The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 122

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Illinois > Adams County > The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 122

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Donley Hugh, farmer ; P. O. Payson. Donley J. B. farmer; sec. 6; P. O. Payson.

EDMONDS ROBERT F., farmer; residence, Payson; was born in Iredell county, N. C., Sept. 2, 1818. His father, John Edmonds, was born in Ireland, and came with his mother to America, and settled in that State, when a child .. He married for his second wife, Elizabeth Fitz-

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gerald, of Virginia, and bore him the sub- ject of this sketch. When he was 10 years old his parents removed to Tennessee, where they lived from 1828 to 1831, when they came to Adams county, July 3, of that year; they landed in Payson township. Mr. E. was married to Caroline J. Chap- man, March 4, 1841, and settled in Sec. 18. Mrs. E. was born in Franklin county, Ohio, April 6, 1825. In March, 1852, they re- moved to the village, and in 1867, he en- gaged in the grocery business. Four years later he added a stock of general merchan- dise, and continued till February, 1875. He received the appointment of Postmaster, July 1, 1861. He resigned in 1865; since then he has conducted his farm, and is breeding thoroughbred short-horn cattle. They have had thirteen children, nine living: Susan E., Mrs. Sarah J. Douley, Charles W., George A., Mrs. Catharine Crawford, Emily, Ettie, Robert F., and Stella. Mr. E. owns 344 acres farming land .in Payson township, and eighty in Fall Creek, worth $55 per acre, and twenty-one acres out-lots, and nine lots in the village, with a fine dwelling and store.

Elliott Joseph, farmer; sec 18; P. O. Payson.

ELLIOTT MRS. MARY E., residence, Payson; is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Burns. Her father was a native of Maine, and her mother of Massachusetts. They were married in the latter State in January, 1832, and came to Adams county two years later. Mr. B. had previously married Anna E. Rowe, who died, leaving seven children, six of whom he brought to Illinois. For nineteen years he followed the seas, a portion of which time he sailed as captain. He abandoned the sea before his second marriage. They settled in Quincy, in 1834, in the first frame house built in the place, and Mrs. Burns hung the first wall paper put on a wall in one of the rooms with paper she brought from Massachusetts. Mr. B. brought a stock of goods, and engaged in merchan- dising in Quincy. They lived several years in Quincy, during which time Mr. B. had become interested in property in Payson, and sold his store in 1853. Some years later he moved back to the city, and en- gaged in the milling business. He died there July 30, 1874. Mrs. E. was married to

the Rev. Emmor Elliott, son of Joseph Elliott and Margaret Elliott, of Payson, in May, 1859. He was born in Chester county, Penn., Oct. 4, 1827. She was born Oct. 28, 1833. They had five children, three living: Charles E., Abbie M., and Abbie L., (twins), Mr. E. was licensed to preach in the M. E. church, Jan. 22, 1853, and labored till his death, Oct. 25, 1858. Mrs. E. removed to Payson, in 1874, where she owns twenty- seven acres of land with residence, worth $80 per acre.

ELLIOTT THOMAS S., farmer; Sec. 29; P. O. Payson; was born, Oct. 7, 1841, in Lancaster county, Penn., and is the seventh of a family of four sons and five daughters of Joseph and Margaret (Sturgiss) Elliott, who were natives of Chester county, of that State; the former born April 18, 1803, the latter in November of the same year. They were married Oct. 19, 1826, and came to Adams county in 1849. His father followed carpentering and bridge- building most of his active life. The old people now own a fine farm, where they live, near Payson. Thomas S. was reared on the farm, and married Celena Whitcomb, daughter of Jasper and Elizabeth (Duff) Whitcomb, Nov. 2, 1864. She was born in the village of Payson, Nov. 4, 1841. They settled on the farm where they now live in the fall of 1865. They have had two chil- dren, one living: Florence, born April 4, 1876. Mr. Elliott filled the office of Assessor in 1877. They are members of the Congre- gational church. They own eighty acres in the home farm, worth $80 per acre.

Fastnacht George, cabinet maker; res. Plainville; P. O. Stones Prairie.

