Montgomery County, IL. History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part II, pages 291-299, East Fork Township, ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm ==================================================================== Please direct any questions to Montgomery County Illinois web site http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmontgo/ or Bond County Illinois Web site. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilbond/ [Page 291] John P. BECK, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., March 6, 1837, … William S. BARRY, farmer, P.O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County September 18, 1841, … [Page 292] BARRY was born in Montgomery County, Ill., August 17, 1843. She is the mother of five children, four of whom are now living, viz., Minnie V., wife of Frederick COFFEEN, of East Fork Township; Robert F., at home; Hattie, died August 28, 1867; Ina M., home; Fred, at home. Wife, of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. BARRY has served as Highway Commissioner. Politically, he is independent. Gustavus F. COFFEEN, farmer, was born in Watertown, Jefferson Co.., N. Y., June 19, 1820, to Frederick and Elcena (HUBBARD)COFFEEN, he born in Schuyler, Oneida Co., N. Y., about 1795, a farmer by occupation, and at one time was a hotel keeper, and dying about 1860. His wife, Elcena, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1798, and died about 1876. She was the mother of six children, four of whom are now living, and of whom Gustavus is the oldest child living. His paternal grandfather, Henry COFFEEN, was the first settler in Watertown, N. Y., having penetrated from Lowville through the woods with his goods and family, drawn by an ox-team. He erected his hut on the ground just west of Iron Block. He was a very prominent merchant and speculator in land. Gustavus, the subject of this sketch, received a … … George C. CAMPBELL, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Perry County, Mo., August 13, 1824, to Samuel and Margaret (COWAN) CAMPBELL, he born in North Carolina, in Lincoln County, June 17, 1793, was a tanner by trade, but in 1819 emigrated to Missouri, and engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred October 1, 1864. His wife, Margaret, was also a native of North Carolina, born in Rowan County May 25, 1795, and is still living in Kansas, and is the mother of nine children, of whom George, our subject, was the third child; received his education in the common schools of Missouri. He remained upon the homestead until he was twenty-four years of age, and entered upon his career in life as a farmer, in Perry County, Mo. In March, 1864, he removed to Montgomery County, and purchased 100 acres of land, which he disposed of five years later, and removed to his present place of residence, where he has about one [Page 293] hundred and twenty acres of choice farm land under cultivation. He was married in Missouri, October 31, 1849, to Miss Mary E. SMITH, who was born in Cape Girardeau County, Mo., February 9, 1825. They have four living children, viz., Margaret J., Catharine E., Lamirah, Amanda M. and two infants deceased. Mrs. CAMPBELL is a daughter of Matthew and Margaret (WALLACE) SMITH, natives of North Carolina, both deceased. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. CAMPBELL are connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. C. was formerly a Republican, but now considers himself independent. Entered the service during the rebellion with Capt. A. C. BISHOP, in Company H, of the Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; remained in service about one year, and was in the engagement at Mobile. Hardy F. JONES, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in South Carolina April 24, 1813, to ... Henry M. LUDEWICK, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, July 14, 1837, to Daniel F. and Nancy (CRESS) LUDEWICK. He was born in Cobarrus County, N. C., December 2, 1800. He emigrated to the State of Illinois, and settled in East Fork in 1831. During his life, he was engaged in farming, and at the time of his death had succeeded in accumulating eight hundred acres of land, most of which he entered, and made all improvements on the same. His death occurred May 4, 1849. He was of German descent. The mother of our subject was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., October 25, 1806, and died October 12, 1852; was of German descent. She was the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to man and womanhood. Of the thirteen children [Page 294] our subject was the seventh child. His early life was spent in receiving such an education as the common schools of his day afforded, and in assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm. He left home at the age of twenty-one, and embarked on his career in life as a farmer, upon eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timber. His farm is located in Section 11, and by his energy and business habits he has succeeded in accumulating 340 acres of land. In 1862, on the 21 st of February, in Montgomery County, he married Cynthia WILLIAMSON. She was born in Montgomery County in 1845. She is the daughter of John D. and Nancy G. (CARD) WILLIAMSON. Mr. and Mrs. LUDEWICK have had five children, three of whom are now living, viz., Ina O., the wife of Henry H. WHITTEN, of Fillmore Township; Lowell W., at home; Olive Maud, at home; Robert Grant and Walter, dead. Member of the order of A., F. & A. M., at Irving, No. 455. Wife is a member of the Lutheran Church. