ; Mar- garet, March 16, 1849 ; Joel, May 20, 1851 ; Martha A., April 17, 1854; Elizabeth, July 31, 1856 ; Susan, Jan. 6, 1859; Job, June 15, 1861, died April 3, 1867 ; and Miles, born Oct. 17, 1863. He owns 723 aeres of land, a fine house and outbuildings- and reads and writes without glasses.

EDWARD WILSON, farmer and stoek raiser ; P. O. Mason City ; was born in Pennsylvania June 4, 1812; moved with his parents to Greene Co., Ohio, when he was about a year old ; his father, George Wilson, married Annis Ashcraft ; they were born in Pennsylvania ; he died in Greene Co., Ohio, in 1820 ; Mrs. Wilson, with her children, Edward, John and James, in 1823, moved to Madison Co., Ohio, and, in 1836, to Tazewell Co., Ill., near Pekin, where she died in January, 1840. Edward Wilson, the subject of this sketeh, married Rebecea Woodrow March 3, 1846; she was born in Lieking Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1823. Her father, Samuel Woodrow, was born in Penn- sylvania Jan. 6, 1789, and married Catharine Montanye ; she was born in New Jersey Sept. 7, 1798, and died Nov. 10, 1863; he died Dee. 12, 1874; both are buried in Cincinnati Township, Tazewell Co., Ill., where they lived ; they were among the first settlers of Ellison's Prairie in Illinois, in 1824 ; they moved to Tazewell Co. in 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had ten children-Samuel W., born Jan. 9, 1847, dicd Dee. 20, 1851; Amelia, born Sept. 17, 1848, died Nov. 3 following ; Malvina, born March 24, 1850; Catharine, March 2, 1853 ; John A., Sept. 24, 1854; Charles W., Jan 31, 1856 ; Mary E. and Cornelius R., Aug. 25, 1858; Mary E. died Jan. 25, 1859 ; Annabell, born Oet. 21, 1861; and a little girl unnamed. He owns a fine house and outbuildings and 446 acres of land.

CRANE CREEK TOWNSHIP.

JESSE BAKER (deceased ), farmer ; Mr. Baker was one of the first white set- tlers of Mason Co .; he was born in Tennessee in 1799, and came to Illinois Territory in 1816 and settled in what is now Morgan Co., and, in 1833, located in Mason Co., where he passed the remainder of his life. He has had a varied experience ; possessed of an unusually vigorous and robust frame, he endured the privations and hardships of pioneer life, the chase of the deer and the defense against the noble red mon, which few could endure; he has fought the Indians from tree to tree ; was eotemporary with Ross and Scovill, of Havana, and others; he engaged in farming upon Crane Creek; ncar where he and his descendants have resided for nearly half a eentury ; he raised ninety bu-hels of corn per acre and sold supplies to Mr. Faulkner, the first farmer of Sherman Township. His descendants are among the substantial residents of the county. Upon Aug. 20, 1879, Jesse Baker passed down the dark valley at the age of 80 years. He was a man esteemed very highly for his many noble traits of char- acter, and one of whom his cotemporaries will admit that his life was not a failure and he did not live in vain ; he was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln, in the rafting and old Salem days of the latter. He was the father of Mrs. R. W. Porter, of Mason City, who was with him several days before and up to the time of his death.

GEORGE W. ESTEP, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne; was born at Baker's Prairie, across the river from Petersburg, Menard Co., Ill., March 6, 1823 ; his father, James Estep, and his grandfather, Elijalı Estep, were the first owners of the land Petersburg is built on. George W. Estep commeneed farming on his own account in Mason Co., in 1848. He married Cynthia Norris Aug. 2, 1849; she was born in Greene Co., Ill., May 8, 1828, and eame with her parents to Mason Co. in 1835 ; they have had eight children-Finis M., Rhoda K., William H., Celia J. and Alvin are living ; Celestia died aged 8 days ; James A. died in his 13th year ; Mary died in her 18th year ; Finis and Rhoda are married ; the others reside at home with their parents. He owns a farm

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of 130 aeres in this and Kilbourne Townships. Himself, wife and three children, are members of the Baptist Church.

WM. J. ESTEP; farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Easton; was born in Menard Co., Ill., Jan. 4, 1831 ; went with his parents to Jasper Co., Mo., in the spring of 1839, and in 1844, to Davis Co., Iowa, and to, MeDonough Co., Ill., in 1846, and to Crane Creek Township in 1848, where he has since resided ; his father, James Estep, and his grandfather, Elijah Estep, were the first owners of the land on which Petersburg, Menard Co., is built; they went there in the spring of 1820. The subject of this sketch married Miss Judith Tomlin July 26, 1855 ; she was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., Jan. 23, 1835, and eame to Mason Co. with her parents, in February, 1846. Mr. Estep has never taken any very active part in politics, but has held some Township offiees, School Trustee, Commissioner of Highways and Supervisor one year, ete .; he owns 362 acres of land and a fine home.

