1882 Biographies - Mulberry Grove Precinct
M. F. BOOK, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, is a native of Lawrence County, Penn.; was born January 21, 1841, the second son born to his parents, who were John C. and Mary W. (DICK) BOOK. She was born February 18, 1821, in Mercer County, Penn. He was born in the same county and State October 16, 1816, son of Michael BOOK, of Washington County, Penn., a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Pennsylvania. John C. BOOK emigrated west to this State in 1874, and died August, 1878. Our subject was brought up to farm labor, working for his father on the home estate. August 27, 1861, he volunteered his services in the defense of his country, was enrolled with Company D, One Hundredth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He participated in many hard fought and bloody battles, some of which were James Island, N. C., Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Jackson, Miss., siege of Knoxville, battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor, where he was three times wounded and from the effects of said wounds he was discharged in February, 1865, and returned home to his family. May 16, 1861, he became the husband of Elizabeth A DAVIS, born in Mercer County, Penn., daughter of Daniel and Sarah DAVIS. In November, 1871, he emigrated to this county and purchased land where he now resides, having about one hundred acres. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and a stanch Republican.
G. C. BRUNSON, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, was born in the Empire State, in Chautauqua County, December 15, 1818; is the sixth child and fourth son born to Abel BRUNSON, a native of Oneida County. The mother of our subject was Sallie LOVE, daughter of John LOVE. The subject of these lines was reared under the paternal roof until of age, and in fact he remained with him until he attained his thirty-fifth year, at which time he determined to cast his fortunes with the Buckeye State, locating in Ashtabula County, on the Western Reserve. Here he remained until the fall of 1863, when he came to this State, purchasing eighty acres in this township, and twenty acres in Fayette County. He has since been a constant resident of this township and associated with its interests. He has now 190 acres of land, and has improved the same, and brought it to its present state of progress, having a new house, good fences, and the surroundings are in keeping with the average of improvements in the county. while in Ashtabula County, he married Mrs. BUGBY, a native of that State. Her maiden name was Betsey WHITTAKER. By this marriage he has one child, Dwight W., who resides with his parents on the farm, and has the principal charge of the same. It may be said of Mr. BRUNSON that he is a self made man. He received nothing from his parents by way of legacy or endowment, and started out in the world upon his own foundation, and by close application to his business, he has at length secured a competence for himself and family, having given his attention to farming as a business. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Charles E. DEE, miller, Mulberry [Page 47] Grove, is the pioneer miller in the town of Mulberry Grove, and a truly self made man. He is a native of Vermont, born in 1837, near the town of Georgia; son of Hiram and Mary (WALKER) DEE. The DEE family are of Scotch and German ancestry. Hiram DEE was born in Vermont October 17, 1812; son of Washington DEE and Lucy COOLEY. Hiram DEE was married in Vermont May 7, 1835, to Mary Maria WALKER, who was also a Vermonter, born July 12, 1813, daughter of Lewis WALKER and Mary POTTER, who raised a family of ten children, Mary being the ninth in order of birth. Our subject removed in the fall of 1843 with his parents to Des Moines County, Iowa, within nine miles of Burlington. Here the family remained seven years. Then they moved to this State and located at St. Jacobs, in Madison County. While here Mr. DEE died March 5, 1863, from disease contracted while in the army. He was for many years a member of the Methodist Church, and was an old line Whig, and later a stanch Republican. His wife yet survives him and resides with Charles E., who took his father's place as the head of the family, and had charge of the same. After coming to maturity he engaged in farming, and subsequently accumulated enough means to enable him to purchase a threshing machine, which he run for twelve years in connection with his farming. In 1869, he came to Mulberry Grove. His first enterprise was to build a saw-mill. In 1870, he built the flouring-mill, and for several years ran the saw machinery in connection with the grist part. He was first associated in partnership with E. W. DEE. This lasted until 1873, when our subject purchased his partner's interest, and since has run the ame on his own account, and is doing an excellent business. August 4, 1870, he married Sarah B., daughter of William RILEY, of this township. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and has two children - George E., born November 7, 1873, and Charlie, born April 8, 1881.
