The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 84

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 84
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 84

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

members of the Baptist Church ; they have a nice home, pleasant family and are among Menard County's most respected citizens.

GEORGE T. DEAL, dealer in live stock, Sweetwater ; was born in Menard Co., Ill., Jan. 14, 1849 ; is a son of J. H. and Jane (Eldridge) Deal, whose sketch appcars in this work ; George T. attended school until about 20 years of age, at which time he entered the store of his father, where he remained five years ; during this time, he had entire charge of the business; at the expiration of this time, the father sold out, and our subject then assisted in the mill, owned by his father and James Hughes, in Sweet- water; in July, of 1870, he went to Chicago, and was, for some six months, in the employ of Wood Bros., live-stock commission merchants; since that, he has been engaged in buying and shipping hogs and cattle. He was united in marriage with Mary J. Pickrell, Dec. 2, 1873; she was born in Fleming Co., Ky., June 15, 1851 ; they have one child-Lizzie, born Sept. 4, 1874. Mr. Deal is a stanch Republican in politics, and one of the prominent young men of Menard County.

JOHN H. DEAL, miller, Sweetwater; was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., March 20, 1826 ; is a son of John and Sarah (Wilhelm) Deal; the father was a native of Maryland, and a butcher by trade ; he departed this life Dec. 6, 1826; the mother remained in Maryland until 1839, when she and our subject came to Menard Co., where they have since resided ; John H. received such an education, as the schools of that early day afforded ; in 1852, he and Hugh D. Hughes built the Sweetwater Mill ; it cost, at the time of building, about $2,500 ; it has been constantly run, with the exception of one year, since its building; it is now the property of J. H. Deal and J. L. Hughes-son of Hugh D. Hughes ; it was one of the first steam-mills in Menard Co., and has ground more than one million bushels of grain since it was built. Mr. Deal is the present miller, and to his cxertions the mill owes its success and pop- ularity. He was united in marriage with Jane Eldridge in 1848; she was born in England Sept. 8, 1828 ; from this union there were six children, two of whom arc now living ; she died Sept. 4, 1861. Mr. Deal was again married Aug. 23, 1866, to Mary E. Enslow ; they have four children by this union. Mr. Deal is a Republican in politics.

WILLIAM S. ENGLE, farmer and dealer in live stock; P. O. Sweetwater ; was born in Menard Co., Ill., Dec. 11, 1832 ; is a son of the late William Engle, one of the pioneers of this county. Our subject passed his youth and early manhood assisting his father on the farm and in the store; at the age of 18, he commenced business for himself; he has been engaged, most of his life, in dealing in live stock; there arc few men in the county who have donc more business in this line than Mr. Engle. He was united in marriage with Mary . C. Deal April 11, 1867 ; she was born in Menard Co., Ill., Jan. 16, 1851; from this union there are two children-Edward A., born Jan. 12, 1868, and Florence, Jan. 24, 1871. Mr. Engle has a well-improved farm, and is a Democrat in politics.

JOHN ENGLE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Sweetwater ; is the eldest son of William and Elizabeth (Alkire) Engle, whose sketch appears in this work ; he was born in Menard Co., Ill., Feb. 19, 1826 ; he now owns and lives upon the place settled by his father in 1824; in 1850, John Engle went overland to California, where he remained some time. Soon after his return, he was united in marriage with Sarah A. Sykes June 21, 1855 ; she was born in Ohio Aug. 7, 1834; from this union there were eleven children, nine of whom are now living-Josephine, John, James H., Will- iam, Charles L., Ella, Henry, Francis M. and Minnie M. Mr. Engle owns 404 acres of well-improved land; is a Democrat in politics.

E. M. GOFF, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4; P. O. Sweetwater ; was born in Green Co., Ky., Sept. 9, 1818; the eldest son of a family of five children of William and Amy (Trent) Goff, an account of whom appears in the biography of William Goff ; he passed his youth in Menard Co., Ill., assisting his mother to care for the family, his father having died when he was 9 years of age ; he received but an indifferent educa- tion, as the major part of the hardships of caring for the family devolved on him after his father's death and he could not be spared from home. He remained at home until

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SUGAR GROVE PRECINCT.

his marriage with Miss Clark, which occurred July 29, 1837 ; from this union there were twelve children, nine of whom are now living-Mary A., Jennie F., Winfield H., William A., Lee M., Augustus R., Eli E., Ida F. and David A .; deceased-Wesley. John C. and Dica D. On the 4th of July, 1879, Mr. Goff sustained the deepest bereavement of his life in the death of his wife, who for forty-two ycars had endured with him the trials and hardships of life ; Mr. Goff's success in life is greatly owing to this good woman's help and advice; he commenced life as a poor boy and has made what he now possesses by hard work and close attention to business ; he owns a nicely improved farm of 405 acres ; he is a self-made man. In politics a Democrat.

