|
SAMUEL SHIVES.
In the death of Samuel Shives, in 1900, the ranks of the prosperous
farmers of Knox county suffered the
loss of one, who for fifty years devoted himself faithfully to the
growth and development of the
agricultural interests for which this section of the country is
known. A native of Fulton county,
Pennsylvania, his birth occurred January 1, 1825. His parents were
John and Susan (Miller) Shives, both
born in Pennsylvania, who lived in that state their entire lives.
Until he was twenty-five years of age Samuel Shives lived in the
state in which he was born, where he was
educated and where he served his years of apprenticeship in his.
calling, laying the foundation for that
thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits which later enabled him
to win for himself and his family a
generous competence. He settled in Knox county in 1850, making his
home one and one-half miles northeast
of Yates City, where he began by working in the employ of others on
a monthly wage. Being interested in
machinery he devoted himself for a time to the work of operating a
threshing machine and corn sheller.
After his marriage in 1866 he rented a farm in Elba
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
807
township from his father-in-law. Thirty-eight years ago this March,
that is in 1874, he bought the farm of
eighty acres which is still owned by his widow, and in addition to
this his wife came into the possession of
a farm comprising eighty acres given to her by her father. The
latter place Mrs. Shives sold last winter.
During the twenty-six years of his management of the farms Mr.
Shives carried on general farming and
stock-raising. He improved the land greatly, built large,
substantial buildings, and equipped the farm
modernly throughout. He was prosperous, winning his success by his
untiring labors and by strict
adherence to honest business principles.
For his helpmate Samuel Shives chose Miss Martha Kightlinger, who
was born in Elba township, May 18,
1844, a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Bur-field) Kightlinger, both
natives of Pennsylvania. They settled
in Knox county, Illinois, at an early date. Land being held at low
prices Mr. Kightlinger bought large
tracts of it, becoming an extensive landowner. He was a wealthy
farmer and before his death gave a farm
to each of the children surviving of a family of eleven. He died at
the age of eighty-six and his wife has
also passed away.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shives. Flora Estella, born
August 19, 1871, died October 23,
1880. Marion, born January 23, 1873, is married to Maud Thurman and
lives north of Yates City. John,
born November 6, 1879, is married to Minnie German and lives in Elba
township. He has one child, Herman
H. Mabel, born September 19, 1881, is the wife of Milo Taggart, who
operates the home farm. They are
the parents of one child, Lois Leola.
In his political persuasion Mr. Shives was a democrat, standing for
the true democracy that means equal
opportunities- for everybody. He served as collector and assessor
and was on the school board of his
district for a period of twenty-three years, working unselfishly for
the advancement of the educational
interests of his community. He was a kind man and generous, beloved
by all who knew him.
JESSE ELDRIDGE BARLOW.
Varied interests have engaged the attention of Jesse Eldridge
Barlow, whose comprehensive knowledge of
the world of finance, sagacity and intelligent direction of his
energies has enabled him to become
recognized as one of the most capable and influential business men
of Abingdon.
Mr. Barlow was born on a farm in Warren county, this state, on May
31, 1862, his parents being Samuel
and Margaret (Kinton) Barlow. They were born and reared in Kentucky
and there they were married in
1844, this union being blessed by ten children. The father, who
always engaged in farming, in the early
'50s brought his family to Warren county, locating in the vicinity
of Greenbush, where he resided until
about 1886. He then withdrew from the active work of the fields and
removed to Abingdon, where he
lived retired until his death in 1899. The mother is still living at
the venerable age of eighty-six and now
makes her home with her son Jesse. She is a woman possessed of
unusual mental and physical powers and accompanies the family on
long automobile trips, seemingly having the endurance of one twenty years her
junior. She is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, as was also the. father. Fraternally Mr.
Barlow was a Mason, being a member
of the chapter, while politically he was a democrat. He was a man of
high principles and unquestionable
integrity, whose loyalty and reliability won him the esteem of all
with whom he came in contact.
808 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY**
Jesse Eldridge Barlow was reared on the farm, where he was born, in
the operation of which he assisted
while acquiring his preliminary education in the district schools of
the vicinity. He subsequently attended
the Prairie City high school and Hedding College, laying aside his
text-books at the age of eighteen years.
During the following three years he followed the profession of
teaching, but being a most ambitious youth,
this vocation did not afford him the opportunity to develop the
latent business powers he had early given
evidence of possessing, nor did he deem its financial returns
commensurate with his ability. So upon
attaining his majority he went to Fairfield, Nebraska, where he
invested his small capital and for three
years thereafter was successfully identified with the mercantile
interests of that town. At the end of
that time he became associated with Charles E. Faith in the hardware
business in Goodland, Kansas, for
four years, at the same time being interested with his brothers,
Samuel Thomas and Charles Henry Barlow,
in the operation of the Kansas Banking Company, of that town. From
there he went to Burlington, Colorado,
and having met with most excellent returns from his various business
enterprises, he became one of the
large stockholders of the State Bank of Burlington. For four years
thereafter he was the cashier and
business manager of that flourishing institution, which under his
capable supervision soon became known as
one of the substantial and reliable banks of the state. In 1892 he
disposed of his stock and came to
Abingdon, where he organized the Abingdon Safety Bank, of which he
was cashier for four years. At the
expiration of that period he severed his connection with this
enterprise and devoted his entire attention
to the buying and selling of real estate and agricultural interests.
Mr. Barlow is the possessor of the most
essential quality of success in any field of action, the ability to
recognize opportunities. This united with
his confidence in his powers has always given him the courage to act
upon his convictions and so
intelligently direct his interests that invariably they have proven
the wisdom of his foresight. He now
owns practically one thousand acres of as fertile and productive
farming land as is to be found in the
state, his holdings being located in Knox, McDonough and Fulton
counties.
Mr. Barlow was married in 1893 to Miss Winnie Lucille Jolidon, of
Evanston, Illinois. Two children were
born of this union, Jesse Eldridge, Jr., who died in infancy; and
Esther, who was a most interesting child
of the age of four and a half years when death overtook her.
Despite his extensive personal and business interests, Mr. Barlow
has always found the time to assist in
the direction and management of those organizations maintained for
the public and general welfare. At the
present time he is acting as one of the stewards of the Methodist
Episcopal church, of which both he and
his wife are earnest members, and he is a trustee and treasurer of
Hedding College, as well as a member
of the board of directors of the public library of Abingdon.
Fraternally he is identified with the
Masonic order, being a member of a lodge in Colorado, and he belongs to Abingdon Lodge, No.
184, I. O. O. F.; the Modern Woodmen
of America, Camp No. 446; and Achilles Lodge, No. 373, K. of P., of
Abingdon. In matters politic he is a
democrat, but is not strictly partisan and often times in local
elections votes for other candidates,
believing in municipal affairs it is a question of the man best
qualified to sub-serve the interests of the
community. Mr. Barlow is one of those whose success can be
attributed to inherent ability united with
untiring energy, perseverance and determination of purpose,
qualities that ultimately win recognition when
intelligently and capably directed.*
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 809*
ORLANDO PAYTON.
Orlando Payton has met with such excellent success in his
agricultural pursuits that he has not only
acquired a fine property of two hundred and forty acres in Maquon
and Salem townships, Knox county,
but has extensive holdings in North Dakota. He was born in Fulton
county, Illinois, in March, 1853, and is
a son of James and Elizabeth (Alsberry) Payton, the father a native
of Arkansas and the mother of
Indiana. James Payton was brought to Illinois from his native state
when an infant and spent the
remainder of his life in Fulton and Peoria counties. He became a
successful farmer and was an extensive
landowner of the state at the time of his death, which occurred when
he was seventy-two. Of the five
children born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Payton three are
living: Orlando, the second in order of
birth and our subject; Matilda; and Malvina. Those deceased are
John, the eldest; and Artemus, the
fourth in the order of birth.
Pioneer conditions still prevailed in this section of the state at
the time of the birth of Orlando Payton,
whose boyhood and youth were spent on his father's farm. He pursued
his education in the district schools
of Fulton county, while mastering the practical methods of
agriculture under the direction of his father.
He came to Knox county in his early manhood and worked as a farm
hand, having been engaged in that
capacity on his present homestead. Persistent application and
determination enabled him to acquire the
means to buy the place ultimately, and here he has ever since
resided. He has owned the property for
twenty-eight years, during which period he has wrought many and
extensive improvements, having erected
the majority of the buildings now standing, while he has brought the
land into a high state of cultivation.
Here he engages in general farming in connection with which he
raises stock, meeting with excellent
success in both lines of the business.
For his wife Mr. Payton chose Miss Martha J. Young, a daughter of
William and Elizabeth (Gilmore)
Young, also residents of Maquon township. Five children have been
born unto Mr. and Mrs. Payton: Ada E.,
the wife of Lewis Tasker, who is living on the old Young homestead ;
Jessie, who is deceased ; Mabel, who
is at home; Herman, who is assisting his father in the operation of
the farm ; and Mary, who is also living
at home. There are three grandchildren in the family: Verne. Glenn
and Ray, the children of Mrs. Tasker,
who lost a little daughter, Olive, and a baby.
810
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
His political allegiance Mr. Payton gives to the democratic party,
but has never been an aspirant to
official honors, although he has acted in the capacity of school
director. The success with which he has met
in the conduct of his affairs must be largely attributed to his
inherent ability and unremitting energy.
The appearance of his homestead, located five miles southeast of
Maquon, evidences his skill as an
agriculturist, as well as his business sagacity, which has enabled
him to increase his realty holdings by the
addition of three hundred and twenty acres of land in North Dakota.
WILLIAM E. WARNER.
William E. Warner, a veteran of the Civil war and for many years a
successful carpenter in Knox county,
was born in Clinton county, Indiana, June 8, 1841. He was the son of
Asa H. and Hanna J. (Greene)
Warner, both natives of New York. His father, a cooper by trade,
died in Indiana in 1844 when William
E. Warner was three years old. His mother remarried and . came to
Knox county, Illinois, in 1845, settling
in Rio township, where she lived for four or five years. The family
then removed to Iowa and from there
to Missouri and, in 1859, came back to Illinois, making their home
in Henderson township, Knox county.
This remained the family home till a few years before the parents'
death. His mother died in Nebraska
and his stepfather in Oregon.
In the district schools of the various localities where the family
resided, William E. Warner was given an
education. When seventeen years of age he went to Butler county,
Iowa, and there enlisted in Company I,
Third Iowa Infantry and, in April, 1861, was mustered into the
service. He served until the close of the
war, being discharged at Louisville, July 12, 1865. The story of his
participation in the war and his
accounts of important engagements in which he took part, forms an
interesting chapter in his history. In
1861 his company spent most of the time in Missouri chasing
guerrilla parties and bushwhackers. From
Missouri they went to Illinois, to Cairo, and then up to Shiloh,
where they took part in the memorable
battle of Peach Tree Creek. His company was also present at the
siege of Vicksburg which lasted
forty-one days and took part in the battle at Jackson where General
Grant won a victory over the rebels
under General Johnston. After the war the young soldier came to his
home in Henderson township, Knox
county, Illinois. He was twenty-five years old and wishing to
establish himself in a career, his choice fell
on the carpenter's trade. This he mastered and followed, working
steadily until a few years ago when he
retired, making his home on the outskirts of Henderson village.
