USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume II > Part 29
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WILLIAM G. EDWARDS, a farmer living about two and a half miles south of Omaha, Ill., was born on the farm where he now lives, Sept. 8, 1867, his parents being Leonard and Sarah L. (Abney) Edwards, old settlers of Gallatin county. (See sketch of Leonard Edwards elsewhere in this work.) William G. Edwards was educated in the public schools, and about the time he attained his majority was married to Miss Martha Garrett. She died in .1891 and he sub- sequently married Miss Lida Robb, a native of Indiana. Mr. Edwards owns 192 acres of fine land, all under cultivation except about four acres. He has lived upon his farm practically all his life, and the improvements, which are equal to those of any farm in the neighbor- hood, were all made by himself. As a farmer and stock raiser few men have a better reputation, or know more about the business. He takes a lively interest in public affairs and is one of the leading Democrats in his township, but has never been a candidate for office. In religious matters he is a consistent member of the Pres- byterian church, and carries the tenets of his faith into his daily life. He has three children, Luther, Eval and Hurtis, living at home, and one deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are both popular in the neigh- borhood where they reside, their home being noted for its hospitality and good cheer.
JOHN GRUMLEY, one of the best known and most popular farmers in the neighborhood of Ridgway, Ill., was born near Hop- kinsville, Ky., Oct. 16, 1853, his parents being John and Mary (Jeffreys) Grumley. The father was killed in 1855 by the falling of a branch from a tree he was chopping down, and some years later the mother married a man named Posey Cisney and removed to Hamilton county, Ill. After a short stay there they returned to Kentucky, where Mr. Cisney died and the mother married a third time, her third husband being John D. Latham. They now live near Elkton, Todd county, Ky. Two children were born to John and Mary Grumley : Melissa, now a Mrs. Kelley, living in Kentucky, and the subject of this sketch. Shortly after his father's death John
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Grumley was bound out to a Kentucky family by the name of Muck- elwagner, with whom he lived until he was about nine years of age, when he started out to seek his fortune in his own way. He first went to Posey county, Ind., where he worked on a farm until he at- tained his majority. In 1872 he was married to Parthena Miller, a native of that county. She died in 1874, leaving one child, and he married Mary J. Mills, also a Posey county girl, and lived there until 1876, when he removed to Gallatin county, Ill., and bought eighty acres, three and a half miles northeast of Ridgway, most of which was in an uncultivated state. With an energy and ambition worthy of the highest emulation he went to work, and from the first prospered. He now owns 180 acres, all under cultivation with the exception of about ten acres. As a farmer and stock raiser he is well known throughout the county as one of the most progressive and methodical of men. Mr. Grumley takes some interest in poli- tics and is one of the solid Democrats of his township. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 843, of Ridg- way, and to the Court of Honor. In religious matters he is a mem- ber of the regular Baptist church, and for several years he has been one of the directors of the public schools. To his second marriage there have been born the following children: Roseander, now living in Saline county ; Lura, now a Mrs. Rister, of Gallatin county, and Amelia, at home.
WILLIAM J. ZIRKELBACH, a farmer and stock raiser near Ridgway, Ill., is a son of Andrew and Katherine (Leutzhuick) Zirk- elbach, both natives of Germany, the former of Bavaria and the latter of Prussia. Andrew Zirkelbach was born June 24, 1827, came with his parents to America when he was about ten years of age, settled in Vanderburg county, Ind., where the father carried on farming until his death at the age of seventy-five years. Before coming to this country he followed the trade of baker, but never worked at it after. His wife came with her parents about the same time. They were married in Vanderburg county and lived on the same farm, near St. James, for about thirty-five years. She lived to be eighty-seven years old. Of their children, William J., Andrew, George, Frank and Lena live in Gallatin county, Ill .; Rachel, Mary, Maggie and Peter live in Evansville, Ind .; Barbara, Mena and Ma- thias are deceased. Andrew Zirkelbach was always somewhat active in political affairs and was one of the prominent Democrats in his neighborhood. His children were all brought up in the Catholic
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faith, of which church both himself and wife were members. Wil- liam J. Zirkelbach was born in Vanderburg county, Nov. 14, 1854. He was educated in the parochial and district schools and lived with his parents until his marriage to Anna K. Wencel of Vanderburg county. They continued to live in that county until 1885, when they removed to Gallatin county, locating on a farm, which Mr. Zirkel- bach bought, near Ridgway. For sixteen years he lived on this place, one year of that time being engaged in mercantile pursuits in Ridgway. In 1901 he sold the farm and bought his present place, three-fourths of a mile west of Ridgway, where he has a well im- proved farm of eighty acres, upon which he carries on a general farming business, devoting much of his time to breeding Aberdeen and Polled Angus cattle. Like his father before him, he is a Democrat and a Catholic, and takes an interest in both political and church matters. The children born to William J. and Anna K. Zirkelbach are Andrew, George, Cecilia and Katherine, living in the vicinity of Ridgway; Josie, William M., Eleanora and Rudolph, at home, and one who died in, infancy.
