USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume II > Part 36
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church. The children born to him and his wife are: Margaret A., now Sister M. Veronica, O. S. M., of St. Mary's convent at Enfield, Ill .; Mary E., now Mrs. Luckett, living near Equality; Michael K., Louis F., Raphael E., John C., Lawrence C. and George F., at home ; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary R., Paul, and Judith A., at home; Philip, deceased; Anthony, deceased; Mary, at home; Mary N., deceased, and Monica A., deceased.
JAMES O'ROURKE, a farmer of Gallatin county, Ill., living six miles west of Shawneetown, was born in County Limerick, Ire- land, Sept. 5, 1849. His father was a peasant farmer, but died when James was only about two months old. He remained on the farm with his mother until 1865, when he came to this country with an uncle, William O'Rourke, who had previously been here, and who is now living in Evansville, Ind., about eighty-six years of age. James found employment as a teamster in Evansville, and continued to work at that occupation until 1872. He then came to Gallatin county, where for several years he worked in the mines. Upon leaving the mines he rented a farm near Bowlesville, and lived there nearly twenty years, when he bought eighty acres of what is known as the "Old Huston Place," where he now resides, and where he carries on a successful farming business. Mr. O'Rourke has the true Irish sentiment, and the love for the Emerald Isle that has been celebrated in song and story by men like Carleton and Tom Moore. He has made two trips to his native land since first coming here, and on the occasion of each visit has come back to his labors re- freshed by happy recollections of his old home. In politics he is a steadfast Democrat, and in his religious faith is a member of the Catholic church. On April 23, 1880, he was married to Miss Belle Pettery, daughter of James and Rachel (White) Pettery, of Gallatin county, and to this union have been born the following children: Henry, Kate, James, Willie, George, Mayme, and Charles. Henry, Willie and Charles are deceased and the others are living at home with their parents. Mr. O'Rourke is a fine example of what indus- try and frugality will accomplish. Coming to this country at the age of sixteen, an orphan and almost penniless, he has, by his energy and good management, become one of the successful farmers of the community in which he lives, while by his genial and generous dispo- sition he has made friends in whatever walk of life his lot has been cast.
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ISAAC A. FOSTER, M.D., of New Haven, Ill., is one of the best known and most popular physicians in Gallatin county. His ancestors originally came from Eng- land, and the Fosters were among the very first settlers of Southern Illinois. About the beginning of the nineteenth century Asa Foster, the great-grandfather of Doc- tor Foster, came with his father from Vir- ginia, and located in Pope county, where he married and reared one son. This son, Horace Foster, was born Jan. 8, 1811; married Phoebe Davis, born May 1, 1808, in that part of Pope county which afterward became a part of Hardin county ; entered government land near Elizabethtown, and there they passed their lives. They were married on Sept. 29, 1826, and had four children: Asa, Horace, Lyman and Mary Jane. The mother of these children died comparatively young, the father on Dec. 1, 1834, married Mary or Polly Davis, a sister of his first wife, born May 9, 1819, and to this marriage there were born several children, all now deceased. He died about 1847, at the age of thirty-five years. The only one of the children of these two mar- riages now living is Horace Foster, the second child by the first wife. He was born on the farm near Elizabethtown, Nov. 18, 1829. He was married Dec. 9, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Hobbs, a native of Missouri. They began their married life on the old homestead on Rock Creek, in Hardin county, near where they now live. They had twelve children, five of whom are deceased. Those living are Thomas J., John, W., Isaac A., Hannah E., Julia A., Mary A. and Joseph A. Thomas and John W. live in White county; Harriet married M. L. Tyer, now county judge of Hardin county, and lives near Cave in Rock; Julia is a Mrs. Belt, living on Rock Creek; Mary is a Mrs. Patton, of White county, and Joseph lives at New Haven. The parents are both members of the Christian church. Isaac A. Foster was born Oct. 4, 1862. As a boy he attended the public schools and improved his time so well that at the age of nineteen he became a teacher, which occupation he followed for eight years. In 1888 he was elected surveyor of Hardin county and held the office for three years. While serving as surveyor he com- pleted his course in medicine, and in 1891 graduated from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of St. Louis. After practicing on
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Rock Creek for about two years he located at New Haven, where he has built up a lucrative business and stands high in his profession. Doctor Foster is a member of the American Medical association, the Illinois State and the Gallatin County Medical societies. He is prom- inent in Masonic circles, being Worshipful Master of New Haven Lodge, No. 230; a member of Fairfield Chapter, No. 179, Royal Arch Masons, and deputy grand lecturer for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He also belongs to New Haven Lodge, No. 7591, Modern Woodmen of America ; Shawnee Tribe, No. 193, Improved Order of Red Men, and to Herald District, Court of Honor, No. 873. He and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star, in which he holds the office of Worthy Patron and she is secretary. They are likewise members of Gallatin Camp, Royal Neighbors of America. In politics Doctor Foster is a Democrat and at this time holds the office of township collector. He belongs to the Christian church and his wife is a Methodist. He was married, in 1898, to Miss Belle Chastain, a native of White county, and for five years a teacher in the public schools. They have had the following children: Edward H., Paul J., Alice B., and one who died in infancy.
