The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 79

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 79
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 79

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).

ISRAEL FROGLEY, farmer; P. O. Tallula; was born near Oxfordshire, England, July 25, 1819; son of Israel and Elizabeth (Phillips) Frogley. Hc is the second of a family of six, and came to this country in 1840, and remained in the East- ern States until 1856, when he and family came to Illinois, locating in Menard Co .; in 1861, he bought his present home farm, locating upon it in 1862. He now owns 358 acres of land, with fine farm improvements, the result of his own energy. His first wife was Miss Susan Blinko, of England. They were married March 27, 1850; she died in 1851, leaving one child-John B. His present wife was Miss Susan McArd, of the city of Brooklyn. They were married Dec. 26, 1854, and have raised a family of six children-Israel, George, William (deceased), Elizabeth, Amelia, Mary E.

WILLIAM G. GREENE, farmer and banker, Tallula; son of William and Elizabeth (Graham) Greene, who were of English descent. His grandfather, Jarvis Greene, was one of the pioneers of Kentucky, emigrating there from North Carolina

710

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

while the country was yet a wilderness ; he was killed by the Indians during the battle of Blue Lick, in August, 1781. It was in a fort at Bryant Station, erected by Daniel Boone as a protection against Indians, that William Greene, father of the subject of this sketch, was born; his early life was spent in the Kentucky wilds, and at the age of 21, he married, remaining in Kentucky some ten years; then removed to Overton, Tenn., and engaged in farming, locating on the Cumberland, near the mouth of Obeys River. It was at this place that William G. Greene was born, Jan. 27, 1812. His father remained about fifteen years in Tennessee. At that time, the tide of emigration was turned toward the fertile and beautiful lands of Illinois, and Mr. Greene resolved to try his fortune in the new country; the farm was accordingly disposed of, a few household goods and other articles were packed together in a wagon and the family, the younger members in the rude conveyance and the older boys trudging along on foot, started on their northward journey. The region to which they were directing their steps was not yet known by the name of Illinois. The French settlers of St. Louis had bestowed upon it the name of St. Gamil, and Sangama, Sangaman and Sangamon were variations of this. The family reached a point in what is now Menard Co., near where Tallula now stands, and there settled and purchased from one Royal Potter a farm This spot was afterward the residence of the elder Mr. and Mrs. Greene until their deaths. William was a boy of 9 when the family made Illinois their home; thenceforth his history was closely identified with that of the Prairie State. His early education was such as the rude advantages of a community destitute of any system of public instruc- . tion could furnish. The first school he attended was kept in a log schoolhouse, built by the combined efforts of the neighborhood ; it stood on Rock Creek, and the school was taught by a man named Compton. He afterward was a pupil of T. M. Fletcher, one of the pioneer teachers in that section of the State, who taught under the old shed of a band-mill. But though the facilities for obtaining an education were necessarily very restricted, to the active mind of young Greene they were enough to form the basis of a sound and substantial education, studying as he did in the summer, under the shade of the wildwood, and in winter, by the flickering light of the back-log firc. The house of Greene's father was within a few miles of Salem, and when Abraham Lincoln made that his home in 1831, Greene became one of his acquaintances and a friendship was formed that lasted till the death of the latter. Lincoln was then 21 and Greene three years younger, but, as far as education was concerned, the latter had the advantage, and from him Lincoln learned his first lesson in English grammar. In 1832, Greene laid aside his studies and enlisted in the Black Hawk war. Lincoln was chosen Captain of the company raised at Salem. They served their country for twenty days, but they were days characterized by hardship rather than glory. It was in 1832, when Mr. Greene was 20, that he entered into his first speculation, which deserves mention, not only on account of its success as a first business venture, but by reason of its historical association with Lincoln, the incident being mentioned in detail by Hol- land in his life of Abraham Lincoln and by other biographers of the distinguished President. A man named Reuben Radford kept a small store in New Salem ; the " Clary's Grove Boys," an organized band of desperadoes and a terror to the community, often visited the village and kept Radford in constant alarm. He had kept the placc two or three weeks, when one night he went over to his brother-in-law's, a few miles away, and left a younger brother, Jackson Radford, in charge, instructing him if the "Clary's Grove Boys " came, not to let them have but two glasses of whisky apiece. That very night they came ; they were refused the whisky and thereupon turned young Radford out and helped themselves. Before they dispersed, the store was pretty well torn out and the contents lay in a confused mass on the floor. It happened the next morning Greene had started before daylight, with a bag of corn before him on a horse, to the old mill, just below Salem, in order to be first with his turn. Just before reaching Salem, he was passed by a man riding rapidly on horseback ; it was Radford, who had heard of the fate of his grocery and was galloping to the scene. Greene arrived on the spot a moment after Radford, just in time to hear him exclaim, " I'll sell this to the first man that makes me an offer." Greene rode up to the solitary window and sticking in his