Capt. Isaac N. ENLOE, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, is a son of James ENLOE, one of the old settlers in Bond County. He was born on the homestead on Section 3, March 7, 1836, the second son, and eldest one now living. Capt. ENLOE has always been a resident of the township where he was born, remaining at home until he commenced doing business for himself. November 12, 1857, he married Sophronia V., daughter of Esq. Joseph HENSLEY, of Mercer County, whose wife was Elizabeth McGUIRE. The year following his marriage, he located on the farm he now owns, consisting of 124 acres in Section 4, all of which he improved. August 13, 1861, he volunteered as private in Company C, Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; first promoted to Fourth Corporal, than to First Duty Sergeant, afterward to Orderly Sergeant, and finally was commissioned Captain of the Company, which he had charge of until July 29, 1865. During his service he was engaged in New Madrid, the advance on Corinth, Jackson, Miss., Resaca and all the battles in which his command was engaged until August 15, 1864, when he was wounded, being shot by a sharp-shooter, and was disabled until January, 1865, since which time he has been engaged in farming. In politics, a Republican of the stanchest sort; he cast the first Republican vote in Mulberry voting precinct. He is a member of the Christian Church at Greenville. He has five children - Alice, wife of George BERRYMAN, of Greenville; Solon A., James S., Lois and Joe Foy.
James ENLOE, retired farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, has been a resident of the [Page 48] State since 1816, and of Bond County from 1818 to 1882. He was a son of Asahel ENLOE, who was a native of York District of South Carolina, where our subject was born October 27, 1803. The grandsire was Isaac ENLOE, of Scotch parentage, and served in the war of the revolution. Our subject came to Madison County, Ill., with his father in 1816, the next year making a crop there, and in 1818, came to what is now Bond County. Asahel (his father) purchased land where Greenville now stands. The cemetery now embraces a portion of said purchase. He was a scholarly man for his time, and taught school for many years, and was appointed Surveyor of the county by Gov. Bond, and held his office well on to forty years. He was for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church, being a Clerk and Chorister for years. He was a valued member of the community, esteemed by all who knew him as an upright man and Christian gentleman. His remains now repose in the cemetery in Greenville on the grounds that he first purchased. His wife was Sarah STEWART, a native of Ireland. She bore him ten children, five sons and five daughters - Mary, Violet, Cynthia, Ezekial, James, Hannah, Louisa, Enoch, Nathaniel and Isaac. James, our subject, made his father's house his home in his early manhood, and in 1825, began for himself, and worked out by the month and job. January 1, 1829, he married Sarah BRADFORD, sister of Judge BRADFORD, of Greenville. She was born in Kentucky March 19, 1816, and died November 22, 1871, having born twelve children. Eleven of the number lived to be grown - Nancy Ann, Mary E., William B., Isaac N., Violet R., Samuel G., Emery L., Harriet N., Louisa I., James S., Cynthia E. and Zontonia E. In 1832, Mr. ENLOE located on the farm he now owns, and has since remained; has 300 acres of land. Since 1835, he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has always been a true Republican, and never missed an election.
Samuel G. ENLOE, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove. One of the Commissioners of Bond County, elected November, 1881, is S. G. ENLOE, who was born on the homestead March 30, 1840. He is the second son of James and Sarah (BRADFORD) ENLOE. Samuel received the advantages afforded by the schools of his neighborhood. At the outbreak of the war, he donned the blue, enlisting as private in May, 1861, in Company D, Twenty-second Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Soon after he was transferred to Company F, One Hundredth and Thirtieth Regiment, with which he served until April, 1865, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant in Company B, in the same Regiment, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out in August, 1865, and returned home in September of the same year. During his association with the army, he participated in the following engagements: Fort Gibson, Miss., Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Siege of Vicksburg, Siege of Mobile, and after his transfer to New Orleans he served in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in Louisiana, and on Can River. Upon his return home he began improving his farm, upon which he located after his marriage November 30, 1871, to Elizabeth V. MARTIN, born in Rockingham County, N. C., daughter of J. H. MARTIN and Rachel PROCTOR, now of Montgomery County, this State. In politics, Mr. ENLOE is a Republican, and in November, 1881, he was elected County Commissioner. His farm consists of 115 acres. He has one child, Ernest R.
