La Harpe Township

La Harpe Township

died in Clay coTinty, 111., March 1, 1879, aged about 75 years, being at this time the grandmother of 44 children, and the greatgrandmother of 6 children. Her last husband was Mr. Chrisman.

Mr. Ilezekiah Brant's early advantages for a school education were limited, his father dying when he was but 10 years of age and the eldest of 6 children, and all in rather destitute circumstances. He never learned a letter of the alphabet until he was 13 years old, when he commenced to attend school some in the winter, but all together he never attended school more than six months in his life. The family moved to Clay county. 111., in 1839. The first work Mr. B. did was on a ferrj'-boat at Vincennes; ne.xt he was hired out by his mother to work on a farm at $40 a month; in seven months he met with an accident which disabled him from work, and when he went to his landlord for pay, the latter refused to pay more than $5 or $6. Mr. B. worked at farming and other work until 1844, when he commenced to labor at brick-making, which business he followed two j^ears; at the age of 16 he went to Vincennes to learn the blacksmith's trade with John B. Dunning, where he remained until Jan. 1, 1847, when he went to Clay county and ran a blacksmith shop six months; then he followed the same trade at Dicksburg, lud., until 1850.

June 6, of this year, Mr. Brant married Isabella Dick, a native of Ediaburgh, Scotland, and a daughter of James and Wilhelmina (Watson) Dick. She came to this country, landing at New Orleans in October, 1837. Mr. Dick had come the previous spring. His family, consisting of wife and 4 children, namely, Marian, Isabella, Wilhelmina and Jemima J., all but Mrs. Brant now deceased, sailed from Liverpool on the "Tallahassie," arriving at New Orleans only two hours after Mr. Dick's arrival there to meet them. The latter located in Knox county, lud., where his uncles had lived, and where he had visited when 18 years old. Here Mr. Dick lived many years and became a prominent man in the State, being a Member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1850. He was a Democratic lawyer and a stump speaker. When a youth he learned the tanner and courier's trade, and followed the business a little after coming to this country. In Scotland he was brought up on a farm. His father, Wm. Dick, was a first cousin to the great scientific theologian, Thomas Dick, LL. D. His wife, Wilhelmina, nee Watson, was a daughter of Robert Watson, an architect, of Edinburgh, who died while on a visit to this counti-y. James Dick followed farming, as well as the law, owning about 1 ,500 acres of land. He died at the age of about 57 ^-ears, Nov. 24, 1863, leaving a family of 5 children, 8 children having previously died.

Mr. Brant, after his marriage, moved to Olney, 111., where he carried on blacksmithing from 1850 to 1855, when he moved with his family to apiece of land in this tp., the patent to which his father-in-law had bought in 1840. Mr. Dick had paid no attention to the land represented by his patent except to come and look at it._ He often talked about his" "land in Hancock county," speaking of its fertility, etc. One day while Mr. Brant was visiting him tliis land was mentioned, and the former asked in a joking way what he would sell it for. Mr. Dick i-eplied that he would give it to him, which ofler was accepted and the deed was drawn up and signed. Mr. B. afterward ascertained that the land had been sold 21 times, for taxes. He bought the tax claim for ^90. This was the N. W. J of sec. 34, Sonora tp. The homestead now consists of 560 acres. He has since erected a very large, substantial stone house in 1873, at a cost of $5,000. He has also a fine barn and other farm buildings. Indeed, Mr. B. has put on this place all the improvements that are now on it. He raises grain and stock.

His 8 children are: James D., married and living on tlie home farm; Hezekiah W., married and living in Nodaway county. Mo.; Chauucy M.. married and residing with his father; Mina S., John K., Herman S., George M. and Susan J.

