Macoupin County, Illinois - Biographical sketches, 1879 (part 4 of 15)

Henry Voge

Mr. Voce, the owner of the Staunton coal mines, has been living in Macoupin county since 1869. He was born at Opperhausen, Herzogthum, Brunswick, Germany, March 21st, 1837. He was the youngest of six children of Frederick Voge and his wife, Augusta, whose maiden name was Opperman. He went to school till fourteen years of age. While in Germany he learned the trade of a stone cutter and mason. He left his native country in April, 1856. He was then nineteen years old, and wished to be free from service in the German army. Landing at New Orleans he came at once tu St. Louis, and from there to Belleville, Illinois, where he went to work in the coal mines. He lived in that vicinity for thirteen years. For twenty-six months, as agent of the German mining and coal company, he sold coal in St. Louis, and part of the time carried on business for himself. January Ist, 1858, he married Caroline Timpner, a native of Ahlshausen, in the same part of Germany as himself, and who came to America on the same ship. He came to Staunton on the Ist of June, 1869, and west of the town opened the first coal mine in Staunton. On the building of the Wabash railway he formed a partnership with William B. Panhorst, now deceased, and opened a coal mine along the line of the railroad. Commencing operations in February, 1871, they began shipping coal the following October. This partnership continued till April 14th, 1877, since which date he has been the sole owner and proprietor of the mines. Ife had six children by his first marriage, of whom only one, named Mina, is now living. His first wife died October 28th, 1878. He was married June 29, 1879, to Lena J. Fritz, of Staunton. He is a republican in politics. He began life without any money or capital, and has acquired his present position by his own energy and perseverance. He understands the coal business in all its details, and has carried it on with success. A half-page illustration of his coal shaft appears elsewhere. He has been an active and successful business man, and to him belongs the credit of taking the first step toward the development of the coal interests of Staunton.

August Sievers

Aucust SIevErRs was born at the village of Dohnsen, near Eschershausen, Brunswick, Germany, September 20th, 1823. He learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and also worked ona farm. He and his brother, Henry Sievers, (now farming in Madison county) emigrated "to America, landing at New York in September, 1849. They worked ona farm in Mercer county, New Jersey, till the fall of 1856, when his father and. the rest of the family arrived from Germany. They then came to Madison county, Illinois, and his father bought eighty acres of land four miles south of Staunton. He was married in the fall of 1853 to Louisa Miller, who was born at the village of Dielmessen, Brunswick, Germany, who also came to America the same year she was married. He bought out the interests of the five other children in his father's farm, and began farming for himself. In 1867, he bought, for eleven thousand dollars, his present farm in Staunton township, He owns 385 acres of land; 265 in his home farm, and 100 in Dorchester township. He has one child, named also August Sievers, but from a year and a half old has raised also a nephew, Hermann Sievers. He stands well among the farmers of Staunton township, and a view of his valuable farm is shown on another page. He has always been a democrat, and is an industrious farmer and a peaceable citizen.

James Hayes

Wuo bas been in charge of the Mount Olive coal mines as " pit boss" ever since the mines were opened in 1875, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, January 2d, 1841. He has followed the coal mining business all his life, and has the reputation of understanding it thoroughly. His father, Joseph Hayes, was a coal miner at Newcastle, and was "deputy" or " assistant superintendent," and had charge of a number of men in the coal pits. Newcastle is the great centre of the coal mining business in England.

Mr. Hayes weat to school for a few years, and when twelve years old first went to work at coal mining on top of the pits, and afterwards was promoted to a place in the yards. At Newcastle coal mining is carried on extensively, and he had opportunities for learning many practical details of the business. In 1859 he came to America when eighteen years old. Landing at New York he came directly to Alton, where a gentleman lived with whom he had been acquainted in England. He found employment at once at repairing cars for the Madison county coal company on Wood river, and worked for that company till he went into the army.

In 1862 he enlisted for three years in Company " K," Eightieth Illinois regiment. His regiment was in the Army of the West, and served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. He was in the battle with the Confederate General Morgan at Perryville, eight miles from Murfreesboro', and was on the raid through Georgia against Gen. Forrest. This raid was made by a brigade of picked men, and the whole brigade was captured six miles from Rome, Georgia. He was taken with the others to the celebrated Belle Isle prison at Richmond, Virginia, but was exchanged after staying there twelve days. He rejoined his regiment at Nashville, Tennessee, and was next in the battle of Lookout Mountain. He had held the rank of second sergeant; but after that battle, it being ascertained that he had some knowledge of the mining business, he was detailed to the quartermaster's department to superintend the construction of shutes and the mining of coal at Chattanooga for the boats on the Tennessee river. He was in the quartermaster's department mining coal, and attending to the shipment of goods till the close of the war. He came back to Illinois after the war and worked a while for the Madison county coal company, and then went to O'Fallon, in St. Clair county, where he was building cars and laying switches till 1873. From that date he was in the mining business at Moro till 1875, when he came to Mount Olive.

In 1868 he married Ida Sathoff, of Montgomery county, Illinois. She died in 1875. He has four children. He is a republican in politics. His long experience in coal mining has made him a competent man for the position he now occupies. He has learned his business in all its details, and under his direction the Mount Olive mines haye been worked with a high degree of success and efficiency.

Josias R. Ripley

Tit present police magistrate of Staunton, was born at Alton, July 18th, 1836. His father, George Ripley, was born in Virginia, and when a boy (his parents having died) came to Iinois with an uncle, Tilman West. He grew up in St. Clair county near Belleville. At Edwardsville, he married Martha P. Randle, who was born in Georgia, near Savannah, and was the dauthter of the Rev. Josias Randle. Her father settled at Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1818, and was the first recorder ef Madison county after its organization. In 1837 he moved from Edwardsville to St. Clair county, and in 1848 came to Staunton, Macoupin county, and in 1849 moved to a farm in Madison county, two miles south of Staunton, where he died August oth, 1855. Josias R. Ripley, was the second of five children. He attended school at the various places where his father lived, and in the winter of 1856-7 was a student at Marshall College in Clark county, Illinois, to which part of the state his mother had removed in the fall of 1856. In the 'fall of 1858 the family came back to the farm in Madison county. Mr. Ripley was living there till March, 1864, when he entered the Quartermaster's department of the Seventh Army Corps, as clerk in which capacity he served till August, 1866. During this time he was stationed at Little Rock, and at Duyall's Bluff on the White river in Arkansas. The last year of his term of service he acted as Quartermaster's agent. : county till 1873. He was in south-east Missouri till January, 1875, when he became a resident of Staunton, where he has since acted as agent for the United States express company. April, 1878, he was elected Police magistrate, and the following November, received a commission as Notary Public. He is also the representative of several insurance companies. He was married August 6th, 1868, to Miss Sarah M. Sturges, of Montgomery county, Illinois, a daughter of Isaac Sturges. He has four children. He has been a republican in politics. On the construction of the Toledo, Wabash and Western railway in 1870, he was appointed one of the commissioners to condemn the right of way through Madison county. He is a member of Staunton Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No. 170, and Staunton chapter, No. 116.

Was born at Dettingen, in Wittenberg, Germany, Jan. 12th, 1821. He is the son of Geo. Bley and Sophia Miller. His father emigrated to America and settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1832. Dr. Bley left home when twelve years of age, and when fifteen was apprenticed to the drug business in Philadelphia. He opened a drug store on his own account in that city as soon as he became twenty-one.

He determined to become a physician; attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in 1845; during 1848-9 and 1849-50 was a student at the Philadelphia College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1850. He began practice in Philadelphia; removed to Scott county, Iowa, in 1855; to Rock Island, [linois, in 1858; to Monroe county, Illinois, in 1859; and to Staunton, in October, 1861, where in 1869 he opened a drug store, and is now known as a skilful physician and good citizen.

He married Elizabeth W. Lavis, October Ist, 1846. He has six children, Nellie, wife of D.C. Wurtz; Lizzie W., who married Thomas Blair ; George Bley, David L. Bley, Robert E. Bley, and Mary L. Bley. The two youngest sons graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, the former in 1875 and the latter in 1877, and are now practicing medicine at Staunton. Dr. Bley is a republican in polities.

Wuo is now a resident of Mount Olive, was born in Hesel, Prussia, June 16th, 1843. In 1846 his father, Henry De Werff, emigrated with the family to America. They settled in the city of St. Louis, and his father kept a milk dairy on Geyer avenue. Mr. De Werff attended the public schools, and when sixteen years old went to work in a brick-yard. He followed the business of making brick for several years in St. Louis. In 1864 he had 'a short experience as a soldier. He enlisted in the State militia in company D. of Col. Walcamp's regiment. He was in active service about five weeks in Central Missouri, and was at Franklin, Jefferson City, and other places. He worked in St. Louis till 1875, and then came to Mt. Oliveand started the first brick-yard ever in existence in that town. He has also followed to some extent the business of mining coal. He was married on the 19th of December, 1878, to Margareta Gerhards. His wife was born at Respel, Hanover, and came over to America in the year 1874. With considerable liberality, he has furnished for publication in this work an illustration which gives a representation of his brick-yard at Mt. Olive. He is known as an industrious, energetic and honest man, and a peaceful and good citizen. He is not a politician, and has had enough to do to attend to his own private business matters, but ger° iy votes the republican ticket. He began life without any means on which to rely, except his own strength and industry, and has been obliged to work hard to succeed as well as he has. He possesses considerable enterprise, is still a man young in years, and will doubtless make his mark among the business men of Mt. Olive.

