Biographies M
| W. H. Montgomery | Michael Mount |
| Angus Moor | Billings Moulton |
| Isaac Morgan | Thomas Murdoch |
| Jacob Morgan | Henry Murphy |
| John Mosser | more to come... |
As he was the eldest boy in a large family, where the income was
limited, W. H. Montgomery’s schooling was confined to a few terms in the districts of
Knox and Persifer townships, his text-books laid aside in order that he might assist in
the support of the other children. Agricultural pursuits have always engaged his
attention, and soon after his marriage he settled in Bureau County, Illinois, but later
removed to Persifer township, where he has now resided for many years. He purchased
the farm he now owns from his brother David L. Montgomery. He has made extensive
improvements in the place during the period of his ownership, having erected all of the
buildings now standing, in addition to which he has effected many minor changes. His
fields have always been devoted to the raising of such cereals as were best adapted to the
soil and climate in connection with which he also raises stock.
For his wife Mr. Montgomery chose Miss DORA E. DAWSON, who was
born in this township and is the daughter of James and Margaret Dawson, both of whom are
now deceased. Of this marriage there have been born two children: Stella May, who
died at the age of three months; and James Isaac, who was nine years at the time of his
death.
In all national elections Mr. Montgomery votes the straight
Democratic ticket but locally he gives his support to the man he deems best qualified to
meet the requirements of the office, regardless of party affiliation. He has always
taken an active and helpful interest in governmental affairs in his township, and is now
serving his second term as supervisor, having been elected on the people’s
ticket. He has also served for four years as justice of the peace, was the township
assessor for two terms, road commissioner for one and served on the school board, the
cause of education ever having found in him an ardent supporter. (History of Knox
County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, page 440, submitted by Janine Crandell)
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Michael Mount. Michael Mount, who is the oldest
conductor in point of years of continuous
service now running out of Galesburg, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad, was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, in the vicinity of Knoxville,
on January 22, 1841. He is a son of William T. and Alzaria (Gates) Mount,
the father a native of Virginia, his birth occurring in 1799, and the mother born and reared in Jefferson county, Tennessee, where they were married. In his
early youth William T. Mount left his native state and went to Tennessee,
settling in Jefferson county, where he engaged in farming until his death in
1857. The mother survived him for many years, her death occurring in the
county where she had passed her entire life in 1896. They were both members
of the Baptist church, and his political support the father accorded to the whig
party. He was a public-spirited man and took much interest in local politics,
always assuming his share of the governmental responsibilities and for some
years served as justice of the peace. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mount, all
of whom are now deceased with the exception of three, numbered nine, as follows : Margaret, the widow of Joseph Bailey, of Jefferson county, Tennessee;
John, who is deceased; Humphrey, a soldier in the Confederate army who
died at Vicksburg in 1863; Martha and Nancy, both of whom are deceased; Michael,
our subject; Mattie, the widow of Joseph Miles, of Knoxville, Tennessee ; and William and James, who are deceased.
Having been reared on his father's farm, in the acquirement of his education Michael Mount first attended the district schools of the vicinity and later
the college at New Market, Tennessee. He remained at home assisting his father
and brothers in the cultivation of the fields until t86i. In the latter year he
enlisted as a private in the Confederate army, going to the front as a member
of Company A, First Tennessee Light Artillery. He participated in some of
the most sharply contested battles of the war, being present at Shiloh, Corinth,
Columbus and the siege of Vicksburg, and was mustered out in 1863 with the rank
of corporal. After the close of his period of enlistment he returned home,
remaining there until December, 1863, when he came to Illinois, locating at
Quincy. Soon thereafter he obtained employment on a farm in that vicinity,
where he worked until the 1st of August, 1864, when he came to Galesburg,
and entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company
as brakeman on a freight train. In 1869 he was promoted to the position of
conductor, and on the ist of March, 1884, was assigned passenger duty. During
the first four years of his connection in this capacity, he was on the Galesburg and Peoria division, and the succeeding two years he ran from here to
Chicago. He was next transferred to the Galesburg and Quincy division,
where he was retained for ten years and at the end of that time he was detailed
on the Peoria line, his present run.
Fowler, Illinois, was the scene of the marriage of Mr. Mount and Miss
Annie Virginia Mitchell, the event being celebrated on the 28th of April, 1868.
Mrs. Mount was born at Fowler, on the 21st of December, 1851, and is a
daughter of Wylie J. and Nancy (Ballard) Mitchell. The father was born at
Wheeling, West Virginia, on the 13th of January, 1805, and the mother at
Lynchburg, Virginia, on January 28, 1814. Wylie J. Mitchell came to Iowa
during the pioneer days, locating at Burlington when it contained but fourteen
houses. There for many years he conducted a hotel and among his guests were
the first governor and the Indian chief, Black Hawk. Later he removed to
Missouri, but subsequently located on a farm in the vicinity of Fowler, and
there he passed away on October 3, 1870. He was survived for more than
thirty years by his widow, whose death occurred on May i, 1902. In politics
he was a republican, but he never held any office save that of school director.