Joel H. Bolton was born Aug. 16, 1849, and is a son of George and Mary Bolton, the former a native of England and the latter of Ohio. Our subject was taken when young to Schuyler county, Missouri, where he was reared and educated. In 1860 he returned here and staid until 1871, when he went to Colorado and engaged in gold n'lining. He remained there until 1874, when he returned to this county. He is at present a dealer in live stock. May 10, 1876, he married Floretta Z. Golden, by whom he has had one child; viz., Ada. Our subject's grandfather on his mother's side 1st Lieutenant in the war of 1812, and he was also a private soldier in the Union Army of 1st Missouri cavalry.

John Brown, deceased, is a native of Berks county. Pa., and was born July 18, 1808. He was a son of George Brown, who also was a native of the Keystone State. He was reared in Ohio, and was educated in one of the Ohio universities. Eighteen years he spent in teaching school. He came to this State in the j'car 1860 and settled in this county the same year. He resided here until his death, which occurred July 10, 1879, at the advanced age of 72. He was joined in marriage in 1827 to Sarah Seiferd, his now bereft wife. They had S children; of these, 5 are living; viz., Michael, John C, Luther A., Jacob S. and William H. The heirs own a farm of 320 acres in this tp., which their father procured in his industrious life.

David J. licercl was born January 13, 1827, in Lawrence county, Indiana. He is a son of Henry and Nancy Ikerd, both natives of North Carolina. Our subject went to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1854, and staid there until 1856, when he came and located in this county, where he resided until the time of the war, when he was drafted as a soldier in Co. A, 57th jReg. 111. Inf. He was one year in the military service and then returned home and resumed his former occupation, namety, farming and stock-raising. He was married December 28, 1848, to Beruetta Meglemre, by whom he has had

James A. Jones is a native of Jefferson county. Ken tuck}-, where he was born September 11, 1S52, a son of Carter T.Jones; he came to this county with his parents in 1S69, and here they have since resided. The mother of James A. had one brother, who was killed while a soldier in the Union army.

Thomas J. Leiois is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he %vas born April 19, 18-31. He came to this county in 1853, where he resided until Januar}- 1, ISGl, when he enlisted as a soldier in Co. H, 2d Illinois Field Artillery, under Captain Steinbeck. He became a veteran January 1, 1864, and was mustered out August 5, 1865. He participated in the following battles; viz., Fort Donelsou, Pittsburg Landing, Chickamanga, and last at Nashville. When peace was declared he returned home and resumed his former business; viz., school-teaching. He was educated in his native couut3^

John Lightner is a native of Lancaster, Pennsjdvania, and was born Januar}' 17, 1817; is a son of William and Esther Lightner, both natives of Pennsylvania. He came to this county in 1852, and settled near Nauvoo, where he has since resided, a farmer and horticulturist. He was married May 6, 1874, to Ila Balmer, of Nauvoo, and they have had 2 children; viz., John and Minnie.

J.R. McBroom is a native of Butler county, Ohio. and born August 3,1832. He is a son of Andrew McBroom, who was a native of Kentucky. J. K. was reared and educated in Butler county, Ohio, and came to this State in 1853, and settled in Adams county, where he stayed until 1873, when he came to this county and located in Sonora tp., where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns 160 acres of land in Adams count}'. He was married in 1855 to Miss Susan A. Lowless; they have had 11 children; of these, 8 are living: viz., Mary E., John L., Olive S., Cora M., Susan M., Anna D., Milton and'Ethel K.

James Ogden is a native of Lancashire, Eng., and was born March 30, 1829. He is a son of Dennis and Elizabeth Ogden, both natives of England. James emigrated to this country with his mother in 1842, his father having died in England. He first settled in Nauvoo, where he made his home until in 1850; during the great gold excitement he went to California, where he engaged in gold mining until 1854, when he returned home, and remained during the winter of 1855; then he went again to California, where be- staid until 1859 and then returned to tins countj', where he was married to Miss Elnora Risse, of this county. Eemaiuing here until April 22, 1862, he then started with a four-mule team across the plains to Washington Territory, where lie remained until March, 1863, when he went to Idaho and engaged in mining. August of that year he started home and arrived Nov. 5, 1863.

until December of the same year, wlien he returned to this county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising, on a farm of 160 acres. Mr. Ogden has had 9 children, of whom 6 are living; viz., Eliza J., James L., Samuel J., "William A., Barnhard J. and Levi H.