AMOS L. SIEBMAN, one of the most progressive farmers in the neighborhood of Ridgway, Ill., is of Pennsylvania Dutch ances- try, his parents, William and Rachel (Pisal) Siebman, both being natives of the Keystone state and of German lineage. William Sieb- man was born about the year 1810, and while still a young man learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed for several years in Pennsylvania after his marriage. He then went to Cincinnati, O., where he worked at his trade until about 1848, when he came with his family to Gallatin county, Ill., and settled near Equality. There he took up farming for a livelihood, adding carpentering some time later, and worked at these occupations the rest of his life. He died at the age of fifty-five years and his wife at the age of sixty-two. They had eight children, three of whom are still living. Sarah is now Mrs. Fox, of Shawneetown; Amos is the subject of this sketch, and Theodore lives with his brother. Amos L. Siebman was born May 5, 1852, on what is known as the Dan Woods farm near Equality, in the same county where he now lives. As a boy he attended the common schools and spent much of his spare time in study at home, a habit he kept up even after reaching manhood. In 1874 he was married to Miss Philomine Brazier, and began life for himself on the place where he now lives. Mr. Siebman has two
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farms : one of 280 acres, most of which is under cultivation, and the other of eighty-two acres, part of which lies within the corporate limits of Ridgway. His larger farm was nearly all wild land when it came into his possession, and has been brought to its present improved state by his own industry and good management. Mr. Siebman believes in education, and for eleven years was a member of the school board. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religious matters is a consistent member of the Catholic church. Four children have been born to him and his wife, all of whom are living. Rachel is a Mrs. Luckett, of Ridgway; Emma is a Mrs. Beatty and Mary a Mrs. McCormick, both living in that vicinity, and Walter is at home with his parents.
JAMES A. QUICK, manufacturer of vehicles, agricultural imple- ments, pipe, brass goods, mill supplies, etc., Shawneetown, Ill., is one of the representative business men of that city. He was born at Taunton, Somersetshire, England, Oct. 28, 1831, his parents being James and Emma (Summers) Quick, both natives of Somerset. The father was a farmer and contractor, and lived to be seventy- five years of age. The mother died at the age of eighty. They had thirteen children, six of whom are now living. Eliza is a Mrs. Martin, of Bridgewater, England; James is the subject of this sketch; Charles is at Sacramento, Cal .; Elizabeth married a man named Bufford and lives in England; Stephen and Simeon live at Taunton and Edwin lives at Bristol, England. James A. Quick attended the common schools of his native land, and at the age of nine years started in, to serve his apprenticeship at the wheelwrights' trade, at which he worked for seven years, receiving twenty-five cents a week the first year, with an increase of twelve and a half cents a week for each succeeding year during his period of service. He boarded with his parents and walked a mile and a half to and from his work. After learning his trade he received good wages as a journeyman for about two years, when he and his brother Charles set sail for America, and landed at New York on June 18, 1854. Mr. Quick worked one summer in Philadelphia, then, the fol- lowing winter in Cincinnati, after which he went to Cleveland, where he worked until 1860. He then came to Shawneetown, arriving there on October 6th, and has ever since been a resident of the place. For two years he was employed by Mr. McMurchy, whom he succeeded in business. Mr. Quick has been successful in his busi- ness, has one of the best equipped and largest machine shops in this
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part of the country, and owns other property in Shawneetown. His practical training in youth, although a hardship then, has been of great value to him in his undertakings, and he is a splendid example of a self-made man. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served with credit as one of the board of aldermen. He was mar- ried in 1861 to Margaret Welsh, a native of Indiana, and they have had four children.