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party. William C. McDAVID, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., March 1, 1820, to William and Elizabeth (JOHNSON) McDAVID. He was born in Scott County, Va., in September, 1790; when a boy, was taken to Missouri by his brother, and afterward went to Tennessee, where he joined the Seminole war, and also served through the war of 1812, under Jackson. During his life, followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1832, served six months in the Black Hawk war. In January, 1820, he emigrated from Tennessee to Montgomery County, and settled in East Fork Township, on the same farm that Thomas W., his son, is now residing on. His death occurred February 14, 1866. His marriage took place in Tennessee in 1819. His wife, and mother of our subject, was born in Tennessee September 15, 1800, and is now residing on the same farm where, with her husband, she settled in 1820; she is now enjoying good health. She is mother of nine children, of whom … James B. McDAVID, farmer, P. O. Hills-[Page 295] boro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., March 31, 1821, to William and Elizabeth (JOHNSON) McDAVID (see history J. T. McDAVID), and his early childhood was … T. W. McDAVID, preacher and farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., September 6, 1833, to William and Elizabeth (JOHNSON) McDAVID. His early life was … [Page 296] … William A. McDAVID, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., April 23, 1854, to James B. and Mary A. McDAVID. (See history.) His early childhood was … Hiram SHEPHERD, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., August 18, 1830, to Pleasant and Anna (BROWN) SHEPHERD. He was born in North Carolina in 1803. … [Page 297]... Joel C. TRAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 6, 1814, to James and Nancy (CARDWELL) TRAYLOR, natives of Virginia. He died about 1850, aged … Aaron C. WILLIAMS, music teacher and farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Orange, Essex Co., N. J., August 13, 1830, to Ebenezer and Abigail (CRANE) WILLIAMS. This family is of Welsh descent, and emigrated to America early in the sixteenth century. Matthew WILLIAMS, the first, was born in 1651; supposed to have been born at Branford, Conn.; died in 1732. His wife, Ruth, died July 27, 1724, aged sixty-seven years. Matthew, the second, was born in Newark, N. J., in 1694, and died in 1772. His wife was Abby BROWN, daughter of Thomas BROWN. Isaac WILLIAMS was the oldest son of their six children, born November 6, 1722, and was the paternal great-grandfather of our subject. His wife was Eunice PIERSON; they had eight children; Aaron was the fifth child; he was born July 5, 1759; married Mary DODD, by whom he had five children, three of whom lived to be over eighty years of age. Ebenezer, the father of our subject, was the second son, born January 7, 1792. He was a carpenter by occupation, and served his apprenticeship in the city of New York. He died February 14, 1874. Two brothers and one sister of [Page 298] his were born, and lived to a good old age, and eventually died in the same house. His wife, Abigail B. CRANE, was born in 1795, and is still living. She is the mother of nine children, only four of whom are now living, and of whom Aaron, the subject of this sketch, is next to the youngest child living. His early childhood was employed in attending the public schools of his native county, and in working with his father at his trade. At the age of eighteen he commenced the study of music, and soon after began to teach the same in the city of New York, where he remained until ill health compelled him to give up that occupation. In 1854, he turned his face toward the setting sun, and located in Jacksonville, Ill., where he again began to teach music, at which occupation he continued until 1871, in many of the principal cities of the East and West, Viz., New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Quincy, Springfield and Jacksonville. In the spring of 1871, he went to Montgomery, Ill., where he purchased 160 acres of land, and in connection with the duties of his profession, he engaged in farming. He has now in his possession a farm consisting of 233 acres of