Prairie Township

Prairie Township

This township, 5 - 6, is, as its name implies, all prairie land, excepting about two sections of dwarf woodland on the breaks of Long creek. Lying so far inland, it was not settled as early as those portions of the county nearer the borders; but later it began to fill up with enterprising farmers, and has now become one of the best improved townships in the county. It is favored with more railroad line than any other township. It has the T., W. & W. running across it from Elvaston to Carthage, six miles; about the same length of the T., P. & W"., northeastwardly; and fully seven miles of the Q., C. & B. running southwardly. There is no point in the township, except its extreme northwest corner, that is more than two miles from one of these roads.

Being in the center of the great Hancock prairie, it contains the highest land between the river and Crooked creek, and with Rock Creek township, constitutes the dividing line between those waters.

Its one village is the thriving and pleasant town of Elvaston, on its west line, laid out May, 1858, by Albert L. Connable and George B. Smythe, of Keokuk; E. C. A. Cushman, of Hamilton, and W. L. Judson, of Elvaston.

Among the early settlers of Prairie (most of whom had previously resided in other townships) we name William R. Hamilton, Ebenezer Rand and his sons, James Tweed, Joseph W. Hawley, L. Wells, George Wells, William A. Moore, Henry Walker, John Lively, W. H. Moore, the Ewings, Rohrboughs, etc.

Religious Peogeess

At Elvaston there are two or three Church organizations, each with small but neat and substantial church edifices. The Presbyterian and the M. E. societies have been organized ten or twelve years, and have now regular services and good and increasing congregations.

A large portion of the people of Prairie, on its eastern border, bordei-ing on Carthage, connect themselves with the Churches at the county-seat.

We continue the history of Prairie township, by giving detailed biographical accounts of the most prominent residents, so far as space permits:

Ann (Thome) Boiide, the first a native of Lancaster, Pa., whose father was Joseph Boude, a native of France, and reared in England. He came to America in 1740. Ann (Thome) Boude was a native of Scotland, and was married at Marietta, Pa. Her husband, a farmer, died in Brown county, O., and she died at the residence of one of her children in Bracken county, Ky. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Ohio and at the Academy' of Chillicothe, O. He commenced his medical studies at the age of 21 with Dr. Mackie, of Augusta, Ky., remaining with him about four 3'ears, attending one course of lectures at Lexington, Ky., and one at Philadelphia, Pa., also practicing ^\nth the Doctor the latter part of this four years. In 1826 he moved to Felicity, O., where he practiced medicine 15 years. May 20, 1821:, he married Martha B. Sharpe, a daughter of Thomas Sharpe, of Bracken county, Ky., and formerly of Maryland. Dr. B. came to this county April 8, 1854, locating on sec. 14, this tp., where he has resided to the present On settling here he bought 480 acres of land, a part of which he has since given to his sons, so that now the homestead consists of 187 acres. The improvements on this place were mostly' made by the Doctor. His children are Mary A.,. John Knox, Edgar Austin and Charles Eugene, besides 2 deceased; Thomas, who died in infancy, in Felicity, O., and Euphrasia J., who died at the age of 17, at Oxfoi'd, Butler county, O., where the Doctor resided 12 years. The first 10 years of his residence in this county the Doctor followed his profession, but since then has devoted his attention to farming, in which he has been quite successful. One season he raised 1,800 pounds of honey. Mrs. Boude died Sept. 11, 1875, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was laid at rest in the cemetery at Carthage. Dr. B. was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican. He is also a member of the Presbyterian Church, which relation he has now held for 50 years. William Clark, farmer, sec. 18; P. O., Elvaston; was born in Adams county, O., in 1823. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Gall) Clark, were natives of Ireland and Virginia, who settled in Ohio, where they both died. The subject of this sketch came to Illinois in 1847, and located on a farm in Peoria county. In 1863 he moved to this county and settled on his present estate of 100 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. C. has never been married. He is a man of unostentatious manners, and follows a quiet, unobtrusive life in the enjoyment of his home, which is properly carried on by a sister. Politically he was a strong abolitionist, and now is an earnest advocate of Republican administration.

