Montgomery County IL Archives Bios......Hillsboro City and Township 1882 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Norma Hass August 14, 2009


History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part II, pages
pages 93-122, Hillsboro City and Township


[Page 093] 

Lieut. Jesse K. ALLEN, deceased, was born in Kingston, Tenn., September 5, A. D. 
1828, and, at an early day, came with his parents to Hillsboro, Ill., which was 
about the time of the location of the county seat of Montgomery County at that 
point, and when there were but very few houses in the town. William ALLEN, the 
father of the subject, was born in Roane County, Tenn., January 15, 1799, and was 
married to Mary K. KILLINGSWORTH, the mother of Jesse K. ALLEN, to whom were born 
eleven children - first, the subject of this sketch; second, William A. ALLEN, for 
many years a prominent physician in Greenville, Ill.; third, Margaret ALLEN, now
inter-married with Theodore SMITH, of Greenville, Ill.; fourth, Aaron ALLEN, now
deceased; fifth, Rufus S. ALLEN, now a physician, employed the General Government 
in doctoring the Indians; sixth, John H. ALLEN, now in Kansas; seventh, Emily E., 
now wife of Charles L. BARTLETT, a merchant of Hillsboro, Ill.; eighth, Mollie, 
now married to Dr. PERKINS, of Fredonia, Kan.; ninth, Frank F. ALLEN, also a 
physician, Neodesha, Kan.; and tenth, Laura ALLEN, now deceased; and Charles F. 
ALLEN, now at Mattoon, Ill. William ALLEN, the ancestor, was a man in very moderate
circumstances, and consequently, his son, Jesse K., was denied many of the advantages
enjoyed by his youthful companions. In his youth, he attended such schools as 
opportunity afforded, in the town of Hillsboro, and later, when what was then known 
as the Hillsboro Academy was built, in 1836, Jesse attended such academy as far as 
means could be afforded him, and it was here he gave promise of the future man. He 
was here noted for his industry and untiring energy in his efforts to acquire an
education. He particularly excelled in mathematics and those studies which called 
more particularly for the exercise of the reasoning faculties. He was held in very 
high esteem by the Faculty of the Hillsboro Academy, which was at that period second 
to none in the State. Lieut. ALLEN, having finished the school course at the academy,
looked about him for something to do. At this time, there happened to be a vacancy in 
the cadetship from his Congressional District, and, through Gen. SHIELDS and his 
friends in Hillsboro, and the then Representative in Congress, the appointment to 
West Point was secured to him, and in 1851 he entered as a cadet to West Point. He
remained at the Military Academy for the usual course of four years, and in 1855
graduated with honor and distinction. In this Military School, as in the academy at 
home, he excelled in the study of mathematics, and he also acquired distinction in 
civil engineering. After he graduated, he entered the army, being at that time in 
the meridian of life and vigor of manhood. He was full of ambition, and entered 
the army with a high resolve to win for himself a name and fame as a soldier. He 
was

[Page 094] 

appointed Lieutenant in Company B of the Ninth Infantry, and in this capacity served 
the Government in active service for three years. He had the entire confidence of 
his superior officers, and was often intrusted with service which called forth 
special judgment and nerve. In the winter of 1856, he was intrusted with $3,500 
in specie, to be carried from Washington Territory to some point in Vancouver’s 
Island, in command of fifteen men. They were overtaken in a very severe snow storm, 
and all his men deserted him but two, and it was supposed he was lost, but in a few 
days, he, with his two remaining men, came riding into camp, with the funds all 
safe. Whether as citizen or soldier, he was always reliable, and never disappointed 
the expectation of his friends. It seemed at this time that a life of activity and
usefulness was open before him, and he was surely prepared to enter upon it; but the 
end came before it could reasonably be expected. About 3 o’clock on the morning of 
the 15th of August, 1858, in the moment of accomplishing a successful surprise on a 
camp of Indians, he was shot down, and thus, in his early manhood, and while the dew 
of youth was on his brow, he was called upon to die the death of a soldier. He died 
as he had lived – in the line of duty. The following letter was written at the time 
by his superior officer:
 
Headquarters Yakima Expedition
Camp on the Upper Yakima River
August 15, 1858
Major: It has become my painful duty to communicate to you for Gen. Clarke’s 
information, and that of the Adjutant General of the army, the sad intelligence 
of the death of Second Lieut. Jesse K. ALLEN of the Ninth Infantry, who expired at 
this camp at half-past 2 o’clock to-day. Lieut. ALLEN died the death of a soldier.
He fell at 3 o’clock this morning, at the moment of accomplishing a successful 
surprise of a camp of hostile Indians.
There is reason to fear that he was shot accidentally by one of his own men in 
the darkness of the hour. 
I must be permitted here to express my own sorrow for the untimely end of this 
young officer, and to offer this officially my tribute to his worth. He was an 
officer of rare energy and zeal, and an acquaintance with our army of seventeen 
years’ duration, warrants me in uttering the conviction that his place will not 
again be readily filled in our service. His loss to this command can scarcely 
be overestimated.
His remains will be taken back to-night to Fort Simcoe by his company commander 
and personal friend, Capt. FRAZER Ninth Infantry, who will take the charge of his
effects, required by the regulations. It is perhaps proper to report in this 
connection that Lieut. ALLEN’s party (fifteen mounted men), captured in this sad 
affair twenty-one men, about fifty women and children, seventy head of horses, 
and fifteen head of cattle, besides considerable of the Indian property. 
Three of the men having been recognized as participants in the attack on the miners, 
were shot in compliance with my general instructions on the subject. 
I am sir, very respectfully your obedient servant.
Signed, R. S. GARNETT,
Major Ninth Infantry Commanding
Major W. H. MACKALL
Assistant Adjutant General, U. S. A.
Fort Vancouver, W. T. 

The remains of Lieut. ALLEN were brought to Hillsboro by his parents and relatives, 
and were interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, near his childhood home. Had his life 
been spared until the commencement of our late civil war, he would have been found
battling for the Union, and doubtless, with his energy and courage, would have 
attained high rank as an officer in our army.

J. C. BARKLEY, grocer, Hillsboro, was born in North Carolina December 15, 1850; son 
of John C. and Elizabeth (MORRISON) BARKLEY, natives of North Carolina. John C. who 
is a farmer, was born in 1815. His wife died April 14, 1854. Our subject, the second 
son of a family of five sons and two daughters, received a fair education in the 
schools at 

[Page 095] 

Hillsboro, and at Freehold, N. J. He cam to Hillsboro when seventeen years old, 
without money or education, and but few clothes. He first worked on a farm, then 
in a brickyard. He traveled for a wholesale house in St. Louis (Udell, Schmieding 
& Co., dealers in wood and willow ware), and finally engaged in the grocery business 
on his own account in Hillsboro, where by push and energy, he has acquired a 
lucrative trade. He was in the hotel business in Hillsboro for about eighteen months, 
and was one of the many citizens who lost heavily by the failure of the banking firm 
of Haskell, Harris & Co., of Hillsboro. He married in Hillsboro, November 4, 1875, 
Emma A. SLACK, born in Ohio October 18, 1857, daughter of Daniel SLACK, a native of 
New Jersey, who died in Ohio in 1868. There have been born to them one son, Edward
Daniel, and one daughter, Maggie Elizabeth. Mr. Barkley is a member of the Methodist
Church, and was Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday school in Hillsboro for two 
years. In politics he supports the Republican party.

Charles L. BARTLETT, grocer, Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County December 20, 
1839; son of Samuel T. and Martha (MAXEY) BARTLETT. Samuel T. was born in Henry 
County, Ky., in 1818. He removed to Illinois about the year 1835, and is now living 
at Irving, where he owns and manages a large farm and a general store. His wife, who 
is still living, was born near Bowling Green, Ky., in 1819. Our subject is the second 
son of a family of seven sons and two daughters. He received his education chiefly 
at Irving, Ill., and began life as a farmer; but, after being three years in that
occupation, he abandoned it and engaged in the mercantile business in Irving, where 
he remained four years. He left Irving in 1872, and came to Hillsboro, where he has 
since been engaged in the grocery business. He started in business with but small
capital, but by his tact and enterprise, he has built up and is now enjoying a 
lucrative trade. In Hillsboro, in 1868, he married Emily E. ALLEN, born in Hillsboro 
in 1839, daughter of William and Mary K. (KILLINGSWORTH) ALLEN, the former born in
Tennessee, and died in Hillsboro in 1863; the latter, still living, was also born 
in Tennessee, in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. BARTLETT are the parents of two children – 
Charles William and Nellie; Carry Bell, their first child, died in infancy. Mr. 
BARTLETT has filled the offices of Deputy Sheriff and Jailer of Montgomery County 
for two years. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and the I. O. O. F. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Jacob BECK, gun smithing and cancer doctor, Hillsboro, was born in Franklin County, 
Penn. November 30, 1820. He was taken to Virginia when about nine months old by 
his parents, and there raised. Christian BECK, born in Lancaster County, Penn., on 
June 17, 1785, was a gun-smith by occupation, and died in Oregon on July 15, 1863. 
Mother was Lena AHL, born February 6, 1790, in Cumberland County, Tenn. And died
September 5, 1821, in Williamsport, Md., while en route to Virginian with her husband 
and family. Parents had seven sons, subject the youngest. Subject was educated at 
Martinsburg, Va., common schools. Began life as a gun-smith, an occupation he has 
kept up through life. In 1860, subject began the practice of cancer doctoring with 
a remedy he had come into possession of some two years previous, and had experimented
with it sufficiently to satisfy himself of its merits. From that time to the present 
time he has treated large numbers of cases successfully, having never lost a single 
case that came to him before cancer had been cut. Subject

[Page 096] 

was Commander in Chief of the Anti-Mormon forces of Hancock County, Ill., in 1845-46, 
and forced them into the city of Nauvoo from all parts of the county and surrounding
counties, and there they submitted to a compromise to the effect that they (the 
Mormons) be allowed sufficient time to send a committee West and seek a suitable 
location and return and report, which they did during the summer of 1846, and left 
that fall for St. Joseph, Mo., where they wintered, leaving twelve men behind at 
Nauvoo to dispose of their property and settle up their business. Immediately after 
the settling of the Mormon difficulties, subject enlisted for the Mexican war, or 
rather bought the place of another young man in a company that was already 
organized, paying the young man $27 for his position. It was Company A, First 
Illinois Volunteers, called the Quincy Riflemen, commanded by Col. John J. HARDIN, 
James D. MORGAN, Captain. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista. In politics 
he is a Democrat. Self and family are all members of the Lutheran Church. He was 
married at Indianapolis, Ind., February 10, 1848, to Phebe Ringer, who was born 
in Frederick County, Md., March 5, 1821, and was the daughter of Jacob and Maria
Magadalena (DARR) RINGER, he a native of Washington County, Md., and was born March 
15, 1791, and died April 22, 1859; she also a native of Washington County, Md., was 
born February 22, 1790, and died in the year 1824. They have had four children born 
to them – Julia Agnes, born November 2, 1848, and died in 1856; Virginia Magadalena, 
born November 9, 1853; Luther Melanchthon, born September 4, 1856, and Clara Belle, 
born June 1, 1859. Subject belongs to the Masonic order, and also to the Good 
Templars.

Adam H. BELL, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro, was born in New York September 26, 1831. 
Frederick BELL, his father, was born in New York, in the town of Warren, Herkimer 
County, October 10, 1800; was a tanner and currier by occupation, and emigrated to 
this State in 1856, and went to farming in this township. He died February 15, 
1880. Elizabeth VOORHIES, his mother, was born in German Flat, Herkimer Co., N. Y., 
March 31, 1802. She died in this State in 1878, and was the mother of three children, 
the subject being the youngest of the family. He was raised in the town of Chaumont,
Jefferson County; was educated in an academy of his native state, and at the age of
twenty years, he commenced civil engineering, which he followed successfully in 
different parts of the United States until 1856. He came to Montgomery County, Ill., 
and commenced farming, his first purchase of land being eighty acres, and has added 
to that until he has accumulated 300 acres of good, tillable land. He has quite a 
neat cottage, and good barn with all necessary outbuildings, and was married in New 
York, March 12, 1857, to Miss Lana FOX. Levi M. FOX, her father, was born in Chester,
Washington Co., N.Y., May 7, 1809. Her mother, Cynthia M. (JEROME) FOX, was born in
Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y., February 6, 1804. The wife of subject was born January 22,
1832, and she has a family of four children. The names are as follows: Franklin J., 
born July 9, 1859; Frederick Meade, born August 12, 1860; Harry, born March 17, 1870;
Cora Grace, born November 5, 1871. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is quite 
a public spirited man, encouraging all public improvements that he thinks best for 
the count at large. He has held the office of County Surveyor one term, 1860-61. He 
gave general satisfaction, but found it did not pay to neglect his farm for the 
benefit he received from office.

