Montgomery County, IL. History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part II, pages 235-243, Zanesville 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 235] William A. BEATTY, farmer, P. O. Raymond, born in Grayson County, Ky., January 29, 1847; … R. B. BOWSHER, farming and livery stable, P. O. BARRETT. Jesse, the father of this gentleman, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, in 1812; … James W. CLINE, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Montgomery County February 27, 1837, to Reuben H. and Nellie (SMITH) CLINE. Mr. Cline’s early days were spent in receiving an education and assisting in tilling the soil of his father’s farm; he re-[Page 236] mained with his father to the time of his death, and for a few years previous to his death, took the entire management of the same; in 1859, removed to Bond County and hired out as a farm hand, ... William COLEMAN, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Crawford County, Mo., August 25, 1842, to Ephraim COLEMAN and Nancy (BEST); father was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1812; during his life, followed farming, and now resides in Montgomery County, Ill., with his children; mother was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1813; she died in 1877, in Missouri; parents had eleven children, eight of whom are living - four boys and four girls; subject was third child. He received his education from the neighborhood schools of Fayette County, Ind., at the time living with his uncle, Thomas COLEMAN; commenced life by trading in stock in Missouri in 1863, and continued until 1870; shipped to St. Louis, where he engaged as brakeman on the Missouri & Pacific, and, at the end of a year, was given a train, and acted as conductor until 1875, when he commenced farming in Osage County, Mo., by renting; in 1877, he bought a farm of 105 acres in same county, where he continued until 1881, when he sold out and removed to his present residence, and is now the owner of eighty acres of well-improved land, upon which he has a good residence, good barns, etc.; he intends to make stock-raising a specialty. In 1878, he married, in Missouri, Miss Susan PHELPS, a native of Osage County, Mo., born in 1842, daughter of Charles PHELPS, of Missouri; they have no children; wife is a member of Christian Church; in politics, is a Democrat; he gave up railroading because he disliked it. John J. CLARKSON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Walker County, GA., June 30, 1845, to J. P. and Lavina (MASSA) CLARKSON; father was born in Georgia October 9, 1822, and died December 24, 1844, in Georgia; his life was spent in Georgia, engaged in agricultural pursuits; mother was born in Lawrence County, S. C., February 25, 1826, and now lives with her only child, our subject. Mr. CLARKSON came to Montgomery County in 1850 with his mother, and, in the [Page 237] fall of 1851, removed to Macoupin County, where ... James DEULEN, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Green County, Ill., October 30, 1849, to Kelen and Sarah (DAWSON) DEULEN; father was born in Greene County; was a farmer, and died in January, 1875, aged about fifty-five years; mother was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and now lives in Iowa; ... William FOOKS, deceased, was born in London, England, in 1815; he was educated in London; married and came to Bunker Hill, Macoupin Co., Ill., in about 1845; his wife died soon after he settled in Illinois. In 1860, at Bunker Hill, he married Jane TAGGART, his second wife. In 1864, he, with his family, removed to her present residence, and, during his life, accumulated in Montgomery County about two hundred and twenty-five acres; was a very successful farmer, and also very industrious; he was a member of the Presbyterian Church; he was a Republican; a man who believed in doing right in every respect; he died in 1875; his children by his first wife were three, all now dead; his children by his last marriage were four, three living - George, Fanny and Jane - all at home, George being the one who carries on the farm; family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. FOOKS took great interest in making his home comfortable and caring for the happiness of his family. W. C. GALBRAITH, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Wayne County, Tenn., June 14, 1834, to Alexander and Margaret (SNODGRASS) GALBRAITH; father was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1808; was a farmer; he died in December, 1871, in Johnson County, Ill., where he had resided for ten years previous to his death. In an early day, he took great interest in politics; was Justice of the Peace of Wayne County, Tenn., for a term of twelve years; was an Old Time Whig; he was son of Thomas GALBRAITH, a native of North Carolina, son of John GALBRAITH, a native of Scotland. Subject's mother was born in North Carolina in 1800, and died in 1854, in Macoupin County, Ill. Parents had one girl and four boys, subject being third child. Subject lived in Wayne County, Tenn., until he was fourteen years of age, and there attended school; in 1848, with his parents, re-[Page 238] moved to Henderson County, Ill.; in 1850, removed to Macoupin county, where he received the most of his education from the neighborhood schools. In 1855, he hired out as farm hand; in 1856, rented a piece of land until 1859, when he bought land in Montgomery County and removed to this county and settled in what is now known as Pitman Township, where he remained until the spring of 1864, when he sold out and bought land in Zanesville Township, and in six months, sold out an bought another farm adjoining the land he now owns; in 1867, bought his present residence and farm, and has made all the improvements