USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume II > Part 27
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DENT REID, dealer in general mer- chandise, Ridgway, Ill., was born near Saline Mines, in the county where he now lives, Sept. 14, 1860. He is a son of the Rev. Robert and Elizabeth (Campbell) Reid, both natives of Scotland, who came to America on the same ship, and were married some time after their arrival in this country. (See sketch of Rev. Robert Reid, elsewhere in this work.) Dent Reid is the fifth in a family of twelve children. He received a good common school educa- tion and up to the time he was twenty-five years of age lived at home with his parents. On Feb. 18, 1885, he was married to Miss Laura Dossett, who was born near Cave in Rock, in Hardin county, where her parents, I. F. and Minerva Dossett, were old settlers. Before his marriage Mr. Reid had been engaged in farming, and he continued to follow that occupation after- ward until 1890, when he opened a store at Saline Mines. The venture proved a successful one, and in 1894 he removed to Ridg- way, where he enlarged his stock and soon became one of the suc- cessful merchants of the place. In his political affiliations Mr. Reid has followed in the footsteps of his honored father, who at one time was one of the only eight Republicans in Gallatin county. His suc- cess in business is largely due to that persevering disposition, so characteristic of the Scotch people, which he possesses to a marked degree, and to his rugged honesty. He is a member of Ridgway Lodge, No. 816, Free and Accepted Masons, and with his family belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he holds the office of elder. Mr. and Mrs. Reid's children are Robert, Ila D. and Wiley, all at home with their parents.
ROBERT J. BRUCE, a well known citizen of Omaha, Ill., now deputy sheriff of Gallatin county, was born near Norris City, White county, Ill., Jan. 25, 1836. His grandparents, Robert and Sallie (Bantam) Bruce, were natives of Tennessee, were married in that state, came to Gallatin county about 1820, removed soon afterward to White county and there passed the remainder of their lives. Robert Bruce was a cooper by trade, but after settling in White county he followed farming the rest of his life. He was an ardent Democrat in his political views, and both himself and wife were
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members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died at the age of seventy-six years and she at the age of seventy-eight. Their three children are all deceased. William M. Bruce, one of the sons of this couple, was born in Tennessee, Nov. 12, 1812. He came to Illinois with his parents and lived with them until his marriage to Sallie Millspaugh, a native of Hamilton county, Ill., after which he lived until 1848 on a farm near Norris City. He then removed to Gallatin county, bought a farm near Omaha, where he and his wife both died some years later. They both lived to a good old age, the father being seventy-six at the time of his death and the mother eighty. Of their six children five are still living. Robert J. is the subject of this sketch; Benjamin F. lives at Ridgway; Margaret J. is now a Mrs. Shaw, of Omaha; Isaac T. is deceased; Solomon S. lives at Omaha; and Sallie is a Mrs. Rollman, of Evansville, Ind. In his day William M. Bruce was a man of prominence in the community where he lived. Soon after his removal to Gallatin county he was elected justice of the peace, an office which he held altogether for twenty-six years. He was active in politics, being one of the leading Democrats of the county, and was eight years judge of the county court. He and his wife were both consistent members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. Robert J. Bruce acquired his education in the public schools and lived with his parents until the commencement of the Civil war. On Aug. 15, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois volunteer infantry, and was mustered in at Camp Butler. The regiment was on guard duty at Memphis until April 1, 1863, when it was ordered to Vicksburg and took part in the siege and surrender of that place. After the fall of Vicksburg Mr. Bruce fought with his company at Ripley, Gun- town, East Point, Miss., and in numerous minor engagements, being mustered out as second sergeant, Aug. 22, 1865. After the war he returned home and took up the occupations of farming and teaching school. On April 5, 1866, he was married to Miss Hulda C. Campbell, who was born July 10, 1841, in White county, and they located on a farm near Omaha, where they lived until 1898, when he removed to another farm nearer the town, and the following year took up his resi- dence in Omaha, living a retired life with the exception of directing the management of his farm. In 1880 Mr. Bruce was elected sheriff of the county, was re-elected two years later and held the office for four years in all. He was for three years marshal of Omaha, has held other minor offices, and for the last twelve years has been deputy sheriff. Few Democrats in the county are more active in behalf of
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their party, and in campaigns he is always consulted by the party leaders as to how to win a victory. Mr. Bruce is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and belongs to Lodge No. 423, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he holds the office of tiler. His wife died on Sept. I, 1902, leaving six children : Oscar F., John T., Otis T., Sarah M., Tillis and Eslie. All are living in Omaha. Sarah married a Mr. Lamb.