[Page 097]

W. L. BLACKBURN, dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., Hillsboro, was born 
in Clark County, Ohio, January 16, 1847; son of Robert B. and Sarah Ann (FULLER)
BLACKBURN. Robert B., a farmer by occupation, was born near Harper’s Ferry, Va., 
March 3, 1818. About the year 1836, he moved to Ohio, thence to Illinois in 1850. 
His wife was born in Ohio; or subject was their only child. He received a liberal
education at Hillsboro, and began life on the farm. In 1872, he left the farm and 
came to Hillsboro, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade for about two years. 
He then engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with C. L. BARTLETT. In 
1877, this partnership was dissolved, and he has since carried on the whole business
himself. He does a brisk business, and employs seven or eight clerks. He owns a 
neat, commodious frame house in Hillsboro, where he resides. He married in 
Hillsboro, November 11, 1875, Mattie J. STEWART, born in Hillsboro November 12, 
1857, daughter of John R. STEWART. From this union two children have been born to 
them – Wallace Stewart and Blanch Ittel. Mr. BLACKBURN is a supporter of the 
Republican party, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife is a member 
of the Methodist Church.

Charles W. BLISS, attorney, Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, January 8, 
1846, to Rev. Alfred BLISS of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a native of Bradford, 
Vt., where he was born in 1811, to Seth BLISS, a farmer, who died in Vermont. The 
son came early to this county, and engaged in farming, but subsequently entered 
the ministry. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Jerusha STRONG. 
She is the mother of eight children, five of whom are now living – Eliza A., wife 
of James I. MOODY, a farmer of Fillmore Township; Celesta J., wife of E. C. DEVORE, 
a lawyer of Seymour, Ind.; George A., a hardware merchant at Nokomis; Alice, 
deceased wife of Lyman C. ALLEN, a farmer of Fillmore Township. She left three 
children – Charles W., Nellie J., wife of John C. WHITE, a lawyer at Effingham, 
Ill. Our subject worked on the farm and attended the common schools, and graduated 
from McKendree College, at Lebanon, in June, 1869. He then taught school and read 
law with Irwin & Krone, of Edwardsville, Ill. He was admitted in the fall of 1871, 
and located in Hillsboro, where he has become one of the leading young attorneys at 
the Montgomery County bar. He was married, October 15, 1872, to Elizabeth W. 
PHILLIPS, a niece of Judge J. J. PHILLPS, and daughter of Burrel PHILLIPS, a stock 
dealer of Montgomery County. By her he has two children – Noi Celecta and Clinton. 
He has been City Attorney several terms, and his political tenets Republican. He is 
a Royal Arch Mason, in which fraternity he has held numerous offices, and with his 
family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William BREWER, retired, Hillsboro, is the third son of William BREWER, a Carolinian 
of Welsh extraction, and the youngest of three brothers. Daniel and George, eldest 
of that number, left Carolina at an early date, and settled in Tennessee. The family 
of William, Sr., was John J. and Jesse, who died in Carolina; our subject, and Thomas,
who died near Evansville, Ind. The daughters were Candis, who married a Mr. WILLIAMS,
settled and died in Iowa; Keziah, wife of a Mr. ALDER, near Hopkinsville, Ky., and 
Annie died young. The mother of these was Millie WEST, a Carolinian. The subject of 
this sketch was born in Chatham County, N. C., June 18, 1803; removed to Christian
County, Ky., and settled near Hopkinsville, with his parents, in 1807, and where 
they died, and where he was raised and married

[Page 098] 

to Miss Delilah HOUGH, a native of Loudoun County, Va., where she was born October 1,
1807, to Samuel and Azuba (SKINNER) HOUGH, natives of Virginia. Her grandfather HOUGH 
was an Englishman by birth, and came early to this country with two brothers, who 
settled in Vermont; he in Virginia. With this lady he lived happily for forty-four 
years, and until her death, August 26, 1869, when she left him with three 
surviving children of nine born to them – William H., now of Hillsboro; Mary, 
wife of S. M. GRUBBS, of Litchfield; and Ellen, wife of Alfred A. SAWYER, of 
Hillsboro. Mr. BREWER removed with his family to Illinois in November, 1834, and 
settled at Palestine, Crawford County, where he remained until the spring of 1839, 
when he removed to Hillsboro, his present place, of residence. In 1843, he was 
elected County Judge, the first Whig ever elected in Montgomery County. He was 
re-elected in 1845, and again in 1847, thus serving three consecutive terms. In 
1850, he was elected to represent the counties of Montgomery, Bond and Clinton in 
the State Legislature, and served two sessions, but positively refused to suffer 
his name to be used for that honor longer, although often and strongly solicited. 
In 1853, he was elected Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he acted until 
1869, when he refused to act longer. While in this office he did a very large 
business, and decided more cases than any other officer in the county, and what 
is still more remarkable, never had any of his decisions reversed. He has been 
an eminent example of a self-made man, who, unaided, has arisen from a humble 
station in life to wealth, honor and influence. From boyhood he took the side 
of morality and piety, and thus gained the public confidence. As a member of 
the Methodist Church of sixty-three years’ standing, he has had a large share 
in building up the morals and character of the people of his community. He 
still, although in the late autumn of life, stands a monument of past energies 
rightly directed, with a large influence, large acquaintance, large experience 
and large means and usefulness. Mr. BREWER was married the second time, to Mrs. 
ROBERTS, of Elkton, Ky., and is quietly enjoying his well-earned honor and 
reputation in the midst of a people whose growth has been beneath his own eye. 
His only living son, William H. BREWER, was born January 4, 1826, in Trigg 
County, Ky., and in 1827 removed wit his parents to Todd County, Ky. He remained 
with his father during his boyhood, receiving limited advantages for education, 
and in manhood has been connected with his father in his business interests. He 
also has been twice married. First, on the 17th of November, 1857, to Miss 
Pernesia PHILLIPS, daughter of Capt. Thomas PHILLIPS. By her he had four children, 
all of whom died young, the mother following them to the grave July 27, 1867, in 
her thirty-fourth year. His second marriage occurred July 14, 1875, to Mrs. Mary 
J. BROWN, widow of William W. BROWN. By her he has three children – Mary, Dwight 
and Raymond. By her first husband she has two children – Ella and John T. Mr. 
BREWER is a stanch Republican, and with his family belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church.

James A. BROWN, station agent of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, 
Hillsboro, was born in Montgomery County, Ill., March 23, 1848; son of George 
W. and Sarah A. (JENKINS) BROWN, he a farmer, born in Guernsey County, Ohio, 
July 9, 1819, moved to Illinois in 1837, and settled in this county, where he 
still lives; she born in Darlington Village, S. C., June 30, 1819, and is still 
living. Subject is the third son of a family of five sons and one daughter; 
educated in Hills-

[Page 099] 

boro Academy, where he received a good, thorough course, such as was taught in 
that school, and began life here in town as a newsboy, then telegraph operator, 
taking charge of an office at Pana, afterward at Paris, Kan., Litchfield, Mattoon, 
in the General Superintendent’s office, St. Louis, and was then appointed to this 
place, at the age of eighteen years, December 4, 1866. He has also been a coal 
dealer in this town for about ten years; been in the grain business for a short 
time. He has been Alderman for two terms, and was defeated in 1876 by a small 
majority for Circuit Clerk, owing to being a Republican, and the county being 
Democratic by about eight hundred majority at the time. A change of sixty votes 
would have elected him. At Litchfield, Montgomery County, September 20, 1871, he 
married Margaret S. EVANS, born in Montgomery County July 1, 2853, daughter of 
James D. and Elzira (EAMES) EVANS, he born in Virginia in November, 1823, and died 
July 23, 1855; she born in Kentucky January 4, 1832, and died at Litchfield October 
21, 1873. From this union five children have been born to them – Frederic G., 
Herbert (deceased), Ethel M., Sarah Eleanor (deceased), and Horace E. Mr. BROWN 
is a Methodist, and has been connected with the official board of that church at 
Trustee and Steward for ten or twelve years; is a member of the Chapter of the 
Masonic fraternity, and has been Master of his lodge in Hillsboro for a year, 
besides filling other subordinate offices therein. He owns a two-story fram 
residence in Hillsboro.

Thomas B. BROWN, Postmaster, Hillsboro, was born in this county July 10 1857. His 
father was Newton G. BROWN, born in Hillsboro, N. C., April 26, 1822, and died 
September 4, 1879. He was a hotel proprietor by occupation, and when about thirteen 
years of age emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and settled in Montgomery 
County, and on August 16, 1849, was married to Euphemia J. GRANTHAM, daughter of 
William and Susannah (MANN) GRANTHAM. She was born in this county July 11, 1832. 
Parents had six children born to them, two sons dying in infancy. There are living 
one son (subject) and three daughters, viz.: Medora F., now the wife of C. A. 
FREELAND; Lucy and Ollie G. Subject was educated at the Hillsboro High School 
and Academy. He began business as a dry goods clerk, in 1871, in this town, where 
he continued until February 7, 1881, at which date subject was commissioned 
Postmaster at this place, a position he still holds. In politics, he is a 
Republican. Subject belongs to the Methodist Church at Hillsboro; his mother and 
sister Lucy are members of the congregational Church. The father, Newton G. BROWN, 
when he first came to this State, settled in this county on a farm, and pursued 
that avocation for a few years, and then moved to Missouri; remained there about 
one year, and then returned to this county and settled in Hillsboro about 1856, 
and engaged in teaming, and also run a meat market, the only one then in town, for 
quite a number of years, perhaps until about 1863. He then purchased the American 
House. In the fall (October) of 1869, Mr. B. sold out, having run the hotel from 
the time he purchased it in 1863 until the above date, and moved to St. Louis, 
where he soon was taken sick, and remained until the following spring, engaged 
in keeping boarding house, and then returned again to Hillsboro and resumed the 
hotel business, this time at the City Hotel, where he continued until the time 
of his death. Since that time, our subject being the only son, assumed the 
principal responsibility of the family.

Edward S. BURNS, Deputy Circuit 

[Page 100] 

Clerk, Hillsboro, was born at Harper‘s Ferry, Va., January 1, 1832, and moved 
to Ohio with his parents in 1836, and came to Illinois in 1852; the son of Philip 
and Catharine B. (BLACKBURN) BURNS, be born in 1774, was a teacher, and died in 
Ohio in 1846; she born in Loudoun County, Val, in 1808, and died at Hillsboro, 
Ill., in 1856. Subject is the oldest of a family of six. He received an education 
in the subscription schools of Ohio. In this county, September 27, 1855, he 
married Rachel C. MANN, who was born here September 14, 1834, the daughter of 
John and Euphemia (HANCOCK) MANN, he born in North Carolina July 24, 1800, and 
died in this county January 24, 1838; she born in Kentucky in 1805, and died in 
1867. Of the MANN family there were four sons – Samuel, Henry, Robert and William, 
and three daughters – Margaret, Mary and Rachel, the latter being the wife of 
our subject. Mr. BURNS has seven children – William T., Charles H., John T., Eddie, 
Mary E., Emma C. and Minnie B. He taught school about four years in Illinois, then
manufactured brick for two or three years, and from 1866 to 1875 was engaged in 
the mercantile business in Hillsboro, at which time he was appointed Deputy Sheriff 
of Montgomery County, served two years and was then appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk, 
which position he still holds. During the war, he was drafted, but furnished a 
substitute and remained at home to care for a wife and two or three little children. 
Mr. and Mrs. BURNS are Methodists, and he is a member of the Masonic and the 
I. O. O. F. orders, a Democrat, and owns a very comfortable frame residence, with 
Lots Nos. 12, 13, 21, and 40. Subject’s father was married in Virginia and moved 
to Ohio when he (subject) was about three years old, and he was only fourteen years 
old when his father died. At the age of twenty-one, he, with his mother, two 
brothers and three sisters moved to Illinois, all of whom married, and whose 
families now live in this county, with the exception of the oldest sister, who 
lives in Neosho County, Kan. Subject’s wife’s parents were married in Kentucky, 
and emigrated to Montgomery County, Ill., in October, 1827.

