U-V-W 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, Clear Creek Precinct, p. 245.
J. P. Walker, farmer, P. O. Clear Creek Landing. Probably the oldest native resident of this precinct is the gentleman whose name heads this stetch. The grandparents of our subject were natives of Tennessee, and there William Walker, his son, was born, grew to manhood, and married Priscilla Hannah, also a native of Tennessee. The twain immediately after marriage came to Missouri, where they remained for some years. They came to this county some time before the year 1811, and located in the bottom land near Clear Creek. In the earthquake of that year, the land Mr. Walker was living on sunk, and he took his family to the hills near Rifle Creek, in the northern part of the county. From there the family came to part of the farm now owned by subject. Thee subject was born February 22, 1818, and was the youngest of a large family of children. His father died in 1823, when he was but five years old. But he was permitted to attend the subscription schools of his county some. Being the only boy at home, he early commenced the life of a farmer and helped support his mother and sisters. As soon as he reached his majority, he took entire charge of the place, his mother having died in 1844. On this place he has since lived. The piece inherited from his father, was a farm of sixty acres in Section 9. He has since purchased sixty acres more in same Section, and eighty acres in Section 16. He has about 140 acres under cultivation. Mr. Walker was married in 1840 to Miss Sabra Hall, daughter of Thomas Hall. She was the mother of eight children, three of whom are living--Samuel E., born January 29, 1849, now assisting his father on the home place; Sallie Ann Priscilla, born March 7, 1853, the wife of Riley Price of Duncan County, Mo.; and Sabra, born April 28, 1856, married to Edward Perry of Cape Girardeau County. Mrs. Walker died August 16, 1857. He was married the second time to Mrs. Louisa Giles, who was the mother of three children, two of whom are living: Mary A., born January 1, 1859, and George W., born November 18, 1861. This wife died November 1, 1864. The third time he was married May 15, 1865 to Eliza Pucket, daughter of Asa Pucket; one child of this union now lives, Asa, born February 23, 1870. This wife died in April 1874. He was married the fourth time June 3, 1878 to Mrs. Caroline E. Bracken, nee Kennel, who died May 17, 1883 without issue. He is a member, as was also his wife, of the Clear Creek Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Walker is a Republican.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 234.
John R. Wallace, farmer, P. O. Thebes, was born January 19, 1830 in Hardin County, Ill., son of Oliver and Elizabeth (Winchester) Wallace. His parents removed to Wayne County, Mo., when he was small. In 1847 they came to Jonesboro Precinct, Union County, Ill. Here he attended the country schools. At the age of twenty-one years, he engaged in farming in Clear Creek Precinct. He continued farming in said precinct until 1881, when he came to Thebes, where he now resides. He was married January 20, 1860 to Mary Parrett, daughter of John and Elizabeth Parrett. His union has given him eight children, six of whom survive--Barsheba A., Logan, Harriet E., Samuel W., Sarah J., Olive E. and Mary E. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He enlisted September 7, 1864 in Company I of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was discharged July 7, 1865.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, pg. 234-235.
Henry Weimann, farmer, P. O. Thebes, was born November 4, 1857, in Alexander County, Ill. His father, Henry Weimann, emigrated from Germany to this country in 1830, settling at Baltimore, and later at St. Louis and Cincinnati, and in 1844 finally in Thebes Precinct, and was known as one of the leading farmers of his section. He was one of the masons who constructed the stone court house at Thebes. Henry Weimann, Jr., was educated in the county schools. His father having died when he was small, he helped his mother to obtain the necessaries of life, and upon reaching his majority, he inherited the home place, being the only child. He has 160 acres of good land in Sections 9, 10, and 11. He is unmarried and 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. 235.
Capt. John White, steamboat pilot, P. O. Thebes, was born in Paducah, McCracken Co., KY., August 12, 1832, a son of William and Martha White, both of whom died when our subject was quite young, probably about seven years of age. From his birthplace he made his way to Bayou Sara, La, and worked around for different people. He was also permitted to attend the poor-school for about a year. After living in that place for a number of years, he returned to his birthplace, where he had a sister living. When about eighteen years of age, he commenced following his profession, first piloting boats on the Tennessee River as early as 1853. Next he piloted on the Ohio, from Cincinnati to the mouth of Tennessee River, and afterward was transferred to the Mississippi, and ran between New Orleans and St. Louis, over which waste of waters he still directs the course of his vessel. His residence, until 1876, was at Cairo, but in that year he came to Thebes, where he has since purchased a tract of forty acres in Section 4, Town 15, and now gives his spare attention to farming. The Captain was married in January, 1858 to Miss Sallie Clutchfield. This lady died in 1868. The second time, he was married to Rosa Kalesy, in 1876, who died in 1877. His third marriage was solemnized August 2, 1880 to Miss Eugenia Wagner. He enlisted in a Kentucky regiment enrolled at Paducah by Capt. King in 1861 and served three years. 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, Cairo Precinct, p.53.