on it, there was not even a house there; he built a comfortable farm residence, and upon his place has a pair of stock scales, and everything for a first-class farmer, and now is the owner of 120 acres, making wheat a specialty, and trades some in stock. In 1857, in Macoupin county, he married Miss Lydia Ann GRAY, a native of Macoupin County, born in 1837, a daughter of John GRAY, a native of Tennessee; four children - Alzirah, Antoinette, William J. and Anna J., at home; Alzirah is now the wife of A. C. McPHERSON, and now lives in Kansas. Member of order of A., F. & A. M., No. 692, at Raymond; self and wife are members of the Methodist Church for about twenty-five years; politically, a Republican; was nominated and elected Justice of the Peace in 1878; held office for three years, filling vacancy; in 1881, was re-elected for same office for a term of four years. Mr. GALBRAITH commenced life a poor man; when he left his parental home, he had only 25 cents in his possession, and, by his honesty, industry and economy, has succeeded in gaining a good property, and a name and reputation which is beyond reproach. Francis McGOWN, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Johnson County, Ill., July 10, 1830, to Samuel and Nancy (WESTBROOK) McGOWN; father was born in Warren County, Ky.; he was a farmer; came to Johnson County, Ill., being among the early settlers; and, in the fall of 1830, removed to Greene County, and in the spring of 1851 removed to Montgomery County, where he died in 1861, aged seventy-seven years. Mother was born in Kentucky, and died in Montgomery County in 1852, aged sixty- three. They had six children, subject being the youngest. He was taken to Greene County when an infant, by his parents, where he received his education from the common schools; he remained with his father to the time of his death, assisting him in farming, and, for years previous to his death, took the management of the farm. In the fall of 1850, he removed to Montgomery county; settled on same farm he now occupies; bought ninety- five acres, and is now the owner of 120 acres, and continued to till the soil of the same until 1875, when he was compelled to give up work on account of rheumatic affliction; at the present time, is unable to do any work; the farm is now carried on by his son and son-in-law. In 1854, in Greene County, he married Miss Elizabeth BANNING, a native of Greene County, born in 1835; they have had thirteen children, and now have three living - Edward A., Nancy E., Julia; self and wife are members of the United Baptist Church; Democrat. George A. NORVELL, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., November 28, 1813, to William and Mary (PAYNE) NORVELL; father was born in Frederick County, Va., August 4, 1771; he was a farmer; was in the war of 1812; removed from Virginia to Tennessee in 1800; in 1828, removed to Macoupin County, Ill., where he died January 24, 1833; mother, born in Botetourt County, Va., March 10, 1775, and died May 10, 1872, in her ninety-eighth year; [Page 239] they were married in 1800; .... Daniel P. ROGERS, farmer, P. O. Litchfield. That there is no "royal road to success" is well illustrated in the history of Mr. ROGERS. In 1861, he entered 160 acres of land near where Butler now stands; this land was entered with the proceeds of an interest in a wheat crop raised on his father's farm. April 12, 1854, he married Miss Lavina C., daughter of James and Rebecca (PARKS) SINCLAIR. In 1855, he sold out his land near Butler and bought 120 acres of fine land in Zanesville Township, where he now resides; the same season, he "broke out" forty acres; when this land was broken, the prairie grass, then several feet in height, appeared as a wall surrounding it on every side; the next season, a small frame house was erected, into which he moved. He has continued to improve and add to his farm until it now amounts to about three hundred and eighty acres of good land - 320 in cultivation; this land is very rich and well drained. The ROGERS family descended from German ancestry, who came to the United States when they were dependent colonies. Capt. Henry ROGERS, Mr. ROGERS' grandfather, won his epaulets as a Revolutionary soldier; he distinguished himself at the battle of Trenton, and the sword which he took from a Hessian officer is now in the possession of the grandson, the subject of this sketch. Henry ROGERS, after the close of teh war, settled in New Jersey, where William H. Mr. ROGERS, father, was born. William raised the following family by his wife, formerly Miss Catharine PERRINE; Henry, of Monmouth County, N. J.; Robert, who died in California; Daniel P. and Charles A., of Montgomery County; Mrs. Elizabeth WOOD, deceased; Mrs. Catherine (CORNELIUS) DEY, of Macoupin County; Mrs. Sarah (Edward) ATKINSON, of St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs. Margaret (Capt. Charles) BORDEN, deceased, of Fall River, Mass.; and Mrs. Jane (William) PITMAN, of Jerseyville, Ill. Mr. ROGERS is not only represented in teh war giving birth and being to our liberties, through his immediate paternal ancestry, but also can boast of another grandfather, Robert PERRINE, his mother's father, who served in the Revolutionary war as a Captain; his sword is also handed down, and is now in the possession of Mr. Charles ROGERS, of Zanesville Township. Mrs. ROGERS also had two grandfathers who were Revolutionary soldiers - Grandfather SINCLAIR, on her father's side, and John PARKS, of her mother's lineage. Mr. and Mrs. ROGERS have the following children: William Pitman, Robert P., and Misses Lizzie A. and Jennie A.; one son, [Page 240] Tolbert A., died September 12, 1858. Mr. ROGERS' chances of an education were rather poor, never getting the opportunity to attend school during