On June 13, 1866, William E. Warner was united in the bonds of
matrimony to Mary Shepherd, a
daughter of David and Martha (Eaton) Shepherd, living near
Brookville, Canada. Her mother came from
England to America at the age of thirteen years, lived for a time in
Canada and there married David
Shepherd. They did not remain in Canada but came to Hancock county,
Illinois, where their daughter Mary
was born June 16, 1844. The following year in March, 1845, her
family removed to Knox county, Illinois,
where Mr. Shepherd,
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 813
who was an agriculturist, had bought a farm of sixty acres which he
cultivated during the remainder of his
years. He died on May 8, 1898, at the age of eighty. Mrs. Shepherd
passed away on August 17, 1896, in
her seventy-ninth year.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Warner were the following children,
all daughters: Alora E., the wife of
Frank Murray, a carpenter, living in Albia, Iowa, who is the mother
of two daughters: Mabel, the wife of
Ora Folger, a painter, living in Galesburg, who is the mother of
three children; and Blanche, the wife of E.
C. Searcy, a grocer, living in Albia, Iowa. Maude is the wife of
Hilmer Harpman, who conducts a hotel in
Waterman, Illinois, and the mother of five children named, Helen,
Hazel, John Warner, Richard A., and
George Washington. Mattie, the wife of John Weedman, a hardware
dealer, is living in Victoria, Illinois.
She has two children, Mary and Maud.
Mr. Warner is a democrat in his political allegiance and has been
called to public office a number of
times. He has served as school director, as constable and as police
magistrate. He is a member of the
Henderson lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Post No. 26, G. A. R., of
North Henderson. Throughout his life Mr.
Warner has been a man of singular devotion to his aims discharging
his duties with honor both during the
Civil war and in the pursuit of his occupation.
Since the above was written Mr. Warner passed away on September 15,
1911, after a short illness.
JAMES RICHEY.
The life record of James Richey is the story of efficient public
service extending over a period of more
than four decades, the worth of which is attested by all who know
aught of his career. A native of
Ireland, he was born in County Tyrone, June 22, 1842, a son of
William and Jane (Scott) Richey, the
father's birth also occurring on the Emerald isle. The family came
to the United States in 1842 or 1843,
locating first in Columbiana county, Ohio, where they remained until
1853. In that year the home was
established in Abingdon, Knox county, Illinois, and there the
parents spent their remaining days, the
father's death occurring in 1876 and the mother's in 1893. Both were
laid to rest in Abingdon cemetery.
The father was a butcher by trade and also engaged to some extent in
farming. He and his wife were
faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the teachings of
which formed the guiding influences
in their lives. In their family were six sons and three daughters,
as follows: E. A., the widow of W. IT.
McDonald, of Abingdon, who enlisted in the First Illinois Cavalry
for service in the Civil war and was
killed in the battle of Lexington, Missouri; Samuel, deceased;
James, of this review; Maria, the widow of
J. W. McGintis, who also fought in the Civil war; Scott and
Henderson, twins, the former a farmer of
Milton, Oregon, and the latter conducting an undertaking
establishment at Denver, Colorado, one who died
in infancy ; Robert, carrying on agricultural pursuits in Stockdale,
Nebraska; and Archie, who has also
passed away.
814 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
The educational advantages of James Richey were those afforded by
the public
schools of Abingdon and he remained at home until thirty-five years
of age, being engaged at various
occupations. For more than forty years he has been continuously
identified with public service, his
association therewith being in connection with the police department
of Abingdon and elsewhere. In 1861
he was appointed to the office of marshal at Abingdon, which he
filled for thirteen years, after which he
served for twenty-five years as deputy sheriff of Galesburg. The
succeeding four years were spent as
marshal of Abingdon, while at the present time he is serving as
deputy marshal of this town, and his long
continuation in connection with the department of public safety is
indicative of the efficiency and
faithfulness which has ever marked the performance of his duties.
Official service, however, has not
absorbed his entire attention, for he has devoted a portion of his
time to agricultural pursuits, being the
owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres located in
Cedar township. He has also assisted in
the establishment of several of Abingdon's industrial institutions
and has thus taken a prominent and
active part in the material development of the community.
Mr. Richey was married, in 1871, to Miss Serelda Haney, a niece of
the Rev. Richard Haney, and unto
them have been born two children, Kai and Haney. The daughter is
now the wife of George S. Butler and
resides near Avon, Illinois. They have two children, Marie and James
Dale. The son, Haney Richey, who
resides on his father's farm, married Mabel Wiles and they are the
parents of three children, James,
Teddy and Serelda. Mrs. Richey was called to her final rest August
5, 1884, her remains being interred in
Abingdon cemetery. She was a faithful member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, as is also her husband,
who is now serving as chairman of the board of trustees of that
institution. Fraternally he belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Abingdon and is at present
filling the office of chaplain of that
order. He has ever been a stanch supporter of republican principles
since age conferred upon him the
right of franchise, and for two years served as street commissioner
of Abingdon. Higher honors were also
bestowed upon him, for his fellow citizens, recognizing his ability
and worth, elected him to the office of
mayor of the city, in which he was the incumbent for three years. It
was during his service as chief
executive that the waterworks were installed and many other
improvements were indorsed and introduced
by him. Few residents in this section of the county have been longer
in the public service than has Mr.
Richey and the honorable purposes and high ideals, which have ever
actuated him in this connection, have
won the confidence, respect and good-will of all law-abiding
citizens, who appreciate faithfulness and
upright methods in official service.
FRANK HOPKINS.
Frank Hopkins is the owner of three hundred and forty acres of
highly cultivated land in Chestnut
township, where he successfully engages in stock-raising and general
farming. His birth occurred on the
farm where he now resides on the 4th of May, 1873, his parents being
Thomas and Sarah A. (Booton)
Hopkins. His father, who was born in Wales, on January 4, 1831,
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 815
was brought to the United States by his parents when a babe of six
months. They located in Clinton
county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives and
where the son was reared to manhood.
When he was twenty-seven, Thomas Hopkins came to Illinois, locating
in 1858 in Peoria, where he engaged
in coal mining until after the breaking out of the Civil war. During
the early days of the Rebellion he
responded to the nation's call and enlisted as a private in the
Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry. He remained at
the front for three years and three months, being discharged with
the rank of second lieutenant. Although
he saw much active service, participating in thirty-two engagements,
during one of which he had his horse
shot from under him, Mr. Hopkins was never wounded. After being
mustered out he returned to Peoria,
where he was married in 1866 to Miss Booton, who was a native of
Ohio, her birth having occurred at
Oakmound, Jackson county, on the 17th of February, 1831. The first
year of their domestic life they
spent in Peoria, and then removed to Knox county, settling on a farm
on section 4, Chestnut township. This
was new land, and Mr. Hopkins immediately erected upon it such
buildings as were necessary and then
devoted his energies to clearing and placing his farm under
cultivation. He was an energetic man of sound
judgment and practical in his ideas, who intelligently applied his
efforts and reaped corresponding
returns. As his means accumulated he from time to time increased his
holdings, at the same time bringing
his original tract into a higher state of cultivation and adding to
its value by the erection of better
buildings and making other improvements. Agricultural pursuits
continued to engage his energies until his
death, which occurred on his homestead on the 23d of August, 1895,
his burial taking place at Hermon,
Illinois. He was survived by his widow, who is still living and now
makes her home at Knoxville. Mr.
Hopkins was one of the public-spirited men of the community, always
taking an active and helpful interest
in all political affairs, and capably discharging the
responsibilities of the various township offices he
held, giving his support on all occasions to the republican party.
He was not affiliated with any church but
was an earnest member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. The family of
Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins numbered
three: Rosa D., the wife of J. E. Davis, of Orange township; Mary
A., who became the wife of Nathaniel F.
Johnson, also a resident of Orange township; and Frank, who is our
subject.
The entire life of Frank Hopkins has been spent amid the scenes of
his birth, his education having been
acquired in the schools now attended by his children. After
completing the course therein he took Brown's
Business course, thus obtaining a more comprehensive idea of
practical commercial methods: Having been
trained from his earliest boyhood for the life of an agriculturist
after laying aside his text-books, he engaged as sac on the home farm, which he has operated ever since
the death of his father. Fie now owns
three hundred and forty acres of land, all in one piece, that he
devotes to general farming and stock-raising. Progressive in his
methods and practical in his ideas, Mr. Hopkins has so intelligently
concentrated his energies, that now his is one of the most
attractive and valuable farms in the township.
During the period of his occupancy he has improved it by the
erection of fine barns and outbuildings and
a modern residence, the beauty of his place being greatly enhanced
by the tasteful arrangement of the
well kept grounds that surround it. He is meeting
816 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
with lucrative returns from his undertakings and is recognized as
one of the prosperous farmers and
stockmen of the county.
On the nth of March, 1900, Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage to
Miss Anna Davis, who is a native of
Chestnut township, and they have become the parents of two children:
Ruth, whose birth occurred on the
9th of June, 1902; and Rex, who was born on September n, 1904.
Mr. Hopkins is a member of the Knights of Pythias, being affiliated
with the lodge at London Mills, and he
belongs to the Odd Fellows, his connection being with the
organization at Hermon. His political views
coincide with the principles of the republican party, for whose
candidates he always casts his ballot. He
takes an earnest interest in all township activities and has served
with efficiency in several of the
township offices. Mr. Hopkins is one of Knox county's sons who in
every way is a credit to the community
where he has so long resided, and is held in high esteem, well
merited by reliability and trustworthiness in
all of his relations of life, both public and private.
U. S. GARREN.
U. S. Garren, postmaster of Douglas, was born in Fulton county,
Illinois, December 3, 1842, his parents
being Dempson and Rachel (Ulmer) Garren, natives of Indiana. His
father, who was an ardent democrat in
his political convictions, died of a fever at the age of forty and
was buried in Ross cemetery in Fulton
county, Illinois. The mother survived her husband by more than half
a century, dying at the age of ninety
years. She is laid at rest in a cemetery in Peoria county, Illinois.
There were five children in the family,
of whom U. S. Garren is the only one living. The others are George,
Sarah, Nancy and Dempson.
Reared in his native locality U. S. Garren attended the common
schools in the vicinity of his home. When
the war broke out he joined the army, enlisting with Company H,
Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
and early in his military experience received a severe wound in the
right groin refusing, however, any
hospital service or the opportunity of being granted a discharge.
Remaining with his company in which he
had enlisted as a private he was promoted to the rank of second
sergeant and saw much active service
until the time they were mustered out at Richmond, Virginia. On his
return from the war he settled in
Peoria county and there was married on June 28, 1866, to Miss Amelia
Krisher. She was born in Juniata
county, Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of John and Katherine (Cliffman)
Krisher, who were pioneer
settlers in Illinois, living for a time in Stephenson county and
later in Peoria county, where the father was
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Pie was a republican in politics
and with his wife held membership in the
Lutheran church. Stalwart of physique he lived to attain the ripe
old age of seventy-eight years, while his
wife died at the age of forty-five years. They are both buried in
Pennsylvania Ridge, Peoria county.