William O. BONE, Deputy Sheriff, Hillsboro, was born in Ohio September 18, 1852, 
and came to Nokomis, this county, with his parents in 1862; son of James S. and 
Mary (MILLER) BONE, he a farmer and hotel proprietor, born in Ohio in 1815, and 
is now living at Nokomis, where he owns 320 acres of land; she born in Ohio, and 
died there in 1854. Subject is the youngest son of the family of two sons and two
daughters. He received his education principally in Illinois, and commenced life 
as a farmer. He clerked in a mercantile house for some time, railroading several 
years, and was Constable of Nokomis for four years; from that he was appointed 
Deputy Sheriff, an office he has filled two years, and is now a candidate for 
Sheriff. Mr. BONE is a Democrat.

Rev. Thomas I. COULTAS, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Hillsboro, is 
a son of George and Eliza (WILSON) COULTAS, natives of Yorkshire, England. 
George, with three of his brothers, sailed for America and landed at New York 
April 14, 1830. They went from there to Rochester, N. Y. where they remained 
for a few months. From there they went by boat to Cleveland, Ohio, and from 
there to Jacksonville, Ill., by the way of Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., 
and St. Louis, Mo., living for a brief time in each of these places. Near 
Jacksonville, Ill., he formed the acquaintance of Eliza WILSON, also a native 
of Yorkshire, England, and who preceded him a few years to his country. Their
acquaintance ripened into a greater intimacy, and on July 8, 1835, they were 
mar-

[Page 101] 

ried. Shortly after this, Mr. COULTAS purchased from the Government a tract of 
land near Winchester, then in Morgan, now the county seat of Scott County, Ill. 
Here he lived, following agricultural pursuits to the time of his death, June 
10, 1859. Mrs. COULTAS, Sr., died October 26, 1875. Thomas I. is the youngest 
of a family of five sons and two daughters, and was born May 5, 1853. He lived 
on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, spending most of the time in 
school, first in the country schoolhouse, afterward in the high school in 
Winchester. In September, 1869, when he was but a few months past sixteen years 
of age, he was regularly licensed as a minister, and received into the traveling
connection in the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, perhaps 
the youngest man ever this received and put into the regular work. After serving 
churches in Sangamon and Champaign Counties respectively for two years, he left 
the regular pastorate to further prosecute his studies. In September, 1871, he 
entered the Illinois Wesleyan University, of Bloomington., Ill., and was 
graduated from that institution in June, 1875. While a student, Mr. COULTAS 
distinguished himself and brought honor to his alma mater by representing this
institution in an inter-college contest in oratory, where eight of the leading 
colleges of the State contested in original oration, the judges declaring him 
to be the champion. By virtue of his success, he represented the State of 
Illinois in an inter-State contest in oratory, held at Indianapolis, In., in 
May 1875, where the champions of six States, which had held similar contests, 
met, and here also Mr. COULTAS won the gold medal over all his competitors.
After his graduation, he entered immediately upon the work of the ministry. 
After serving the church at Barry, Pike County, for four months as a supply, 
he was re-admitted into the Conference, and returned to his church for two 
years in succession. After this pastorate, he very acceptably served the 
church in Pittsfield, the county seat of Pike County. From this church he was 
sent by his Conference to the Trinity Church, Quincy, Ill. Here he was largely
instrumental in removing from this church a heavy debt, which for years hung 
as a shadow over it. The church in other respects greatly prospered under his 
pastorate. In September, 1881, he was made pastor of the church in Hillsboro, 
and, although he has been here but a short time, he is held in high esteem by 
his congregation and the community. Mr. COULTAS was married, November 23, 1875, 
to Miss Angie MORRISON, the daughter of Henry B. and Caroline (SEARS) MORRISON, 
then of Bloomington, now of Monticello, Ill., and the niece of Washington SEARS, 
of Scott County, and Rev. Hiram SEARS, of East St. Louis, one prominent as a 
legislator, and the other as a minister and educator. Mrs. COULTAS was also 
educated at the Illinois Wesleyan University. There have been born unto them 
Aldo Bliss COULTAS, March 10, 1877, and Eda Bernice COULTAS, March 16, 1879. 
Mr. COULTAS is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and 
is also a member of Union Chapter, No. 10, A., F. & A. M.

Clarence E. COLE, insurance agent, Hillsboro, was born in Sussex County, N. J., 
April 30, 1848; son of John S. and Elizabeth (PADDOCK) COLE, he a farmer, born 
in Sussex County, N. J., October 6, 1806, and came to this State with his family 
in 1849, and died August 30, 1880; she born in Sussex County, N. J., about 1813, 
and died in this county November 13, 1877. They had one son and three daughters. 
Subject was educated at Hillsboro Academy, began life as a farmer, continued as
such for fifteen years,

[Page 102] 

commenced the insurance business in 1875, and how enjoys a very fair business. 
He married at Nokomis, October 10, 1871, Fannie E. ELLIS, daughter of D. B. 
ELLIS, a Virginian, born at Princeton, Ill., February 24, 1850, and died August 
13, 1878. The result of this union was Gracie E., born August 25, 1872; John E., 
born January 16, 1874, and Floy A., born September 15, 1876. Mr. COLE's second 
marriage took place at St. Louis April 21, 1880, when he married Miss Eunice E.
GARRETTSON, born at Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, February 24, 1860, and daughter of 
G. W. GARRETTSON, of Marion, Iowa. Mr. COLE is a Republican, and enlisted in 
the Federal army in April, 1864, as drummer of Company H, One Hundred and 
Forty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served six months under Col. Dudley 
C. SMITH, of Shelbyville, Ill.

George R. COOPER, attorney and teacher, Hillsboro, was born July 25, 1855, at
Greencastle, Ind.; came to this county with his parents in 1858; son of Jacob 
R. and Eliza (ROBINSON) COOPER, he a carpenter, born in Fleming County, Ky., 
on November 16, 1816, and went to Indiana in 1841, where he remained until 
1858, and died in November, 1877; she born in Kentucky in 1820, and is now 
living in East Fork Township, Montgomery County. Subject is the second son of 
a family of three sons and three daughters; received his education at Hillsboro 
Academy; worked on the farm until he was seventeen years of age, and at the age 
of eighteen began teaching school, which he has followed for seven years, and 
on April 1, 1880, he began reading law with RICE & MILLER; then went to the 
office of Judge E. LANE, with whom he still reads, and will make application 
for admission to the bar this fall. This young man deserves great credit, as 
he has by his own efforts educated himself; his parents being of limited 
circumstances, could not give him such an education as he desired. He taught 
school for six years in Fillmore, Fillmore Township; is a Republican, and a 
member of the Masonic fraternity.

Edmund DOUGLAS, physician and druggist, Hillsboro, was born near Chillicothe, 
Livingston Co., Mo., February 14, 1846, to William and Parmelia (STRAWN) 
DOUGLAS, he born in New Gallaway, Scotland, March 9, 1817, and still living 
in Pike County, Ill. He was a son of John and Jannette (MURRY) DOUGLAS, 
natives of Scotland. He came to America in 1836, was a carpenter and one of 
the contractors on the State University at Columbia, Mo., where he was 
married, and in after life engaged in farming. His wife is a native of 
Guilford County, N. C., where she was born August 25, 1823, and came to the 
West in 1830 with her parents, Edmund and Dorcas (MORTON) STRAWN, natives 
of North Carolina. Our subject is the third of twelve children, seven of 
whom are living - Andrew, a farmer; Mary, Edmund, John, a farmer; Churchwell, 
a farmer; William W., a physician, and James, a farmer. All are in Pike 
County but our subject, who received a district and high school education, 
and graduated at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at St. Louis. In 
1867, he engaged in a general business at Milton, Ill., and in 1872, at the 
same place, entered into the drug business, where he continued until in 1873, 
when he came to Hillsboro, where he has since continued. He studied medicine 
in connection with his business pursuits, and attended lectures at the St. 
Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons, from whence he graduated February 
28, 1881, and practices in connection with his business. He was married 
October 15, 1875, to Illinois PHILLIPS, daughter of Burrill PHILLIPS, and 
niece of Gen. J. J. PHILLIPS. By her he has two living children 

[Page 103] 

- Noi Elizabeth and Mary Jannette. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and 
Chapter, and in his political belief, Democratic.

Joseph T. ECCLES, retired merchant, Hillsboro, was born in Mercer County, Ky., 
January 7, 1807; son of Henry and Polly (GAUNT) ECCLES. Henry, a native of 
Berkeley County, Va., was born May 4, 1781, and when about eighteen years old 
he moved to Kentucky and settled in Mercer County, where he married August 15, 
1805. In the autumn of 1830, he removed to Vandalia, Ill., and shortly afterward 
located on a farm about four miles from that town, where he remained until 1837, 
when he removed to Coles County, Ill., where he died September 21, 1851, aged 
seventy years four months and seventeen days. His wife, Polly Gaunt, was born 
at Wilson’s Station, Mercer Co., Ky., March 15, 1783, and died at Vandalia, 
Ill., September 21, 1835. Our subject, who began the business of life as a 
teacher, received his education chiefly in Harrodsburg, Ky. He taught school 
at Vandalia, Ill., for about two seasons, after which he clerked in a store 
about a year, and then engaged in the mercantile business in Vandalia on his 
own account for five or six years; then, abandoning the business of a merchant, 
he located on a farm about five miles from Vandalia. He followed farming about 
nine years, but gave it up and removed to Hillsboro, Montgomery County, where 
he again engaged in mercantile business, and, being successful, retired a short 
time ago. He owns some fine property in Hillsboro, consisting of his residence, 
a brick store, town lots, etc. In Todd County, Ky., August 12, 1829, he married 
Jane L. ANDERSON, born in Green County Ky., May 23, 1809, daughter of Pouncy 
and Nancy (LYNCH) ANDERSON. Pouncy ANDERSON, a native of Virginia, died in Todd 
County, Ky., June 6, 1837; his wife was also a native of Virginia. Mr. ECCLES 
has filled the office of Justice of the Peace at Vandalia, Ill., and also in 
Hillsboro for several years. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 
held at Springfield, Ill., in 1847. He has also been Assistant Assessor and 
Deputy United States Revenue Collector. During the war, he was a recruiting 
officer at Hillsboro, and while acting in that capacity, sent in thirty new 
recruits. He also captured and returned to the army twenty-seven deserters. He 
served in the Black Hawk war in 1832. He nominated Richard YATES for Governor 
at Decatur, Ill., in 1869. He and his wife are Old-School Presbyterians. He is 
a member of the Sons of Temperance. In politics, he was originally as old Clay 
Whig, but now supports the Republican party.