RICHARD J. WISEHART (deceased), who in his day was a well known and influential citizen of Gallatin county, Ill., was born Sept. 11, 1819, in the State of Kentucky, and died on the farm where his widow and one son now live, three and a half miles from Shawneetown. While he was still in his boyhood he came with his parents, John and Elizabeth Wisehart, to Gallatin county, crossing the Ohio on a flatboat, and settled on a farm. There he grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the old fashioned subscription schools of pioneer times, which he supplemented by a course of reading and home study until he became a well informed man. While he was still of tender age he had the misfortune to lose his father by death and was thus thrown on his own resources at an early period in his life. At the time he was married the first time his entire possessions were a two-year-old colt and one dollar and a half in money. But by a life of industry and sterling honesty he accumulated considerable property, the home farm consisting of 200 acres of fine land. He also did an extensive business in stock raising, and was for many years a minister of the Christian church. His first marriage was to Nancy Parks, and they had four children: Harrison and Emily are living and Rebecca and John Henry are deceased. Emily is the wife of Levi Weaver, of Evansville, Ind. After the death of his first wife he was married on Dec. 15, 1872, to Sarah J. Boswell, a native of Bristol, England, who came with her parents, John and Sarah (Harris) Boswell, to America, while still in her girlhood. Her father was an expert in mineralogy and upon locating in Hardin county, Ill., he opened up some lead mines there. Subsequently he went to Kentucky and opened some coal mines, but later returned to Gallatin county, and opened the Old Saline mines, which are still
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running. In his day he did perhaps more than any other one man to develop the mineral resources of Southern Illinois. He died at Shawneetown about 1864. Richard and Sarah Wisehart were the parents of two children: Richard, who now lives with his mother on the old homestead, and William S., who died in the twentieth year of his age.
WILLIAM M. SATTERLEY, a farmer and stock raiser, living about five miles from Shawneetown, Ill., is one of those men who begin life at the bottom of the ladder, and who, by industry, good judg- ment and correct habits, win for them- selves places among the successful and reputable citizens of the community in which their lots may be cast. He was born in Monroe county, Mo., March 9, 1860, and there grew to manhood on a farm. Circumstances prevented him from securing a first-class education in school and he commenced life as a farm hand, studying in favorable moments those needful branches of a business education. For sev- eral years he continued to work on farms by the month, saving his money in the hope that some day he could own a farm of his own. In 1878 he came to Gallatin county, Ill., where he worked for some time for various farmers. All of his old employers speak of him as a faithful and trustworthy man. In 1880 he was married to Miss Elma James, and in 1883 he located on the farm where he now lives. This farm consists of 160 acres, about one-half under culti- vation and the rest in timber. All the improvements on the place have been made by Mr. Satterley since the farm came into his pos- session. He carries on a general farming business, studies how to secure the best results through the rotation of crops, etc., and devotes considerable time and attention to stock breeding. Politically he is a Democrat, and although he takes a keen interest in all those ques- tions that affect the general welfare and is always ready to dis- charge his duty as a citizen, he is not what could be called an active politician. Mr. and Mrs. Satterley have had two children, Roy F. and Charles A., but both died in infancy.
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JAMES W. YOUNG (deceased), who in his day was a well known resident of Gallatin county, Ill., was born in Wilson county, Tenn., Aug. 30, 1843, there grew to manhood, and died on the farm where. his widow now lives, Sept. 18, 1901. On Nov. 26, 1890, he married Laura Boyd, a daughter of William J. Boyd, who was born near Maysville, Mason county, Ky., April 30, 1824. In 1846 he came with his parents, John and Leah C. Boyd, to Gallatin county, located at New Haven, MRS. LAURA C. YOUNG. where he carried on a tanyard for about seven years, and also did considerable business as a boot and shoe manufacturer. He then removed to a farm in what is known as "Nettle Bottom," about five miles from Shawneetown, where he bought eighty acres of wild land. Subsequently he removed to the farm where Mrs. Laura Young now lives. William J. Boyd was a man of fine appearance, weighing over two hundred pounds. He was a Democrat in politics ; was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity ; served several years as justice of the peace, and was a man of affairs generally. On March 24, 1847, he was married to Mrs. Jane Hooker, widow of Hiram Hooker, a daughter of Robert Bradford, and a native of Ireland. The children born to this mar- riage were Leona, Charles W., Rebecca, Walter and Laura C. Rebecca is the widow of James Rice; Laura C. is the widow of James Young and the others are deceased. The mother of these children died Aug. 9, 1887, aged seventy-two years. During the greater part of her life she was a devoted member of the Presby- terian church. William J. Boyd died on Aug. 4, 1887. At the time of his death he was the owner of several hundred acres of land, besides some city property in Shawneetown, where for several years he was in the livery business. After the marriage of James W. and Laura C. Young they lived on the farm where she now resides, and where he carried on a general farming and stock raising business. Since his death Mrs. Young continues to manage the farm, which consists of 160 acres. She also owns eighty acres in another tract. The children of James W. and Laura C. Young were Charles W., aged twelve years, now living on the old homestead with his mother, and Irene, Susie and Mary Frances, all deceased.