FERGUSON GEORGE H., farmer and teacher; res. Payson; the oldest and only son of a family of four children of Robert and Gennette (Mack) Fergu- son; born in Scotland, Aug. 24, 1842. His parents crossed the Atlantic, and set- tled on a farm near the village of Payson, when he was two years old. His educa- tional advantages were only such as the common schools afforded. He began teach- ing school in 1861, and has taught each winter since, and farmed in summers. In

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

November, 1877, he married Mrs. Olivia J. Parks, daughter of Gabriel and Aun T. (Macon) Kay, born in Adams county, Sept. 3, 1836. Her parents are now living in Adams county. Mrs. Ferguson has three children by Oscar M. Parks (deceased), who was born in Ohio, Dec. 16, 1834. They were married in 1859, and he died in 1866. The children are: Edgar O., Ella T., and Oscar M. Mr. Ferguson owns fifty-four acres, two and a half miles northeast of Payson, worth $45 per acre, and forty acres in Pike county, worth $25 per acre ; and Mrs. Ferguson owns a residence and lot in the village. They are both members of the Baptist church.

Finley R. C. wagon maker; P. O. Payson.

Foster Miss Eliza; res. Plainville; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

Foster John, farmer; sec. 27; P. O. Stone's Prairie. Fryer Mrs. Hannah; P. O. Payson.

Fuller C. H. farmer ; P. O. Payson.

Gabriel Mrs. W. R. P. O. Payson.

Ganoe Isaac, retired; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

Gayer J. S. physician ; res. Plainville; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

Gilbert Wm. retired mechanic ; P. O. Payson. Gilhaus Earnest, farmer; sec. 32; P. O. Seehorn, Gillsepie Charles, painter: P. O. Payson. Gillespie James, barber; P. O. Payson.

Gillin Mrs. Malinda; res. Plainville; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

Glass J. miller; P. O. Payson. Goodner J. W. sec. 29; P. O. Payson.

Gregory M. C. farmer; sec. 33; P.O. Stone's Prairie.

GRIFFIN CHARLES C., miller; Sec. 9; P. O. Payson; is the son of Horace and Lydia (Cunningham) Griffin, natives of Licking county, Ohio. He is the oldest of ten living children ; was born there, Aug. 16, 1839. His parents came out west and settled in Burton township, Adams county, in 1842; came to where they now live in 1854. He was brought up on a farm, but embarked in the milling business, and has been a practical miller for fifteen years. He ran a mill seven years at Liberty ; then, in 1870, he and his brother bought the Pay- son Mills, in which he still owns a half interest, in partnership with his father. He married Jennie Shepherd, daughter of Samuel and Margret A. (Dildine) Shepherd, in January, 1861. She was born in Ohio, Dec. 28, 1810. They have three children:

Hattie E., Lydia A., and Rebecca J. He owns a residence and seven acres of land, and a half interest in the Payson Mills, which were built about 1860 by Charles Watt. They contain two run of burrs, with capacity of forty barrels of flour per day. He also owns a saw-mill, built by Messrs. Griffin, which does extensive business; it is propelled by steam power.

Griffin H. miller; sec. 9; P. O. Payson. Griggs Mrs. Sarah, P. O. Payson. Grissom Wm. clergyman; P.O. Payson. Gristy Joshua, farmer; sec. 9; P. O. Payson. Groove Isaac. farmer; sec. 20; P. O. Payson.

Grooves S. S. farmer; sec. 36; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

GRUBB JAMES M., manufac- turer of tinware and dealer in stoves; resi- dence, Payson. He was born in Crawford county, Pa., June 28, 1841. His parents were Stephen and Anna (Renner) Grubb, na- tives also of that State. They came west and settled in Liberty township, Adams county, when he was about a year old. He learned the tinners' trade in Quincy, and Jan. 1, 1862, he enlisted in the United States' service, in Co. F, 1st Regt. 111. Cavalry. He had been in the service only six months when the whole regiment, for some-to them -unaccountable reason, was discharged, al- though having mustered for three years; was mustered out July 1st at St. Louis. He came home and set up business at Payson in December, 1863. Ile married Emma Raw- lee, March 3, 1864, a native of Adams county, and daughter of John and Nancy (Manary) Rawlee. They have had three children, two living: Lydia F., born Aug. 28, 1866, and Eddie J., born Oct. 16, 1868. Lulu was born Nov. 29, 1870, and died Feb. 19, 1873. Mr. Grubb owns the store and lot, and a residence and lot in the village.

