ThomasI. McDannold

 
THOMAS I. McDANNOLD, anextensive farmer of Pea Ridge township, was born in Bath county, Kentucky,July 5, 1826. His father, John, was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky,in 1797, and his father, Reuben, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia,in 1750; and his father, Alexander, was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, comingto America in colonial times, and settled in Culpeper county, Virginia,where he spent the rest of his days. Reuben emigrated to Kentucky at anearly day, secured a large tract of land, which he improved with slavelabor, and resided there until 1834, then sold out and emigrated to Pikecounty, Missouri, settled near Clarksville, bought a farm and resided thereuntil his death in 1854. John learned the trade of tanner and conductedthe business in Owensville, Kentucky, and in connection with it engagedin the mercantile business. He resided there until his death in 1834. Hewas a Whig in politics, and served several years as Sheriff of the county.In 1834 the mother of our subject emigrated to Illinois, making the journeyin a two horse wagon. She located at Springfield, where two brothers lived.Her father gave her some land, a part of which is now included in the landin Springfield and the rest at Buffalo Heart Grove. She married a secondtime, and lived near Springfield for a season, and then moved to Jacksonvilleand spent her last days there.

Thomas was in his eighthyear when they came to Illinois, and remembers many of the incidents ofthe journey. At that time Vandalia was the capital of the State, and Springfieldwas only a village of 2,000 inhabitants, There was no railroad in Illinois,and St. Louis and Beardstown were the nearest markets for supplies. Hewent to school at Springfield, and resided there until 1844, and then wentto his grandfather’s in Pike county, Missouri. He remained with his grandfatherone year, and in 1845 came to Mount Sterling, and in the next year, incompany with his brother-in-law, General Singleton, purchased a tract ofland in Missouri township, which he occupied two years, and in 1848 purchasedthe place where he now resides. He is well known as a practical and successfulfarmer, and has purchased land at different times, and now owns some 400acres. His improvements rank with the best in the county.

He was married in March,1849, to Mary Elizabeth Means, born in Lewis county, Kentucky, January1, 1828. Her father, Major John Means, was born in the same county, andhis father, John Means, born in Pennsylvania, went from there to Kentuckywith his family and was one of the pioneers of Lewis county. The removalwas made with pack-horses. He secured a tract of land on which he engagedin farming, and on which he remained until his death. His wife’s name wasElizabeth Elton, born near Philadelphia, and she died in Lewis county,at the age of ninety-six. The father of Mrs. McDannold learned the tradeof a blacksmith, which he followed in Lewis county until 1835, and thenwith his wife and three children came to Illinois. He settled in that partof Schuyler county now included in Mount Sterling, and bought a tract ofland one mile east of the city, and remained there until his death in 1863.The name of his wife was Martha Parker, born in Culpeper, Virginia, anddied in Mount Sterling in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. McDannold have four livingchildren: John J., Thomas R., George R. and Clara L. They are members ofthe Presbyterian Church. Mr. McDannold was formerly a Whig, but has beena stanch Republican ever since the formation of the party. For seventeenyears he has been director on the County Agricultural Board, and for sixyears has been its vice-president.

Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 246-247.

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