ANDREW GADDIE, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 10; P. O. Sweetwater; was born on the Orkney Islands, May 31, 1837; when about 13 years of age, he went to sea ; he followed the sea until 19 years of age, when he came to the United States. He was in the late war, served a little over two years and was discharged on account of sickness ; he was in Co. K, 106th I. V. I. In 1867, Mr. Gaddie bought 200 acres of land in Sugar Grove Precinct, upon which he has since resided. He was united in marriage with Sarah Keen Nov. 20, 1866; she was born in England Oct. 8, 1848; Mrs. Gaddie's parents came to this country when she was about 2 years of age ; from this union there are six children-John T., Cora N., Katie G., Charles H., Mary E. and Jessie A. Mr. Gaddie came to Iliinois a poor boy, and is emphatically a self-made man. He has held the responsible position of County Commissioner three years and well and faithfully has he served the county ; he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM GOFF, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 9; P. O. Sweetwater ; was born in Green Co., Ky., Aug. 19, 1822; second son of William and Amy (Trent) Goff, natives of Kentucky, and the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living ; the parents came to Menard Co. in 1825, and stopped for about a year in Clary's Grove; they then removed five miles southeast of where the city of Petersburg is now located ; soon after their removal, the father died ; the mother, who was a noble specimen of the pioneer woman, not only cared for the fatherless children, but succeeded in retaining their " claim " and laid up some money. Our subject passed his youth and early man- hood amid the wild surroundings of the then new country, receiving little or no educa - tion, and, when 12 years of age, earned his first money by riding horses while " tramping out wheat ;" with this money he purchased a pig; this was his first business transaction ; in a short time, he had quite a herd of young cattle ; he continued trading until about 30 years of age ; about this time, he entered forty acres of land in Mason Co .; at the expiration of two years, he sold his land in Mason Co. and purchased eighty acres in Sugar Grove Precinct, Menard Co., upon which he has since resided and to which he has added until he now owns a nicely improved farm of 285 acres; he com- menced life as a poor boy, but, hy hard work and economy, he has made what he now possesses ; he is emphatically a self-made man. He was united in marriage with Mary D. Westfall Oct. 24, 1840 ; she was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 24, 1824; her parents removed to Des Moines Co., Iowa, in 1834 ; from this union there were ten children, eight of whom are now living-Theodore L., Commodore P., Leonard K., Louisa E., Frederick W., Murray M. and Emma and Ella, twin sisters.

JAMES P. HALL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Sweetwater; was born in Law- rence Co., Ohio, July 1, 1818; son of Elisha and Nancy (Overstreet) Hall, both natives of Bedford Co., Va .; they came to Illinois in the fall of 1826, and located in Menard Co., where they died-the father in 1838, and the mother in 1862. John Overstrect, father of Nancy and grandfather of Mr. Hall, was a Revolutionary soldier under Washington, and was at the battles of Bunker Hill, Cowpens, Brandywine, Monmouth and others; he died in 1848, at 90 years of age. Our subject passed his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, and received but a limited education. He was united in marriage with Mary J. Pierce Dec. 24, 1850; she was born in San- gamnon Co., Ill., Aug. 16, 1831 ; from this union there were fourteen children, seven of whom are now living-Charles W., Emma, Caroline, Rosa, Laura J., Douglas D. and Mollie. Mr. Hall owns 480 acres of well-improved land ; is a Democrat in politics, and a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

JOHN H. KINCAID, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Sweetwater; is the son of John Kennedy Kincaid, one of Menard Co.'s most prominent and influential men ; he was born in Menard Co. July 9, 1848, and assisted his father on the farm until his marriage with Miss Ella J. Culver, which occurred. Feb. 20, 1878; she was born in Menard Co. July 31, 1849; she is the daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Brasfield) Culver, both of whom are now dead; the former died in 1874, and the latter in 1872; they were among the early settlers of Menard Co. Our subject owns 217 acres of nicely improved land ; is a stanch Republican in politics, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, as is his wife.

