by William L. Snapp

Was created on July 11, 2006

Biographies

SECTION 1
HISTORICAL

 THE SCHOOLS OF GREENFIELD AND GREENBUSH IN THE EARLY DAYS. 9

SECTION 2
THE GREENBUSH ACADEMY 10

Cholera in Greenbush--The Early Days 11

The death of Sheffield

1840 Calf Market

Three Fatal Accidents

William Patterson Killed p34

INTERESTING STORY RECALLING THE DAYS WHEN COAL OIL WAS MANUFACTURED NEAR AVON. 19

THE ARCHIE FISHER AFFAIR

Patrick Lynch Created p33

William Patterson Killed.p34

Murder of Harvey J. Hewett

ELDER R. M. SIMMONS TELLS OF HIS TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS. 11

SECTION 3
BIOGRAPHICAL. 20
 

SECTION 4
THE GRAVEYARDS IN GREENBUSH TOWNSHIP. 62
Original Greenbush Cemetery
Original Bond Cemetery
Original McMahill Cemetery
Original Holman Cemetery
 

Barnard Sloey

            Barnard Sloey was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, October 22, 1815. He emigrated to America in 1833. He first located temporarily in Greenbush township, Warren county, Illinois, in 1840; and again to stay, in 1844. In 1846, he was married to Miss Anna 0'Grady of Marshall County, Illinois. They then commenced pioneer life in earnest, building a log-cabin on section 26, where they resided. At this time neighbors were like angels visits, few and far between. John Griffin then resided where the town of Prairie City was afterwards located. Mr. Sloey says at this time wild game was plenty and wolves were fierce, dangerous, and annoying. Mrs. Sloey was born July 21, 1830; and died April 30, 1877. She was a daughter of Francis and Susan (Kenaly) 0'Grady. When she was a child, she sat on the lap of Black Hawk, the Indian chief, he having stopped at her father's house, probably on a begging or exploring expedition.

            To Mr. Sloey and wife the following-named children were born-their two first, not named, dying in infancy.

Mary, born November 28, 1848; married Peter McFarland, February 24, 1873.

William, born November 30, 1852; married Mary Thomas, September 12, 1877.

Francis, born March 30, 1854; married Julia Thomas, May 14, 1884.

Susan, born November 1, 1856; married Patrick H. Tanney, November 2, 1879.

James, born March 26, 1859; married Clara Belle Allen, June 16, 1897.

Thomas B., born October 6, 1861; married Mae Martin, June 17, 1891.

Ella, born April 19, 1864; married Osborn Randolph Ashford, September 8, 1884.

Anna, born March 3, 1867; married A. A. Wilson, April 23, 1889.

Rose, born July 15, 1869; married Wm. Henry Crater, September 18, 1890.

John, born January 13, 1872; first marriage to Minnie Rice, July 27, 1896;

second marriage to Lola Massey. January 17, 1901.

            On April 15, 1881, Mr. Sloey moved from Greenbush to Gove County, Kansas. After remaining there awhile, he moved to Thayer County, Nebraska, where he now resides with his son-in-law Peter McFarland, surrounded by the most of his children and grandchildren. Here he is passing his last days in peace and comfort, patiently awaiting the white-winged messenger of time to announce his departure to the realms of eternity, hoping for a joyful reunion with many dear ones who have preceded him. In religion Mr. Sloey is a Catholic; in politics he is a democrat.

Noah Crabill

Noah Crabill was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, December 26, 1818. He was a son of John and Catherine Hoover Crabill who died in Ohio. About the year 1830, he went with his parents to Champaign county, Ohio; and in 1850, he moved to Hancock county, Illinois. In the fall of 1851, he moved to Greenbush, Warren County, Illinois, where he settled on section ten; afterwards moved to section fifteen, where he died April 16, 1898.

He was married, in 1841, to Sarah Crabill who was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, February 23, 1824, and was the daughter of Abraham and Catherine Keller Crabill. To them the following-named children were born:

     Catherine, who married Alexander Courson, June 24, 1869, She died January 21, 1870, at the age of 27 years.

      Mary Jane, who married William Warren, December 31, 1868. she died January 03, 1896, at the age of 49 years.

     Edgar, bon in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1850.

      James, born August 24, 1853, in Greenbush Township.

      Emma, born May 27, 1856; died November 05, 1861.

     Aden Keller, born July 06, 1863; married Rosa Stombaugh, April 03, 1890. She died March 12, 1892, at the age of 22 years. His second marriage was to Ida Damitz, December 24, 1893.

     Samuel, born October 10, 1863; died September 20, 1866.

     Albert, born December 09, 1866, died May 07, 1867

     Noah Crabill was by occupation a cooper in his younger days; afterwards a farmer.

