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PETER HONTS.
Peter Honts was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, September 24, 1815. He was a son of Henry and Catherine (Kaufman) Honts, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Honts worked with his brothers Daniel and Henry about four years in a paper-mill that was located about five miles from Fincastle, Virginia. He left Virginia, in 1836, and went to Morgan county, Indiana, where he married Martha A. Walker, in 1838. She died March 28, 1896. Peter Honts came to Greenbush in 1847, where he has resided the most of the time since.
To Peter and Martha Honts were born the following-named children:
Lucy A., born November 20, 1840. She married Thomas Gunter, in 1860.
William Henry, born June 17, 1843; never married, and resides in Greenbush.
Delphia Jane, born November 26, 1845; died of cholera July 17, 1851.
John B., born June 24, 1848; married Sarah E. Montgomery She died August 19, 1902.
Isaac George, born January 6, 1854; married Alba Knight.
Joel A., born June 24, 1856; married Alice Snare.
Mary Catherine, born September 10, 1859; died April 15, 1862.
George B. M., born November 13, 1864; died in infancy.
Peter Honts was by occupation a wagon-maker and carpenter; he was also engaged a portion of the time in farming. In politics he is a democrat.
PHILIP KARNS.
Philip Karns was born in Baden, Germany, October 22, 1815. His father died when he was about two years old, leaving two sons, Philip and John, with their mother. When Philip was twelve years old, his cousin Philip Sotman and family took passage on a vessel for America. Mr. Sotman asked Philip’s mother if he could go with them to the vessel and see them off. To this she consented, thinking Philip would return home the next day. After arriving on board the vessel, they quietly stowed Philip away in the hold, where he was found three or four days after they had started. He was brought up on deck where he created a considerable stir among the passengers and crew; but Philip made himself useful on board, was well liked and enjoyed the trip. In 1828, he went to Lancaster, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Nancy Ann Ellinger, August 20, 1837. She was born November 15, 1817. This marriage occurred before breakfast as there
was a camp meeting in the neighborhood at the time and they wished to attend that day. In 1842, they moved to Morgan county, Indiana, near Martinsville, where Mr. Karns was engaged in the cooper trade and in the business of teaming. In 1846, he moved with his family to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois.
To Mr. Karns and wife the following-named children were born:
Catherine, born July 3, 1839; married Riley Adams.
Samuel L., born September 19, 1840; married Edwina C. Bond. He died November I, 1874.
Margaret Ann, born October 27, 1842; married George J. Emrick.
John Henry, born August 14, 1845; married Clara Neer. He died March 5, 1877. Mary Minerva, born February 23, 1848; died March 11, 1864.
Philip Jacob, born August 19, 1854; married Aramanta Johnson.
Huldah Jane, born August 23, 1851; married Dallas Clark. She died February 7, 1873.
William Riley, born March 24, 1857; married Birdie Williams. Josiah C., born November 20, 1859; died May 8, 1862. Joseph E., born January 5, 1863; married Laura Harker.
Philip Karns was by occupation a cooper; he was also engaged in teaming, and took great pride in his horses. He hauled goods for the merchants in Greenbush for many years from Oquawka, Burlington, Peoria, and other places. During the visitation of cholera in Greenbush, in 1851, he was especially helpful, hauling off the dead, assisting in the burials, and doing everything in his power to relieve the suffering. His last years were spent on his farm north of Greenbush, in Berwick township, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He died March 10, 1898.
Foxie's Note: buried in the Greenbush Cemetery.
CHARLES HENRY KILLOUGH.