After his marriage Mr. Garren lived for a number of years in Peoria
county when he removed to Fulton
county and engaged in the blacksmith trade, remaining there one
year. He then returned to Peoria county
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
817
and continued to work at his trade there for
ten years. His next place of residence was Middle Grove, Fulton
county, where he followed blacksmithing
for a time but later sold and removed to Douglas, Illinois, and here
operated a stationary engine and
sawmill one and a half miles north of Douglas in Elba township and
also engaged in draying for a period of
five years. He then retired and is now serving his fourth year as
postmaster of Douglas and also
represents the Wilber Mercantile Agency. In his political views he
is independent, voting for the man
rather than the party and in consequence has been called to office
by voters of both the democratic and
republican parties. He acted as school director for several years
and has held the office of justice of the
peace for three terms.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Garren were the following children:
John D., residing in Oklahoma, is
married to Lillian Mitchell, a native of Texas, and they have' three
children, Damon, Earl G. and Glenn;
Alice, residing in Douglas, Illinois, is the wife of C. B. Painter
and has one child, Florence; Franklin,
residing in Salem township is married to Estella Diefdorf and they
have three children, Freda May,
Leonard Oaks, and Willis; Henry, who resides in Peoria county;
Grace, deceased, who was killed when
twenty-four years of age, by a train at the railroad station in
Douglas; Edith, living at home, who is
assistant postmaster of Douglas; and Nellie, who lives at home. The
members of the Garren family are
loyal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church to which they
belong. Widely and favorably known
throughout the county they have a host of warm friends, who are
always sure of a hospitable welcome at
the Garren home.
MRS. HATTIE PORTER.
For more than a half century Mrs. Hattie Porter has been a witness
of the growth and development of
Knox county and has beheld this section of the country transformed
from crude prairie land to well
cultivated farms. A native of Ohio, she was born in Ashtabula
county, March 13, 1852, her parents being
Aaron and Mary (Buckman) Brockhurst. Her father was a native of
England and came to the United States
when he was a young man, settling in Ohio. There he met Miss Mary
Buckman, a native of New York state,
who later became his wife. They were the parents of the following
children, all of whom were born in
Ohio: Henry, who resides in Oil City, Pennsylvania; John, also a
resident of Pennsylvania; Mrs. Anna
Brazington, of Cleveland, Ohio; George, a resident of Ashtabula
county, Ohio; Charles, who makes his home
in Clinton, Illinois; Mrs. Mary McNutt, of Ohio; Frank and Edward,
both of whom are deceased; Hattie,
the subject of this biography; and two boys who died in infancy. Mr.
and Mrs. Brockhurst removed with
their family to Knox county, Illinois, when their daughter Hattie
was seven years of age, and settled in
Salem township on a farm consisting of one hundred and fifty acres
of land now owned by Levi McGirr.
This land the father continued to cultivate until his death, at the
age of sixty-six years. His wife died
at the
818 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
age of fifty-three years and both are buried in Yates City cemetery.
In his political convictions Mr.
Brockhurst was a republican and always was heartily in sympathy with
the measures and movements that
tended toward the advancement of the welfare of the community in
which he resided.
Reared under the parental roof, Hattie Brockhurst obtained her
education in the common schools of Salem
township. She remained at home until her marriage, January 1, 1870,
to Stephen P. Porter, a native of
Columbus, Ohio. He was a son of Lorenzo and Mahala (Postal) Porter,
both natives of Columbus, Ohio, and
the parents of two children. Stephen Porter's father died when he
was a boy and his mother married a Mr.
Phillips, by whom she had three children. They left Ohio for
Illinois and made their home on the farm now
owned by Mrs. Hattie Porter, which her husband had received from his
mother at the time of his marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Porter were the parents of ten children:
Cora; Nellie, who married Frank
Tasker; Maude, who is the wife of Edward Holloway and resides in Haw
Creek township, being the mother
of one child, Marie; Sylvia, now Mrs. Kay Harper of Douglas,
Illinois; Earl, of Salem township, who
married Nora Johnston, by whom he has one child, Rowland; Clyde;
Alta; and three, who died in infancy.
Ever since her marriage Mrs. Porter has lived on the farm where she
now resides, with the exception of
one year during which she was a resident of Yates City. Mr. Porter's
death occurred in December, 1905,
and he is buried in the Yates City cemetery. Although never a
politician he was an ardent believer in the
principles of democracy and at the polls gave his vote to the
candidates of that party. The home place, to
the cultivation of which Mr. Porter gave his best efforts, is now
operated by the sons who are of valuable
assistance to their mother. Mrs. Porter oversees all the details of
the management and performs those
duties which lie within the range of her activities, manifesting
both good judgment and executive ability in
the administration of her affairs. In spite of the many demands made
upon her she never fails to have
sufficient time to devote to her friends of whom she has a large
number, for she is affable in manner and
always kind.
MRS. SARAH SLOAN.
Mrs. Sarah Sloan owns a fine farm in Salem township, which her son
James operates with great
efficiency. She was born near Antrim, in County Antrim, Ireland,
November 22, 1832. Her parents were
both natives of County Antrim and lived there during their entire
lives. Her father, Hugh Allen, was a
very fine musician and was a leader of the church choir for thirty
years, also giving instruction in music
throughout the county, where he was well known.. He was united in
marriage to Sarah Caulfield, by whom
he had eight children. All grew to maturity, Sarah Ellen, the
subject of this review, being now the only
member of the family who survives. The others were: William, who
passed away in Ireland when a young
man; Martha, who was married and had six children, the family
residing in Ireland; Hugh, who was a
soldier in the Civil war and passed away in Douglas, Illinois; John,
who met his death
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 819
while serving in the Irish army; Margaret Ann, who was married and
lived in Ireland; Francis, who came to
America after the death of his wife and passed away in Chicago,
Illinois; and Robert, whose surviving
family resides in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Allen, who were members of
the Presbyterian church and well
known in County Antrim, both died at the age of sixty years, their
remains being interred in the
churchyard of their native village.
After completing her education in Ireland, Sarah Allen came to
America at the age of twenty-two years.
On the day following her arrival in Davenport, Iowa, in 1854, she
was married to John Sloan, who was
born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1827, and whom she had known in
her childhood, having plighted her
troth to him before his departure for America, three years and nine
months earlier. John Sloan's parents
were James and Mary (Beck) Sloan, who lived in County Antrim,
Ireland. On coming to this country he
engaged in agricultural pursuits and in time acquired eight hundred
acres of land which he operated with
much success. His death occurred in April, 1889, and he is buried in
the cemetery at Yates City. Mr. and
Mrs. Sloan were the parents of seven children, three of whom passed
away in 1879. Mrs. Sloan is a
member of the Presbyterian church, as was also her late husband.
Through enterprise and industry Mr. Sloan, whose landed holdings
amounted to eight hundred acres, was
enabled to leave his wife well provided for at his death. She
resides on the homestead farm, situated on
section 4 of the north side of the east and west road, in Salem
township. Her son James lives with her and
attends to the cultivation of the land, thus relieving her of the
exacting responsibilities which the
ownership of a large farm entails. Their home is a hospitable one
and is often the scene of merriment when
the children and grandchildren assemble at the hearthstone, where
they passed their happy childhood
days.
WALTER BAILEY.
Walter Bailey, deceased, for many years one of the best-known
residents of Knox county, was a native of
New York state, born January 9, 1827, in St. Lawrence county and a
son of James and Eve (Kitts) Bailey,
the former of whom was born in Westmoreland, Cheshire county. New
Hampshire. His father followed
agricultural pursuits as his chief occupation, in addition to which
he was a surveyor and mechanic. He was
married in New York and lived there until his son Walter was ten
years of age when he removed the
family to Delaware county, Ohio. After residing there for a number
of years he came farther west and
settled in Galva, Henry county, Illinois, where Mrs. Bailey died
September 17, 1873. The father then
returned to Delaware county, Ohio, living there until his death in
June, 1875.
Walter Bailey was reared and educated in New York and Ohio, coming
to Knox county in October, 1849,
when twenty-two years of age. A few years later he bought one
hundred and sixty acres of land on the
site where the present family home is situated, increasing his
holdings by additional purchases until he
acquired extensive tracts of land, owning at the time of his death
eight
820
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
hundred and sixty acres. In 1871 he erected all the buildings and
the family residence standing at the
present time.
The marriage of Mr. Bailey and Miss Harriet Parsell occurred
February 14, 1855. She was born, July 30,
1835, in Sycamore township, Hamilton county, Ohio, where her
parents, Joseph and Hetty A. (Ralston)
Parsell, lived for a year, moving thereafter to Illinois, locating
in Fulton county for a short time. In 1840
they removed to Elm wood township, Peoria county, and there the
mother passed away April 17, 1850. In
1875 the father took up his residence in Elba township, Knox county,
making his home with his daughter,
Mrs. Bailey, until his death, January 3, 1880.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were five children. Edith A.,
the eldest, living south of Yates City,
was married to William D. Ware, who died April 17, 1905, and in
their family were six children. The
others are: Lara D., who married George F. Hughes, who operates the
home farm, and has one child,
Walter; Bertha B., married to George S. Mathews, living two and a
half miles west of Yates City, who has
two children; Addie G., who lives at home; and Nina H, who is also
at home.
Mr. Bailey farmed throughout his life, finding pleasure and profit
in the exercise of his multifold duties.
He died December 14, 1895, leaving behind him a host of friends who
sincerely mourned his loss. In his
political views he was a republican and filled the position of
justice of the peace with great credit. Pie
and his family were members of the Universalist church. A man of big
ideas, Mr. Bailey was big and noble
in his dealings with his fellowmen, being always straightforward and
unafraid to express his honest
convictions and most charitable in his judgment of others.
MENZO MORSE.
Menzo Morse is one of the agriculturists of Knox county, who, by
reason of his intelligently directed
energies during his early manhood, is permitted to spend his latter
days in the ease and comfort justly
merited by an active career. Pie is a native of the state of New
York, his birth occurring in Oswego
county, and a son of Stephen R. and Hannah (Dikeman) Morse, also
natives of the Empire state, as was the
maternal grandfather, Cornelius Dikeman. Stephen R. Morse removed
from his native state to Wisconsin in
1854, becoming a resident of Knox county the following year. He was
a carpenter by trade, but always
engaged in farming. He spent his last years in this county and
passed away in an old log house on the farm
now owned by our subject, at the age of seventy-five years. The
family of Mr. and Mrs. Morse numbered
fifteen, as follows: Gilson, who is a resident of Nebraska; William,
who is deceased; Ansell, who is living in
Elmwood; Wordie, Helen and Henry, all of whom are deceased; two, who
died in infancy; Melvin and
Daniel, both of whom are deceased; Menzo, our subject; one, who died
in infancy; Harvey, who is living in
the vicinity of Maquon; Alzina, who is deceased; and Orletta, who is
living in Missouri.
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 821
Reared on a farm, Menzo Morse obtained his education in the district
schools of the vicinity, at the same
time lending assistance in the operation of the land and care of the
stock. After he had mastered the
common branches he laid aside his school books and assisted his
father in clearing and cultivating the land,
and he also worked out as a farm hand part of the time.
When the war
broke out, he was at home and
enlisted in 1863, when he went to the front with Company B, Eleventh
Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel
Robert Ingersoll. He remained in the service until the close
of
hostilities, and then returned to Knox county, taking up his residence in Maquon township. He was married
very soon thereafter, after which
event he began his independent career as an agriculturist, farming
as a renter until 1873, when he bought
a portion of his present homestead. In the operation of this he met
with such success that he was later
able to add to his holdings at different times until he had acquired
two hundred and thirteen acres. The
development and improvements of this farm successfully engaged his
attention until his retirement, since
which time his sons have been operating it.
