STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 95
(Deceased)
It is safe to say that Scott county never had a more enterprising, public spirited and progressive citizen than the late William McCullough. Of the wealth with which he was possessed he gave liberally, and to every undertaking which had for its object the furtherance of the interests of Scott county, he lent his best efforts. Few men in the county did more to develop it, or bring it to its present excellent standard, than he. A journey over the county is the best evidence of this, for wherever the hand of William McCullough was manifest substantial improvements were the result. What he did he did well and the magnificent estate left by him is a monument to his untiring energy and his indomitable will.
He was of Irish parentage, his father (William McCullough) having been born in Ireland, coming to this country when a lad with his parents and settling in New Jersey. His mother, Ann (Webster) McCullough, was a native of New Jersey, and there spent her entire life, dying December 18, 1876. The subject of this sketch was the ninth of eleven children and was born May 18,1828, in Somerset county, New Jersey. His education, the theoretical part of it, was acquired at the common schools of his country - the practical part of it came from actual contact with the rough, hard corners of the world. At the age of seventeen he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade and three years later worked for one year as a journeyman in his native state. In the spring of 1850 he came west and stopped at Jacksonville where he worked at his trade. After a few weeks' stop at Jacksonville he went to Tazewell county and there entered a quarter section of land from the government for which he paid $90. He retained possession of this land until it increased in value to $300 when he sold it. He then came Scott county and purchased from Robert Haggard 160 acres of land for which he agreed to pay $4,000, $1,000 down and $1,000 each year therafter until paid for. Later he bought the John Cox farm of 104 acres at $40 per acre and then the William Cox farm of 120 acres at the same price. His next purchase was sixty acres of land of John Hornbeek at $80 per acre; Later on the 160-acres farm of W.M. Riggs, at $50 per acre, passed into his possession; then 262 acres at $75 per acre, belonging to William D. Campbell, were added to his possessions. His next purchase was the 160-acre farm of William A. Gillham at $75 per acre. He then sold 100 acres of land to J.N. Campbell, and traded seventeen acres of land to John Coultas for eighty-three acres of land lying west of the C.B. & Q railroad at Riggston, paying for the difference at the rate of $75 per acre. A little later he bought fifty-five acres of the Joe Campbell farm at $75 per acre, then the Byron Campbell farm of 130 acres at $85 per acre, and the last purchase of land was 235 acres of the John Gibbs estate at $90 per acre. During his lifetime Mr. McCullough owned 1663 acres of land (most of it being in his possession at the time of his death) for which he paid approximately $190,500. Thus it will be readily seen that he had an abiding faith in the value of Scott county real estate.
In 1853, March 31, William McCullough was married to Miss Martha A. Campbell, daughter of J.B. Campbell, one of the pioneers of Scott county. November 3, 1860, death invaded his home and she was taken. She was survived by the husband and the following children: Cynthia Ann, born April 13, 1855, married Luther Hornbeek, and died December 27, 1888; Jane, born March 8, 1857, and John C., born September 30, 1859, and died November 5, 1861. October 16, 1862, Mr. McCullough again entered the married state, the companion of his choice being Miss Emily J. Camp, daughter of George and Nancy (Felton) Camp of Scott county. This union was blessed with seven children: Sarah Victorine, born October 9, 1863; William Grant, born July 6, 1865; Abel Camp, born October 2, 1866; Laura Brasfield, born June 6, 1868; Harriet Amanda, born March 12, 1870; George Howard, born March 23, 1875, and Warren Elmer, born December 1, 1877.
Sarah Victorine McCullough, married Robert P. Allan, a farmer, October 3, 1889. They have three children Emily J., Robert H. and Clifford B. - and occupy one of the finest houses in Scott county.
William Grant McCullough, at present a farmer.
Abel C. McCullough, farmer, married December 15, 1892, to Miss Lou Gibbs. They are blessed with two children - Irene L. and Allan G.
Laura Brasfield McCullough, married June 16, 1892, to T. W. B. Everhart, at present superintendent of the city schools at Mason City, Illinois.
Harriet Amanda McCullough, married November 1, 1893, to H.B. Gibbs, a farmer.
George Howard McCullough, the only child at home, and whose present occupation is that of a farmer.
Warren Elmer McCullough, farmer, married November 28, 1900, to Martha Alma Allen. They have one child - Mildred Alma.Jane McCullough, married John M. Allyn of St. Louis. They have two children John Miner and Lillian J.
William McCullough will be long remembered as one of the generous, open-hearted, high-minded men of Scott county. Though a consistent member of the Methodist church, he gave liberally of his means to every religious denomination. No less than eight churches in this county owe their present edifices, in part, to his generosity, and from 1856, when he first united with the church, until his death, he served continuously as steward and trustee and was an enthusiastic Sunday school worker. He was a believer in education and as a matter of public spirit paid for the erection of a fine two-story brick school house one-half mile west of his home. In politics he was a democrat. All that was essential in a man of business, a gentleman and a friend was happily combined in Mr. McCoullough. During the latter years of his life it was his custom to gather his family about him at Christmas time, in a sort of a happy reunion, and on these occasions he would distribute substantial cash presents to each of them. Generous to a fault, faithful in all things, he so lived among the people he loved, going daily in and out among them, interwoven into the web and wool of their lives, sharing alike of their joys and sorrows, that when the summons came and he was gathered to his last long rest, it was written of him, "He was truly a good man."