LEONARD EDWARDS, farmer and stock dealer, living near Omaha, Ill., was born in the State of Tennessee, Nov. 25, 1836, while his parents, Lorenzo and Eliza (Broughton) Edwards, were visiting relatives and friends there, though they were at the time citizens of Gallatin county, Ill. Charles Edwards, the grandfather of Leonard, came to Southern Illinois at a very early date. There Lorenzo grew to manhood, married and commenced housekeeping in a little log cabin of the primitive type on the forty acres now owned by Mrs. M. C. Daniel. Later a larger cabin of one room was erected, and it is still standing. Lorenzo Edwards died at the age of forty-eight years, and his wife survived until 1898, when she died at the advanced age of nearly ninety. Their seven sons and two daughters all lived to be married and reared families. Charles now lives in Saline county ; Jeremiah lives at Omaha; William lives in Calhoun county; Wash- ington died in 1899; Leonard is the subject of this sketch; Milton is in Arkansas; John is a resident of Gallatin county; Jane is the widow of C. R. Williams; and Harriet is the widow of Curtis Rowe. Leon- ard Edwards grew to manhood in Gallatin county. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company B, First Illinois volunteer cavalry, and served about seven and a half months in Missouri, when he was mustered out as first sergeant of the company. After being dis- charged from the army he married Miss Sarah L. Abney, and to this
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union there were born the following children: M. H., now living in Hamilton county, Ill .; William J., a farmer near Omaha (see sketch); Josie, wife of a Mr. Lawson, of Gallatin county; James, living in the same county; and Annie, wife of Archibald Yinn, of Hot Springs, Ark. After the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Edwards married Mrs. Jane Foster, widow of John Foster. She had five children by her first husband, viz .: Sarah, wife of W. W. McReynolds; Alpha, wite of Noah Van Bibber; Charles, William and George. Mr. Edwards is one of the active Democrats of his township, and with his family belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
RICHARD M. HOLLAND, a weil known farmer of Gallatin county, Ill., liv- ing near the town of Omaha, was born Oct. 13, 1841, near Bowling Green, War- ren county, Ky., his parents being Heze- kiah and Sarah (Poole) Holland. Heze- kiah Holland served in the Mexican war and in 1849 came with his family to Gallatin county, located about a mile and a half southwest of Cottonwood, where he built a log cabin twenty by twenty-four feet, on the place where Bennett Murphy now lives, and died there in 1853. After his death his widow married James Brockett and lived to be sixty years old. The children of Hezekiah and Sarah Holland were Thomas, Richard M., Shandy, Lambert P., James, George, Andrew, John, Sarah, Zachary and Josephus. Thomas lives in Norris City; Richard is the subject of this sketch; Shandy lives in Asbury town- ship; Lambert lives at Omaha, and the others are deceased. Five of these brothers-Thomas, Zachary, John, Lambert and Shandy-en- listed at the beginning of the Civil war and served until the close, taking part in numerous engagements. At the age of eighteen years Richard M. Holland began working for the neighboring farmers at $13 a month. He then rented land on shares for two years. In 1862 he was married to Miss Tempy Sanders, and on October 9th of that year removed to the place; where he still lives. His wife died July 20, 1868, leaving two children: Sidora J., wife of Lewis Murphy, and Parnesa A., who died in 1870. On July 21, 1872, he was married to Miss Martha J. Hargrove, and to this union there were born four children: Annie B., Alonzo, and two who died
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in infancy. After the death of his second wife, he was married a third time, his last wife being Miss Sarah A. Pruitt, to whom he was married on Oct. 10, 1878. To this marriage there has been born one son, Lee A. Mr. Holland has been successful in his farm life. Beginning with forty acres, on which stood a log cabin, he has grad- ually added to his farm until he is today one of the prosperous men of the community in which he lives. He is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and in 1891 assessed the property of his township. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and takes an interest in church work.
