The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 96

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 96
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 96

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).

807

KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

thence by river to Alton, and lived near Carrolton, Greene Co., where he worked on a farm as a common laborer. March 13, 1842, he was married to Martha A., daughter of John Micklam ; she was born in London. After their marriage, he began renting land. In 1845, he came to Mason Co., and located on the same section he now lives on. He worked for and with his father-in-law three ycars, and then bought forty acres. He subsequently bought out Mr. Charles Cragg, and then moved one mile south, where he has since lived. Mr. Hardin has twelve children, all living. Seven are now in Nebraska. Mr. Hardin and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church, the former since 1838. He has for many years been a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and in former times of the I. O. O. F. Society. No man in the county has a better record than James Hardin for honesty and uprightness.

LEMON A. KETCHAM, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne; was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., and came with his parents when they located in this county. His father, Hiram Ketcham, in 1849, was struck by lightning, and lay helpless and unconscious for the space of twenty-four hours-finally recovered, but died subsequently, Aug. 7, 1864. The marriage of Mr. Ketcham has been blessed with a family of six children, three of whom are married-Mary E., to James Chancy Sept. 5, 1871 ; Nancy M., to William A. Craggs, son of William Craggs, March 3, 1872: John B. Ketcham, to Pollie A. Tond Sept. 26, 1873. He has always been engaged in farming, and he has a snug farm one mile northeast of Kilbourne.

MRS. ELIZABETH KEMPER, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne ; was born in Han- over, Germany, Aug. 1, 1826 ; she was a daughter of Bernard Nehman, and her mother's family name was Helman. Mrs. Kemper's mother's name was Mary, and like her husband, was a native of Hanover, in which place they lived and died. Nov. 2, 1851, she was married to Henry Kemper. The year following, they emigrated to this country, and were seven weeks crossing the ocean from Bremen to New Orleans, their landing-place ; soon after their arrival, they located at Havana, in this county, where they rented land about five years, and, in 1867, purchased 160 acres of land, on which the family has lived to the present time. Since Mr. Kemper's death she has remained a widow. They have had scven children-Minnie, Frederick, Mary, Lizzie, Willie, Frank and Louie.

HENRY KNOLLENBERG, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne ; born in Prussia July 27, 1839 ; son of Frederick Knollenberg and Elizabeth Yerdling; his father died in 1862, and, in 1866, Henry crossed the ocean and came to this State, going first to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained some months, and then to this county. March 3, 1876, he married Mary Wehmhoff, born in Hanover, Prussia, Aug. 23, 1848; she came to this State in 1874 ; her father's name was Harman H. Wehmhoff. Since Mr. Knollenberg's marriage, he has been farming, and is a hard-working and industrious man.

WILLIAM A. LEE, grain-dealer, Kilbourne ; was born in Cass Co., Ill., Aug. 25, 1855 ; is the son of John and Mary Gordly Lee, who were natives of Kentucky and born near Lexington, and came to Cass Co. many years ago ; he was but 7 years of age when he came to this county ; his father located and improved the land now owred by Barney Boyle; his father died March 18, 1874; his mother Aug. 25, two years later. He is the eldest of a family of ten children, all of whom are now living, and is a grad- uate of the Jacksonville Business College. In the spring of 1879, he came to this town, and is now engaged in the grain business, and will soon have a new grain elevator.

MRS. LOWRANCE, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne ; daughter of Richard Lane and sister of Isaac D. Lane, of this township ; was born in Schuyler Co., Feb. 11, 1835 ; her parents moved to Menard Co. when she was quite young. July 4, 1859, she was married to Jacob A. Lowrance. They had two children-Jacob and Isaac. In July, 1862, Mr. Lowrance enlisted in Co. D, 85th I. V. I., and was out one year, when he returned home on account of ill health ; he died Feb. 3, 1877. Mr. L. and wife were both members of the church at New Lebanon.

ISAAC D. LANE, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne ; is an old settler and came to this State in 1827 ; he lived in New Salem, Menard Co., many years, and came to this county in 1844, and since that time has been a permanent resident ; his early education

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

was obtained in a log schoolhouse, his seat a rude one, made of a rail, with pegs for its support, and doors and windows then almost unknown. Deer and game of all kinds were in abundance, and Indians were then seen roaming about. Mr. L. is a son of Richard Lane and Rachel Drake ; his mother was a native of Baltimore Co., Md., and his father a native of the Old Dominion. Sept 28, 1819, was the date of Isaac D.'s advent to Warren Co., Middle Tennessee. The second epoch in his life was Jan. 14, 1845, when he took to wife Sarah Skipton ; she was a native of Ohio. They have had seven children, but five of whom are living-Jordon R., Louisa J., Henry C., Matilda and Isaac D. Mr. Lane's father was an Antislavery man, and left Tennessee on account of the prevalence of slavery : his son, early in life, imbibed those principles, and could never look upon involuntary servitude with any degree of allowance. It may be said of Mr. Lane, that in all his transactions with his fellow-men, litigation has been a thing unknown, and while he may not leave after him much of this world's goods, yet he does hope to transmit to them a good name, and a remembrance that their paternal ancestor was an honest man.