John W. EDWARDS, lumber merchant, Hillsboro, was born in Tennessee in 1821; son 
of John and Elizabeth (JUSTICE) EDWARDS. John, who was a farmer, was born in 
North Carolina in 1777; removed to Tennessee about the year 1800, and left there 
in 1838, afterward residing in Pike County, Jefferson County and Upper Alton. He 
died in the latter place about the year 1852; his wife was born in North Carolina
in 1782, and died in Hillsboro about the year 1868. Our subject, the fifth son of 
a family of eight sons and three daughters, received a limited education in 
Tennessee. He removed from that State with his parents in 1838, and settled in 
Pike County, where he remained two years; then removed to Jefferson County. Up to 
this time he had worked on his father’s farm. After remaining in Jefferson County 
two years, he moved to Upper Alton, where he stayed until 1855, engaged in 
mercantile business. From Upper Alton he removed to Hillsboro, where he engaged 
in the mercantile and grain business five years, then dealt in lumber nine years, 
then in the drug business nine years. In 1878, he gave up the 

[Page 104] 

Drug business, and returned to his old occupation of dealing in lumber, which 
business he is now engaged in. He is the owner of a comfortable frame residence 
in Hillsboro, with about three acres attached. In Hillsboro, in 1848, he married 
Joanna MEADE, born in Ohio in 1825. From this union there have been born to them 
eight children, six of whom are living - David A.; William A., physician at 
Winchester, Ill.; John M., now residing in Kansas; Albert N., a harness maker 
in Hillsboro; Frederick W. and Sarah Isabel KING. Mr. EDWARDS and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Church, of which he has been Steward, and is now Trustee. 
He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., in which orders he has held 
all the offices from the lowest to the highest. In politics, he supports the 
Republican party.

Leonard G. FATH, Sheriff, Hillsboro, born in Perryville, Mo., November 20, 1847; 
son of Leonard and Miss (BARKMAN) FATH, both natives of Germany; he, a farmer 
by occupation, came to the United States about the year 1840, and now resides 
in Montgomery County; she came to America with her parents, married in Perryville, 
Mo., where she died in 1848. Subject, the second son of a family of two sons and 
one daughter, received his education in the common schools in Missouri, and at 
the age of fourteen years was taken from school and placed in a blacksmith shop 
to learn the trade. In 1864, he came to Montgomery County with his parents, and 
engaged in the agricultural implement and grocery business in Hillsboro, for two 
years; then giving up mercantile business, he worked at his trade for two year; 
then removed to Nokomis in 1873, and followed his trade there till the fall of 
1876, when he was elected Sheriff, an office which he held for two years, but 
was, at the end of that time, defeated by a small majority in the convention. He 
then traveled through the country for nearly a year, selling agricultural 
implements. At the convention held May 24, 1879, he was again elected Sheriff, 
an office which he now holds. During the summer of 1879, he spent much of his 
time in devising a patent plow sulky attachment, which he patented November 30, 
1880. His invention is meeting with success among the farmers, and promises to 
prove remunerative to the inventor. In Montgomery County, February 23, 1871, he 
married Laura A. MARSHALL, born in Ohio in 1853, daughter of John L. and Harriet
(LATTIMORE) MARSHALL; from this union two children have been born – one son, Leo 
G., living, and one daughter deceased. Mr. FATH owns a house and lot in Hillsboro; 
he is a Democrat.

I. W. FINK, physician, Hillsboro, was born at Jonesboro, Ill., August 24, 1824, 
to John and Sophia (LINGLE) FINK, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, 
he born November 12, 1797, and came to Illinois in 1817, his parents dying in 
his childhood; he settled in Union County, where he carried on tanning and 
farming until his death, which occurred November 6, 1858; his wife was born 
August 1, 1800, and died January 11, 1866; she came to the State early in life 
from Hamilton County, Ohio, whither she had gone, with her parents, from her 
native State. Their children were I. W., Henry J., born March 2, 1828, Mary A., 
March 21, 1832, wife of John MILLER; John M., deceased, without issue; George 
W., born October 19, 1838; Levi A., Jan. 30, 1845. All are farming in Union 
County, Ill., except the subject of this sketch, who received a common school 
education, with the addition of two years at the Hillsboro Academy. In 1850, 
he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. S. HASKILL, of Hillsboro, where he 
remained, including his attendance 

[Page 105] 

upon lectures, three years, and graduated from the St. Louis Medical College 
in 1854, when he began the practice at Hillsboro, where he has since been 
located (except one year at Shelbyville), and has built up a large and 
remunerative practice. He is a member of the National, State, District and 
County Medical Societies, the latter of which he organized and held the 
office of President. He was married, April 24, 1855, to Miss Emeline M. 
BURNAP, born in Montgomery County May 26, 1835, and died January 8, 1857; 
she was a daughter of George and Maria (SEWARD) BURNAP, the latter related 
to the noted Secretary SEWARD; by her he has three children – Juliet K., 
John W. and Hugh K. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Democratic 
party, and with his family belongs to the Congregational Church.

Enoch James FILE, Hillsboro, born in Bond County, Ill., October 19, 1832; son 
of Daniel and Elizabeth (JAMES) FILE. Daniel, who was a farmer, was born in 
North Carolina in 1801, and in company with his father, Jacob FILE, who died 
in 1842, came to Illinois in 1816, when it was a Territory; died in 1851; his 
wife, born in Middle Tennessee, in 1811, died in 1845. Our subject, the second 
son of a family of six sons and six daughters, received very little education, 
his school life being limited to four months that he attended in Bond County. 
He began life on the farm, then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed 
eight years, then served as clerk, then in the hardware business on his own 
account for seven years. AT the end of that time, he sold out his business to the
firm of Challacombe & Ramsey, for whom he now clerks. In 1861, he enlisted as 
private in the Federal army, Company D, Twenty-Second Illinois Infantry, and 
during his time of service was promoted from time to time, until he received 
command of a company. He participated in the engagements at Belmont, Mo., Stone 
River and Chickamauga, Tenn., Atlanta, etc.; was wounded three times - in skull, 
side and hand. In 1853, in Hillsboro Township, he married Mary Ann BROWN, born 
in North Carolina in 1829, died in 1856. Her parents were William and Elizabeth 
(CRAIG) BROWN; the former born in North Carolina September 5, 1794, came to 
Illinois in 1835, where he died in 1867; the latter, born February 12, 1807, 
died August 4, 1843. Mr. FILE was again married November 25, 1870, to Virginia 
C. BROWN, sister of his first wife, born September 26, 1842, and from this 
union there has been born to him two daughters - Leva and Anna; his first wife 
bore him one daughter - May. He is a supporter of the Republican party, and a 
member of the Masonic fraternity.

James Robinson GLENN, miller, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Hillsboro, born 
in Ireland, August 16, 1834; came with his parents, one brother, John F., and 
one sister, Catharine J., to the United States in 1837, and lived in Louisville, 
Ky., about five years. His mother's name was Catharine Jane ROBINSON. Her father 
was born in Fintona, Ireland; built a Methodist Church in that town with his own 
money. In 1839, he chartered a ship, and with his second wife and one son and 
seven daughters, went to Australia, settled in Melbourne, where he purchased 
property, and lived there the balance of his life. He purchased a cattle ranch 
in Australia, 6 x 15 miles, and died there at the age of ninety years. 
Grandfather ROBINSON's grandfather went from England with William, Prince of 
Orange, 

[Page 106] 

was in the battle of the Boyne and the siege of Londonderry. Subject's father, 
Thomas S. GLENN, born in Ireland about 1807, is still living in this county; 
his grandparents were born in Ireland; his great-grandfather was born in 
Scotland and was a mechanic. Mr. GLENN began life by buying grain in Litchfield; 
came to Hillsboro in 1858, and started the first grocery; was married in Macoupin 
County in 1860 to Miss Sarah V. LOVE, born in Cabell County, W. Va., in 1840, 
daughter of Louis L. and Emily (EASTHAM) LOVE. The result of this union is three
daughters - Nora, Laura and Wilmina. Mr. GLENN is a member of the Lutheran Church, 
a Republican, a Freemason and a member of the Council. After going out of the 
grocery business in Hillsboro, he built a mill, in 1866, which he has operated
continually since its erection. Himself and brothers were the prime movers in 
starting the bank at Hillsboro in 1870, known as the Montgomery county Loan and 
Trust Company, subject having been elected President on its organization, and 
holds the office at the present time. The GLENN Bros. also own a farm near 
Hillsboro, containing 1,020 acres, and about 15,000 acres in Texas.

Rev. C. A. GELWICKS, Lutheran minister, Hillsboro, a native of Pennsylvania, and 
was born January 7, 1835, and son of John GELWICKS, a farmer, and also a native 
of Pennsylvania, was born March 16, 1811, and is still living. His wife, Magdalena 
WOLF, was also a native of the same State, and was born in December, 1812. She is 
also living in her native State. The parents had six children born to them, but 
only three raised to maturity, two sons (C.A. being the eldest) and one daughter. 
Our subject was educated at Gettysburg, Penn., at the Pennsylvania College, where 
he took a classical course, but was called away just three months before he would 
have graduated, and then went to the Theological Seminary at Springfield, Ohio, 
where he graduated in 1858, and took charge of a church at Stratsburg, Penn., 
immediately after leaving the Seminary. He has devoted his entire life, up to 
the present, in the profession of his choice. Our subject was a volunteer in the 
sanitary department of the federal army during the war, and was at Mechanicsburg 
at the time that town was surrendered to the Rebel forces in 1864, which occurred 
a few days prior to the battle of Gettysburg. Subject is now and has always been 
a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the Good Templars for a number 
of years. He was married at Springfield, Ohio, on the 24th of June, 1858, the same 
day that he graduated and took charge of his first church. His wife was Mary 
Isabell WILSON, a daughter of Elon WILSON, of Springfield, and she was born December 
26, 1836. Her father was born March 31, 1801, and died in October 1864. Her mother, 
Mary WILSON, was born in March, 1810, and is now living at Ida Grove, Iowa. Subject 
has had six children born to him, but four living, one son, Wilson Gelwicks, and 
three daughters, viz.: Jennie, Belle and Lena. Himself, wife and eldest daughter 
are members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject has been a successful minister, as 
is proven by the few moves he has made. In twenty-four years’ service he now has 
his fifth charge. He certainly has reason to feel proud of his ministerial career.

David S. GILMORE, millwright, Hillsboro, was born in Hardin County, Ky., April 13, 
1832; son of Alexander GILMORE, born in Virginia about 1805. When quite young he 
came to Kentucky with his parents and settled in Hardin County, where he died about 
1850. He was also a millwright by trade. His wife was Millie MUDD, who was also a 
native of Virginia. They raised three chil-

[Page 107] 

dren, two sons (David S. being the eldest), and one daughter. Our subject came to 
this State in 1859, and first located in Macoupin County, where he remained probably 
some three years, thence to this county, where he has since lived, in different parts 
of the county, but for the past sixteen years has resided in Hillsboro. He received 
a common school education in Kentucky. He began business for himself when only 
eighteen years of age, as millwright, which he has followed through life, in 
connection with his other business, such as wagon-making, stocking plows, and other 
such work as is done by any first-class mechanic, such as our subject is justly 
entitled to be called. He is Democratic in politics; also a member of the Masonic 
order. He was married in Grayson County, Ky., on August 12, 1847, to Rachael 
WATKINS, daughter of Isaiah WATKINS and Catharine (THOMAS) WATKINS. Subject has 
three sons, viz.: James D., Robert Lee, Jesse, and four daughters, Nancy A., wife 
of Duncan GODE; Lurena, Libbie May, Sarah E. Our subject owns a comfortable little
residence in East Hillsboro. He has worked at his trade through different parts of 
his State, Missouri and Kentucky.

