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 J. MONFORT, deceased, formerly a leading
citizen of Pleasant Grove Township, was one
of the pioneers of 1836. He was born May 11,
1812, in Henry County, Ky., and subsequently removed to Owen County, where he was married
June 13, 1833, to Miss Mahala A. Marston, a native
of Shelby County, Ky., born Oct. 11, 1813. In
1836 Mr. Moufort moved with his young wife to
Illinois and settled in Coles County, near the headwaters of the Kickapoo River, and a few years later
located on section 1 , Pleasant Grove Township, and
gave his attention to farming. Prior to his removal to Illinois, Mr. Monfurt had suffered financial losses from fire, and on his arrival in Coles County was the owner of only about $100 worth of property. He had received a fair education for the early days, and engaged in teaching school at $16 per month. He always shouldered his gun, and on his way to and from the log schoolhouse shot the prairie chickens, which were very abundant. These served for food, and his economical wife saved the feathers, and thereby procured some pillows and a feather-bed, which added materially to the household comfort. Mrs. Monfort was a most industrious and careful housewife, making the best use of her time and the meager opportunities within her reach, to aid her husband in all the duties and trials of pioneer life. She was skillful in the use of the spinning-wheel and loom, and manufactured a large amount of cloth. Besides supplying her own family with clothing, she sold 150 yards of jeans each year, during a period of twenty-five years. Mrs. Monfort looked well to the ways of her household, while her husband invested his money in land, which he cultivated and improved. Their first abode was a log cabin, and the rude couch upon which they rested at night, wearied with the toils of the day, was a bedstead made of poles, and the cradle in which the babies were rocked to sleep, was manufactured from a log split lengthwise and hollowed out. Their industry and energy, however, were rewarded with success, and in about the year 1855 the log cabin gave place to a comfortable frame house. This was subsequently destroyed by fire in 1859, and Mr. Monfort then erected a substantial two-story brick residence, which was the first of its kind in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Monfort had a family of ten children born to them, six of whom are living, as follows: Eliza Jane, the wife of J. D. Farris, Sr.; Martha M., the wife of John P. Harrah; William H., John N.; Mary A., the wife of William R. Robinson, and Joseph A. The children were all born in Coles County with the exception of the eldest. Mr. Monfort was very successful in business and became the owner of nearly 700 acres of valuable land. The family continued to reside on the farm until 1883, when, desirous of resting from the cares of business, they removed to the city of Charleston, to pass the closing years of their lives in the enjoyment of ease and prosperity. In June, 1883, they celebrated their golden wedding, at which anniversary nearly every member of the family was present, besides a large circle of friends, who took pleasure in offering their congratulations, and also numerous valuable presents, to a family so beloved and respected. This happy reunion was a fitting scene for the closing years of a long life of honor and usefulness. Mr. Monfort died Jan. 13, 1885, and his bereaved widow did not long survive him, her death occurring May 13, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Monfort were active in promoting the moral and religious interests of the community; they were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Monfort was an Elder, and for more than forty years the teacher of the Bible class. On his removal from the place the class presented him with a gold-headed cane, in token of their affection and respect. In politics, Mr. Monfort was an active supporter of the Democratic party, and was for some years a prominent member of the Patrons of Husbandry. |
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