O-P-Q-R BIOGRAPHIES
Alexander County Illinois Genealogy Trails
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Elco Precinct, p. 226.
Richard Palmer, farmer, P. O. Elco. William Palmer, the grandfather of our subject, was probably born and raised in North Carolina, and there John Palmer, his son, the father of Richard, was born. The former came to Tennessee when the latter was a young man. There John married in Smith County, Miss Piety Vick, daughter of Joshua Vick. She was the mother of nine children, and of this number our subject was the third, and was born October 8, 1817. When our subject was about twelve years of age, his parents came to this county and settled about three miles northwest of Elco, where they resided until their demise, the father dying August 7, 1850, and the mother July 2, 1852. In this county subject received his education, attending mostly the old Hazlewood subscription school. After his schooling, he helped his father on the old home place until he was twenty-four, when he started out in life for himself, first settling about five miles southwest of Elco on a tract of eighty acres. Here he remained about twelve years, and then moved to his present location in Section 16, Town 14, Range 2 west. His first purchase was a farm of 120 acres of which about twelve acres were in cultivation. This has since been increased to a farm of 240 acres of which about 100 acres is in cultivation. Subject was married August 19, 1841 to Irena Vaughn, daughter of Reuben and Nancy Vaughn of this county. She was born December 27, 1821 in Perry County, Tenn., and the mother of nine children, six of whom are living--Louis, born February 16, 1844; Piety, born July 2, 1849; James R., born September 2, 1851; Elizabeth, born November 21, 1855, wife of Jacob Mitchell; Enda, born June 27, 1858, wife of James Harrell; John, born July 22, 1863. The three dead children are Nathaniel, born November 16, 1842, died April 22, 1844; Nancy, born October 8, 1845, died September 20, 1846; Reuben, born September 10, 1847, died October 6, 1848. This lady died October 30, 1881. Subject is a Democrat and is a member of the Southern Methodist Church.
Source: History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Edited by William Henry Perrin, ©1883 Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publisher, Part V, Elco Precinct, pg. 227.
John J. Reams, farmer P. O. Clear Creek Landing, is a grandson of Edward Reams, who was born in Virginia and settled in North Carolina, where Jesse Reams, the father of our subject was born. The father remained there until a young man and then went to Tennessee, settling in Stewart County, where he married Anna McGee, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Whiteside) McGee. This lady was the mother of nine children, and of that number subject was the third and was born August 15, 1833. His parents came to Illinois when he was about ten years old, settling in Pope County, where they remained until their death. Subject received his education entirely in the subscription schools, and went to them but little. He remained at home until he was about twenty-one, and then bought a farm in that county. There he remained until 1870 when he came to this county, and first rented a farm of Washington McRavens. He is now living on a farm belonging to Pilgrim McRavens, about five miles east of Clear Creek. He was married December 10, 1854 to Mary Jane Jaco, daughter of John and Polly Jaco of Pope County. This lady was born in Tennessee in 1836 and was the mother of four children, two of whom are living--Polly Ann (wife of James Woodward of Clear Creek) and Washington Reams. She died in July 1861 and December 12, 1863 Mr. Reams married the second time, Matilda Caroline Castleman, daughter of William and Maria (Bush) Castleman. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are living--Mary Jane (wife of James Hill), Charity and William J. Subject is a member of the Baptist Church, which meets at Clear Creek. In politics he is a Democrat.
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