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THOMAS B. HICK, M.D., one of the best known physicians of Gallatin county, Ill., was born at New Haven, in that county, Dec. 6, 1841, and is now the oldest native resident of that place. He is the third in a family of five children born to Thomas and Fatima C. (Barger) Hick, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter of Gallatin county, where her father, Jacob Barger, was one of the early settlers. The other children were John, born in 1838 and died in 1875, a merchant during his lifetime; Mary J., who married George L. Hanna, and died in 1901; Elizabeth J., wife of Mathew Land, born Jan. 13, 1844, and one who died in infancy. Doctor Hick's father came from England in his boyhood with his par- ents, settling near Golconda in the year 1816. He was bound out to a tobacconist until he was twenty-one years of age, but not liking the arrangement ran away before he completed his term of service. In 1835 he located at New Haven, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He took a prominent part in political affairs and in 1845 and again in 1858 was elected to the legislature on the Democratic ticket. He continued in business until 1866, and upon his death his sons succeeded to the store. The mother of Doctor Hick died in 1855. Doctor Hick received his early education in the common schools, after which he took a course in the Eastman Business college, at Pough- keepsie, N. Y. On Dec. 1, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Seventh Illinois cavalry, joining the regiment at Bird's Point, Mo. He was at the siege of Vicksburg; participated in the battle of Arkansas Post, the military operations about Corinth, and was in a number of minor skirmishes. In 1862 he was promoted to ser- geant, and in August of that year was detailed for special duty by order of General Grant. When the postoffice of the Thirteenth army corps was created he was appointed a clerk in that department and remained in that capacity until August, 1864. He was then trans- ferred to the military postoffice at Cairo and served there until he was mustered out on December 19, at Nashville, Tenn. Before the war he had been associated with his father in the store and had spent some time in reading medicine. After being discharged from the army he again took up the study, though he continued in the store with his brother until 1869. During the years 1870-71 he attended the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, and in 1872 graduated from the Cleveland Medical college. He located at New Haven, where he has been in continuous practice ever since. Al- though a third of a century has elapsed since Doctor Hick first received his degree of M.D. he has not allowed himself to fall behind in
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the progress of medical science. In the treatment of diseases he is looked upon as one of the successful physicians of his section of the state, and consequently has a large and lucrative practice. In addi- tion to his professional interests he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and has accumulated considerable town property. Like his father before him, he is an unswerving Democrat, though the only political position he could ever be prevailed on to accept was the postoffice at New Haven, where he served as postmaster for several years. Doctor Hick is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; Rhodes Post, No. 586, Grand Army of the Republic, of New Haven, and belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
BLUEFORD ROBINETT, a retired farmer, of Shawneetown, Ill., was born in that county, not far from Ford's Ferry, Jan. 18, 1833. His father, Joseph Rob- inett, was a native of Bourbon county, Ky., where he was born in 1785. In 1818 he came with his wife and four children to Gallatin county, Ill., making the jour- ney by wagon, entered 280 acres of gov- ernment land, for which he paid $1.25 an acre. On this land Mr. Robinett built a hewed log house of two rooms, and there passed the remainder of his life as a farmer. This farm is the one where the subject of this sketch was born. Joseph Robinett was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Hughes, by whom he had four children, all born in Kentucky. John was a soldier in the Black Hawk war; Irene married John Potts: Phœbe married Joseph Potts, and Matilda married James Barlow. The second wife was Clarissa Nighswonger, a native of Ohio, who came down the Ohio river with her brother in a flatboat, about 1824, and settled in Gallatin county. To this marriage there were born the following children: James, who died at the age of seventy-eight years; Louisiana, who married Todd Dunn and died at the age of forty; Allen, who died when he was about thirty years old; Cynthia A., who married Jeremiah Potts and died at the age of forty; Blueford, the subject of this sketch; Rachel, now living in Gallatin county as the widow of Henry Rose; Joseph a farmer of Gallatin county, and Alfred, who died when but nine years of age. The mother of these children died at the age of eighty-four years