SYSSYJIRD township occupies the congressional Town 10N., Range 8 W., \ '@) ?) and is bounded on the north by South Palmyra, on the east by (s ®) Carlinville, on the south by Polk, and on the west by Western OS Mound township. It is drained in the north-west by Otter creek,

Near the creeks there is some timber, and'the land is undulating ; but the greater part of the township is a beautiful prairie, now under a high state of cultivation. The farm buildings are good, and the farmers intelligent and enterprising. It is classed among the best townships of Macoupin county.

Of the first settlers within the limits of what is now Bird township, we may mention, Samuel Love, now a resident of section 7, who was born in Macoupin county in the year 1824, and is without doubt the oldest living native born citizen of the county; a portrait of the venerable pioneer is shown elsewhere in this work; G. M. McGinnis, a farmer on section 18; he was a native of Missouri, and became a resident of the county in 1829.

About the same time a man by the name of Mayberry "squatted" on the south side of Otter creek on section 6, where Boatman first settled. Boatman entered the land, and set Mayberry adrift. This caused much bad feeling between the two families and the settlers in the neighborhood;-and more than one knock down sprang out of it. In reference to this matter, Lane and a man by the name of Odel had a misunderstanding, which led to a fight, in which Lane lost his upper lip, and Odel his eye. Odel was a squatter, and settled south of Bear creek, on section 22, about the year 1832. He left soon after the above occurrence. Peter Brown settled in the neighborhood of Charity. Isaac Moore, Mace Moore, Jerry Odel and John Smith came about 1834. Mr. Horatio Adams settled on section 4 about 1832; the Adans living in the township at the present day are descendants of his. In the spring of 1834 James Husky settled on section 5, near the present residence of Thomas Joiner. He improved a large farm, and accumulated considerable property. He built the first brick house in this part of the county in the spring of 1835. He made the brick on his farm. The house stood on the road upposite the residence of Thomas Joiner. Mr. Husky lived the remainder of his life on the farm he improved. One year before a man whose name is now forgotten settled on Bear creek, near where the late George Denby lived. He was a "squatter," and did not remain long in the township.

About this time a man who had lately come from Ohio was going to Mr. Love's. He met an old bear and cubs near Love's place. He sprang to a tree to escape from bruin. Mr. Loye's girls heard some one halloo. Love went to his rescue, and drove off the bear. The man was very happy to find himself released from his dangerous situation. After he recovered sufficiently from his fright, he and Love succeeded in catching two of the cubs, and tied their legs together, and threw them across the back of a horse to carry home. The next morning they killed the old bear. The friends were called in to Mr. Love's to eat bear meat, and have a good old-fashioned time. The first settler in the south-east part of the township was Mr. Gates, about the year 1834.

John Wheeler, who lives on section 7, is a native of Kentucky, and became a resident of the township in 1834. The same year William Wheeler, who lives on section 8, became a resident of the county; he was from Indiana. Thomas Leach, a native of Yorkshire, England, and a resident of section 29, came to the county in 1835. In 1834 Wm. J. Bates, a native of Tennessee, became a resident of the county, and now lives on section 22.

Rev. James Solomon, now a resident of this township, and one of the pioneers of the county, is a native of North Carolina, and came with his father, Judge Lewis Solomon, Sr., and family, to this county in the year 1827, and first settled in North Palmyra township.

George W. Arnett, who lives on section 9, is a native of Tennessee, and came to the county in 1834. Wm. Morfoot on section 35 is a native of this county, and was born in the year 1833.

R. H. Barrick lives-on section 22, and is a native of Kentucky; became a resident here in 1836. Thomas Joiner, a Kentuckian by birth, came to the county in 1842. He has a fine, improved farm on section 3. Among those of Yorkshire, England, we find the name of Robert Whiteley, who came to the county in 1844. He has one of the best farms in the township.

Among the sons of old Kentucky, we find the name of John Kissinger. He is one of the largest farmers of the township, and came here in 1846. John H. Brown is a native of Knox county, Tennessee; became a resident of Macoupin county in 1838. While Germany has given up so many of her noble sons to the United States, Macoupin county very fortunately has received a few; and of the well-to-do farmers of Bird township, F. Reineke, who came in 1849, and now lives on section 31, well deserves mention.,

Joseph Bird, the gentleman from whom the township derives its name, is a native of Pennsylvania; came here in 1851. He is not only one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of the township, but also of the county.

The first preacher was Dr. Vance, who preached there as well as in other parts of the county for a number of years. The first school was taught in the church-building.

The only manufactory of any kind in the township was a blacksmith, wagon and general repair shop built in 1859 by C. E. Masters, who is still carrying on the business.

Mary A. Whiteley

J. H. ARNETT Was born in Bird township, Macoupin county, Illinois, September 28th, 18388. Thomas Arnett, his father, was a native of North Carolina. The family is of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side, and on the maternal English. Thomas Arnett removed from North Carolina and settled in Overton county, Tennessee, where he remained until 1834, when the family removed to Illinois, and settled in Morgan county, where they remained one year,

8. He bought land there and remained two years, and then moved to section 20. moved there and remained until his death, which occurred February 24th, 1874. He married Elizabeth Reeder, who was a native of Tennessee. She parents, - four sons and one daughter, all of whom are residents of Macoupin county, except William, who is a school teacher, and at present is in Lake county, Oregon. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days at work on the farm, and attending the common schools in the winter season. In 1863 he in company with his brother William and a man by the name of Gilmore, crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in mining, at which he continued for several years. He returned home via New York. After his arrival at home he purchased the farm on which he now resides. On the 2ist of May, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah, daughter of John and Mary Mills. She was born in Macoupin county. Her parents are natives of England. Harrison is the maiden name of the grandmother of Mr. Arnett. She was closely related to Wm. H. Harrison, President of the United States. In politics Mr. Arnett is a democrat. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas, and since that time he has been a strong adherent of the party. He has held the office of town clerk since the organization of the county under township organization. He was also elected justice of the peace in 1868, an office he held for several years. He is the father of three children, two girls and one boy.

Robert Whiteley

born in Yorkshire, England, on the river Ouse, fifteen miles from the city of York, in August, 1819. The Whiteleys are an old family in England.

The homestead has been in their name for over five hundred years, and still continues in their name. Robert Whiteley, his father, was twice married. The mother of Robert died while he was quite young. By the first marriage there were two children, and by the last three. Ann, the sister of Ro-" bert, is married to William Thompson, and is a resident of Marysville, California. Robert is the oldest son. In 1844 he came to America, and landed in New Orleans, and came up the river to St. Louis, and from there to Alton, and then to Chesterfield, where he stopped with Captain Gelder.

He stayed with the captain from spring until the following fall, when he hired to Mr. Rocklington, with whom he remained for two years, receiving one hundred dollars per year. After this he went to New Orleans, and spent the winter in draying. During the hot summer months he came north, and worked upon a farm, returning i. tne .u!l to New'Orleans. He continued thus for seven years. He found the draying business in New

AmonG the many prominent and leading agriculturists of Macoupin county stands the name of John Kesinger. He was born in Hart county, Kentucky, March 27th, 1825. His father, Lynn Kesinger, named so after a river and also a great hunter who was lost on the river, was also a native of the same state. Solomon Kesinger, his father, and grandfather of the present sketch, was a native of Pennsylvania. He removed with his father's family to Kentucky, a short time after the state was admitted into the Union. Solomon, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on the Rhine, in Germany. He came to America when eighteen years of age. There were two brothers who came over, and from them have sprung a numerous family. Lynn Kesinger married Betsey Peebles. Sheis a native of South Carolina, but was reared in Kentucky, and was married to Mr. Kesinger while a resident of that state. Her mother's name was Welmoth Owens, and she was a native of South Carolina. John Peebles, the grandfather, was born in England. He was a soldier of the revolution. The Owens were also of English and Scotch ancestry. There were born to Lynn and Betsey Kesinger ten children, seven of whom are living. Lynn Kesinger left Kentucky on the 15th of November, 1847, and came to Illinois and © settled in Macoupin county, four miles west of Chesterfield, where he remained one year, when he removed to Bird township, where he resides with his son. He is yet a hale, hearty man, although in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His wife also lives with her son John.