his school days more than two months in a year; he has nevertheless secured a fair business education; he certainly has a strong intellect and keen discrimination. He forms a part of the County Court as Supervisor for his township, and well does he fill the position; and many of his friends expect him to fill still higher positions in the gift of the people. Mrs. ROGERS is one of those whole-souled, excellent Christian women whom we think it would be hard to praise too much. Mr. ROGERS and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and enjoy the friendship, confidence and esteem of all good people where they are known. With the greatest of pleasure we introduce them to the good people of Montgomery County, and shall ever regard the privilege as one of the most agreeable duties connected with a long, and we hope, a lasting friendship. Oscar RUMMONS, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Warren County, Mo., July 6, 1849, to John and Juliett (PRINGLE) RUMMONS; father born in Madison, Ky., in 1810; during ... J. C. SINCLAIR, farmer, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Greene County, Ill., in 1837, to James and Rebecca (PARKS) SINCLAIR; father was born in Tennessee; was a farmer, and died in 1850; mother was born in Tennessee, and died in 1850; parents had nine children, subject being the fifth child; at the age of thirteen, left Greene County with his parents, and settled in Macoupin County, where he principally received his education; at the age of twenty, left Macoupin County and removed to Montgomery County, and settled upon the place where he now resides, and where he has ever since been engaged in tilling the soil of his beautiful farm of 1,300 acres; he rents the largest portion of the farm, having retired from active labor in 1881. In September, 1863, he married Elizabeth JONES, a native of Macoupin County, Ill., and the daughter of Lodowick JONES, from which union there have been born four children © James C., C. A., Eva M. and Vesta; in politics, unites with the Democratic part; subject's father was in the war of 1812. Ezra STARKEY, farmer, was born in Madison County, Ill., March 21, 1833, to David and Mary (JONES) STARKEY; father was born in Virginia in 1802; was taken to Madison County by his parents when quite a child; he remained in Madison County to the time of his death, which occurred in 1869; he was a farmer; he was the son of Russell STARKEY, a native of Virginia; mother was born in Madison County in 1809, and died in June, 1877; she was the daughter of William JONES, a native of Tennessee, who was a Baptist preacher; parents had eleven children, our subject being the third child. He remained with his parents, receiv-[Page 241] ing an education, and assisted in tilling the soil of his father's farm until 1861, when he bought the farm upon which he now resides. In 1861, in Madison County, he married Mary S. DECK, a native of Madison County, born January 7, 1836, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (DUGGER) DECK, first a native of Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. STARKEY have had eight children, five of whom are living - Eliza J., Virginia, Charles, Forest and Tilden. He is a Democrat. Mrs. STARKEY's grandfather, Michael DECK, was in the Revolutionary war. Joseph VIGNOS, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in the eastern part of France, December 1, 1817, to Claud and Margaret (BARQUIN) VIGNOS; his father was born in France, where he followed the occupation of farming during his life; he died in 1858, aged sixty-two years. His mother was also a native of France; she died in 1862, aged seventy-two years. They ... William WHITE, farmer, was born in Italy, near Venice, April 24, 1816, to John and Ellen (MURRY) WHITE, who were also natives of Italy; was education as a seaman, and was on the ocean from the time he was five years old, ... [Page 242]... Frederick WIEGREFFE, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, April 26, 1835, to Frederick and Henrietta (PERCEL) WIEGREFFE; father was born in Germany in 1797; was a miller; emigrated to America and settled in Jersy County, Ill., in 1853, and in 1855 removed to Montgomery County, where he died in the same year - fall of 1855; mother was German, born in 1799, and now resides in Litchfield, Ill., with … E. F. WOODMAN, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born near Carrollion, Ill., January 8, 1841, son of Nelson and Zerelda (BOILES) WOODMAN, he born in Vermont July 12, 1815, she born near Lexington, Ky., in 1825. … Dexter WADSWORTH, farmer, P. O. Litchfield, was born in Westboro County, Mass., December 27, 1822, to John and Percis (KIMBROUGH) WADSWORTH. He was born in Grafton, Mass.; during his life, followed the occupation of a farmer, and died in his native State. She was born in Massachusetts, and died in Scott County, Ill. They were the parents of nine children, Dexter WADSWORTH, our subject, being the eighth child. He was educated in the common schools of his native State, and, at an early age, apprenticed himself at the shoemaker's trade, at which he [Page 243] continued to work until 1857, when he removed to Scott County, Ill., where he engaged in farming, and continued the same until 1859, when he removed to Montgomery County, where he has since remained, engaged in farming. He served in the Federal army for about one year, in the Twentieth Illinois Regiment, Company A. In 1881, he erected, by his own design, a handsome residence upon his farm. In Massachusetts, in 1843, he married Miss Mary J. MILLER, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1825, and died in 1858. Mr. WADSWORTH has three children, viz.: Ellen, Mary E. (wife of F. C. WEBSTER) and Warren W. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party.