JOHN P. LANGE, farmer ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 1, 1842; son of John Lange and Kate Fickan. At the age of 12, he began for himself, and worked out until he was 25 years old; Dec. 24, 1867, he came to this coun- try ; he came to Havana and worked one year or more for George Westin. Jan. 18, 1877, he was married to Sarah C. Parker, who was born Feb. 14, 1844, in Grant Co., Ind., and raised in Ohio ; they have one child-Lucy Anna, born Feb. 4, 1878. His mother's name in German was Cetharna Margaretha Fickan. The date of John's leavin the old country was Oct. 8, 1867, and he was fifty-nine days on the ocean. He was naturalized April 7, 1864, and has always been engaged in farming.

JOHN A. LINN, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne ; son of Phillip Linn, now of Clacka- mas Co., Oregon ; his mother's name (prior to her marriage) was Mahala McDaniel ; they are natives of Bourbon Co., Ky., and were among the early pioneers in Brown Co. In the summer of 1865, they moved to their present place of abode in Oregon. John has since made a trip to that country and would have located but for his wife's unwill- ingness to leave her native State. He was born Oct. 30, 1843, and, in his 20th year, he married Nancy Briggs, who was born in August, 1845; daughter of William Briggs ; they have five children-William E., Minnie, Annie, Eugene and Jennie. Mr. Linn is a man of energy, and a hard worker, and has been successful so far. Mr. Linn is a member of Kinder Lodge, A., F. & A. M., Brown Co.

GEORGE L. McDANIEL, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne ; was born in this town- ship Jan. 12, 1851 ; his father's name was William and his mother's before marriage Mary Lewis, both of them natives of Kentucky; they came to this State during its early history ; his father died when he was a small boy and he was then under the sole care of his mother. Jan. 2, 1875, he was united in wedlock to Louisa Hughs, who was born in Kentucky April 24, 1857. In 1879, he bought forty acres of land, which he now owns. He and wifc are members of the Baptist Church at New Lebanon.

JOHN MICKLAM, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne. "Uncle Johnnie," as he is familiarly called, first saw the light of day in the city of London April 7, 1796, and is now in his 84th year; he has seen many of the "notable " and crowned heads of Europe, George III and IV-the Queen's father. Alexander I and Old Blucher, and many others, and can relate very many interesting things, of which he was an eye- witness, that are now matters of history. John was the eldest of a family of eight children born to John Micklam and Ann Goulds. Feb. 17, 1819, he emigrated to this country, landing at Norfolk, Va .; thencc to Petersburg, where he was engaged as a dealer in tobacco and lived about three years ; he has now in his possession several bills of lading and invoices of goods (seen by the writer) in the quaint handwriting of that time, showing the character of the business done. Subsequently to this, he engaged in growing tobacco. In early life, he learned the tobacco business with his father. While in Virginia, he saw the first steamboat that ever sailed on the James River, a rude affair, with a hulk like a canal boat, and an engine with upright arms working vertically. In 1827, he emigrated to Kentucky and Tennessee, and remained until 1836, when he

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KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

Came to Bluffdale, Greene Co., this State, and remained there until 1845; he then came to Mason Co., and has since lived here. June 13, 1821, he married Maria Pegram in Dinwiddie Co., Va. ; they have had eight children-John W., Martha A., Indiana M., Mary D., Charles E., Stanfield A., Sophia and Harriet M. Mr. Micklam has always been a very temperatc man, and was never drunk in his life, and is a man of excellent information, a great reader, and a true type of an old English " gentleman."

CHARLES MOWDER, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. O. Kilbourne ; is a native of Mason Co. and was born in Havana Township Oct. 21, 1847 ; he is the seventh of a family of ten children born to Joseph and Judith (Stroup) Mowder, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and came to this State at an early day, locating on land east of Havana, which they entered. Charles remained at home until he married Rebecca Lehr, who was born May 23, 1852, in Sherman Township ; her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, the mother born in Bucks Co. and the father in Lehigh Co. Charles has had good cduca- tional advantages in addition to those of the common school and is a graduate of the Commercial College at Jacksonville. After his marriage, which occurred Dec. 25, 1875, he settled on the land he now occupies and has since been a tiller of the soil ; they have one child-Joseph, born June 8, 1878.