JOHN C. ANDERSON, a farmer and stock dealer, living near Omaha, Ill., is a descendant of one of the oldest families in that portion of the Lower Ohio Valley. His grandfather, Solomon Anderson, was born in South Carolina, Feb. 8, 1806, his parents being James and Polly Anderson. On May 5, 1830, Solomon Anderson was married to Margaret Williams of Ken- tucky, she being at the time of her mar- riage but fifteen years of age, and soon afterward settled in Posey county, Ind., on the site of the village of old Spring- field. There he followed the occupations of farming and shoemaking, and achieved quite a reputation as a hunter and trapper. The chil- dren of Solomon and Margaret Anderson were William N., Urbane, Asa C., Nancy, Martha, Margaret, Mary E., John and Elias. Wil- liam N. was born Sept. 2, 1831, and died Dec. 26, 1857. He married Mary A. Rusher, daughter of Jerry Rusher, who came from North Carolina in pioneer days and settled in Posey county. This couple were the parents of John C. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, who was born in White county, Ill., Dec. 20, 1854. When he was but three weeks old his parents removed to Posey county, and there he grew to manhood on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-one years he started out for himself. On Sept. 6, 1877, he was married to Miss Hannah Downen and in October came to Gallatin county, locating on the farm where he now lives, only thirty acres of which was at that time under cultivation. For two and a half years he lived in a log cabin, when he built a better house, and by his own industry he has cleared 125 acres of land, leaving only about twelve or thirteen
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acres of his farm that is not now under cultivation. Mr. Anderson buys and ships a great deal of live stock, most of which is shipped from Omaha. He has followed this business in addition to his farm- ing interests for about fourteen years, and has been very successful as a stock dealer. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in politics is independent, voting for the man rather than for the candidate of any particular party. He and his wife have the following children: William L., Bertha, Stella M., Julia H., Mary A., Dora and Audrey.
THOMAS H. GLASSCOCK, a farmer living near Omaha, Ill., was born in that county, March 26, 1845, on the site of the present village of Cottonwood, and has passed his whole life within two miles of his birthplace. His father, John J. Glasscock, was born in Virginia, but left that state in boyhood, removing with his parents first to Ohio and then to Gallatin county, Ill., being about nineteen years old when the family settled on the ground where William Wil- son now lives. Both the grandfathers of Thomas H. Glasscock fought in the Black Hawk war and lived to be very old men. John J. Glass- cock married Elizabeth Newman, and to this marriage were born the following children: Thomas H .; Jane, widow of James Bailey; Patsey, and John. In 1862 the father of these children enlisted as a private in Company D, Twenty-ninth Illinois volunteer infantry, and took part in all the battles and skirmishes in which his command par- ticipated, serving until the close of the war. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thomas H. Glasscock acquired his education in the old-fashioned log school- house, with slab benches, puncheon floor, huge fireplace and only one window. Even to attend this school he was compelled to walk a mile and a half. His first teacher was a Mr. Dalton. In 1865 he was married to Harriet Bryant, and to this union were born two children, James L. and John W. The former is deceased and the latter now lives near his father. Mrs. Glasscock died in 1869, and he subsequently married Miss Arminda Gwaltney. They have had three children: Clarence (deceased), Elma and Henry. Mr. Glass- cock owns 140 acres of fine land, all in a high state of cultivation and well improved. Politically he is a Republican, one of the kind who is always true to his convictions, though he has many personal friends of the opposite political faith. He is a member and one of the trus- tees of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in which he has held the office of deacon the greater part of the time since 1863.
