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PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in one
of these names,
please contact me and I will try to put it on
here ahead of the others that are not done yet.
Sharon
Wick, Piatt County Host
MACKEY, Christian
MADDEN, John S.
MADDEN, Silas W. *
MANSFIELD, Charles F.
MARQUISS, George L.
MARQUISS, James E.
MARQUISS, Seymour
MARTIN, William S.
MASTERSON, Christopher
McCABE, Joseph M.
McCANN, William
McCARTNEY, Thomas H.
McCARTNEY, William A.
McCLURE, Daniel K.
McCLURE, Samuel
McCORD, James C.
McDAVITT, Daniel
McDONALD, William
McFADDEN, Henry S. |
McKAY, Charles C.
McKEE, Samuel
McMILLEN, George E.
McNAMEE, Hugh P.
MEREDITH, Rice R.
MILLER, Absalom
MILLER, George
MILLER, George F.
MINER, James G.
MINTUN, John
MITCHELL, James R.
MITCHELL, John B.
MITCHELL, Jacob R.
MOFFIT, John *
MOMA, William D.
MONROE, Jesse
MONROE, Richard B.
MONROE, William
MOORE, Benjamin |
MOORE, Charles B.
MOORE, Isaac
MOORE, Joseph
MOORE, Luther
MOORE, Lyle A.
MOORE, William F.
MORRIS, George S., Prof. *
MOYER, Edward
MURPHY, Robert
MUTHERSBAUGH, William
MYLIN, Samuel
-------
NIGHSWANDER, John
NOECKER, William, M.D.
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John S. Madden
is one of the representative farmers of Piatt County and one who has
gained a competence by his well-directed efforts in tilling the
soil. He owns two hundred and fifty-four acres of good land in
Sangamon Township whereon all needful improvements have been made.
That the land is carefully and intelligently cultivated goes without
saying, and that the stock kept is of good breeds and grades and
modern machinery is used in carrying on the work of the estate is
plain to be seen by the most careless observer.
The parents of our subject were John and
Elizabeth (West) Madden, well-known in this
section of Illinois as among the earliest settlers in Sangamon
Township and owners of a large tract of land here. Some notice of
their lives may be found in the biographical sketch of Silas
Madden, on another page in this ALBUM. Their son, of whom we
write, was born in the parental home here, November 1, 1840, and
being reared on a farm naturally adopted his father's calling as his
own. He received his elementary education in the old-fashioned log
schoolhouse in which the subscription school of the pioneer days was
kept, but was able to attend but little after he became old enough
to aid in farm work. He started out in life for himself when
nineteen years old, and from that day to the present, with the
exception of the months spent in the service of his country, has
been closely identified with the agricultural work of the county.
Mr. Madden was married in
February,1866,taking to share in life's fortunes Miss Cynthia
Burton, who was born and reared in Ohio. This congenial union
has resulted in the birth of twelve children, viz: Dora,
Irene, Minnie, Charles, Harris (deceased),
John, William, Perry, Josephine,
Ralph, Olive and Edith. The happy parents are
anxious that their children should fill an honored place among their
fellow-men, and are giving them every possible opportunity to
acquire the knowledge that will fit them for usefulness.
Mr. Madden rendered excellent service as
a soldier in the late Civil War and suffered for two months as a
prisoner of war in the hands of the enemy in Arkansas. He was reared
as a Republican, but for a dozen years has supported the Democratic
party. The worthy son of a father who was a prominent and
influential citizen and a mother whose good qualities were
appreciated by her neighbors, he has the confidence of his
fellow-men who are assured of his reliability and good citizenship. |
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George L. Marquiss
is one of those who are cultivating a portion of the soil of Piatt
County in an intelligent and painstaking manner and reaping a due
reward for their labors. He is a native of Sangamon Township in
which he continues to make his home and opened his eyes to the light
of day, January 31, 1839. His father, John Marquiss,
was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1815, and came to this State
with his parents in 1833, the family settling on the territory now
comprising Piatt County.
The grandfather of our subject, Abraham
Marquiss, entered a large tract of land and his son, upon
reaching manhood, purchased a part of this tract and also made an
entry. He carried on his agricultural pursuits until May 5, 1856,
when he was called from time to eternity. He was a prominent member
of the Masonic order. He had married Harriet P. Mallory, who
was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1818, removed to Ohio and thence
to Illinois. She lived to a goodly age, breathing her last in 1885.
Of her eight children three are now living. Grandfather
Marquiss was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was born in
Virginia in the latter part of the eighteenth century and died in
this State about 1858.
The subject of this biographical notice received his
education in his native county, mostly in the district schools. He
was seventeen years old when his father died and being the eldest of
five children he was called upon to assume the management of the
farm and in other ways take a man's place as his mother's chief
support and assistant. He continued to form a part of the parental
household until 1870 when he established a home of his own. He has
an estate consisting of one hundred and seventy acres of excellent
land in the cultivation of which he finds sufficient occupation for
his time, and use for his powers of observation and judgment. The
estate is supplied with the usual improvements and the family enjoy
many comforts.
