Biographical Review of
Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois

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by Linda Edlin


Clyde Kindhart, son of Andrew and Louisa Kindhart and Pearl Taylor, daughter of Robert and Catherine Taylor were born in Pea Ridge Township. They attended Poe School. They were united in marriage in 1908. They are the parents of eight (8) children; Troy, Ruby, Robert, Lawrence, Ethel, Cecil, Baby girl, and Virgil. Ruby passed away at the age of 4 and Cecil and the baby girl were twins. The baby girl died at birth.

Troy married Grace Beebe. They had one daughter, Mae. He then married Imogene Lamma. They have eleven (11) children; Troy Jr., Edna, Barbara, Shirley, Norman, John, Donald, Sharon, Richard, Ronda, and Betty. Robert and Imogene live in Quincy, Illinois. Robert married Viola Paben. They have four sons; Earl, Arlie, Floyd and Glen. Robert later married Leota Brady. They are living in Golden, Illinois.

Lawrence married Ruth Armel. They have two children: Marsha and Neal. They are now living in Quincy, Illinois. Ethel married Russell Daggett. They have one son, Jerry. They live on their farm in Pea Ridge.

Cecil married Lucille Weaver. They have four children: Carolyn, Kenneth, Linda, and Susan. They are living on their farm in Pea Ridge.

Virgil married Edith Weaver. Their first son, Virgil Lee died in childhood and they have two sons, Roger and Rodney. They are living in Golden, Illinois.

Clyde and Pearl lived most of their married years in the Clayton neighborhood as farmers. They were very faithful members and workers of the Poe Baptist Church. They were always ready to give a helping hand to anyone in need. There was always room for one more in their home if someone was in need of one.

Pearl passed away in August 1945 and Clyde passed away September 1955. They are buried at the Knight Cemetery.

[Source: Cemeteries of Brown County, Illinois 1825-1972; Published by: The Brown County Board of the Schuyler Brown Historical Genealogical Society, Copyright 1975]

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James Shank


James Shank was a blacksmith and farmer. He lived in Illinois until 1899 and moved to to Granby Mo. Prior to moving to Mo. He lived in Mound Station (Timewell, Il.) James first left his family in Illinois and went to Missouri. He took a threshing machine with him,. Also the lure of the lead ore mines for work was the pulling factor to settling in Missouri. Granby is known as the "Oldest Mining Town in the Southwest" 1850. James wrote a letter to his wife and family, anxious for them to join him in Missouri. He told his dear Maria, it is beautiful place and Shoal Creek is as clear as crystal! He and son William Carson threshed wheat right off the ground at Dueneweg, Missouri, around the mine shafts. Another son Alvin operated a drilling rig. When it quit operating, he went to Montana, where he and his wife Mathilda "Tillie", along with a son Fred who died when he was around five or six years old.
Alvin also died in Montant and it is believed that Tillie remarried and moved to Oklahoma. William Carson wasn't as happy with Missouri and so he went back to Illinois. He spent the rest of his life in and around Clayton where he and Anna raised their family. James along with his son Ora spent the rest of their lives in Missouri.

Note: James Shank was born March 21, 1850 Brown County, Illinois, the son of William and Julia Emaline McCord Shank, died February 28, 1923 Diamond, Missouri, buried Diamond, Missouri, married August 14, 1871 Mound Station-Timewell, Brown County, Illinois to Maria Brandon, born October 13, 1853 Preble County, Ohio, the daughter of Aaron C. and Sarah Neal Brandon, died December 11, 1918 Diamond, Missouri, buried Diamond, Missouri. [Contributed by Sara Hemp]


Jacob Brown was a Pennsylvania Quaker who undertook many trades before entering the army, including those of schoolmaster, surveyor, and smuggler. He moved to New York state near Lake Ontario and became an influential citizen. When offered a commission in the state militia, Brown abandoned his pacifist beliefs and accept the post. His success at organizing and training his men did not go unnoticed. Fellow officers of the state elected the tall and handsome Brown to the rank of brigadier general.

Brown earned great renown with his defense of Sacket's Harbour in May of 1813. Brown outsmarted the British advance even though his militia initially abandoned the defense effort. As a result of his courageous stand, Secretary of War John Armstrong awarded him a regular commission as brigadier general. Soon after, Brown participated in the failed American attempt to reach Montreal in the fall of 1813.

Though the U.S. Army had suffered at Chrysler's farm, for a brief time it seemed as though they could salvage the operation due to Brown's success in clearing the British from the Longue Saute rapids. Brown led the army downstream to rendez-vous with Major General Wilkinson as planned. But the indecisive Wilkinson would not advance on Montreal without support from Major General Wade Hampton. Wilkinson canceled the campaign and the army crossed back to the U.S. and spent two grueling winter months in French Mills. Brown's performance did not go unrecognized.

Brown replaced Wilkinson as commander of the Army of the North in the spring of 1814. He set his sights on the Niagara Peninsula, a territory he believed was vulnerable if both he and Commodore Chauncey could mount a combined offensive. If he met with success on the peninsula, Brown felt that he could eventually take York and Kingston. In early July, Brown led 3500 men across the Niagara River and seized Fort Erie. Two days later the American army met with an unprecedented victory when they defeated the British on an open battlefield at Chippawa. The bulk of the British army was allowed to escape, and gained reinforcements in the following weeks. Brown pursued the British to their doorstep at Fort George but waited to attack in the vain hope that Chauncey would provide support. Brown retreated to Chippawa in order to regroup, but the British came looking for him.

On July 25, the British advance was attacked by Winfield Scott's battalion and suddenly Brown had a major battle on his hands at Lundy's Lane. Brown directed the American offensive until he was seriously wounded by a musket shot and an artillery ball. He was removed from the field and command passed to Major General Eleazar Ripley until the battle ended in a bloody stalemate.

The Americans retreated to Fort Erie and were holed up there while the British conducted a seven-week siege. Brown, who was far from fully recovered, refused to give up the fort. The British finally retired and the Americans had no choice but to return to the US side since food and supplies were dangerously low. As Washington burned and the British advanced into New York, Brown's persistence and bold obstinacy along the Niagara buoyed the sinking morale of the American public. Brown emerged from the conflict a national hero. When the US reduced its Army after the war, Brown was kept on and eventually became Commander General of the US Army in 1821. He held this position until his death in 1828 at the age of 53.



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