Harris Mrs. Catherine, sec. 24; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

HARRIS FRANKLIN, mer- chant; P. O. Stone's Prairie; residence, Plainville. He was born in Wythe county, Va., Sept. 12, 1823. His parents, Nathaniel D. and Margret (Bishop) Harris, were na- tives of the same county. They removed from there to Adams county when the subject of this sketch was seven years of age, and settled in what is now Richfield township. His father previously bought the

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land in 1830. They had just completed the erection of their cabin and moved into it when the "deep snow " of the winter of 1831-2 fell, so memorable in the early settle- ment of Illinois. They had no difficulty in procuring an abundance of meat from the wild game then so abundant, but they were compelled to pound corn for meal, and sub- stantiate parched corn for breadstuff; seven years later they bought on Stone's Prairie, in Payson township,and removed there, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Harris followed farming near Plainville till the fall of 1870, when he embarked in the mercantile business in the village. He mar- ried Emily L. Shaw, May 18, 1848. She was born in Oswego county, N. Y., in March, 1827, and brought up in Pike county. They have had seven children, three living: Mrs. Mary J. Robinson, Mrs. Anna Lee, and William F. Lucy E., their oldest daughter, died when fifteen years old. Mr. Harris was Postmaster for five years prior to 1877. He owns 160 acres of improved land in Payson township, worth $50 per acre.

HARRIS QUINCY R., farmer; Sec. 20; P. O. Payson; was born Nov. 1, 1858, in Payson township, Adams county. His father, Jacob Harris (deceased), and Martha (Flury) Harris were natives of York county, Penn. Jacob Harris was born in April, 1797. He was brought up, and learned the stone-masons' trade, in his native county. Martha Flury was his second wife. She was born in March, 1819. She was, also, married before. She married Mr. Harris, and had one child by her former husband; and he had five children by his first wife. . Their marriage took place May 20, 1844. Mr. H. came west in 1850, and brought his family to Adams county, and settled on the farm where his widow and the subject of this sketch now live, in 1852. From that time he devoted his attention to farming. Their union resulted in four children : Dr. Richard F., Mrs. Ama C. Ruby, Linnaetta L., and Quincy R. Mr. Harris died Sept. 10, 1876. Quincy was educated in Payson and Perry. Nov. 24, 1878, he married Miss Mary Martin, who was born in Adams county, May 5, 1857. He has an undivided interest in his father's estate of 272 acres of land, worth $50 per acre.

Harrington Mrs. E. E .; P. O. Payson. Hartrick F. farmer; sec. 26; P. O. Stone's Prairie. Hendricks Stephen, constable; P. O. Payson. Herboldt George, farmer; sec. 1; P. O. Richfield.

HEWES SAMUEL E., retired merchant; residence, Payson; is the son of George and Sarah A. (Avise) Hewes, of New Jersey. His mother is living in Pay- son. Samuel was born Oct. 30, 1841, in Hancock county, Ill., from which place his parents removed to Payson, when he was a small child. He was brought up in the vil- lage, and educated in its schools. He began clerking for Mr. Keel; but, a year after, failing health compelled him to abandon that business for three years, at the end of which time he had so far recovered, he again went as clerk for Mr. Miller for one year and a half. He enlisted, Oct. 30, 1861, in Co. C, 50th Regt. Ill. Inf .; was detailed for detached duty in the Quartermaster's de- partment, and on other clerical duties. He was mustered out, Oct. 29, 1864, at Rome, Ga. After spending some time in traveling, he engaged in farming, with his father, for several years, teaching school in winters. He again sold goods for Mr. Keel for a year. Oct. 5, 1870, he married Miss Idella Kay, daughter of Robert G. and Cynthia M. (Burroughs) Kay. She was born in Adams county. Aug. 1, 1845. One child, Mable E., is the fruit of their union. She was born March 30, 1874. Mr. H. engaged in mer- chandising, in partnership with R. F. Ed- monds, in 1872. At the end of two years, Mr. E. disposed of his interest to Robert Kay, with whom Mr. H. continued for two years and a half, and then sold out.