Thomas Wilson, ex-Mayor of the city of Cairo, and one of its oldest living residents, is a native of Northumberland, England. He was born on the 23d day of July, 1823, and came to the United States with his parents, Andrew and Mary Wilson in 1835. The family settled in New York City, where they remained until 1838, in which year they removed to Illinois and located at Fairfield, in Wayne County, where the parents died. Thomas was educated in England and in New York City, and married in Shawneetown, Ill., to Miss Sarah Marshall, daughter of Samuel Marshall of that city. For several years following, Mr. Wilson had his residence at Shawneetown, a portion of the time engaged in boating interests, and for a time was Sheriff of this county. In 1854 prompted by the flattering prospects for the future greatness of the town of Cairo, which besides its manifest river advantages, gave an omen of coming renown, in that year being united with the north by the Illinois Central Railroad, he came to this place, where he engaged in the wharf-boat and commission business. Notwithstanding his attention has been largely absorbed in his private business, he has frequently been called to positions of public trust, having a decided ability in matters pertaining to the public good. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees ever elected to preside over the business affairs of the town of Cairo, since which time he has served the city for three terms as Mayor, and from 1868 to 1872, was a member of the State Board of Equalization. His first wife died in 1872, leaving two children--Mary E., wife of George Dougherty, of Jonesboro, Ill., and Amy M. Wilson. In 1877 he was married to Mrs. Wicker, widow of P. J. Wicker, and daughter of John Hodges, one of the pioneers of Southern Illinois. She was born in Thebes, Alexander Co., Ill. Their union has been blessed with two children--Margaret and Thomas Wilson. Mr. Wilson, at present is the corresponding secretary for the firm of Halliday Bros. Politics, Democrat.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Cairo Precinct, p.53.
Henry Winter, ex-Mayor of the city of Cairo, was born in Portsmouth, England, August 15, 1829, being the thirteenth of a family of sixteen children of Robert and Jane Winter. The family emigrated to the United States in the summer of 1837, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Henry remained until 1849, receiving in the meantime the advantage of an ordinary common school education. After the death of his mother, he was bound as apprentice to the trade of tinner, but in consequence of ill treatment, at the end of four years, he left his employer and under the instructions of another party completed his trade, becoming a first-class tinner. During eight years of his residence in Cincinnati, he was an active member of the fire department. He left Cincinnati in 1849 to take a position in Cannelton, Ind., where he won the esteem of many warm friends, among whom was the Hon. Jacob Maynard, who advanced him the money to establish a small business, which proved very prosperous, and by which he was soon able to branch out largely, but in consequence of an unfortunate partnership alliance, his business was completely broken up. During his residence of seven years at Cannelton, he organized two fire companies, and was for five years the president of one of them. On the 20th of August, 1856, he came to Cairo, and soon had started a tin shop on a paying basis, and for several years, so marked was his success that in the years 1867-68 he was the largest tax-payer in Alexander County. It is said that previous to this date, he had built over $180,000 worth of brick buildings, besides several frame houses, and was the owner of three flourishing business houses in Cairo, two in Paducah, Ky., and one at Omaha, Neb. In many instances the city of Cairo today bears the impress of his molding hand. During the war, and from its beginning, he was a stanch supporter of the Union at a time and place where to be loyal meant a great deal. He acted with the Republican party until 1872, when he supported the nomination of Horace Greeley to the Presidency and was a delegate to the Cincinnati Convention which nominated him. In local affairs, he takes a liberal view, always acting according to his best judgment in the best interests of the people. He has been twice elected Mayor of the city, and has proven himself an able and wise leader. Since his residence in Cairo, he has been intimately connected with the fire department; was President of the Arab Fire company for ten years. He is noted for his unselfish, generous spirit, having given many thousands of dollars to benevolent institutions, in fact while he has accumulated an untold amount of money, it has mostly gone to bless others, and today he is possessed of only a moderate subsistence. He was married on the 13th of August 1851 to Miss Margaret Murdock of New York.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Cairo Precinct, p.54.
Maj. William Wolfe. In the history of the city of Cairo, no event, perhaps has occurred which caused such universal gloom and sorrow as did the sudden and wholly unexpected death of Maj. William Wolfe, which took place Thursday, January 4, 1883. The Major was born on the 24th of January, 1832 near Williamsport, Penn., where he spent his childhood. His parents removing to Williamsport, he there grew to manhood; at this place was formed the friendship between himself and Charles O. Patier, which ripened into a mutual attachment, and continued until his death. In 1855, Maj. Wolfe went to St. Louis, where he became the general manager in the house of Baker, Mills & Co. This position he held until the civil war broke out, when, with the assistance of Mr. Patier, he organized a company for the Sixth Missouri Volunteers in which he was Second and Mr. Patier First Lieutenant. With this command he served with credit three years, when he was mustered out on his march to Atlanta just after the fight of Resaca. He remained with the army, however, and was detailed as aid-de-camp to Gen. Jones, First Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, and went through to the sea. After the war he returned to St. Louis and was there appointed Major in Adjutant General's office, by Gov. Thomas C. Fletcher. After this and until 1866 he was engaged as clerk in the court house. In the last-named year he came to Cairo at the solicitation of Mr. Patier and accepted the position of bookkeeper in the general business house of Messrs. G. H. Greeley & Co., whose house was then known as the New York Store, and located on Commercial Avenue, corner of Nineteenth Street. A year later this firm changed to Greeley & Patier, and in 1872 Mr. Wolfe took the place of Mr. Greeley, under the firm name now employed of C. O. Patier & Co., which is one of the strongest and most respected in the country. In 1872 Maj. Wolfe married Miss Dulcina, daughter of Justice Otis A. Osborn, who together with three sisters and one brother, survives him. Maj. Wolfe was a director of the Alexander County Bank, and an honorary member of the Delta Fire Company.