Solomon HARKEY, Hillsboro, was born in Iredell County, N. C., December 26, 1806; 
son of Martin and Christina (MENSINGER) HARKEY. Martin, who was a farmer by 
occupation, was born in North Carolina February 24, 1771, where he married October 
9, 1794. In 1830, he left North Carolina and came to Hillsboro, where he died 
February 16, 1846. His wife, a native of North Carolina, was born February 12,
1775, and died at her son's (subject's) house in Hillsboro, September 17, 1850. 
Solomon, the fourth of a family of eleven, received but very little education, 
the schools of that day being very inferior to those of to-day. The school which 
he attended was a log cabin with an earthen floor, and the books studied were 
Dilworth's Spelling Book and Pike's Arithmetic, the Bible being the only reader. 
He began life as a tanner, and followed that business from April, 1829, to March 
1833, in Edwardsville, Ill.; thence he removed to Hillsboro, where he followed 
the tanning business for ten years, when he abandoned it and became a farmer. He 
owns a fine farm of 653 acres in Hillsboro Township, a fine two-story frame 
residence, and five lots and five acres of land in the town of Hillsboro, besides 
about 200 acres in Wisconsin. He has been a noted horseman in his day, and has 
handled many fine ones. He made a specialty of draught horses. In Hillsboro 
Township, March 31, 1831, he married Sophia CRESS, born in North Carolina March 
26, 1809, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (BOST) CRESS, both natives of North 
Carolina. She (Sophia) came to Illinois with her parents about the year 1817, 
and died December 21, 1878. Mr. HARKEY was again married October 30, 1879, to 
Mrs. Eleanor T. (McHENRY) EVANS, born July 11, 1826, daughter of George McHENRY. 
He has had nine children, four of whom are dead - William P., now in Yuba City, 
Cal.; Jacob M., Solomon S., Sarah C., wife of Benjamin WILTON; Virginia T., Laura 
L. (deceased), Martha J. (deceased), Mary S. (deceased), and Daniel L. (deceased). 
During his business career he met with many reverses; in 1861, he lost $2,060 by 
the failure of a New York bank; in 1878, he lost $2,700 by the Farmers Mechanics' 
Bank, of Hillsboro; and in December, 1881, he lost about $2,700 by the failure of 
Haskell Bros. & Co., of Hillsboro. He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F.; in politics he supports the Republican 
party.

[Page 108]

Thomas E. HARRIS, County Superintendent, Hillsboro, was born in Massachusetts in 
1815; son of Thomas and Abigail (CHAPIN) HARRIS, he born in Massachusetts, died 
in Vermont, and she, the mother of five sons and three daughters, was born in 
Vermont. Our subject is the second son; received a good education at the Public 
Schools; commenced life as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods establishment in 
New York; went to England, lived in Manchester for three years, came from there 
to this State and commenced farming, which business he still follows. He has 
been Township Trustee for about twenty years; Supervisor of Butler Township 
three years, and was elected County Superintendent of Public Schools in December, 
1877, an office he has filled acceptably to the present time. Mr. HARRIS was 
married tin this county about 1842, to Hulda WARE, a native of this county, and 
a daughter of Obediah and Electa (POST) WARE. They have one daughter, Julia, wife 
of Michael ROBERTSON, of this county, and who now lives in Butler. Although 
Montgomery has a Democratic majority of 500 or 600, yet our subject is a 
Republican, and has no trouble in getting the position he now holds, such is an 
evidence of his qualifications and popularity. He owns 200 acres of land in 
Butler Township.

A. HARTLINE, boots and shoes, Hillsboro, born in North Carolina October 3, 
1845; his parents are natives of North Carolina; his father, who was a farmer 
and a blacksmith by trade, died there in 1874; his mother, who is now about 
seventy-five years of age, is still living in her native State. Our subject, 
the fifth of a family of seven sons, received a limited education in Iredell 
County, N. C., and remained with his father on the farm and in the blacksmith-shop
till he was seventeen years old; he then learned the shoe-making trade, which he 
has since followed. Beginning without any means, he has, by industry and economy, 
worked up a good trade in custom work, and in addition carries a good stock of
ready-made goods; he owns a neat store and a comfortable two-story brick residence 
in Hillsboro. He married in Hillsboro, October 5, 1870, Mary Ann SHARP, born in 
North Carolina, daughter of William SHARP, a native of that State, who died near
Hillsboro. Mr. and Mrs. HARTLINE are the parents of five children - George, Flora,
Jessie, Bertie and Grace. He enlisted, in 1864, in Company E., North Carolina 
Infantry, and served under Gen. McCRAY till 1865, when he was captured near 
Petersburg, Va., and kept a prisoner till the close of the war. He and his wife 
are Methodists; in politics, he is a Democrat.

James HAYNES, county Treasurer, Hillsboro, born in Morgan County, Ill., September 
25, 1843; son of John and Harriet SEYMOUR. John, who was a farmer by occupation, 
was born in Indiana about the year 1815; he lived in Kentucky, principally, till 
he was fourteen years old, when he moved to Illinois, and settled in Cass County 
for a few years; thence he removed to Morgan County, thence to Montgomery County, 
where he settled permanently in 1854; his wife was born in North Carolina about 
the year 1819; she came to Illinois with her parents when quite young, and is 
still living. James, who is the eldest of a family of five sons and two daughters,
attended school in Montgomery County, and afterward at McKendree College, at 
Lebanon, and the Soldiers’ College at Fulton, Ill. He followed farming till 1877, 
when he was elected County Treasurer, an office which he still holds. In 1862, he
enlisted as private in the Federal amry, Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-second
Illinois Infantry. In the battle of Tupelo, Miss., July 14, 1864, he lost his right
arm; 

[Page 109] 

he was captured next day and held a prisoner till the close of the war, during 
which time he was imprisoned in the following places: Mobile, two weeks; Cahaba, 
Ala., four months; Macon, Ga., two and a half months; Andersonville, one month; 
Selma, Ala.; Meridian, Miss.; Vicksburg and St. Louis. From St. Louis, he was 
released, and having reported at Springfield, Ill., was discharged in the spring 
of 1865. He is a Methodist; in politics, he supports the Democratic party.

George B. KING, lumber merchant, etc., Hillsboro, born in Rowan County, N. C., 
September 21, 1824; came to this county in 1867; son of James KING, born in 
Surrey County, N. C., in 1798; farmer; served last two years in the war of 1812; 
was in nine months in the same war, in the early part, as a substitute for another 
party, when only about sixteen years of age; he served also in the regular army 
some time after the close of this war. Subject has now in his possession a white 
vest that was made by a French lady for his father, at St. Louis, during the war; 
he died in North Carolina, December 26, 1825. Elizabeth (BARRINGER) KING, 
subject’s mother, born in Cabarras County, N. C., January 27, 1799, and died in
Hillsboro, Ill., August 7, 1870. Subject’s parents raised one son and two daughters.
He was educated in North Carolina and Virginia; farmed and taught school for a start
in life; although he learned no trade, yet he possessed sufficient natural genius 
to adapt himself to almost any kind of work; was in the habit of making his own 
shoes, harness, lay brick, build chimneys, etc. When he first came to this place, 
in 1867, he taught school and worked at the carpenter’s trade at intervals, and 
finally in August, 1872, he began in the lumber business, which he still follows. 
Subject was conscripted in the Confederate service, in March, 1863, remained there 
till the following June, when he was taken sick and sent to the hospital; after 
becoming able, he was sent on to rejoin the army, took a different route and came 
to Ohio; remained about one year, and then came on to this State. Republican now 
in politics. Member of the I. O. O. F. Was married in Hillsboro, Ill., March 29, 
1872, to Miss Lydia A. DILWORTH, born in Grant County, Ky., June 5, 1849; a 
daughter of Absalom H. DILWORTH, born in Guildford County, N.C., July 25, 1815; 
lived several years in Kentucky, and then came to this State, where he still 
lives. He (Mr. DILWORTH) married Elizabeth WORK, born in Guilford County, N.C., 
December 13, 1823; was brought to Kentucky, when only nine years old, by her 
parents, and settled in Grant County, where she died August 15, 1861. Subject 
has one son – Charlie D., born March 26, 1879, and one daughter – Nellie D., 
born June 22, 1881. Owns six lots in town, two lumber yards, nice two-story 
frame residence, etc.

Henry H. KEITHLEY, Deputy County Clerk, Hillsboro, born in Indiana, November 26, 
1844; came to Litchfield, Ill., in 1857, son of Seth M. and Anna Theresa (MILLER)
KEIGHLEY, he, a mechanic, born in Kentucky, October 18, 1812, where he still lives 
and owns twenty acres within the limits of that town; she, born in Maryland November 
13, 1808, died at Litchfield, Ill., November 22, 1869. Subject is the oldest son of 
a family of two sons and three daughters; got his education at Litchfield and
Springfield; was a painter for four years, Deputy Postmaster at Litchfield for 
two years, clerked in a drug store there for two years; moved from there to 
Hillsboro in December, 1873, when he was 

[Page 110] 

appointed Deputy Clerk, by George M. RAYMOND, County Clerk, an office he still 
fills satisfactorily. Mr. KEITHLEY was married in Hillsboro, September 8, 1875, 
to Miss Camilla BROWN, born June 7, 1853, who has borne him one child - Amy R. 
Subject enlisted September 3, 1864, in the Federal army, and served as private 
and Corporal until the end of the war. He is a Methodist, a Republican, is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, and owns a nice residence in East Hillsboro.

Judge Edward LANE, attorney, Hillsboro, is a native Ohioan and was born in 
Cleveland March 27, 1842, to John, born April 15, 1803, and Catharine (BERRY) 
LANE, who were also natives of Ohio, and died in the "Forest City" about 1850, 
at about the same time, the father having been a merchant of that city. Both 
families were of Irish extraction, and possessed of a marked shrewdness and 
energy. The orphaned family consisted of two sons, the eldest of whom died at 
about eighteen years of age, being four years the senior of Edward, who came 
to Hillsboro in the spring of 1858, and engaged in work upon a brick yard, at 
which he continued about three years, then began going to school, working at 
the same time for his subsistence. In the fall of 1863, he began reading law 
in connection with school-teaching, and was admitted to the bar in the fall 
of 1864. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Hillsboro, 
where he has built up a large and remunerative practice, and stands in the 
front rank of the legal profession of Montgomery County. In 1869, he was 
elected for a term of four years to the office of county Judge. In 1870, 
October 31, he was married to Miss Tucie MILLER, born June 19, 1848, a 
native of Lawrenceville, Ill., and daughter of Samuel K. and Margaret MILLER. 
By her he had two children - Bessie and Guy c. He is a member of the Masonic 
order, and with his family, belong to the Lutheran Church. In his political 
sentiment, he is Democratic.

E. F. LEAK, miller, Hillsboro, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., July 22, 1847, 
son of Thomas and Mary (WALKER) LEAK. Thomas LEAK was born in England in 1806; 
emigrated to America while quite young, and died in Newark, Del., in 1872; he 
was a painter, a sailor, and finally a farmer. His wife was born in England in 
1817, and died in Jerseyville, Ill., in 1873. Our subject is the third son of 
a family of five sons and one daughter. He received a common school education 
in Delaware, and learned the milling business, in which occupation he is still 
engaged. He began the business with very moderate resources, but has been 
successful, and now owns a comfortable frame cottage in Hillsboro. He married, 
in Philadelphia, in April, 1873, Esther COMLY, a native of Delaware, daughter 
of Samuel and Miss (SANDERS) COMLY. Samuel COMLY, whose parents were Quakers, 
was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. LEAK are the parents of three children 
- Edward, Della and Bertha. He is a supporter of the Republican party, and a 
member of the Knights of Pythias.

John J. McLEAN, Circuit Clerk and Recorder, Hillsboro, was born at Metuchin, 
Middlesex Co., N. J., April 4, 1849, and came to this State when fourteen years 
old, with his parents. He was the son of Martin and Mary (CARY) McLEAN. Martin 
was born in Ireland in November, 1819, and came to the United States in 1847, 
and located in New Jersey, remaining till 1862, and moved with his family to 
this county, where he still lives. He is a farmer, and owns 500 acres of as 
good land as is in the county. Mary CARY, his wife, was born in Ireland in 
1812; was married there; came to the United 

[Page 111] 

States one year prior to her husband, and died July 9, 1879. Our subject is the 
oldest of a family of three; received his education partly in the East and partly 
in St. Louis, where he graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. He 
also took a classical course at the Christian Brothers' College, St. Louis, but 
did not graduate. In Bois D'Arc Township, Montgomery County, Oct. 10, 1877, he 
married A. Amanda THOMAS, who was born there October 10, 1855, daughter of Samuel 
R. and Mary E. (DAYTON) THOMAS. He was born in Greene County, Ill., May 2, 1829; 
is still living; she born in 1831 at the same place; still living. Subject has 
two sons – William Ralph, born July 17, 1879, and Edgar M., born March 21, 1881. 
Mr. McLEON taught school for a year, and was afterward elected County Treasurer 
of Montgomery County, and served two years. He next engaged in real estate and 
abstract business from 1875 to 1880, when he was elected Circuit Clerk, an office 
he still holds. He owns a nice two-story brick residence in Hillsboro, besides 
about 480 acres of land in Montgomery County, and a valuable set of abstract 
books worth, probably, $10,000. He is also an inventor, having patented what is 
known as McLEAN's File Cabinet for court papers. This is an invention that 
promises to be very valuable to the patentee.