Henry Davis was born in Bedford county, Pa., Dec. 9, 1815, and is a son of William and Maria (Putt) Davis (deceased), also natives of the same county. Mr. Davis was reared on a farm, and at the age of 18 he removed with his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, where he engaged as pilot on a steamer between Zanesville and Dresden, for three years. He then went to Jackson county, Ohio, where he operated a steam grist and saw mill for about five years. He then.

in 1846, came to tliis county and settled in Prairie tp., where he still resides, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1840 to Miss Mary Ann Tyler, hy whom he has had 8 children; of these, 4 are living; viz., Jane, James A., Maria E. and Richard Edwin. His son James A. served three years and four months in the late war, for Uncle Sam, in Co. B, 118th I. V. I., and participated in the battles of Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Tliompson's Hill and others. He was sick and at the point of death at Raymond while in the service. Pie was a member of a scouting party at Baton Rouge for some time.

John W. Eicing, farmer, sec. 20; P. O., Elvaston; is a son of John C. and Isabel (Huston) Ewing, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, who came to this State in 1847 and located in Adams county. Three years afterward they moved to this county and passed the remainder of their lives upon earth. The subject of this sketch was born in Brown county, O., in 1828. He was united in matrimony with Miss Mary, daughter of James Tweed, in 1860. To this union 7 children have been born, - Emma E., James E., AVesley C, Ella E., Eifie E., Ida M. and Alice. Mr. E. settled on his present farm in 1876, consisting of 178 acres of valuable and productive soil. He fills the oflflce of School Director, and is highly esteemed. Politically, he is always Democratic.

James F. Harper^ M. D., Elvaston, was born in York county, S. C, in 1819, and is a son of James and Nancy (Dodds) Harper, natives of that State, who settled in Obion county, Tenn., in February, 1825, where they boih died in December, 1838. The subject of this notice began the study of medicine at Tipton, Tenn., with an elder brother; studied the English and Latin branches thoroughly, and attended lectures at the medical school at Memphis, Tenn., in lS46-'7; began the practice of his profession in Tipton county, Tenn., where he continued with success nntilthe breaking out of the war, when he moved to Clayton, Adams county, 111., in October, 1862. Seven years afterward he moved to this county, settling in Elvastofi, where he has since been in successful practice; but prior to this, he had graduated at the medical school in 1S70. In 1844 he married, in Tipton county, Tenn., Miss Elizabeth S. Johnston, a native of South Carolina, and of their 5 children 2 are living : Margaret J., wife of Salem Anderson, of Adams county, who have 5 children - Nina, Frank, Robert, Lena and Everett; Ella, wife of William Mack, who have 2 children,PearI and Nellie; the deceased children are Nancy C, and 2 who died in infancy, and Martha A., wife of W. H. Marshall of this county ; she died in December, 1877, leaving 2 children - Ruby, and one not yet christened. Since 1843 the Doctor has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an Elder for 20 years, but is not now acting in that capacity. As a physician he has a successful practice, and as a citizen is highly esteemed by the community.

Oeorge Johnson, grain and coal dealer, Elvaston, was born in Franklin county, Pa., in 1816; his parents, Samuel and Hannah (Araby) Johnson, were also natives of that State, both deceased; he was married in 1840 to Miss Marv McClintock, a native also of the Kej'stone State, and in 1849 they located in Ohio, where they resided until 1866, when they moved to McDonough county, 111., and in 1875 to this county. By trade Mr. J. is a carpenter, and has devoted the most of his life to this business and farming. He established himself in his present business in 1875, in which he has a large trade. He has 7 living children: Harriet, Susan, Francis, Samuel, George, Jane and Finley.

Joseph Johnston, of the firm of "Watt & Johnston, grain dealers, Elvaston, was born in Scotland in 1832; he came to America when 16 years of age, and for many years was engaged in the cotton business in New Orleans. In 1858 he married Miss Jennie Youner, a native also of Scotland. His health failing him, he visited Europe in 1870, being absent four years. As he returned to this country he stopped one year in Detroit, Mich., and the following year he settled in Elvaston. In 1876 he was admitted to partnership with A. "Watt in their present business, in which he has since been successfully engaged. The firm deal largely in grain and hay, and are the largest business house in Elvaston. Mr. J. js a Freemason and a Presbyterian.

William N. McCall, farmer and grain dealer, is a son of Eobert S. and Jemima (Nelson) McCall, natives of Tennessee, both deceased. He was born in Washington county, Tenn., in 1817; he was married in Virginia in 1845, to Miss Sarah S. Lyon, a native of the same State; he moved to this county in 1851, and upon his present estate the following year. His farm consists of 244 acres, valued at $40 per acre. Mr. McCall has served as Supervisor, Assessor, Town Clerk and Postmaster at '* McCall's" station, named in honor of him ; he has also been Justice of the Peace seven years, and is now tilling his second term in that ofiice. Of his 11 children 9 are living: Robert F., Amanda L., John W., Florence E., George W., Tennessee A., Wm. H., David B. and Charles W. Mr. McCall is a Democrat.

