Joiner, Thomas


HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
AND
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.

Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia 1879




Page 139

THOMAS JOINER was born in Anderson county, Kentucky, March 7th, 1821. George Joiner, his father, was a native of Virginia. The parental ancestry is of English and Scotch origin. George Joiner married Polly Pullem. She was also from Virginia. He was a farmer by occupation. In 1825 he left Kentucky and came to Illinois, and settled in Jacksonville, Morgan county. That city contained then two cabins. The wife and mother of Thomas survived him, and came to Macoupin county, and then removed to Logan county, where she died in 1855, at the residence of her son, William Joiner.

There were seven children in the family, six of whom have survived the parents, four girls and two boys, all of whom live in Macoupin county, except Nancy, wife of Thomas Daggert, now a resident of Kansas. In the pioneer days of Illnois there were few schools, consequently Mr. Joiner had poor opportunities for receiving an education. The early settlers of Illinois were more concerned in getting that which supplied life and contributed to their bodily comfort than they were about getting book-learning, as they termed it. Schools came in due season as the country settled up. The Joiner family remained in Morgan County until 1842, when they came to Macoupin and settled in what is now known as Palymra township. Here the subject of our sketch remained until 1864. During the progress of the Mexican war, Thomas enlisted in Captain Weatherford's company of Morgan county. The company rendezvoused at Alton, where they were mustered into the service. Captaina Weatherford was elected Lieut. Col. of the regiment, and Captain Wyatt, of Franklin, was made captain of company "G" lst regiment, Illinois volunteers, Col. Hardin commanding. The regiment was attached to Gen. Wool's brigade, and became a part of the forces under command of Gen. Taylor. The regiment participated in the hard-fought battle of Buena Vista. The subject of our sketch was wounded in the leg in that battle, and he carreis the ball there yet as a souvenir of the enemy's regard. His enlistment expired July, 1847, when he returned home to Macoupin county and engaged in farming. In June, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Pullem. She is a native of Madison county, Kentucky but was a resident of Palmyra township at the time fo her marriage. Her father came to Illinois about the year 1820, or soon after the state was admitted into the union. Seven chidren have been born to them; three only are now living.

Mr. Joiner remained in North Palmyra until November, 1864, when he sold out his farm and removed to Bird township, where he purchased 260 acres of land in section 5, and built his present large and commodious residence. He has added considerable more acres to his original purchase. He and his inestimable wife are both members of the M. E. church. He was formerly an old line whig in politics, but at the formation of the republican party, he joined that organization, and has been a warm supporter of its principles ever since. This in brief is an outline of the life of Thomas Joiner. He started in life poor, but by hard work he has made himself comfortable, and is now in possession of enough of this world's goods to make his life and that of his wife's pleasant and peaceful as they journey together down the vale of years. Mr. Joiner in respected by his neighbors and friends as an upright citizen.

Index to Biographies
All material contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of those engaged researching their family origins. Any commercial use, without the consent of the host/author of these pages is prohibited. .