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ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
A part of Genealogy Express
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Welcome to
Piatt County,
Illinois
History & Genealogy |
Biographies
Source:
Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois
Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical
Sketches
of Prominent and Representative Citizens
of the County
Together with Portraits and Biographies of all
the
Presidents of the United States
and Governors of the State
Publ.
Chicago: Chapman Bros
1891
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William Parker.
The diversified wants of man afford an interesting study to one of
philosophic mind, and even a cursory view of the business streets of
a town will give many illustrations of the tact and enterprise which
takes advantage of these wants and derive therefrom a thriving
trade. In Bement a good place in which to study character
would be the agricultural implement warehouse of William Parker, as
there one will see many customers, and be able to note the
distinguishing characteristics, not only of the proprietor, but of
his patrons. Mr. Parker handles a full line line of the tools
needed by our farmers, and has secured a good run of custom, being
the leading dealer in his line in the place.
Mr. Parker was born in Harrison County, Ohio.
September 4, 1821, and spent the early years of his life on a farm.
In 1830 his father removed to Wyandotte County, where he first
received wages for farm work, his remuneration being $3 per month.
When twelve years old he worked in a brick yard, receiving $3 per
month and his board. In the meantime he pursued the studies
which were taught in the common schools and making use of his
theoretical knowledge by his early start in business, he became more
thorough even than would have been the case had he spent his time
entirely in school.
When nineteen years old Mr. Parker learned the trade of
a wagon-maker in the village of Crawfordsville, serving an
apprenticeship of about two years, after which he carried on the
business for himself. He continued his occupation in
Crawfordsville until 1854, when he determined to remove farther West
and in October located in Piatt County. For about four years
he occupied a farm north of Monticello, bordering on the Sangamon
River, and then came to Bement and resumed his former business.
He was obliged to go to Chicago for a small stock of lumber with
which to begin his manufactory. After having labored at his
trade some thirty years, Mr. Parker determined to abandon it, and in
the spring of 1888 turned his entire attention to the sale of
agricultural implement. For about three years prior to that
time he had been selling them on a small scale and it was a
comparatively easy matter to work up an excellent trade.
At the head of the household economy in the home of Mr.
Parker is a lady who was known some years since as Miss Mary A. Sipple. She is a native of Stark County, Ohio, but at the time
of her marriage to our subject was residing in Seneca County.
She understands well the household arts which tend to home comfort
and has been faithful to the interests of her husband and devoted to
the welfare of her children. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have five
sons and daughters, named respectively: Artemus F., Arvilla,
Edmund A., Abigail and Alice. One of them awaits the parents
beyond the river of death, Abigail having died in Ohio when about
six weeks old. Arvilla is the wife of George Motherspaw.
The principles advocated by Republican speakers and
laid down in the Republican platform find an earnest supporter in
Mr. Parker. He has been a member of the village board and
served efficiently, being one of those progressive men who believe
in public improvements and think fund well spent that add to the
appearance of a town. He and his good wife are members in good
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church and throughout the
community are regarded with respect. |
Aaron
Peck occupies an honorable position among the progressive
and public-spirited farmers and stock-growers of Piatt County.
He is a leader among the farmers of Willow Branch Township were he
has a valuable farm on section 32. He is a native of Pickaway
County, Ohio, and was there born Jan. 13, 1835. His parents
were Adonijah and Mary (Ater) Peck, natives respectively of Virginia
and Ohio. They were among the pioneers of Piatt County,
whither they came from the Buckeye State in 1838 settling in Willow
Branch Township where our subject now resides. The family
experienced many hardships and trials in their new pioneer home and
lived a life of self-denial and sacrifice, until they became more
comfortably situated. When our subject was a lad he had to go
as far as Perryville, and even to Covington, Ind., to get grist
ground, and to obtain other articles for family use.