The subject of our sketch spent a small portion of his younger years in the subscription schools of his native state, and the balance of the time was employed in cultivating tobacco, which was the principal product of that section of Kentucky, as it was exchanged for all the necessaries of life. He remained at home until October, 1845. He was then twenty-one years of age, and determined to go out in the world and do for himself. He left his native state and came to Illinois, and into Chesterfield township, where he found work in a saw-mill. He was a stout, rugged young man, possessed of a fine physical frame, capable of almost any amount of endurance. He worked all through the following winter in the saw-mill, and received as compensation ten dollars per month and board. His uncle, Simpson Cherry, was the proprietor of the mill. At the end of four months he went to Morgan county, in this state, and worked on a farm, for which he received twelve dollars a month. The next fall he returned on a visit to Kentucky, and remained but six weeks, when he came back to Macoupin county and engaged with Daniel L. Peebles to superintend his farm, for which he received sixteen dollars per month. He remained with Mr. Peebles until August, 1848. During the time he was with Mr. Peebles he was taken sick with typhoid fever, and lay for six weeks in an extremely critical condition. During his sickness he made the more intimate acquaintance and found out the gentle and amiable qualities of Mrs. Peebles, who like an angel ministered, nursed, and took care of him when he was lying helpless on his bed of pain. The friendship then formed ripened into love, and they were married December 16th, 1848: She was the daughter of Horatio and Cynthia Adams. Her former husband, Jesse H. Peebles, died eighteen months after their marriage. By this marriage there was one child, a boy, whose name is Horatio B. The fruits of the latter marriage haye been nine children, six boys and three girls. Their names are Preston, Charles E., Harriet (wife of Cicero Solomon), Cynthia A. (wife of James Sells), Manford H., William Solomon, Loretta, John P., and Manning Kesinger.

After his marriage he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 16, Bird township, and moved into a little log-house that sat in the high grass. It was a very common log house, with cracks wide enough through which came the rude blasts of winter, and the snow would often lay thick upon the floors in the morning. It was a rough beginning; but both he and his wife were possessed of that kind of spirit necessary to brave the hardships and discomforts of life in those days in order to get a start in the world. His wife died Nov. 20th, 1878. She was a fond and patient wife, a kind and gentle mother, and a true helpmeet. Mr. Kesinger remained on section sixteen for fourteen years, when he moved south to a farm, where he remained a short time. He then moved again toa farm in the same section, where he remained for some years, and still to another farm, where he remained twelve years, and in the spring of 1876 moved to the place where he now resides, and where he expects to remain the balance of his days. He has the entire section, thirteen, and eighty acres in section fourteen. All of it has been the accumulation of his own toil and industry. He started in life unaided ; in fact, all of his worldly possessions when he came to Ilinois consisted of a horse, two suits of clothes, and two dollars and fifty cents in money. Both he and his late lamented wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In politics he is a pronounced democrat. He voted for James K. Polk for President in 1844, and since that time has given his adhesion to the party of his first choice, and voted the ticket without scratch or blemish. He is also a consistent member of the Ancient Order of Masons.

Mr. Kesinger is a large, warm-hearted, and kind gentleman. He has hosts of friends wherever he is known. His character for strict honesty and fair dealing with his fellow-men is wellknown. The word of John Kesinger is just as good as his bond, and both are number one in the scale of excellence in Macoupin county.

Was bornin Anderson county, Kentucky, March 7th, 1821. George Joiner, his father, was a native of Virginia. The parental ancestry is of English and Scotch origin. George Joiner married Polly Pullem. She was also from Virginia. He was a farmer by occupation. In 1825 he left Kentucky and came to Illinois, and settled in Jacksonville, Morgan county. That city contained then two cabins. He remained there about ten years, when he died. The wife and mother of Thomas survived him, and came to Macoupin county, and then removed to Logan county, where she died in 1855, at the residence of her son, William Joiner.

There were seven children in the family, six of whom have survived the parents, four girls and two boys, all of whom live in Macoupin county, except Nancy, wife of Thomas Daggert, now a resident of Kansas. In the pioneer days of Illinois there were few schools, consequently Mr. Joiner had poor opportunities for receiving an education. The early settlers of ILlinois were more concerned in getting that which supplied life and contributed to their bodily comfort than they were about getting booklearning, as they termed it. Schools came in due season as the country settled up. The Joiner family remained in Morgan county until 1842, when they came to Macoupin, and settled in what is now known as Palmyra township. Here the subject of our sketch remained until 1864. During the progress of the Mexican war, Thomas enlisted in Captain Weatherford's company of Morgan county. The company rendezvoused at Alton, where they were mustered into the service. Captain Weatherford was elected Lieut.

Martha Joiner

company "G" Ist regiment, Illinois volunteers, Col. Hardin commanding. The regiment was attached to Gen. Wool's brigade, and became a part of the forces under command of Gen. Taylor. The regiment participated in the hard-fought battle of Buena Vista. The subject of our sketch was wounded in the leg in that battle, and he carries the ball there yet asa souvenir of the enemy's regard. His enlistment expired July, 1847, when he returned home to Macoupin county and engaged in farming. In June, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Pullem. She isa native of Madison county, Kentucky but was a resident of Palmyra township at the time of her marriage. Her father came to Illinois about the year 1820,

Mr. Joiner remained in North Palmyra until November, 1864, when he sold out his farm and removed to Bird township, where he purchased 260 acres of land in section 5, and built his present large and commodious residence. He has added considerable more acres to his original purchase. He and his inestimable wife are both members of the M. E. church. He was formerly an ald line whig in politics, but at the formation of the republican party, he joined that organization, and has been a warm supporter of its principles ever since. This-in brief is an outline of the life of Thomas Joiner. He started in life poor, but by hard work he has made himself comfortable, and is now in possession of enough of this world's goods to make his life and that of his wife's pleasant and peaceful as they journey together down the vale of years. Mr. Joiner is respected by his neighbors

John Wheeler

Was born in Mason county, Kentucky, four miles from Maylick, September 16th, 1806. Benjamin Wheeler, his father, was born in Virginia, June 4th, 1782.- John Wheeler, his father, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Virginia, and was a personal friend of Gecrge Washington. He was a soldier of the revolution, and fought four years to free his country from British rule. His brother Joseph was also a soldier of the revolution, and was a noted man in that memorable struggle, and one upon whom Gen. Washington personally called when he wanted a brave and cautious man to undertake some perilous enterprise. It is related that on one occasion, Gen. Washington called upon him to pick off a British officer, who was viewing and spying the camp. Notwithstanding the distance was great, Joseph Wheeler leveled his trusty rifle, fired, and laid the proud Briton low in the dust. Three days after this incident, brave Joe Wheeler was shot by the enemy. Gen. Washington personally superintended his burial. The Wheeler family come from a patriotic and fighting stock. The family contains the heroes of three wars. The family emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, about 1790, where the old revolutionary hero died. Benjamin Wheeler, the father, remained in Kentucky until 1825, when he removed to Claremont county, Ohio, where he stayed until 1832. Then he came to Rush county, Indiana, and in 1834, came to Ilinois and settled in Pike county, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 26th, 1840. He married Mary McCarter. 'She was a native of Virginia, she died October 14th, 1840. There were four sons and three daughters, of whom John Wheeler, the subject of this sketch, isthe eldest. He married Mary Camerer on the 28th of August, 1828. She is a native of Kentucky, and was born October 22d, 1803. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have passed the time allotted to man to live, yet they are hale and hearty, and bid fair to live many years. In 1833 John Wheeler came to Illinois, and stopped in Greene county, where he remained until the following spring, when. he entered land in what is now known as Bird township,} Macoupin county. Here he made a home, and has resided up to the present time. The names of his children are William, Barbara A., Francis Marion, Huldah and Calvin Wheeler. All are married and have families growing up about them. Mr. Wheeler is an old Jacksonian democrat. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and since that time has been a firm believer in the teachings of the democratic party. He is now enjoying the fruits of former years of toil, and self-denial in being able, in his declining years, to lead a life of leisure and comfort. And thus we close the record of one of the old and industrious citizens of Macoupin county.

James W. Lumpkin

Was born in Bird township, Macoupin county, November 15th, 1836. John Lumpkin, his father, was a native of Kings and Queens county, Virginia, and was born in 1808. The Lumpkins are of English descent on the paternal side, and on the maternal Scotch. John Lumpkin married Emily A. Raffurty, a native of Kentucky. He moved with his brother William to Jefferson county, Kentucky, about the year 1815. He afterwards moved to Davis county. In 1835 he came to Illinois, and settled in section thirty-one, town ten, range eight, Macoupin county, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the 15th of February, 1879. He was a brick mason by trade, and followed it at such times of the year as he could spare from labor on his farm. He laid the foundations of the old court-house that stood in the public square in Carlinville. His wife died June Ist, 1876. There were but two children born to John and Emily A. Lumpkin, one boy andagirl. The girl died in infancy. The subject of our sketch is the sole survivor of the family. Both the father and mother were members of the Baptist Church, the father being a deacon for many years. James W., spent his boyhood days in the schools of his native township, and attended the select schools in Chesterfield. When at the age of nineteen years he entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, where he remained one year, then returned home and went to work upon the farm. On the 22d of December, 1857, he was married to Miss Elzina Bates, daughter of James and Martha Bates. Mrs. Lumpkin was born in Macoupin county. Her parents were natives of Jefferson county, Tennessee, and came to Illinois in 1833. Two children, a boy and a girl, have been the fruits of this union. Their names are Clement J., and Mattie E. Lumpkin. Both Mr, Lumpkin and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, In politics he is a democrat, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860. In his township he has held various offices.

He was elected justice of the peace ; in which office he remained for twelve years. He has also been collector of his town since the county has been under township organization. He is also a member of the Masonic order, and has been the presiding officer of the Chesterfield Lodge, No. 445, for the past five years. His name has been used before the county democratic conventions for county offices. In 1868 his friends presented him for sheriff, and in 1876 for circuit clerk, and in 1877 for county clerk, but they failed to secure for him the nomination. In any of these he would bring intelligence, honesty, and reflect credit upon his constituency. The greater portion, in fact all of his life has been passed upon the farm or in stockraising and dealing, in all of which he has been successful.

