HISTORY OF MORGAN
COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Its Past and present
Chicago: Donnelley, Loyd & Co.,
Publishers, 1878.
PAGE, JOSEPH P., farmer, Sec. 25, P.O.
Manchester, Scott County. Son of Robert Page, native of Virginia; the father of
our subject moved during a very early period to old Kentucky; was there united
in wedlock to Miss Mary Park, the children to this union were: Frances, Ruth D.,
Joseph P., William J., Aeneas T.; the wife and mother of these children, died
about the year 1843; was married to second wife, Miss Rebecca Dean; they have
had three children: John W., Henry Clay, and Robert C.; in 1847 conceived the
idea of emigrating to a new field of labor; packed his goods in a four-horse
wagon, and started for Illinois, being destined to suffer mishaps, whilst
crossing the river at Shawneetown, the tire of his wagon was lost in the muddy
stream, got the necessary repairs made, and continued the journey; at length
settled in Scott County, rented a farm from Robert Marshall, moved thence to
Lynnville, Morgan County, journeyed here two years, again tried farm life, for
two years east of Lynnville; then bought a farm of 80 acres in Scott County, 40
acres from Alfred Thompson, and 40 acres from W. Batty, lived there two years,
sold out, and returned to the life of a renter; thence in 1859, moved to Camden
County, Missouri, and rented a tract of 80 acres of land, improved it, but being
a solid Republican, and the war being inaugurated, his life was in jeopardy,
hence, moved himself and family back to Scott County again, followed renting
until 1865, when he purchased a small farm in Greene County and died April 9,
1877; he was born July 4, 1804; his wife still survives him. The gentleman at
the head of this biography was born Jan. 1, 1831, in Munroe County, Kentucky,
followed the changes of life, and shared the hardships of his father, and toiled
in the preceding lines; was married Jan. 2, 1851, to Miss Martha L. Pogue, in
Scott County; they have had six children: William R., John T., George H., James
A., Joseph P. and Ennis C.; Mrs. Page passed away to glory, Jan. 27, 1862; was
married again, Aug. 5, 1872, have had one child, Mary Jane; in the dark days of
our country's history, when rebels assailed our flag, Mr. Page volunteered his
life on the altar of his birthright, enlisted Aug. 1872, in Co. F, 101st
Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and followed the fortunes of his regiment in camp
and field, as will be seen elsewhere in this work, and finally, had the proud
satisfaction to see the nation saved, and his flag wave triumphantly over a
nation freed from the trammels of slavery; Mr. and Mrs. Page are good members of
the United Baptist Church, and well respected.
PARKER, H.J., DR., was born in Marion County, Wis., in
1845; his father emigrated to Ohio, from the State of Maryland, in 1844, and
engaged in farming, and being a great friend of education, embraced every
opportunity to school his children; the Dr. therefore received a liberal
education, though not without his own exertions, and is what might be termed a
self-made man; he took a regular academic course at "Van Renselaer" Academy,
situated ten miles west of Hannibal, Mo., and commenced the study of medicine at
the age of twenty; he graduated at the Missouri "Medical College," in March,
1870; was one of the few who passed a satisfactory examination at the end of the
first term, and consequently received from the faculty a certificate of
qualification, and commenced the practice of his profession in 1869, one year
previous to his graduation; he practiced in Clinton County, Ill., until 1874,
when, in consequence of his father's ill health, he removed to Hannibal, where
he was, in 1875, appointed to the office of City Physician, which position he
held one year; while in Hannibal he assisted in the organization of the
"Hannibal Society of Moralists," and delivered the opening address before that
society, on the 7th day of November, 1875, a chain of causes and circumstance,
unnecessary to mention here, induced him to leave the State of his choice, and
to locate in Meredosia, September, 1877; the Dr. has a wife and three children,
having married, in 1870, a daughter of Louis Busby, of Montgomery City, Mo., and
formerly of Ky.; his wife is a sister of the Rev. William P. Busby, of Hannibal,
Mo.