Thomas McFarland was born in Clermont county, O., in May, 1837; his parents were John and Phoebe (Smith) McFarland, natives also of Ohio, the first of Scotch-Irish descent and the last of German ancestry. They came in 1842, to Adams county, 111., where Mr. McF. now lives, his wife having died there in 1844. Thomas was educated in Hancock county common schools and the seminary at Warsaw; at the age of 25 he rented land and put in 30 acres of corn. The following year he bought 65 acres more of land east of Carthage, where he lived one year. He then went to Idaho and Colorado, where he followed mining, etc., for eight months; returning, he bought 60 acres of land in Carthage tp. ; one year afterward he moved to McCall's station, where he bought 80 ncres; then moved two miles south and bought 160 acres, N. W.

quarter of sec. 16. After living here two. years, he purchased 120 acres on sec. 2, where he now resides. He now owns 288 acres of land. He has been successful in his present business, that of stock-raising. In January, 1862, he married Louisa McColm, daughter of John McColm, of Clermont county, O., and of Irish descent. They have 4 children, namely, A. Homer, Charles T., Jennie Rachel and May. Mr. McF. has served in his tp. as Collector, Road Commissioner, etc., filling nearly all tp. ofiices. He is a Democrat.

Samuel P. McGaio. - The founders of the family in America, of whom our subject is a descendant, was John McGaw, a native of the north of Ireland. In company with his brother William he emigrated to America some years previous to the Revolutionary war, and located in Abbeville district (now count}'). South Carolina. John McGaw served in the Continental army under Washington. He died in Abbeville county, leaving a large famih', namely, John, the grandfather of our subject, Samuel, Benjamin, Josiah, Moses and otliers. John, the last mentioned, was born and raised in South Carolina, where he lived until 60 years of age and over, when he came to Illinois and settled at Little York, Warren county, where he died. He married a Miss Cochran, and his 4 chi-ldren were, Agnes, the mother of the subject of this sketch, Mary, now deceased, Jane, also deceased, and John P., who is living in Bates county. Mo.

Samuel McGaw, a grandfather of Samuel P. M-cGaw, was born in. South Carolina, where he lived all his life. He married Miss Anderson, of that State, and their children were, John (the present Samuel P.'s father), Mary, James, Clark, Caroline. John was born in 1801, and Oct. 5, 182'±, he married Agnes McGaw, his cousin, at Abbeville, S. C. She was born in 1803, and in 1833 they moved to Preble county, Ohio ; in September, 1835. they came and settled in Warren county, near Little York. John died on an island above Oquawka, June 30, 1S38, leaving a family of 6 children, - Sarah, Samuel P., Mary L., John B., James A. P., and the last, ^gnes, was born after her father's death. After the settlement of the father's estate it proved to be insolvent, leaving the children in destitute circumstances. The eldest child was but 13 years old, and there was only one grown relative in the State, an aunt. The grandfather on the mother's side, John McGaw, came to Illinois and took the children with him to Warren county, and they lived with him from 1838 to 1812.

Samuel P. McGaw, the subject of this biographical notice, was born Oct. 5, 1827, and Oct. 14, 1851, he married Alvira J. Hopkins. In the fall of 1842 Mr. Mc Gaw went to his uncle's at Oquawka, Daniel M. Gordon, who had married Jane Mc Gaw, to learn with him the tailor's trade ; he served four years ; at 19 years of age he opened a shop at Oquawka and continued it six years. la November, 1852, he was elected Sherifl" of Henderson county on the Whig ticket ; at the close of his term in 1854 he bought a farm in that county west of Biggsville. Ajiril 5, 1855, liis wife died, leaving; two children, Sarah L. and John H. The last died Oct. 2, 1855. Nov .5, 1S56, Mr. McGaw married Mrs. Elizabeth P. i^nee Leslie), widow of Milton McGaw, and a native of Ohio ; her parents were from South Carolina and of Scotch-Irish descent.

In August, 1S62, S. P. and his brother John raised a full company (Co. K) of men to serve in the Union army, John being elected Captain ; they were mustered in at Qnincy, 111., and attached to the 84th 111. Vol. Inf , commanded by Col. Waters ; S. P. served with the regiment IJ years ; was at the battle of Perryville. Stone river, etc., and was severely wounded Sept. 20, 1863, at the battle of Chicknmauga: his left arm was completely shattered by a rainie-ball. He was honorably discharged Feb. 25, 1864.