Mr. Morse was married in 1865 to Miss Millie Ann Stidd, a native of
Indiana, who at that time was living
in this county. To them eight children were born: John Frank, who
married Katie Allen and has eight
children, living across the road from his father; William, who
married Alice Roberts and has two children,
living west of Maquon; Bose, who married May Stuffelbeam and has
four children; Nettie, who became
the wife of Pete McCord, by whom she had four children; Joshua, who
has been married twice, his first
wife being Hattie Knox, who left one child, while his second union
was with Cora Gribsy, who has had three
children: Timothy, who married Katie Miller and has two children ;
Edith, who became the wife of Guy
Anderson, by whom she has had one child; and Vady, the wife of
Charles Stuffelbeam.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Morse are members of the Baptist church, and
fraternally he is a Mason. He maintains
relations with his comrades of the war through the medium of his
membership in the Grand Army of the
Republic, while his political support is given to the republican
party. He has the distinction of having been
a school director for thirty-three years and he served as road
commissioner for two terms. Mr. Morse is
held in high regard in his community ever having manifested those
substantial qualities that invariably win
esteem and respect in every walk of life.
MRS. WILLIAM AUSTIN CHASE.
Mrs. William Austin Chase, formerly Miss Leonora May W'oolsey, was
the wife of the late William Austin
Chase and is a daughter of David Woolsey. She is the owner of a very
fine farm in Haw Creek township,
where she was born January 14, 1867, and where she has resided
throughout her life. Her marriage to
William Austin Chase occurred February 10, 1887.
Mr. Chase, born April 2. 1863, was a son of John H. and Mary Ann
(Reed) Chase, residents of
Farmington and of Galesburg, the mother being now deceased. He was
reared and educated in Elba
township, and after his marriage822 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
engaged in agriculture in Haw Creek township. He passed away
November 22, 1902, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Maquon.
On political issues he voted with the republicans and in his
religious faith he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. and Mrs. Chase had six children born to them: Florence Geneva,
born October 22, 1887, who died April 10, 1888; Edna Merle, born
December 14, 1889, who died February 12, 1890; Nina Bishop, born
December 27, 1891; Doris Edith, born November 14, 1893; Wayne
Harris, born April 22, 1897; and Paul David, born February 11, 1900.
Mrs. Chase is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which
she is actively and helpfully interested. She is the owner of about
two hundred acres of valuable farm land on section 13, Haw Creek
township, from which she makes a comfortable income by renting it to
a tenant. Mrs. Chase possesses many of her father's characteristics
—a progressive spirit, a forceful will and the ability to manage
wisely and with an eye to the future. She is a very kind mother in
the home and is devoted to the interests of her children.
MRS. ANNA YOLK.
Mrs. Anna Yolk, one of the estimable citizens of Oneida, was born
and reared in Knox county and is a daughter of one of the pioneer
settlers. Her birth occurred on a farm in Sparta township, on
October 5, 1864, her parents being Ole and Betsy Anderson. Her
father was born in Norway, on February 18, 1820, and passed away in
Knox county in 1899. The mother, however, a native of Sweden, born
May 26, 1839, and a daughter of Andrew Peterson, is still living at
the venerable age of seventy-two years and continues to make her
home on the old farm in Sparta township. Mr. Anderson had been
previously married, his first wife having died on shipboard on the
way from the east to this state, between Chicago and Ottawa, and the
remains were interred in the cemetery at Ottawa, Illinois. Of this
marriage there was born one daughter, Mary, who was two years of age
at the time of her mother's death, now the wife of H. Mitchell, of
Galesburg, Illinois. Unto Mr. Anderson and his second wife there
were born eleven children, six sons and five daughters, as follows:
Harriet, the wife of George Werteen, of Galesburg; Andrew, who is a
resident of Sparta township; Albert, who lives in Oklahoma; Anna,
now Mrs. Volk; Jennie, who married S. McKibben, of Copley township;
Christ, who lives in Sparta township; Sophia, the wife of L. Weber,
of Sparta township; William, likewise a resident of Sparta township;
Henry, who is living in Appleton, Illinois; and Emma and Arthur,
both of whom are at home.
Mrs. Volk was reared to womanhood in the parental home, attending
the common schools in the acquirement of an education. At the age of
nineteen years she became the wife of Herman Volk, their marriage
occurring on the 20th of February, 1883. He was born on the 27th of
November, 1856, in Baden, Germany, a son of Frank Joseph and
Gresinzia (Gehring) Volk. The father followed the butcher's trade in
the fatherland. In their family were four children, Herman, Mary,
Joseph and Tony. The three boys are all buried
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 823
in the cemetery at Oneida, while the daughter, Mary, is now married
and lives in Galesburg. Mrs. Frank Joseph Volk was a sister of Sea
ford and Anthony Gehring and Mrs. Cummer, of Galesburg. Herman Volk
spent the first seventeen years of his life in his native land, and
after completing his education he learned the miller's trade.
Desirous of opportunities, such as the fatherland at those times did
not afford, ambition-fired and seeking more liberal conditions of
life, he decided to come to America, believing that here he would
find a more advantageous field for earnest endeavors and a shorter
route to independent position. He arrived in the United States June
I, 1874, making his way inland to Wataga, Illinois, where for a time
he worked as a laborer. Later he went to the home of his uncle,
Anthony Gehring, who was a farmer and assisted him in the
cultivation of his land and the care of the stock. He was an
energetic, thrifty young man, and ultimately acquired the means to
buy a farm, continuing to devote his energies to its further
development until his death. In matters of faith, Mr. Volk was a
Presbyterian and always took an active interest in the work of the
church, having for many years taught a class in the Sunday school.
Fraternally he was identified with the Mystic Workers, being a
member of Lodge No. 90, of Galesburg. His political support he gave
to the republican party and served for some years as a member of the
school board. Tie was a good business man and capable agriculturist
and was meeting with deserved success in the cultivation of his farm
and the raising of stock until death claimed him. Of the marriage of
Air. and Mrs. Volk there were born the following children: Grace
Etta, who was born on the 29th of April, 1887; Maud, whose birth
occurred on October 20, 1890; Anna Betsy, who was born on January
12, 1893, now' deceased; Ida Viola, born on February 25, 1895, a
graduate of the Oneida high school; Pearl Sybil, born on the 3d of
November, 1896, now attending school; and Ella, who was born on the
20th of January, 1902, and died in infancy. The eldest daughter,
Miss Grace, graduated from the Oneida high school with the class of
1906, after which she pursued a commercial course in Brown's
Business College at Galesburg, and is now a bookkeeper. The second
daughter. Miss Maud, also graduated from the Oneida high school,
subsequently attending the Central State Normal, and is now teaching
her third term of school.
The family all attend the Presbyterian church, in which Mrs. Volk
and all her children hold membership. Both the mother and daughters
are held in high esteem in Oneida, where they have many friends.
ENOCH DALTON.
Enoch Dalton, deceased, was for many years prominently associated
with the agricultural interests of Elba township, Knox county, where
he owned a valuable farm. The youngest of six children, he was born
June 6, 1845, tw0 and a half miles east of Douglas. His father,
Reuben Dalton, one of the early settlers of this county and an
extensive landowner in his day, died when Enoch Dalton was a babe
nine days old, leaving the mother, whose maiden name was Nancy
Maise, to rear the six children.
824 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
Enoch Dalton obtained his education in the rural schools near his
boyhood home arid when old enough to support himself left for Iowa,
where he found employment as a stage driver. Continuing in this
occupation for some time he gave it up at length and came to Knox
county to follow agricultural pursuits, and for four years tilled
the fields owned by the church and later land belonging to Ziba
Adams, whose daughter Elizabeth he married. Mr. Adams was one of the
substantial citizens of Knox county, coming west when a young man
from Pennsylvania, where he was born September 20, 1820. Fie carried
on farming in addition to the carpenter trade in which he was
proficient. On the 8th of April, 1847, he was united in marriage to
Delilah Gullett who was born December 17, 1828, and departed this
life December 21, 1904. There were seven children in the Adams
family, of whom all but one are living.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Dalton: Theodora, who
lives near Yates City: Nancy, the wife of George King, who lives
north of her mother's homestead and has two children, Maud E. and
Genevieve; Mollie, the wife of Robert Robison, who has one child,
Eileen; Albert who lives at home; Edith, the wife of Floyd Heller,
who lives south of the home farm and has one child, Harold; Earl, at
home; Fred, at home; Newton, living south of the home farm, who
married Irene Coleman and has two children, Bertha and Frances; and
Florence, the wife of Ernest Metcalf, who has one child, Opal.
Mr. Dalton continued to follow farming throughout his life and met
with well deserved success in his labors. He died February 12, 1904,
at the age of fifty-eight years, seven months, and six days. In his
political views he was a democrat and with his family worshiped in
the Methodist Episcopal church. Generous and kind almost to a fault
he was devoted to the interests of his family and left them not only
in comfortable circumstances but bequeathed them likewise an honored
name.
THOMAS B. SHAFFER.
Thomas B. Shaffer, a well known druggist of Oneida, has been
identified with the commercial activities of Knox county for the
past nine years. His birth occurred in the vicinity of Williamsfield
on the 31st of December, 1876, his parents being Benjamin and Sarah
L. (Foster) Shaffer. His father was born and reared in Pennsylvania,
whence he came to Illinois during the pioneer days, and engaged in
agricultural pursuits.
After completing the course of the common schools, Thomas B. Shaffer
entered Knox College, where he studied for three years. Having
decided to go into the drug business, at the expiration of that
period he matriculated in the Chicago College of Pharmacy, and he
also studied for a time at Drake University, Highland Park, Des
Moines, Iowa. After receiving his degree he was employed for a year
in the drug store of Dr. T. E. Alyea at Princeville, Illinois, and
resigning his position at the end of that time to take a similar
place in a drug store at that place, where he likewise remained a
year. Feeling that he was fully qualified both theoretically and
practically to undertake the management of a place of his own, in
1902 he came to Oneida and purchased
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 825
the store of E. L. Jimison. Mr. Shaffer has a very good location,
and carries a full and complete line of drugs, patent medicines and
such toilet articles and sundries as are usually to be found in
establishments of this kind. His business is conducted in a
thoroughly up-to-date manner, and, owing to the gracious treatment
accorded all patrons as well as the quality of the goods offered for
sale, his has become one of the thriving enterprises of the town.
At Grande Ridge, Illinois, by Rev. O. P. Graves, on the 23d of June,
1910, Mr. Shaffer was united in marriage to Miss Stella A. Peterson,
a daughter of Charles A. Peterson. Mr. Shaffer is affiliated with
Oneida Lodge, No. 337, F. & A. M.; Oneida Chapter, No. 173, R. A.
M.; Order of the Eastern Star; and the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks at Galesburg. lie maintains relations with the other
members of his profession through the medium of his connection with
the Association of Retail Druggists; Illinois Pharmaceutical
Association; and the Knox County Druggists Association, of which he
is the vice president. He is registered in both Illinois and Iowa
and is, therefore, entitled to follow his profession in either
state. In his political views Mr. Shaffer has always been
independent, and he gives his support to the men and measures he
deems best qualified to meet the exigencies of the situation,
regardless of party affiliation. lie is one of the public-spirited
and progressive men of the town, who is conducting his business in
accordance with the highest principles governing commercial
activities and as a result wins and retains the respect of all with
whom he has transitions.
THOMAS AUSTIN.
One of the best known citizens of Abingdon is Thomas Austin, who for
over a half century has been actively identified with the business
interests of the town. He was born in Norfolk county, England, on
the 21st of March, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Mary A. (Wells)
Austin, natives of the same county, where they spent their entire
lives. Thomas Austin, Sr., was a blacksmith by trade, as was his
father, James Austin, and two of his brothers, while he in turn also
reared three of his sons to the same vocation.