711

TALLULA PRECINCT.

head, and taking a hasty glance at the state of affairs, said, " I'll give you $400 for it." The offer was at once accepted, with the understanding that the purchaser should have six months in which to make payment. Greene met Lincoln a short distance from the store and the latter proposed to go over and take an inventory of the contents; this was done when the value was found to amount to over $800. The same day, he sold the store to Lincoln and a man named Berry; they taking Greene's place on the note for $400 and giving him, in addition, $265 in money and a fine horse, saddle and bridle, belonging to Berry. Radford would not consent to the arrangement about the note unless Greene became their security, to which at last he agreed. The business soon went to pieces. Greene assisted Lincoln to close up the store and then, as surety, was com- pelled to pay the note of $400 to Radford. Thus Lincoln became indebted to Greene for that amount. In their conversation, this was invariably humorously alluded to as the " National Debt." Six years later, when Mr. Greene had removed to Tennessee, and Lincoln had become a lawyer in Springfield, the latter wrote him, stating that he was ready to discharge the liabilities of himself and former partner to the utmost farthing. The friendship between Greene and Lincoln was never interrupted. Horse-racing was then one of the amusements common in the vicinity of Salem and Lincoln was frequently selected as judge in these races. The honesty of his decisions gained for him the soubriquet of " Honest Abc," in bestowing which upon him Mr. Greene bore liis part. In 1833, Mr. Greene became a student of the Illinois College, at Jacksonville. Leaving home with $20 in his pocket and a homespun suit of clothes on his back, he determined to have an education if energy and economy could carry him through. He entered the industrial department, where students were paid 8 to 10 cents per hour for their labor. Here began a course of unflagging industry, which was increased rather than diminished through the three years' course at this institution, and in which was laid the solid foundation of a liberal educa- tion. He worked every hour of the day not occupied by recitations and pursued his studies far into the night; for Saturday's work he would receive seventy-five cents ; he prepared his own food, which cost him thirty-five cents per week. He was not long in attracting the attention of Dr. Edward Beecher, then President of the school. His perfect lessons, his happy faculty of making clear the most puzzling problems and his wonderful industry during working-hours, caused Dr. Beecher to interview hin on several occasions for the purpose of having him enter the theological course, Beecher and Sturtevant promising to furnish him means to take him through to graduation ; but he told them that the Lord had never called him to preach and, more- over, he believed that in his case a self-earned education was essential to after success. He aimed to clear a little more money every day than he spent, and so well had he en- ployed his time that when he left school, at the end of three years, he had two good suits of store elotlies, eighty acres of land that he had entered and $60 in money, $40 more than he had left home with. Richard Yates was a student in the institution at the same time, and a lasting friendship was formed between the two. On one occasion, while Yates was a guest of Grcene's during a vacation, the latter took him up to Salem to make him acquainted with Lincoln. They found him flat on his back on a cellar door, reading a newspaper. Grecne introduced the two, and thus the great War Governor of Illinois and the great War President began their acquaintance. At the conclusion of his college course, Mr. Greene went to Kentucky, near Danville, where he first became a private tutor in the family of Mr. George Carpenter, a prominent man of the neighborhood. He also taught a Grammar School by lectures for a time with great success, and then went to Tennessce and took up his residence in White Co. in the central part of the State. He here became Principal of the Pricstley Academy. It was during his residence here that he became acquainted with the lady who is now his estimable wife; her maiden name was Louisa H. White; she was the daughter of Woodson P. and Nancy White ; her father was one of the first citizens of the county, and for several terms was a Representative in the State Legislature. Their marriage was celebrated March 31, 1837; Mr. Greene was 25 and she 17 years of age. He continued to teach school for a few months after his marriage and then returned to