DAVID C. ESTEP, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne; was born in Menard Co., Ill., Nov. 7, 1838; went to Jasper Co., Mo., with his parents in the spring of 1839; in 1844, to Davis Co., Towa, and to McDonough Co., Ill., in 1846, and to Crane Creek Town-hip in 1848; his father, James Estep, died Feb. 5, 1857, and his mother, Feb. 9, 1855 ; his father and his grandfather were the first owners of land that Petersburg; Menard Co., is built on. In 1857, the subject of this sketch left home and worked here and there farming; he married Mary F. Baker, of Menard Co., Nov. 12, 1863; she was born May 10, 1846. They have four children living-Etta M., Miles E, Misty May, David F. Mr. Estep eommenecd farming his own land in the spring of 1865, and moved on to the farm he now owns (160 aeres) in the spring of 1868.

JAMES M. ESTEP, farmer ; P. O. Havana ; was born in St. Clair Co., Ill., Dee. 14, 1819 ; in the spring of 1820, his father, James Estep, moved to the spot now oeeu- pied by Petersburg, Menard Co., and a year or two later, his grandfather, Elijah Estep, came there, and both made the necessary improvements to hold the land and enter claims when it should be put on the market by the Government, and effeeted their purchase in 1827 ; so that the father and grandfather were the first owners of nearly all the land on which Petersburg was built. Mr. James M. Estep holds land grants over the signatures of J. Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk and Z. Taylor. James Estep was born in North Carolina, Feb. 16, 1795, and died Feb. 5, 1857, in Crane Creek Township ; he married Abigail Teter, of Virginia, Dee. 31, 1816 ; she was born Dee. 5, 1794, and died Feb. 9, 1855. James M. Estep's school advantages were little beyond what he taught himself; he has always followed farming, and purchased here in 1849; he married Mrs Maria F. Perkins, (Short) Feb. 14, 1858; she was born in Menard Co., Ill., June 12, 1835, and had two children by her first marriage-Edgar, who died at the age of 10 years, James D., lives in Kilbourne Township; her father was born in January, 1805, in Kentucky; her mother in St. Clair Co., Ill., Dee. 28, 1808; her father died Nov. 27, 1846, in Government serviee in the Mexican war. Mr. and Mrs. Estep have had six children-Sarah A., born Jan. 24, 1859 ; Dillard M .. Sept 13, 1862, died July 29, 1863; Carrie E. and Cordie C., born May 16, 1865 ; Ella J., Feb. 25, 1868, and Ida L., Feb. 4, 1871 ; Sarah J. married H. B. Samuell and lives in Crane Creek Township. Mr. Estep owns now 570 acres of land.

JAMES L. HAWKS, farmer ; P. O. Easton ; was born in Green Co., Ky., Nov. 25, 1823, and moved to Mason Co. Ill., in the fall of 1849. At the age of 16 years, with his father went down the Ohio and Mississippi River to market, with two flatboats loaded with tobaeeo ; on their return, his father was strieken with fever, and diced within sixty miles of home. At the age of 19, he entered his unele's store in Adair Co., Ky., as clerk, and remained between eight and nine years ; he then invested all his means in eompany with a horse buyer, and bought a drove of horses to sell in Mississippi, but was left by his partner with only $80 in money and two horses. He had a sister living in Mason Co., Lil., where he decided to go and engage in farming, and has sinee remained. He reached Crane Creek Township in the fall of 1849. Feb. 25, 1852, he married Abigail Bale ; her father, Solomon Bale, was one among the first settlers of this town- ship; she was born Nov. 29, 1832,.in Green Co., Ky. They have ten ehildren-Mary

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E., born Dec. 3, 1852; Nancy R., Dec. 13, 1854; William H., Oct. 12, 1856 ; James R., Nov. 18, 1858; Sophia, Feb. 3, 1861 ; Fielding T., Ang. 18, 1863; Solomon L., Jan. 21, 1866; George A., May 1, 1868; John C., Feb. 19, 1871 ; Ella M., May 7, 1873. The two oldest daughters and the oldest son arc married ; the rest are at home with their parents. Mr. Hawks has been School Treasurer over twenty years, and was the first Supervisor elected after the organization of Crane Creek Township ; has served twelve years off and on, and was re-elected last April. He owns 710 acres in the township. Is a member of the Baptist Church.

ADAM LIST, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Easton; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Jan. 27, 1835, and the following spring his parents moved to Tazewell Co., Ill. Peoria, at that time, had no buildings except a few log cabins. He moved to Mason Co. in the spring of 1861, and married Elizabeth Keil, of Tazewell Co., Oct. 24, 1861 ; she was born Feb. 2, 1839. Her father, Baltzer, and her mother, Catherine E. Keil, were born in Germany. Her father died Oct. 20, 1865; and her mother resides in Taze- well Co. Louis List and Catharine (Gable), parents of the subject of this sketch, were also born in Germany ; his father died in October, 1847, near Peoria, and his mother still resides there. Mr. and Mrs. Adam List have six children-Charles F., born Aug. 15, 1862; Julia E., Oct. 2, 1864; Louis A., Jan. 1, 1867; Ezra J., Oct. 26, 1869 ; Catharine M., Nov. 23, 1871; Matilda M. M., Aug. 15, 1875. He owns 310 acres, and a building lot in Mason City.