Returning home to Henderson county, he sold his property, and in the spring of 1866 moved to Hancock county, locating in Montebello tp. near Elvaston, where he bought a farm ; he sold that place afterward and moved to his present farm on sec. 17, Prairie tp., of 240 acres, with a fine two-story house, good out buildinas, etc., all of which improvements were made by Mr. McGaw since he came to the place.

In politics Mr. Mc G. is a Republican ; is now Assistant U.S. Marshal to take the census of the west half of Hancock count}' ; he has held nearly every township office, including that of Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, Collector, etc. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, where he is an Elder. His wife is also a member of that Church.

Their children are : Francis A., James "W., Albert G., Gracie E., Alice L. and Mary A. Mrs. McGaw's child by her former husband is Melissa, wlio married Rev. R. T. Presly, a Presbyterian minister living at Mt. Sterling. Sarah L. married Thos. S Riddell, and lives near her father's. Frank is attending college at Carthage, and Alice L. is at Urbana, Ohio, attending school and boarding witli her uncle.

Ehenezer Rand was born in Marblehead, Mass., Marcli 26, 1804. His father's name was Enoch Rand, and a native of N. H.,and his mother's name was Mar}' Hills, married in 1803. About thi-ee years after his marriage, Enoch Rand, a carpenter by trade, went on board at Rye, N. H., the ship Congo, bound for the coast of Africa, and was never afterward heard from, ship and all on board supposed to have been lost at sea. The widow was left quite destitute, but managed to support herself, son and mother, by weaving cotton cloth at eight and ten cents per yard - that being before the advent of cotton factories.

Mr. R. well remembers the war of 1812-'15, between the U. S. and Great Britain, being then about 8 years old. Could see from his house in Marblehead the British frigates cruising in the bay, and once saw the Constitution chased by two of them into the harbor.

At 14 Mr. R. was apprenticed to the boot and shoe making business, which he followed for many years, both tliereand in Cartilage. On Christmas day, 1S26, he was married to Miss Hannah Caller, a daughter of Capt. Tiiomas Cailey, at Marblehead. In 1830 both families removed to Illinois, stopping at Lewistown, but in 1831 settling at Camp Point, in Adams Co. In 1837 he removed to Carthage, and in 1851 bought land in Prairie township, two miles southwest of town, where he has since resided. Mr. R. has been three times married, his first and second wives being sisters, Hannah and Elizabeth Cailey. His present wife, ?iee Miss Joanna C. Lawton, is the second daughter of Rev. John Lawton, of Carthage, to whom he was married Apr. 22, 1812.

James P. Sincle, farmer, sec. S; P. O., Elvaston; is a native of France, where he was born in 1833. He emigrated to America in 1855, and located in Bear Creek tp. The following year he was married to Miss Justine Jolidon, a native of France. Subsequently he moved to Missouri, then to Pleasant Hill tp.. Pike Co., from which point he made his final settlement on his present estate, consisting of 360 acres, valued at $-40 per acre. He has had 10 children, 9 of whom are living - Peter, Mary, Frank, George, Ellen, Agnes, Annie, Alice and Jessie, the two last, twins. Family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. S. has by his own energy, industry and economy succeeded in securing his large farm. Politically he binds himself to no party, but casts his vote for the man lie deems worthy of support.

John Somerville, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 14-, was born in Blair county, Pa., at the village of HoUidaysburg, Feb. 22, 1828; his parents were James and Susan (Stover) Somerville, the first a native of HoUidaysburg and the other of Maryland, near Fredericksburg. At the age of 15, John, with the rest of the faniily, came to Wayne county, Ind.; he received his education at the public schools in Pennsylvania and Indiana; was employed during his early years in farming; in 1849 he came to Hancock county, locating a^t Carthage, and worked at fiirining; the following year his parents came to this county and settled in Carthage; his mother died in 1855. - In 1853 his father went to California and returned in 1856; he died in 1871; both are buried in the old Carthage cemetery. In July, 1861, John enlisted in the 16th 111. Vol. Inf., as wagon-master; March 9, 1862, he enlisted in the 7th Mo. Cav., with which he served 3 years and 11 days, as Orderly Sergeant. Aug. 16, 1862, he was in the battle of Lone Jack, and Dec. 1863, at that of Perrv Grove, Ark. His company was^continually employed as skirmishers at Mark's Mills, Ark.-; he and 120 wagons were captured, but in 11 days he escaped while the guard was taking him and some others for water.

the wife of James Byers, of Clark county, Mo. ; "William, who was a Captain in the 16th Reg. Ill . Inf., and since the war has been connected with the internal revenue service; Mary Jane, now the wife of John Mofhtt. of Chicago; Maria, now the wife of C. E. Steadman, a lawyer at Osage Mission. Kan.; Susan, wife of J. W. Ilobbs, in Keokuk; and Hattie, who is unmarried.