John W. Wills

Is a native-born citizen of Macoupin county. He first saw the light of day in Palmyra township, July 31st, 1839. Elijah Wills, his father, was a native of North Carolina. His father emigrated to Kentucky when Elijah was yet young. The father, John W., married Decilla Solomon, 2 member of the Solomon family of this county. She was also born in North Carolina, but grew to womanhood in Kentucky. Twelve children were born to them, seven of whom survived the parents.

Elijah Wills emigrated to Ilinois in 1829, and settled in Morgan county. He made one or two improvements there, and then sold out and came to Macoupin county, where he made also some improvements. He afterward remoyed to and entered land in Sec. 6, South Palmyra township, where he remained for a number of years, and then went to Texas, and after a short time returned to Macoupin county; purchased land, remaining on it two years. Sold out and returned to Texas ; stayed there three or four months. Came to Macoupin again and remained until 1867, when he again disposed of his property and removed to Southwest Missouri, where he died about two years later. His wife survived him ; she was born in 1801. She died in California in 1875 at the residence of her eldest son, Thomas Wills. John W's. boyhood days were spent in working upon the farm, and a small portion of the time in the common schools of his native county. He also spent considerable time in hunting. In his younger years game was very plentiful, and John, like his father, was very fond of hunting, nor has he forgotten it now in his maturer years. He takes his annual hunt regularly, but is forced, from the scarcity of game in his old favorite resorts, to make trips to the swamps of Arkansas, where game of all kind that delights the enthusiastic hunter abounds.

He was married on the 25th of November, 1858, to Sarah, daughter ot Uriah and Sally Smith. The Smiths are natives of North Carolina. They are among the oldest settlers of Macoupin county. They came here in 1828. After his marriage, John W., went to work upon land that he had leased. On the 10th of March, 1864, he moved to Sec. 19, T. 10, R. 8, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and to which he has added considerable more. He attended strictly to the business of farming until he was elected treasurer of the county. In politics, Mr. Wills is most soundly indoctrinated in the tenets and principles of the democratic party. He is a believer in its principles as enunciated by Jefferson, Jackson, Douglas and the leaders of to-day. He cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, and since that time has been a strong adherent of the party. His intelligence and constancy has received at different times suitable and honorable recognition from his party. In 1871 he was elected the first township collector under the township organization. In 1873 he was nominated for the office of county treasurer by the democratic party, in convention assembled, and in November following, was elected, although there was a determined effort made by the opposition to defeat him. In 1875 he again received the nomination at the hands of his party, but was defeated owing to the union of the regular republicans independents, or greenbackers, who united upon L. B. Corbin, who was elected by a small majority. While in the capacity of treasurer, he conducted the financial affairs of the county in the most satisactory manner, and his accounts were always square. It can be truthfully said that no man ever occupied the office who gave it more attention, or who was prompted more by a desire to use the county finances in the interests of the whole peuple, and for the good of the whole county, than John W. Wills. He is the happy father of four interesting children, all of whom are yet beneath the paternal roof.

He is a live, energetic man, full of western push and enterprise, and keenly alive to any enterprise that has for its object the increase of the material wealth of old Macoupin.

John H. Brown

Was born in Hast Tennessee, Knox county, May 6th, 1826. His father, Francis G. Brown, was born in West Virginia, January 8, 1802. He emigrated with his mother to East Tennessee about the year 1810. His father, and grandfather of John H., was born in Ireland, but came with his father's family to America when he was but six weeks old. Francis G. married Mary Bell. She was a native of Knox county, Tennessee. Nine children were born to them, all of whom are yet living. The father of the present sketch emigrated from Tennessee to Illinois in 1838, and settled on section 4 in Bird township, where he raised a crop, and in November of the same year purchased one hundred and 'sixty acres in section 18, where he remained until 1851, when he removed to the village of Chesterfield, where he died October 15th, 1878. The wife and mother of John H. died in 1864. John | H. is the eldest son, and the second in the family. In his youth he had limited opportunities for receiving an education. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age. On the 20th of September, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Husky, daughter of James and Rhoda Husky. They were natives of Alabama, and emigrated to Illinois in 1834, and settled on section 5 in Bird township. James Husky died in September, 1845, and his wife in 1855. There have been six children born to John H. and Martha E. Brown, three of whom are living. Rossetta, the eldest, is the wife of F. M. Bates, a farmer, and resident of Bird township. Samuel Newton Brown, the son, also a farmer, and living in Western Mound township, and Daisey, the youngest child, who is at home.

John H. Brown has been a resident of Bird township for forty-one years, and in all that time has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, stock-raising and grazing. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a democrat, and cast his first vote for Lewis Cass for President in 1848, and has voted with that party.

Joseph Bird

PRoMINENT among the farmers, stock-raisers and business men of Macoupin county stands the name of Joseph Bird. He was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of May, 1828. His father, William Bird, was a native of the city of London, England. He married Mary Wilson, who was also a native of the same place. He emigrated to America in the year 1818.

In May, 1834, he came with his family to Illinois, and settled in Bluffdale, Greene county, where he died in October of the same year. Joseph, being the eldest son, was at an early age called upon to support himself and help provide for the family. He therefore had no opportunities for attending the schools or receiving such an education as falls to the lot of most boys of this country. During his boyhood he worked by the month, and assisted his mother on the farm. January the 9th, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ann Lasater; she was a native of Greene county, Tllinois, and was born October 17th, 1833. Her parents were natives of Tennessee. After his marriage he rented for two years. In 1851 he came to Macoupin county and purchased 315 acres in section four, town ten, range eight, receiving some assistance from his mother. He has added tract after tract until at the present he is the possessor of (1026) ten hundred and twenty-six acres, and every acre of it has been acquired by active industry, united with shrewd common sense and good management. In August, 1879, he purchased the elegant residence, known as the Dubois property, in Carlinville, where he intends in the future to make his home.

In his family he has been blessed with seven children, four of whom are living. His only son, Morris Edwin, died February 6th, 1878, in the 20th year of his age; he was a young man of great promise and gave evidence of future usefulness. His daughters, Carrie Isabel, Ida Alice, Mary Olive, and Daisy Mabel are yet at home. Mr. and Mrs. Bird are members of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Bird is a democrat, but his life has been too actively engaged to take much part in political matters. In the county where he has resided for nearly thirty years he is respected for his sterling qualities as an honest, upright and influential man. As an evidence of the respect in which he is held, it may be mentioned that the township of "Bird " was so named in honor of him at the time the county adopted the township organization act.

Samuel Love

Ir is with pleasure that we introduce to the readers of this book the oldest native-born citizen now living in Macoupin county. Samuel Love was born in what is now Palmyra township, March 7th, 1824. His father, John Love, was a native of Alabama, and came to Madison county, Illinois, in 1812. In 1813 he, in company with Seth Hodges, came up to Macoupin county and put in a crop, laid it by, and then returned to Madison county and brought up their families. Mr. Love thinks these two families were the first that settled in what is now known as Macoupin county. They were the pioneers that came here, and braved the hardships and paved the way for the future settlement of this part of the state. John Love married Cynthia Seymour, of Alabama. Two children were born to them before they left their native state. The journey to Illinois was made on horseback. When they arrived in the state they had but very little household goods, and only fifty cents in money. With this he commenced a new life, pioneering in the

There were four boys and two girls born to them, none of whom are living except the subject of our sketch. John Love remained in Palmyra township until 1829, when he removed to Morgan county, where he stayed until 1835, when he sold out and removed to Greene county, where he died in 1844. His wife died in Morgan county about 1833. John Love was a stout, rugged man, with a strong constitution, and was peculiarly fitted by nature to endure the hardships and fatigues incident to the life of a pioneer. He and Seth Hodges almost lived and supported their families on the game in which the country abounded at that time.

Samuel Love remained with his father, going with him to Morgan and Greene counties. In 1842 he married Elizabeth Taylor, a native of Greene county ; she died in 1848. In 1849, on the 1st day of March, he married Minerva Lasater. This union has been blessed by ten children, nine of whom are living. James Madison is married to Nora Vanasdell; and Mollie Lavina, is the wife of Mr. Charles Kesinger. The rest are at home.

Mr. Love has been a life-long democrat; he voted for Lewis Cass for President in 1848. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, of which he has been a member since he was thirteen years of age.

he purchased one hundred acres of land in Bird township, and remained there until 1865, when he sold out and moved a short distance north of his old place, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres, and where he has continued to reside up to the present time.

We would like here to recite some of the incidents of the pioneer life of the subject of our sketch if the space allotted us would allow it; but the story is so well told in the pioneer chapter of the history of this county, that it would be, at best, but repetition. We will therefore leave the old pioneer, with the hope that he may live for many years to come, and see his native state rise to the dignity of the first in the Union. He has already lived to see the change from a howling wilderness, where roamed the beast of the grass, in which lay concealed the deadly serpent, to that of a broad, expansive country, whose surface is dotted over with farm-houses, the happy homes of thousands of honest yeomanry. Where was heard the dismal howl of the wolf or the cry of the cayote, now rises the cheerful song of the husbandman as he gathers the golden grain over the plains and hills; and through the vales, where roamed the deer, is now seen the lowing herds and fatted kine. All has changed, and in the life-time of the subject of our sketch.