The parents of our subject had nine children of whom
eight are living: Mary, wife of Cyrus Widick of Piatt County;
Peter, who lives in Cerro Gordo Township; Aaron David, a resident of
Missouri; Catherine, Mrs. Taylor a widow, living in Piatt County;
Emily, Mrs. Griswold, a widow living in Moultrie County;
Miranda, a
resident of Piatt County; Daniel, who lives in Ohio; and Sarah J.,
deceased, she having been the first born child of the family.
The father departed this life in 1859. The mother is still
living in the home left her by her husband; is now in her
eighty-first year and is subject to the infirmities of old age.
She is one of the oldest pioneers still living in Willow Branch
Township.
Aaron Peck, of whom we write, was bred to a stalwart
manhood, in the pioneer home of his parents. Being scarcely
more than an infant when he was brought to Piatt County, he grew up
with it, as it were, and has not only witnessed much of its
development, but has taken an active-hand in bringing about the
wondrous change from a wilderness to a well-settled and flourishing
farming country. His education was conducted in the
subscription schools of his youth, which did not offer many
advantages but he has since made up for early deficiencies in
learning by experience, observation and reading.
Mr. Peck has one hundred and sixty acres of farming
land that is of superior fertility and productiveness. He has
shown great skill and practicality in the management of it, and is
constantly increasing its value by the good improvements that he
places upon it. He is a man of independent thought and
character, whose geniality and courtesy make him popular with all
with whom he associates, and have gained for him hosts of friends.
He is well versed in pioneer history and takes great pride in his
township and county. In his political sentiments he is a
decided Democrat and uses his influence in the interests of his
party in this locality. |
Abram
Peck a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Willow Branch
Township, is well-known throughout the entire limits of Piatt
County, where he has made his home for more than fifty years, and he
enjoys in an unusual degree the confidence and esteem of all who
have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Mr. Peck was born in Ross County, Ohio, July 27, 1824. He is
a son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Ater) Peck, natives of Virginia.
His paternal ancestors were Hollanders. His maternal ancestors
are supposed to have been Germans. Three Ater brothers, uncles
of the mother of our subject fought in the War of 1812. In the
fall of 1839 the Peck family came to Piatt County, which then formed
a part of Macon County and became pioneers of Willow Branch
Township. Enoch Peck purchased a tract of wild prairie land
and in time became quite prominent in the county as he was public
spirited and progressive. He served as County Commissioner
under the old law and also as Justice of the Peace. He was in
early life an old-line Whig. He later joined the Republican
party and remained true to its principles until death. It is a
singular fact that he was the only Republican of eight brothers, the
other seven being straight Democrats, as was their father before
them. The father of our subject died in October, 1869, leaving
behind him an honorable record as a man, as a pioneer and as a
citizen.
Mr. Peck was the father of ten children, of whom eight
are living, namely: Abram, our subject; Rebecca, wife of
George Matsler, of Texas; George; John; Monroe; Charity, the widow
of Mr. Crook, of Milmine, this county; Elizabeth, wife of
Austin Durham of Macon County; Henry; James, and one other are deceased.
Abram Peck was reared under pioneer influences
principally in Piatt County, as he was but a small boy when the
family came here. When they located in the county, there were
then but two houses in Monticello, one a log cabin and the other a
rude frame building, and the county itself was but thinly inhabited
and had been but little improved. The schoolhouse in which
our subject obtained the rudiments of an education was a log cabin,
with a puncheon floor and puncheon hewed for seats and writing
desks, which were held up by means of wooden pegs projecting from
the wall. After starting out in life on his own account, our
subject obtained a valuable helpmate in the person of Miss Catherine
West, to whom he was wedded September 15, 1844. Mrs.
Peck was
born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 24, 1828. Her parents,
John and Eleanor West, were pioneers of Piatt County, coming to
Willow Branch Township in 1835 and residing here until death, Mr.
West dying in 1871.
Mr. Peck has always followed farming and he and his
wife own two hundred and nine acres of choice land on sections 29
and 34, Willow Branch Township. Here they have built up an
attractive home whose hospitality is noted far and wide. Mr.
Peck has his land under fine tillage and has placed an excellent
class of improvements upon it, so that it is among the most valuable
estates in its vicinity.