George W. MICHAEL, hotel proprietor and farmer, Hillsboro, was born in North 
Carolina July 30, 1827, son of Jacob and Annie (LONTZ) MICHAEL, both natives 
of North Carolina. Jacob was born about the year 1798. He is a farmer by 
occupation and still living in his native State. His wife died in Indiana about 
the year 1872. They were the parents of twelve children, nine sons and three 
daughters; six of the sons deceased. Our subject received but a limited 
education in North Carolina. He learned the house-carpenter’s trade, and has 
followed it the greater part of his life. He came to Illinois March 18, 1881, 
and settled in Hillsboro, where he has conducted a hotel since that time. He 
married, in North Carolina, October 20, 1857, Belzora HEDICK, a native of that 
State, born July 5, 1833, daughter of John and Barbara (CAUSLER) HEDICK. John 
HEDICK, who is a farmer, was born in North Carolina, March 30, 1795. His wife, 
also a native of North Carolina, was born February 12, 1804. Mr. and Mrs. 
MICHAEL have had six children, four of whom are living – Thomas J., who married 
Miss Teenie NICHOLS, of Hillsboro; John T.; Jennie, wife of John GOODMAN, and 
Emma H. During the war, Mr. MICHAEL served in the Confederate army, Company E, 
Fourth Cavalry, Deering’s Brigade, Stewart’s Cavalry, participating in the 
battles of Manassas and others of less importance near Petersburg, Richmond, 
etc. On one occasion, he and a comrade, by coolness and strategy, succeeded in 
capturing nine federal soldiers. Seeing the importance of a good education, Mr. 
MICHAEL has endeavored to give his children all the advantages in that direction 
within the reach of his ability. He and all his family are Lutherans. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity; in politics, he is a supporter of the 
Democratic party. 

Samuel H. McLEAN, physician, Hillsboro, is a native of Montgomery County, where 
he was born, near Hillsboro, April 12, 1849, to Robison and Emily (BARRY) McLEAN, 
he a native of Greensboro, N. C., and came to Montgomery County at about twenty-one
years of age, or in about the year 1841. Here he engaged in stock-raising and 
farming, which he followed until his death, which occurred in January, 1876. Emily, 
the mother of our subject, was born in Barren County, Ky., and came with her 
parents when but a child to Montgomery County. She is 

[Page 112]

still living at an advanced age. Our subject is the second of seven living 
children. He received the meager advantages of the district schools until 
seventeen years of age, when he spent two years at the academy at Hillsboro, 
and the years 1871-72 were spent at the University at Lincoln, Ill. In the 
fall of 1872, he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, 
graduating therefrom in the spring of 1874. He immediately commenced practice
at Donnellson, Montgomery County, where he remained three years. In the spring 
of 1877, he came to Hillsboro, where he has since resided, in the practice of 
his profession, and built up a large and lucrative practice. Since his 
professional career in the county, he has held the offices of Secretary, 
President and Vice President of the County Medical Society, and has been 
twice appointed s delegate to the State Medical Association, of which he is 
a member. He was married, September 19, 1876, to Miss Lina KERR, a native of 
Ohio, and daughter of Robert KERR, now of Montgomery County. He is Republican
in political sentiment, and with his family, belongs to the Methodist Church.

Warren M. NEFF, blacksmith, Hillsboro, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1848; 
son of William H. C. and Susan (HUFFMAN) NEFF. William H. C. was a farmer, and 
was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1825; removed to Montgomery County in 1854, 
where he died the following year. His wife was born in Ohio, in 1830; she 
married twice, the second husband being James WHITE, of Montgomery County. 
Warren, our subject, has two sisters and three half-brothers. He received his 
education, chiefly, in Hillsboro, and worked on the farm till he was twenty 
years old, when he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has followed ever 
since. He began life with little or no means, but by industry and economy, and 
strict attention to business, he has built up an extensive trade, and is the 
owner of considerable property. He owns a blacksmith shop and lot adjoining, a 
house and lot in the south end of Hillsboro, and eighty-three acres of land in 
East Fork and Fillmore Townships. In Hillsboro, November 17, 1875, he married 
Elmira A. STOUT, born in Indiana, in 1855, and died in Hillsboro, December 4, 
1880. Mr. NEFF is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A., F. 
& A. M.

George William PAISLEY, attorney, Hillsboro, was born in this county in 1838; 
son of Joseph PAISLEY, born in North Carolina in 1797, and emigrated to this 
State in 1822, and spent first two years in Bond County, thence to his county, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. He died on his farm here in 1857. In 
1837, he was married to Martha A. ALLAN, a native of Kentucky, born near 
Lexington in 1815, and is still living with her son, subject, in this county. 
Present raised but one son, subject, he being by the second wife. There are 
two half-sisters living by first wife. Our subject was educated at the 
Hillsboro Academy. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, having read law off and 
on some several years previous. He began life as a farmer, at the death of his 
father, which he followed for four or five years. He was next County Surveyor, 
being elected in 1865, an office he filled for two years. He next engaged in 
mercantile business, some two years. He held the office of Master in Chancery 
from 1868 to 1869; was elected to the State Legislature in 1880, a position he 
now holds; enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois 
Infantry as a private, and was afterward elected Orderly Sergeant, and served 
three years; participated in the battle at Nashville, Tupelo, storm and capture 
of the works of 

[Page 113] 

Blakely, at Mobile, Ala., besides several minor engagements; was never captured 
nor wounded during the war; belonged to the command that followed PRICE through 
Missouri and a portion of Kansas, in 1864, a distance of about 600 miles; left 
Jefferson Barracks on the 2d of October and got back to St. Louis on the 18th 
of November; Democrat in politics. He was married in Macoupin County, this State, 
on the 5th of June, 1872, to Maggie M. MIDDLETON. She was the daughter of Rev. 
John and Sibilla (GALBREATH) MIDDLETON; wife was born in 1846. Our subject has 
five children, all daughters, viz.: Anna, Ethel, Georgia, Maggie and Susie. His 
wife is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, commonly called Covenanters, 
her father being a minister of that church. Subject owns about 1,000 acres of 
land in this county.

Samuel PAISLEY, farmer P. O. Hillsboro, was born in North Carolina in the year 
1811, on the 6th of July. John PAISLEY, his father, was born in Pennsylvania, 
on the 10th of August, 1763, and was taken to North Carolina in infancy and 
remained there until sixty-four years of age, and was a farmer by occupation. 
He emigrated to Illinois in 1828, and settled in Montgomery County, and 
commenced farming. He entered 160 of land and bought 120 acres of unimproved 
land, on which he put all necessary improvements, and raised a large family 
of children. He married in North Carolina in the year 1791, to Miss Jane 
(RANKIN) PAISLEY. She was born in North Carolina in the year 1771, and of 
Scotch-Irish descent, and was the mother of twelve children, our subject being 
the eleventh child, and was raised on the farm and assisted his father in his 
boyhood days. He was educated in the common schools of the country, and by 
observation and energy has a good practical education. He commenced business 
for himself as a farmer; went into the Black Hawk war, at the age of twenty-one 
years, and served three months; came back to this county and purchased forty 
acres of land with the money he received for his services, and has added to it 
until he has reached the handsome estate of 414 acres, the most of which is 
good tillable land, with all necessary improvements. He was married September 
1, 1842, in this county, to Miss Clarissa FULLER; was born in Clark County, 
Ohio, January 11, 1821. Moses FULLER, her father, was born in New Brunswick, 
in 1787, and died November, 1879. Elizabeth PRILLAMAN, her mother, was born 
in Virginia, in the year 1778, and was mother of nine children, eight living. 
The wife of subject was the seventh child, and she is the mother of five 
children, one deceased. Their names are as follows: Moses F., in the war three 
years, was in several battles, entering the service at seventeen years of age; 
Lucinda C., Nettie, William C., Laura J., deceased. They are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. Identified with the Republican party. William PAISLEY, 
his paternal grandfather, was in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at 
Guilford through the wrist. Mrs. PAISLEY, the mother of Rev. Samuel Paisley, 
said that she had no recollection of her parents, they having been killed by 
the Indians, and her mother died soon after. She never spoke of her captivity 
at all.

Joseph POLLARD, hotel proprietor, Hillsboro, was born in St. Louis January 22, 
1856; son of Daniel and Mary (PHALAN) POLLARD. Daniel POLLARD was born in 
Ireland and emigrated to America at the age of twenty-two. He settled first in 
New Orleans, but afterward moved to St. Louis, where he was married August 15, 
1850. He followed steamboating for several years, and was afterward employed on 
the police force in St. 

[Page 114] 

Louis. He died at Little Rock, Ark., in 1867. Of his seven children, three sons 
died prior to his death, and were buried in St. Louis. Since his death, one son 
and one daughter have died, and been buried in Litchfield, Ill. The remaining 
two are Joseph (our subject) and Margaret. His wife, Mary PHALAN, was born in 
Ireland in 1826. She came to America with some friends, when she was seventeen 
years of age, and stopped for a time in New Orleans, then moved to St. Louis. 
Since the death of her husband, she and her son, the subject of this sketch, 
have been engaged in the hotel business. They first kept hotel in Butler, where 
they stayed nine years; thence they moved to Raymond, remaining there four years, 
and finally located in Hillsboro, in June, 1879. Here they ran the old American 
Hotel for two years and a half, after which they moved to their present house, 
the City Hotel, where they have met with an extensive patronage. Our subject, 
his mother, and sister, are Catholics. He is a supporter of the Democratic party.

Judge Edward Young RICE, attorney, Springfield, was born in Logan County, Ky., 
February 8, 1820. In his native State, he remained until about fifteen years of 
age, when he came with his parents to Macoupin County, Ill. His father, Francis 
RICE, was a native of Caswell County, N. C. He was engaged in a ministerial 
life, and identified with agricultural and mercantile pursuits. His death occurred 
in August, 1837, aged about sixty-three years. His wife was Mary GOOCH, also a 
native of Caswell County, N. C., and a daughter of William and Mrs. (CARR) GOOCH. 
Both were among the prominent families of North Carolina. The parents of our 
subject had seven sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are 
now living, of whom the Judge is the youngest. The eldest, Hiram J., a farmer 
of Macoupin County, and Susan, widow of Robert ANDREWS, of the above county. The 
Judge received a limited education in the common school, with the addition of 
about two years at Shurtleff College. He then taught school and studied law with 
Gov. PALMER, at Carlinville, from which place he was admitted to the bar in 
February, 1844. In September of the following year he came to Hillsboro, where 
he practiced his profession until in October, 1881, when he entered into 
partnership with Judge A. N. J. CROOK, at Springfield, Ill. While engaged in 
the practice of his profession, he has always been honored with a large and 
lucrative practice. In 1847, he was elected to the office of Recorder of Deeds 
of Montgomery County. In November, 1848, he was honored with an election to the 
Lower House of the Illinois Legislature, a special session carrying him to the 
year 1851, and in that year he was elected to the office of County Judge to fill 
the unexpired term caused by the resignation of Joseph RALSTON, and during the 
years 1853 to 1857, he was Master in Chancery. In April, 1857, he was elected to 
the office of Circuit Judge for a term of four years, but by the formation of a 
new circuit, composed of Sangamon, Macoupin, Montgomery, and Christian Counties, 
he was re-elected for a term of six years, and in 1867 for a term of six years 
longer, but before the term expired he resigned his office to accept the 
nomination for Congress from the "old Tenth District". In that position he served 
until in March, 1873, and it was during his term that the State was re-districted. 
He was a member of the Constitutional Convention which assembled in December, 
1869, and completed its work in May, 1870. In this convention he served upon 
many important committees. In the early part of 1874, he, in connection with 
his son-in-law, Amos 