Thomas Austin, after finishing his education in the common schools,
entered his father's shop, where he learned his trade. lie had long
been strongly attracted toward America, with its many advantages and
innumerable opportunities, and on the 21st of January, 1855, he took
passage on a sailing vessel for the United States. lie landed at New
York early in March, having spent forty days on the Atlantic. His
destination was Lockport, Illinois, where he had several relatives
living, among them a brother of his mother's, who was a distiller
and a prominent business man of the town. He took up his residence
with his uncle on the 8th of March, 1855, and soon thereafter became
his business partner, but owing to a disagreement on June 20, 1856,
he severed his connection with his relative and went to Morgan
county. After remaining there for a short time he started on a trip
through Iowa and Nebraska seeking a location for a shop. Not finding
anything to suit him, he was on his way back to Lock-port, when
Jonathan Latimer, whom he met on the train, prevailed upon him
826 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
to come to Abingdon. He did so, finding employment
as a blacksmith with Latimer & Shaffer, who were wagon-makers. On
the 20th of July, 1857, Mr. Austin opened a blacksmith shop in
Abingdon, which he has ever since operated.
On the 30th of October, 1862, Mr. Austin was united in marriage to
Miss Eliza J. McElrea, who at that time was residing in Indian Point
township. Mrs. Austin was born in Warren county, Illinois, but is of
Irish extraction, her father having been a native of the Emerald
isle. Three children were born of this marriage, but one of whom is
now living, Anna M., the wife of Charles Harshbarger, of Abingdon.
In December, 1853, while still a resident of the mother country, Mr.
Austin joined the Odd Fellows lodge, but has never affiliated with
the organization since coming to the United States. Mrs. Austin is a
member of the Congregational church, but his religious views do not
conform to those of any creed, although he contributes toward the
support of the churches and various charitable organizations. In
politics he is a democrat in national issues, but casts an
independent ballot at local elections. He served for two years as
mayor of Abingdon and for an equal period as county supervisor,
while for three years he was on the local school board, refusing to
serve for a longer period. He also acted as alderman for a year. Mr.
Austin has always been a wide reader of both philosophy and history
and is one of the well informed men of his community. He has ever
been noted for his remarkable memory, and is generally regarded as
having a more vivid recollection and better knowledge of Abingdon's
early history than any other living citizen. It is customary for
those in doubt about any fact of early local history to refer the
enquirer to "Tom" Austin, feeling confident that the desired
information can be obtained there. During the long period of his
residence in the United States, Mr. Austin has never had occasion to
regret transferring his allegiance to the younger country, having
here met with a fair degree of success.
WILLIAM B. MAIN.
William B. Main, deceased, a resident of the town of Abingdon for
more than three decades, who for a number of years was prominently
identified with its business interests as a leading hardware
merchant, has lived retired from 1896 up to the time of his death,
in January, 1912. His birth occurred on Snowdon Hill, Otsego county,
New York, on the 7th of December, 1835. His parents being Thomas P.
and Laura (Allen) Main. The first emigrant ancestor of the Main
family came to the United States from the vicinity of Edinburgh,
Scotland, in May, 1680, landing in New York and thence going to
Stonington, Connecticut, where he took up his abode. William B. Main
represented the sixth generation of the family in this country.
Thomas P. Main, the father of William B. Main, was born in Otsego
county, New York, on the old Main homestead which had been in
possession of the family for several generations, his natal day
being May 31, 1798. He remained in his native county until 1838 and
then removed to Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York. The tract on
which he settled was a primeval forest and his first task was the
clearing of
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 829
a site for a log cabin, which he erected. Our
subject was then about four years of age. Thomas Main had incurred a
debt of about two hundred dollars and was unable to discharge it
until some sixteen years later, when his son William left the
parental roof and at which time the farm was cleared of trees as
well as indebtedness. Thomas P. Main passed away on the 27th of
July, 1878, at Boone, Iowa, where he had removed some twelve years
earlier and where a son and daughter had preceded him. In his family
there were eight children. For many years he was recognized as a
pillar in the Methodist Episcopal church, acting as class leader and
Sunday school superintendent and long serving in one official
capacity or another. His wife, whose natal year was 1808, was also a
representative of an old New England family of English descent. Her
demise occurred soon after she and her husband had established their
home in Chenango county, New York.
William B. Main acquired his early education in the district schools
but his advantages in this direction were meager, for his services
were required on the home farm and he was able to attend school for
only about two months each winter, often being too busy to begin his
studies until after the 1st of January. On attaining the age of
twenty years he started out in life on his own account, securing
employment as a farm hand in Chenango county. In 1857 he came to
Altona, Knox county, Illinois, here breaking prairie and operating a
threshing machine and working as post driver until 1861. In that
year he enlisted for three year's service in the Union army,
becoming a member of Company I, Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, on the 25th of A Jay. At the siege of Fort Donelson,
however, he was obliged to sleep on the snow and share one blanket
with two other men, contracting a severe cold. This together with a
chronic enteric sickness, reduced his weight from one hundred and
sixty to one hundred and six pounds and on April 28, 1862, he was
discharged on account of disability. Fie returned to Galesburg,
Illinois, and was an invalid throughout the summer. In the fall he
took up railroad work and was soon afterward made a conductor on the
Burlington road, running a freight train from Galesburg to Aurora
for seven years and a passenger train from Galesburg to Peoria for
ten years. In 1878, in company with A. J. Shaw and William Win-cup,
he went to northwestern Texas and acquired some twenty thousand
acres of land in Floyd and Hale counties. Buying railroad land
warrants, paying sixty-five dollars for warrants covering six
hundred and forty acres, and also incurring additional expense for
surveys and entrance fees, the land cost them about one hundred and
five dollars per section.
After returning to Galesburg, Air. Main resumed his railroad work.
In the fall of 1878 he traded some Texas land for one of the best
residences in Abingdon as well as a farm near the town. In the
spring of 1879 he came to Abingdon and has here resided continuously
up to his demise. Fie left the railroad service in October, 1879,
and on the 1st of June, 1881, purchased the hardware business of FT.
L. Chaffee, of Abingdon, remaining one of the leading merchants of
the town for about fifteen years. In 1896, having accumulated a
handsome competence, he put aside active business cares, turned his
establishment over to his son-in-law, C. D. Byram, to enjoy the last
fifteen years of his life in honorable retirement. Fie was likewise
a prominent factor in financial circles, serving as president of the
First National Bank for some years and as a director
830 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
of the institution until January 1, 1911, when he
withdrew and turned his banking interests over to his son-in-law.
For twenty years he acted as trustee of Heckling" College and for
several years was chairman of the finance committee and treasurer of
the college.
On the 17th of January, 1865, Mr. Main was united in marriage to
Miss Harriet M. Bills, of Bainbridge, New York, by whom he had two
children: Carrie E., the wife of C. D. Byram ; and George W., who is
a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Main was formerly
identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a demitted member of
the blue lodge, the chapter, Commandery and Eastern Star. Fie was a
member of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church,
to which his wife now belongs. Mr. Main died in January, 1912, in
the seventy-eighth year of his life. Fie enjoyed to a large extent
the respect and veneration of all who came in contact with him in a
business or social way and is sincerely mourned by a host of friends
who reverently cherish his memory. His loss is irreparable to his
immediate family, to whom he was the most devoted and loving husband
and father.
BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN SHAFFER.
Benjamin Franklin Shaffer, who has resided in Knox county for
fifty-seven years, is one of the best known and most highly
respected citizens within its borders. The earlier years of his
manhood were spent as a farmer and stockman, while later he turned
his attention to mercantile pursuits. At the present time, however,
he is living on his farm adjoining the town of Williamsfield. His
birth occurred near Youngwomans Town, Cameron county, Pennsylvania,
on the 1st of January, 1848, his parents being Benjamin B. and
Elizabeth (Caldwell) Shaffer. The father was born near Sinn
Mahoning, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, while the mother's birth
occurred near Youngwomans Town, Cameron county, that state. Both
were consistent and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Benjamin B. Shaffer was a local minister for many years and
while in Pennsylvania also engaged in the lumber business. In 1855
he came to Illinois, settling on a farm of two hundred and forty
acres in Truro township, Knox county.
Benjamin Franklin Shaffer, who was a little lad of seven when he
came with his parents to this county, obtained his early education
in a district school and later continued his studies in the Yates
City high school. Together with two brothers, he also assisted in
the operation of the home farm, thus early becoming familiar with
the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist.
When twenty-two years of age, his father having taken up his abode
in Yates City, our subject rented the homestead place and turned his
attention to general agricultural pursuits on his own account,
devoting considerable time to stock. A great lover of animals he
takes keen interest in stock of all kinds and was one of the first
to introduce imported Norman horses. While on the farm he met with a
serious accident, which crippled him for life and made him unable to
walk without crutches for six or eight years. Finding it difficult
to carry on the work of the fields thus handicapped, he embarked in
the mercantile
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 831
business at Douglas, Illinois, in 1882, remaining there until 1888,
when he removed to Williamsfield, where he conducted the first store
and also the post-office. At the end of two years his health had
become so impaired that he abandoned mercantile pursuits and traded
his store for some Kansas land and Norman horses. Since that time he
has resided on his farm adjoining the town of Williamsfield, now
making his home with his two youngest children.
On the 5th of November, 1874, Mr. Shaffer was united in marriage to
Miss Sarah Lydia Foster, a daughter of Thomas J. and Sarah H.
Foster. The first representative of the family in this country was
the grandfather of Mrs. Shaffer, a successful farmer and stock
dealer, who came to the United States in 1834. Our subject and his
wife had seven children, four of whom are yet living. Thomas B., a
sketch of whom appears on another page of this work, is a druggist
of Oneida. Bertha Aves, whose birth occurred on the 14th of August,
1880, attended Knox College and also received an excellent musical
education, teaching that art for a time. On the 23d of June, 1909,
she gave her hand in marriage to James A. McHenry, of Coffeyville,
Kansas, who acts as cashier for the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Company at that place. Ada Elizabeth, whose natal day was May 12,
1884, is a graduate of the Williamsfield high school and followed
the profession of teaching for a number of years. William Caldwell,
who was born on the 1st of February, 1886, is also a graduate of the
Williamsfield high school.
Mr. Shaffer gives his political allegiance to the democracy and for
many years has served as school director and commissioner of
highways. For six years he acted as democratic chairman of Truro
township and during both of President Cleveland's administrations
held the office of postmaster, serving during his first term at
Douglas, Illinois, and during his second term at Williamsfield. In
1869 he joined the Odd Fellows lodge but later resigned there from
and in 1888 became identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, of
which he is still a member. Since 1898 he has also belonged to the
Bankers Life Association. In the county where he has resided from
early boyhood, Air. Shaffer has a circle of friends that is almost
coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
MICHAEL BAYMILLER.
Michael Baymiller, who for the past twenty-one years has lived
retired in Abingdon, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on
the 20th of October, 1835. He is a son of John and Mary (Smith)
Baymiller, natives of York county, that state, where they were also
married. Later they located in Cumberland county, whence they
migrated to Ohio, settling in Columbiana county, subsequently
removing to Harrison and later to Montgomery counties. In 1854 they
came to Illinois, locating on a farm in McDonough county that he
cultivated until his retirement, when he went to Industry, where he
was living at the time of his death. Mr. Baymiller, who was a
veteran of the war of 1812, was a stanch democrat in his political
principles, but was
832 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
never an office seeker. Both he and his wife were ardent members of
the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which they reared
their family.