To Mr. and Mrs. Peck have been born several children,
of whom these survive: Cyrus; George; Mary, wife of
David
Zimmerman; Etta, Millard, Abraham L., Rodolphus C., Lewis G. and
Charles E. The deceased children are William, Samantha,
Alice,
and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Peck began his career as a farmer on rented land
and finally settled on a farm of his own. He and his wife are
among the few pioneers of Willow Branch Township now living within
its limits and they have witnessed much of its growth and talk
interestingly of their experiences of pioneer hardships. Mr.
Peck has borne an honorable part in the public life of the county,
which he served six years as Coroner and he was the first duly
elected clerk of Willow Branch Township, which office he held three
years. He has also been Assessor and Collector of the
township. Politically he stands with the Republicans and is a
stanch defender of Republican principles. He is also
identified with the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association. His
liberality and public spirit have contributed to advance the welfare
of the county and the sterling integrity and honesty in business
matters that have been characteristic of his life make him a worthy
example for the young men of today who are just starting out in
life. Mrs. Peck shares with her husband the regard in which he
is held by the entire community, and in her the Christian Church
finds one of its most exemplary members. |
James
Peck. In the death of this gentleman Aug. 27, 1888,
Piatt County suffered the loss of one of her native-born sons, who
had become an important factor in sustaining and extending her great
agricultural interests. A life-long resident of Willow Branch
Township, he was long associated with its leading farmers and had
improved a fine farm within its borders.
Mr. Peck was born Dec. 22, 1846 and was a son of
Enoch
and Elizabeth Peck, of whom further mention is made in the sketch of
Abram Peck on another page of this
Biographical Album. He was reared on a farm and early selected
that calling for his life work. He obtained his education in
the public schools of his native township, and was a well-qualified
business man. He was an active worker and devoted himself
strictly to improving his farm, which he left to his heirs in a good
condition. It comprises one hundred and forty-seven acres of
excellent farming land, which is mostly under cultivation, and is
supplied with suitable buildings. Here his family have a
comfortable home and the farm is under good management.
Mr. Peck was married Dec. 12, 1872, to Miss
Emma Campbell who was to him all that a devoted wife could be, and is
highly respected by all around her. Mrs. Peck is a native of
Carroll County, Ind., and was born July 24, 1846. She is a
daughter of the late James D. and Lucinda P. (Moore) Campbell.
Mrs. Campbell is now living in Emporia, Kan., and has attained the
venerable age of three score years and ten. Mrs. Peck is
identified with the Christian Church and is an active worker in the
society.
The marriage of our subject and his amiable wife was
blessed to them by the birth of five children, of whom these three
are living - L. J., Lillie M. and Justin H. Mrs.
Jane Peck,
widow of the late Enoch Peck, an early settler of Piatt County,
resides with the family. She came to this county in 1857 and
has since lived here.
Mr. Peck, our subject, was well and favorably known
throughout the county. He was a liberal, broad-minded man and
was always pleasant and obliging in his intercourse with others, so
that during his life he contracted a strong friendship with many who
sincerely mourn his death with his bereaved family. He was
happy in his domestic relations, and was a considerate husband and a
kind father. Though not a church member he was a generous
contributor toward all religious objects and was glad to see the
churches prosper. His fellow-citizens having full confidence
in his integrity and capability, called him to responsible offices,
and he had served as Township Collector for two years, and as School
Director of his district. Politically he was a Republican. |
John Peck,
the son of a pioneer of Piatt County, is now assisting in carrying
on the extensive agricultural interests of the county, owning and
managing a good farm on section 16, Willow Branch Township. He
was a volunteer soldier in the late war in which he did honorable
service. Mr. Peck was born in Ross County, Ohio, Dec. 29,
1833. His parents were Enoch and Elizabeth (Ater) Peck, of
whom further mention is made in the sketch of Abram Peck, which will
be found on another page of this volume. Our subject was a lad
of six years when he came with his parents to Piatt County, and here
he was reared in their pioneer home, being one of a large family of
children of whom these survive: Abram, George, John, Monroe,
Henry; Rebecca, wife of George Matshler;
Charity, wife of J. M.