John Soraerville was married to Sarah Huntoon, April 7, 1870, and they have one child, and Mrs. S. has one by a former hu.sband, Mr. Bentley. The names of these 2 children are William S. Bentley and Susan Somerville.

William Stewart, farmer, sec. 9; P. O., McCall Station ; is a native of Ireland, where he was horn in 1815. He was married in Scotland in 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, a native of that country. The following year they crossed the sea to America, and located in Steubenville, O., where he resided until he moved to his present home in 1S67. His farm ot 250 acres is valued at $50 per acre. This he has secured by his untiring energy, industry and economy. When he stepped upon the "land of the free" he had not a dollar to his name. He is the father of 12 children, 8 of whom are living - Sarah. William, Jane, Thomas, Mary, John, Catharine and Martin. In politics Mr. S. voted with the old-line Whigs, and now strongly endorses the Kepublican administration.

Henry M. Walker, farmer, sec. 27; P. 0., Carthage; was born in Campbell county, Ky., March 21, 1S27. His parents, George and Eachel (Clark) Walker, were natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and emigrated to this county in 1833, with their family; but prior to this, he made a visit in 1831, and entered a quarter-section of land, and was among the earliest pioneers to make a settlement in Walker tp., where he resided until his death in October, 1879, in the 76th year of his age; the widow and mother survives in the 72d year of her age.

The subject of this sketch was married Sept. 22, 1853, to Miss Sophronia Ann Rankii!, who was born June 8, 1833, in Harrison county, Ky.. daughter of James S. and Sarah Josephine (Laughlin) Rankin, both natives of Kentucky, and of Irish and German descent. The}' are the parents of 7 children, 6 of whom are living, namely: Charles W., born Dec. 30, 1855; George Sanford, Feb. 4, 1857; Franklin Wilson, March 28, 1858; John H. C, Aug. 29, 1861; Oscar PL, Oct. 17. 1862, and Ptachel Josephine, March 21^ 1866. Benjamin Washington was born Feb. 22, 1876, and died three days afterward.

Mr. W. settled on his present estate in 1866, where his home farm consists of 320 acres. He is the largest landholder in the township, owning altogether about 1,000 acres; he is also an extensive stock-raiser and dealer. In 1849 he went to California, where he prospected for three years and was successful. He is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Clinreh.

Feb. 4, 1820. His marriage to Miss Sarah Donald, of the same county, occurred in 1845. Four years later he came to this county, and engaged in farming in Durham tp. His wife died in 1863, and in 1866 he moved to, and established his present business at, Elvnston, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged. The junior partner of this firm was admitted to the grain and hay trade in 1876, and the house control large shipments of grain to various points. Mr. W. was again married, to Miss Fannie C. "Wilcox, a native of Connecticut. To this union 2 children, Lyman and Herman, have been born. Mr. W. is a member of the M. E. Church. Jiidge Wesley Williams was connected as follows: Roger Williams is thetirstin the line of ancestry of the "Williams family that can he traced in this country with any certainty. The first residence of the family in America was in Brunswick county, Va. The family is of Welsh descent and came from "Wales or Scotland before the American Revolution. He is said to have been married seven times and raised a large family of children, who have since scattered to all parts of the United States. He was killed at an advanced age and his body for.nd secreted in the hollow of a tree. He was supposed to have been killed b}' some one of his negroes. The date of his death is not known to the writer.