JOHN D. LEE, retired physician, Sec. 18; P. O. Athens ; was born in Jefferson Co., Va., April 22, 1812 ; his grandfather, John Lee, was a physician and surgeon, and came from England previous to the Revolutionary war ; his son, Robert C. Lee, was the father of John D., and was, for a number of years, clerk of the Superior Court of Jef- ferson Co., Va. Our subject passed his youth and early manhood in the cities of Charlestown and Winchester, Va .; he received a good education, and, when 12 years of age, he held the position of Deputy Postmaster in the city of Winchester; in 1832, he commenced the study of medicine, and, in 1834, graduated at the University of Maryland ; soon after this, he came to Illinois, and, for some years, practiced in Spring- field ; he at last came to Menard Co. and practiced a year in Petersburg, and then went to Athens, where he continued in the practice of medicine for more than twenty years ; then, owing to ill health, he removed to Indian Point and bought a small farm, upon which he has since resided. Dr. Lee was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Loomis, of Whately, Mass., in February, 1839; they had one child-John D., who died when 12 years of age. Among the physicians of Menard Co., none stand higher in reputation for professional skill and as an honored, useful citizen, than Dr. John D. Lee.

DAVID PROPST, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1; P. O. Greenview ; was born in Greenbrier Co., W. Va., Jan. 26, 1818. His father, Nicholas Propst, was a native of Germany. He came to the United States when he was a boy and located in Virginia, where he married. He was the father of eight children, three of whom are now living. In 1829, he removed to Illinois and settled in Sugar Grove, Menard Co. Mr. Propst in his lifetime was a great help to the early settlers of Menard Co. He had considerable means and he furnished many a settler with money, at a low rate, to enter land with. He was an " Old Line Whig," as were his sons, until the organiza- tion of the Republican party, when they became identified with it. Our subject passed his youth on his father's farm ; received a limited education, as there were but few schools in that early day. He now owns and is living on the place settled by his father, in 1829. When he was yet a young man he purchased, with land warrants, 160 acres of land on Salt Creek, for which he paid 75c per acre ; six years after, he sold the land for $20 per acre. This and like transactions are characteristic of his success in life. He now owns over 400 acres of well-improved land. He was united in marriage with Sarah Wilcox April 10, 1851. She was born in Menard Co., Ill., Aug. 11, 1829 ; her parents came from Green County, Ky., in a very early day. Froni this union there are two children-Ephraim, born Feb. 1, 1853, and Melinda, born March 26, 1855. Mr. Propst is a stanch Republican in politics and a firm believer and advo- cate of its principles.

LEVI PROPST, carpenter and joiner, Sweetwater; was born in Greenbrier Co., W. Va., Aug. 9, 1828. His grandfather, Nicholas Propst, was a native of Ger- 'many, and came to Sugar Grove in 1829. John, his eldest son and the father of Levi, came to Menard Co. in 1840. Here our subject passed his youth assisting his father on the farm. His father taught him to read and write, and this was all the education young Propst received. Later in life, however, he applied himself to his books and be- came quite proficient. At 20 years of age, he began to learn the carpenter's trade, a business he has followed all his life except eight years, when he was engaged in the drug business in the village of Sweetwater, during which time he was also village Postmaster. He was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Swank April 10, 1851. She was born in Putnam

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Co., Ind., July 1, 1829. From this union there were six children, three of whom are now living-Elzina, David E. and James A. The names of those deceased are Mary E., Annie E. and Clara E. Mr. Propst is a Democrat and a self-made man.

E. L. SWINEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Scc. 35; P. O. Greenview ; was born in Bath Co., Ky., July 28, 1823. His father died when he was 2 years old. He lived in Kentucky until he was 11 years of age, when he came to Indian Point, Menard Co., with Mr. Kennedy Kincaid. They brought a flock of sheep with them, which young Swiney helped to drive. He continued to live with Mr. Kincaid until 21 years of age. He received such education as the schools of that early day afforded. In 1845, he bought 285 acres of land in Sugar Grove Precinct, upon which he has since resided. He now owns 700 acres of land upon which are good buildings. He was united in marriage with Melinda Johnson Sept. 10, 1846. She was born in Menard Co., Ill., Aug. 25, 1824. Her parents came to the county in 1823, and her mother, who is now living, is one of the oldest living settlers. Mr. Swiney is the father of seven children, five of whom are now living-Emma, Elijah, Laura, Ned and Frank. Mrs. Swiney departed this life Feb. 9, 1877. Mr. Swiney is a stanch Republican in politics.