     In politics he was a democrat. He joined the Christian Church in1859, and was consistent member up to the time of his death.

Thomas Carroll

     Thomas Carroll was born in County Latram, Ireland, in 1832. He left Ireland in his younger days in company with his uncle John Fay and Wife. After a voyage of fifty-two days on the water, they arrived at Quebec, Canada, where he remained with his uncle until 1842, when he went to Bakersfield, Vermont, where he learned the blacksmith trade. he then went to Massachusetts, where he worked seven years in the carriage shops of Charles Rice.

     He was married March 13, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Raper; and in June of that year they went to Monmouth, Illinois. Mr. Carroll then ran a peddling-wagon over the prairies for one year. He then went to Ellisville, Illinois, on the Spoon river, where he and his wife first engaged in housekeeping. Caroline W., their first child, was born and died here.

    Their next move was to Greenbush, Illinois, ---the date they do not remember. Mr. Carroll then went to work for Cornelius Hanks and Alexander McGrew. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, four of whom are now living; three of them are married.

     Mr. Carroll and wife reside in Winfield, Henry county, Iowa.

Isaac Cunningham

     Isaac Cunningham was born in Kentucky, July 10, 1815. In his boyhood days he went to the state of Indiana, where in 1838, he was married to Miss Sarah James.

     He came to Greenbush, Illinois, in 1841, and moved to Fulton County, Illinois, in 1850; was in the mercantile business at Avon for fifteen years. He filled the offices of supervisor, collector, and constable, and was at the time of his death deputy sheriff of Fulton county. He died of heart disease and seemed to be as well as usual the day before his death, which occurred at Avon, Illinois, April 19, 1872. He had no children. In politics he was a democrat.

 Colonel John Adney Butler

Col. John Butler was run over by a team and wagon and so badly injured that he died about three days afterwards, the date of his death being May 18, 1881. His wife Mary died November 12, 1875.    Buried in the Greenbush Cemetery, Greenbush, IL.

John Alexander Ferdinand Coll

     John A. F. Coll was born in Germany, October 28, 1820. He emigrated to America in the spring of 1844, but returned to Germany in the fall of the same year, where he was married to Emma Maria Bruckner, May 06, 1846.

     Mr. Coll and wife came to America in 1847, landing at new York, where they resided about one year. From New York they moved to Chicago, from there to Jacksonville, Illinois.

     In 1852, they came to Greenbush, Warren County, Illinois, and bought a farm of John P. Wood on Section 19, where they resided up to the time of their death. One child was born to this union, which died in infancy.

     Mr. Coll died December 15, 1875. His wife died May 24, 1880. In Politics he was a republican.

Daniel Armsworthy

     Daniel Armsworthy was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 09, 1804, where he grew to manhood. He learned the hatter's trade and engaged in the manufacture of wool and fur hats, and traveled over the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia with a line of samples and sold the products of his shop. He was married April 15, 1827, to Elizabeth Crumpton.

    In 1840, he moved from North Carolina to Tennessee; in 1844; he moved from Tennessee to Stoddard County, Missouri. In 1846, he moved to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, and settled in the village, where he resided until 1859, when he moved on a farm ten miles west of Greenbush.

     On the twelfth day of September, 1866, he moved to Kansas and bought claims with some improvements on what was then known as the Neutral Lands. He afterwards bought the land from the railroad company. His wife died October 05, 1868.

     Mr. Armsworthy continued to live on the farm up to the time of his death, which occurred September 22, 1880. In politics he was a Whig up to 1856; afterwards a democrat.

     To Mr. and Mrs. Armsworthy were born the following-named children:

     Levi, who went to Oregon in the early 1850's, where he was married and still resides.

     Martha L., who married Morgan Franks, in 1855; now resides with her daughter in Kansas.

     Sarah Anna; never married, and is now living with her brother Levi in Oregon, where she went shortly after the death of her father.

     Miles; died in Greenbush at the age of fifteen years.

     William W., bon December 09, 1841, near Memphis, Tennessee; resided with his parents until their death. He received his education in Greenbush; taught school during the winter and farmed during the summer.

     He has held several responsible offices in Illinois and Kansas. He was married July 02, 1876, to Mary J. Brown. At that time he was living in Girard, Kansas, and was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1877, he moved back to the farm near Arcadia, Kansas.

     December 01, 1879, he took charge of a general store at Coalvale for the Keith and Henry Coal Company, afterwards changed to the Keith and Perry Coal Company and later to the Central Coal and Coke Company, which now has a capital of $7500,000. They sold out their business at Coalvale, in September, 1880, and went to Rich Hill, Missouri, and opened coal works and store.