Dr. WILLIAM WOOD, father of
Wm. H. Wood was born in the State of New Hampshire in 1822. He
graduated at Dartsmouth College, and pursued his study of medicine at
Hanover. He began practice in New York State and shortly after
removed to Georgia. In 1852, he came to Cairo and for nineteen
years has been in active practice. He is the oldest physician in
Cairo, and doubtless the oldest in practice. During this period
he has acquired a large fortune from his profession and no fact is
better known in connection with his history than that he has been a
very successful physician and has always enjoyed a large paying
practice. --Cairo Bulletin, Feb 22, 1871; contributed by Kathy
Wilson.
WILLIAM WOOD, M.D., was born on the 8th of February 1822 in Bethlehem,
N.H. He is the oldest of a family of three children of David Wood
and Abigail Hosmer Wood. The father was of English birth, and the
mother a relative of the famous sculptor (Hosmer) of Massachusetts, and
also of Lieut. Abner Hosmer, who, as history tells us, was the first to
sacrifice his life in the cause of American independence, being killed
in the battle of Lexington, Mass. Of the other two members of the
Wood family, one is deceased. Charles Wood, who for several years
was engaged in the wholesale mercantile business at St. Louis.
The third is Clara A. Clark, a resident of Bloomington, Ill.
William Wood, on arriving at manhood, decided to learn the blacksmith
trade, having two objects in view, namely, physical development, but
more especially that he might obtain the means with which to defray the
expense of a course in college, for which he was preparing.
He afterward became a student in the Burlington College, where he
continued his studies one year. Later, he entered the Dartmouth
College, where he graduated in 1850. He then entered the
Castleton Medical College of Vermont and received the degree conferred
by them in 1852.
In the fall of 1852, he came to Cairo, Ill. and immediately entered on what has proved a long and prosperous practice.
Though he may not compare favorably with many others of his profession
as a collector, he has, by good investment and strictly temperate
habits, succeeded in acquiring handsome income for his old age.
He is the maker and propriertor of the Wood’s fever and ague
pills.
He was married in Cairo, Ill., on the 3rd of April, 1863 to Miss Ann E.
Spiller, daughter of W. H. Spiller, one of the pioneers of Southern
Illinois, who died in Cairo in 1882. Mrs. Wood was born in Union
County Feb. 5, 1844. Their family consists of five
children: Kate C. (8/12/1868); David C. (9/28/1870); William H.
(3/16/1875); Flora (8/2/1880) and Henry F (9/24/1882). The family
residence and office is on the corner of Third Street and Washington
Avenue.
--HISTORY OF ALEXANDER, UNION AND PULASKI COUNTIES,
ILLINOIS. Edited by William Henry Perrin. Published Chicago, O. L.
Baskin & Co., Historical publisher, 183 Lake Street, 1883; contributed by Kathy Wilson.
WILLIAM HOSMER AND CLARA LENA KESSLER WOOD
William Hosmer Wood, son of William and
Ann Elizabeth Spiller Wood, was born March 16, 1875. He had a prescription business given to him by
his father. They made pills for colds, fever and malaria, packed
them in boxes with a folder inside and sold them. He married
Clara Lena Kessler on Feb 20, 1901 at her parent's country home near
Cairo. Clara was born April 5, 1881 to Jospeh and Louisa Kobler
Kessler in Cairo, Illinois. She was christened on July 3,
1881 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church by Pastor T. Hopfeld (or
Hossfeld) with sponsors being Lena Drek, Lena Kobler and Phil Lehning.
She attend the Cairo Public Schools.
Three daughters were born to Will and Clara: Abigail Hosmer
(2/10/1902), Clara (10/9/1904) and Alice Ruth (7/30/1909).
Clara Lena took her own life on Aug. 29, 1911. According to an
article in The Cairo Evening Citizen, “Mrs. Clara Woods took
carbolic acid while suffering with melancholia insanity at their home
on 214 15th Street and died this morning. Burial at the Cairo
City Cemetery, Villa Ridge, Ill. With the remains taken there by a
special Illinois Central train. The Rev. M.H. Loar officiated."
The children were raised by their Kessler grandparents, Joseph and
Louisa Kessler until Will married Lillie Pearl Darley in 1914.
Will Woods died November 22, 1957 and is buried at the Cairo City Cemetery in Villa Ridge. --Contributed by Kathy Wilson.
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