It will be observed that the spelling of the name Kellough has been changed to Killough, the subject of this sketch having chosen to return to the original way. Charles Henry Killough was born in Cecil county, Maryland, March 16, 1834. He was a son of Richard and Sarah (Maxwell) Kellough. His father and grandfather were born in Lancaster county, Penn. Their ancestors came from Scotland in 1648. Charles H. Killough came to Illinois with his parents in 1837, and settled near Brooklyn, in Schuyler county, where he grew to manhood. In April, 1855, he came to Greenbush township and settled on section 28. He cast his first vote in the fall of 1856, for John C. Fremont for president; was a voter in Greenbush township for forty years, and during all these years he continued to vote the republican ticket and never wavered from the principles of his party. He was married December 25, 1855, to Margaret Holcomb, of near Plymouth, Hancock county, Illinois. She was a
daughter of Hosea and Susan (Gilman) Holcomb.
To them were born the following-named children:
Martha, born April 25, 1857; married John M. Conley, December 6, 1877. She died April 12, 1889.
Sarah, born August 15, 1859, married George E. Young, March 30, 1880.
Lura, born March 8, 1863; married T. H. Eastman, January 22, 1889.
Mary, born February 11, 1866; married Joseph L. Stice, January 26, 1899.
Anna, born October 21, 1868; married Nathan M. Wetzel, January 10, 1889.
Minnie, born April 7, 1873; married Harvey D. Ludden, March 8, 1898.
These girls all grew to womanhood in the old home where they were born, and some of them were married there. In religion Mr. Killough is a Presbyterian, having been a member of that church for more than fifty years; and for more than twenty-five years has been a ruling elder of his church. Soon after coming to Greenbush, he transferred his membership to the Prairie City church, where it has since remained. His wife is also a member of the same church.
JOHN PHILIP KRAMER.
`John P. Kramer was born in Hadem, Westphalia, Germany, December 20, 1824. After going to the public school and being confirmed in the Lutheran church, he learned the tailor trade and worked at that occupation in different towns near the Rhine river. In 1855 he started for America in company with his friend, Louis Hollenberg. They took a sail-ship from Bremen, and after a perilous journey of eight weeks, in which time all the passengers suffered from lack of a sufficient supply of food and drink, they arrived in New York city.
The railroad did not extend beyond Galesburg at that time, and they came on here; and while in Galesburg they luckily came across Amos Seigler who took them with his wagon-load of merchandise on to Greenbush. They soon found Mr. Hollenberg’s two brothers, Henry and George, who had come to this country a few years previous. Mr. Kramer first found work at his trade in Monmouth, where he staid about a year, and then he went back to Greenbush, where he kept a tailor-shop until 1866. He was married November 1, 1858, to Helena Meusborn, whom he had known in Germany. She was born in Vorm Wald, Westphalia, Germany, February 13, 1839; and came to America in 1858, in company with some friends. In 1878, in company with her oldest daughter and others, she visited her old German home. In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Kramer moved out onto their farm, two and one-half miles southeast of the village of Greenbush, where by thrift and industry they built up a comfortable home for themselves and children. In politics Mr. Kramer
was a republican. He was an earnest, quiet man, fond of his German books and papers. He died April 13, 1902.
The following-named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kramer:
Louise Katrina, who married Rev. Karl Lotz, April 23, 1879. He was then pastor of the German Lutheran church at Galesburg, Illinois. Since then they have lived mostly in Kansas and Missouri. They have one son (adopted) - Albert.
Emma, who married Rev. Karl Luecke, pastor of the German Lutheran church of Stover, Missouri, April 23, 1890. She died March 2, 1892. She was a woman of rare goodness and kindness of heart. She left a daughter, Bertha.
Frederick William, who married Lena Doll, of Bushnell, Illinois, and who has always lived in Greenbush township. They have three children - Dollie, Esther, and Edith.
Bertha Marie, who married Ferdinand Schoenheider, of Peoria, Illinois, May 24, 1893. They have three children - Arnold, Arthur, and Gertrude.
Wilhelmina Amelia, who married John R. Ames, formerly of Nashville, Tennessee, July 27, 1897. He died the following November, leaving one son, Eugene.
Alvena, who married Olof Olson, of Greenbush township, March 9, 1903. They live on the old home place.
Clara Helena, who is living with her mother who moved to Peoria, Illinois, in March, 1903.