The lady who on October 26, 1870, became the wife of
Mr. Marquiss was Miss Olivia Vincent,
who was born near Winchester, Ill., in 1849. Her parents, Enoch
and Catherine (Jones) Vincent, natives of
Delaware, came to this State about 1847 and Mr. Vincent
is still living engaged in the drug trade in Moultrie County. To
Mr. and Mrs. Marquiss seven children have been
born, named respectively, Elmer, Francis, Catherine,
Mary O., Bessie G., Susan E. and
Clara E. The household band has been broken by death, the
only children now living being Mary, Susan and
Clara. In their great affliction the parents have been comforted
by the hope of a happy meeting in a land which death will never
enter.
Mr. Marquiss was engaged in valiant service in his
country's cause from August 13, 1862, until discharged on account of
physical disability. He was a member of the One Hundred and
Seventh Illinois Infantry and received his discharge at Louisville,
Ky. He, as a matter of course, belongs to the Grand Army of
the Republic. He has been a member of the Masonic order for
more than a quarter of a century. In politics he is a stanch
Republican, and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which they have high standing as they have throughout the
section" in which they live. |
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William McCann.
All lovers of their country, and especially those who recall the sad
days of the Civil War, will agree in paying a tribute of respect to
every man who has an honorable war record. The simple fact that a
man was willing to give up the pleasures and comforts of his home
life and embark upon the hazardous enterprise of a soldier, is
sufficient to make us look with interest upon him, and when we learn
that his valor was unmistakably shown and his patriotism displayed
in many a hard-fought contest, our admiration and respect are
deepened.
William McCann, of whose history we purpose to give
a brief record, is well known in Piatt County as one of her
enterprising and successful farmers, as a man of strict integrity,
and as an old soldier whose conduct during three years of martial
life was such as to win from his captain a "war diploma." His home
is pleasantly located in Sangamon Township, the substantial dwelling
being accompanied by adequate farm buildings of various kinds, and
the estate comprising two hundred and fifty-five acres of choice
land which owes its present condition to the man who now owns and
occupies it.
Plaza McCann, grandfather of our subject,
was one of the first male children born in Kentucky and spent his
entire life in that State, dying some time in the '30s. Among
the members of his family was a son, Neal, who was born in
Fayette County in 1788, and removed to Shelby County, Ind., in 1822.
The section to which he went was heavily timbered and very sparsely
settled, wild game, such as wolves, panthers, deer, etc., being
still seen in large numbers. He entered land upon which he built a
log cabin, where a few years later the eyes of his son, our subject,
opened to the light. Prior to his death, which occurred in 1834,
Mr. McCann had cleared up forty acres and placed it under
thorough cultivation. He was a consistent member of the Baptist
Church.
Neal McCann married Eliza Young,
who was born in Clark County, Ky., in 1796, and died in California
in 1885 at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. Her father,
James Young, who was born in Virginia, went to Kentucky
in an early day and soon after the removal all the other members of
the family to which he belonged were killed by the Indians. Escaping
the calamity that had befallen his relatives, he lived to the ripe
old age of ninety-two years, dying in the '30s. He served in the
Revolutionary War. Mrs. Eliza McCann became the
mother of ten children, but two of whom are living at this writing.
The subject of this biographical notice was born March
6, 1830, and received but a limited education, his attendance at
school not exceeding three months. The home of his parents was far
distant from the schoolhouse, and during his early boyhood it was
impossible for him to make the long trip except when the weather was
favorable, and even then it was attended with some danger on account
of the density of the forests, wherein wild animals prowled. In
1846, at the age of sixteen years, the lad began working on the
Shelbyville & Edenburg Railroad, and from that time on during three
years, he was busy at railroad work of some kind. He then worked at
odd jobs until he was of age and a few months after reaching his
majority came to Piatt County.
Selecting a tract of land in Sangamon Township Mr.
McCann began the course of steady agricultural effort that
has given him an honorable place among his fellow-craftsmen and
secured to his family many privileges that were unknown to his own
early life. He was accompanied hither by the bride of a few months,
he having been married January 16, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth
Schryock, who was born in Shelby County, Ind., October 20,
1834. She has had many opportunities to display the worth of
her character and the usefulness of her knowledge, both in the cares
of her home and in her association with those about her, and she
occupies as high a place in the regard of the community as does her
companion.