PARROTT, JAMES B., farmer and stock
raiser, Sec. 36, P.O. Waverly. Mr. Parrott was born in Christian Co., Ky., near
Hopkinsville, July 1, 1822; the seventh child of Tyre and Nancy Parrott, whose
maiden name was Shrock. The father of James was born in Virginia (probably born
in 1787). Moving to Kentucky in an early day he married the lady mentioned
above, and lived there many years. During the Autumn of 1825, he emigrated to
Illinois, settling on Indian Creek, where he stopped in a cabin built by 'Squire
Page. Remaining in this dwelling during the winter, the following spring he
built a similar structure, into which he moved his family. An industrious man,
generous to a fault, he never became wealthy; he died in 1852, an estimable
citizen. His loss was deeply deplored by all who knew him; his wife died in
1832. James, who heads this sketch grew up in Illinois, and inherited from his
father that energy that marks his business transactions today. His education was
derived in a log cabin, common in those early days. In 1843 he married Miss Jane
Sims, a daughter of Wm. Sims, one of the first settlers of this county; with Mr.
Parrott, in early days, money was generally an unknown quantity; for many years
he saw but few comforts, but in time, as improvements swept over the county, he
began to accumulate property amounting to four hundred acres; now owns 220
acres. By this marriage four children, two of whom are living: Mary Jane, who
married J. W. Wrightsman, and John W., who married Miss Rilda
Edwards.
PARROTT, W.J., farmer and stock
raiser, Sec. 14, P.O. Prentice; Mr. Parrott was born in Fayette County,
Kentucky, Dec. 6, 1842; his father, R.D. Parrott was born in 1812; a native of
Kentucky, who there married Miss Sarah Bonham, of whose antecedents little is
known; in 1829 the family set foot in Morgan County, and located a short
distance from what is now the village of Yatesville; for many years the head of
the family met every discouragement of pioneer life, with that manly fortitude
peculiar to a Western people, and when the unbroken prairie gave place to
cultivated fields and farms, he went steadily forward to a successful career;
W.J. who heads this sketch, grew to manhood in Morgan Co.; received the usual
education, and turned his attention to farming; March, 31, 1875, he was united
in marriage to Miss Jennie A. Martin, of Mason Co.; by this marriage two
children, Martin and Willis; Mr Parrott owns 40 acres.
PATTERSON, A. C., farmer, Sec. 5, P.O. Jacksonville; born
in Kentucky in 1823; settled in Morgan Co. in the Fall of 1830, the winter of
the deep snow; married in 1853 to Miss Mary F. Botts; born in Morgan Co.; have
five children (lost three) living: Martha E., Mary F., Chas. E., William B.,
Oliver L.; owns 430 acres, valued at $21,500.
PEAK,
JACOB H. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 23, P.O. Franklin; oldest son of
Absalom and Rebecca Pak, natives of Tennessee, where Jacob was born, May 26,
1829; the following autumn the Peak family, then consisting of husband, wife,
and three children, set out in a covered wagon for the far West, settling in
Morgan County; purchasing a farm of 80 acres, the head of the family built a log
cabin of the usual description, no floor, rough logs, etc.; Absalom Peak lived
in Scott County from the time of his settlement until he died, May 23, 1867; it
should be stated the farm property settled on first was afterward merged into
Scott County; he became a successful farmer, an energetic man, who contributed
very materially to the present prosperity of the county in which he lived; the
wife, aged seventy-three, is living on the old estate in Scott County; when
quite young, Jacob attended school in a log cabin that stood near where the town
of Exeter is now located; at Exeter also attended school; in 1852, purchased a
farm of 119 acres, in the vicinity of the old homestead; two years later married
Miss Matilda Campbell, daughter of John B. and Cynthia Campbell, who settled in
Scott County prior to the deep snow; in 1857, Mr. P. moved from Scott County to
Morgan, and there purchased part of the farm he now owns, comprising then 160
acres; now owns 400 acres; in 1862 enlisted in Co. F, 129th Regt. Ill. Vol., in
Scott County; was in the battles of peach Tree Creek, Buzzard Roost, Resaca,
Dalton, siege of Atlanta; with Sherman in his famous march to the sea; he
attained to the rank of third sergeant; honorably discharged at the close of the
war; has six children now living: Scott, Alice, May, Mary L., Kate L., Dora, and
Lulu; John C. deceased.
PETREE, FRANCIS, Sec.
