Montgomery County IL Archives Bios......Rountree Township 1882 
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Montgomery County, IL.
History of Bond and Montgomery Counties Illinois 1882 - Part II, pages
278-281, Rountree Township

[Page 278] 

Noah LIPE, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro. The grandparents of our subject, Godfrey and 
Barbara (HOUSE) LIPE, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of German descent, 
their parents having emigrated to America at an early date in this country’s history. 
Godfrey LIPE and wife emigrated to Cabarrus County, N. C., and he was noted grain-grower, 
and withal one of the most practical farmers of the State, and it has been said of him 
that he drove the best team of horses from Cabarrus County to Charleston, S. C. They 
were parents of four boys and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, viz., John,
Henry, Moses, Daniel, Sarah, Catharine and Eula, all of whom married in North Carolina, 
and of whom John and Daniel were the only ones that ever left their native State. John, 
the father of our subject, was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., in 1789. His early life 
was spent upon the homestead farm, and eventually he became the owner of land, married 
and raised a family of eleven children, which whom, in November, 1831, he emigrated to 
then distant wilds of Illinois, and located in Irving Township, where he entered a tract 
of wild prairie, which he eventually improved, and by his energy and industry accumulated 
a large amount of this world’s goods, and at one time owned about 500 acres of choice 
land; although he had but a practical education, he was considered a good business man, 
and a practical farmer; he lived to see his youngest child married and a mother, and 
could say he never saw one of his family die. His death occurred in November, 1857. His 
wife, Rachael BLACKWELDER, was also a native of Cabarrus County, N. C., born in 1793. 
She was a kind parent, a true, sincere and consistent Christian woman; she died November 
30, 1881, and which is something remarkable, was at the time of her death and mother of
thirteen children, 131 grand-children, 243 great-grandchildren, and 21
great-great-grandchildren, making a grand total of 408 descendants, of which at the 
time of her death, there were living 304. Her own children were, viz., Barbara, was 
married in North Carolina to Michael HEFLY, and moved to Illinois in company with her
parents, and settled in Irving Township, died about 1872; Nelson, also married in 
North Carolina, and came to Illinois with his parents, and settled near the homestead, 
died November, 1879; Allen, married in Illinois, was the third settler in Rountree 
Township, died in 1856; Ella, wife of Daniel BOST, died about 1862; Noah, our subject;
Delila, wife of Michael WALCHER, living in Irving; Wiley, living in Rountree; Elizabeth,
resident of Irving, wife of Milton NISLER; Helena, married Moses M. SICKLES, located in 
Witt Township, died about 1874; John G., living in Rountree Township; Martin, died in 
1879; Catharine, wife of James MORRAM, Irving Township; Crissa Diana, wife of James T. 
FITE, Zanesville Township. Noah was the fifth child, and was born in Cabarrus County, 
N. C., January 20, 1818, where his early childhood was spent in assisting his father in 
hhis agricultural pursuits upon the homestead farm. At the age of fifteen, he was 
removed to Montgomery County, Ill., by his parents, and remained with them until he 
reached the age of twenty-four, and assisted his father in improving and cultivating 
the farm upon which he settled. At that early day there were no schools, but eventually
a subscription school was started, which he attended about one moth; he has, however,
obtained more than an ordinary education by close observation and close study at home. 
He 

[Page 279] 

was married in Montgomery County, May 12, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth WELLER, who was born 
in Ohio, April 11, 1822, and came to Illinois with her parents when she was about 
eighteen years of age. She has borne him eleven children, viz., Columbus J., born 
December 16, 1843, a prominent merchant of Vincennes, Ind.; Martha Jane, born March 18, 
1845, died September 13, 1845; John W., born March 6, 1847, died August 3, 1863; Lorenzo 
Dow, born September 17, 1849, a prominent farmer living near the homestead; Mary M., 
born May 17, 1851, wife of John KERR, living in Rountree; Kittie R., born December 5, 
1852, wife of Erastus SHERE, living in Rountree; Charles E., born February 3, 1855, 
farmer living near here; Angelia, born December 28, 1856, wife of James SIMMS, living 
in Rountree; Alice, born April 8, 1859, at home; Etta, born December 11, 1860, at home;
Nettie, born February 14, 1863, died April 27, 1864. Mrs. LIPE was a daughter of John 
and Mally (LINGENFELTER) WELLER, a native of Stark County, Ohio. He died in 1843; she 
is still living in Rountree Township, with her son Jacob, a wealthy farmer. At the age 
of twenty-four years, Mr. LIPE left home, and entered upon his career in life as a 
farmer, locating in Rountree Township, where he began life in a small way; built a small 
log cabin, having a sod chimney (the largest farm in the township was surrounded by a 
sod fence, containing sixty acres). He has gradually added to his possessions until at 
one time he had the satisfaction of conducting a farm consisting of 500 acres, which
represented the dollars earned by himself, the result of energy, enterprise and good
management. He has a farm now under a high state of cultivation and is improved by 
buildings and all the necessary appliances for comfort and convenience. He has given 
all his children a good education, realizing from his own limited privileges how important 
a good education is to the rising generation. He has held the offices of School Director 
and Trustee, in the township. Himself and wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He has been a member of a Christian Church about forty=two years. His uncle Dan 
came to Illinois and settled upon a tract of land adjoining that of our subject, in the 
year 1839, where he lived until 1869, and where he raised a large family; he is now 
located in Whiteside County. Two of his sons are Lutheran preachers; all the balance of 
his family held prominent positions.