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell had seven children, the youngest of whom is Mrs. Mount.
The others are as follows: Thomas B., who is deceased; Mary Margaret and Sarah Jane, twins, who are also deceased; James W., who died on
the 28th of March, 1904; Susan E., who is deceased; and Nancy, the wife of
John Watson, of Aberdeen, Washington. The parents were both members of
the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years the father was one of the
official stewards. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mount. Charles
H., who is an engineer on the "Q"' running out of Galesburg, is married and
has one daughter, Annie Adelia. Alzaria Virginia married E. J. Ross of Chicago, and they have one daughter, Virginia Helen. Rolla, who is also a resident
of Chicago, is married and has three daughters: Alzaria Catherine, Ruth
Roberta and Mary Ann. James, who is the youngest, has passed away.
Fraternally Mr. Mount is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic order, being
a member of the blue lodge and the commandery of Galesburg. In his political
views he is independent giving his support to such men and measures as he
deems best adapted to serve the highest interests of the municipality. Having
been a resident of Galesburg for over forty-seven years, Mr. Mount is widely
known in the community, where he has many friends, who accord him the
respect his many fine qualities justly merit. (History of Knox
County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 399-401, submitted by Janine Crandell)
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Jacob E. Morgan
is a well known farmer of Lynn Township, having spent his entire
life in this locality, his birth having occurred on the old Morgan homestead, 2
August 1867. He traces his ancestry back to Edward Morgan, who married Margaret Rittenhouse, and their son Morgan. Morgan married Ann Roberts, a daughter of
John Roberts, who fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war.
Benjamin Morgan, a son of the latter couple and the grandfather of our subject,
married Tacy Stroud in 1800. Among their children was John Rittenhouse Morgan,
the father of our subject, who was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 5
April 1809. He passed through the experiences of pioneer life in Ohio, and later
in Indiana, from which state he came to Illinois. He first married Rachel
Bicknell and after her death, Susan Bicknell, who was born at Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvania, in 1826. Her father, George Bicknell, who was a mechanic by trade,
settled in Indiana at an early day and in 1851 brought his family to Knox
county, Illinois, entering land in Lynn township. After his wife's death he took
up his abode in La Fayette, this state, where he passed away in 1866, at the age
of sixty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Moore, died in
1851, at the age of fifty-seven years. In this family were six children: Rachel
and Sarah, both deceased; Mary, who is living with a daughter at the age of
eighty-eight years; George and Jacob, both deceased; and Robert P., a resident
of Alliance, Nebraska. After losing his first wife, Mr. Bicknell married
Catherine Hagar, who was the widow of Peter Hagar. The Bicknell family, of which
Mrs. John R. Morgan, was a representative, was an old one of Pennsylvania, prior
to the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather, Charles Bicknell, ran a stage from
Philadelphia to Baltimore and on his way home contracted yellow fever, which
caused his death when he was thirty-two years of age. His son, the father of
Mrs. Morgan, became a soldier of the war of 1812 at the age of seventeen years.
He was reared by his foster father, who had been drafted and he took his place
in the army, serving until honorably discharged. For his services he received a
land patent, which he located in Walnut Grove township, Knox county. His
daughter Mrs. John R. Morgan had but little opportunity to secure an education.
She was twelve years of age when her parents removed from Pennsylvania to
Indiana and in 1847 she became the wife of John R. Morgan. They became pioneer
residents of Brunertown, Indiana, where the grandfather took up land and built a
cabin, living there two years before he made the journey by team and wagon to
Illinois, traveling by way of Peoria to Centerville. Subsequently they lived in
Knox county, settling on what has been known as the Morgan homestead. They first
lived in a deserted cabin until the present residence was built in 1862. There
they made their home until the father was called to his final rest. The mother
is now living with her daughter and is one of the honored pioneer women of this
part of the state. When she became a resident of Knox county, her neighbors were
the Swedish colony at Bishop Hill and there was also a family by the name of
Fraker at Fraker's Grove. Joseph Simeon and Jonathan Gibbs and the Collinson
family likewise lived in the northern part of the county. Peoria was the nearest
market. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John R. Morgan were born eight children, of whom six
are now living. George B., a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, married Alice
Robinson and has eight children. Lydia Jane is the wife of George Spidle, of
Schuyler, Nebraska, and they have three children. Mary Ellen is the wife of
Thomas C. Heaton, living on the old homestead, and they have four children.
Charles E., of Columbus, Nebraska, married Lida Munsie and has six children.
Morris J., living at Ainsworth, Nebraska, wedded Mary Wagner and has ten
children. Jacob E. is the youngest of the family.