HARVEY ONEAL, retired physician, Kilbourne; is one of Mason County's stanch and reliable men, and has been closely connected with its interests and has been as much service to the country in the line of his profession as any man in the county ; he was born in Barren Co., Ky., May 19, 1818; seventh child of a family of eight children of Bennet Oncal and Sallie Emery, who were natives of the Old Dominion. Harvey's father was engaged in mechanical pursuits, which, being distasteful to his son, led him to follow another line of action for a life business; he early had a desire to study medicine ; this did not meet with his parents' approval, but he cherished his desire, and, after he attained majority, turned his steps to Illinois, and, the same year, began reading medicine with Dr. Schooler ; he pursued his studies until graduation, receiving his honors in St. Louis Medical College in 1843; he began the practice of his profession in Virginia, Cass Co .; he located in Bath. In November, 1844, he married Ann Beesly, daughter of Benjamin Beesly; three children were born, none of whom are now living; she died in 1850. In September, 1851, he was married to Charlotte West, daughter of Amos S. West, a native of Kentucky; they had five chil- dren, four now living-James C., Helen J., Richard M. and Harry W. The Doctor continued the practice of medicine in Bath for twenty years, when, it becoming too severe upon him, he was compelled to abandon it on account of his health, and, in the year 1864, moved to this township and bought a farm and has since turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits ; he has been long a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was raised a Whig and is a man of sound information and well read on the topics of the day ; he is a zealous advocate of the Greenback doctrine and is firm in the belief of the final triumph of that party.

GEORGE W. RANSON, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne; is a son of John B. Ran- son, who was an old pioneer in this county, and one who was a zealous and enthusiastic worker in the ministry, and was identified with the society called Christians, sometimes termed " Campbellites ;" his mother's name was Ann Audas; both of them were natives of England, and came here at an early day. George was born on the same place where he now resides Dcc. 17, 1848, and was left an orphan at an early age, and was then under the care of his elder brother ; after his 13th year, he earned his own living, and, in 1870, began farming on his own account, and subsequently united in marriage with Sarah E. Ainsworth, born Sept. 26, 1851 ; she is a daughter of Thomas Ainsworth, of Chandlerville; they have two children-Alonzo, born June 23, 1876; Clara, Sept. 10, 1878 ; he and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church.

JOHN ROUTT, blacksmith, Kilbourne; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., June 24, 1838; son of Byramb Routt ; his parents were natives of Kentucky ; his father died when he was but about 8 years old, and when at the age of 16, he moved to Mon- roc Co., Mo., with his mother, where he lived seven years; having a mechanical turn, learned the blacksmith trade and came to this county, where he followed his trade at

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Havana and also at Peterville, and finally located at Kilbourne, where he and his brother are associated together in running a blacksmith and wagon-making business ; they are good workmen, and are having a large run of business ; they are men who attend to their business strictly, and thus merit the patronage of the people. Aug. 19, 1861, he married Jonana Pulling; they have had nine children, five of whom are now living-Byramb B., Eleanor B., Florence, Daisy and an infant not named ; his wife is a daughter of Thomas Pulling, and was born April 16, 1844.

JAMES ROUTT, wagon-maker, Kilbourne ; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., March 15, 1845 ; son of Byramb Routt, whose wife's maiden name was Eleanor C. Riggs, and also a native of Kentucky ; the family came to this State in 1852 ; from Kentucky they first went to Mercer Co., Mo .; lived for a time in Monroe, and finally the boys came to Mason Co. and have since remained. James was a loyal soldier, and enlisted in Co. A, 28th I. V. I., serving until the close of the war. Dec. 25, 1868, he married Mary A. Sayre, daughter of Rachel and Jonathan Sayre; she was born in Virginia Dec. 8, 1847; they have four children living-Charlotte E., Emma J., James H. and Anna M. After his term of service expired, he went to Morgan Co., and to Mason Co. in 1875 ; he worked at Peterville and worked at his trade, then went to farming, and, July 15, 1879, came to Kilbourne.