712

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Illinois, remaining eighteen months; then again returned to Tennessee, and was appointed Deputy County Sheriff. In 1842, he removed to Mississippi and settled at Aberdeen, but, on account of the unhealthy elimate, he resided there but six months and then removed to Memphis, where, on a capital of a little more than $100, he started a groeery and provision store. The two and a half years of his residence in Memphis were occupied with this and other business operations in which he met with fav- orable results and acquired a considerable amount of property. In the spring of 1845, he returned to Illinois with his family, now consisting of wife and three children, each of whom were born in different .States. He purchased a farm in Mason Co., on Quiver Creek, and began operations as a general land-dealer and farmer, in both of which he was very successful. He sold his property in Mason Co. in 1853, and purchased the farm near Tallula, on which he has ever sinee resided. Here he engaged largely in farming and stoek-dealing, meeting with a success similar to that which has characterized almost every enterprise in which he has engaged. He has always farmed on the principle that there are two ways of doing a thing. As he says himself, " Everything has two ends -a right end and a wrong end. If you begin at the wrong end, everything will go wrong ; if you begin at the right end, the seasons, the elements, all Nature, become your helpers. Every farmer should become rich if he works in harmony with Nature. I court her with all the devotion a young husband brings to his bride. Nature is not a slave; she is a friend and an ally." In addition to agriculture, his attention of late years has been direeted in other channels. He has largely assisted in the development of the railroad system of the State. He was one of the original Directors of the Toniea & Petersburg Railroad, which has sinee beeome ineorporated with the Jacksonville Divi- sion of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He was interested in building up several towns along the line ; Mason City is one of these ; Greenview has its name from him, and he was one of the original founders of Tallula. His keen business foresight brought him , in possession of several town sites along the route of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and afterward, when the towns beeame built up, he was enabled to realize a handsome return from his investments. The Jacksonville Division was in a very precarious condition at the eonelusion of Yates' administration as President; the whole enterprise, indeed, was in serious danger of a collapse. Mr. Greene was at that time one.of the Direetors, and at the earnest solieitation of his colleagues, particularly Yates himself, consented to assume for a time the Presideney. The energy and business sagacity which he brought to his duties, were effectual in plaeing the road on a firmer basis than ever before known. The company was saved from bankruptey, and the judgment of the other direetors thoroughly justified in assigning him the task. He was aetive in obtaining the charter of the Springfield & North-Western Railroad, was one of the original Board of Directors and its first President. It was largely through his energy that subseriptions for the build- ing of the road were obtained and a part of the road eonstrueted. Upon the road pass- ing into the possession of the present lessee, Mr. Greene retired from the management. Mr. Greene has never divided his forees but has given his energies supremely to busi- ness. When Mr. Greene had decided on his life course, he threw overboard the soliei- tations of Lineoln and Yates and set himself to work at his ehosen calling. He, however, played an important part privately in one politieal campaign ; that part was not as a politician but as a friend. In 1859, Richard Yates was an aspirant for the Governorship of Illinois, but Leonard Swett seemingly stood an equal chance for the nomination. The eanvass prior to the Convention was carried on with great warmth and Yates was fearful of the result. Line In had established himself at Springfield and, in his reeent debates with Douglas, had earned a national reputation. As the Convention day drew near, Yates felt that he must make a friend of Lineoln and decided that their old companion Greene was able to manipulate the matter to the satis- faetion of both; accordingly, Yates came to see Greene and told him he was eertain of the nomination, provided Lineoln could be induced to " lean " to his side ; moreover, that Lineoln stood a favorable ehanee for the Republican nomination for President and he asked Greene to interest Lincoln in his favor in the raee for Governor ; in return, Yates would use his influence to bring Lineoln into prominence as a candidate for the

713

TALLULA PRECINCT.