Eli NUSMAN, farmer, P. O. Irving, was born in Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., Ill., April 9, 
1824. His father, John NUSMAN, was born in Cabarrus County, N. C. He was a farmer by
occupation, came to Hillsboro, Montgomery County, in about 1820, hwere he remained about 
ten years, and then removed his family to Rountree Township, where he was one of the 
first settlers, and where he remained, engaged in agricultural pursuits, up to the time 
of his death, which occurred May 27, 1852 aged about seventy-five years. His wife, 
Catharine FOGLEMAN, was also a native of Cabarrus County, N. C., born in 1791; she 
died August 13, 1846. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom Eli, the subject 
of this sketch was next to the youngest child. As school privileges were very limited 
at that early day, he was unable to receive such an education as he would have liked;
however, by contact with the world, and by observation, he has accumulated more than 
an ordinarily pracrtical education. His early childhood was employed upon his father’s 
farm, in assisting him in improving the place, and at the death of his parents remained 
upon the homestead, which he has never left, and which he has at the present time in a 
high state of cultivation. Mr. NUSMAN is considered one of the most popular men in the
township, and also ranks with the practical farmers of the County. He was married in
Montgomery County, May 6, 1858, to Sarah Elizabeth LITICKER, who was born in Cabarrus 
Co., N.C., 

[Page 280]

April 6, 1840. They have six children, viz.: Harriet Catharine, born April 15, 1859; 
Peter, born March 19, 1861; Mary Emiline, born March 16, 1863, Clara Henrietta, born 
January 12, 1866; Nellie Jane, born March 27, 1868; Elizabeth Nora, born December 12, 
1869; all of whom are living. Mrs. NUSMAN is a daughter of Arba and Mary Ann (McCOY)
LITICKER, natives of North Carolina, both still living in Montgomery County. Mr. NUSMAN 
has in his possession about three hundred acres of choice farm land, upon which he grows 
the usual farm crops and raises all kinds of stock usually found upon a well-regulated 
farm. Although not much interested in politics, Mr. NUSMAN is identified with the 
Democratic party. He is a man who ranks very high socially, and now in his declining 
days he is enjoying the fruits of an energetic and prosperous career, surrounded by 
his family of children, all of whom are living at home. Elizabeth NUSMAN, a sister of 
Mr. NUSMAN, is also one of the household, they having always lived together since 
childhood. There are but two others of the original family living, viz. John L., at 
Ramsey, and Sarah, wife of J. KENNEDY, living in Missouri. At an early time in his life, 
Mr. NUSMAN was considered a great hunter, and while still a small boy he shot and killed 
two deer, in the morning before breakfast, and has since killed four in one day. Mr. N. 
is the oldest living first settler in township.

Joseph WALERS, farmer, P. O. Morrisonville, was born in the Parish of Christ Church, 
South Wales, Great Britain, March 18, 1835, where he received a common school education, 
and at the age of sixteen years was apprenticed to learn the trade of boiler-making, 
at which occupation he was engaged about four years. Arnold WALERS, the father of our
subject, was also a native of South Wales, and was a railroad and turnpike contractor 
by occupation. His death occurred in about 1843, aged fifty-three years. His wife, 
Mary PIERSON, was also a native of South Wales. She died March 5, 1855, aged about 
fifty-five years. The result of this union was five children, viz.: Henry, a contractor 
by occupation, and was assisting in constructing the railroad across the Isthmus of 
Panama, when he was taken sick with the yellow fever, and died in 1863; John, an attache 
of the British Navy, supposed to be still living; Maria, wife of John GREEN, now living 
in South Wales; Ann, wife of William BAILEY, living in South Wales. Joseph, the subject 
of this sketch, at the age of twenty years, emigrated to America, and eventually went 
to New Jersey, where his brother Henry was at that time engaged in constructing turnpikes;
Joseph also engaged in the same occupation, at which he remained about four years, at the 
end of which time he turned his face toward the setting sun, and eventually located in 
Jersey County, Ill., where he took upon himself the duties of a farm life. In the fall 
of 1866, he purchased the property upon which he now resides, and removed with his family 
to their future home in Rountree Township, where he has since remained engaged in
agricultural pursuits. His original purchase consisted of ninety acres, to which he 
has continued to add until now he has the satisfaction of conducting a farm consisting 
of about one hundred and seventy-five acres of as choice and well-cultivated farm land 
as can be found in Rountree Township, the result of energy, enterprise and thorough 
business habits; being a progressive man himself, he is fully alive to all progressive
movements favoring the prosperity of the county, and for the advancement of religious 
and educational privileges. He is now filling the office of Justice of the Peace, the 
duties of which office he has performed two terms previous to the present, and which 
duties he has performed with honesty and integrity, and in a manner approved by all 
the people. He was married in New Jersey, to Delilah CONNOVAR, who was born in New 
Jersey to Peter

[Page 281] 

CONNOVAR, native of New Jersey, deceased, in August, 1835. She is the mother of three
children, viz.: Mary, wife of Frank McNORTON, living in Rountree Township; Emma, wife 
of John McCALLUM, living near the homestead; Hattie, single, living at home. Mr. WALERS 
is identified with the Democratic party, and is always interested in the political issues 
of the times.

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