Biographies

 CaptainSylvester D. Nokes  CAPTAIN SYLVESTER D. NOKESwas born in Franklin county, New York, February 11, 1835. His father wasJohn Nokes, born March 20, 1809, and his grandfather was Jacob Nokes, ofNew England. He was a farmer who died at an advanced age in Brown county,Illinois, and his wife’s name was Mary —, who bore him seven children.She died in Brown county about ten years after her husband, aged eightyyears. John Nokes came West from New York in 1842, and settled in Browncounty on 160 acres of new land, it being part of his present farm. Hebrought his wife and six … Read more

   EzraJackson EZRA JACKSON is a Hoosier by birth,born in Scott county, February 26, 1823. His father, Samuel Jackson, wasa native of North Carolina, and his grandfather, Solomon Jackson, was probablya native of the same State. The grandfather was a powerful man and livedto the great age of ninety-eight years. He enlisted three different timesin the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war, the first two enlistmentsbeing as substitute. He served during nearly the entire war, and was veryyoung when he first enlisted. He was a shoemaker by occupation, but alsotaught school, and remained in North Carolina until the formation of … Read more

     DuncanTaylor   DUNCAN TAYLOR, a well-known citizenof Rushville township, is a citizen of the Republic by adoption, his nativeland being Scotland; he was born in Perthshire, in March, 1819, a son ofCollin and Mary (Watt) Taylor, natives of the same shire. The parents spenttheir lives in their own country; they reared a family of eight children,named as follows: Jane, Thomas and John, twins, James, Margaret, Duncan,the subject of this biographical sketch, Ann and Catherine. Duncan Taylorand his brother James were the only members of the family who emigratedto America; James entered the service in the Florida war, and … Read more

    DavidW. Orr    DAVID W. ORR was born inSumner county, Tennessee, March 17, 1826. His father was Greenberry Orr,widely known as “Berry Orr”, who came to Illinoisin the fall of 1828. Hestopped two years in Morgan county, and then moved to Mount Sterling township,near the village, which was then in Schuyler county. He made some improvementson 160 acres of Government land, which he sold, and one year later movedto what is now section 34, Pea Ridge township. They had twelve children,born in Tennessee, and left two behind and buried one on the way. Theirjourney was made in one … Read more

  Descendantsof Joel & Permelia DeCamp Contributed by C.H. [email protected] Joel DECAMP was born in 1797in Pennsylvania.  He died on 9 Jul 1848 in Illinois.  He wasburied in Vance Cemetery, Industry Township, McDonough County, Illinois. Joel DECAMP was married to Mrs. Joel (Permelia A.) DECAMP about 1820 inPennsylvania.  Mrs. Joel (Permelia A.) DECAMP died about 1828 in Ohio. Joel DECAMP and Mrs. Joel (Permelia A.) DECAMP had the following children:  1.1. Garvin S. DECAMPwas born on 24 May 1821.  He died on 21 Aug 1907.  Garvin S.DECAMP was married to Mary Ann STEPHENS on 20 Nov 1845 in McDonough County,Illinois.  Mary Ann … Read more

   Dr. GeorgeW. Crum   DR. GEORGE W. CRUM, farmer and physician,town 17, range 11, section 35, post office Arenzville, was born on thehomestead adjoining. (See sketch of James Crum.) Dr. Crum began his educationin the district schools. From there he went to the Illinois College atJacksonville for one year, and then attended two years at the State NormalSchool at Normal, Illinois. He then attended three years the Illinois WesleyanCollege, receiving the degrees of B. A. and M. A. from that popular institution.From there he went to Adrian, Michigan, to complete his scientific course.He received the degree of B. S. … Read more

   Dr. RichardHomer Mead  DR. RICHARD HOMER MEAD is a native of Schuylercounty, born in Huntsville, January 16, 1847, being a son of Andrew J.and Mary (Briscoe) Mead. He was educated in Huntsville. When be was sixteenyears old he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, at Camp Roberts,Davenport, Iowa. From there they went to Nashville, Tennessee, and wereon duty in the mountains during the winter of 1863-’64. In the spring theywere on the left wing of General McCook’s cavalry, with Sherman’s armyon his advance on Atlanta, participating in the engagements of that campaign,besides other engagements. There was fighting every … Read more

     EnochEdmonston    ENOCH EDMONSTON, amember of the county Board of Supervisors, representing Bainbridge township,is one of the prominent citizens of Schuyler county, and is entitled torecognition in its annals. He was born in Carroll county, Missouri, March2, 1856, a son of Enoch Edmonston, Sr.; the father was born in Buncombecounty, North Carolina, July 20, 1801, a son of Baziel Edmonston, who removedfrom Maryland, his native State, to North Carolina, and thence to the Territoryof Indiana, in 1808; he was a pioneer of Dubois county, and there spentthe last years of his life. He was married to Hannah Rose, … Read more

   EdwardF. Hackman  EDWARD F. HACKMAN, a farmer of section 26,township 17, range 12, was born at his father’s home, in this county, November28, 1857. He is the second son and fifth child. His parents were John Frederickand Inglehert (Meyer) Hackman, natives of Hanover, Germany, coining ofpure German ancestry. They came to America in 1835, with their respectivefamilies. They grew up, were married in Cass county, and soon afterwardsettled on a farm in Indian Creek precinct, and later, they came to Arenzvilleprecinct, where they purchased their present home. They bought from timeto time, and made improvements, and now have a … Read more

     E.H. Owen Seeley    E. H. OWEN SEELEYis one of the oldest settlers of Schuyler county and resides in Rushville. He was born at Thetford, Orange county, Vermont, December 15, 1811. Hisfather, Luke Seeley, was born in the same town October 15, 1792. The grandfather,Sheldon Seeley, was a native of New England and it is supposed was bornin Vermont, at least he was one of the pioneers of Thetford where he followedagricultural pursuits. At a very early day he went to Ohio, prospecting,but was taken sick while there and died near Sandusky. His wife was DeborahBowker, a native of … Read more