I, P.O. Franklin; retired farmer and stock raiser. A native of North Carolina;
was born Feb. 2, 1792. In 1802 the family moved to Kentucky, where Mr. Petree
grew to manhood; formed the acquaintance of and married Sallie Luttrell,, a
daughter of Richard and Nancy Luttrell, in 1811. He longed for a home in the far
West, and finally concluded to make an attempt at reaching the coveted spot.
Accordingly, not being able to purchase the necessary wagon, he placed his wife
and two children on one horse, his son John, on another, himself being on foot,
and driving three cows, the little family started. After three weeks of
privations and hardship, they landed in Madison County, Illinois; two years
after he moved to Morgan County, and entered 200 acres of land on Mauvaisterre
Creek; Mr. Petree drove hogs to St. Louis, and sold them for $1.50 per hundred;
the money to pay for his land. Some years after settling in Morgan County, Mr.
Petree became afflicted with cancer; he tried all the physicians within his
reach, but all united in pronouncing him incurable; hearing of a man in Alabama,
who was "endowed with power to heal," he bid his family and friends farewell,
not thinking he would ever return, and was hauled the entire distance in a
wagon, not being able to get up when down. In three weeks after arriving in
Alabama, he was able to walk around, and improved so rapidly that he was soon
pronounced well. Nine children; only two of whom are now living: John, who lives
in Morgan County, and Sarah, who married James Cox, of Mauvaisterre. In 1845
Mrs. Petree departed this life; in the same year Mr. Petree married Tabitha,
relict of Thomas Luttrell; this union proved of long duration; Mrs. Petree
living till Oct. 1873
PHILLIPS, JAMES, farmer
and stock raiser, sec. 13, P.O. Jacksonville; born in Devonshire, Eng., Nov. 13,
1827, and came to U.S., settling in Morgan Co., 1852; was married in Canada,
June 12, 1849, to Ann Molone, daughter of Wm. and Ann Molone, formerly of
Ireland; this union has been blessed by eight children, five of whom are living,
viz: Mary Jane, Oct. 20, 1850, now Mrs. T.J. Davison, Morgan Co.; John H., Jan.
1, 1856; Caroline O., April 27, 1861; Richard E., Aug. 24, 1863; and Annie, Jan.
2, 1867. Mr. Phillips has devoted his industries solely to agricultural
pursuits; homestead consists of 100 acres well improved land, wrought from the
timber and brush by the industry of its owner.
PLANK,
JOHN H., farmer on Sec. 14, lives in Meredosia; was born in Missouri,
April 11, 1841; came to this county in 1858; he enlisted in 1861, in the 14th
Regt. I.V.I., Co. A, and served three years; he married in 1864, Julia Webster,
who was born in this county, in 1843, and who died in 1868; he had two children
by her, both of whom died; he married again, in 1869, to Sarah Blackstun; was
born in Jacksonville, Ill., in 1847; they have four children, three living, and
one dead.
POE, B.W., farmer and stock raiser,
Sec. 30, P.O. Jacksonville; Mr. Poe was born in Cincinnati, Ohio; at the age of
eight years his parents moved to Galesburg, and located near the farm now owned
by Judge Wood; on the farm then purchased the father passed the remainder of his
days: five children survived him, of whom are now living: C.T. Poe, Thos. B.,
Mary Ann, and B.W., now a resident of Morgan County, who married Miss Sarah A.
Wood, daughter of Thomas Wood; one child, died in infancy; when the war came on
he enlisted in the First Missouri Cavalry, for three years' service;
participated in the battle of Sugar Creek, there twice wounded, also in the
battle of Pea Ridge; honorably discharged; since the war has been a resident of
Morgan County.
PORTER, JAMES, farmer and stock
raiser, Sec. 36, P.O. Woodson, son of William and Sarah Porter, natives of
Kentucky, where James was born, August 14, 1818, in 1834, the family moved to
Morgan Co., locating ten miles southeast of Jacksonville; James received his
preliminary education in Kentucky, which was afterward completed in Morgan Co.;
in 1843, the head of the family died, and James and Sinclair Porter became heirs
to the property; Sinclair Porter is not living; James resides on the old
homestead purchased so many years ago; owns 200 acres, which, for its size, is
one of the best farms in the State; in 1870 he built a handsome residence; a
strictly hones man, he has the respect of the community in which he lives. Two
of his sisters, Mrs. Coughman and Miss Nancy Porter, reside with
him.