Mr. McCann enlisted in the Union Army
July 13, 1862, and was mustered into the service at Camp Butler
September 4. Among the battles in which he bore an active part were
Huff's Ferry, Campbell Station, Dandridge, Resaca, various battles
around Atlanta during the campaign, Columbus, Spring Hill and
Franklin. At the siege of Knoxville he distinguished himself for
valor and patriotism, and on account of his action there was
presented with the testimonial in which he takes just pride. He was
mustered out of the service June 22, 1865, at Camp Butler, and
discharged July 2. Upon the organization of the company of which he
was a member he was appointed Corporal, an office which he held from
that time on. The only misfortune that befell him other than the
usual privations, was a confinement in the hospital in Marietta for
about two weeks.
To our subject and his good wife nine children have
been born, of whom those now living are Eliza, James,
Ella, Frank, Charles, George and
Joseph. They have been given excellent school privileges, some
having been graduated from the Normal School and others having
attended college. Several of the family are engaged in the
profession of teaching, transmitting to others the valuable
knowledge which they acquired.
Mr. McCann was brought up under
Democratic influences and voted that ticket until 1856, but since
that date has been a Republican. He has served as a delegate to
conventions and is ready to advance the interests of the party by
his expression of opinion and by joining in the local work, but has
not aspired to any office except the minor ones in his immediate
vicinity. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and has been
a Mason since 1854. He has been a Steward and Trustee in the
Methodist Episcopal Church and has also represented the congregation
at various religious meetings. He has the sympathy of his wife in
his religious faith and practice, she belonging to the same church. |
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George F. Miller,
a well-known resident of Monticello and formerly Sheriff of Piatt
County, was born on a farm in Carroll County, Ind., October 18,
1831. His grandfather was a pioneer of Montgomery County,
Ohio, and on a farm on the Little Miami River, Stephen A. Miller,
the father of our subject, was born and reared. The latter
removed to Indiana and took up pioneer work in Carroll County.
He bought land now included in the village of Delphi, lived upon it
a short time, then bought wild land three miles from town and put up
a log house in which our subject was born. After some years'
residence there the father sold out and after a short sojourn in
Dayton went to White County, which was his home until after the
death of his wife. He then came to Monticello and spent the
remnant of his days with his son George. The mother of our
subject, formerly Julia A Fortune, was a daughter of George and
Margaret Fortune and a native of Pennsylvania.
The early life of George F. Miller was spent on a farm
in the ordinary alternation of study, play and work. When
twenty-two years old he began to learn the trade of a carpenter,
which he followed in his native State until 1858. He then came
to Monticello, Ill., and continued his handicraft here until 1861,
when he entered the army. He was enrolled July 10, in Company
F, Second Illinois Cavalry, and in January, 1864, veteranized,
continuing to lead a soldier's life until January 1866, when he was
honorably discharged. Among the most important battles in
which he participated were Bolivar, Holly Springs, Port Gibson,
Raymond, Champion Hills and the siege and capture of Vicksburg.
After his brave career as a defender of the Union Mr. Miller
returned to Monticello and followed his trade three years, at the
expiration of which time he engaged in business as a merchant.
He continued this career until 1884 since which time he has mostly
been in public service.
The marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Nellie J. Russel, a
native of Anderson, Ind., was solemnized at the bride's home in
1858, and has been blessed by the birth of two children - Ida N. and
Anna B. Mr. Miller is a sturdy Republican and was nominated on
the ticket of his party for Sheriff and elected to that office in
1886 for a term of four years. He is identified with the
Franklin Post No. 256, G. A. R., Fraternal Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M.,
and Markwell Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M. He has been an
efficient officer, an honorable business man and a reliable citizen,
and as such is duly repsected. |
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George Miller.
In the death of Mr. Miller, Piatt County lost a good citizen,
who, though he had not long been a resident of this part of the
State, had already gained an assured place among its substantial
farmers and stock-raisers. He was the proprietor of a fine
farm in Blue Ridge Township, which was under admirable tillage and
was well improved. Mr. Miller was a native of Somerset County,
N. J., where his birth occurred May 30, 1831. His parents were
George and Sarah (Duham) Miller. His father was born in
England in 1798 and emigrated to America at the age of twenty-one
years. He settled in New Jersey and passed the remainder of
his life in this country, dying in his eightieth year in 1878.
His wife departed this life in 1864. They were people who were
well thought of in their neighborhood, and were active in religious
Episcopal Church, and she being a stanch Presbyterian. In 1845
the Millers became pioneers of Fulton County, Ill. Our subject
was then a boy of fourteen years. He was reared on a farm and
was educated in the common schools, which in his day did not afford
very good advantages for an education.