[Page 115]

MILLER, opened their present law office in Hillsboro, now under the firm name 
of RICE, MILLER, & McDAVID. He was married November 29, 1849, to Mrs. Susan R. 
(ALLEN) COUDY, a native of Clark County, Ky. She had one child - Isabella, wife 
of F. C. BOLTON, a railroad operator in Indianapolis. By this marriage, the 
Judge has two children living - Mary, wife of Amos MILLER, and James E. Y., who 
is attending Blackburn University. He is a Democrat in political tenets, and, 
with his wife, belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

George M. RAYMOND, County Clerk, Hillsboro, is a native of Woodstock, Windsor 
Co., Vt., where he was born September 8, 1832, to George G. and Judith Hix 
(PHILLIPS) RAYMOND, both natives of the above county, where they both died. She 
was a daughter of Shadrach PHILLIPS. George G. is a son of George and Phoebe 
(COBB) RAYMOND. The parents of our subject had four children, of whom he was 
the oldest. The others were Edna I., widow of James E. L. SOUTHGATE, who, at the 
time of his death, was Assistant Cashier of the Winnebago National Bank; at that 
place his family now resides. Sarah S., a maiden, residing with her widowed 
sister; Elwyn P. died November 11, 1881, aged thirty-eight years, at Shellmound, 
Le Flore Co., Miss., where he had been for a considerable time in the capacity 
of book-keeper. Our subject received his education at the district school and at
the Green mountain Liberal Institute in his native town, after which he begun life 
as a farmer. In 1853, September 12, he came to Rockford, Ill., where he engaged 
in mercantile business, remaining two years. In 1856, he went to Alton and engaged 
in the marble business, which he carried on until in 1860, when on the 17th of 
July of that year he was married to Jennette BURDETT, a native of Lowell, Mass., 
of English-Scotch descent, and daughter of Emmons and Margaret (CARR) BURDETT, he 
a wheelright and machinist, now residing with his family in Litchfield. By this 
marriage there were tow children, both of whom died in childhood. In February, 
1861, he moved to Litchfield, and there formed a partnership in mercantile 
business, under the firm name of Stoddard & Raymond, which they carried on for 
twelve years, when by the dissolution of the firm, he entered upon the duties of
book-keeper for the banking firm of Beach, Davis & Co. During his residence at
Litchfield, he held the following city offices: Alderman, two terms; City 
Treasurer, tow terms, and City Clerk, one term. In December, 1873, he took upon 
himself the duties of the office of County Clerk, having been previously elected 
upon the Granger ticket, the county being nearly six hundred Democratic majority. 
He was re-elected on the Republican ticket in a square political contest, and by 
virtue of an amendment to the Constitution, another year was added to his time, 
so that, in December, 1882, he will have served the people in this office nine 
years. He is a member of the Masons at Litchfield, in which order he has for 
several years been commanding officer. He and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and highly esteemed citizens of Hillsboro.

Francis ROOT, local preacher and farmer, born in Massachusetts, raised principally 
in New Jersey. He was married to Mrs. Marandis D. HOLMES (widow of Joel D. 
HOLMES, deceased) April 2, 1873. Her first husband, Mr. HOLMES, son of Daniel and 
Mercy (DAY) HOLMES, was born in Alfred, Me., April 3, 1813, and married Marandis 
D. BENNETT, of Wilbraham, Mass., October 3, 1843. Mrs. HOLMES was born December 
29, 1826. Their children, all born in Hillsboro, Ill., have been Mary M., Morrill 
D., Joel F., Lucy N., Edward and Alice A. Mr. 

[Page 116] 

HOLMES, deceased, was a piano-maker in New York City for a number of years, and 
after coming to Illinois, he worked at the carpenter's trade. He died on his farm, 
five miles south of Hillsboro, on April 5, 1870. His son, Frank, ran the farm 
after his father's death, for several years, and on account of his health failing, 
he was obliged to quit the farm, and his brother Morrill then took charge of the 
farm and still continues to run the same. He, the father, was not connected with 
any church, but was a Methodist in belief, and shortly before his death, he 
professed religion, and died happy. He was a highly-esteemed citizen of high 
moral character, very benevolent all through life, and perhaps had as few enemies 
as any man in his country, at the time of his death. He was a Republican in 
politics. Left considerable estate consisting principally of lands. He left 
several hundred acres to his family, besides other means. His widow (now Mrs. 
ROOT) and three children - Frank, Morrill and Mary M., wife of Joseph F. HUGHES, 
still living. Mr. ROOT, second husband, was born in Massachusetts, February 14, 
1809. Left there when six years old and went to New Jersey with his parents, 
where he was educated; left there when about twenty-five years old and went 
to Ohio; remained there about two years; from there to Richmond, Ind.; remained 
there about twenty-five years in the woolen factory business, hotel, grocery, 
etc; from there to Greenville, Ill., remained there six or seven years, farming
principally, and from there to this county, five miles south of Hillsboro; moved 
to Hillsboro in May, 1881, where he now lives. Began preaching, as a local 
preacher, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, about twenty years ago, and still 
preaches occasionally. Was married first in New Jersey, in 1831, to Mary B. 
BROWN. She died in 1869. His second marriage was on April 2, 1873, to Mrs. 
Marandis D. HOLMES. Mr. ROOT has five living children, all by his first wife 
- James, William and Francis C., and two daughters - Sarah and Julia A. 
Republican, politically. Was one of the first Abolitionists in Indiana; was 
driven out of the church on this account. 

Charles A. RAMSEY, hardware, Hillsboro, born in Pennsylvania January 8, 1845, 
son of William H. and Mary (RARER) RAMSEY. William H. was born in Pennsylvania, 
in 1820, and is a contractor and builder by occupation. His wife, also a native 
of Pennsylvania, was born in 1825. They are both still living. Charles A., the 
eldest son of a family of five sons and three daughters, received a good 
education at Pine Grove Seminary and Academy, and also at the Pennsylvania 
State Agricultural College. He began life as a clerk; afterward taught school; 
studied medicine for about two years, but gave it up and engaged in the drug 
business in Irving, Ill. In 1877, he gave up the drug business in Irving, and 
came to Hillsboro, where he engaged in his present business, hardware and 
agricultural implements. He has filled the office of Township Supervisor. In 
1862, he enlisted in the Army of the Potomac, as private, and served under Gen. 
Miles and others, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major, and afterward 
to Adjutant. He served till the close of the war, and participated in many hot
engagements. In Shelby County, Ill., in 1870, he married Elizabeth Corley, born 
in Shelby County, July 2, 1849, daughter of B. W. and Lois (WAKEFIELD) CORLEY, 
natives of that county. From this marriage, they have one daughter - Mary. Mr. 
Ramsey is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church.

Fred A. RANDLE, attorney, Hillsboro, was born at Bunker Hill, Ill., January 21, 

[Page 117] 

1854, to E. B. and Mary E. (POWERS) RANDLE, she a graduate of Oberlin College, 
Ohio, and sister to A. G. POWERS, deceased, the artist, and a cousin to Hiram 
POWERS, the sculptor; she was born in Otto, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1826, 
and was the youngest daughter of a family of seven sons and four daughters; her 
death occurred October 10, 1857, when the subject of this sketch was about four 
years of age; she was a very intelligent lady and a kind and loving mother. E. 
B. RANDLE was born at Bellville, Ill., September 8, 1826, and is now engaged in 
the hardware and drug business at Bethalto, Ill.; he was one of a company who 
went to California in 1849, locating near Sacramento City, where he engaged in 
mining, and was quite successful; on his return home in 1851, by way of the 
Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, where upon the latter sea he was shipwrecked, and, 
when in a perishing condition, he was picked up by a friendly vessel, and 
returned home and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He married his second wife, 
Marietta NELSON, of Gillespie, Ill., January 6, 1859, by whom he has two living 
children – Mattie and Mary E., who was married, June 13, 1880, to W. F. NEISLER, 
of Bethalto, Ill., by whom she has had one child, Lottie E.; he is engaged in 
business with his father-in-law, who is a son of Rev. Richard RANDLE, one of 
the pioneer preachers of the State, a native of Georgia, and still living, at
eighty-three years of age. Our subject was the only child by his father’s first
marriage; he lived upon the farm and attended district school in winter. In 
1874, he entered the Preparatory Department of McKendree College, at Lebanon, 
Ill.; there he worked for his board, and surmounted the many obstacles in the 
way of a smooth educational advancement, until completing his Junior year, having 
passed by examination the course of Freshman; during the Junior year, he also 
took the first year in the Law Department, and, in the year 1879, graduated from 
that institution, and came to Hillsboro, where he, in July of that year, began 
the practice of his profession, in which he has to the present time met with 
flattering success. In May 1881, he was elected for a term of four years to 
the office of Justice of the Peace, which position he is filling to the 
satisfaction of his constituency. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and is 
a young man of good moral and religious habits.

John A. RALSON, boarding-house keeper, Hillsboro, born in Mifflin County, 
Penn., August 30, 1818; came to this state in 1843 and stopped in Hillsboro; 
the son of William and Anna (BLACK) RALSTON; he, a tanner, born in the North 
of Ireland in 1783, came to the United States when quite young; settled in 
Philadelphia, Penn.; was a soldier of the war of 1812, but the war was brought 
to a close before he was called into active service and died December 25, 1862; 
she, born in Carlisle, Penn., in 1782, and died in June, 1873. Our subject is 
the second son of a family of four sons and two daughters; educated in the 
common schools of Perryville, Penn., and was married, in 1852, near Taylorville, 
Ill., to Ann Elizabeth LADD, born in Stonington, Conn., in 1826, who came to 
Illinois in the spring of 1849 with her mother and family, and settled six miles 
north of Taylorville; she is the daughter of Noyes, born in Franklin County,
Conn., in 1798, died 1838, and Harriet L. (WILLIAMS) LADD, born in Stonington, 
Conn., died June, 1870. Our subject has four children – William Curtis, Hattie 
E., Eleanora and Florence A. He went to Missouri in 1844; remained there about 
ten months, then went to Vandalia, Ill., for two years; then back to Pennsylvania 
for six months; returned to Taylorville, Ill., 

[Page 118] 

for three years, then to Hillsboro in 1853, where he now resides. Our subject is 
a tailor, and has followed that business for thirty years; was in the Federal 
army from 1862 to 1865; enlisted as a private; promoted to Second Sergeant, and 
was at the fall of Vicksburg, but was not called into action. He is a Republican, 
and his son, William Curtis, is a graduate of the public school at Hillsboro; 
read law with Hon. George W. PAISLEY, of this place; went to Iowa, located in 
Pocahontas Center; admitted to the bar there in the fall of 1881, and now has a 
fair practice in connection with the real estate business.

Charles W. SPRINGER, abstracts and real estate, Hillsboro, born in Springfield, 
Ill., October 5, 1846, son of Francis and Mary (KREIGH) SPRINGER; he, born in 
Maryland in 1810, came to this place in 1838; established Hillsboro College; 
was President of same till 1852; moved to Springfield, where the college was 
opened; served again as President for several years; afterward elected 
Superintendent of City Schools; came back here in 1874; was Superintendent of 
County Schools for several years, and again returned to Springfield I n1880, 
where he now is; he is a pastor in the Lutheran Church; has been a preacher all 
his life, and graduated at Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Penn.; she, born at
Hagerstown, Md., in 1815, is still living. Our subject was educated principally 
at the university, Springfield, Ill.; began life in the dry goods business, in 
which he continued about three years; taught in the academy, Hillsboro, under 
his father, as Principal, for a term of one year, and then began his present 
business; enlisteed in the Federal army (100-days’ service) in the summer of 
1864, when he was only in his teens, and was the whole time at Rock Island in 
charge of the prisoners. His parents have seven living children, subject being 
the third son, and now Public Administrator of Montgomery County. He made a 
trip to Utah in 1871; spent six months there; been a law student for several 
years; expects to be admitted to the bar next winter, and will make law his 
profession. His brother, Phil M. SPRINGER, is an agricultural writer, and 
publishes annually the American Berkshire Record at Springfield. Another 
brother, John G., was Quartermaster of the Tenth Cavalry during the war, and 
is now United States Internal Revenue Gauger of the Springfield District, and 
served in the same office in Arkansas for ten years.