POST, JOHN M., farmer, Sec. 15, P.O.
Meredosia; dem; lib; born in Morgan Co. on this section, April 19, 1844; married
Sept. 14, 1870, to Mary E. Ray, born in Logan Co., Jan. 13, 1847. Has two
children by her: Lawrence, born March 20, 1873, died Sept. 18, 1873; Ellen, born
July 8, 1871. Mary E. Ray died March 28, 1873. Married again Dec. 29, 1874, to
Louisa Pankey, born in Morgan Co., March 14, 1854. Has two children by her:
Esther, born Sept. 14, 1875; Phoebe, born Sept. 1, 1877. Enlisted in the Spring
of 1862, in Co. K, 27th Ill. Vol. Inf.; engaged in following battles: Belmont,
Mo., Fort Donaldson, Farmington, Miss., Corinth, Miss., Iuka, Miss. Discharged
and re-enlisted in the regular army, at Nashville, Tenn., in Co. G, 4th U.S.
cavalry; was in following engagements: Stone River, Oakaloony, Miss.,
Winchester, Tenn., Salem, Tenn., Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge,
Chattanooga. Was taken prisoner at or between Winchester and Salem. Was
imprisoned in following prisons: Libby, Richmond, Va., Belle Island, in James
River, Andersonville, Blackshire, Florence, and Charleston; here he was
exchanged, and returned to his regiment, first having been paroled. Was in one
more fight, Macon, Ga., after returning to his regiment. Discharged Dec. 25,
1865. His father, William Post, has held the office of Justice of the peace
forty years, with exception of three years while residing at Jacksonville, and
while there he held the office of deputy sheriff, in 1858; during his past life
he also held the offices of deputy assessor, school treasurer, and school
director. He was born in Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y., Jan. 27, 1802; married
twice; first wife was Phoebe McConnel, born Oct. 23, 1804; second wife,
Elizabeth McGee, born June 12, 1809, died in 1877. First wife's children are:
Harriet, married James Allan; Mary Ann, married Dr. L.H. Calloway; Ellen, died
July 26, 1834; Esther, married Perry Craig; Marrilla, married George Elliot; and
John M., born April 19, 1844. No children by his second wife. Politics,
Greenback party.
POTTER, HENRY, deceased; he
was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1841; he with his family emigrated to the
United States in 1849; They left Liverpool May 7, and landed in New York in June
of the same year, and located at Oriskany, Oneida County, New York; moved to
Lynnville, Morgan County, in September, 1851; seven children were born in
England, James, Elizabeth, Ann Elliott, John, Henry T., Martha, William, and
five born in America, Ruth, George, Thomas, Edward E., Charles W.; Mr. Potter
followed his trade as wagonmaker till 1857, then moved to Scott County; lived
there four years; in 1860 purchased 240 acres of Jacob Strawn, and in the Spring
of 1861 moved to Morgan County; he was married to Mary Elliott in 1837; he died
in 1876.
POWERS, WILLIAM, farmer, Sec. 30,
P.O. Meredosia, born Nova Scotia, May 30, 1822; married March 23, 1851, to
Mehale Jane Warner, who was born in Putnam Co., Ind., March 6, 1836. Have eight
children living: Sarah E., born Nov. 20, 1852; Katie M., born Aug. 18, 1856;
Patrick William, born July 18, 1858; John Wesley, born Oct. 8, 1860; Edwin J.,
born Dec. 8, 1862; Samuel B., born March 14, 1865; Francis, born May 12, 1869;
Julia Belle, born July 28, 1871; lost three: Walter, born Sept. 24, 1874, died
in infancy; Margaret Jane, born Sept. 8, 1857, died Aug. 8, 1877; Mary M., born
April 18, 1855, died in infancy. Mr. Powers was born in Nova Scotia, and as far
as he remembers, he lived in Philadelphia in infancy. Then went to Ohio where he
worked on a farm until he was 22 years old. Then in 1844, he removed to this
county. Has lived here since; owns 40 acres of land, value $1,200. He is doing
well here.