HIBBARD ROGER B .. farmer; Scc. 15; P. O. Stone's Prairie; is the oldest of two sons and two daughters of Roger and Phebe (Barns) Hibbard. His father was the third of five sons of Roger Hibbard, and was born in New Hampshire. His first wife was a Miss Bixby, who died, leaving him one child. He married Miss Barns in Orange county, Vt., where the subject of this sketch was born, March 29, 1817. He was brought up there on a farm till nineteen years old, when he came with his parents and settled (where Nauvoo now is) in Hancock county, in 1835. In 1842 he removed to his present farm. April 3, 1845, he married Julia A. Merrill, who was born in Vermont. Her

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parents removed to Pennsylvania when she was seven years old, and, five years after, to Adams county. Have had eleven children, eight of whom are living: Roger M., George W., Story M., Otis B., Levi N., Jasper B., Nathaniel B., and Julia A. Mr. and Mrs. Hibbard are members of the Free Baptist church, of which he is a deacon. He owns 220 acres in home farm, worth $65 per acre. He was town clerk.

Hinkle Jacob, farmer; sec. 10; P. O. Payson. Hodge Mrs. L. P. O. Payson.

Hoffman Mrs. J. C. sec. 10; P. O. Payson.

Hood James, farmer; sec. 30; P. O. Payson.

HOOD ROBERT. stock-dealer and shipper; residence Payson ; is the third of a family of four children of James and Annie (Elliott) Hood. His father was a native of Ireland; his mother, of Pennsylvania, in Chester county of which State he was born, Feb. 12, 1835. He remained there till he was seventeen years of age, when he came to Adams county. He engaged in farming till 1864, then spent four years in the milling business, and for the last ten years has been buying and shipping live stock extensively. He married Mary K. Mann, Dec. 12, 1860, who was also born in Pennsylvania. She died, April 12, 1875, having been the mother of six children, four of whom are living: Mary J., Joseph, Lillie and Josephine. Mr. Hood was married again, Sept. 10, 1878, to Augusta M. Leach. She was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb. 14, 1847, and brought up in Payson. Her parents, Harvey Leach, of Ohio, and Mary (Cowley) Leach, of Vir- ginia, both died when she was very small.

Howard Abram, farmer; sec. 21 ; P.O. Stone's Prairie. Hughes Daniel, retired farmer; P. O. Payson. Hull Jacob, farmer; sec. 36; P. O. Stone's Prairie. Hunter George, farmer; sec. 7; P. O. Payson. Hupert George, saddler; P. O. Payson.

Inman James, farmer; sec. 19; P. O. Payson.

JACOBS SAMUEL, carrier U. S. mail; residence Payson; was born in Louis- ville, Ky., Feb. 28, 1837; when 12 years old removed with his parents, Price and Mary Jacobs, to Columbus township, Adams county July 26, 1862. He enlisted in Co. F, 78th Regt. Ill. Inf. While on picket duty, at

Chickamauga, on the morning of the 22d of September, he was captured by the rebels and sent to Richmond, Va .; was confined in an old tobacco factory till Feb. 17, 1864, and then sent to Andersonville; was one of the first who entered that slaughter-pen, and re- mained there till April 1, 1865, during which time 13,000 of his comrades in blue were carried out dead. Though he lives to tell the tale, he has never recovered from the ef- fects of what he there endured. He was discharged in June, 1865. He married Lillie Sawin, Sept. 29, 1867. She was born in Payson township, Jan. 21, 1851. Have had four children ; three living : John F., George H., and Mary E. Mr. Jacobs took the con- tract for carrying the mail from Richfield to Fall Creek, via Stone's Prairie and Payson, in July, 1875. They removed to Payson in March, 1877. Is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a radical Republican in politics. Johnson Cyrus, farmer; sec. 16; P. O. Payson.

JOHNSON JOHN T., farmer; Sec. 31; P. O. Seehorn; was born Oct. 17, 1845, in Henderson county, Ill. His parents, Thomas and Ellen P (Skelton) Johnson, having settled in that county, where they still live, in 1835. His father was a native of Kentucky and his mother of Alabama. They had a family of five brothers and one sister, of which J. T. was the second. From 1863 to 1873 he dealt heavily in live stock ; since that he has, in company with other parties, bought and shipped grain, in con- nection with his farming business. He married Alice S. Skelton, in June 1867. She was born in New Orleans, La., Sept. 3, 1851. Their union has been blessed with three children : Geneva, Frank and Eddie. They settled in their present home in 1874. They own 260 acres in the home farm, worth $60 per acre. It is finely supplied with spring water and has an inexhaustable quarry of superior stone on it.