The boyhood and youth of Michael Baymiller were spent in the
country, his education being obtained in the district schools. When
he had attained the age of eighteen years he apprenticed himself to
the carpenter's trade, but upon the completion of his period of
service returned to the farm. He devoted his energies to the
cultivation of the soil until 1862 and in September of that year he
enlisted as a private in Company I, Seventy-eighth Illinois
Volunteer Infantry and went to the front. He saw much hard service,
participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Rocky
Face, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Bentonville and the siege
of Atlanta. He was also with Sherman when he made his famous march
to the sea. On the 7th of June, 1865, he was mustered out and
returning home, spent the ensuing year on his father's farm. At the
expiration of that period he opened a shop and for five years
thereafter gave his undivided attention to the cabinet-maker's
trade. He withdrew from this in 1871 and engaged in carpentry work
and contracting during the remaining period of his active career.
About 1890 he removed to Abingdon, where he has ever since resided
and is held in high esteem.
Air. Baymiller has been twice married, his first union having been
with Miss Mahala Pennington of Industry township, McDonough county,
in i860. One son was born unto them, Joel Franklin, who is residing
in Pullman, Washington. Mrs. Baymiller died while he was in the
service and in 1866 he was married the second time, his choice being
Miss Martha A. Carroll, also of Industry. Of this union there were
born three children, two of whom are living: Minnie M., who is an
osteopath physician; and Clarence B., a principal of a Peoria
school. Both are graduates of Hedding College. The mother of these
children passed away in 1905.
Politically, Mr. Baymiller is a prohibitionist, thus voicing his
views on the liquor question and, in matters of faith, he is a
Methodist. Fie is well known in Abingdon and although he has never
taken any part in the public life of the town has, by reason of his
many fine personal qualities, won the high regard and friendship of
many of the best citizens.
J. A. SWEBORG.
One of the thrifty and enterprising citizens of Cedar township, who
for thirty-one years has been successfully identified with the
agricultural interests of Knox county, is J. A. Sweborg. His birth
occurred in Linkoping, Sweden, on February 23, 1840, his parents
being Johanas and Catherine (Peterson) Sweborg, both of whom spent
their entire lives in Sweden, where the father engaged in carpentry
work and farming. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Sweborg numbered five,
as follows: Anna and Andrew P., both of whom continue to live in the
old country; Caroline, who is a resident of Bloomington, Illinois;
Belinda, who is also in Sweden ; and J. A., our subject.
The common schools of his native land provided J. A. Sweborg with
such educational advantages as he enjoyed during his early boyhood.
The first twenty-eight years of his life were spent in the old
country, but being ambitious and energetic he early determined to
come to America, feeling assured that here he would find greater
opportunities. In 1868 he took passage for the United States,
arriving here with a capital of six dollars. He first located in
Gales-burg but after working there for a short time went to
Knoxville, where for several years he held the position of section
foreman on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Possessing the
thrift that usually characterizes the people of his country he had
carefully saved a portion of his earnings until in 1880 he had
accumulated sufficient means to enable him to engage in farming. He
first located in Orange township, where he spent nineteen years, at
the expiration of which period he removed to his present homestead
in Cedar township. Here he owns one hundred and seventy acres of
fertile land, upon which he has wrought extensive improvements, and
is successfully engaged in general farming.*
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 833*
In 1871 Mr. Sweborg was united in marriage to Miss Caroline
Anderson, and of this union there were born four children: Ernest,
who follows the carpenter's trade in Galesburg; Albina J., who is
living on a farm adjoining his father's place; and Amanda and A. D.,
both of whom are at home.
In religious matters the family have always affiliated with the
Swedish Lutheran church of which the parents are members. Mr.
Sweborg is one of those energetic and industrious Scandinavians who
have figured so prominently in the agricultural development of the
great middle west, of which they have become an integral part.
N. HENRY McGirr.
Varied interests engage the attention of N. Henry McGirr, who is one
of the extensive property owners of Maquon township in addition to
which he operates a farming machinery and implement store, and a
blacksmith and machinery repair shop at Maquon. His present
homestead, which is three and a half miles from Maquon, is located
across the road from the farm where his birth occurred on April 9,
i860. His father, Mahlon McGirr, was born in Stark county, Ohio, in
1827, and there he spent the first eleven years of his life. His
next place of residence was Washington county, Ohio, where he lived
for about twelve years, and then came to Maquon. He followed the
blacksmith's trade in Ohio, but after coming here, he did carpentry
work, but subsequently withdrew from this trade and took up farming,
which he followed until his death at the age of sixty-seven. For his
wife Mr. McGirr chose Miss Sarah L. Bar-bero, and together they at
one time owned four hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in Knox
county, a portion of this now being the property of our subject. Of
the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McGirr there were born six children:
Leslie; Levi; N. Henry, our subject; Frederick, who is deceased;
Rosie L.; and Mary. In his religious faith the father was a Quaker.
Reared in the township where he was born X. Henry McGirr attended
the district schools of the vicinity until he was old enough to
begin preparations for his real life work. After laying aside his
school books, he entered a black-smith shop in Maquon, where he
learned the trade. As soon as he became self-supporting, like the
majority of ambitious young men he was desirous of seeing the world,
so he set out for the west, where he spent a few years. Returning to
Maquon he established a shop that he operated for a time, and then
went to the Black Hills, where he remained until 1888. In the latter
year he located in Galesburg, taking a position on the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad, where for five years and ten months he
was fireman on an engine. At the expiration of that period he
decided to take up farming, and after his father's death, in 1894,
he returned to Maquon township. Here he now owns three hundred and
four acres of fine land, the greater part of which he rents to his
son, devoting his entire attention to conducting his business. In
his store is to be found practically everything in the way of
farming implements, machinery, hardware, fences, seed or appliances
of any kind needed by the average agriculturist. He also has a shop
where he repairs machinery of all kinds and also does horseshoeing,
and such other work as is usually done in a blacksmith
establishment. Rare mechanical skill and business sagacity have
enabled Mr. McGirr to make a success of anything he has undertaken,
and he is now one of the substantial and highly prosperous citizens
of Maquon township.
834 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY -
For his companion and helpmate on life's journey he
chose Miss Eva May McCord, of this county, and they have one son,
Glenn, who was born in February, 1884. He married Miss Freda
Bearmore and they have two children, Nona and Eva. Glenn McGirr is
one of the successful young agriculturists of Knox county and now
operates the greater part of his father's land.
Fraternally Mr. McGirr is a member of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen, and his political support he gives to the republican party,
but has always been too deeply engrossed in promoting his own
interests to devote much attention to political activities.
GEORGE P. EDMUNDSON.
Possessing those qualities—industry, energy and perseverance—so
necessary for success in any line of activity, George P. Edmundson
has, by close application and wise management, brought himself to a
creditable place among the substantial agriculturists of Knox
county, within whose borders his entire life has been spent. He was
born in Indian Point township, on the 6th of 'July, 1853, a son of
William and Anna Edmundson, natives of North Carolina and Ohio
respectively. The parents came to Knox county, Illinois, as early as
1840, and here located upon land which is now in possession of our
subject. At that time land was very reasonable in this locality and
Mr. EDMUNDSON became the owner, through purchase, of one hundred and
ninety-two acres located in Indian Point township, to the
development and improvement of which he devoted his time and
attention throughout his remaining days. He and his wife are both
now deceased. Of their family of nine children four are yet
surviving. The sisters of our subject are Elizabeth, Josephine and
Maria Thursy, the latter the wife of Luke Fielder, of Knox county.
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 835
Reared amid the wholesome scenes and environment of rural life,
George P. Edmundson became a pupil in the district schools of Indian
Point township, devoting the winter months to the acquirement of an
education while the summer seasons were spent in assisting his
father in the work of the home farm. As soon as he was able to
handle the plow he took his place in the fields and with his
increasing strength and years new tasks were assigned to him until
he had mastered the various branches of agriculture. His entire life
has been devoted to this line of activity and since his father's
demise he has remained on the home place, concentrating his energies
upon its further improvement and cultivation. He now owns and
operates one hundred and twenty acres, located on section 29, Indian
Point township, constituting a farm as well kept and valuable as any
in this locality. Earnest, industrious and persevering, he has
carefully and systematically performed all of the various labors
that comprise the life of the farmer, and the excellent condition of
his fields today indicates the successful accomplishment of his
undertaking.
Mr. Edmundson was married, in 1882, to Miss Laura A. Rowe, who was
born in Indian Point township, Knox county, a daughter of Silas and
Mary Rowe, early settlers of this county. The father is now^
deceased but the mother still survives at the remarkable old age of
ninety-six years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Edmundson has been
blessed with six children of whom two, however, have passed away.
Those surviving are: Florence, who is the wife of Andrew Hobbs, a
farmer of Indian Point township, and the mother of a son, Clifford;
Mina, who married Jesse Baker, of Warren county, Illinois; and
Franklin and Daisy, both at home, the elder assisting his father in
the operation of the home farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Edmundson hold membership in the Christian church, the
teachings of which form the guiding influences of their life, and
members of their family are also affiliated with that denomination.
Clean principles, high purpose and honorable dealing will win esteem
and confidence in any land and clime, and that these qualities have
been manifest in the life of George P. Edmundson is indicated by the
high place which he has won in the regard of his fellowmen.
JOHN GALPIN.
John Galpin, one of the early settlers of Knox county, Illinois, and
for fifty-nine years closely associated with the life and history of
this locality, was born in Morgan county, Indiana, in 1827. He was a
son of T. L. Galpin, a native of New York state, who came west
settling in Indiana in 1820. Later he removed to Jo Daviess county,
Illinois, where he died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, whose
maiden name was Nancy Case, died in 1S40 at the age of forty. There
were nine children in the family.
John Galpin obtained his education in Knox county in the old log
school-house near his home. It was a rude little structure with
square pieces cut out of the solid log to serve as windows and hard
slab benches on which the pupils sat. There were deep woods all
about and the way to and from school was long and difficult for most
of the children. When eighteen years old he learned
836 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
the cooper trade and worked at this occupation for five years. In
1850 he joined the multitudes thronging to the gold fields of
California and in 1852 returned to Illinois, settling in Knox
county, where he bought a farm on Spoon river. Later he sold this
place and bought eighty acres of land elsewhere, selling it after a
time and buying the farm which he owns at present, one hundred and
sixty acres in Elba township, Knox county. Here he improved the
land, put up substantial buildings, and pursued general farming as
well as stock-raising for many years. He is now living retired,
making his home with his son, who is operating the farm and
continuing its cultivation according to the progressive methods of
modern farming.
The marriage of Miss Augusta Curtis and Mr. Galpin occurred on
November 8, 1852. She is a native of Washington county, Ohio, and
was a daughter of Paul and Sarah Ann (Dilly) Curtis, residents of
Ohio who became early settlers of Illinois, living in Jersey county,
then in Jo Daviess county and lastly in Knox county. The father died
at the age of ninety-three and the mother at the age of
seventy-three. They were the parents of nine children.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Galpin there were nine children.
George Ogden died in infancy. T. L., living in Galesburg, married
Miss Jennie Callahan and is the father of one child. Sadie, the wife
of Mr. Case, lives in Chicago and is the mother of two children.
Mary, the wife of Mr. Youngs, is living in Missouri. There were nine
children in her family. John Wesley, married to Dora Mason, resides
in Kewanee, Illinois. Henry, married to Jessie Connell, lives at
Williamsfield and is the father of two children. Frank, married to
Miss Lowman, lives one mile east of the home farm. Fie is the father
of one child. Rosa, who married Mr. Sherman of Galesburg, has one
child. Fred F., the youngest son, operates the home farm in Elba
township. His wife was formerly Miss Martha Dobbs. They are the
parents of one child.