William W. Armsworthy went to Rich Hill, November 01, 1880, and took charge of the business for the coal company as manger, in which capacity he continued until August 01, 1897. His health failing him, he gave up the position, but remained living in Rich Hill until June 04, 1902, when he moved back to the farm, two and one-half miles west of Arcadia, Crawford county, Kansas, where he now resides. They have four children:

    Frank, who was born July 25, 1877, is married and has two children; he now resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

     Marcalina, born February 25, 1879.

     Myrtle, born August 09, 1881.

     Mary J., born June 04, 1890. These girls are living at home with their parents.

Henry Beam

     Henry Beam was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1813. He was a son of Henry and Rachael Chune Beam. In 1830, he came with his parents to Champaign County, Ohio, where he was married to Nancy Spencer, March 21, 1838. She was born in Ohio, April 10, 1814, and was a daughter of Eli and Sarah Monihon Spencer.

    In 1851, Mr. Beam moved with his family to Greenbush, Illinois. After residing in the township a short time, he purchased of Chap Swift lots 8 and 9 on section 16, and moved on the premises January 02, 1852, where he lived up to the time of his death, which occurred July 08, 1885. His wife died November 21, 1893. To them were born the following-named children:

Orlando John, born in Ohio, December 31, 1838; married Emma Loftus, in 1869. He died at the residence of his sister Rachael Cunningham, in Monette, Missouri, December 15, 1899.

     Rachel, born July 09, 1840; married Peter Landaker, Mary 06, 1860. She died June 04, 1895.

     Joseph, born July 30, 1844; married Bertha Damitz, in September, 1869.

     Barbara, born April 25, 1847; married James M. Hendricks, August 29, 1869.

     Jane, born February 16, 1849; married William Bryte, in May, 1869.

     Nancy Adarana, born August 05, 1858; died October 12, 1865.

     Henry Bean and wife united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1843. When the Olive Christian Church was organized in Greenbush township, Mrs. Beam became a member and retained her membership up to the time of her death.

     Henry Bean acquired a considerable education in his younger days. He taught school fourteen winters when he resided in Ohio. He was by occupation a farmer the most of his life. In politics he voted with the republicans.

Roswell Rose

    Roswell Rose was born in Oneida county, New York, February 02, 1801. His father was Phineas Rose, a Revolutionary soldier. He attended school but very little, but was educated by his mother, who was a scholarly woman. He taught school for a number of years when a young man. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade and worked for a time in the city of Buffalo, New York.

    In 1836, he came to Chicago with his family, consisting then of a wife and four children, and worked there at his trade for about a year, when he pre-empted a piece of land in Lake county, Illinois, about twenty miles northwest of Chicago, the land in that locality having but recently come into market. He improved this land and lived there about six years, when he moved to Waukegan, Illinois, a small village, then just starting, where he worked at carpenter work and mil-righting, being interested in building the first mill erected in that place.

    He came to Fulton and Warren counties in the summer of 1850, and purchased a half-interest in a mill property, situated near where Swan creek crosses the Meridian line. This property had been partially improved some time before by John and Riverus Woods. A sawmill was already running and a frame put up for a gristmill.

     Mr. Rose returned to Waukegan in the fall of that year and moved his family, locating on the northeast quarter of section 13, in Greenbush township, now known as the Saunders farm. Here he bought a log house and some other small improvements. The house  was built by Loren Woods in 1838. He resided in this house about three years, when he erected a frame dwelling in the south side of the creek and near the mill, where he resided until his death.

    Mr. Rose, with his partner, Riverus Woods, put the grist-mill in operation in 1851. This mill did quite a large business for a number of years, and was a great accommodation to the surrounding country, especially Greenbush township and farther west, many customers coming there from a distance of 25 or 30 miles, and sometimes they were obliged to wait two or three days to get their grist ground.'

    When this mill was built Swan creek furnished sufficient water to run the mill nearly the whole year, but as the country became improved, the water became less and steam power was added.

     This mill proved to be a death trap for Mr. Rose. On September 05, 1867, he was caught in a band and instantly killed. His partner, Riverus Woods, had died the year before at the age of 62 years.

     At the time of Mr. Rose's death his son, W. H. Rose, was interested iwth him in the business and carried it on for some time after.

     Roswell Rose was married to Elizabeth Ingraham in Oneida County, New York. Six children were born to them, namely; Harriet, Havilah R. Silas N., and Cyurus (twin brothers), William H., and Birney.

     Elizabeth, wife of R. Rose, died in Avon, Illinois, November 29, 1870, at the age of 66 years, surviving her husband a little more than three years.

    Harriet Rose Nicols died near Santa Ana, California, September 21, 1898, at the age of 71 years.

     Havilah R. Rose died in Avon, Ill., August 11, 1900, at the age of 70 years.

     Silas N. Rose died at Memphis, Mo., September 22, 1898, at the age of 66 years. His twin brother, Cyrus, died at the age of 8 years in Lake county, Illinois.