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AMARIAH GWALTNEY, a well known farmer and stock raiser, living near Omaha, Ill., was born Sept. 24, 1848, near Stewartsville, Posey county, Ind. His grandfather, John Gwaltney, was a native of England, but was banished from that country for picking up an apple under a tree that belonged to one of the nobility. In the course of time he settled in Posey county, where he became a well-to-do farmer. One of his sons, Amariah, was born Feb. 9, 1804, married Sarah Reeder July 24, 1828, and became one of the largest land-owners in the neighborhood where he lived. At the time of his death, July 7, 1848, he left his widow 600 acres, upon which she lived until her death, Oct. 17, 1867. Their children were John, Eliza, Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Anna, Emaline, Fanny, Marinda, Simon, Josephus, Adijah, Arminda and Amariah. Amariah, the youngest of the family and the subject of this sketch, received a good education in his youth by attending the common schools and the Fort Branch academy. After his father's death he continued to live with his mother the remainder of her life. When she died he attended school for three winters, working on the farm in the summer time, and then commenced teaching. For three years he taught in the common schools. In the spring of 1872 he came to Gallatin county, and on August 22 of that year was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of Solomon Anderson. Soon after his marriage Mr. Gwaltney located in Ridgway township, where he bought eighty acres adjoining his present farm. Part of the tract was improved and a log cabin stood on the place. Here he and his wife lived for two years, when he sold out and bought the farm now occupied by J. B. Hale. Twelve years later he traded that farm for the one he now owns. When he took possession of this farm the improvements amounted to almost nothing, but by his industry and good management he has now one of the best improved farms in the county. Mr. Gwaltney is a Dem- ocrat in his political affiliations, takes an active interest in public affairs, and for two years served as justice of the peace. He and his wife both belong to the Primitive Baptist church. They have one daughter, Elsie, now the wife of Benjamin Kinsall.
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REV. ROBERT REID, a retired Pres- byterian minister, living at Saline Mines, Ill., is a native of Scotland, having been born at Paisley, Nov. 6, 1822. His father, whose name was also Robert, was born in 1799. In early life he was for a time en- gaged in the manufacture of shawls for which Paisley is noted all over the world, but the greater part of his life he fol- lowed the occupation of mining. He mar- ried Ann Wiley and in 1839 they left Scotland for America. They first settled in Nova Scotia, where they lived until 1842, when they came to the United States. They lived in Penn- sylvania until 1850, then removed to Maryland, where the father died and the widow came with her family soon afterward to Gallatin county, Ill. Of their ten children Anna and the subject of this sketch, both living at Saline Mines, are the only survivors. Rev. Robert Reid received the greater part of his schooling in the common schools of his native land. At the age of twenty-eight he married Elizabeth Campbell, a native of Scotland, who came over on the same ship with him in 1839, being at that time but eight years of age, and afterward removing to Maryland about the same time he did. They began their wedded life at Minersville, Pa., where he was em- ployed in the mines. Later they removed to Maryland, and in 1854 to Gallatin county. Mr. Reid took charge of the mines for the Saline Coal Company, and settled at Saline Mines, in which locality he has ever since lived. He continued as superintendent of the mines until 1859, when he engaged in mercantile pursuits. This business he car- ried on for about fifteen years, though he was also interested in min- ing operations most of the time, either in connection with the Saline Coal Company or the Martha Iron and Furnace Company, of Gal- latin and Hardin counties. He is still associated with the Saline Coal Company. In addition to his interests in the mines he owns about 160 acres of land near Saline Mines, which for years he has managed. In 1856 he took up the work of the ministry, having been an elder in the Presbyterian church for some time previously, and since 1884 he has devoted most of his time to the church, preach- ing at Equality, Harrisburg, Saline Mines and for other churches. Mr. Reid is a Republican in politics, and in his earlier years took an active interest in public affairs. He has served as justice of the
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peace and has been identified with many movements for the up- building of the community in which he lives. He and his wife had the following children: Agnes, now Mrs. Hamilton, of Victor, Col .; Wiley, living at Carbondale, Ill .; Walter, who lives at Danville in the same state; George, deceased; Dent (see sketch); Thomas, now in Oklahoma; Bessie, at home; May (deceased); Millie, now Mrs. Wied- erhold, of Gallatin county; Clara, at home; William (deceased); Rob- ert (deceased). The mother of these children died in January, 1894. In the spring of 1904 Mr. Reid met with an accident that disabled him to such an extent that he has been compelled to forego the active work of the ministry, though he still preaches at times. He has a large circle of acquaintances, with all of whom he is popular, and who esteem him for his many good qualities of both mind and heart.