Was born January 24th, 1842, in Knox county, East Tennessee. His father was a native of Virginia. The Comers on the paternal side are of Scotch descent. Lavina Bell was the maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch. She was born in Tennessee. She died November 15th, 1874. Five children are living, the offspring of this marriage. Their names are Samuel, Elmira, wife of 5. L. Loveless, Arthur D., Parthenia, wife of J. Q. Adams, and Addison. The father removed from Tennessee to Macoupin county in 1844, and rented land in Western Mound township. In 1854 he came into Bird township and. purchased land, and has resided

The subject of our sketch received his rudimentary education in the common schools of this county. When he was twenty years of age he started in life for himself. He putin acrop. The war broke out, and on the 5th of August, 1862, he enlisted in company " A," 122d regiment Illinois volunteers, Col. John I. Rinaker commanding. The regiment rendezvoused at camp Palmer, and from there were ordered to report to Columbus, Kentucky, and then were ordered to Trenton, Tennessee, where the regiment was brigaded and attached to the 16th Army Corps. The command proceeded to Jackson, and from there to Parker's Cross Roads, where the regiment engaged in its first battle, and lost heavily in men, killed and wounded. After the engagement the command returned to Jackson, then to Trenton, and from there to Corinth. The regiment participated in a number of battles, and was a part of the command that went after Price through Missouri, then back to Nashville, where they fought and annihi - lated Hood's army. He enlisted as a private soldier, and when the company was organized was elected fifth sergeant, and passed through all the grades to the first lieutenancy of the company, with the exception of the second lieutenancy.

He was with the regiment all the time it was in the service, and fought with his company at Mobile, Spanish Fort, and Fort Blakely, and was mustered out August 5th, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois, having been in the service three years to a day. He then returned home and went to work on a farm, and in January, 1866, purchased o1.. nundred and twenty acres in sections 22 and 23, Bird township, where he has remained ever since. On the 3d of September, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Peebles, daughter of C. H. and Nancy D. Peebles. Her parents were natives of Kentucky and the northern part of Tennessee. Four children have been born to them, one boy and three girls. Their names are Orrin D., Luella E., Mary H., and Geraldine Comer. Both he and his amiable wife are members of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Comer is a staunch republican. He cast his first vote for U.S. Grant in 1868, and ever since has been a strong adherent of that political organization. He has been elected assessor of this township for two terms.

The Oldest Native Borm Citizen, Wow

HE site of the present town of Bunker Hill was once a prairie, known in the early settlement of Macoupin county as Wolf ridge, from the fact that it was much frequented by wolves, and contained their dens and breeding places.

The earliest inhabitants of the country, of whom we have any knowledge, were the Peoria, Kickapoo and Winnebago Indians, who had a grand camping ground near the Creamery, north-east of Bunker Hill. On their journeyings north and south they were accustomed to stop here near a large spring of water. But with the advent of the white settlers the red men disappeared, and the last seen of them was in the year 1826, when the five wigwams which stood at the head of Wood river were pulled down and the sayages left for 2 country farther west, where their haunts were less likely to be disturbed by the advauce of civilization.

The first entry of land dates back to July 31st, 1827, when William Jones entered eighty acres in section 33. Howard Finley entered cighty acres in section 21, January 25th, 1850; and Alexander Conlee 160 acres in section 29, March 17th, 1830.

One of the earliest settlers of the township was John Cooper, a native of Tennessee, who built a house on the edge of the prairie, in section 28, a short distance west of where the railroad now runs. Cooper died in Madison county, and all vestiges of his pioneer cabin have. long since disappeared.

In the year 1825, Howard Finley and Danicl Branscomb settled on the east side of the East Fork of Wood river. Finley was a Tennesseean. The second house which he built, and in which he lived for a number of years, was on the cast half of the south-east quarter of section 21. He died in Greene county of this state. The year 1827 witnessed the coming of James Breden and his family.

Breden was the first justice of the peace in the township, and held that office for more than twenty years. Two sons, Wiley Breden and John F. Breden, and a daughter, the wife of Edward Baucon, are now living in the township. John F. Breden and his mother reside on the same place where James Breden settled. Simeon Jones was also an early settler of the township. He was born and raised in Madison county, his father having emigrated to this state at an early day. Fora number of years Simeon Jones was school treasurer of the township. Jonathan L. Wood came in 1830. In the year 1830, also, Benjamin Davis and his sons, Jefferson, Isaac, Alfred and David Davis made a settlement in the north-west corner of the township. The Davis family was originally from North Carolina, but came to Illinois from Tennessee. James Wood, in 1831, settled the farm in section 30, now owned by his son, David Wood. He was born in Loudon county, Virginia. He had five sons, three of whom, Samuel, David B.,and James E. Wood, are now living in the township. A Tennesseean, named William McPike, settled in section 30, in 1831, and died there after a residence of a number of years. Mrs. Millie Bayless and her sons, Reese, John, George, and Daniel Bayless, became residents of the township also in 1831. Reese Bayless and John Bayless were prominently connected with the old militia,

Reese holding the position of colonel, and John that of adjutant. Both were in the Black Hawk war. In the vicinity of the Corneilson mound, or as it was sometimes called, " Tickey Mound," in section 29, the early settlers were Daniel Littrel, Alexander Conley, John Murphy and John Corneilson. Charles Collyer was also an early resident of the township, as were also Finley Jones and Moses Jones. John T. Wood came in 1831.

In the neighborhood of the Springfield road, settlements were made by William Wood, Isaac Wood, Alfred Wood, James Wood, Ephraim Wood, Anthony Linder, George Howland, Elijah Lincoln, Dr. Budden, Samuel Buell, and Charles Goodnight. The Woods had been raised in Madison county. Dr. Budden was the first physician to reside in the township. In 1833 the town of Lrycoin was laid out two miles to the south of Bunker Hill, on the present farm of J. V. Hopper, by Messrs. Tuttle and Lincoln, but a log-cabin and a frame house marked the farthest progress to which the town ever attained.

A post-office was established in 1833, and called " Lincoln," and Anthony Linder was appointed post-master. He was succeeded by Mr. Cook. Samuel Buell took charge of the office in 1837, and in November of the same year the post-office was transferred to Bunker Hill. Josiah Richards acted as assistant post-master. Nathaniel Phillips was the first post-master appointed after the remoyal of the office to Bunker Hill. There has been a post-office at Woodburn since 1837.

On the east side of Wood river, in section 33, the first mill in the township, propelled by ox power, was put in operation by Moses Jones. Dr. Budden erected another mill soon afterward, on the prairie, about a mile south-west of Bunker Hill. The first school-house in the township stood on section 21, and was afterward moved to section 22. Mr. Richardson was the first teacher, and he was succeeded by Josiah B. Harris. About 1831 a school-house was built on section 20, on land belonging to John T. Wood. John Wilson, Jesse Wood, and Aaron Leyer!: in the township.

In the school-house which stood on section 21, the first sermon was preached in the township by Elder William Jones. "He was a member of the Baptist denomination, with which a great part of the early settlers of the township were connected Elder Alexander Conley was the first minister to reside in the township. The Rev. Mr. Gimlin was another of the pioneer " Hard Shell" Baptist preachers. The first church was build by the "Hard Shell" Baptists, and stood on section 33. The second was the Congregational church at Woodburn. The first couple married in this township were Finley Jones and Mary Conley; and the second Daniel Branscomb and a Miss Gregg. John Finley was the first child born.

Assessors. - August Stoldt, elected in 1871; J. M. Wood, elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873; J. Kates, elected in 1874, and by re-election continued to hold the office up to 1879.

It received its name from members of the Wood family, who were early settlers in the vicinity. The town was laid out in 1834, by B. F. Edwards ; Benjamin Stephenson was the surveyor. ;

The first dwelling-house in the town was erected by Rey. Eljiah Dodson. Ife was a pioneer Baptist preacher; he was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in the year 1860, and came to Macoupin county in 1835. He died in 1859. Ile was pastor of Baptist Churches at Mdwardsville, Belleville Winchester, Bunker Hill, and other places. Myr. Dodson moved into his dwelling April Sth, 1835. His wife, Mrs. Nancy Dodson, was the first woman to live in the town; she died in October, 1877. A store was erected by 1. J. Miner, before the completion of Mr. Dodson's house. Daniel Luttre] built in 1830; also Enos Grandy ; and the same year Dr. Edwards, in order to prepare for conyenicnee of the traveling public built a tavern. James and Wm. Jinunilion were the first landlords. Many of the first buildings were erected by James and Robert R. Tompkins, who came to the place I'c-b. 13th, 1835, from Virginia. In 1836 Dr. Edwards and John Adams commenced building here the first steam mill in the county, but before they completed it they sold their interest to Moses Jones, who afterwards sold to Mudge,*who finished the saw mill part of it. In 1841, T. J. Van Dorn bought the mill and put in a large engine and two run of burrs. Some time previous to 1840 Daniel Luttrell built a mill for grinding corn, the motive power being horses, mules, oxen or anything that could be hitched to it. This was a big thing for a large section of the county, but was soon laid aside when Van Dorn's steam mill got into operation. About 1837 the Perry Brothers built and operated a blacksmith shop, but whether they or Alfred Davis were the first blacksmiths cannot now be ascertained with certainty.