When our subject was twenty-one years old he began his
career as a farmer on his own account, and in due time by diligent
and unwearying labor he secured a competency. He removed to
Piatt County in 1876 and settled on land which he had purchased two
years before in Blue Ridge Township. His homestead was a tract
of wild prairie when he located upon it, and in the years that were
spared to him he made many fine improvements and greatly increased
the value of his farm. In the midst of his usefulness death
stayed his hand and when scarcely past the prime of life he was
called upon to give it up May 13, 1879, on the very day that he was
forty-eight years old. His death was a sad blow to his family
and the removal of so good a citizen was felt to be a great loss to
his community and to the interests of his township. He was
strictly moral an upright in his habits and was a valued member of
the Baptist Church in which he had been associated since he was
twenty-six years old. In him the Democratic party found one of
its most honest and earnest supporters. Mr. Miller merited and
received the esteem of all with whom he came in contact either in a
social or business way. He began life with limited means, but
his industry and close attention to his duties brought their due
reward.
Our subject was very fortunate in the married life upon
which he entered Oct. 11, 1859, with Miss Christiana Kline.
Mrs. Miller is a native of Franklin Co., Pa., and was born March 16,
1838. She is the daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Hawker)
Kline, natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. They
were among the pioneers of Fulton County, to which they came in
1854. They located upon a farm and there the father was
actively engaged in his occupation until his death in 1864, at the
age of seventy-one years. The mother died in 1885, at the
venerable age of eighty-seven years. They were fine Christian
people and members of the German Baptist Church. Of their ten
children six are now living. To our subject and his wife were
born the following five children: Susan E., wife of Flem. T.
Osborn, a farmer living near Osborn; Lizzie B., wife of George D.
Brown, a farmer in Blue Ridge Township; Frank L., Clara A. and
George S., the three latter of whom are at home with their mother.
Mrs. Miller is an active, capable woman an excellent
housewife and a good manager. After her husband's death she
assumed the management of the farm and under her skillful
supervision it is one of the most productive and desirable estates
in this vicinity. It comprises two hundred and thirteen acres
of good land and is amply provided with neat buildings and all the
necessary machinery to operate is successfully. Mrs. Miller is
a woman of a kind disposition and possesses of her attributes of
character that make her respected by all who know her, and is a
member of the German Baptist Church. |
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Jacob R.
Mitchell, a well-known resident of Hammond, is
connected with the agricultural interests of Piatt County, as the
owner of a large farm in Unity Township, from the rental of which he
derives a good income. Mr. Mitchell was born in Pickaway
County, Ohio, January 1, 1859. When he was quite young his
parents Jacob and Mary Mitchell, who were of German descent, came to
Piatt County, and died not long after settling here. They had
five children named as follows: William, John, Joseph, George
and our subject. Thus sadly bereaved of a father's and
mother's care, he of whom we write was reared to manhood by
James R. Brown, of whom see sketch on another page of this volume.
Mr. Mitchell grew to manhood upon a farm and has made
agriculture his chief business, having acquired a thorough practical
knowledge of the calling in his youth. The most of his life has been
passed in Piatt County, and sine 1887, he has lived at Hammond.
He is a large land owner, his possessions including three hundred
and twenty acres of land in Unity Township, the most of which he
rents, and besides his farms he owns two houses and eight lots in
the thriving village of Hammond. Thus it will be seen that he
has been prospered in his life work, for although still a young man,
he has acquired a fine property. In politics he believes in
the principles of the Democratic party, and supports the candidates
who are pledged to uphold those principles. His reputation is
excellent, both in social and financial circles.
A very important event in the life of Mr. Mitchell, was
his marriage, solemnized at Hammond, May 21, 1882, when Miss Delitha
B. Ponder became his wife. To them have been born three
children, namely: Bertha E., born Feb. 13, 1885; James H., March 11,
1887; and Jacob Marcus, Mar. 6, 1889.
Mrs. Mitchell was born in Tennessee, Nov. 13, 1859, and
is a daughter of Joseph P. Ponder, a prominent citizen of this
county, who is now living in retirement in Unity Township. He
was born in North Carolina, May 22, 1816, and there he grew to
manhood and was married Dec. 14, 1837, to Miss Matilda Radford, who
was also a native of North Carolina, born Mar. 8, 1820. They
passed the early years of their wedded life in their native State,
whence they subsequently removed to Tennessee, and there they lived
about ten years. From there they went to Kentucky, and spent
six years in Clay County, that State. In 1864 they came to
Piatt County, Ill., and located in Unity Township, where they have
since made their home. Mr. Ponder followed agricultural
pursuits during his active live, but has not retired from former
enterprises, and he and his wife are passing their declining years
in their home at Hammond, in the enjoyment of the fruits of their
early labors.
Mr. and Mrs. Ponder have been greatly blest in their
wedded life by the birth of eight children, as follows:
Sophronia J., Naomi, Verlancia C., James, John, Delitha, Marcena L.,
and one that died in infancy. The parents are people of true
Christian worth, and are members in high standing of the Missionary
Baptist Church, to which their children also belong.
We invite the attention of our readers to the
lithographic portraits of Mr. Mitchell and his wife, presented in
this connection. This young couple enjoy the friendship of a
large circle, and are remembered among the most refined and cultured
people in the county. |
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Mr. Jesse Monroe (deceased), a farmer,
was born in Maryland. His father was a soldier in the
revolution. He married Sarah Gordon, a native of Ohio.