J. W. ROOT, physician, Kilbourne ; was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Aug. 18, 1845, and emigrated to this State, locating in Schuyler Co .; having a desire to study medicine, he ran away from home and entered the army, where he remained until the close of the war ; in the mean time, he applied himself closely to the study of medicine and surgery ; at the close of the war, he attended a course of lectures at St. Louis, and, upon his return to Schuyler Co., began the practice of medicine and continued at it for nine years successfully. Oct. 14, 1868, he was united in marriage to Malinda Scott, a native of that county ; three children have graced their fireside, but two only are living -Prudence and Elizabeth ; Clarence, the younger, died from being scalded. In the spring of 1876, he moved to Kilbourne and has since been engaged in his profession, and his efforts in this direction have been crowned with marked success ; he makes a specialty of the treatment of bleeding piles, without the aid of caustic, knife or liga- ture ; it matters not how long or unsuccessfully the patient has been treated, cure guar- anteed or no pay ; consultation free, and all letters of inquiry answered promptly ; he has been very successful in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases, as his patients can fully attest. He is Republican in sentiment ; in the fall of 1877, he was brought. out as a candidate for Superintendent of Schools in this county, and had flattering pros- pects of being elected, when he withdrew, as the duties of the office required him to visit schools, which the practice of his profession would not admit of; he is a member of Browning Lodge, I. O. O. F., Schuyler Co., and an honorable and upright gentleman.

HENRY C. RUGGLES, druggist, Kilbourne; was born in Winchester, Scott Co., March 29, 1845 ; son of J. M. Ruggles, of this county, who is one of its promi- nent citizens ; at the age of 17, he enlisted in the service of his country ; was enrolled as drummer boy in Co. F, 51st I. V. I., and afterward was mustered in as private, and served as such until the close of the war; was engaged in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, at which place was taken prisoner and served about eighteen months in rebel prisons, at Andersonville, Richmond, Danville and other prisons ; was paroled at Goldsboro, N. C., Feb. 28, 1865; at the close of the war, he received an honorable discharge ; in 1867, he embarked in the drug business, and he has continued in the same to the present time ; first set up at Bath, then Ashland, Cass Co., and, on Oct. 6, 1875, was married to Mary Webb, of Havana; they have one child-Emma, born April 11, 1877. April 29, 1875, located in Kilbourne, where he is now doing an excellent business ; he keeps a full line of general stock, and is making a success ; is a member of Bath Lodge 494, A., F. & A. M.

HENRY STAGING, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne; was born Sept. 2, 1832, and was a namesake of his father ; his mother's name, previous to her marriage, was Mar- garet Pomp. In the year 1852, in order to better his fortune, Henry turned his steps toward Australia, and, in company with several of his companions, took a mining claim,

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KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

which they worked quite successfully for a time, and amassed a quantity of the yellow dust, but finally lost the entire amount by an unprofitable investment, buying an engine, teams and other effects; upon the failure of the mine to produce the rich dirt, they sold their machinery, after running it two years; Henry remained in the mines eight years in .all-after this he went to England, and then to America ; he worked near Peoria one year, as a farm hand, then in Logan Co., where he worked two years. He was married, Aug. 3, 1872, to Mary Kemper, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Kemper ; they have three children-Henry, Lizzie and Mary.

JOHN SEARS, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne; son of Henry Sears, one of the oldest settlers in the county, who was born in Wake Co., near Raleigh, N. C. in November, 1805, and came to this State in 1822, finally locating in Crane Creek Town- ship in 1828, where the subject of this sketch was born Feb. 16, 1835. He remained with his father until his marriage with Mary A. Turner, who was born Aug. 29, 1838, in Buckingham Co., Va. Their marriage took place Nov. 5, 1863; two children are the only ones living out of six born to them-Ewin and Miles; since their marriage, they have remained at their present place of abode. Mr. Sears is a man of few words, quiet and unassuming, and attends to his own business, paying no attention to the affairs of others.

F. E. SHIRTCLIFF, farmer ; P. O. Kilbourne ; is a native of Pontefract, York- shire, Eng .; born April 21, 1829; son of Edward Shirtcliff and Anna Makin; he emi- grated to this State, with his parents, during his 3d year, locating in Lynnville, Morgan Co., where his father built the first store building and sold goods at that place ; at the age of 15, Fred left home and came to this county and lived with A. Feild, a rel- ative, remaining with him until Sept. 30, 1848, when he married Sarah J. Redwine, · daughter of James Redwine, a native of Kentucky; six children were born, five living -Edward J., Fred F., John W., Hannah E. and Alice ; after their marriage, Mr. S. helped build the first frame house that was erected in this part of the county-now in Kilbourne ; Mr. C. has remained, the greater portion of his life, in this county, and has made several trips to the North and West to better his condition, but has invariably returned to old Mason Co., and though he may not have much of this world's goods to bequeath to his successors, will yet have a name and character for honesty and up- rightness, of which they need not be ashamed. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Bath Lodge, No. 494.