JOURNEY JOSEPH W., (de- ceased) ; was the son of Peter and Sarah (Har- rison) Journey, the former of New Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania. Joseph W. was born in Marion Co., Mo., May 4, 1813; came with his parents to Adams county in a very early day, prior to 1825. Peter Journey was- elected a member of the first Board of County Commissioners in July of that year. He married the first couple of which there is any

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record, in Adams county, the license was written on brown paper, and solemnized July 26, 1825. Mr. Journey's father died when he was twelve years old. He lived on a farm all his life. Joseph W. married Caro- line Young, Jan. 1, 1839, daughter of Austin and Margaret Young; born in Cape Gira- deau county, Missouri, in October, 1823; had ten children, five living : Peter A., James B., Andrew M., Dora S., and Mary C. They lived thirteen years on a farm in Pike county, where Mr. J. died Jan. 21, 1862. Mrs. J. re- moved to Payson in September, 1865; owns a residence and two lots in the village; is a member of the Christian church. Has one son and two daughters that live at home and two other sons living in Pike county.

Kabrick Mrs. res. Plainville; P. O. Stone's Prairie. Kaltenbach Wm. farmer; sec. 11; P. O. Payson. Kay C. W. farmer; sec. 19; P. O. Payson. Kay Mrs. Hattie, P. O. Payson.

Kay. S. R. farmer ; sec. 20; P. O. Payson. Kay P. L. farmer; sec. 6; P. O. Payson.

Keal Wm. postmaster; P. O. Payson.

Kidder George, farmer; sec. 35; P. O. Stone's Prai- rie.

Kidder John, teacher; P. O. Payson.

Kidder J. F. merchant; res. Plainville ; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

KING EDMUND C., Physcian ; residence, Payson; was born in Nicholas county, Ky., Jan. 22, 1854, but was brought up in Bourbon county. He is the younger of two children of Rev. Clark and Margaret F. (Martin) King, the latter having died when he was quite a small child. Rev. Clark King was born in New York State; fitted himself for the ministry, and is still laboring in that capacity in the interest of the Baptist church in Indiana. Margaret Martin was born in Kentucky; thus com- bining the blood of the Empire State with that of the sunny South in the doctor's veins. He was educated in the Kentucky Wesleyan University, and read medicine with Dr. S. W. Hurst, of Millersburg. He attended one course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Louisville, after which, he attended and graduated from Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, in 1876. He first lo- cated in Quincy, Adams county, where he practiced nearly two years, after which, he came to Payson, where he has practiced less

than a year. He is a growing man in the profession.

Knowel James, retired ; P. O. Payson.

LARIMORE ALBERT W., farmer; Sec. 24; P. O. Stone's Prairie; was born Dec. 11, 1839, in Hampshire county, Va., the birth-place of his parents, John W. and Elizabeth (Fahs) Larimore. They were married in that county, Nov. 21, 1837. Al- bert is the oldest of six children, five of whom are living. When he was three years old his parents removed to Macon county, Mo., and three years later, being dissatisfied with that country, they started to return to their native State, but concluded to settle in Adams county, near Plainville. ITis carly life was spent on the farm, and at the age of twenty-three years he married Julia F. Pottle, June 5, 1862. She is the daughter of Brackett and Mary (Woodruff) Pottle; was born in Adams county. They settled in their present home immediately after mar- riage. Four children, three living: Wil- liam, born May 26, 1863; Anna M., born Sept. 14, 1867 (died, Sept. 4, 1868) ; Edward N., born March 9, 1870; Mary N., born Sept. 15, 1872. They own 485 acres of land in home farm, worth $50 per acre. House and barn cost $3,000.

LARIMORE ISAAC M., far- mer; Sec. 23; P. O. Stone's Prairie; was born the 25th of February, 1844. He is the third of a family of four sons and two daughters of John W. and Elizabeth Lari- more, of Virginia, Hampshire county. They married there and removed to Macon county, Mo., in 1842, in which place the subject of this sketch was born two years later. In 1845 they removed to Payson township, Adams county, where he was brought up on a farm, and educated in the common schools. March 25, 1866, he married Lydia M. Renner, daughter of Peter and Jane (Pond) Renner, born in Crawford county, Pa., Jan. 25, 1845; settled on farm where they now live in 1867. In 1870 they removed to Ful- ton county, Ill., where they remained till the fall of 1874; then returned to home farm. Their union is blessed with four children : John P., Nellie, Clarence C., and Freddie. Mr. Larimore is a member of the Masonic

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Fraternity. They own 160 acres in home farm, worth $30 per acre. His parents both live in Plainville.