Hukey Williams, one of the sons of Roger Williams, lived in Brunswick county, Ya., between the Meherin and Nottoway rivers. The date of his birth is not known, or whether he was born in this country, or before his father emigrated. He was married to Miss Sarah Jones, who was a sister of Roger Jones and William Jones, also of Welsh extraction, either in 1762 or 1763. The Jones family are said to have been related to Paul Jones, who distinguished hin^self by his bravery in the war with Great Britain. That family resided in Granville county, X. C. Hukey Williams, not long before the birth of his son John Williams, and in the year 1761, was strangely murdered and robbed by two desperate men. The circumstances of the afiiiir, as handed down, are these: He traded principally in the town of Petersburg, Va. On his way there one morning he heard the cries of a woman in distress a short distance from the road, in the thick pine woods. He immediately urged forwai'd to her assistance and found the woman and two men who were about violating her person. He assaulted them and they fled, leaving the woman. He took her behind him on his horse and learning that she was the wife of a respectable citizen, carried her to her house, where he tarried for dinner at the urgent request of the lady and her husband, after which he proceeded on his way to Petersburg. This was the last time he was ever seen alive, and not returning home, inquiry was made and it was ascertained that he never arrived in Petersburg. Search was then made along the road and his dead body was found about two miles from the house where he took dinner, a short distance from the road, sunk in a little pool of water in the creek. It was recognized, taken home and buried, but no clue led to the discover}' of the assassins until about eighteen months afterward, when the gentleman whose wife had been rescued on riding into Petersburg discovered Mr.Williams' horse hitched in the outskirts of the town, which he immediately recognized. He went into town and gave information of his discovery, when the officers and citizens placed persons to watch the horse and see who should come after it. Toward evening two men came to where the horses were fastened and one of them took this horse and the other another one near by. They were both arrested, and the gentleman's wife was sent for, who on sight recognized and identified them as the two men who had attempted to violate her person and from whom the deceased had rescued her. They were tried and convicted of the murder of H.Williams and were both hung in Petersburg, but before execution they confessed the murder. They said thej' killed Mr. "Williams because he assaulted them and rescued the woman, and also for his horse and his money. The horse and his watch were all that was recovered. After his death his wife went back to her relatives in Granville, N. C, and took her son, John Williams, with her. She subsequently married Mr. John Bobbit, by whom she had 3 sous, Archibald and Claiborne. The Hon. Archibald Williams, late of Quincy, 111., was named after the first. Ai'ch Bobbit died while young. Claiborne Bobbit about 1857 was living in the extreme southern part of Tennessee.

John Williams, son of Hukey Williams, was born Sept 19, 1764, in Brunswick county, Ya. After his father's death, and while an infant, he was taken by his mother to Granville county, N". C. He was raised by his uncle, Poger Jones, with whom he lived and clerked in his store until her marriage. He was married to Amelia Gill, in Franklin county, N. C, at her father's residence, on Nov. 15, 17S7, and in the same year emi2:rated and settled in Lincoln county, Ky., where he resided until his oldest children were born. He then moved to Montgomery count}-, Ky., where all his other children were born, and where he remained until the spring of 1831, when he moved to Adams county. 111., where he remained until his death, which took place Oct. 11, 1833, from the fever and ague. When he came to Illinois he intended settling in Hancock county, but was induced not to do so on account of the Black Hawk war. He never was a very stout man, but never had a gray hair or lost a tooth. His hair was curly and black as jet. He was a man of great sobriety, strict order and piety, having been nearly all his life a very zealous and exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was aged 72 years and 22 days at his death. His wife, Amelia, the daughter of Joseph Gill, was born in Franklin county. May 28, 1772. She died at the residence of her daughter, Amelia Thompson, in New Hartford, Pike county, in the summer or fall of 1852. Her mother's name was Owens before marriage. The Gills and Owens were all of Welsh descent. The following is an account of the children of John and Amelia Williams:

Prairie

Joseph Gill Williams, born in Lincoln county, Ky.,Jan. 9, 1789. He died Feb. IS, 1857, of rheumatism, on Licking river, near the mouth of Beaver creek, in Bath. county, Ky., since which most ail of his children have departed this life. Wesley Williams, born in Lincohi county, Ky., on March 21:, 1792; died at the residence of his daughter, Isabel C. Spangler. He came to Illinois about the year 1823, first settling in Quincy, 111., and afterward coming to Hancock county at its first organization, in 1825 or 1826. Aug. 14, 1829, he was appointed the first Clerk of the Circuit Court by the Hon. Kichard M. Young, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The first Courts were held at Montebello, the site of which is a few miles above the city of Plamilton. When Carthage was made the county-seat, in 1835, he moved and settled there. He continued to reside there for many years, and at one time was the incumbent of most of the county offices. He was married twice; first to Elizabeth Ayres, in Bourbon county, Ky., April 2, 1816, and second to Ruth Scoby, June 9, 1831. Sarah Jones Williams, born in Lincoln county, Ky., Dec. 11. 1793; married Jesse Steel, and died in Adams county in 1851. John A. Williams, born in Montgomery county, Ky., Nov. 15, 1795; married Miss Ann Alphrey in 1826, and removed to Adams county, 111., near Liberty, where he died, in 1845, from the effects of a fall from a house being raised. Francis T. Williams was born Sept. 20, 1797; now deceased. Amelia Williams was born July 15, 1799; married Thomas Tliompsen in Quincy, 111., in the fall of 1831, and is now deceased. Archibald Williams was born June 10, 1801, and was married to Miss Nancy Kemp; died at his residence in Quincy 111, Sept. 21, 1863. Isabel Williams was born March 27, 1803, and died Dec. 10. 1827, in Kentucky. Eobert E. Williams was born May 6, 1805, and died Aug. 22, 1841, in Quincy, 111. Ann G. Williams was born Sept. 6, 1808, and was married to John Manier Dec. 18, 1828; died at her home in Mt. Sterling, Ky., Sept. 16, 1863. William Thomas Williams was born April 10, 1810, and is still living, near Mt. Vernon, Ills. George W. Williams was born Aug. 11, 1812, and is still living, near Quincy, 111.

Wesley Williams, son of John and Amelia Williams, had 8 children, as follows: Eli H. Williams, born June IS, 1817; now residing in Carthage, 111. Samuel Otis Williams, born Aug. 20, 1819, and died in Carthage, Nov. 2S, 1844. John N. Williams was born Nov. 7, 1821. Mary A. Williams was born May 5, 1824; died May 14, 1840. Isabel Cutler Williams was born Aug. 22, 1832, and was married to Samuel L. Spangler Sept. 26, 1850. Wesley C. Williams was born Aug. 12, 1833, and was married to Miss Mary C. Morse June 6, 1860. Olive Catharine Williams was born June 7, 1835, and married to Henry S. Baker, July 16, 1857. Henry Clay Williams was born July 5, 1837, and died Sept. 5, 1839.

Judge Wesley Williams was one of the earliest and most respected pioneer settlers of this county. He was born in Lincoln county, Ky., March 24, 1792, and w-as the second child of John and

Amelia (Gill) Williams, who were married ia Franklin county, N". C.^Nov. 15, 17S7, and immediately settled in Lincoln county, Ky., where they resided until 179i, when they removed to Montgomery county in that State. They had a family of 12 children, most of whom settled at an early day in Adams county, 111.

Our subject served one campaign in the war with Great Britain, and also in some of the Indian wars with Gen. Harrison; he also filled many offices of trust and honor. While in Kentucky he was elected and commissioned as an Ensign of theJ14th regiment, July 17, 181S, and was commissioned Captain of the 71st regiment Nov. 6, 1821, by Gov. John Adair. Jul}^ 2, 1824, he was commissioned Lieutenant of the Sith regiment. In 1825 or 1826 he came to Illinois, locating at Quincy Sept. 6, 1827. He was commissioned one of the first Justices of the Peace of Adams county, by Gov. Ninian Edwards.

Upon the organization of this county (Hancock) he removed to Montebello, where the first Courts were held. He was appointed the first Circuit Clerk, Oct. 27, 1829, which oflSce he held till 1811. The first Circuit Court was held at the house of James White, Esq., at the head of the Lower or Ues Moines Rapids. He also was appointed the first Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, and filled that oflice until 1837. He was also Judge of Probate from Nov. 21, 1829, to April. 1836; was appointed Recorder of the county Nov. 21, 1829, and re-appointed Jan. 15, 1831, and held the oflice till 1838; was commissioned Notary Public Jan. 18, 1831; Mavis, 1833, he was appointed Postmaster at Carthage, by Wm. T. Barry, then Postmaster-General: in 1835 he was elected Recorder, the oflice having then been made elective; in 1853 he was elected Justice of the Peace for Carthage precinct, and in 1854 re-elected; in June, 1857, he was elected Police Magistrate of Carthage, which oflice he held until about 1868, when he removed to Elvaston. When Carthage was made the county-seat he moved to that place, and attended the first Circuit Court, held June 4, 1833. He soon afterward purchased several lots here and built the first house erected in Carthage; it was located on the north side of the Public Square near the present postoflice. His son, Wesley C, born Aug. 12, 1833, was the first white child born in the town.