MARGARET WALTERS, farmer; P. O. Havana; was born in Hanover, Prus- sia, Jan. 2, 1832; daughter of Frederick Renaiker, and in the year 1860, came to this country in company with her parents, and located in Havana Township. In April, 1856, she was married to Rudol Brooksmidt; two children were born-Caroline and Lizzie. Mr. Brooksmidt died in 1858. In 1862, she married Frederick Walters, a native of Prussia ; they had three children-Henry, Lucy and Frank. Oct. 1, 1872, Mr. Walters died of consumption. She has 120 acres of land, which she farms.

JOHN S. WILLIAMSON, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne; one of the old settlers. He came to the State in 1830, and. located, with his parents, in Morgan Co., where they remained about fourteen years, and in 1844 moved to this township. Mr. W. was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Dec. 15, 1826; son of Abraham Williamson. His mother's name, before marriage, was Keziah Smith, a native of Kentucky, and the father from New Jersey. Sept. 5, 1850, John was married to Matilda Lane, daughter of Richard Lane, of Virginia. Seven children have blessed this union, five of whom are now liv- ing-Richard W., Isaac N., Rachel, Martha and Anna. After their marriage they located on the place they now occupy.

PETER WILLIAMS, farmer; P. O. Kilbourne; was born in Prussia Feb. 1, 1818; son of Peter Williams and Joanna Maundell. At an early age he was bereft of his parents. Upon arriving at maturity he married Anna Sholts, daughter of Carl Frederick Sholts. In 1841, he emigrated to this country, and worked at various points . - St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, and other places, upon some of our public works, and also as deck hand and roustabout on the river. He is a man of great strength and remarkable powers of endurance. Sept. 29, 1869, he came to this township and located

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

on the land he now owns, which was all timber, and has made therefrom a good farm, well improved. He has had twelve children, but three of whom are living-Mary, born Nov. 20, 1859 ; Charles, born Oct. 6, 1862; Peter, born Feb. 21, 1866. He has 320 acres of land, and has acquired it by honest labor and rigid economy.

BATH TOWNSHIP.

ALFRED ADKINS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Saidora ; was born in Campbell Co., Tenn., May 10, 1831, but removed to Illinois with his father's family in 1833 ; they first settled in Morgan Co., and about four years later reinoved to what is now Bath Township, this county. His father, Joseph Adkins, was born in East Tennessee in 1812 ; his death occured Oct. 30, 1878 ; his mother, Betsey (Johnson) Adkins was also a native of Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was married, March 11, 1853, to Miss Sarah Schoonover, who was born in Delaware; they have six children-Nancy J., Joseph F., Clarissa L., Herman B., Richard C. and Mary B. Mr. Adkins owns 243 acres of land in Bath Township.

RANDALL J. ADKINS, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Saidora; was born in Bath Township, Mason Co., Ill., Nov. 6, 1846. He was ,married, March 22, 1871, to Miss Josephine Bishop, who was born in the State of Ohio. Mr. Adkins owns 350 acres of land in Bath Township, Mason Co. Further mention of Mr. Adkins' father and the family will be made in the history of Bath Township and the general history of the county.

JOHN C. ADKINS, merchant, Saidora ; was born in Bath Township, Mason Co., Ill., Feb. 7, 1846, where he has since resided. He was married, Feb. 7, 1870, to Miss Mary M. Hall, who was born in Pennsylvania ; they have one child-Joseph C. Mr. Adkins owns ninety-seven acres of land in Bath Township. He is now engaged in the mercantile and grain trade at Saidora. See card in the Business Directory of this work.

JAMES S. ALLEN, groceries and restaurant, Bath; was born in New York State July 26, 1833. When about 4 years of age, his father's family removed to Illinois, locating first in Fulton Co., and about one year later removed to Bath Town- ship, this county, in 1837; in 1844 they returned to Fulton Co., where they resided till 1853; then came to Mason Co., which has since been the home of the subject of these lines. His father, James H. Allen, was at Chicago as early as 1833, and at that time traveled over a part of the State; he died in November, 1869, and his wife a few days later; both were natives of the State of New York. James S. was raised a farmer, which occupation he followed until 1874, when he engaged in his present busi- ness in July of that year. He has served as Collector and Assessor, one term each. He was married, March 21, 1858, to Miss Lillie A. Moore, who was born in Ohio ; they have two children-Elizabeth M. (wife of James M. Lacy) and Luella M. (wife of James E. Lippert. Mr. Allen is a member of Bath Lodge No. 494, A., F. & A. M.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 96

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