ADAM SHARP, boot and shoc maker, Sweetwater ; was born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 18, 1850. His father was a shoemaker by trade, a business he taught his three sons. In 1853, John, the eldest son, came to the United States, and located in the village of Sweetwater, Menard Co., Ill. ; he also lived in Missouri about five years. He died in 1878. Adam came to this country in 1872, and commenced working at his trade in the village of Sweetwater the same year. He was united in marriage with Bertha Kyle Dec. 11, 1877 ; she was born in Logan Co., Ill., Feb. 16, 1857. They have had one child-Augustus, born Jan. 5, 1879, died April 12, 1879. Mr. Sharp came to this country as a poor German lad, but by close attention to his trade, com- bined with industry and economy, he has gained quite a competency. He owns a large shop, in which he always keeps a large and well-selected stock. He also owns one of the nicest residences in the village.

JOSEPH SCHOFIELD, merchant, Sweetwater; was born in Orange Co., N. Y., March 22, 1845 ; son of David and Prudence (Sargent) Schofield. He passed .his youth on his father's farm in New York, and received a good common-school education. At the age of 18, he started West, and upon his arrival in Springfield, Ill., enlisted in Co. B, 58th I. V. I., and served three years as a private soldier in the war of the rebellion. He was in all the battles that his regiment was engaged in, and he escaped without a wound. After his discharge, he returned to Illinois and attended school for a year; at Bloomington. He then went to Iowa, where he remained two years, when he come to Menard Co., where he has since resided, and where he has been engaged in farming and the mercantile business. He was united in marriage with Alice Meteer Oct. 14, 1873 ; she is a native of Menard Co .; from this union there are two sons- Thomas and John. Mr. Schofield is a stanch Republican in politics, an influential citizen and prominent man.

JOHN W. SHAVER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Elkhart; was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., March 18, 1855; his father, William, was born in Virginia, March 13, 1818, where he remained until about 35 years of age, when he removed to Ohio, and from there, in 1850, to California. On his return, he stopped in Spring- field, Ill., and while there bought the Twelve-Mile House and farm of Sangamon Co., where he resided about four years. He then sold out, and removed to Menard Co., where he resided until his death, which occurred Aug. 10, 1871. After he had resided in Menard Co., two years, he returned to his old home in Virginia, where he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Ross, of Augusta Co., of the " Old Dominion State;" this union resulted in three children-John W., Lizzie and Mary. John W., is the only surviving child ; he owns 862 acres of well-improved land in Menard Co., and 160 in Logan Co. He received a good education and is to-day one of Menard Co.'s most prosperous farmers. He is a Democrat in politics, but quite conservative.

CHARLES C. SCOTT, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Athens; was born in Hardin Co., Ohio, Dec. 6, 1849. His father, Charles C. Scott, was a native of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

Kentucky, as was the mother, whose maiden name was Jane Patterson. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are now living. The father departed this life Jan. 28, 1854. Our subject was brought up to farm labor ; he received a good common-school education ; at 18 years of age, he embarked in the mercantile business ; in 1869, he came on a visit to Menard Co., Ill., where he became acquainted with Miss Hulda Kincaid, to whom he was married, March 24, 1875 ; she is a daughter of John Ken- nedy Kincaid, one of the early settlers of Menard Co .; she was born Aug. 15, 1854. From this union there have been two children-Warren C., born Oct. 14, 1876, and Kennedy E., Dec. 27, 1878. Mr. Scott owns eighty acres of nicely improved land. Is a Republican in politics and a member of the Christian Church.

STEPHEN STONE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Sweetwater; was born in Adair Co., Ky., Oct. 16, 1829; is a son of John and Lucy (Preston) Stone ; both natives of Kentucky ; in 1830, they came to Illinois and settled in Irish Grove; they were the parents of twelve children; the mother died in 1872. Stephen passed his early life with his father on the farm; he began business for himself when quite young ; he received but an indifferent education, and what he now possesses he has made by hard work and economy. His marriage with Mary C. Young was celebrated March 2, 1863 ; she was born in Menard Co., Ill., Sept. 25, 1839 ; she is a daughter of John and Rachel (Purkapile) Stone, both of whom were among the early pioneers of Menard Co. From this union there are three children-Carrie V., Morris G. and Charles H. Mr. Stone owns 188 acres of nicely improved land, and is emphat- ically a self-made man.

INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT.