REV. ROBERT M. DAVIS, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Omaha, Ill., is, in point of service, one of the oldest ministers of the gospel in the United States. He comes of that sturdy Scotch-Irish stock, a mere mention of which suggests courage, perseverance and rugged honesty. About the beginning of the Revolutionary war a Robert Davis, a native of the Emerald Isle, came to Amer- ica and served under Washington in the struggle for independence. After the war he married a Miss McElroy, a native of North Carolina, settled in Tennessee, where he followed farming all his life, reared a large family, and lived to a good old age. One of his sons, William Davis, was born in North Carolina in 1780, grew to manhood in Tennessee, there married Polly Sebastin, also born in North Carolina, and in 1814 came with his family to Gallatin county, Ill. About a year later they went to White county, where he entered 160 acres of land not far from where Norris City now is, and there lived until 1832. They then returned to Gal- latin county, locating on a farm about four miles north of Omaha. In 1834 the family removed to a farm where Omaha now stands, where he died in 1838. The children of William and Polly Davis were Isaac S., Sarah, Margaret, Priscilla, Nancy, Elizabeth, Polly, Robert M., William P., Samuel and Cordelia. Sarah married a Dr. Pearce; Elizabeth married a man named Williams ; Polly married a Mr. Riley ; William P. lives in Omaha; Cordelia is now a Mrs. Hungate, of McLeansboro, Ill. These with the subject of this sketch constitute the living members of the family, the others all being deceased. In 1824 William Davis entered the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and continued in the work in con- nection with his agricultural pursuits until his death on Aug. 25,
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1838. The mother removed to White county and lived there until 1860, after which she made her home with her son Robert until her death in 1873. Robert M. Davis was born May 5, 1824, while his parents were living near Norris City. The death of his father left him at the age of fourteen years to not only fight his own way through the world, but to assist his widowed mother in the support of her large family. Under such circumstances his opportunities to attend school were very much restricted, indeed, but with a filial love and fortitude seldom equaled he took up his cross, toiling in the fields by day and in his books by night, the one to secure the physical com- forts of life for himself and those dear to him, and the other in quest of knowledge. In October, 1839, Mr. Davis became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church during the progress of a camp meeting at Village church, near Omaha. Soon after making a profession of religion he decided to enter the ministry and began studying to that end, farming and teaching in the meantime to sup- port himself and his mother. On Sept. 29, 1843, his candidacy was an- nounced to the church; he was licensed to preach on Sept. 28, 1844, and on March 31, 1849, was ordained to the whole work of the church, his ordination taking place at Hopewell, now Enfield, church in White county. From then until 1852 he preached at various places, assisting in revivals, etc., preparatory to the organization of a church at Omaha. His first effort in this direction was to found a Sunday school in 1850, with John Kinsall as superintendent. On Christmas day, 1852, the church was organized by Mr. Davis, assisted by Revs. John Crawford and Benjamin Bruce. It was first known as "Pales- tine" church, and since its organization has received into membership about 800 people. The fiftieth anniversary was celebrated with ap- propriate ceremonies on Dec. 28, 1902, the sermon on that occasion being delivered by H. Clay Yates, D.D. During that entire half cen- tury the church had been under the pastoral charge of Mr. Davis and had enjoyed one unbroken era of peace and prosperity. His labors were not confined to this one congregation, however. In
1 1851 he took charge of the Village church and was its pastor for twenty-six years ; has been pastor of Union Ridge church since 1855; organized Oak Grove church in 1860; the church at New Haven in 1868; the church at Hazel Ridge in 1870; supplied the church at Norris City for several years; reorganized the church at McLeans- boro in 1876; was pastor there for eight years and built a new house of worship. Through all this long period of labor in the vineyard of the Master he has always been in favor of all the general enter-