Moses ELAM, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove. Among the substantial citizens of Bond County none are more highly respected than the above. He was born October 25, [Page 49] 1821, in Rutherford County, N. C., and emigrated to Fayette County with his parents when a mere lad. Here he remained about fifteen years. December 23, 1841, he married Martha F. ELAM, who was born Jan. 12, 1827, a native of Virginia, daughter of Daniel ELAM and Mary GRAVES, who emigrated from Virginia to Maury County, Tenn., about the year 1828, where they remained until the year 1831, when they removed to Bond County, stopping near Greenville, but remained a short time, and located permanently in Fayette County, where they remained until their death. Their deaths occurred in 1862 and 1854 respectively. They raised a family of six children, four of whom are now living, of whom Thomas resides in Arkansas; Mary J., Mrs. Elisha MATTHEWS, of this county. Susan became the wife of William CHEESEMAN, of Henry County, Mo. After Mr. ELAM's marriage he remained in Fayette County three years, and then moved across the line into Mulberry Grove, and engaged in merchandising, continuing twelve years. October, 1856, he located on the farm he now owns, situated in Section 26, and has since been engaged in farming, and has been successful, having nearly six hundred acres of land, 320 here, and 212 in Fayette, and besides assisted his children in making a start in life. He has five children - Moses, Thomas E., Melvina, Jenkins and Richard, all residents of this county. Melvina married Rev. Thomas VANCE, of the Christian Church. The father of our subject was William ELAM, born and married in Virginia, and son of Alexander ELAM, a native of Virginia, and of English descent. The mother of our subject was Patience, daughter of Philip HURT, who removed from Virginia to North Carolina, where they remained sixteen years. Mr. ELAM is a member of the Christian Church.
E. V. GASKINS, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Mulberry Grove. "Son", as he is best known, was born in Greenville November 29, 1841. He is the only son and sole heir of Judge Enrico GASKINS, a native of Norfolk, Va., born June 14, 1812, and son of Spencer GASKINS. Enrico, the father of "Son", was a hatter by trade, and came West to Greenville in 1835, where he set up in business, continuing the same for several years, and afterward became prominently identified with its business interests. He was Clerk of the Court about twenty years, and eight years County Judge. He was a thorough and correct business man. In 1859, he entered land in Town 6, Range 2, and purchased other lands adjoining the same, which land is now owned and occupied by E. V. Mr. GASKIN was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity; also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and in every sense of the word a representative man and valued member of the commonwealth. His marriage with Mrs. Sarah CONN, relict of Dr. CONN, was crowned with the birth of three children; but one of the number is now living, E. V. He located on the farm in 1872. His death occurred February 18, 1879. Mrs. GASKIN's maiden name was HALL, daughter of Joshua and Charlotte (STRIDER) HALL. She was born June 18, 1814, in Jefferson County, Va., and came West with her parents to this county in 1833. E. V. has been located on the farm since his father's location here in 1872. In 1863, he married Charlotte, born in this county, daughter of John S. HALL. He has one daughter, Lena, aged sixteen. For four years Mr. E. V. GASKIN was a resident of Mulberry Grove, being engaged while here in merchandising. Since his location here on the farm, he has been engaged in farming, and is giving his attention to the breeding of fine cattle and horses, of which he has the best [Page 50] stock. He has 600 acres of land, located on Section 23, with a new house and comfortable surroundings.
