Rock Creek Illinois Biographical Sketches

Transcribed by Jeffrey Tooley

Rock Creek Illinois Biographical Sketches extracted from History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886.

Charles Abbott Biography

Charles Abbott, being an earlier settler of the "West, deserves more than a passing notice in a work like this. He was born in Lorain county, Ohio, Dec. 8, 1833, and is a son of Orlan and Lucinda Abbott; he came with his parents to Schuyler county, Ill., in 1840, and to this county in 1844; at that time wild animals were numerous; he saw at one time sixty deer in a single drove. Mr. Abbott was reared on a farm and educated in a subscription school. When they first located in Illinois there were no schools of any character within his reach; he attended the academy at Carthage about eight months, but in the main he is a self-made man. He has taught school for eighteen winters, farming in the summer. He was married in 1850 to Miss Nancy J. Jones, a native of Tennessee; they have had 11 children, of whom 6 boys and 3 girls are living. Mr. Abbott also owns an agricultural store in Ferris, in which he keeps all kinds of agricultural implements, and is doing a good business. His brother George was a soldier in the late war; his father resides in Jefferson county, Kansas, at the age of 75 years. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 862.]

David Akin Biobraphy

David Akin was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, October 12, 1809, and is a son of John and Jane (Weatherspoon) Akin; the former was a blacksmith, and our subject early learned to sling the hammer and make the anvil ring. He worked at this trade the greater part of his life, and also added wagon work to it, which gave him a great deal of work both in iron and wood. He was married in 1831 to Miss Hannah Cooper, by whom he has had 4 children; of these, 3 are living; viz., James F., John W. (a Doctor in Tennessee, Illinois) and Rachel Jane. Mr. Akin came to Schuyler county, Illinois, in 1859, and to this county in 1868; in 1875 he engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in the town of Adrian; in this he has been very successful; he also sells a great number of wagons; he resides on sec. 9, Rock Creek tp. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 862.]

W. O. Alphin Biography

W. O. Alphin. — This enterprising young business man was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, February 26, 1850, and is a son of Henry and Hannah Alphin ; the former laid out the original first part of the town of Adrian, in 1871. W. O. was reared on a farm and educated in common schools and Hedding College at Abingdon, Illinois; he was married in 1874 to Miss Mary Leonard, by whom he has had 3 children, 2 of whom are still living; viz., Llewella and Adda. Mr. Alphin came to this county in 1874, and engaged in farming for three year's; he commenced the drug business in Adrian in 1877, and now carries a full line of drugs, notions, groceries, cutlery, etc., and is doing a good business. One very remarkable feature in his business is, he is strictly a temperance man, and neither keeps nor sells spirituous liquors. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 865.]

Matthew Alston Biography

Matthew Alston is a native of Hancock county. Ill., and was born December 11, 1842. His parents, John and Ann Alston, removed to Chicago when Matthew was but two years old, where they remained three years. His mother taught the first school in Rock Creek tp. Mr. Alston was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He served three years in the late war, in Co. F, 50th Regt. I.V. I., and participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca and others. He was married October 14, 1867, to Miss Tabitha A. McConkey, by whom he has 2 children; viz., Robert H. and David J. Mr. Alston owns 106 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stockraising, on sec. 4. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 865.]

J. R. Atkins Biography

J. R. Atkins was born in "Wake county, N. C, March 26, 1826. His parents were Wm . L. and Frances Atkins. Mr. J. R. Atkins was reared on a farm and educated in a subscription school. He was married in 1848 to Miss Roxana Hargraves, by whom he had 12 children; of these, 7 are living; viz., Robert, Alexander, Benjamin, William, Charles, Eva and Nettie. Mr. Atkins removed to this county in 1850, where he still resides and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. A. began life with nothing, and now he owns 200 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Atkins died Jan. 16, 1876. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 865.]

Wright B. Bailey Biography

Wright B. Bailey was born in Harrison county, Va., Oct. 7, 1810, and is a son of Samuel and Agnes (Hudson) Bailey (dec). The latter was a descendant of the noted Henry Hudson, who first discovered and sailed up the Hudson river. Mr. Bailey was reared on a farm and received a very limited education in a subscription school. His text-books consisted of a Testament, a speller, and an arithmetic. So anxious was he to learn to write, that he procured a piece of soapstoue from the creek and dressed its side smooth, and when a neighbor would happen in, he would have him make the letters of the alphabet at the top of this rude slate, and Mr. B. would sit for hours imitating the copy. He never heard a grammar lesson recited in school. He was married in 1834, to Miss Melinda Bailey, by whom he has had 9 children: of these, 7 are living; viz., Margaret, Sallie, Colbert, George, Maria, Victoria and James 0. They removed to this county in 1850. Mr. Bailey is a farmer and stock-raiser, on sec. 4. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 865.]