GEORGE S. MCCLINTICK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Easton ; was born in Augusta Co., Va., Sept. 12, 1835 ; came with his parents to Tazewell Co., Ill., in the spring of 1836. His father, Robert McClintick, and his mother, Mary (Arginbright). were born in Virginia ; his father died in March, 1851. Mr. McClin ick married Mrs, Sarah Jane (Somers) Perdue, of Illinois, Nov. 8, 1858. They have two boys living- Cyrus E., born Oct. 4, 1859, and Milton S., born May 16, 1863. He owns 289 acres of land.

JAMES TURNER, farmer ; P. O. Easton ; was born in Muhlenburg Co., Ky., May 28, 1845, and came to Menard Co., Ill., in the fall of 1854. He married Martha A. Ilall, of Mason Co., Ill., Oct. 29, 1875; her father, George W. Hall, was born in Virginia, and her mother, Nancy M. (Short), was born in Menard Co. Berry Turner, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Buckingham Co., Va., and his mother, Susanna (Strader), in North Carolina, Feb. 11, 1806, and resides in this township; Berry Turner moved with his family to Menard Co. in 1854 and is familiar with many of the earliest settlers of Menard and Mason Cos., and now in their ripe old age reside in Crane Creek Township, surrounded by their children. Mr. and Mrs. James Turner have one little daughter-Silva Belle, born Oct. 6, 1876. They own 141 acres of land in Crane Creek Township.

WILLIAM C. TURNER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Easton ; was born in Muhlenburg Co., Ky., Jan. 28, 1842 ; moved to Menard Co., Ill., in the fall of 1854, and to Crane Creek Township, in Mason Co., the same year. He married Laura Jane Hawthorn Nov. 8, 1867 ; she was born in Allen's Grove Township, Mason Co., May 20, 1851 ; her father, Benjamin Hawthorn, is one of the early settlers of this county ; they have had six children-Hugh A., Dora A., born Oct. 13, 1870, and died Jan. 6, 1871; Benjamin A., born Dec. 17, 1871; James A., Dec. 25, 1873; Marcus D., Aug. 15, 1876, and died March 19, 1878; John W., born Sept. 20, 1878, and died Feb, 11, 1879. They own 90 acres, and he is a Democrat.

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. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

LYNCHBURG TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM AINSWORTH, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Chandlerville; was born in Blackburn, England, Jan. 23, 1824; when 14 years of age, he was apprenticed to the trade of silversmith and served three and a half years; Mr. Ainsworth, with his brothers, Thomas and Richard, came to America in 1842, reaching New Orleans in June of' that year, and, early in July, landed at Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained a few weeks ; in the latter part of August, they reached Beardstown, Ill., and, in Novem- ber following, located in Lynchburg Township, this county, near where he now resides. He was married, June 22, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Pemberton, who was born in London, England, Oct. 31, 1822 ; her death occurred Feb. 13, 1860 ; ten children by this union, three of whom are living-John T., Sarah A. and Elizabeth A. (wife of J. J. Ainsworth); the deceased are William P., Henry A., Eleanor, Melinda, Mary E., Ellen and William H. He was married to his present wife, Charlotte L. Moorffoot, Oct. 7, 1860 ; she was born in Greenc Co., Ill., March 28, 1842 ; they have seven children living-Charlotte L., Charles W., Eleanor, Bessie, William E., Victor and Grace; one deceased, Mary E. Mr. Ainsworth has served as Superintendent eight terms, School Treasurer about ten years and School Director several terms; he has been a member of the Fairview M. E. Church since an early date and has served the church and Sabbath school in an official capacity more than twenty years. He owns 880 acres of land in Mason Co.,. 720 acres in Champaign Co. and 215 acres in Kankakee Co., Ill.

THOMAS AINSWORTH, retired farmer and residence Chandlerville, Cass Co. (formerly resident of Lynchburg Township); was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, in January, 1814 ; he came to America in 1842 and located in Lynchburg, this county, in the fall of the same year, where he engaged in farming. He was mar- ried, Jan. 20, 1837, to Miss Maria Abbott, who was born in Black burn, Lancashire, England ; ten children by this union, seven of whom are living-Nancy (wife of A. Wait; resides in Decatur, Ill.), Alice (wife of William Casey, resides in Centralia, Ill. ), Sarah E. (wife of George Ranson, resides in Kilbourne Township, this county), William H. (resides in Carrolton, Ill.), Thomas T. (resides in Kilbourne Township), Joseph (resides in Lynchburg Township), Mary A. (lives at home), Martha J. (deccased). Mr. Ainsworth owns 480 acres of farm land and 120 acres of timber land in Lynch- burg Township, this county, and 1,857 acres in Iroquois Co., Ill. His father's family came to America in 1846 and settled in Lynchburg Township; his father, Thomas Ainsworth, dicd in 1855, and his mother, Sarah (Townley) Ainsworth, died in October of the same year. Mr. Ainsworth removed a few years since to Chandlerville, Cass Co., Ill., where he still resides.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 104

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 848

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848