Her father was a captain in a spy company in the revolutionary war.
At an early day, 1828, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe settled in Indiana.
Later, in 1836, after some of their family were married, they moved
to Piatt county, Illinois, to help locate their children.
William Monroe and James Utterback came and entered land for
themselves and Mr. Jesse Monroe, in 1836, which was the first entry
of land in Unity township. Mr. Monroe, the subject of our
sketch, had seven daughters and six sons. Four of his sons
died in their youth. At the time of his settling in this
county, four of the children were married. Two of them,
however, moved with their father, and the others came at a later
date. William Monroe married Sarah J. Moore in Indiana, and
moved to Piatt county in 1836. Eliza married Mr. William
Crain, and lived on what is yet often called the Crain farm,
although owned by a near dozen different persons. She had
three boys and two girls. Harvey married Cynthia Lane, of
Indiana. After living two years in this county, he moved to
Indiana, where, after coming home from the army, he died, leaving
three children. Sarah E. married Samuel Hamilton, and moved
into Douglas county. They have three children. John
Crain is married, and lives on a part of the Crain farm (see
his name). Emily married John Clapp, and lives on the old
Crain homestead. Frank Crain, now of Gainesville, Texas, was
married in 1874, to Mary E. Layson, who died in 1877. He next
married Lizzie Tutin, a native of Wisconsin. They have one
daughter. He went to Texas in 1877, and is a stock dealer
there. Martha Monroe married Mr. James Utterback in Indiana,
and moved to Piatt county in 1836. They lives in this county
for about twenty years, and then moved to Iowa, where he has become
quite a wealthy and prominent citizen. Ruth Monroe married Mr.
Samuel Mosbarger, and lives in Douglas county. They have seven
children, all grown. Sarah Moore and Mr. Joseph Taylor married
about 1838, and were the first couple married in Unity township.
The wedding ceremony was performed on the place where Richard Monroe
now lives. Mrs. Taylor married Mr. Thomas Goodson, and now
lives in Tuscola. Nancy Monroe married Ezra Fay (see
his name). Lydia Monroe married Mr. John Cook, and moved
to Champaign. Both are dead. Two of their daughters
married, but died of consumption, each leaving one child.
Three of Mr. Cook's sons are living. Richard Monroe lives on
the old homestead place (see his name).
Mary E. Monroe married Mr. Gamalial Gregory (see
his name). Two of Mr. Jesse Monroe's children, Jesse,
Richard's twin brother, who died at the age of fourteen, and
Harrison H., died within two days of each other, and were the first
ones buried in Unity township. |
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Richard Monroe,
farmer, is a native of Indiana. He came Piatt county in 1836
and has lived longer in Unity township than any other person.
He was married March 1, 1863, to Anna E. Gosney and lives on his
father's old homestead. Mrs. Monroe's mother lies buried at
the Bement cemetery. Her father married Mrs. M. Byers and
lives in Bement. In 1876 Mr. Monroe built a very fine frame
house containing ten rooms. He is gradually improving his
place until in neatness and appearance it can compete with any other
in the county. |
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Mr. William Monroe,
formerly a resident farmer in this county, moved back to Indiana
in 1865 and has remained there since. He was married January
28, 1835, to Sarah J. Moore. They have never had any children,
but have done their share of taking care of others' children.
During their married life they have had in charge as many as
thirty-four children, sending twenty-two of them to school.
Eight girls have been married from their house. The first
winter, 1836-7, that Mr. Monroe spent in Piatt county he lived in
the same house with Mr. James Utterback and family. On January
8, 1837, he moved into his own house, a log cabin 16X18 feet.
The cabin was not yet complete. The roof was on and the floor
laid, but a bed quilt served as a door, while the fireplace was only
built half-way to the mantlepiece and the hearth was not filled up.
Two elm logs were thrown in the back of the fireplace to build the
fire against, and in lieu of chairs and table Mr. and Mrs. Monroe
sat in front of the fireplace on the edge of the floor, having their
food placed on the floor between them. On the day they moved
Mr. Monroe killed a deer, and the wolves getting scent of it
followed him home. That evening as he and his wife cooked it
and ate the meat off the bones they threw them over the incomplete
chimney into the yard, where they were eagerly snatched up by the
waiting wolves without. When Mr. Monroe went out to drive them
off they ran away, barking like little dogs. This winter
proved to be quite a severe one. Mr. Monroe gradually
completed his cabin, but in the meantime he used often to find their
bed in the morning covered by an inch or two of snow. Mr.
Monroe made quite a narrow escape with his life at the time of the
sudden freeze in 1836. He and James Utterback started to East
Fork, Coles county, for corn, when the snow was about knee deep.