Mr. O. took an active part against the Mormons. He was then living at Augusta, and was coming to Nauvoo to see his mother; when near Carthage he was impressed by the Anti-Mormons as a soldier to banish them from the State; and he participated in a skirmish the next day after the soldiers camped in Nauvoo.

Henry T. Pitt is a native of England ; and was born July 15, 1837, and was brought here by his parents, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt in '41 and first settled in N^auvoo, where they remained for one year, when they moved out in Sonora tp., where they have since resided. Dec. 12, 1S61, Mr. Pitt married Huldah J. Stevens, and they have had S children, 7 of whom are living; viz., James E., William O., Ida M., Hattie C, Henry T., John E. and Milton W.; Alice Ann is deceased. Mr. Pitt's educational facilities were much limited; notwithstanding this, he attained a fair education, mainly by reading. He is a prominent officer in the Church of the Latter-Day Saints.

John Pitt. - The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Robert Pitt, a native of Herefordshire, England. His wife's maiden name was Hannah Hill. They lived and died in the abovenamed place. Thomas Pitt, his son, was the father of John, and a native also of Herefordshire, England. He was married to Charlotte Hardwick, of his native place. He lived for several years after his marriage in Herefordshire, following work at his trade, which was that of a carpenter and millwright. When his family had increased to 10 children (two of whom however were married), he began to think of emigrating to the United States. In conformity with plans tiuis laid, he sent his wife and part of the family in the spring of 1S41, with a company of friends and acquaintances. His son John (the subject of this sketch) followed in the fall, all arriving safely in Hancock count}'. 111. The father, Thomas Pitt, after settling his affairs in England, arrived in this county in the spring of 1842, being one year after his wife's arrival with part of the family. The names of his children that came to this county were: James, now deceased ; John, the subject of this notice; Robert, who has been in California the past 30 j-ears; Henry and Walter, of Sonora tp.; and Caroline, now tlie wife of Henry Ellar, also living in Sonora tp.; Ellen, Ann, Emily and William are deceased. The names of the two children that were married and left in England were Eliza, who is now the wife of John Parsons and lives in the city of Hereford, and Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel Barnes, and lives in Mooreiiampton, all of England. Thomas Pitt did not work at his trade in this count}', but bought a small farm on sec. 11, this tp., on which he lived with his family until his death, in his 78th year, mourned by his family and a large circle ot friends. lie was a very temperate, exemplary man in all his babits, and was respected by all. His widow, now aged 82 years, is still living at the old homestead, and for her age is still very active and enjoying excellent health.

John Pitt, the snbject of this sketch, is one of the largest and most prominent farmers of Sonora township. He was born in the village of Dymmock, Gloncestershire, England, Dec. 30. 1S27. This village is sitnated on the line where three counties joined, the names of the same being Herefordshire, Gloncestershire and Worcestershire. He was in his 1-ith year when he came with his father's family to this county. His advantages for an education were verv limited, and were chiefly obtained in the subscription schools before leaving England. After arriving in this county his earl}' youth was employed in working on his father's farm. AVhen he arrived at the age of 19 years he was given " his time" by his father, when he went to Macomb, 111., where he worked on a farm during the summer; with the proceeds of this summer's work he bought him a horse. The next winter he worked at chopping wood and splitting rails, and with the proceeds of the winter's work he bought another hoi'se. He now had a team. The following spring he returned home where he rented land and put in a crop of corn, wheat, oats, etc. This crop, assisted by plenty of hard woi-k, turned ont prosperous. For the lirst few j'ears he continued to rent land, during which time he bought and ran a threshing machine for several seasons. During the past few years he has become more independent and forehanded. Pie married in March, 1853, Mary J. Chadsey, who was a native of Indiana; soon afterward he bought 40 acres of land on sec. 11, Sonora tp., where his present residence now stands. He has since added to the homestead, so that now it consists of 270 acres. He has also 313 acres in other precincts, making his landed possessions amount to 583 acres in all.