Jacob, brother of John Kramer, was born August 6, 1815. He came to this country, in 1858, and made his home with his brother. He was never married. He took two trips to Germany and, in 1896, he decided to go again to pass the remainder of his life there. He died in Germany, January 16, 1905, after an illness of a few hours, in the very house in which he was born. He was quite active and strong to the last and his enjoyment was found in walking from his home to visit friends and relatives in the villages near by.
JULIUS T. LATHROP.
J. T. Lathrop was born in Livingston county, New York, December 7, 1818. He was a son of Colby and Polly (Terry) Lathrop, natives respectively of New York and New Hampshire. Colby, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1823, where he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred March 12, 1857. Later, his wife went to Michigan, where she died in 1874. Julius assisted his father on the farm, attended district school, and remained under the influence of his parents until he was twenty-five years old. In 1846, after leaving home, he was engaged for a short time as carpenter in a shipyard in Ohio. This same year he emigrated to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, where he was engaged as carpenter and wagon-maker about two years. A portion of this time he worked at wagon-making in the shop with James Fife. Mr. Fife was a Mormon and left Greenbush about this time or shortly afterwards. Mr. Lathrop went to Berwick, where he worked at
his trade during one winter. In 1851, he removed to his farm in Roseville township, where he remained until 1871, when he built a house in Roseville. Illinois, and moved into it, where he now resides. He was married to Miss Almira Light, February 22, 1843. She was born in Pomport, Chautauqua county, New York, March 25, 1818. She died October 19, 1874.
To them were born the following-named children:
Amos Edwin, born January 24, 1847; died August 12, 1847.
Sarah Maria, born October 10, 1849; married Jesse Shepard, February 8, 1866.
Julius Edgar, born March 31, 1853; died September 1, 1853.
Edwin Walto, born July 22, 1856; died October 17, 1856.
Mr. Lathrop ‘s second marriage was to Mrs. Vurlinder T. Byarly. She was born near Seymour, in Jackson county, Indiana, August 9, 1837, and was a daughter of Joseph and Susana (Turnbull) Crane, both of whom died in Indiana, in 1844. Mrs. Lathrop is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. In religion, Julius T. Lathrop is a member of the Christian church, and has been since his boyhood days. In polities, he was a Whig up to 1856; since then a republican.
CLINTON LINCOLN.
Clinton Lincoln was born in Cortland county, New York, September 24, 1824. He was a son of William and Ruth (Saxton) Lincoln. William Lincoln was a native of New York; Ruth Saxton, his wife, was born in Virginia. Clinton Lincoln spent the first twenty-four years of his life in the state of New York. He then came to Lafayette, Stark county, Illinois. In the fall of 1853, he came to Greenbush, Illinois, and commenced work as carpenter with his brother Levi, who was then engaged in building the Greenbush Academy. Mr. Lincoln was married July 22, 1854, to Helen Eliza Stoaks. She was born in Ohio; and died at
Avon, Illinois, January 29, 1897. To them were born the following-named children:
Dewitte, born July 1, 1855; married Ida Meachum.
Bion, born February 10, 1857; married Julia Simmons, January 2, 1880.
Evie, born February 1, 1859; died July 22, 1860.
Devillo, born January 22, 1861; died July 28, 1863.
Artie, born August 2, 1864 ;married Dolly Woods, August 26, 1885.
Ada, born August 7, 1869; died October 9, 1890.
Clinton Lincoln was by occupation a shoemaker for five years, in the state of New York; afterwards a carpenter and farmer. After spending a few years in Greenbush, he moved to his farm north of Greenbush in Berwick (note here from Foxie Greenbush was never in Berwick Township it's always been located in Greenbush Township somebody goofed here.) township; and in 1890, he moved to Avon, Illinois, where he spent his last years. He was with his sons Bion and Artie the last few weeks of his life, and died at the residence of his son Artie, in Berwick township, Warren county, Illinois, August 9, 1905. He was a member of the Universalist church. In politics he was a republican.