It began raining and continued until the ground was covered with a
slush of snow and water. The men's clothes were thoroughly
soaked with water and they were about half-way across the prairie
when suddenly a piercing, fierce cold wind struck them. In ten
minutes the slush was frozen sufficiently to bear the weight of a
man. They unhitched their teams, leaving the oxen, while each
mounted a horse and ran down to a Mr. Holden's. When they
reached Mr. Holden's Mr. Monroe could not get off his horse.
He was frozen fast to the hair of the horse, so that they had to
pull him loose. He was then taken into the house, where all
possible care was given him. It was over a week before they
got their teams home. When Mr. Monroe got home after his trip
for corn, he found Mr. Christopher Mosbarger, an old millwright,
there, with his tools. As the folks were without bread, the
millwright exclaimed, "Boys, get your oxen and grub hoes and cut the
ice; by gracious, we makes a mill with prairie 'nigger-heads.'"
In about four days the mill, the first on Lake Fork, was complete.
The same mill was afterward moved to where Atwood now is and was run
by a horse. It would grind from ten to twenty bushels a day.
Mr. Monroe's folks were in the county five years before officers of
any kind found them. Mr. William Monroe got up a petition
which led to the location of a road from Monticello to Lake Fork,
the first local road in that section of the county. William
Monroe and Hiram Heath made the furrow across to Monticello.
John Tenbrooke was the surveyor. After this, William Monroe
got up and circulated a petition for the opening of a state road
from Charleston to Bloomington. The legislature granted the
petition and Daniel Stickle and Judge Hughes were appointed
commissioners. George Heath was surveyor. The new road
traversed the county very nearly in the truck of the old road, which
crossed from Monticello to the head of the timber, crossed the Fork
and on down on the east side of the stream. A mail route was
established, the mail being carried on horseback. Mr. O. C.
Denslow was the first postmaster, and was on the land owned by Mr.
Samuel Harshbarger. The postoffice was moved to Mr. Jesse
Monroe's house and Richard Monroe was appointed postmaster.
The route was discontinued after the Toledo, Wabash & Warsaw
railroad was built. Mr. Monroe, when he went to Vandalia to
enter his land, carried apple seeds home in his saddlebags and
planted them. He reports that he and his neighbors did well in
their farming. They were all sociable and peaceable. Nor
were they lacking in hospitality. Mr. Monroe states that he
has taken persons into the house to stay over night, until in the
morning those nearest the door would actually have to get out of the
way to permit the others to arise. |
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Mr. Benjamin Moore,
(deceased) moved to Piatt county in 1839, and settled on land which
he had entered previous to his moving out from Montgomery county,
Indiana. He celebrated his marriage with Sarah Monroe just
previous to moving to Illinois. Friends who were coming
induced Mr. and Mrs. Moore to come to Illinois. They endured
many hardships and exposures when they settled in the new country.
Wolves used to run chickens up to the yard fence in daylight.
Mrs. moore now lives in a log cabin built in 1841, and for which her
husband hewed the logs. Mr. Moore died October 11, 1852, aged
thirty-six years. They had four children, two of whom are
living. Aaron went into the army for three years. Upon
his return he married Martha Pervine, but died about three years
after, from disease resulting from exposure in the army. Allen
J. lives with his mother, and has charge of the home place.
Chas. B. married Martha Shonkwiler, and lies in Unity township, on
part of the land that Mr.Moore settled on. They have two
children, Adrian T. and Nellie. Ruth Ann married Geo. Wiley,
and died leaving two children, Wm. and Laura. |
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| Mr. Isaac
Moore, a farmer near Atwood, was born in Ohio in
1823. He moved from his native state to Kentucky, from there
to Indiana, and thence to Piatt county about 1865. He was
first united in marriages to Phebe Kelly, who died leaving one
child, that also died. His second wife, née
Mary Thomas, died leaving two children, Rebecca E., who has one
child, and who is the wife of L. T. Hageman, a carpenter of
Sullivan; and Ezra, who is still at home. He took for his
third wife Mrs. Benj. Meeks née
Clementine Newton, whose daughter, Anna Meeks, is still living at
home. They have four children living, Chas., Bertie, Cora and
Frank. Mr. Moore owns about eighty acres of land. |
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Mr. Joseph Moore,
"Buckskin Joe," farmer, was born in Ohio in 1812. He is of
German and Irish descent. Twenty-four years of his life were
spent in Kentucky, in which state he married Emelia B. Whittaker.
He says that he visited this country about 1832, that he liked it
better than the timber land where he had been living, so he went
home, married, and came out here - Piatt county - about 1836.
When he reached this part of the country he had just seventy-five
cents, one-third of which he gave to Henry Sadorus for a meal.
His father was dead, but his mother and all the family came to this
county. His mother died about 1857 or 1858, and now all the
family are gone except himself and one sister. Mr. Moore
entered a part of his present home placein 1838, and in 1844 put up
what he supposes to be the first hewed log house in the township.