J. J. HARPER, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove. The HARPER family rank among the pioneer families in Town 5 Range 2. They were natives of Tennessee, and located where J. M. HARPER now resides. The subject of these lines is a descendant of this family. He was born May 28, 1838, on the farm he now owns, on Section 22. He is the second son of Thomas HARPER, who was born in Maury County, Tenn., and emigrated to this county in the year 1829. The mother of our subject was Priscilla SEGRAVES, daughter of Bennett SEGRAVES, likewise one of the earliest settlers in this township. But two children were born to Thomas HARPER and his wife, whose names were Robert and Jefferson J. The latter was young when his father died. His mother died in 1867. J. J. succeeded his father on the homestead, where he has since lived. February 10, 1859, he married Milley E. BROWN, born in Fayette County, daughter of James and Dorcas BROWN, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. HARPER has a farm of 170 acres. He has two children - James T. and Alice.
J. P. LILLIGH, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove. Clarion County, Penn., sent some good farmers and citizens to Bond County, among whom is the above, who was born in February, 1841, being the eldest son of Jacob LILLIGH and Catharine MAHLE. Jacob LILLIGH was born in Lancaster County, Penn.; son of Jacob, a native of Germany. The family emigrated West to this locality in the spring of 1865. J. P. married in Pennsylvania Hannah CORNISH in 1854. She was a daughter of Henry CORNISH. She died in 1872, leaving two children - Addison and Kate. His last marriage was to Miss Nancy BUCHANNON, a native of this county. She was a daughter of John BUCHANNON, who was one of the early settlers of the county. When Mr. LILLIGH first came here he purchased eighty acres of land, and has since added to the same until he has now 500 acres. For twenty years he been a member of the German Baptist Church, with which his parents have long been identified. He has by his last marriage two children living - Minnie and Grace. He has improved the farm greatly since his location here, having built all the substantial improvements on the same.
Henry LILLIGH, farmer, P. O. Woburn, is the second son of Jacob LILLIGH. Henry was born May 1, 1849, and emigrated to this county with the family in 1865. In 1872, he married Harriet MOREY, daughter of Hiram MOREY, one of the old-time settlers in this county. After his marriage, he located in Mulberry Grove, where he engaged in the mercantile business, where he continued until 1875, when he located on the farm he now owns. He is an excellent farmer, and has been successful. He has 280 acres of land, forty of which is timber. His farm is well improved, and is very productive. He is a member of German Baptist Church, and has recently been promoted to the rank of minister in his church. He has four children - Ida Marian, Mary Louisa, Emmet Wilburn and Edward Earl.
J. MATTINLY, physician, Mulberry Grove, specialist of the eye and ear, also of the treatment and cure of cancers, who first saw the light of day July 7, 1813, in Lincoln County, Tenn.; son of Rollin, born March 10, 1788, in North Carolina, who was a son of Richard MATTINLY, whose children were David, James, John, Rollin and Waring. The mother, Nancy LUTTRELL, was born March 31, 1793, and died May 13, 1881; she was the daughter of Michael LUTTRE, a Revolutionary soldier, and who lived to be almost a centena [Page 51] rian, the family being remarkable for their longevity. Our subject removed with his father to Alabama, in Jackson County, when he was a lad of tender years, where they resided until the year 1830, when they came to Marion County, this State, where his father died September 6, 1866. Very much credit is due the subject of our sketch, as he was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, leaving home without shoes or sufficient clothing to shield him from the inclement weather, and unable to read the simplest sentence in a newspaper. He hired out at $6 per month, and assisted in maintaining the family in the meantime. For five years he drove stage, and during that time he made use of his spare time in improving his mind, being resolved, that as his temporal affairs were being advanced, that his mind should receive its share also. He came to this township in 1839, and was married the same year to Mary A. HUBBARD, who died in 1840, leaving one son, David Rollin. His second and last wife was Sarah TATE, born in Stokes County, N. C., September 9, 1809, daughter of Samuel TATE, born in Stokes County, N. C., in 1776, and died April 23, 1842, and Sarah (FAULKNER) TATE, born in Wake County, N. C., in 1775, and died in 1853. She bore him three children, two of whom are living - Lizzie, wife of John T. BUCHANNON, Annie and Sarah E. Soon after he came to this place, he entered a piece of land and began farming, which he continued until 1860. In the meantime he was reading scientific works, medicine being his favorite. February, 1861, he began practice in Greenville. Since April 10, 1862, he has been located here in Mulberry Grove, giving especial attention to the treatment of the eye and ear, as well as cancer, treating them with success. He has 200 acres of land, and considerable town property. The Doctor has done much to impress upon the minds of the people the necessity of the knowledge of phrenology and sexual science among the people.