     Birney Rose died in Avon, Illinois, February 02, 1877, at the age of 31 years.

     William H. Rose, the only surviving member of the family, is now a resident of Avon, Illinois.

Henzie Darneille

     Henzie Darneille was born in Bourbon county,m Kentucky, April 16, 1824. He was a son of Henzie and Elizabeth Congleton Darneille, who were natives of Virginia and were of French and Irish descent. Henzie, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born July 08, 1789. He died in Kentucky, August 18, 1824. His wife Elizabeth was born December 04, 1790, and died in Adams county, Illinois, July 08, 1834.

     To them the following children-named children:

     Fielding M., born August 28, 1812, died in California.

     Lorinda, born November 11, 1813; died in Kentucky

     John W. better known as "Jack" Darneille, born June 15, 1815. He was the first postmaster at Wlnut Grove, Illinois, where he died at the residence of David B. Ketih about the year 1880.

     Harvey, born August 24, 1816; married Emily Vaughn, November 07, 1839. She was a sister of Paton A. Vaughn. Harvey entered the west half of the north east quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section four, in Greenbush township, Warren county, Illinois. He received a patent for it dated June 01, 1848, signed by James K. Polk, president. His wife having died, he moved to Iowa, where he was married to Miss Emaline Murry. He spent his last years in Iowa.

     Mary, born February 13, 1820; married Paton A. Vaughn, July 18, 1834. She died in December , 1898.

     Thomas, born March 03, 1822; married Mrs. Lucinda Snapp, whose maiden name was Lucinda Willard. He died May 24, 1870. She died January 21, 1899.

     Henzie, the subject of this sketch, and the only surviving member of this family, is now living at Bushnell, Illinois. He came with his mother and family from Kentucky to Adams county, Illinois, in February, 1832. His mother purchased a farm in Adams county, about one and a half miles west of Columbus. Here he lived with his mother and worked on the farm. After the death of his mother, he still remained on the farm for some time with his brother Fielding, they doing their own cooking and housekeeping.

    In 1841, he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade with James and John Mackey at Columbus, Illinois. Here he worked about one year, then went to Missouri, where he worked at his trade.

    In 1843, he returned to Adams county, Illinois, and continued to work at blacksmithing until 1844, when he went to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, and lived with he brother-in-law, Paton A. Vaughn, until he was married.

     He was married to Jane Willard, January 07, 1847. She was born August 31, 1826, and was daughter of Alexander and Lucy Lile Willard. To them were born the following-named children:

     Georgetta, born August 27, 1849; married James Matthews, February 17, 1870. He died October 24, 1901.

     Fielding M. born July 08, 1858; died January 24, 1904.

     Mary Belle, born March 13, 1864; now resides with her father in Bushnell, Illinois.

     Mr. Darneille has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. His wife was also a member of the same church. She died September 27, 1905. In politics Mr., Darneille is a republican.

Alfred Claycomb

Alfred Claycomb was born in Knox county, Indiana, November 16, 1832. He came to Warren county, Illinois, in 1847, and worked for Robert McKindley on the farm in Swan Township, for about five years. He afterwards lived with William Thomas until he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bruce Taylor, May 31, 1854. She was born near Berwick in Warren county, Illinois, June 05, 1837.

     Mr. Claycomb engaged in farming. He finally moved on a farm west of the village of Greenbush, known as the Isaac Butler place, where they resided until 1880, when they moved west. He now resides about

To Alfred Claycomb and wife were born the following-named children:

     Agnes Elizabeth, born February 26, 1855. She died March 14, 1857.

     Hiram, born March 04, 1857; died March 21, 1857.

     George Elias, born February 14, 1858; died March 14, 1858.

     Lucy Jane, born February 26, 1862; married November 14, 1886, to James E. Simmons. He was born April 20, 1864, and was a son of John and Ruth Jared Simmons. They have one son, Dale C., born September 10, 1888.

     James Otha, born January 27, 1864; married to Florence Smith March 26, 1884. To them were born the following-named children: Floyd, May 17, 1886; Goldie September 19, 1887; Lorenza A., September 21, 1889; Naomi G., September 06, 1903; James O., March 04, 1905.

     Frederic Marion, born January 22, 1866; married November 29, 1885, to Anna Levice. She was born June 04, 1868. The have tw children--Earl, born August 08, 1892; and Helen B., born November 12, 1903.

     Henry. born December 01, 1868; died in March, 1869.

      Annetta born August 17, 1870; died March 14, 1871.

     Randall, born May 21, 1873; died April 11, 1874.

     Harvie, born, March 25, 1877; died November 09, 1879.

     Mary B., wife of Alfred Claycomb, died March 26, 1903.