In politics Mr. Galpin gives his allegiance to the republican party.
He held the office of school director for a number of years. Fie and
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their
earnest Christian lives have won for them the respect of all who
know them, and among the inhabitants of Knox county they have a host
of warm friends.
**************************************************************************
ISAAC CHEYNEY PRESTON.
Isaac CHEYNEY Preston is a retired farmer residing at No. 409 West
North street. He was born in Harford county, Maryland, November 9,
1841, a son of Edmond and Phoebe (Hoskins) Preston, both of whom
were natives of Maryland. The former was a son of David and Judith
(Hollingsworth) Preston, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of
Delaware respectively. He sat at the head of his meeting—the Friends
Society—in his locality for many years. He passed away at the age of
seventy-two and his wife died when well advanced in years. They had
five children, namely: Isaac, Sylvester, Hannah, Edmond and Deborah.
Their son, Edmond Preston, was born in Maryland, devoted his life to
farming and spent his last days in Harford county of his native
state, his
702 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY remains being interred in the old Friends cemetery there, he and his
wife being consistent members of the Society of Friends. He married
Phoebe Hoskins, a daughter of Nathaniel Hoskins, whose wife in her
maidenhood bore the family name of CHEYNEY. Both lived to old age
and reared a large family, including CHEYNEY, Jesse, Eliza, Hiram,
Edith, Sarah, William, Phoebe and Joseph. The youngest daughter
became the wife of Edmond Preston and unto them were born eight
children: Isaac C.; David, who is deceased; Louis H., living in
Brush, Colorado; Henry C, who resides on the old home place in
Harford county, Maryland; William S., who has passed away; Judith,
the deceased wife of Joseph T. Hoopes; Robert S., of Harford county,
Maryland; and Edmond, who is deceased.
Isaac C. Preston was reared in Harford county, Maryland, on the old
home farm and after laying the foundation for his education in the
Friends' school, attended the public schools and afterward spent a
year in the Union Chapel Academy of Harford county, at which time
his instructor was a Massachusetts man. About that time his father
purchased an interest in a business and drove meat wagons in Harford
and Baltimore counties. Isaac C. Preston became driver of one of
these wagons and was so employed for four years and at the same time
engaged in buying stock. He then came to the middle west in company
with Elijah Lancaster. They took this step because their parents did
not wish them to go to war and after reaching the Mississippi valley
they enlisted in Company G, of the First Wisconsin Cavalry under
Colonel LaGrange, serving during the last year of hostilities. Mr.
Preston participated in the battle at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and
for twenty-four days and nights, in December, 1864, was with his
command in pursuit of General Lyons. The regiment then went into
winter quarters at Waterloo, Tennessee, where they remained for four
weeks. They afterward marched through Alabama and Mr. Preston was in
one of the last battles of the war, at West Point, on the
Chattahoochee river. He joined the army as a private, was made
corporal and was afterward promoted to the rank of sergeant. He
contracted typhoid fever on the march from Macon, Georgia, to
Chattanooga, Tennessee, and from there was sent to Nashville and on
to Louisville, where he was placed in the Brown Hospital. He
remained there until he became convalescent, when his father went
for him and took him home to Harford county, Maryland.
Following his recovery Mr. Preston purchased a new threshing machine
from his father and operated it for two years. He then sold out and
began shipping fertilizer from the west, having in the meantime made
a trip westward to Illinois and Iowa. In 1870 he settled in Page
county, Iowa, where he resided until 1895, when he came to Galesburg
for the purpose of educating his daughter and here he has since
lived retired. Pie purchased a good lot and built his present home
at No. 409 West North street, where he is now pleasantly located,
having in the meantime secured a handsome competence that now
supplies him with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of
life.
On the 7th of December, 1871, Mr. Preston was united in marriage to
Miss Jennie C. Logan, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Bowling)
Logan and a granddaughter of Michael and Margaret Logan, who were
natives of Kentucky. Her grandfather lived to the advanced age of
eighty-five years. In his family were eight children. The maternal
grandparents of Mrs. Preston were Burton
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
703
James and Margaret (Jones) Bowling, both of whom lived to old age.
The former was a native of Virginia. Their family numbered seven
children: Elizabeth, John, Alvira, Armiza, Jane, Julia and Elvira.
The father of Mrs. Preston was born in Kentucky and her mother in
Illinois. They were early settlers of Springfield. Mr. Logan died in
1880, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his wife passed away in
1893 at the age of seventy-six. They were very active and faithful
members of the Christian church. They had five children: William;
Nannie; James C. and Jennie C, twins; and Josephine. The daughter
Jennie became the wife of. Isaac C. Preston. She was born in
Springfield, June 2, 1848, and by her marriage had one daughter,
Nannie Wren Preston, who was graduated from Knox College under Dr.
John Finley and has been a teacher in the schools of Galesburg for
about twelve years.
Mr. Preston still holds his membership with the Society of Friends
in the city of Baltimore, while his wife and daughter are members of
the First Presbyterian church of Galesburg. In his political views
he is a republican and has filled a number of local offices, the
duties of which he has discharged with credit to himself and
satisfaction to his constituents. Fie was a member of the board of
supervisors of Page county, Iowa, for six years, was justice of the
peace for several terms and was postmaster of Essex, Iowa, for three
years. Fraternally he is connected with James T. Shields Post, No.
45, G. A. R., and was its commander in 1890. lie has thus kept in
touch with the boys in blue of the Civil war and he is as true and
loyal to his country today as when he followed the old flag on
southern battlefields and thus gave proof of his advocacy of the
Union cause. He has ever been faithful to duty, whether in days of
war or days of peace, and his has at all times been an honorable
record, his upright life commanding for him the confidence,
good-will and friendship of the great majority of those with whom he
has come in contact. In business, too, he displayed excellent
ability as a manager and in the wise promotion of his interests won
substantial and well earned success.
ERNEST THOMAS COLLINSON.
Ernest T. Collinson, who has been living at Galva since he gave up
his farm in 1898, was born in Walnut Grove township, Knox county, on
the old Collinson homestead, on the 17th of October, 1875. He is a
son of Simeon L. and Jane (Carnahan) Collinson. The father was born
in Yorkshire, England, on the 7th of July, 1806, and on the 4th of
November, 1831, settled in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania. The trip from his native country took seven weeks and
he was accompanied by his first wife, who passed away early in 1874,
and two children. When he left Pennsylvania to settle in Illinois he
made the trip with horse and wagon and was forced to undergo many of
the hardships that awaited the traveler of that early day. In 1838
however, he arrived in this county and at once settled upon the
property forming a part of the farm which he owned at the time of
his death. His first task was to build a log cabin which served as
their home until his farm proved sufficiently remunerative to permit
him to build a larger and more substantial one. Subsequently he
became one of the
704 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
largest land owners in this section, and at one time held clear
title to twenty-four hundred acres of land. He gave each of his
children a quarter section of land as soon as they were old enough
to handle it. His wife's death occurred on the 18th of April, 1874,
when she was seventy-four years of age. To their union nine children
were born: Thomas W., Lydia, Henry and Simeon, deceased; Mary, who
is the wife of J. E. Durham, of Mendota, Illinois; Martha, who is
the widow of James McLaughlin of Altona, Illinois; John C, a
resident of Altona; Susan, who is married to J. McGaan of Altona;
and one child who passed away in infancy. Mr. Collinson was again
married in 1874, when he wedded Mrs. Jane (Carnahan) McClure, whose
birth occurred in Scotland, on the 17th of September, 1837, and who
settled in Altona immediately after her arrival in the United States
in 1867. To their union one child was born, Ernest Thomas Collinson,
whose name stands at the head of this review. Simeon L. Collinson
gave his political support to the democratic party and was the first
assessor of Lynn township after its organization.
Ernest T. Collinson acquired his education in the nearby district
schools and "subsequently resided upon the homestead with his
mother. In the spring of 1898 he removed to Galva and has since made
that town his home. After arriving there he. engaged in the
real-estate and insurance business for some time. In 1898 he was
married to Miss Ada M. Craver, whose birth occurred in Lynn
township, on the 26th of April, 1875. She is a daughter of George
and Nancy E. (Heaton) Craver, the former of whom has passed away. To
Mr. and Mrs. Collinson two children have been born: Harold E. and
Willard C, aged ten and seven years respectively. Mr. Collinson
holds membership in the Congregational church of Galva and also in
the Woodman of America and the Knights of Pythias of which he has
been trustee and is now vice chancellor. His entire life has been
spent in this county and he. en joys a wide acquaintance which has
been formed because of his genial and social nature. He is
interested in all that tends to promote the welfare of his
community, and any measure suggested for civic improvement or social
development is sure to win his support and assistance.
EDWARD JOSEPH APPELL.
Edward Joseph Appell, who is engaged in general farming and
stock-raising in Lynn township, Knox county, was born on the 23d of
September, 1879, on the old Appell homestead in this township. He is
a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Appell, of whom mention is made
elsewhere in this volume. To the parents eleven children were born:
Lydia, who is the wife of the Rev. G. A. Brandell, of Colorado;
Alfred, a minister of the Lutheran church at Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; Hanna, who is married to Gus Hilgroot, of Henry
county; Carl, who is practicing law in Chicago; Amanda, who is
married to Otto Johnson, of Henry county; Louis A., who is justice
of the peace of this township; Edward Joseph, of this review;
Alfrieda and Ferdinand, both of whom are residing at home; Martin,
who is an agriculturist of Henry county; and Edith, also at home.
The boyhood and youth of Edward J. Appell were spent attending
school and assisting with the daily farm duties on the home place.
At the age of seventeen
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 705
he entered Augustana College, at Rock Island, Illinois, and in that
institution pursued the commercial course. Subsequently he remained
at home and farmed for his father for ten years. He has followed
agricultural pursuits throughout his active career and, although
still a young man, has met with a good degree of success and has won
an enviable reputation among his fellow agriculturists.
In 1905 Mr. Appell was married to Miss Ruth Caroline Krantz, whose
birth occurred on the 3d of July, 1883, in Jonkoping, Sweden. She is
a daughter of P. A. and Ida (Magnuson) Krantz, both of whom are
residing in Sweden and who are the parents of ten children: Anna,
who is the wife of Harry Cox, of Rockford; Herman, who is a resident
of Victoria, Illinois; Ellen, the wife of Elias Rodine, of Sweden;
Mrs. Appell; Peter, who is still living in Sweden; Oscar, a resident
of Victoria, Illinois; Abbie, who is married to Martin Appell, of
Lynn township; Gustav, also living in Victoria; and Fabian and
Leona, both of whom are residing in Sweden. Mrs. Appell came to
America with E. Magnuson when she was but eighteen years of age.
Upon her arrival in Illinois she lived with the Appell family until
her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Appell one child has been born, Virgil
Edward, whose birth occurred on the 3d of May, 1911.
Mr. Appell gives his political allegiance to the republican party
and, although he is interested in its success and in the policies of
its platforms and earnestly desires their success at the polls, he
has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Appell are members of the Swedish Lutheran church,
of which he is a trustee. The improved and well equipped condition
of his farm indicates his thrift, industry and scientific
management, all of which are tending to bring him a good degree of
success.
JOHN JOHNSON.