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prises of the church, the liberal endowment of the denominational colleges, and has been generous in his contributions to Lincoln, col- lege and Milliken university, as well as other colleges. In 1872 Mr. Davis engaged in the merchandizing business as the head of the firm of R. M. Davis & Sons, an establishment that now occupies the best business block in Omaha. But he never permitted his personal interests in this house to interfere with his ministerial duties. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, firm in his convictions, but always consid- erate for the opinions of others. He holds a dimit as a Master Mason, formerly being a member of Lodge No. 2, of Equality, Ill. At the same time he united with the church Miss Mary, frequently called Polly Sharp, also became a member. She was a daughter of William and Lavina (Mason) Sharp, natives of South Carolina, who came to White county about 1827. Mr. Davis and Miss Sharp were married on Feb. 27, 1844, and moved to his farm, where Omaha is now situated, and remained there ever since. For nearly fifty years they lived together, happy in the companionship of each other. He has said that her noble assistance in his church work was one of the potent sources of his success as a minister. Her death occurred Dec. 13, 1893, and was the greatest bereavement of his life. Of their children, William I., who died a few years ago at Oxford, Miss., was a graduate of Lincoln university, an educator of far more than ordinary ability, and president of Cumberland Presbyterian, Female college of Oxford at the time of his death. Millage M. and Samuel M. are members of the firm of R. M. Davis & Sons, of Omaha, and Jennie is the wife of H. P. Blackard, living in the old home with her father. Her husband is one of the leading Masons of Illinois. Mr. Davis is now more than fourscore years of age, and over three- fourths of his long life has been spent in the active work of the ministry. He has spoken words of cheer from the pulpit, christened prattling babes, united fond hearts in the bonds of holy wedlock, and performed the last sad rites over the departed. He is now in good health, preaching at Palestine and Union Ridge churches as the regular installed pastor of each church, having served each one for fifty years or more without intermission. Through his ministrations many have been brought to Christianity, and now in his declining years he can enjoy the happy reflections consequent upon a well spent life, ready for the call of the Master whom he has served so well to enter upon the life eternal.
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GEORGE WASHINGTON COMBS, M.D., the oldest physician of Ridgway, Ill., was born about a mile and a half south of that place Feb. 23, 1838. His grand- father, Andrew Combs, was born in Penn- sylvania, of German parentage, married in his native state, and at a very early date removed with his family and two brothers to Kentucky. His children were Jesse, Thomas, Priscilla, David and Jonathan. Jesse was a soldier in the war of 1812 and fought at the battle of New Orleans. Both parents died while the children were still young. Jonathan, the youngest of the family, was born in Muhlenberg county, Ky., Feb. 22, 1806. He learned the trade of blacksmith before he was twenty years of age and in 1826 went to Mount Vernon, Ind. After a short stay there he removed to Gal- latin county, Ill., where he found employment as blacksmith for the salt works, remaining in that position for about three years. While working at the salt works he was married, and about 1830 he located about a mile and a half south of Ridgway and opened a shop of his own. This was the first blacksmith shop in that neighbor- hood and for nearly forty years he conducted it, building up a good trade. Soon after the war he went to New Market, where he remained about a year, then he occupied a place near Inman for a similar length of time. In 1871, while on a visit to the subject of this sketch, he was taken suddenly ill and died. His widow continued to live on the old home place until her death. He died in his sixty-sixth year, and she died at the age of sixty-four. Her maiden name was Isavilla Dolan, a daughter of Patrick Dolan, a native of Ireland, and she was born in either Virginia or Tennessee. Jonathan Combs and his wife had eleven children, viz. : Milton, Mary Jane, William, George W., Trenton, Martha, John, Thomas W., Calista E., Alice and Samuel. William lives at Dexter, Mo .; Dr. Combs is at Ridgway; Thomas and Samuel also live at Ridgway; and Calista, now Mrs. F. Drone, lives near Ridgway; Alice is a Mrs. Moore, of California, and the others are deceased. Dr. Combs completed the course of study in the common. schools and while still a young man took up the occupation of a teacher, which he followed for about seven years, reading medi- cine in the meantime. In 1858 he went into the office of Dr. Sam- uel Garry, near Ridgway, where he remained as a student until the
