HISTORY OF MORGAN
COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Its Past and present
Chicago: Donnelley, Loyd & Co.,
Publishers, 1878.
NEAL, JOHN TERRY, farmer and stock raiser, Sec.
24, P.O. Murrayville. His parents were natives of Kentucky; in the Spring of
1829, packed their goods in a covered wagon, and made the trip overland, and
after a journey of nearly three weeks, having suffered many hardships on the
route, landed and settled on a small tract of land, two miles east of Manchester
(then Morgan County), Scott County. Sold out the little claim, and moved back to
"Old Kentucky;" having lived there one year, returned and entered a new tract of
land; a substantial log cabin soon loomed up on the western confines of
civilization, attesting the enterprise of the new emigrants; by steady toil and
judicious economy, a bright and pleasant home crowned his labors; having lived
to see the white man displace the red man, died Nov. 9, 1873, aged 80 years;
three children survive him: James, Squire C., and John Terry. The mother died in
February, 1843, aged 38 years. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was
born Jan. 1, 1828, and worked on his father's farm until he was eighteen years
old, then hired for one year to Mr. Lemmons, at the then good wages of $120 per
annum; this was his starting point in life, which afterward ripened into success
in life; was married to Miss Caroline Lemmons, July 4, 1850; they have been
blessed with a very interesting family of nine children: Mary E., born Dec. 17,
1852; Sarah J., Aug. 2, 1856; George Milton, July 23, 1859; Martha E., Oct. 13,
1862; Emma H., Sept. 23, 1865; Anna Lula, July 5, 1868; Rose E., Jan. 2, 1870;
Belle, Dec. 15, 1873; Edith C., Oct. 21, 1877; Mary E., married William H.
Martin, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. In 1873 Mr. Neal served
his interests with the good people of Scott County, moved, and located in Morgan
County, on Sec. 24; Mr. and Mrs. Neal are devoted Christians, and fear God
rather than man, and are well esteemed by all.
NEECE,
M.C. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 33, P.O. Waverly. The subject of this
sketch was born in Greene Co., Ill., Sept. 18, 1833, son of Robert and Peninah
Neece, natives of Tenn., and among the first settlers of Ill. Mr. Neece grew up
in Greene Co., Ill., but for many years has been a resident of Morgan Co., Ill.
During the war he became a speculator in provisions, breadstuffs, etc., etc. He
married in his twenty-first year Mrs. Ann Swinden, a daughter of Henry and Sarah
Swinden. Five children, three living: Mary E., Sarah E., and Edward N. Mr. Neece
owns some two hundred acres, and is a live energetic man; he is a credit to the
vocation which he has followed for so many years
NEVINS, T.V. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 23, P.O.
Waverly; oldest son now living of John and Edith Nevins, who settled in Morgan
Co. prior to the deep snow; first, on their arrival in Illinois, they settled at
Chapman Point, Macoupin Co. John Nevins was born in Tenn., 1804, and married in
1825 to Miss Edith Gerhardt, a native of Virginia. Ten children born of this
marriage, seven of whom are living. T.V. Nevins, as previously mentioned, being
the oldest; he was born on the old homestead Jan. 14, 1831, receiving his
education in a log cabin, where everything was of the plainest description, and
where the principal studies were the Webster's spelling book and New Testament;
married in his twenty-first year. Nov. 1852, Mrs. Mary A. Sims, relict of Robert
Sims, and daughter of Wm. Campbell. Mrs. Nevins married Robert Sims Nov. 21,
1844; by this marriage, two children, Wm. A., who married Harriet Allen, and
John J., who married Miss Mattie Alderson. Mrs. Nevins, who gives this
narrative, relates that in the earliest settlement of this county the people
were sociable and friendly, and did a wedding occur, the pioneer, accompanied by
his family, joined in the festivities of the occasion. Mr. Nevins, for many
years, a resident of Morgan Co., now owns land in Mo., where with his family he
will shortly become a permanent resident. Two children, Alexander, born Aug. 23,
1855, Clara A., born March 20, 1863.
NEWBY,
ROBERT, farmer and stock raiser, P.O. Jacksonville; only son of John
Newby, formerly of Yorkshire, England; was born Aug. 12, 1827, in England; but
came to this country with his parents at the early age of three years, and
settled at his present residence in the Spring of 1833, thus having grown up as
it were with the county, and one who is closely identified with its growth and
improvements; was married Feb. 23, 1854, to Mary, daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth
Hall, of Morgan Co.; this union has been blessed by six children, viz.: John W.
born May 1, 1855; Charles S. Nov. 1, 1856; Frank R. Sept. 9, 1864; Mary Etta,
April 23, 1868; George Albert, Oct. 21, 1869, and Emma Jane, Aug. 20, 1872; Mrs.
Newby died April 1, 1875, aged 45 years; Mr. Newby married again Jan. 23, 1877,
to Julia Ann McGinness, born Nov. 23, 1849; Mr. Newby's parents still reside on
the old homestead; they were both born in 1801; the homestead consists of about
100 acres beautifully located and highly improved land, wrought by the industry
and able management of its owner from the wild timber and brush.
NEWLAND, WM. T. renter, Sec. 17, P.O. Jacksonville; first
son of John Newland, of Adams Co., Illinois, born Oct. 31, 1850, removed to
Morgan Co., in 1869, and has lived here since that time; married Oct. 28, 1875,
to Mary Juaneta, daughter of John and Mary DeLapp, of Morgan Co., born Aug. 29,
1859; this union has been blessed by one child, Clara J. born Sept. 6, 1877;
rents 160 acres of land, the general appearance of which indicate the industry
and thrifty husbandry of its occupant.
NICHOLS, J.
V., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Jacksonville, son of John and
Mary Ann Nichols; he was born in Pike Co., Mo., Dec. 1, 1832; became a resident
up to 1857; his father was a farmer in good circumstances, and on the farm young
N. grew up and received a district school education; in 1856, he married Mary
Ellen Whitlock, daughter of John and Mary; in 1857, he removed to Morgan Co.; in
1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 101st Ill. Inf. for three years' service; mustered
at Jacksonville, he went to the front in October of the same year, was engaged
in the battle of Mission Ridge, was under command of Sherman when he made his
famous march; at the close of the war he was mustered out of the service at Camp
Butler, situated at Springfield, Ill.; he then returned to Morgan Co., and began
cabinet making, to which trade he was regularly apprenticed. Mr. N. owns 100
acres. Children: Herbert Wm., John E., Whitlock and Frederick L.
NIEHAUS, AUGUST, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4, P.O.
Alexander. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of ten
children; his parents were natives of Prussia, Germany, where August was born,
about 1835; on the old homestead, young Niehaus passed his boyhood; at
twenty-two, he left his German home for America; after a long voyage, he landed
in New Orleans; from this point to St. Louis, and thence to Morgan Co., settling
in the vicinity of Alexander, where he first worked by the month. In 1861, he
married Miss Minnie Meyers, daughter of Henry and Mary Meyers, natives of
Germany, where Mrs. Niehaus was born, in 1842. Nine children blessed this union,
seven living: Caroline, born in 1863; Louis, 1865; Louisa, 1867; Minnie, 1869;
August, 1872; Anna, 1876; Emma, 1878; Katy and Mary,
deceased.