Presidency in 1860. Mr. Greene assented to the arrangement; they rode over to Springfield and once more the three, who had made acquaintance at Salem a quarter of a century before, stood together. Their circumstances had greatly changed since their first meeting ; one had become an active member of Congress and now, with high hopes, was looking forward to the gubernatorial chair; his college friend, aided only by his encrzy and shrewdness, had hewn his way through obstacles, before which others would have retreated, and raised himself to wealth and prominence; the third was rapidly growing into fame as a statesman. Little did any of them think what tremendous issues were gathering around the path of one of that trio. Grecne and Lincoln retired to the consultation room of the office; there Greene unfolded to Lincoln the desire of Yates for his support. There had been a coolness between the two for some years, and . Lincoln was glad of an opportunity to lay the Christian's coal of fire on the head of Yates. Greene next broached the Presidential matter ; he showed Lincoln the feasibility of his aspirations, and revealed the plan of introducing him to the East; Yates would write Congressman George Briggs a letter and have him work up a call from the New York Central Committee for Lincoln to deliver an address on the political condition of the country at the Cooper Union. " In fact, Abe," continued Greene, " Dick considers your destiny and his linked together, and that letter is. now on its way to New York." Yates was nominated and elected; Lincoln was invited to New York, and, in the follow- ing May, received the Presidential nomination. . Mr. Greene voted for Yates for Gov- ernor in 1859 and Lincoln for President in 1860. When the rebellion broke out, his sympathies were warmly enlisted in support of the Administration, and Central Illinois knew no stronger Union man than William G. Greene. Three of his sons enlisted in the army and fought during the war. When, at the darkest hour of the struggle, the Govern- ment called for money, with a firm confidence in the result which never forsook him, he did not hesitate to do what he could to furnish the Government with means to carry on its work. Upon the passage of the internal revenue law, considerable trouble was appre- hended from its working in the Ninth Illinois District, in which Menard Co. was embraced. President Lincoln selected his old friend Greene as the man above all others

to put the law in successful operation in the district. With some reluctance he accepted the appointment, but, after the work of collecting the revenue was thoroughly organized and the danger of conflict between the authorities and the people had passed, the office was resigned. His friendship with President Lincoln was still maintained and he was frequently his guest at Washington, where he always met with a cordial greeting. The President relicd much on his judgment in giving correct statements of the condition of popular sentiment throughout the country in regard to the war. In his own section, his assistance was important in preventing threatened collisions between agents of the Government and parties, disaffected with war measures. His influence was always sought by aspirants throughout the State for political appointments at the hands of the President. He continued an earnest supporter of the Administration while Lincoln remained in office, and, when at last the hand of the assassin finished the work of the people's President, just as he had brought the country safely through the horrors of a civil war, none mourned more sincerely over his untimely grave or lavished richer honors on his memory than his old-time friend, William G. Greene. Mr. Greene has been closely identified with business enterprises near his home, and his energy and capacity have done much toward the development of the manufacturing and commercial interests of the county. In connection with Mr. J. A. Brahm, in September, 1866, he estab- lished at Petersburg the first bank in Menard Co., known as the Banking House of Brahm & Greenc; he also owns the South Valley Coal Shaft, of Petersburg, and is one of the principal parties who have brought to their present successful operation the woolen-mills of the same place. In the town of Petersburg he has ever taken a deep interest, maintaining that it should be made the manufacturing center for which its natural advantages adapt it. The growth of the town has afforded him peculiar grati- fication. Mr. and Mrs. Greene have had nine children, six of whom are now living, who bid fair to become worthy citizens of this or any other community in which they may ultimately locato. The only daughter, Miss Katie, has just completed a classical

714

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

education at Stuttgart, Germany, where she has been for the last three years. Well may Mr. and Mrs. Greene be proud of their only daughter, for beyond a doubt she is the most accomplished lady of Central Illinois. We see in the life of William G. Greene, a boy in the early times of Illinois, with very little aid from parents or any other source, pursuing a life of honest industry, using his time to the best advantage, dutifully aiding his parents in making their settlements in the new country, and edu- cating himself and making and saving money and property at the same time. We find him going to mill mounted upon the back of one of his father's sturdy farm horses, buying for a mere nominal sum, of a man in despair, his store rifled by roughs, and selling it the same day at an advance of several hundred dollars to Abraham Lincoln, the future President, then a young man; we next see him at Illinois College, work- ing his way, keeping up with his classes and saving money; and now, a man honored and still in the vigor of his old age, a very wealthy farmer and banker, in his quiet and beautiful home, surrounded by his noble family. He is public spirited and liberal, and a devoted Christian. Few men there are who can look back over their past life with more satisfaction than Mr. Greene, who now in his ripe old age lives to see the usefulness and prosperity of his children, who look to their parents with honor and pride, as they have lived a noble life and climbed up from poverty, until now possessed of property valued at $600,000.