Crook; and Elizabeth wife of Austin Durham.
Mr. Peck had to perform much pioneer work in his youth
and broke prairie with four yoke of oxen and an old fashioned wooden
moldboard plow. His education was gained in the early
subscription schools of the county, which were conducted in log
houses with puncheon floor, slab benches that had wooden legs and a
plank was used for a writing desk. After his marriage in 1863,
he settled on his present farm and has lived here ever since, with
the exception of a few months spent in Missouri. He has one
hundred and eighteen acres of land, which is exceptionally well
tilled, and has upon it many good improvements, which make it a very
desirable piece of property. The reader's attention is
directed to a view of this fine farm on another page.
We should do our subject injustice if we omitted his
war record. He enlisted Dec. 13, 1861, in Company D,
Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and took part in several important
engagements. He fought at Shiloh, helped to capture Ft.
Donelson, and faced the enemy on other memorable battlefields.
The privation and suffering that he had to undergo while in the army
undermined his naturally strong constitution, and he was honorably
discharged on account of disability in August, 1862.
Nov. 26 ,1863, was the date of the marriage of
Mr. Peck
with Maria Crawford, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio.
She was born August 30, 1848, to George and Rebecca (Rambo)
Crawford, natives respectively of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Her father was of Irish ancestry and her mother of German lineage.
They were the parents of ten children of whom these eight survive;
Eliza, wife of J. H. Johnson of Pickaway County;
June, wife of Thomas Martin of Indiana;
Allen, a resident of Ohio; Alfred of
Indiana; Susan, wife of Martin Bailey of Ohio; Rachael, wife of
David Peck of Missouri; Augustus, a resident of Ohio; and
Mrs. Peck,
wife of our subject. In the spring of 1863 the Crawfords came
to Piatt County and lived for a short time in Willow Branch
Township. The father and mother then returned to Ohio and
there died. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck have come nine children, whom
they have named: Andrew, Oliver, Ross, Otis, Arch, Arthur,
Daisy, Anne, and Nellie.
Mr. Peck has displayed great practicality and good
business talent in the management of his affairs, and he and his
wife have a charming home, one of the finest residences of this
locality in which they are enjoying life as sociable, genial people
who have the regard and confidence of all about them. Mr. Peck
has a very vivid memory of the pioneer scenes and experiences of his
youth, and talks in a straightforward interesting manner concerning
them; he has ever been interested in his township, and as School
Director has helped to advance its educational privileges. (See
pictures that have been donated by Jack Arthur) |
Peter
Peck. Inquiry into the lives of the citizens of
Piatt County reveals the fact that there are still living those who
shared in the labors necessary to change the forests and prairies
from their natural condition into smiling fields and fruitful
orchards. One of the old settlers is Peter Peck, who with the
estimable wife occupies a farm on section 25. Cerro Gordo
Township. He was but six years old when his father's family
came hither from Ohio, making their home in Willow Branch Township,
and during the half century that has sine elapsed he has been an
eye-witness to the growth of this region in material advantages and
all that goes to make up true civilization.
The parents of our subject were Adonijah and Mary (Ater)
Peck, the father a native of Virginia. The paternal
grandparents were natives of Germany. When their son Adonijah
was very young they removed from the Old Dominion to Pickaway
County, Ohio, where the lad grew to maturity. After his
marriage he lived in Madison County a few years when they moved back
to Pickaway County where he lived until 1838, when with his family
he came to this State as before noted. He was one of the early
settlers in Willow Branch Township, in which he continued to reside
until called from earth, Dec. 20, 1861. His widow is still
living and is now quite advanced in years. Of their nine
children seven survive, namely: Mary, wife of
Cyrus Widick; Peter,
the subject of this notice; David, whose home is in Missouri;
Catherine, widow of Elijah Taylor, of Piatt County;
Mrs. Emily Griswold, of Moultrie County; Maranda, who lives in Piatt County;
and Daniel, whose home is in Ohio. |
NOTES:
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