LEVI LINCOLN.
Levi Lincoln was born in Virgil, Cortland county, New York, November 4, 1825. In 1851, he left his native state and went to Iowa, where he remained for one year. In 1852, he came to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, where he worked at the carpenter trade for five years. He was united in marriage with Susan Alabama Nance, December 3, 1857. She was born April 3, 1839, and was a daughter of John W. and Nancy (Simmons) Nance. For two years after their marriage they resided near Roseville, Illinois. In the spring of 1859, they removed to their farm in Berwick township, where they resided until 1885. The next eight years were spent in the suburbs of Avon, Illinois. In 1893, Mr. Lincoln purchased a home on Main street in Avon, where he resided until his death, which occurred March 30, 1901.
To Levi Lincoln and wife were born the following-named children:
Dora E., born January 31, 1859; married J. E. Byram, October 13, 1881.
Alva, born February 25, 1861; died April 27, 1861.
Edwin, born July 19, 1862; married Nannie A. Fulton, January 1, 1885.
Nela, born February 25, 1865; married L. Grace Johnson, September 26, 1889.
Orpha, born May 24, 1868; died February 16, 1869.
Myrtle, born December 22, 1869.
Emma, born May 23, 1872.
Mr. Lincoln was a man of correct habits. As a carpenter, he was a good workman; as a farmer, he kept everything in order. He was supervisor from Greenbush in 1855, and was assessor in Berwick. In religion, he was a member of the Universalistic church.
DAVID SHINGLER LINK.
David S. Link was born in Augusta county, Virginia, June 5, 1832. He was a son of John and Susan (Shingler) Link. His boyhood days were spent on a farm. After arriving at manhood he engaged in teaming from Stanton to Winchester, Va. He was married July 4, 1852, to Elizabeth Ann Quick. She was a daughter of Tumis and Jane (Adams) Quick. In September, 1853, Mr. Link and wife removed from Virginia to Delaware county, Ohio; and in September, 1864, they moved to Fulton county, Illinois. In 1867, they removed to Greenbush township, Warren county, Illinois, where they purchased sixty-five acres of land of Thomas Cunningham on section 16; and resided there until 1887. when they moved to Avon, Illinois, where his wife Elizabeth died August 24, 1894.
To Mr. and Mrs. Link were born the following-named children:
Susan Jane, born March 25, 1855; married Arthur Lee Wingate, December 25, 1873.
Sarah Catherine, born February 10, 1857; married Alvin Hewett, July 4, 1878.
Elizabeth Margaret, born February 14, 1859; married James Coons, December 14. 1877.
William Daniel, born November 27, 1860; married Carrie L. Weaver. November 8, 1883. He died February 26, 1896.
Mary Emma, born March 11, 1862; died August 26, 1874.
Eliza Ann, born March 18, 1864; married David B. Simmons, January 1, 1882.
Jennetta Virginia, born January 21, 1867; married Frank Hathaway, March 13, 1890.
David Delbert, born February 26, 1869; married Mary L. Simmons, July 1, 1890.
Ora Addie, born February 21, 1871; married Charles W. Johnson, February 26, 1889.
Zenanna Anis, born April 4, 1873; died May 7, 1874.
John Henry, born July 3, 1875; died July 21, 1876.
Mr. Link’s second marriage was to Alvernia A. Mason, May 4, 1896. She was born in Frederick county, Va., February 25, 1854. David S. Link by occupation has been a farmer. In politics he is a democrat. In religion he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. His first wife was a consistent member of this church for many years before her death. His present wife is also a member of the same church. They now reside at Avon, Illinois.
WILLIAM MCMAHILL.
William McMahill was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, December 23, 1806. He was a son of John and Susan (Burnet) McMahill. He was married in Kentucky, in 1827, to Mary Snapp. He was born February 22, 1806, and was a daughter of George and Sarah (McIntyre) Snapp. William McMahill and wife came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830, where they resided until 1835, when they came to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois.