Alfred E. Barnard Biography

Alfred E. Barnard was born in Canada July 14, 1841. His parents were John and Freelove Barnard (dec). Mr. Barnard was reared on a farm near Rockville, Canada, on the St. Lawrence river. He was educated in a common school taught in a log house. He went to Buffalo, New York, in 1859, where he learned the carpenter's trade. He came to this county in 1866, and pursued his trade for 2 years. He was married May 18, 1867, to Miss Mary Alston, and they have had 4 children, of whom two are living, Anna G. and Frances T. Mr. B. erected a store-house in 1874, in Adrian, and engaged in the drug business for two years there, when he sold out and commenced farming. He has been Justice of the Peace for Rock Creek tp. for 3 years, and is the present incumbent. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 866.]

Dr. R. W. Barr Biography

Dr. R. W. Barr was born in Wood county, Ohio, April 7, 1847. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He served 2 years in the late war, being a member of Co. A., 14th O. V. I. He first went into the war merely as company for some of his friends, as he was at that time but 14 years old. But he soon afterward enlisted, and carried a gun, too. He was taken prisoner at Shenandoah Valley, and held for one year. He was kept three months in the noted Libby prison, and his brother John was also kept 40 days in the same place. Dr. Barr participated also in the battles of Wildcat, Cumberland Gap, Mill Springs, Pittsburg Landing, Wilmington and others. He was present and saw Gen. Frye shoot and kill Gen. Zollicoffer at Mill Springs. The Doctor was married in 1873, to Miss Genevra E. Lynd, by whom he has had 2 children; viz., William H. (dec.) and Frederick.

Dr. Barr is a graduate of the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons, and began the practice of medicine in Ferris, this county, in 1872, and by close attention to business and the conscientious discharge of every known duty, has won the confidence of the people, and has thus built up a large practice, which is steadily increasing. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 866.]

James H. Campbell Biography

James H. Campbell was born in McDonough county, Illinois, May 1, 1836, and is a son ot Nicholas and Mary (McGee) Campbell, pioneers of McDonough county. Mr. C. was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He came to this county with his parents in 1851; was married Aug. 9, 1856, to Miss America Frakes, by whom he has 2 children; viz., Francis M. and Ida A. Francis M. is a leader of the Ferris Cornet Band, which was organized in 1S77. Mr. Campbell took a Western tour in 1864, through Montana, Idaho, Utah, and other Western countries, visiting Salt Lake City and other noted cities in the West. He resides on sec. 33, engaged in farming. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 866.]

Samuel Coleman Biography

Samuel Coleman, deceased, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, March 16, 1850, and was a son of John and Letitia Coleman (dec); was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He was married in March, 1842, to Miss Jane Bennett, daughter of Silas and Lucinda Bennett (dec). They have had 9 children, of whom 7 are living: Letitia, John W. , Lucinda M., Rosaltha, Charles, Martin L. and Harry I. A son, Clifton T., died in Colorado, Jan. 11, 1879.

Mr. Coleman and family came to Greene county. 111., in 1843, and to this county in 1844. He was a farmer by occupation. He died May 9, 1874. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 867.]

Christian Cramberg Biography

Christian Cramberg was born in Prussia, July 2, 1835, and is a son of John V. and Martha E. Cramberg: he was reared and educated in the town of Niederdorla, Prussia. He came to this country in 1851, by way of New Orleans and St. Louis, stopping in Adams county. Ill. While at New Orleans he came near losing his life when bathing in the gulf. He there labored on a farm. He was married in 1857 to Mary Weisenborn, by whom he had 8 children; viz., Emily, George, Sophia, Ida, Johnnie, Tillie, Anna and Oscar. He came to this county in 1872. He owns 160 acres of valuable land on sec. 3, and is engaged in farming. [Source: History of Hancock County, Illinois Together With An Outline History of the State and A Digest of State Laws, By T. H. Gregg, Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1886. P. 867.]