The last named pursued his education in the public schools to the age of
fourteen years and during the remaining seven years of his minority worked with
his father on the home farm. He afterward engaged in cultivating the home place
on his own account for four years and on the expiration of that period came to
his present farm in Lynn township, where he has carried on general agricultural
pursuits and stock-raising. He has a well developed property, the fields
responding readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them, and in his
barns and pastures are found good grades of stock. He is likewise interested in
the Farmers Elevator of Galva and in the Cooperative Bank of that place, and is
an enterprising, progressive business man whose judgment is sound and whose
labors are resultant.
Jacob E. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Collinson, who was born
in Walnut Grove township, 16 January 1872, and is a daughter of Thomas W. and
Sarah F. (Brooks) Collinson. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan became parents of two children:
Eugene, born 1 September 1890; and Ethel, born 13 April 1892.
The family are well known and have an extensive circle of friends, in this part
of the county. The parents are members of the Baptist church of Galva and Mr.
Morgan belongs also to the Modern Woodmen Camp of that place. In politics he is
a republican, active in support of the party. He was elected a member of the
board of trustees of Lynn township and served for three terms and his connection
with the school board covers altogether nine years. He stands for progress and
advancement at all times, whether in business or in public affairs, and he has a
wide and favorable acquaintance in this county where his entire life has been
passed.
ANGUS MOOR. Angus Moor, who is now
living retired on his farm on section 36, Rio township, was for many years
successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising in this county. His
birth occurred at Anson, Somerset county, Maine, on the 8th of February, 1835,
his parents being Eber S. and Lydia T. (Daggett) Moor. The parents were also
natives of Maine, the father's birth occurring on the 15th of October, 1807, and
that of the mother on January 8, 1805. The paternal ancestors came from
Massachusetts, the great-grandfather, John Moor, was a veteran of the
Revolutionary war, having participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, but the
mother was of English extraction. Mr. and Airs. Moor were married in Maine, in
November, 1830, and there they passed the early years of their domestic life. In
1844 they came west, Illinois at that time being considered the frontier, and in
April of the following year they located on the farm, where our subject is now
living. Mr. Moor devoted his energies to the further improvement and cultivation
of this property and also raised and fed stock for the market during the
remainder of his active life. He passed away on the homestead on the 4th of
March, 1879, having attained the age of seventy-one years. Although he was not a
professed Christian, nor affiliated with any church, he lived in the Christian
spirit and exemplified many most estimable qualities of character. Of a kindly,
generous nature, he was always ready to assist the unfortunate, being
charitable in his criticism and lenient in his judgment. In politics he was a
whig, but was never an office seeker, although he served very efficiently as
road commissioner. He was survived for some years by his widow, who died on the
27th of December, 1889, at the venerable age of nearly eighty-five years. The
family of Mr. and Mrs. Moor numbered six.
A lad of nine years when he came to Illinois with his
parents, Angus Moor had begun his education, which he completed in Knox county.
He shared with his people the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life,
and although he was only a boy assisted much in the operation of the farm and
the care of the stock. After leaving school he gave his entire time and
attention to the tilling of the fields and the performance of other duties about
the homestead until he had attained has majority. Confidence in himself and his
acquirements induced him to launch upon a career as an independent
agriculturist, and leaving home he engaged in farming for himself. He forsook
his labors two years later, in 1859, and joined a party of gold seekers going to
California. They made the trip in a prairie schooner and it was a long, hard
journey, occupying several months. He remained on the coast prospecting for
about eight years, meeting with but indifferent success, and then returned to
Knox county, by the way of the Missouri river in a row boat. Upon his return in
September, 1866, he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits,
ultimately acquiring the old home place, containing one hundred and thirty-seven
acres, where he now lives. He has ever since made this place his home, but is
now living retired, leaving to his son the operation of the farm. Mr. Moor
always directed his undertakings along practically the same lines as his father,
engaging in general farming and stock-raising, and met with gratifying success
in both.
On the 23d of December, 1882, Angus Moor was united in
marriage to Mrs. Lydia F. Stevens, who was born at Atkinson, Maine, on the 17th
of June, 1844. She was a daughter of George Daggett, a farmer of Maine, where he
passed his entire life and Mrs. Moor was reared. In her early womanhood she was
married to a Mr. Stevens and they removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, and
there he died in 1878. Six children were born to them, five of whom are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Moor became the parents of one son, Don Angus. He married Ethel
Knox of this county, a daughter of Charles Knox, formerly of Wataga, but now of
Iowa, and is living on his father's farm. In 1911, they made a visit to Maine
and there Mrs. Moor passed away very suddenly of apoplexy, on August 31.
In his political views Mr. Moor has always staunchly
adhered to the principles of the republican party, but he has never aspired to
public honors or the emoluments of office, although he meets the requirements of
good citizenship by going to the polls on election clay. The greater part of his
life has been passed in the immediate vicinity of his present home, where he is
widely known and has many loyal friends.
(History of Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 362 & 367-368,
submitted by Janine Crandell)
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