Besides devoting so much of his time to the service of the public. Judge Williams was at diiferent times extensively interested in and identified with the business interests of the county. He built and operated the old Crooked creek mill near the bridge ou the Macomb road; also engaged in mercantile business at Carthage, and followed farming to some extent.

He was married April 2, 1816, in Bourbon county. Ivy., to Elizabeth Ayers, and they had 4 children: Eli H., of Carthage; S. O., now deceased; John W., of Kentucky; and Mary E., deceased. His second marriage was to Mrs. Ruth Scoby, June 9, 1831, in this county, and they had also 4 children: Isabel, now the wife of Samuel C. Spangler; Wesley C, Olive C, now the

Judge Williams died at his son-in-law's, Sam'l L. Spangler, May 12, 1870. In all the public offices which he filled he showed great competency and abilitj-, and won many friends by his integrity. He was of a lively and genial disposition and possessed great conversational powers. His great mental capacity fitted him for almost any position. For many years he was a member of the Methodist Church. As in his private life and business relations, so he was in religion, free from all ostentation. He was also a member of the Masonic order, and was buried with full Masonic honors.

Wesley Cutler Williams, second son of Wesley W. and Ruth (Scoby) Williams, now re. ides on sec. 15, Prairie tp. He received his early education at the common subscription schools of this county ; in 1S52, when about 19 years of age, he went to California, overland, leaving liere March 7 and arriving Sept. 12 at Colusa and Red Bluft', Cal. When near Humboldt he bought two ponies for another man and himself, and in company with another of the train, struck out for themselves. While camping out one night the Indians stole their ponies. On waking in the morning and finding them gone, they commenced looking around for them. Mr. Williams was the only man who had a revolver, and one of the party asked him for it, saying he would go and look for water, leaving him in a small patch of sage brush. Soon hearing a hallooing, he looked over the brush and saw his two comrades chased by 12 Indians. He fell in with the others and ran, expecting to be overtaken and killed every minute. Mr. W. says he tried to pray, and the only thing he could think of to say was, "Now 1 lay me down to sleep!" They finally outran the Indians, and footed the rest of the distance, some 300 miles. While in California he was engaged nearly all the time in the freighting business, in which he was quite successful. In 1S50 he returned to this county, and June 6, 1S59, he married Miss Mary E. Moore, daughter of Andrew Moore, an old settler in this county, who located in Bear Creek tp., in 1835. He and his wife now reside in Marion county.

The subject of this sketch has principally been engaged in farming and raising and dealing in stock. In politics he is a Democrat. He served as Supervisor of Bear Creek tp., in lS71-'2, and in the town of Carthage in 1873 ; in the spring of 1880 he was elected to that oflice in tlietp. where he now resides. The first time he was elected on an independent ticket, but the last two times on the Democratic.

only for Lis business integrity, but for his social qualities and conversational powers, as is proven by his being elected as Supervisor in a Republican townsliip, where they voted for the man and not the " party."

George Wills, farmer, sec. 30; P. O., Elvaston; was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1830. In 1842 he came to this county with his parents, Lorenzo and Lucy A. (Lowry) "Wills, both natives of the same State. They settled in Carthage tp., and in 1846 moved to Prairie, and located one mile east of Elvaston. His house was open for entertainment to travelers, and was the first hotel in the place. He was wideh' known throughout the county, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. Both died at this place. The subject of this sketch was married in 1851, to Martha, daughter of Thomas Bedo, of Anderson county. He erected his present residence in 186S, and is largely and successfully engaged in farming. His farm of one-half of sections 31 and 32 is valued at $40 per acre. He also has a farm of 160 acres in Montebello tp., and 20 acres in Bear Creek. His educational advantages were very limited, and his success is entirely due to his industry and economy. He is a member of the Town Board, and is a well-known and highly-respected citizen.

William L. Whittlesey, County-House Superintendent, was born in Butler county, O., in 1837, and is a son of Samuel and Kosanna (Lewis) Whittlesey, who emigrated to Illinois in 1850 and located in Adams county, where Mrs. W. died Feb. 3, 1864. The same year Mr. W. and children came to this county, where they resided until his death, Jan. 15, 1875. The subject of this sketch was married in 1863 to Miss Mahala Prather, a native of Indiana, and of their 5 children 3 are living: Sarah E., James E. and Ida B. Mr. W. was elected to his present position in 1877, which he has filled to the highest degree of satisfaction. Politicall}' he has always been a stalwart Democrat, and endorses the principles of that party. The family are members of the M. E. Church.