To them the following-named children were born:
George, born March 8, 1829; married Frances Barnum, about the year 1854. He resides at Riverside, California.
Susan B., born March 26, 1831; married Leonard Hall, March 25, 1852. He died July 28, 1896.
Sarah, born May 16, 1833; married William J. Hamilton.
Nancy Jane, born April 6, 1835; married Andrew J. Sisson.
Elizabeth, born June 2, 1837. She fell into a kettle of hot lard and was so badly burned that she died the next morning. This occurred in March, 1839. Her grave was the first one in the McMahill graveyard.
John, born in 1839; married Emily Hogue, at Yates City, Illinois.
Ann M., born in 1842; married Allen S. Phillips, January 26, 1868.
America, born in 1844; married Jacob M. Kepple. She died March 13, 1877.
William H., married Ann Morris.
Pinckney, married Mary Ewings. Her maiden name was Mary Hanks.
Mary E., died with scarlet fever when she was only four or five years old.
Lucinda, died in infancy.
William McMahill, the subject of this sketch, was by occupation a farmer and stock raiser. In politics he was a republican. In religion he was early connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and was for many years a local preacher in that denomination. His wife was also a member of the same church. Many religious meetings were held at their house in the early days. Mary, wife of William McMahill. died August 31, 1877. He died June 6, 1881.
FREDERIC HENRY MERRILL.
Frederic H. Merrill was born in Amherst, Mass., July 25, 1819. He was a son of Horace and Deborah (Paine) Merrill. His boyhood days were spent mostly in his home town, where he received superior educational advantages. In early manhood he removed with his parents to Orwell, Vermont, and was for some years employed in a large mercantile house at what was then known as Chipman’s Point, on the shore of Lake Champlain. He parents having, in 1836, moved to Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio, he about one year later followed them there, where for a time he engaged in business for himself. About 1840, he came to Illinois. For several years he was a prominent and successful teacher in the district schools of Warren and Henderson counties. On October 7, 1847, he was married at Denny, Warren county, Illinois, to Lucretia Paine, daughter of Charles Henry and Parthenia (Mason) Paine. She was born at Freedom, Portage county, Ohio, August 27, 1825. About 1849 or ‘50, he
came with his wife and one child, Mary Emily (now Mrs. George Albro Johnston), to Greenbush, Illinois, and associated himself with Alfred Osborn under the firm name of Osborn & Merrill. They for years did a large general merchandise business, and were widely known. Their store was noted for fair-dealing, and the word of Frederic H. Merrill was always as good as his bond. He was interested in everything calculated to better the condition of his home town and the welfare of his fellow-citizens. In his religious affiliations he was a Congregationalist, but his views were broad and charitable.
There were born to them eleven children, namely:
Mary Emily, born July 4, 1848; married George Albro Johnston, April 26. 1868.
Charles Henry, born January 11, 1850.
Effie Maria, born November 19, 1853.
Frederic Horace, born April 20, 1860; married Mary Alice Belding, June 2, 1892. He is now engaged in the grocery and hardware trade at Avon, Illinois.
Giles Edward, born December 13, 1862; married Catherine M. Snyder, May 28, 1885. He is extensively engaged in the poultry and egg business at Avon, Illinois, and is a member of the firm of Merrill Brothers, doing a general merchandise business at Greenbush, Illinois.
Frank, born October 6, 1867; married Pearl Meachum, December 14, 1893. He, in company with his brother, Giles E., is engaged in the mercantile business at Greenbush, Illinois.
Arthur, born November 20, 1869; married Elizabeth Bliss, July 18, 1894. After receiving a divorce from her, he married Catherine Robey, October 12, 1898. She was a daughter of T. A. and Emma (Baldwin) Robey. He was appointed postmaster at Avon, Illinois, July 15, 1897, which office he still holds. He is a strong advocate of the rural route system, having obtained three routes as early as November 1, 1900.
Cora Eliza, born April 17, 1865; died May 10, 1879.
Three children died in infancy.