THOMAS BENNETT, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Petersburg. Prominent among the successful and enterprising business men in this county, is the party whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Mecklenburg Co., Va., May 11, 1833 ; he is the son of John Bennett ; his mother's maiden name was Mary Boyd. Thomas was but 2 years old when he came to this State with his parents; they first stopped near Rochester, remaining but a short time, and then came to Menard Co., where his father located, and was for several years a prominent business man in that place, and was engaged in merchandising several years ; he built what is now known as the Menard House, which he ran for a few years, and, after the sale of the same, he returned to his former love, that of selling goods ; this he continued until the year 1857, since which time he has retired from business. Thomas remained with his father until he attained his majority, during which time, from the age of 16 years, he was engaged in the store as clerk for his father ; after reaching manhood, he engaged in business with his father, which he continued for three years ; he then began on his own account in the dry-goods line, and being an active business man, an excellent salesman, and enjoying the confi- dence of the people, his efforts as a merchant were crowned with success ; he continued in the business until 1873, when the close confinement and the nature of the business had so impaired his health that he was compelled to abandon the business ; he then moved to Town 19, Range 6, where he now resides, where he had purchased a large tract of land on the rich alluvial soil in the Salt Creek bottom, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits ; his first efforts as a farmer were not attended with the flattering results that marked his career as a merchant, his lands being subject to the encroachments of high water from the overflow of Salt Creek ; his crops have been for several years almost, and, in several instances, quite destroyed ; this was very discour aging, and, added to the insinuations of many who pronounced the whole thing a failure, was not at all calculated to afford much consolation, yet Mr. Bennett, notwith- standing all this, never lost his courage, and with a determination and firm resolution, characteristic of the man, set to work to counteract these damaging overflows by the erection of suitable levees, and after much labor and expense, has now 1,800 acres cor- raled by a substantial earthwork, and the land that was by the masses considered worthless

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INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT.

is to-day the most valuable land in the county, and he has a bonanza in his bottom farm of 1,800 acres ; this land will produce, with good cultivation, from seventy-five to eighty bushels of corn to the acre, and for farming purposes is much more valuable than the upland. In November, 1855, was united in matrimony to Lucy Wright, born March 29, 1838, who is the daughter of A. D. Wright, an old and well-known citizen of Petersburg. They have eight children-Thomas W., Lucy A., John A., Sandy B., Mary C., Elbert Lee, Ellen B. and Johnnie ; all the family are at home. Mr. Bennett is a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 19, A., F. & A. M., of which his father was the founder, and has been W. M. of same for many years, and is now and has been for several years Deputy Grand Master of the State.

JOSEPH W. ESTELL, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Petersburg; was born in this county and on the same plat of ground he is to-day farming, Aug. 1, 1833; son of William Estell, one of the old pioneers of this country, who was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Aug. 30, 1794, and came to this State in 1824, and first stopped near Cantrall, remaining there two years; then located permanently on the land now owned by Joseph ; he is now past 85, and is well preserved for one of his years. Joseph lived the life of a bachelor until he was 33 years old, at which time he united in matrimony with Mary Knowles, who was born in Gibson Co., Ind., daughter of Burton Knowles ; their marriage was celebrated Jan. 2, 1866. They have four children-Martha E., James, Cora E., Effie M. Mr. Estell has a snug farm of 130 acres, well improved.

RUSSELL GODBEY, farmer; P. O. Greenview ; was born in Montgomery Co., Va., Nov. 2, 1800 ; is a son of William Godbey, who participated in the war of 1812, whose father was a participant in the war of the Revolution. In the fall of 1829, he moved to Indiana, stayed one winter, and in July of the following year, came to this county and entered 160 acres of land on Secs. 20 and 30; Abraham Lincoln was the surveyor, and stayed with him over night, and Mr. Godbey sold him, for $1, a quantity of buckskin, with which he faced his pants to enable him the better to travel through the brush and rough grass ; the sale of this skin paid the bill of surveying. Mr. Godbey soon erected a rude cabin out of rough logs, the raising of which required the united services of all the men that could be gathered in the entire country. Dec. 10, 1822, he married Elizabeth Brown, who was born Feb. 25, 1799. They had eight children, five of whom are now living-Nancy, Russell B., Margaret, Eliza and Mary J., three boys, Overton B., William R. and Moses, died after arriving at manhood. Mrs. Godbey died Feb. 19, 1854. He was married, Jan. 24, 1856, to Eleanor Carpenter, who was born in Sangamon Co., Nov. 15, 1822. Had two children, Virginia and John D. In the early time, he was captain of the militia, and at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, was deterred from going on account of sickness in his family. Has been a member of the Baptist Church since Feb. 13, 1841, and is a member of the I. O. O.F .; has been a life-long Democrat; has served several terms as Justice of the Peace, and has been a resident of this county almost half a century, watching its growth and progress with earnest solicitude.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 84

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