E. W. OLIVER, physician, Mulberry Grove, is a North Carolinian by birth, born in Rockingham County, February 10, 1844; son of Elijah OLIVER, born in Rockingham County, N. C., about 1805, and died January 5, 1881, whose father was Peter, who was a resident of North Carolina at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill. The mother of the Doctor was Annie, daughter of Enoch AXTON, born in Rockingham county, N. C., about 1805, and died in 1863. In 1861, he left North Carolina for Indiana, where he remained a short time; then came to Charlestown, Coles Co., this State, where he remained some length of time. He was, early in life, left to his own resources, with a limited education, in North Carolina. The nearest school from his father's house was three miles and a half; hence his advantages for schooling were not encouraging. After his coming to Illinois, he, by close application to his studies, succeeded in acquiring such qualifications that enabled him to teach the district school of the neighborhood, which he did for several terms. During this time he took up the study of medicine. In 1870, he gave the subject his earnest attention. He continued the same until his graduation, receiving his diploma at Keokuk, Iowa, February 17, 1874, in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at which time he came to Woburn, Town 6, Range 2, and engaged in the practice of his profession, where he remained until September, 1881, when he came to Mulberry Grove, where he has since been identified, and is having a liberal patronage of people. He was educated to the old-school system, but he ignores to some extent some of the medicine commonly used in that system, calomel, for instance, and in its stead makes use of other remedies [Page 52] equally as effective. In 1871, he married Virginia A. JETT, born in Montgomery county, Ill., July 8, 1850, daughter of Washington A. JETT, who died about 1856, and Sarah WRIGHT. By her he had five children - the first still born, Albert W., William E. (dead), Essie W., and Harry J. He is a member of the Christian Church and of the Masonic order. He has but two sisters living - Sarah and Rachel, the former of Virginia, the latter in Rockingham County, N. C.
James C. PINNEO, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Smithboro, is a native of Newark, N. J., and was born July 17, 1839. He is the youngest of the family. His father is James B. PINNEO, one of the prominent and well- known business men of that locality (New Jersey). He was born in Milford, in the State of Connecticut; son of Bezaleel PINNEO, a Presbyterian minister. Our subject is a near relative of the grammarian, whose works are so well known in the Eastern States. Eliza, the mother of James C., was a daughter of Samuel LYMAN, of Goshen, Conn., of Puritanical stock. The family of Bezaleel, consisted of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom James B. was the eldest. The subject of these lines received good school advantages, and of a good business education. He first came West in October, 1861, and for some time was in Government employ, being connected with the Quartermaster's Department, and afterward engaged in trading and in commercial pursuits in St. Louis and elsewhere. In 1869, he made the purchase of the farm he now owns, situated on Section 9, and moved on his property the following year. His residence is built upon a gentle eminence, which he has improved by planting shrubbery and evergreens, and on either side of the drive are beautiful maples, which give the place a refined appearance. Mr. PINNEO has put all the improvements on the farm that now appear, in the way of building, and very much of the fencing, and has spent much labor and money executing his designs, and has an excellent farm, which is adjacent to Smithboro Post Office and Henderson Station, and four miles from the county seat. June 9, 1870, he married Miss Minnie GRAY, born in Stamford, Conn., daughter of William E. GRAY and Sarah ADAMS, the latter a sister of Stonewall ADAMS. The parents of Mrs. GRAY emigrated West in 1858. Her father was a prominent builder and contractor in the West and North. Mr. PINNEO has one child - Saida L. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
