O-P-Q-R BIOGRAPHIES
Alexander County Illinois Genealogy Trails
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Elco Precinct, p. 226.
Richard Palmer, farmer, P. O. Elco. William Palmer, the grandfather of our subject, was probably born and raised in North Carolina, and there John Palmer, his son, the father of Richard, was born. The former came to Tennessee when the latter was a young man. There John married in Smith County, Miss Piety Vick, daughter of Joshua Vick. She was the mother of nine children, and of this number our subject was the third, and was born October 8, 1817. When our subject was about twelve years of age, his parents came to this county and settled about three miles northwest of Elco, where they resided until their demise, the father dying August 7, 1850, and the mother July 2, 1852. In this county subject received his education, attending mostly the old Hazlewood subscription school. After his schooling, he helped his father on the old home place until he was twenty-four, when he started out in life for himself, first settling about five miles southwest of Elco on a tract of eighty acres. Here he remained about twelve years, and then moved to his present location in Section 16, Town 14, Range 2 west. His first purchase was a farm of 120 acres of which about twelve acres were in cultivation. This has since been increased to a farm of 240 acres of which about 100 acres is in cultivation. Subject was married August 19, 1841 to Irena Vaughn, daughter of Reuben and Nancy Vaughn of this county. She was born December 27, 1821 in Perry County, Tenn., and the mother of nine children, six of whom are living--Louis, born February 16, 1844; Piety, born July 2, 1849; James R., born September 2, 1851; Elizabeth, born November 21, 1855, wife of Jacob Mitchell; Enda, born June 27, 1858, wife of James Harrell; John, born July 22, 1863. The three dead children are Nathaniel, born November 16, 1842, died April 22, 1844; Nancy, born October 8, 1845, died September 20, 1846; Reuben, born September 10, 1847, died October 6, 1848. This lady died October 30, 1881. Subject is a Democrat and is a member of the Southern Methodist Church.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 233.
William L. Petitt, farmer, P. O. Thebes. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of Randolph County, Ill., and was born March 20, 1843. He is a son of Richard C. and Catharine Petitt, both natives of Tennessee. Our subject attended school in his native county, but left home when sixteen years old, with his father, and came to Alexander County in 1857, and settled near where the son now lives. After remaining at home with his father for a number of years, Mr. Petitt made a start in life on a rented farm of sixty acres. He only remained there one year. When his father died, he bought out the remaining heirs, and came back to the home farm. He now owns eighty acres in Section 16, Town 15, Range 3, of which forty acres are in cultivation. Subject married Miss Melissa Moore, daughter of Preston and Sallie (Overton) Moore, on March 25, 1866. This lady is the mother of eight children, five of whom are living--Richard, Hiram, Sarah, Levy and Zola. In politics, Mr. Petitt is a Republican, and is a member of the Methodist Church at Thebes.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 233.
W. H. Ralls, undertaker and wagon-maker, Thebes, is a native of Henry County, Tenn., and was born June 27, 1847, a son of James and Nancy Ralls, natives of Illinois. In that county, subject received the rudiments of his education, but when ten years of age, moved with his parents to Johnson County, Ill., where the father settled near Vienna, and there the son attended school until seventeen. He started out in life as a farmer and followed it until he was twenty-one, and then commenced work in a saw mill in Union County, owned by B. F. Livingston and H. B. Hubbard; here he remained for about eight years and then went to Elco, Alexander County, where he opened a carpenter shop. Soon after his arrival in this place, he commenced to learn the trade of a wagon-maker under Samuel Briley. He remained in that town until 1882, when he came to Thebes, where he has since carried on the trade of a wagon-maker. About a year ago, he also opened an undertaker's shop. Subject was married, December 3, 1871 to Miss Elenora Briley, daughter of Samuel Briley. She is the mother of six children, three of whom are living--Oscar Francis, Olive Ionie, and William Henry. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. McCabe, Company H, Capt. Porter, November 15, 1864, and was honorably discharged December 16, 1865. In politics, Mr. Ralls is a Republican. Is a member of Elco Lodge, No. 643, I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Thebes M. E. Church.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Elco Precinct, pg. 227.
John J. Reams, farmer P. O. Clear Creek Landing, is a grandson of Edward Reams, who was born in Virginia and settled in North Carolina, where Jesse Reams, the father of our subject was born. The father remained there until a young man and then went to Tennessee, settling in Stewart County, where he married Anna McGee, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Whiteside) McGee. This lady was the mother of nine children, and of that number subject was the third and was born August 15, 1833. His parents came to Illinois when he was about ten years old, settling in Pope County, where they remained until their death. Subject received his education entirely in the subscription schools, and went to them but little. He remained at home until he was about twenty-one, and then bought a farm in that county. There he remained until 1870 when he came to this county, and first rented a farm of Washington McRavens. He is now living on a farm belonging to Pilgrim McRavens, about five miles east of Clear Creek. He was married December 10, 1854 to Mary Jane Jaco, daughter of John and Polly Jaco of Pope County. This lady was born in Tennessee in 1836 and was the mother of four children, two of whom are living--Polly Ann (wife of James Woodward of Clear Creek) and Washington Reams. She died in July 1861 and December 12, 1863 Mr. Reams married the second time, Matilda Caroline Castleman, daughter of William and Maria (Bush) Castleman. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are living--Mary Jane (wife of James Hill), Charity and William J. Subject is a member of the Baptist Church, which meets at Clear Creek. In politics he is a Democrat.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 233-234.
J. G. Rolwing, merchant, Thebes. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of Prussia. The family name is the one borne by his mother, who was of a family standing high in that country. The father, Kutine, was compelled to change his name, according to the existing laws of that country. The parents came with subject to this country, when the latter was about ten years of age. The father first settled at Evansville, Ind., but only remained about three years, when he moved to Texas Bend, Mo., where he commenced farming. The education of our subject was principally German, having opportunity only to attend an English school one month. He has since, however, obtained a fair knowledge of the English language. Mr. Rolwing made his start in life in 1850 at Hunt's Landing, Mo., where he clerked at the leading store there. In two years he left that place, and came to Charleston, Mo., where he only remained a short time and then came to Thebes. At this point he first clerked for McClure & Overby, who were then (1854) doing business at that point. After a two years' stand at this point, he again sought a new place to make a fortune. In the next four years he clerked at different points, with varying success, but by 1860 he had accumulated enough to return to Thebes and purchase an interest in the store of T. J. McClure at that point. The firm became known as McClure& Rolwing. This partnership existed until 1863, when the head of the firm retired, and our subject has since carried on the business alone. He now carries a stock of about $3,000. Mr. Rolwing was married May 25, 1864 to Mary I. Marchildon. She is a native of Canada East, and is the mother of seven children, five of whom are living--Emma M., born April 20, 1865; Henry S., born January 27, 1867; Eddie G., born March 10, 1874; Jennie E., born July 31, 1876; Myrta J., born June 2, 1880. The departed ones are C. A., born July 30, 1871, died August 17, 1872; Zelia E., born August 15, 1869, died December 1876. In politics, Mr. Rolwing is a Democrat. In church affliations he holds to the Roman Catholic Church. (See picture of store.)