The first church organized was the Baptist church, June 24th, 1835, with eleyen members; the pulpit was supplied by Elders Starkweather and Dodson for about one year when Elder Dodson was settled as first regular pastor. March 15th, 1842, the church took steps toward building a house of worship, and completed the same in 1843. In 1867 an addition was built surmounted by a steeple in which was hung a bell. After several preliminary meetings, the first of which was held Dec. 29th, 1837, the Congregational church was organized March 25th, 1838, with about 40 members and the Rey. Robert Blake as pastor, who served until his death, March 21st, 1842... In 1838 the congregation built a house, which was used for many years as a place of worship for the different denominations; also for school purposes and as a town hall, being the only public hall until the Baptist church was built in 1843. In it was organized the first Sabbathschool of the place in 1848, deacon E. B. Godard, superintendent. They built their present house of worship in 1858. The earliest records of the Methodist church are lost, but it was probably organized about 1838. In 1850 the Methodists built the present house of worship. About 1858 the Christians organized a church and built a house. The Seventh-Day Adventist's church was organized in 1868, and occupied the house built by the Christians.

Dee. 11th, 18438, was organized the first permanent Bible Society in the county. The meeting for organization was held at the Congregational Church, Deacon Justus Rider, president and Deacon Wm. Bailey seeretary.

The old church building was used for school purposes, but in 1852 the school trustees, with some of the principal citizens, took steps to build a school-house. 'To raise the necessary amount by taxation was slow work, as the per cent. was limited by law. But the people were equal to the emergency, and appointed R. R. Tompkins, Henry Burton and A. L. Sturges a building committee, put on as heavy a tax as they could, and raised the rest within two days by subscription.

In the year 1836, Moore and Kellum, laid off over eighty acres in town lots as an addition to the town of Woodburn, giving a large block as a public square.

The mail route between Alton and Carlinville, ran through Woodburn, and William and James Hamilton were the first mail contractors. The contract was turned over to George Gordon, who carried the first mail in 1837. About that date the post-office was established with Mr. Corey as post-master. The state road between Alton and Springfield was surveyed in 1833. The Rey. Robert Blake moved on the prairie west of Woodburn in 1836; he was a congregational minister, and was instrumental in organizing the Woodburn and Bunker Hill Congregational churches. Dr. Pennington became a resident of Woodburn in 1836, as did also Elder Starkweather. In 1837 Wm. West made the first kiln of brick. West also established the first grocery. Deacon I. Long came in 1837. In 1846 the steam mill of T. J. Van Dorn burned down; and in 1848 the Tompkin's Brothers commenced building a mill, starting it as a saw mill, and grinding corn ; in 1852 they put in the flour burs and _ bolts.

Jonathan Huggins established his residence at Woodburn in 1839, and in 1845 started the Woodburn Nursery, the trees from which have contributed greatly to beautify Woodburn and the neighboring towns. The town has always been strictly temperate, and various attempts to establish places for the sale of intoxicating liquors have failed. In 1850 there were three places where liquor was sold. The first store passed from Mr. Miner into the hands of L. L. Brown, of whom P. C. Huggins in Aueust, 1858, purchased the establishment, goods, fixtures and all, amounting to not more than six hundred dollars. Judge Huggins was pro. prictor of this store till he remoyed to Bunker Hill in 1840. The town was incorporated under the general law in 1867, and in 1869 the legislature granted a special charter. A Cemetery Association was organized in 1867 | and improyements were made under its direction. In 1870 the care of the cemetery, however, was given up to the town authorities. The subsequent rapid growth of Bunker Hill and the building of railroads, prevented Woodburn from developing into a town of large size, but it still remains a quiet and attractive village, surrounded by a rich farming district. Its population is now about three hundred.

It has two general stores, carried on by Richard Welch, and Carson and Smith, the letter firm being composed of William T. Carson and Joseph A. Smith. R.H. Wood and Elijah T. Dodson are wheelwrights and wagon' makers. Robert E. Smith and William A. Bartlett are blacksmiths. James Rumbolz carries on the painting business. The town has a large flouring mill of which Edwin Hollister is proprietor. Richard Welch is postmaster, and Dr. A. B. Panniman the only physician. There are four church societies, Congregational, Baptist, Methodists and Seventh Adventists. Rev. Charles Slater, until recently, was pastor of the «Congregational church ; Rey. George E. Silver is pastor of the Baptist church, and Rey. M. Fahs of the Methodist.

He Annunciation Of The Blessed Virgi & School, Bunker - Hill Bunker Hill

next to Carlinville, the largest town in Macoupin county, well deserves the reputation which it bears of being one of the prettiest places in Illinois. It has a fine location on rising ground, and its streets shaded in summer by a dense mass of foliage, and the neatness of its private residences, have conspired to make the town attractive.

An entry of eighty acres of land covering the central portion of the town was made in 1834, by Luke Knowlton, then county surveyor. A little to the north of this tract, on the highest point of Wolf Ridge, he also put up the body of a cabin with the purpose of keeping others off until he could command sufficient means to enter additional land. In this hope, however, he was disappointed, for in 1835, Mr. Wilbur came out from Boston and entered land north, east and west of Knowlton's tract. He also purchased the eighty acres which Knowlton had entered, and built a house on the Reuben Barnes farm. The season of 1835 was marked by the great prevalence of malarial disease and continued sickness, and for this reason Wilbur seems to have sold his tract to Robert Smith of Alton. J. R. Nutter entered land, and in 1834 built a house west of the city limits; he also disposed of his tract to Mr. Smith.

Christmas day of 1835 should long be remembered in the history of Bunker Hill. That was the date of the arrival of Moses True and John Tilden. Both were from New Hampshire. Mr. True was born at Salisbury (now Franklin) in that state in 1805, and from the time of his first coming to Bunker Hill till his death was intimately identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. A company was formed, with the object of laying out a town, and improving the surrounding country. This company was composed of John Cavender, John Tilden, Moses True, James Smith and William H. Smith, all men of New England birth, and endowed with the characteristic of New England enterprise. The tracts in possession of Robert Smith were purchased, and in addition, on the 26th of December, 1835, three thousand acres of land were entered at the land office at Edwardsville. The title to the property was in the name of Cavender. Subsequently in 1839 a division of the property was made among the individual members of the company.

The first step in the founding of the new town was the establishment of a store, January, 1836. Messrs. True and Filden brought from St. Louis a wagon-load of groceries and dry goods, and the first impetus was thus given to the business prospects of the infant town. 'The first house was built by Moses True, and stood on the west side of Washington street on the spot now occupied by Dr. Milton's office. Mr. True's residence in 1836 is described as " having only one room, the roof projecting and forming a piazza on either side, with an opening from side to side over the loose, split boards which formed the ceiling."

Bunker Hill Platted

"Early in March of 1836, Messrs. True and Tilden employed Luke Knowlton to lay out and plat the now city of Bunker Hill. This was but seven years from the first settlement of the township. The settlements lay on the direct mail route between St. Louis and Springfield. The town having been laid out, Messrs. True and Tilden at once commenced the construction of 'The Old Tavern,' now a part of the Richards' Block. Mr. Tompkins set out the first tree (locust) in Woodburn, and brought the first trees (locust) into Bunker Hill, which Mr. True set out, some of which, in both places, are still growing.

" At this early day it was impossible to depend upon home institutions and home mechanics. Upper Alton blacksmiths made the iron work for plows, while the natives sought out twisting trees, from which they wrought out our wooden mould-boards, with the balance of the stock equally as primitive. All the pine lumber came down the Ohio to Cairo in rafts, and was thence shipped to St. Louis and Alton by steamboat. The nearest saw mill was on the Cahokia, north of Edwardsville. The first flour used in the new hotel came from Carlinvilleyand for a number of years Carlinville and Belleville were the best points for wheat and flour. The first sermon preached at Bunker Hill was by Elder Kimball, from Upper Alton."

Old Time Mail

In those days of slow locomotion, much inconvenience was experienced in passing through the country, when the quickest correspondence expected by

Dr. Ebenezer Howell became a resident of Bunker Hill in the spring of 1837, and for several years was the only physician. George Howell, his son, was the first child born in the town.

In the summer of 1837 Mr. True enlarged his hotel by putting up an addition. In the succeeding fall Josiah Richards, who had come from Boston, purchased the goods in the store of Mr. True. He was also appointed deputy post-master by Mr. Buell, who then had charge of the Lincoln office, and the post-office was removed to Bunker Hill. Early in 1838 Nathaniel Phillips and family arrived. The name of the post-office was changed from Lincoln to Bunker Hill, and Mr. Phillips was ap pointed the first post-master December, 1838, Mr. True retired from the hotel, and was succeeded by N. H. Flanagan from New Jersey as proprietor. In the spring of 1839 J. W. Cummings, G. Parmenter, Charles Burnham, R. Califf, Nathaniel Burnham, D. E. Pettingill, and Joseph and Edward Burton settled in the town and vicinity. John A. Pettingill also arrived in April, 1839, and started the first nursery of fruit trees in the township. He was also one of the early school-teachers, and since his first coming to Bunker Hill has been interested in many ways in the improvement of the town. Charles Johnson, of Medford, Massachusetts, came in May, 1839. S. H. Davis, A. B. Davis, R, Ridgeley, James Hamilton, I. Southworth and Charles Cavender were early settlers in the neighborhood of the town. Francis N. Burnham made improvements north-east of the town, and presided over the first school ever taught in Bunker Hill. He was succeeded by John A. Pettingill.