John RILEY, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, was born December 4, 1828, in Town 5, Range 3, in Bond County, and in 1835 removed with his parents to Town 6, where he lived until about the year 1868, when he removed to this township, where he has since lived. The father of our subject was named Barnabas RILEY, who was born in Georgia, and emigrated North to this State in this county in 1818. He stayed one year, when he went South to Kentucky, but returned to this county the following year, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1849. His wife survived him until 1876. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was for many years a member of the M. E. Church for many a long term of years, and leading light in the same, being Class-Leader and Steward for many years. John, our subject, was raised to agricultural pursuits, his father being a farmer. He worked as carpenter and builder, but gave his attention to farming principally. He raised a family of nine children, whose names were James, William, John, Elizabeth, Minerva, Samuel M., Barnabas, Sarah and Mary. March, 1850, he married Jane C. STEELE, a native of this State, and daughter of Andrew STEELE. She died [Page 53] in 1866, leaving one child, which died young. His present wife was Mrs. Elizabeth J. KINGSBURY, daughter of Richard WITHERS, of Collinsville, this State. Mr. WITHER's wife was Edna JOHNSON, her father being Mr. JOHNSON, one of the first settlers in Madison County. By his last wife Mr. RILEY has three children - Evaline S., Anna E. and John E. Mr. RILEY is a Republican, and filled the office of County Commissioner one term, and since 1846 has been a member of the M. E. Church. He has 155 acres of land. His brother William served in the late war, and was a member of the Twenty-second Illinois, and was badly wounded, and is now on the pension list.
J. H. SPRADLING, farmer and merchant, P. O. Mulberry Grove, was born August 1, 1828, in Maury county, Tenn.; son of James SPRADLING, who was born in Tennessee April 9, 1796, and died April 11, 1867, who served in the war of 1812, and married Frances T. OLIVER, who was born in Virginia March 25, 1789, and died December 7, 1869, and by her raised a family of three children. The eldest was Amarantha P.; J. H. and Frances J. were the other two. Amarantha is now the wife of James RILEY, and Frances J. married John SEGREST, both of this township. Our subject emigrated to this locality with his parents when he was quite young, his father making a purchase on Section 25, Town 6, Range 2 west. He entered the land from the Government, and engaged in farming, and spent the remainder of his days on the farm. He was a stanch Democrat, and highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and was affiliated with the Methodist Church, and lived a life in harmony with his profession. His death occurred in April, 1866, having attained one year over his "threescore and ten". J. H. having attained the years of manhood, succeeded his father as a husbandman. December 30, 1849, he wedded Cynthia A., his wife, who was born in Hancock County, Ind., February 20, 1832, daughter of William, born in North Carolina September 4, 1807, and Eliza (SNODGRASS) JACKSON, he being a native of North Carolina, and she of Indiana, daughter of James SNODGRASS. John JACKSON, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. SPRADLING, was for many years a resident of Carolina, and removed with his family to Indiana. His son, William JACKSON, removed to this county, locating in Town 5, Range 2, near Fairview, when the county was partially settled, Mrs. SPRADLING being about ten years of age when she came with her father. The family consisted of her father, three brothers and herself. The mother died in Indiana. Since Mr. SPRADLING's marriage, he has been a resident of the township. Since 1870, he has been a resident of the Grove, and been engaged in merchandising, his stock consisting of hardware, grass seed and agricultural implements. He has about three hundred and twenty-six acres, eight-six being in the county adjoining, and all of which he yet carries on. He has seven children - John F.; Eliza P., Mrs. Joseph CALL; William H. who resides in Pocahontas; Albert M., George L., Laura B and Harry W. Mr. SPRADLING is a good Republican, and a member of the Christian Church.