He still lives in the house, which is 32X36 feet, and of which all
the window and door casings are of hewed wood. In 1843 he put
out an orchard of about five acres. His orchard seemed so
large, his house appeared of such great size, that his neighbors
declared that "he put one forty in the orchard, another in the
house, and cut the timber off the other forty to put his house on."
Mr. Moore tells some interesting facts in regard to the young ladies
whom he knew in the pioneer days of this county. Two girls
started from where Comargo now is and walked through Piatt county
and on to the trading house which was twelve miles below and when
they reached Mr. Moore's they were covered with the marks of the
falling hailstones. Mr. Moore's sisters used to get on horses
and travel to Charleston, twenty-eight miles distant, in order to
receive letters from their lovers. When we asked Mr. Moore to
tell us some hunting stories he exclaimed, "Oh, 'twill be useless to
begin to tell my hunting excursions!" When asked how many deer
he had killed in a day he said, "Only as high as seven in a day."
He used to get from fifty cents to $1 for deer skins and from
twenty-five cents of $1.25 for coon skins. He says that he and
another man once made a bargain that they would quit hunting when
they could not kill a deer a day - and they did quit. As there
are four Joe Moores in Unity township, the people of that place have
chosen to give the subject of our sketch the sobriquet of "Buckskin
Joe." We suspect that his hunting propensities had something
to do with the chosen name. Mr. Moore's eldest daughter, Mary,
married Mr. Martin Parrent and went to Nebraska, where she died in
1881, leaving one daughter, Mary Ruth. William Moore lives not
far from his father's residence (see his
name). Robert W. Moore married Melissa Shults and lives in
Unity township. Their children's names are Margaret, Oscar,
Rhoda, Dora and Jessie. Nancy Moore married James Goodson and
had one daughter, Harriet. Mr. Joseph Biggs became her second
husband. They have one daughter and live in Douglas county.
In 1864 Mr. Joseph Moore married Mrs. Thomas Wilkinson née
Elitha Parrent. She came to the county in 1864. Mr.
Moore helped to haul lumber for the first courthouse in Piatt
county. He remembers of loaning fifty cents to one of his
neighbors (the gentleman is yet one of his neighbors) with which to
pay his first taxes. Mr. Moore was wounded in 1840 by a
pitchfork. As a result he has lost a good portion of the bones
of one hand. One glance at "Uncle Joe," as he is often called,
will convince any one that he is a pioneer settler. And he is
proud of having been one. Why shouldn't he be! We
of a later generation often fail, no doubt, to give the pioneers due
credit for all the work they accomplished - and under difficulties
any of us would find it hard to overcome. They should, every
one of them, feel a pride in that they have struggled through the
long years and have made themselves what they are. Mr. Moore,
when we went to hear him tell his old-time tales o'er, displayed to
us the characteristic and genuine pioneer hospitality. As soon
as he perceived us he seemed to take it for granted that we had come
to spend the day. He did not use many words but in terse
pioneer sentences bade us welcome. We were scarcely seated in
his hewed log house when we caught a glimpse of our horses
disappearing into the stable. All this took place without a
word that we expected to stay more than a few minutes. When
the time for departure came he bade as good-bye and invited us to
return in his same characteristic way. He, and his old-time
stories are known throughout the county. From all parts of the
county have we been directed to be sure and see "buckskin Joe Moore"
if we desired to hear some good old tales in regard to early times
in Piatt county. |
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| Mr. Luther
Moore, a farmer, was born in 1814, in Scioto county,
Ohio. His parents lived in Crawfordsville, Indiana, for a
time. His father came to Piatt county and bought forty acres
of land where Mr. Moore now lives. Luther came the next fall,
1837. Soon after coming to his land Mr. Moore put up a little
cabin, made three or four thousand rails, fence his land and broke
it, and then, in 1840, married Mary J. Stewart, of Coles county, and
went right to housekeeping. He has modified and added to his
residence from time to time since, until he has the present neat
house. When he first came to the county he had nothing but one
sled and a horse. His orchard of about one hundred trees are
from seeds which were carried from Indiana in the vest pocket.
Of Mr. Moore's first wife's children, Geo. W. died in the late war;
Allen married Catharine Greene, and lives in Kansas; Isaac G.
married janie Epperson, and lives in Polk county, Nebraska; Sarah
J., the wife of Joseph Wiley, has two children, and lives in
Sedgwick county, Kansas; Wm. H. and Hannah are twins, the former
married Hester A. Taylor, has two children, and lives in Bement
township; the latter married Wm. Mosbarger, a hardware merchant of
Atwood, they have two children: Benjamin F., a farmer married Julia
Maxey, and lives in Unity township. Six of the first Mrs.
Moore's children are dead. In 1864 Mr. Moore married Sarah E.