James Clark and 8. 8. Clark became residents of the prairie in December, 1840. In 1840 Judge P. C. Huggins moved from Woodburn, where he had been engaged in the mercantile business, and succeeded Josiah Richards as proprietor of the store. For several years he was the only merchant in the town. In November, 1847, John A. Pettingill established the second store.

"The 4th of July, 1839, was the first anniversary of the 'day we celebrate' ever observed in due and ancient form in this township. The day preceding was all bustle in the getting and raising of a liberty pole, and making a leafy bower to cover the extended tables. The ' glorious fourth ' ushered in a terrible hot day; but despite the heat, the whole community turned out, in all, some sixty souls! EF. Burnham was master of ceremonies, and N. H. Flanagan orator of the day. Dr. E. Howell read the Declaration of Independence, when H. V. A. Tappen made some cogent remarks. After dinner, J. W. Cummings, as toast-master, called the assemblage to order and read the toasts, which were well responded to. The ground occupied was that now covered with stores, south of Huggins block. The political campaign of 1840 brought the democrats to Bunker Hill, and the whigs assembled at Woodburn ; and each duly celebrated the 4th of July as best they could. The former were presided over by N. H. Flanagan, and Rey. Mr. Arnold, of Alton, orator. The whigs listened to Mr. Lincoln, John Hogan and Judge Davis, from Alton. July 4th, 1841, was enjoyed by those who rode to Gershom Flagg's, and on their return found well-spread tables at Landlord Gillett's, who occupied the old tavern. July 4th, 1842, was passed by with the raising of a liberty pole and good round cheers. July Ath, 1848, was duly celebrated at Bunker Hill. Some four hundred persons gathered to hear the orator of the day, J. A. Delano. N. H. Flanagan presided, and the Upper Alton Band gave n° fine music. July 4th, 1844, about three hundred and fifty citizens, headed by the Bunker Hill Band, went to Woodburn, and there met the Alton Band. Mr. Edwards, of Alton, was the orator of the day.

As early as 1834 a military company was organized, with John Wilson as captain, succeeded by Washington Dilk, and afterward by Wiley Breden. The first muster in this township occurred on the 27th of September, 1839. A regimental organization existed in Southern Macoupin, with R. Bayless as colonel and P. C. Huggins as major, and the muster in question was the stated parade of the battalion, which made its headquarters at Bunker Hill. The Bunker Hill company mustered forty men; Capt. Van Tyle was in command."

Bunker Hill Cemetery

BUNKER HILL CEMETERY. Among the attractions of Bunker Hill is a beautiful cemetery, handsomely laid out on high, rolling ground, just within the eastern limits of the city. The grounds are profusely ornamented with shade trees and many varieties ground for cemetery purposes. In 1841, by the voluntary contributions and labor of the people, the ground was fenced and laid out. Until 1852 it remained thus. In June, 1852, a number of citizens assembled to consider the propriety of organizing an association to hold and sare for the property. E. Howell was chairman, and J. A. Pettingill, secretary. Messrs. J. A. Delano, E. Howell and J. A. Pettingill were constituted a committee to ascertain the cost of ground and material for fence, and to draft a form of constitution and by-laws, June 16, the committee reported, and an organization was effected with C. D. Marsh, J. A. Pettingill and J. Pierson as trustees, and J. A. Delano, secretary and treasurer. A subscription paper was circulated, and with so much success that it was decided at the same meeting to purchase three acres of land in addition to Mr. True's donation, and adjoining the same. This ground was fenced and platted the same year, the engineering (of a primitive style) being performed by the trustees and treasurer, and without charge. March 4, 1861, the association was organized under the state law, the officers elected being J. A. Pettingill, president ; J. F. Cummings, T. J. Van Dorn, Richard Ridgeley, directors, and J. A. Delano, secretary and treasurer. October 4, 1867, four acres additional were purchased of N. H. Flanagan, making the cemetery grounds nearly cight acres in extent.

The monument is of hard gray sandstone, and stands 29 feet 4 inches high. A heayy moulded base contains the following inscription upon its north front :

This Monument Is Erected By Their Fellow-Citizens

Immediately below this inscription, the words " Soldiers' Monument " stands out in full relief, The other three sides of the base are occupied with the names of the dead, the number of their regiment, and the place and cause of death. From the base rises the first obelisk, resting upon which is a carved block, bearing in relief a trophy, consisting of cannon, crossed arms and flags, partly concealed by a shield, surmounted with stars and stripes. From this block rests the second obelisk, with capital upon Which is perched a life-size representation of an American Eagle with wings extended.

The preliminary steps in the erection of this monument were taken November 11, 1865, at a public meeting of which James Hamilton was chairman, and J. A. Delano, secretary. These gentlemen served in these capacities until the work was completed and all bills settled; and much of the success of the enterprise is due to their indefatigable efforts. February 14, 1867, the monument was unveiled, and the financial accounts closed up, when it was found that the cost amounted to $1772.44. Of this, $1215.35 was subscribed by individuals ; $200 donated by the cemetery association ; and the remainder was made up by sociables and literary exhibitions, donations by secret societies, etc."

Bunker Hill Academy County, Idlinois

Academy. Its history dates back to December 22d, 1857, when a meeting was held "to take measures looking to the establishment of an academie school. E. Harlan was chairman, and H. M. Hutchinson, seeretary. The following committees were appointed by the chair: To solicit subscriptions - A. W. Ellet, P. C. Huggins, James Weller, T. J. Wan Dorn; on building - E. Howell, G. C. Mack, G. Parmenter, J. A. Delano. At a subsequent meeting, Dr. Delano withdrew, and J. V. Hopper was substituted. 1. H. Davis was added to the committee. It was decided at this meeting to organize a joint stock company, with $25 asa share. January 12, 1858, the subscriptions to stock amounted to $7,075, whereupon J. W. Cummings, A. J. Coates and J. F. Vandeventer were appointed a committee to procure plans, ete. January 26th, a constitution was adopted. The amount of capital stock was fixed at $25,000. It was provided that the Academy 'should not be sectarian or denominational, and to promote this object not more than one-third of the trustees shall at any time be members of any one religious denomination.' The following officers were then elected: President, A. W. Kllet ; Trustees, P. C. Huggins, W. Gill, Chas. Parmenter, If. Howell, JS. Flanagan, J. A. Pettingill. January 31st, Mr. Pettingill resigned his trusteeship, and H. W. Burton was clected to fill the vacancy. J. W. Cummings P. C. Huggins offered to donate a lot for the build- The building ereeted was brick, three was elected treasurer. ing, and his proffer was accepted. stories high, symmetrical in its design, attractive in every detail, and surrounded by beautiful grounds. The cost was about $19,000. The school opened in 1859, and the number of pupils speedily ran up to 198. Then the war came. the pupils entered the army at the first call. Others soon followed, and it beeame necessary to close the school. The building was then leased to the district as a public school, and was so occupied until 1870. In that year repairs and improyements were made to the value of $2,000 (the money being derived from sale of additional stock certificates), and the building was again put to use for its legitimate purpose."

Public Schools

The commodious building now in use for public school purposes was completed in 1869. Its cost was about $25,000. It has a seating capacity of 400.

The Library Association

An association was organized in 1867 for the purpose of establishing a library. The number of volumes is about two thousand five hundred, composed of well-selected and valuable books. 'This institution has been sustained solely by the private efforts of a number of the intelligent and enterprising citizens of the town.

Business Houses, Etc

Churches. - Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal (Christ), German Methodist, Catholic; also a German Lutheran Church, now building, but hold their meeting in the school-house.

Benevolent Societies

Bunker Hill Lodge, No. 151 A. F. and A. M. was organized under dispensation January 18th, 1854, by the name of Florentine Lodge, by William Porter, John Treble, Charles Parmenter, E. B. Randell, Turner R. Hayden, and Benj. L. Dorsey. The charter to establish Bunker Hill Lodge was granted on the 3d of October, 1854, Present Officers: John Patrick, W.M.; M. Sessel, S. W.; F. J. Stehlin, J. W.; David Morris, Treasurer ; F. W. Cross, Secretary; N.P. Frost, Senior Deacon; A. N. Yancey, Junior Deacon ; Joshua Gibson and Henry Hillier, Stewards ; James Davie, Tyler. The Lodge comprises a membership of sixty-three.

Tur history of few men better deserves to be commemorated in this work than that of Moses True, one of the earliest citizens of Bunker Hill. He was born in Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire, August 30th, 1805. He obtained an ordinary common school education, and after reaching manhood was employed for six years in connection with Stephen Sanborn, aiterward a resident of Bunker Hill, in the transportation of goods between Franklin and Boston. In the year 1831 he took charge of a canal packet running from Brockport, New York.