John Johnson, who is conducting a meat market in Altona, Knox
county, was born in that town on the 5th of October, 1863, his
parents being Louis and Carrie (Marsh) Johnson, both natives of
Ockelbo, Sweden. The father was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas
Johnson, who came to America in 1857, and after the cholera removed
to Altona. Mrs. Jonas Johnson is perhaps the oldest resident of
Illinois, her birth having occurred on the 15th of July, 1808, and
she and her husband were among the early settlers who took up their
residence in Altona. Their first home adjoined the present site of
the high school, but later they removed to a farm north of the town,
and a short time afterward they entered the Swedish colony settled
on Bishop Hill. They were the parents of three children: Andrew, who
is residing in Sioux City, Iowa; Margaret, who is the wife of Fred
Spiegel, and with whom the mother resides; and Louis, who died
December 25, 1907, at the age of seventy-four years. Louis Johnson
came to Altona with his father and spent nearly his entire life in
the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway. Mrs. Louis
Johnson, who is eighty-two years of age, is the daughter of John and
Christine Marsh, of Sweden. The Johnsons were the first members of
the Swedish Lutheran church here and were most active in the support
of that church at the time it was founded. Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Johnson were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now
living: Betsy, • who is the wife of C. Carlson of Walnut Grove;
Margaret, the wife of Olof Peterson, of Altona; John, who is the
subject of this sketch; and Louis, Frank, George and Nellie, all
residing in Altona. 706 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
Leaving school at the early age of fourteen years
John Johnson entered the employ of his father on the home farm, and
for the next ten years was actively engaged in assisting in its
cultivation. After that time, however, he entered the meat market of
Whiting-Van Scoyk at Galesburg, but later returned to Altona, and
since 1907 has been in partnership with Mr. Whiting, of the firm of
Whiting & Johnson, of Altona. His market is ably managed, and,
realizing that satisfied customers are the best advertisement for
future business Mr. Johnson aims at treating all who may patronize
him with the respect and courtesy due them. Mr. Johnson was married
to Nellie Neilson, whose birth occurred November 4, 1865, at Kylinge
Point, in southern Sweden. She is the daughter of Nels and Anna
Swenson, both of whom are still living. The grandmother died, in
1909, at the age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Johnson came to America
in 1885 with friends and settled at once in Altona, where she was
married. She was one of two children, her sister residing in Sweden
at present. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson eight children were born: Emma,
whose birth occurred February 24, 1889, and who is the wife of Roy
Rankin, an agriculturist of Media, Illinois, and has one child, John
Robert; Anna, born on the 25th of November, 1890, who is engaged in
teaching school; Minnie, Inez and Bessie, whose births occurred
November 12, 1893, December 23, 1895, and October 5, 1897,
respectively; and George, Theora and Vivian, whose births occurred
January 20, 1902, October 10, 1903, and August 15, 1906,
respectively. With the exception of Mrs. Rankin they are all
residing at home.
Mr. Johnson is an active member of the republican party, and since
he cast his first vote has always voted for the men and measures of
the party whose policies he considers the most conducive in
promoting good government. He has served as alderman of Altona for
four years and is now serving his second term and is also a member
of the school board. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of
America of Altona. As a life-long resident he has been a witness to
much of its development, and has been influential in promoting its
business interests. Because of his strict integrity and high
principles he holds the respect of his fellow citizens.
JOHN W. STEPHENS.
In days of old, before the chronicler of events appeared to write
the story of his nation's greatness, people drew their inspiration
from the past by hearkening to the tales the old men told, by
listening to the song of the bard, by scattered reminiscences of the
aged nurse, handed down from generation to generation. Then the
romance of history was not entombed within the covers of a book, it
was graven on the minds and living in the hearts of the people.
To-day much of that old-time poetry has gone out of our lives. We
are too preoccupied with the demands which our severely competitive
mode of living has thrust upon us. Too late, perhaps, when the last
pioneers of our western civilization will have passed from among us,
we will come to realize what we have lost in their picturesque
recital of the events of the early days, of the white man's struggle
for supremacy in a new country.
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 709*
There is still dwelling in Knox county a man whose
life links us with that past of mystery and charm. His name is John
W. Stephens, son of one of the early settlers and, for a period of
more than seventy-four years, intimately associated with the rise
and growth of Knox county. Those who have had the privilege of
listening to his reminiscences will remember with a thrill the story
of his father's experiences with the Indians, and of the winter of
the heavy snow when the settlers were in danger of perishing. They
will listen with delight to the description of the district school,
where Mr. Stephens found his only opportunities for an education. It
was a typical old log schoolhouse with split log benches and a
puncheon floor. A fire in the huge fireplace at one end supplied the
heat. Across square openings cut in the walls paper was stretched to
serve as windows. These were the primitive surroundings amid which
the boys and girls of those days were given that stern training that
prepared them for a life of hardship and toil.
John W. Stephens was born in Warren county, New Jersey, on the 6th
of June, 1825. He was the son of Richard and Eleanor (Addis)
Stephens, both natives of New Jersey, where they were reared and
married. In 1830 they came to Illinois locating in Fulton county,
but the difficulties with the Indians and other unforeseen trials
compelled them to give up their residence in this state. They
therefore went to Ohio and lived in Warren county for seven years.
In 1838, however, seeking solace after the crushing blow he received
in the loss of his wife, Mr. Stephens again set his face westward,
retracing his way to Illinois. This time he chose Cedar township,
Knox county, for -the family abode, continuing to live there until
his death in April, 1854.
John W. Stephens was nurtured at home and availed himself of the
meager educational advantages that pioneer life afforded. Among his
companions who helped to make his school days a pleasant memory, was
Mary H. Stephens whom he later chose for a helpmate. They were
married on October 29, 1848, coming directly to Cedar township, Knox
county, Illinois, where they established their new home on a farm of
one hundred and sixty acres on section 4. Mr. Stephens had just
purchased this farm a short time before at five dollars an acre.
After living here five years he sold this piece of land and bought
the farm on which his father had first settled on his advent in Knox
county. There Mr. and Mrs. Stephens lived until 1894 when they
removed to Abingdon, which they have made their home ever since. The
old farm of one hundred and forty acres about which all the family
traditions center since 1839, that ms father had owned before him
and that he had tilled for thirty-nine years, he now gave over to
the management of his son. He owns, furthermore, a farm of
eighty-three acres on section 16 in Cedar township.
In 1890 Mr. Stephens' wife died and three years later, on October
11, 1893, he married again. It is a curious and interesting
coincidence that the second Mrs. Stephens, whose given name is Mary
C, and the first Mrs. Stephens both bore the name "Stephens" before
their marriage and there was no relationship between them. Of Mr.
Stephens' first marriage there were four children. Only one
survives, Charles E., who married Miss Harriet Latimer, of Abingdon.
Mr. Stephens is a republican and during the war served for three
years as 710 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
member of the board of county supervisors. The
office of justice of the peace which he held at one time he resigned
at the end of a year. Unwearied in his efforts for the improvement
of his locality and the up-building of his community, he was for
twenty years road commissioner of Cedar township and for a long
period a member of the school board. Mrs. Stephens is a member of
the Congregational church, in which her husband also worships. Mr.
Stephens is still in the possession of excellent health and cheerful
spirit and, looking back upon a long life nobly spent in usefulness
to his family and community, he finds peace and contentment of mind,
the richest rewards that can crown a man's declining years.
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY 841*
JOSEPH
GEHRING.
Joseph Gehring, now retired, was formerly a prosperous
representative of the farming and stock-raising interests in Knox
county, Illinois. Fie was born March 16, 1856, in Sparta township,
east of Wataga. He was a son of Xavier and Elizabeth (Heminger)
Gehring, both natives of Germany, the former born in Baden, February
9, 1825, the latter in Württemberg, in 1826. The paternal
grandparents were Bennett and Elizabeth (Closman) Gehring and the
great-grandparents were Mathias and Susan Gehring. On coming to this
country, the father of our subject remained in New York during the
first four years, working for four dollars a month. In 1853 he came
west to Knox county, Illinois, locating in Sparta township. He
bought the old homestead which is still in the family and there
lived for fifty-one years, carrying on agricultural pursuits on a
large scale and feeding sometimes as many as one hundred head of
cattle for the market. He was a member of the Lutheran church and in
his political predilections was a republican. His death occurred in
1906. There were three children in his family: Henry, who is living
in Galesburg; Amelia, the wife of P. A. McDowell, living on a farm
in Copley township; and Joseph.
After attending the district school Joseph Gehring assisted his
father with the work of the farm until he was twenty-four years old.
He then married and, purchasing a farm near Wataga, engaged in
farming on his own account. For twenty-four years he cultivated and
improved this land and raised stock for shipment. During this time
he acquired much additional land, owning on his retirement in 1903
several farms, most of which land he divided among his children.
In 1880 Mr. Gehring married Miss Cora Peterson, a daughter of O. P.
Peterson, who was a native of Sweden. Her death occurred in 1895 at
the age to thirty-five. By this marriage Mr. Gehring became the
father of four children. Adella Maud is the wife of IT. L. Freed, a
depot agent at Wataga for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Company, and they have one child, Arthur Lee. Edna May, formerly a
bookkeeper in Galesburg, has for the past two years held the
position of cashier of the Bank of Wataga. Arthur Joseph married
Nina MacDonald and is now operating the home farm in Sparta
township. Myrtle Irene is the wife of Winn Miller, an automobile
electrician living in Galesburg.
Mr. Gehring was again married, March 25, 1896, at the home of the
bride's parents in Wataga, his second union being with Miss Harriet
A. Knight, who was born at that place February 26, 1867. By this
union there is one child, Frank Earl, living at home. Mrs. Gehring
is a daughter of Peter and Sarah A. {Morgan) Knight. Pier father was
born in Gloucestershire, England, January 26, 1828, his parents
being William and Sarah Knight, of Gloucestershire. In 1854 he came
to America and here worked at the mason's trade during the summer
months, while during the winter he engaged in coal mining. He
married Miss Sarah A. Morgan, who was also born in Gloucestershire,
England, June 21, 1849,- and was a daughter of Abram and Mary J.
(Philips) Morgan. She was only three years of age when her mother,
died and her father subsequently married Miss Eliza Morgan, also of
Gloucestershire. In 1856 the family emigrated to the United States,
the children being at that time Sarah and an infant son, Isaac. In
religious faith they were Congregationalists. To Mr. and Mrs. Knight
were born two children, Harriet A. and William A., of Wataga. Mr.
Knight died on the 24th of April, 1904.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Gehring are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Wataga, in which he served as a trustee for twenty-five
years, having altogether filled that office for the past thirty-one
years. Fraternally he is an active member of the Mystic Workers of
the World. He is a strong prohibitionist in his political views and
has held the office of school director for sixteen years. Mrs.
Gehring is also a member of the Mystic Workers and during girlhood
joined the Independent Order of Good Templar's, becoming a member of
the lodge at Wataga in 1884. She now holds membership with the
Women's Christian Temperance Union and was president of that
organization in 1896. For the past four years she has been president
of the Ladies' Aid Society of
842 HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY
the Methodist Episcopal church, has taught the
primary class in the Sunday school for twelve years and for several
years before that time taught in the intermediate grades. Both she
and her husband have taken a prominent part in the moral development
of the community and are held in the highest esteem by all who know
them.
C. R. BLISS.
C. R. Bliss is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on
section 20, Chestnut township, where he operates three hundred and
fifty acres of land, one hundred and forty of which he owns. Fie was
born on the farm where he now resides on the 2d of October, 1883,
his parents being C. T. and Harriet (Coffman) Bliss, both natives of
Ohio. The father, who was born near Lake Erie came to Illino |