Kearny, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, and became a resident of
Piatt county in 1861. Her mother died very suddenly in this
year, and her father died in 1864. Her brothers and sisters
went back to their old home in Douglas county. Since then they
have become widely scattered. One sister, who has been blind
for twenty years, MORE TO COME |
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| William F.
Moore, farmer, was married in
1867, to Elizabeth Owen, a native of Ohio, and of Welsh descent.
She died of consumption, leaving one child, Owen. Mr. Moore
next married Anna Stafford, who was born in Piatt county, but was
reared in Indiana. Her father, Jno. W. Stafford, was from
Virginia, and her mother from Kentucky. They lived for about
fifteen years in Piatt county, and both died on the place Mr. Moroe
lives on now. When last married Mr. Moore settled on his
present home place. In 1876, he moved the house to its present
position, and in 1880 built a new barn. The farm contains 400
acres, and has improved a good deal since Mr. Moore has had it in
charge. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have but one child, Carry. |
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Robert
Murphy. An assured position among the farmers of Piatt
County is that held by Robert Murphy, who is
successfully prosecuting his calling on section 32, Unity Township.
His estate is sufficiently large to afford him abundant occupation
for mind and body, and to furnish the means with which to secure all
the comforts of life and make some provision for his declining
years. It consists of one hundred and twenty acres which the owner
has supplied with good improvements, including all necessary
outbuildings, a comfortable dwelling, and the minor conveniences and
attractions of a farm home. On every part of the estate the
evidences of intelligent management may be seen, and the
surroundings of the residence indicate the presence of refined
womanhood and her controlling hand in the household economy.
The birth of Mr. Murphy took place in Macoupin County,
this State, February 15, 1844, his parents being Robert P.
and Mary Ann (Clark) Murphy. The father
was born in Kentucky and died at his home in this State, February
22,1847. The mother, who was born in Tennessee, survives, her
present home being in Texas. The parental family consists of five
children, our subject being the third in order of birth. Deprived of
his father's care in early childhood, Robert Murphy
owes to his mother's counsel and influence all that is best in his
character and habits. His early life to the age of about thirteen
years was spent on a farm in his native county and be then came to
Piatt County, living in Cerro Gordo Township until December, 1874.
At that date he located where he has continued to live, in Unity
Township.
The graces of mind and heart and the pleasing manners
of Miss Mary A. Barber won the deep regard of Mr.
Murphy and his wooing proving successful, she became his wife
April 7, 1870. She was born in Madison County, this State, October
31, 1854, and is the fourth in a family of nine children. Her
parents, Lyman and Elizabeth Ann (Judy)
Barber, are now living at Pierson Station. They are natives
respectively of Rhode Island and Madison County, Ill. Mr. and
Mrs. Murphy have had six children, who are named
respectively, James A., George L., Charles R.,
Etta F., Walter L. and Jesse E., Etta F. was
cut down by the reaper, death, when ten months old.
Mr. Murphy is a reliable and
public-spirited citizen, interested in whatever will promote the
welfare of his fellow-men and ready at all times to lend his aid to
worthy enterprises, though never desirous of making himself
conspicuous. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife belong
to the Baptist Church, have high standing in that religious body,
and are regarded with great respect by all to whom their characters
and lives are known. |
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William
Muthersbaugh is one of Bement's active business men,
dealing in live stock and fresh and salt meats. He was
formerly associated with his father upon whose death he succeeded to
the entire business, in the control of which he is manifesting an
energetic spirit and a judicious understanding of business methods
and the avenues of trade in which success may be won. He is
the third in a family of five children, his brothers and sisters
being Adeline (now the wife of William Hale), James Harvey and Mary,
wife of William Devore.
The late Jacob Muthersbaugh, father of our subject, was
a native of Mifflin County, Pa., whence he came to Bement in 1862.
For a time he was engaged in various occupations but for some years
prior to his demise had operated a meat market. He laid aside
the cares of earth and entered into rest February 19, 1890. He
had been bereft of his faithful companion in September, 1876.
She was a native of the same county as himself and bor the maiden
name of Mary Jane Bell.
The birthplace of our subject was Lewistown, Pa., and
his natal day April 4, 1859. He was therefore but a child when
he took up his abode in Bement, of which he has been a resident
since, with the exception of about two years when he was located in
Nebraska. During his boyhood and youth he enjoyed the usual
school privileges and laid the foundation for a useful career.
About 1880 he engaged in business with his father, the firm being
known as Jacob Muthersbaugh & Son. As before stated he
succeeded to the business and now in addition to carrying on a meat
market buys and ships live stock quite extensively. His market
is well located and is kept up in first-class shape. Mr.
Muthersbaugh is doing a good business and enjoys the confidence and
esteem of his fellow townsmen and all with whom he has dealings.
He is financially solid, owning considerable valuable property. |
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NOTES:
* Picture
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