His acquaintance with John Cavender, John Tilden, and others, who had bought land (covering the site of Bunker Hill) with the intention of improving it and building a town, was the means of bringing him to Illinois. He traveled from the East in an ordinary covered wagon, and on Christmas day of 1835 halted his team on the ridge where now stands the town of Bunker Hill, then a wild prairie inhabited only by wolves. Asa member of the firm of John Tilden & Co., he had an interest in the projected town, and acted as local agent for the other proprietors. His indomitable energy and perseverance were of great service in building up and improving Bunker Hill. In January, 1836, he brought from St. Louis a wagon load of groceries and dry goods, and opened the first store in the town. His cabin on the west side of Washington street was also the first hotel. Its accommodations were extremely limited, but with genuine western hospitality its space was made adequate to every exigency, When it was found necessary to erect a larger building, the architect, who with the pioneer settlers of the surrounding country, entertained very limited expectations of the future prosperity of Bunker Hill, christened it at the grand " raising" which celebrated the occasion " True and Tilden's Folly," little anticipating that the building was the germ which would develop into a prosperous and beautiful town.

the site of the town. He was the leader in all kinds of improvements. When Mr. Cavender and the other parties interested with him, made a division of their land in 1839, Mr. True took the south-east quarter of the town as his share. His residence was changed to Franklin street, and his time and energy given toward improving and beautifying that part of the town. His leisure time was occupied in setting out trees; and to him more than any one else is due the extent and beauty of the foliage which adds so much to the attractions of Bunker Hill, and the shady and beautiful stréets of the town are the best monument to his wisdom and foresight. Among hisother acts of public spirit was the erection of the building which stood on the site of the present Congregational church, which for years served both for school and church purposes. He joined the Woodburn Congregational Church in 1838, and united with the Bunker Hill church on its establishment in 1842, and was chosen deacon, a position which till his death he honored by an unselfish devotion to the interests of the church, and. a consistent piety. He was a liberal supporter of all ~~ thy objects, and assisted in founding the Bunker Hill Academy, the Library, and the Cemetery, of all three of which he was a member of the Boards of Directors.

His death occurred February 22d, 1878. He left a widow, formerly Betsy M. George, and two children, James True, now living near Wichita, Kansas, who was ason by a former wife; and a daughter, Mary George True. He will be remembered asa public-spirited citizen and a man of many strong and admirable traits of character. He possessed an untiring energy, which spared no effort in the accomplishment of its object. In carrying out his business engagements, hardship and exposure were of little moment. Yet there was but little of the stern and forbidding in his nature. In his habits and inclinations he was social, cheerful, and kindly, and had a strong liking for beautiful and pleasing objects. His residence on south Franklin street was the handsomest in Bunker Hill, and was surrounded by ornamented grounds, which plainly showed the zsthetic tastes of the owner.

JupGe Hucerss was born at Cornish, New Hampshire, February 28th, 1814. His ancestors were early settlers of New England. His father was Jonis B. Huggins, and his mother's maiden name Mary Throup. His grandfather, Samuel Throup, was judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont before the Revolution. He received his education in the common schools. The death of his father threw him on his own resources at the age of fourteen. He was clerk in a store in his native town for several years. The first wages he received was forty dollars a year, out of which he clothed himself.

He came West in 1837. A large emigration from New England was then filling up the Rock River country, and to that part of the state he intended to proceed. Au attack of sickness caused him to leave the boat at Alton with the purpose of spending a few days with a cousin who had settled near Brighton, and, recovering his health, he concluded not to resume his journey. The southern part of Macoupin county impressed him favorably ; and with a stock of.goods worth a few hundred dollars and a cash capital of seventy-six dollars, he began business as a merchant at Woodburn. The next year he opened a store at Bunker Hill, and for several years afterward was the only merchant in that town.

When the project of building a railroad from Terre Haute to Alton was first set on foot, Judge Huggins was active in securing the location of the line through Bunker Hill. He was one of the commissioners who secured the subscriptions of stock, and was active in getting the charter through the legislature. He was a large stockholder in the company, and a Director for eight years, for three of which he was chairman of the finance committee. He has been otherwise closely identified with the business interests of Bunker Hill. He built the first flouring mill ever erected in the town. In 1850 he built a large castor-oil mill, which six years afterward was destroyed by fire. He also secured the charter for the Farmers' Savings, Loan

He was formerly a whig, but joined the republican party on its organization. He was elected justice of the peace soon after coming to Macoupin county, and filled that office for twelve or fifteen consecutive years. In 1844 he was a candidate on the whig ticket for member of the legislature, as he was also in 1856, and both times came within a few votes of overcoming the usual large democratic majority. He was one of the most active opponents of the Court-house scheme, and did all he could to create a public sentiment against the erection of the building. In 1869, as republican candidate for county judge, he received the votes of many democrats opposed to the building of the Court-house, and was elected. The building was completed and transferred to the county previous to his coming into office, but during his term several contests took place in regard to the payment of the bonds and the levy of a tax. He and other members of the Board were successful in defeating all measures for the collection of a tax until a compromise was finally effected. After the adoption of township organization he held the office of probate judge till 1873. He was elected a member of the board of supervisors from Bunker Hill township in the spring of 1879. Of the Congregational church at Bunker Hill he was one of the earliest members, as he has been one of its most constant supporters. He was also one of those most active in founding the Bunker Hill Academy, of the Board of Trustees of which he has been a member from its organization, and for many years its president. His liberality and energy have, indeed, been of material service in promoting many worthy objects, among which may be mentioned the Bunker Hill Library and the Cemetery, both of which are highly creditable to the town, and bear testimony to the enterprise of its

Gounty, Tellin Ots

TuE history of the Smalley family in this country runs back to the year 1716, at which date Mr. Smalley's ancestors settled in New Jersey. Tradition relates that the ship Caledonia, which brought them over from England, afterward rotted to pieces in the Raritan Bay at Perth Amboy. Three brothers by the name of Smalley came to America; one settled in Massachusetts, one in East Jersey, and one in West Jersey, and a number of their descendants took part in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, David Smalley, was secretary on the staff of one of the generals in the American army during the revolution, and afterwards was county judge in Somerset county, and for a number of years served as justice of the peace. An older brother, Jacob Smalley, was captain of a New Jersey company, and still another brother, Isaac Smalley, was one of the trusty men who carried dispatches from New York to the American army stationed in the Highlands of the Hudson.

Mr. Smalley's father, Samuel Smalley, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, in the same vicinity where his ancestors had lived since they first came to the state. He married for his second wife Mary Pennington. The Pennington family is also an old one in New Jersey, and has been honorably identified with the history of that state. Myr. Smalley's grandfather on his mother's side was in the war of the Revolution, enlisting in the army when very young.

A. J. Smalley was born in the Passaic valley in Morris county, New Jersey, February 14th, 1815. His father was a farmer. He attended the ordinary common schools as he had opportunity, acquiring the elements of a He was married on the 27th of October, 1836, to

Julia Ann Cox, who was born in Washington valley in Somerset county, New Jersey, September 17th, 1818. Her father was Restores Cox, and he had been a soldier in the war of 1812, The Cox family was of English descent, and in early times had belonged to the Quaker denomination. On the 7th of June, 1838, Mr. Smalley left New Jersey for the west. In those days a journey to Illinois was a formidable undertaking, and required weeks for its accomplishment. Béside himself and wife, his father and mother, two brothers and one sister, made up the company, and they brought along seven horses and four wagons. They traveled through Pennsylvania and West Virginia to Wheeling on the Ohio river, and from that point took a boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to St. Louis. From St. Louis he came directly to this county, arriving July 4th, 1838. His father had given him one hundred dollars, and this at that time comprised his whole fortune. He entered eighty acres of land in section 3 of township 7, range 8, and began its improvement.

Although he had little capital with which to begin operations, he still possessed that which was quite as important, industrious habits, good business qualifications, energy and perseverance. The eighty acres which he first entered he still owns, and he has been living at the same place he first settled. 'The number of acres of his land has increased from eighty to one thousand in this county, and he owns some in addition in Kansas. This result has been accomplished not by any accident or chance, but is the fruit of many years of hard labor and the exercise of a sound business judgment. He has been engaged in no occupation except farming, and his success demonstrates that reasonable industry and careful judgment applied to the pursuit of agriculture can be made productive of the most satisfactory results. He has been content to lead the life of a quiet and retired citizen, and has never desired the honors or emoluments of any public office. Politically he is a democrat, as were all his ancestors before him. His first vote for president was cast for Van Buren in 1836, while still living in New Jersey, and from that time to the present, he has never ceased to believe that the principles of free government receive their best application in the doctrines of the democratic party. He has had six children: Restores C. Smalley, who died November 8th, 1875; James H. Smalley, who is farming in Hilyard township; Mary E., now the wife of S. 5. Olmstead, residing in Hilyard township; Samuel Walter, who died November 30th, 1862, when nearly seventeen years of age; Freelove B. Smalley, and Oscar D. Smalley. The death of Mr. Smalley's wife occurred on the 11th of January, 1871. He has been one of the best citizens of Bunker Hill township, and is known as an enterprising farmer, a peaceful citizen, and a good neighbor.