J. G. GREENE, farmer ; P. O. Tallula. Among the prominent pioneers of Menard Co., none are better known than W. G. and J. G. Greene, who began without means and built themselves up a large property, and have done much for the development of the county. J. G. was born in Overton Co., Tenn., Dec. 14, 1820 ; son of William and Elizabeth (Graham) Greene, who were among the early settlers of Menard County, of whom further mention is made in another part of this work. J. G. has been one of the successful stock-dealers of this section, and a model farmer. He owns a beautiful res- idence, and a farm of 725 acres, adjoining the town of Tallula. His wife was Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Green) Watkins; they were married, Aug. 14, 1845 ; she was born in this county Jan. 26, 1825. They have seven children living-Nancy, now Mrs. George Storey, born July 5, 1846 ; Frances, now Mrs. George Spears, born Jan. 18, 1849; Annie, now Mrs. Albert Ayers, born Aug. 28, 1850; Joseph W., Sept. 7, 1852; Woodson, Aug. 8, 1854; Maria, now Mrs. Edward Henderson, born Jan. 7, 1857 ; Alexander, Aug. 19, 1863. They are educating their children. He has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the county in which he has lived.

W. P. HENDERSON, farmer ; P. O. Tallula ; was born in Morgan Co. Ill., Sept. 27, 1833; son of Aaron and Sarah (Boles) Henderson, who were Virginians ; they settled in Morgan Co., Ill., in 1831, where he died in October, 1844, and she still resides upon the old homestead, where the subject of this sketch was born and raised. He farmed the homestead farm until 1867, when he settled upon his present farm, con- sisting of 154 acres of fine land. He was married to Miss Mary A. McFillin, of Morgan Co., in September, 1859. They have a family of seven children-Elizabeth A., James A., Recia B., Charles W., Mary E., Laura E., and Emma C.

SOMERS HEWITT, farmer ; P. O. Tallula ; son of Imla and Sarah (Whitaker) Hewitt ; was born in Cape May Co., N. J., May 23, 1825 ; he spent some fifteen years as a sailor, going to sea at the early age of 9 years. In 1847, he married Miss Abigail · Hand, of his native county, and, in 1849, came with his parents to Menard Co .; remaining but a short time, then returned and took to the sea again, until 1855, when he, with his family, came to Menard Co., and located, engaging in agricultural pursuits. His wife died in 1858, leaving three children. Oct. 26, 1863, he married Mrs. Maria Brisby, of Cass Co., by whom he has four children. Mr. Hewitt has accumulated a good property and owns 240 acres of fine land, with good buildings. He has for many years been a zealous worker in the M. E. Church.

IMLA HEWITT, farmer; P. O. Tallula ; son of Imla and Sarah (Whitaker) Hew- itt; born in Cape May Co., N. J., Feb. 13, 1831 ; came to Illinois with his parents in 1849 ; in 1852, he emigrated to California, being seven months on the journey; while

715

TALLULA PRECINCT.

there, he engaged in mining, and remained until the spring of 1858; he then returned home and began school at Lebanon, St. Clair Co .; here he obtained a good business education ; in 1861, he again crossed the plains ; engaged in freighting to Walla Walla, Washington Territory, until 1865; then he returned to San Francisco, and thence home ; in 1866, he began in the stock trade through the Western States, principally in Kansas, in which he continued until 1873. He married Miss Mary C. Willis Nov. 6, 1873; she was born in Circleville, Ohio, May 28, 1846 ; they have an adopted child- William O. Mr. Hewitt is a well-to-do farmer, and owns 160 acres of fine land.

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.

The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 79

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