Mr. Merrill and his family removed to Avon, Illinois, in the fall of 1863, where he continued in the same line of business. He was for several years postmaster at Avon; also school director. In his political belief he was a republican. After years of a busy life he transferred his store interest to his two sons, Giles E. and Fredric H. Merrill. He died in Avon, Illinois, August 14, 1892. His wife followed him to the better world April 28, 1897. Both have left behind them names that will ever be honored and cherished by all who knew them.
BETHUEL MERRIS.
Bethuel Merris was born in the state of Ohio, July 9, 1826. He was a son of John B. and Eliza Merris, both natives of Ohio. He came to Scott county, Illinois, about, the year 1845. He was married at Naples, Illinois, to Mary Crawford, July 5, 1846. She was born in Ohio, August 7, 1825. They moved to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, in the fall of 1852, where they resided up to the time of their death.
To them were born the following-named children:
Meribah, born February 6, 1848; married Robert Barbour, February 16, 1861.
John B., born October 23, 1849.
Almira, born March 21, 1852; married James Garland Ray, December 3, 1871.
Eliza Ellen, born January 29, 1855; married Joshua Coates Ray, April 2, 1874.
Flora A., born January 5, 1859.
Melissa, born February 2, 1867.
Mr. Merris was by occupation a farmer. In politics he was a democrat. In religion he and his wife were members of the Christian church. He died March 7, 1891; his wife died December 24, 1898.
CHARLES CHAUNCY MERRILL.
Charles C. Merrill was born in Orwell, Vermont, September 10, 1833. He was a son of Horace and Deborah (Paine) Merrill. His boyhood days were mostly spent in Chardon, Ohio, to which place his parents had removed in 1836. In the fall of 1853, he came to Greenbush, Illinois, where his brother Frederic H. Merrill resided. During most of the year of 1854, he was employed in the dry goods and general store of McKinney & Co., at Oquawka, Illinois.
August 27, 1855, at North Bloomfield, Ohio, he was married to Cornelia Converse Osborn, daughter of Leonard and Amanda (Smith) Osborn. The same year he became a partner in the firm of Osborn & Merrill at Greenbush, Illinois, changing the firm name to Merrill, Osborn & Merrill. In 1860, having withdrawn from the business, he removed to Galesburg, Illinois, where he still resides. For more than 35 years he was a clothing merchant in Galesburg. In religious belief he is a Methodist; politically, a republican. They had no children. Cornelia, wife of C. C. Merrill, died October 28, 1904. She was a working member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was noted for her Christian character.
THOMAS MOULTON.
Thomas Moulton was born November 14, 1800. He came from Indiana to Greenbush, Illinois, in 1838, and settled on section 16, where he lived and died. He was a farmer by occupation. He filled the office of justice of the peace for many years, and was also a local preacher in the Christian church. His wife, whose maiden name was Margery Howe, was born November 14, 1801, and was also a member of the Christian church.
To Thomas Moulton and wife were born the following-named children:
John, born September 25, 1825; married Elizabeth Sargent. He died. December 22, 1851. She afterwards married John Worden.
Andrew J., born September 30, 1834; married Mary Jane Cunningham. They moved to Kansas and from there to California, where he died.
David, born March 18, 1836; died September 5, 1858.
Thomas B., born May 24, 1843; married Eliza Davis. She died May 31, 1901.
Mary Jane, born September 18, 1823; married Walter Bond. After his death, she married Benjamin C. Carter. She died April 26, 1893. B. C. Carter died December 18, 1897, at the age of 75 years.
Lucinda, born July 23, 1831; married James H. Simmons. She died April 17, 1874.
Sarah, born September 18, 1829; married Alfred W. Simmons. She died May 18, 1902.
Elizabeth, born February 24, 1827; married Thomas Cunningham.
Susan, born September 6, 1837; married William Bryant Reed. She died September 4, 1858.
Thomas Moulton died January 24, 1868. Margery, his wife, died July 1, 1887.
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