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death of his preceptor, when he went to Equality and continued his studies in the office of Dr. Lando Campbell. He then attended the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery for one term in 1866, after which he studied and practiced with Dr. Secord of New Market until 1868, when he practiced in New Market and Ridgway until 1878 and then returned to the college and graduated from that insti- tution in 1879. After receiving his degree he located at Ridgway, where he has ever since practiced his profession, and has won the distinction of being the oldest physician in the county. Besides his professional work Dr. Combs looks after the management of about 300 acres of land. For about three years he was special examiner, and in the course of his long professional career has visited nearly every home within a large radius from Ridgway. He is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 816, and for over thirty years has been a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he has for a long time held the office of elder. On April 28, 1868, Dr. Combs was married to Miss Hannah, daughter of John F. and Eliza (Glass) Hemphill, of Pope county, and the following are the children born to this union: John M., Mary Jane, Milton H., Fuller, Eliza, Agnes, Anna, Samuel, Ella and George. Fuller is a teacher of Latin and Greek at Helena, Mont .; Agnes is a Mrs. Campbell, residing at Toledo, Ill .; Anna is a Mrs. Gahm at Thompsonville, Ill .; Samuel lives in Gallatin county ; Ella and George are at home with their par- ents, and the others are deceased.
FRANCIS A. GREGG, a farmer and stock dealer of Omaha, Ill., is of Irish ancestry. His grandfather, Hugh Gregg, was born in Ireland and in boyhood started with his parents to America. On the voyage both parents died and upon his arrival in this country, an orphan boy in a strange land, he was compelled to find a home with strangers. He grew to manhood in South Carolina, married there and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. One of his sons, Francis Gregg, was born in that state, May 28, 1791. Upon arriving at manhood's estate he married Nancy Riley and in 1832 removed to Gallatin county, Ill., settling near Texas City in White county. Of the fourteen children born to Francis and Nancy Gregg but two are now living, the subject of this sketch and his brother John, both residents of Omaha. Their mother died while Francis was still in his boyhood and their father married a Mrs. Sarah Riley, also a native of South Carolina. To this second marriage
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there were born three children, all now deceased. The father and his second wife both lived to be seventy-five years of age. He was a prosperous farmer, an extensive dealer in live stock, a Democrat in politics, and both himself and wife belonged to the old side Pres- byterian church. Francis A. Gregg was born in Newberry county, S. C., April 3, 1829, received his education in the old fashioned sub- scription schools and grew to manhood on his father's farm. On Feb. II, 1851, he was married to Nancy Caroline Eubanks, a native of White county, Ill., and commenced farming for himself not far from where his father lived. Some years later he removed to Ham- ilton county, where he lived for several years, then spent two years in Williamson county, at the end of which time he returned to Gal- latin county. In 1876 he removed to his present residence in the edge of the town of Omaha, where he has ever since carried on the business of farming and dealing in stock. Of the seven children born to him and his wife, Franklin K. and Elizabeth Ann are de- ceased ; William E., John, L., James, Emma and Eleanora all live in Omaha. Emma married a Mr. Humphries and Eleanora a Mr. Wilson. Mr. Gregg takes an interest in political matters and is one of the stanch Democrats of his township. His wife and daughters belong to the Presbyterian church.