George W. SCOTT, lawyer, Hillsboro, born in Putnam County, Ill., July 3, 1853; 
came to this county September, 1874, son of George and Harriet B. (PHILLIPS) 
SCOTT, he born in Virginia March 10, 1813, moved to St. Charles, Mo., with his 
parents in 1820; his father, Phelix SCOTT, was Lieutenant Governor of Missouri 
in 1827-28, and his father, Col. Charles SCOTT, was Colonel in the Revolutionary 
army; she, a daughter of Capt. Thomas PHILLIPS, of Hillsboro, was born in 
Livingston County, Ky., in 1823. Our subject is the youngest son of a family 
of three sons and one daughter; attended the high school at Henry, Ill.; 
graduated at the Northwestern University at Chicago in 1872; commenced reading 
law, in the summer of 1874, with his uncle, Judge PHILLIPS; began practicing 
in 1876; went West February 25, 1879, and returned August 20, 1881, having 
visited Colorado, New Mexico, Old Mexico, Arizona, California, again to 
Arizona, thence home. He was admitted to the bar in Colorado, and practiced 
there ten months. Our subject was married, in Hillsboro, December 9, 1875, 
to Jennie RUSSELL, born at Greenville June 6, 1857, daughter of Thomas J. 
and Mary (BUCHANAN) RUSSELL, he born at Harper’s Ferry, Va., in 1833, still 
lives there, while 

[Page 119] 

she was born in Greenville, Ill. The result of this union is one daughter, 
Pearl, born January 30, 1877. Our subject is a Democrat, a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and was married by Rev. James WOOLARD, who had officiated 
at his wife’s father’s and mother’s marriage, and also at his wife’s 
grandfather’s and grandmother’s marriage. 

J. P. SPANGLER, saddler, Hillsboro, was born in Pennsylvania April 8, 1846; 
father was George SPANGLER; he was also a native of Pennsylvania; was a 
blacksmith by trade, but, in after life, followed the vocation of farming; 
he died in Pennsylvania about 1852; mother's name was Nancy MYERS; she was 
also a native of Pennsylvania, where she now lives; parents raised three 
sons and two daughters; subject is the second son, and was educated at the 
common schools of his native State; began life by working on the farm, and, 
at about the age of seventeen years, he began to learn the saddler's trade, 
which business be has followed the principal part of his time since, except 
he traveled about two years in commercial business. He worked at his trade 
about three years in Memphis, and the next place he located was at Hillsboro, 
Ill., in the spring of 1874, where he still continues. Our subject is engaged 
here by a company known as the Montgomery County Co-operative Association, and 
is manager of their business. Subject was married, in this town, October 18, 
1877, to Miss Tillie HOLDEREAD, daughter of Anthony HOLDEREAD, who died at this 
place about 1880. Subject has one child, Mamie Adell, born September 25, 1878. 
Subject owns a comfortable two-story brick residence in town. Republican in 
politics. Member of the Masonic order at this place; self and wife are members 
of the Methodist Church.

Alfred A. K. SAWYER, dry goods and farming, Hillsboro, was born in Boston 
August 8, 1832, and came to Illinois in 1840. His father, Amos SAWYER, a 
native of Ireland, had four children, two boys and tow girls, our subject 
being the eldest, who was educated partly in Hillsboro and partly in St. 
Louis, and began life farming, after which he traveled awhile, clerking on
steamboats and on levee; was also in business in Chicago about two years; has 
been in the dry goods trade and farming in Montgomery for about sixteen years; 
he owns a fine farm of 250 acres; has one residence with thirteen acres 
attached, and another on Main street; has a fine trade, usually employing 
from three to five clerks. In 1860, in Hillsboro, he married Ella BREMER, a 
native of Kentucky, whose father was a North Carolinian, and her mother a 
Virginia woman; he is living in Hillsboro, but his wife is dead. Mr. SAWYER 
has had five children born to him – Amos, Edgar, Hubert, Augustus and Ella; 
one son, William, is dead. Is a Methodist, and a member of the Masonic and 
Granger fraternities; has also filled the position of Justice of the Peace.

Thomas D. WASHBURN, physician, Hillsboro, was born in Greenfield, Mass., upon 
the 25th of April, 1819; he is the eldest and only son of Dr. Seth and Asenath 
(DICKMAN) WASHBURN, both of whom were natives of the above State, she, born 
about 1800, died in 1840, a daughter of Thomas DICKMAN, a printer and 
book-seller at Springfield, Mass., and a man of considerable prominence 
in his business he, born at Leicester about 1790, died February, 1825. The 
only sister of our subject is Ruth W., widow of William G. BANCROFT, of the 
firm of Barnes, Bancroft & Co., one of the oldest, wealthiest and most 
prominent wholesale and retail dry goods houses in Buffalo, N. Y. Dr. Washburn, 
in his boyhood, pursued, in the different academies and colleges of New England, 

[Page 120] 

the languages, sciences, mathematics, and classics, obtaining a valuable and 
practical knowledge in the special course which he selected. At the age of 
twenty-one years, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Ralph SEVERANCE, 
at Saxon’s River, Vt., then with Dr. James DEAN, and from his tutelage he 
entered the intermediate school of Bowditch, Cole & Shattuck, at Boston; after 
remaining for a time at this school, his health failing, he went to the State 
of Georgia, where he taught a private school for three years, and then entered
the University of New York, from which he graduated in the spring of 1846, and 
then began the practice of his profession at Syracuse, N. Y., where he remained 
three years. He was married, at Oswego, N.Y., May 25, 1846, to Roxanna M. JOSLIN, 
born at Easton, N.Y., April 25, 1819, daughter of Peter and Hannah (ROUNDS) 
JOSLIN, he born in 1784, died in 1858, she born at Easton in 1787, died in 1862. 
From Syracuse he removed to Grayville, Ill., thence to Lawrenceville, and, in 
1856, settled in Hillsboro, where he has since resided and enjoyed a large 
practice in his profession. In 1854, he held the office of President of the 
Esculapian, which is the oldest society in the State, and the same year 
delivered the valedictory address before that society; he has also held the 
office of President of the State Medical Society, and at the present time 
fills that position in the Montgomery County Medical Society, and Vice 
President of the Inter-State Medical Society. His contributions to medical 
literature have been numerous and of great value to the medical profession 
throughout the country. He served three years as Assistant Surgeon of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, the last eighteen months 
of the time being spent as Post Surgeon at Little Rock, Ark. By his marriage, 
there were born the following: Seth Emory and Daniel W., living; John and 
Edward, dead. The family are members of the Congregational Church, in which 
the Doctor has held for a number of years the offices of Deacon and Trustee.
He is a Republican in his political tenets; a man of prominence, and highly 
esteemed by the citizens of the county; he is a nephew of Emory WASHBURN, 
ex-Governor of Massachusetts, and late Professor in the Harvard Law School.

M. M. WALSH, furniture, etc., Hillsboro, born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 
December, 1841; his parents, James and Mary (REDMOND) WALSH, were natives of 
County Wexford, Ireland, and died there. He is the second son of a family of 
two sons and two daughters; he received an ordinary education in Ireland, and 
emigrated to America in 1854, and settled in Montreal, Canada, where he 
remained till 1856, when he came to the United States. He learned the trade 
of a wagon-maker in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and at the end of his
apprenticeship in 1859, moved to Stamford, Conn., where he worked at his trade 
until 1861. In 1864, he went to Philadelphia, where he worked about a year 
stocking rifles for the government; thence he went to Pittsburgh, Penn.; worked 
at his trade there one year; thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, worked six months, and 
then returned to Pittsburgh; from Pittsburgh he went to St. Louis, and thence 
to Hillsboro, where he arrived April 9, 1867; here he worked at his trade till 
1869, then engaged in the hardware business till 1873, when he sold out his 
hardware stock and engaged in his present line - furniture, coffins, sewing 
machines, etc. In Hillsboro, December 15, 1870, he married Minerva M. HANSON, 
born at Tribe's Hill, Montgomery Co., N. Y., June 25, 1846, daughter of John 
A. and Susan (LINGENFELTER) HANSON, both natives of Tribe's

[Page 121] 

Hill, N. Y., the former born October 11, 1811; the latter, still living, 
was born February 29, 1806. Mr. and Mrs. WALSH are the parents of two 
children - Ada Irene, born September 3, 1873, and Mina M., born July 5, 
1878. He enlisted, in New York City, April 16, 1861, in the Federal service, 
Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, better known as Duryea's Zouaves; was 
commissioned Lieutenant early in 1863, and remained with the army during its 
term of service. He was taken prisoner during the seven-days' fight around 
Richmond, Va., and confined in the tobacco factory prison on Carey street, 
Richmond, for twenty-six days, when he was paroled and exchanged; he took 
part in the battle of Fredericksburg. He is a supporter of the Republican 
party.

Paul WALTER, livery business, Hillsboro, was born in North Carolina, Cabarras 
County, October 2, 1821. Nicholas Walter was born in Pennsylvania about 1790, 
and moved to North Carolina about 1809, and married Catharine GOODMAN, of that 
State. The father, Nicholas WALTER, was in the war of 1812, and served during 
the war; participated in the memorable battle of New Orleans; he was a farmer 
and millwright, and died in North Carolina in 1825; parents raised four sons 
(subject, youngest son) and three daughters. Subject wwas educated at the common 
schools of North Carolina; began life as a farmer in this State in 1839, that 
being the year of his emigration; has followed farming and stock-trading the 
principal part of his time since till the last few years; went to California 
in 1850, in search of gold; was there about six years in all, and came home 
about $45,000 winner. Being a liberal-hearted, whole-souled fellow, he indorsed 
freely for his friends, and was caught for upward of $40,000, which amount he 
paid by selling his own property, never waiting for an officer to settle any 
of his transactions. This loss, coupled with some unprofitable investments, 
reduced our subject again to moderate circumstances, as he had begun. In the 
late war, he volunteered in the First Illinois Cavalry, in Company E; subject 
was Captain of the company, under Col. Marshall; was captured at Lexington, 
Mo., by Gen. Price; was paroled and exchanged, and again entered the service, 
but was discharged by the Government on account of a violation of their oath, 
having taken the oath to enter the service no more during the rebellion; after 
the battle of Lexington, subject was offered the position of Major, an office 
he refused to accept, preferring to stay with his company; he is a Democrat 
now in politics; member of the Masonic order; has taken all the degrees from 
Entered Apprentice to Knight Templar. Subject married, in this county, February 
1, 1844, to Emeline SCOTT, who was born in North Carolina in 1827, but came to 
this State when quite young, in 1833, with her parents; she was a daughter of 
Alexander and Elizabeth (WOOD) SCOTT. Subject has eight children, four sons – 
George, Scott, Miller and James; and four daughters, Marcilla, Illinois, Susan 
and Estella; wife is a member of the Methodist Church; eldest son, George, was 
educated for a Presbyterian minister, but, on account of his health failing, 
was obliged to give it up.

E. L. WAGGONER, Hillsboro. E. L. WAGGONER, the youngest son of Milton R. 
WAGGONER; Sarah R. McCOLLOUGH, his mother, was born in Montgomery County, 
Ill., September 28, 1863. His boyhood days were spent principally in attending 
the country school; at sixteen years of age, he attended the school of 
Valparaiso, Ind., one year, and two years at Blackburn University; he 

[Page 122] 

then came to Hillsboro, Ill., and commenced in the mercantile business as a 
clerk, as he intends to make that his avocation through life. He and his brother 
have a very fine property in this county, and our subject stands as high as any 
young man in the county, socially, and for his integrity and industry, and manly
principles, he has no superior.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.org/il/montgomery/bios/hillsboro.txt

File size: 107 Kb