JOSIAH McCUE, a farmer living five miles southwest of Shawnee- town, Ill., was born near Saline Mines, in the same county, Oct. 2, 1859. His grandfather, John McCue, was a native of Ireland, a col- lier by occupation, who came to the United States in his early man- hood, located in Marion county, O., where he married and continued to reside until 1844, when he came to Gallatin county and located near Saline Mines. There he was employed in the mines until his death. He and his wife had four children, none of whom are now living. One of the sons, John Y. McCue, was born in Marion county in 1838, and was six years of age when his parents came to Illinois. His mother died when he was twelve years of age, and for the next three years he made his home with an uncle, after which he went to work in the mines and continued in that occupation for about four years. Toward the close of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, but never got any further than Shawneetown, where he was when the news came that Lee had surrendered and the war was over. When he was about nineteen years old he was married to Nancy Marble, a native of Tennessee, and from that time until his death fol- lowed farming in the neighborhood of Saline Mines. They had four children: John W. (deceased); Josiah, the subject of this sketch; Sarah, a Mrs. Oxford, of Hardin county; and Mary A., now Mrs. Hill, also living in Hardin county. The mother of these children died in 1867, and the father married Martha Kendrick. To this union there were born three children: Y. Y., in St. Louis; Rachel Robinson, at home; and Mattie (deceased). Josiah McCue received his education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty years began farming on his own account on his father's farm. In 1886 he bought a place
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of 157 acres, where he now lives. This he has added to until he now owns 275 acres, all under cultivation and well improved. Mr. Mc- Cue, like his father before him, takes some interest in politics, and has been elected on the Democratic ticket to some of the township offices. He belongs to the Farmers' Social and Economic Union. In 188I he was married to Elizabeth Shaffer, a native of Evansville, Ind., and their children are: Joseph A., Clara, George, Katie, Bessie, Ray- mond, Rachel, Frankie and John. Joseph is in St. Louis, Clara mar- ried a Mr. White and lives in the neighborhood, and the others are at home.
JOHN W. HARRINGTON, a farmer living near Omaha, Ill., was born Feb. 4, 1859, on the farm adjoining the one on which he now lives. His father, Miro Harrington, was a native of Long Island, N. Y., where he was born in 1813. When he was a boy his parents removed to Ohio, locating near Gallipolis, where he grew to manhood and married Jemima Irion in the year 1840. For a number of years he followed boating to New Orleans and in 1857 he removed to Illinois, lived one year in Hardin county, and then came to Gal- latin county. He bought 140 acres in what is now Ridgway town- ship, the tract of land now being occupied by his daughter, Mrs. William Rogers. At the time he bought it there was a log cabin on the place and about forty acres cleared. He died on that farm in 1881, aged sixty-seven years. His wife survived until 1897, when she died at the age of seventy-five. They are buried side by side in Union Ridge cemetery, in White county. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years prior to her death. Their children were Amanda, Henry I., Hezekiah, Romelia, Ann, John W., Orlenia, Albina, Alice, Rosetta, Sarepta and Vienna. Amanda is the wife of a Mr. Holt; Henry lives in Ridgway; Hezekiah is in Kansas City, Mo .; Romelia is the widow of William Rogers and lives on the old home place; Ann is the wife of W. J. Sanders; John W. is the subject of this sketch, and the others are deceased. John W. Har- rington obtained a good practical education in the public schools, and at the age of twenty-one rented the old home place and began life on his own account. He now owns 200 acres, 160 of which is
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under cultivation, and is regarded as one of the foremost farmers of the community. Mr. Harrington is a Republican in his political views, and, although firm in his convictions, he has a large number of Democratic friends who value his friendship because of his many good qualities. He has been twice married, first in 1880 to Miss Mary E., daughter of James T. Ramsey of Indiana, and to this union there were born two sons, Leroy and Lawrence. His first wife died in 1884, and in 1887 he was married to Cordelia Rogers, by whom he has three children: Clarence, Vera, and Henry. Mr. Harrington belongs to the Court of Honor, and is always interested in any and every movement for the betterment of the neighborhood where he has passed his whole life.
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