HARVEY P. BLACKARD, proprietor of the Omaha Flour mills, Omaha, Ill., is of Scotch-Irish extraction. (See sketch of Felix G. Blackard for account of ances- try.) His grandfather, Thomas Blackard, was one of five brothers who came from Tennessee to Illinois some time in the decade between 1820 and 1830, where he entered government land near the line between White and Gallatin counties, and there followed farming the remainder of his life. His son Alfred married Polly A., daughter of Jesse and Polly (McGehee) Pierce, and to this union there were born, two sons and three daugh- ters. The daughters, Mollie, Sarah and Emma, are all deceased, and the two sons, Alexander H. and the subject of this sketch, both live in Omaha. About 1877 Alfred Blackard removed with his family to Texas, where he died soon after his arrival. The mother returned to Illinois and located on a farm in Gallatin, county, where she lived II-19
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a few years, after which she removed to Omaha, and there she died in 1892. H. P. Blackard attended the district schools in his boyhood and remained at home until the death of his mother, being employed during that time in various occupations. In. 1882 he engaged in the grocery business in Omaha and followed that for about two years ; was then in the tin and hardware business for a similar length of time; was appointed postmaster at Omaha under Cleveland's first administration, but resigned at the end of two years to become asso- ciated with the mercantile firm of R. M. Davis & Sons. In 1893 he purchased the flour mills, which he still conducts, making the well known brands of family flour-Jersey Cream, Kitchen Queen, and Old Times. Mr. Blackard is one of the brightest Masons in South- ern Illinois. He is now serving as worshipful master of Omaha Lodge, No. 723, for the fourteenth term, which has made him a rep- resentative to the Grand Lodge at Chicago for that number of times, and is a member of Saline Chapter, No. 165, Royal Arch Masons, of Harrisburg. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. In 1892 he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie V., daughter of Rev. Robert M. and Polly (Sharp) Davis, and to this union there have been born five children, three of whom, Leroy, Reece L. and Mansford W., are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Blackard are both members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, in which he is also a ruling elder.
CAPT. JOHN M. BOWLING, farmer and stock dealer, living four miles north- east of Equality, Ill., was born in, Boyd county, Ky., March 4, 1830. His grand- father, William Bowling, was a native of the eastern shore of Maryland, and was of French descent. He married Elizabeth Roman, a native of Virginia, of Scotch ex- traction, and after his marriage lived in Virginia, where he followed mercantile pursuits all his life. He had two sons, John and James, both of whom were small when their father died. Their mother married again, her second husband being David Hogan, and after their marriage they removed to Kentucky, where John Bowling grew to manhood. Beginning in early life he learned the trade of gun- smith, working at that occupation in connection with farming until 1842, when he started with his family to Missouri, but died before
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reaching his destination .. The widow returned to Kentucky and lived there until her death in 1868. They had six children, viz .: William, James, Elizabeth, John M., Jasper and Mary. The three eldest are dead; Jasper lives near Eldorado, Ill., and Mary is the wife of a Mr. Willis, of Greenup county, Ky. Captain Bowling attended the subscription schools in his boyhood, after which he took a course in Duff's Mercantile college at Pittsburg, Pa., and then at- tended Washington college, beginning teaching when he was seven- teen years of age to get funds to pay for his education. In 1855 he came to Gallatin county, Ill., where for several years he taught in the public schools. In 1858 he removed to the place where he now lives, beginning with ten acres, but now has 554 acres, all under cul- tivation except about 100 acres. On Aug. 14, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Third Illinois volunteer cavalry. The regiment was . mustered in at Camp Butler and soon afterward was sent to Mis- souri on scout duty. After the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., it returned to St. Louis, where it was assigned to provost duty. Mr. Bowling was promoted to second lieutenant on March 2, 1862, and in January, 1863, was sent into Illinois to pick up deserters. When he got to his old home he raised a company, of which he was elected captain, but on account of some irregularity the regiment was not mustered into service and he returned to his old command, with the rank of first lieutenant, to which he had been promoted March 4, 1863. Re- joining his regiment in front of Vicksburg he participated in the siege and surrender of that place, afterward taking part in all the engagements in which his command played a part, among which may be specially mentioned Pea Ridge, Cache River and Cotton Plant, Ark .; Arkansas Post, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Magnolia Hill, Jack- son, Miss .; Big Black River, second battle of Jackson, and Nash- ville, Tenn. The regiment was mustered out in 1864, but he, being a veteran, was assigned to duty at Camp Butler, looking after con- scripts and substitutes, where he remained until May 23, 1865, before receiving his discharge. Captain Bowling still carries a gold watch that was presented to him by his friends at Camp Butler. After the war he returned to his farm, where he has ever since lived, giving his attention to his agricultural interests and dealing extensively in stock. He is one of the solid Republicans of Gallatin county, and with his family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Captain Bowling has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1857, was Miss Mary Ransbottom, a native of Connecticut. Their children were: William H., now living near his father; Flora,
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