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and the father when he was about sixty-six. Blueford Robinett was about nineteen years of age at the time of his father's death and he was called on to take charge of the farm and conduct it for his mother. He continued to live on the farm until 1892, when he removed to Shawneetown. Although in his boyhood he was denied the privilege of attending school as much as most of the boys of the present generation enjoy, he has succeeded in life. At one time he owned over 1,000 acres of land. Much of this has been divided among his children, but he is still the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres. In politics Mr. Robinett has always been a Demo- crat, one of the kind who always have the courage of their convic- tions and ready to defend their principles, but he has never been a seeker for public office. In 1853 he was married to Miss Eliza J. Rose and to this union were born the following children: Charlotte, wife of John C. Brinkley, of Shawneetown; Lucy, wife of J. W. Rogers, a well known farmer of Gallatin county; Cynthia, who died at the age of six years ; Minerva, wife of J. B. Hellington, a stock dealer of Harrisburg, Ill., and John, who died at the age of twenty- four years. The mother of these children died a few years ago, and since that time Mr. Robinett has made his home in Shawneetown.
GEORGE P. CASSIDY, M.D. (de- ceased), late a prominent physician of Shawneetown, Ill., was born on a farm near that city, June 6, 1860, and died at Shawneetown, May 15, 1903. His parents, John A. and Bridget Cassidy, were natives of Ireland. Both are now deceased. Dr. Cassidy received his early education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen years he entered the Notre Dame, Ind., university, and graduated in the class of 1881. The following year he entered the Miami Medical college of Cincinnati, where he continued until he had taken three full courses of lectures, when he traveled south to Cuba and the surrounding islands for about a year. He then re-entered the medical college and graduated with the degree of M.D. in the class of 1885. From that time until his death he practiced his profession in Shawneetown, winning the reputa- tion of being one of the most progressive and successful physicians in the place. After graduating from the Miami college he took a special
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course in diseases of the eye and ear. In his untimely death the pro- fession lost one of its most brilliant members. He was the founder and first president of the Gallatin County Medical society ; was a member of the State Medical society ; and also of the Southern Medical society. In all these organizations he was ever to be found working for the advancement of the profession. In his religious views he accepted the faith of his parents and belonged to the Catholic church. On April 18, 1893, Dr. Cassidy and Miss Olive Grattan were united in mar- riage. She is a native of Saline county, Ill., and a descendant of one of the first families. Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Cassidy: Grattan, Claudia, and one who died in infancy.
GEORGE HARRELSON, a retail grocer of Shawneetown, Ill., was born in what is known as the "Pond Settlement," in that county, May 3, 1847. He is the second and only surviving child of George and Mary (Callicott) Harrelson. Rebecca, the eldest, married Henry Young and later died, and Joseph, the youngest, died at the age of twenty years. George Harrelson, the father, was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Fleming, by whom he had four children, only one of whom is now living, viz .: Nancy, wife of Henry Young, of Omaha, Ill. When the subject of this sketch was about eight years of age his parents removed to New Haven, in Gallatin county, and there the father died the same year. The mother after- ward married James Smith, who died in 1867. George Harrelson lived with his mother until he was twenty-one years old, when he commenced working by the month for some of the neighboring farmers. After a few years passed in this way he bought out the other heirs to his father's estate and became the owner of the old homestead, consisting of 160 acres of land. He conducted this farm for three years, when he rented it and engaged in other pursuits for about four years, at the end of which time he returned to the farm and lived there until 1887. In that year he located in Shawneetown and embarked in the grocery business, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Harrelson has built up a good patronage by his close attention to business, studying the demands of his trade, and his correct busi- ness habits. Politically he is a Republican, though he is not particu-
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