Larimore J. A. farmer ; sec. 23 ; P. O. Stone's Prairie.

LARIMORE JOHN W., retired farmer; residence, Plainville, P. O. Stone's Prairie; was born in Hampshire, Va., Dec. 30, 1811. His parents, James and Naomi (Wolverton) Larimore, were natives of the same place; John is the second of two brothers and five sisters; was brought up there on a farm. In 1842 they came west and settled in Macon county, Mo., where he remained until the fall of 1844; then came to Payson township. Adams county, Ill. He bought a farm and settled on it, remaining until 1874. They then removed to Plain- ville. He married Elizabeth Fahs, Nov. 21, 1837. She was born and brought up in Hampshire county, Va .; was the daughter , of Philip and Rebecca (Baker) Fahs. Six children have been the fruit of their union, five living: Albert W., born Dec. 11, 1838; William, Dec. 20, 1840; Isaac M., born Feb. 25, 1844; Rebecca, now Mrs. Price, born June 9, 1848; James A., born Sept. 13, 1850; Naomi, born March 25, 1856; William died April 13, 1862, from a wound received at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Larimore are members of the M. E. church, in which he has been a local mem- ber for twenty-five years. They own fifty acres of land, finely improved, on Sec. 23, worth $80 per acre.

Lawrence Alfred, farmer; sec. 9; P. O. Payson.

LAWRENCE BLUFORD, far- mer; Sec. 10; P. O. Payson; the oldest of five sons and three daughters, of Woodford and Mary (Mewmaw) Lawrence; was born in Payson township, Adams county, March 29, 1832. He was brought up on the farm where born, and adhered to the example of his sire in choice of vocation. May 3, 1855, he married Jane A. Shepherd, daughter of Thomas J. and Jane (Nickols) Shepherd, born in Adams county, Dec. 12, 1838. Ten children have been the fruit of their union, eight living: Woodford Garrett, Santa Mary, Arthur Marion, Lillie May, Levi Jefferson, Charles Bluford, Nora Ann and Henry Mil- lard. They first settled near the Payson inill; removed from there to their present home in November, 1873. They own eighty

acres in the home place, worth $50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are members of the Christian church.

LAWRENCE CHESTER S., farmer; Sec. 9; P. O. Payson ; is the seventh of a family of five sons and three daughters, of Woodford and Mary (Mewmaw) Lawrence; born on the farm where he now lives, March 8, 1837. He married Hester J. Baker, in April, 1863, daughter of Wm. D., and Ester K. Baker, and was born in Maryland, March 29, 1845. They have five children : Cornelia A., Silas L., Dora T., Ora W. W., and Lydia A. Mr. Lawrence has held several township offices, taught school six winters; is a mem- ber of the Masonic Fraternity, and he and wife are members of the Christian church. He owns seventy-two acres of improved land in Payson township, worth $50 per acre. Lawrence R. farmer; sec. 10; P. O. Payson.

LAWRENCE WOODFORD, retired farmer; Sec. 9; P. O. Payson; was born in Fauquier county, Va., Jan. 8, 1800; is the son of Rodham and Elizabeth Law- rence of the same county. He went with his parents to Kentucky in 1810; lived there on a farm till 1823, then returned to his na- tive county ; spent three years, chiefly in teaching. December 17, 1826, he married Mary Mewmaw, born in Virginia, Jan. 29, 1802. Five days after their marriage they started with one horse to carry them and their effects upon his back to Crawford county, Ind., where they arrived January 21, having consumed a month in the journey, and the weather being very cold were obliged to walk much of the way. Mr. Lawrence spent the time farming and teaching till the spring of 1831, when they removed to Adams county, landing at Bluff Mills, in Payson township in May. The first day's work he did in Illinois was to help James Seehorn, Eli Seehorn, and Robert Hudson plant corn, on June 1. Their wives dropped the corn and they covered it with hoes. Mr. Lawrence taught the first school in Payson township; began in June, 1831, in a log stable, with cracks between logs for windows, and lime bark peeled and laid rough side up for floor. It stood nearly three miles southwest of where Payson now is. October 9, of that year, they removed to his present farm. His wife died Oct. 8, 1838, leaving him with eight children, the oldest five days less than eleven years,

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The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 122

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps Number of Pages: 1254

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254