choice farm land, located about two miles east of Hillsboro. In the spring of 1882, he erected a large and commodious farm residence, which is an honor to him as an architect, and is spoken of as one of the finest farmhouses in the county. He was married in Hillsboro, November 25, 1864, to Miss Jane Elizabeth BROWN, a native of Montgomery County, born January 8, 1837. They have four children living, viz., Edward E., Margaret A., Mary G., Alfred A. and Elizabeth Jeanette, who died in infancy. Mrs. WILLIAMS was a daughter of Maj. William and Elizabeth (CRAIG) BROWN, natives of North Carolina, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMS are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. WILLIAMS is identified with the Republican party. He is one of those men who always take part in all progressive movements favoring the improvement of the county, and especially in the advancement of religious and educational privileges, and is a warm advocate of the cause of temperance. Robert A. WILLIAMSON, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., March 12, 1837. This family are of Irish descent, and emigrated to America at a very early day in this country's history. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Virginia, where he carried on farming, and raised a family of nine children, with whom he removed to Montgomery County, Ill., in the year 1835, where he died September 20, 1861, aged about seventy years. His wife, Jane DAVIDSON, is of Welsh descent, and was born March 15, 1797, and is still living, enjoying as good, if not better, health, than persons usually do who have attained her age. Of her once large family six are still living, and of whom John, the father of our subject, was the oldest child, and was born December 15, 1814, and since he came to Montgomery County with his parents has continued in the county, engaged more or less extensively in farming, and was at one time considered one of the leading men of the county, but has, to a certain extent, retired from active labor and given way to younger men, who may never be able to display more energy, enterprise and general activity than has Mr. WILLIAMSON, who, at the present time, is enjoying good health, and bids fair to live still many years, surrounded by his children, and enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life and successful career. His wife, Nancy G. CARD, was born in Kentucky February 14, 1819, is still living, and is also hale and hearty. She is the mother of eleven children, of whom five are still living, viz., [Page 299] Robert A., our subject; Otis M. (see history); Cynthia J., wife of H. M. LUDEWICK; William C., a farmer living in Butler Township; Arra E., wife of W. C. WOODWARD, living on the homestead. Robert A., the oldest child and subject of this sketch, remained upon the homestead farm until he reached the age of twenty years, assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits, and in attending school in the neighboring log schoolhouse, to which his educational privileges were limited. He has, however, by contact with the world, close observation and reading, succeeded in obtaining more than an ordinary practical education. He entered upon his career in life as a house builder, comparatively a poor man; but, having a stout heart and an energetic spirit, he determined to make his own way in the world. He remained engaged in house building in different localities for about twelve years, and then went to Colorado, where he remained tow years engaged in mining. He then entered the service during the rebellion in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with Capt. James G. SEWARD; regiment commanded by Col. D. C. SMITH. He remained in the service until the close of the war, when he returned home, and took upon himself the duties of a farm life, at which he has since remained engaged. He has sixty-nine acres of choice farm and timber land under a high state of cultivation, which shows Mr. WILLIAMSON to be a practical farmer. Although he grows all the usual farm crops, he makes a specialty of grain, and raising stock in a small way. He was married in Montgomery County, September 20, 1866, to Mary E. (CROSS) LUDEWICK, who was born August 18, 18358. She is the mother of two living children, viz., Della HEED and Katy HAYS; four children died in infancy. Mrs. Williamson is a daughter of Absalom C. and Katy (FOGLEMAN) CRESS, natives of North Carolina, deceased. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. WILLIAMSON are connected with the Lutheran Church. He is also a member of the A., F. & A. M. at Irving. Politically, he is identified with the Republican part. He is an energetic and enterprising man, and socially enjoys the highest esteem of the entire community. He is a public-spirited man, always interested in any county or public enterprise, and for the advancement of religious and educational privileges....