Mr. Pitt is a Kepublican in politics and has served his tp. in various local ofiices. Mr. and Mrs. Pitt have 10 children living, 5 sons and 5 danghters. Their names are as follows: James A., Charlotte J., Mary M., Wm. H. S., Lillie F., John T. F., Charles R., Eva J., Frederick C. and Cora E. James A. married Ida Datin and lives in this tp. ; Charlotte J. married Duncan Cummings and lives near Avon, Minnesota; Mary M. married Wm. Chadsey, of Eushville, 111., and lives in Hock Creek tp., this county.

Charles Stevens is a native of Maine, and was born April 6, 1828. He was taken by his parents, Daniel and Mary Stevens, to Meigs county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated ; came to this connty in 1853, where he purchased a farm of 50 acres in this tp. Here he resided nntil the war, when he enlisted as a soldier in Co. F, 151st 111. Vol. Inf , a division of General Sherman's army. Mr. Stevens served one year in the military service; he also had two brothers who were soldiers in the army, Orin and Edwin C. Grin was a soldier from the first of the war to the last. Edwin C, his other brother, participated in the first attack on Vicksburg, in which he was wounded Januai'y 2, 1863, from the effects of which he died in a few daj-s. A day or two previous to his death he wrote the following letter: -

January 4, 1803. Dear Father and Mother: - I take perhaps the last opportunity of writing you a few lines. I received a severe wound on the boat before leaving the Yazoo, by a shot from one of the Kebel skirmishers, who attacked the boat just before we left, Ivilling one instantly and wounding three others. The ball struck me in the mouth and lodged in the left side of the neck, carrying several of my teeth with it. To-day, while I was gurgling some water in my throat, it caused bleeding, and I came near bleeding to death before it pould be stopped. I have no hopes of ever getting well. If I should not, don't mourn for me, but remember that Idled an easy death, and in a good cause. Dispose of the little property I have in a way that will make you most comfortable. The expedition that moved against Vicksburg proved a failure, a great many men lost and nothing accomplished. The skirmishers fired on our boat; the fire was returned b\' our boys, killing several. The gun-boats opened on them which soon put them to flight.

Charles is of Welsh! ancestry; hi.; grandfather on his father's side was a soldier in tiie Revolutionary war under Gen. "Washington. His wife's grandfather was a private in the saine war, and was present when the Declaration of Independence was signed and declared. Mr. S. was married April 30, 1S51, to Mary J. Belious; they have had 6 cliildreu; viz., Luella T., Emma V., Orin C, Edwin C, Tillie and Ilattie D.

J. T. TJwmas, a native of Nelson county, Kentucky, was brought hy his parents, James and Abigail Tiiomas, to Adams conntj% this State, when only three years of age, where he was reared and educated. There were but nine houses in Quincy when his father came there. Our subject left his parental roof in 1S52, and came to this county and located in Sonora tp., wliere he has since resided. He is one of the most prominent farmers in that township; he owns a finp farm of over 600 acres, and a good residence. Mr. Thomas was married in 1850, to Louisa Nichols, 9 children being the fruit of this union; of tliese, 8 children are living; viz., Laura A., Lilburn T., William H., Sarah L., Naoma J., Martha E., James 11. and Purliet.

D. R. Thornher was born July 20, 1819, in this county. He is a son of Henry and Lucy Thornber. The former is a native of Lancashire, England, and the latter of Yorkshire. Our subject was reared and educated in this county, and has for several years devoted his time to scliool-teaching, all his education being attained in a common district school. Politically he is a Greenbacker, and of the most radical school. He was the man who established the ' paper known as the Labor Tribune, of Keokuk. The paper is still published, and has an extensive circulation. Mr. T. was married April 6, 1871, to Sarah J. Haigh. To them have been born 5 children, of whom i are living; viz., Lucy S., Mary E., Maggie A. and Phebe J.