L. J. SEGRAVES, farmer, P. O. Pleasant Mound, is the oldest living settler in the township, having been a constant resident here since the spring of 1828. He was born March 11, 1816, in Maury county, Tenn., and emigrated to this locality, as stated above. His father was Bennett SEGRAVES, a native of Georgia, born July 21, 1791, and when a young man moved to Tennessee, where he married Margaret LOCKHART, who was born December 25, 1797, in Davidson County, Tenn., and died September 22, 1844, daughter of [Page 54] Thomas and Martha LOCKHART. He (Bennett) died July 29, 1868. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob SEGRAVES, of Scotch descent, a Revolutionary soldier. He remained and raised a large family, among whom were Vincent, Bennett, Daniel, Isaac and Sarah, who were his offspring by his first wife. By his second wife he had Jacob, William, Henry Jackson, John, Jane, Polly and Malinda, none of whom are living. Bennett SEGRAVES was in the war of 1812, and a Democrat all his life, and a substantial member of the community, and passed to his rest July 7, 1868, having raised to maturity the following children - Priscilla, who married Thomas L. HOOPER, Lockhart J., Sarah J. E., wife of James WIDGER; Nancy D., wife of John GEORGE;' Martha, Mrs. William HENNINGER; Love married Mr. STEELE; Mary H., wife of Wilson T. HAYS; Rebecca never married; Nelson B.; Margaret C., Mrs. BOOKER; Lucinda P., Mrs. John WHITLEY. Of those living are Sarah, Margaret, Lucinda, Mary, Lockhart J., who was married January 6, 1843, to Diana, born in Tioga County, Penn., March 10, 1826, daughter of Gilbert, born October 12, 1793, and Lucinda (IVES) VANGORDEN, born October 22, 1797, and died April 5, 1867. He was a native of New York, and she of Pennsylvania. They came West to Michigan in 1836, and to this county in 1840. Mr. SEGRAVES has but one child, John Bird, who married Letta JOHNSON. He resides on a portion of the homestead farm. He has three daughters - Lillie E., Lucinda G. and Della. Mr. SEGRAVES has 207.5 acres of land, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. SEGRAVES is a member of the Baptist Church. The children born them deceased are Maria Lucinda, who died July 7, 1871, aged twenty-three years, eleven months and nine days; Mary Eveline died in 1852, aged fourteen months.
John WATTS, farmer, P. O. Mulberry Grove, takes first rank among the substantial farmers and stanch men of Bond County, and began in the world poor, having served his father until twenty-four years of age, giving him the entire benefit of his labor and earnings in the meanwhile. He was born February 17. 1808, in York State; eldest son of William WATTS, a native of Massachusetts. His wife was Susanna HODGE, who bore him ten children, eight of whom grew up. When a lad of eight years, our subject removed with his parents to Franklin County, Ohio, remaining there until after attaining his manhood, when he removed to Madison County, where he lived until the fall of 1858, when he came to Illinois and located in this township, and purchased 205 acres, fifty of which were somewhat improved. Since that time he has been a constant resident of the township, and been identified with its temporal and religious interests, having joined the M. E. Church soon after his location here, and been a consistent member of the same. In temporal matters, he has been successful, having acquired and owned at one time about six hundred acres of land, a large portion of which he has since sold and divided out among his children, reserving 268 acres for himself. After leaving his father at twenty-four years of age, he was married to Wealthy BABCOCK, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Nathaniel BABCOCK and Rachel ROGERS. Of a family of seven children born him, six grew up - Susanna, Catharine, Lina, Jasper, Lucy J. and Rosilla. Susanna is the wife of William GOFF, of this township; Lina resides in Town 5, Range 2, and is the wife of Cyrus WALKER; Catharine married John SELLERS and moved to Kansas City; Jasper resides in this county; Rosilla and Lucy J. both married and raised families, but have since deceased.
Extracted by Norma Hass from the History of Bond and
Montgomery Counties
