Abe's Boys

A couple of weeks ago, the TBT Blog featured an excerpt from the self-published book, “As I Remember,” by David A. Sorrell that was related to the Lincoln Heritage Trail that runs through Raymond. In his book, Mr. Sorrell mentioned four men whom he referred to as “Abe’s boys,” and noted that they were responsible for planting the trees and laying out the park that was once located where Lincolnwood High School now stands. Following are the family histories of these men that appears in Raymond’s 125 Years of Memories book.

 Win Carter died September 10, 1931. Carter was born 11/11/1843 in Madison County, a son of Henry T. Carter (born in 1811 in Knoxville, TN and died 7/21/1844 in Alton, IL) and Hannah Davis Carter (born at Trenton, NJ on 7/12/1815 and brought to Illinois by her parents at the age of 7). He entered the service in Co. B 8^th Illinois volunteer Infantry in 1862 and served 22 months, being discharged on account of injuries received from a bayonet and other injuries suffered while removing a battery. He was taken prisoner by John Morgan but was paroled soon after. He returned home and then went to California to engage in mining and farming. He returned to Illinois in two years and married Anna Mayhew on 1/25/1868. She was born 9/26/1849 at Shiloh, NJ, a daughter of James and Sarah (Howe) Mayhew, natives of New Jersey. Their children were Philp Henry, Mary Louisa, Edward B., Maud E., Ernest M., and Clyde W. The Carters moved to Raymond in 1870 and opened a lumber yard (the first in the town). In 1872 he sold out and went into partnership with C.M. Davis in general merchandising. Later he purchased his partner’s interest and continued in the business until 1878 when he disposed of his stock and engaged in dealing stock. He served as the first village treasurer, was on the town board for two years, and served as deputy postmaster for six years. He is buried at Asbury Cemetery.

Reynolds Chapman died on 5/20/1925 from blood poisoning which developed after he fell on his lawn mower and cut the back of his hand. He farmed in Raymond Township and served as Justice of the Peace, was on the school board, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, the Modern Woodman, and the G.A.R. He was born on 8/1/1843 in Greene County, the grandson of Luke Chapman, who was born in England and immigrated to the United States in 1824, settling in West Virginia, and a son of Judge William Chapman who was born in Yorkshire, England in 1817. He left West Virginia in 1833 to seek a home in the west and settled in Greene County, Illinois where he was employed as a civil engineer and aided in the construction of the Great Western Railroad. Judge William Chapman married Ann Alverson in Greene County and the couple moved to Montgomery County locating near what was to be Raymond in 1852. He died in 1896 having served as township treasurer, supervisor, and for four years as an associate judge. J.R. Chapman enlisted on 5/11/1864 in Company H, 143^rd Illinois Infantry, serving in Arkansas and Tennessee. He was discharged on 9/26/1864 and returned to farming within two miles from Raymond. Chapman married Catherine Hendrickson in 1867. She died on 7/22/1878 leaving three sons: Robert H., Gideon P. and Byron. In July 1880, Chapman married Isabella Rogers. She died on 3/15/1903. From this marriage there were the following children: Grace, Ethel (wife of Archibald Rhodes), George, Mary (wife of Dr. Leon Smith), Benjamin, Joseph R., John, Emma (wife of Robert Seward) and Jessie (wife of Art Price).

William H. Guthrie died 7/26/1914 at the age of 73. He was a private in Co. H 143^rd Illinois Infantry. He was born and raised in Greene County near Roodhouse and came to Montgomery County in the year 1858. In the fall of 1865 he married Elizabeth Martin of Greene County. They were the parents of six children; three sons and three daughters, one son having died at the age of 18 months. The children who survived him were Rev. John Q. Guthrie, Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Dennis E. Guthrie, Laura Guthrie and Luella Cook, all of Raymond; and Mrs. Elizabeth Buchanan, Wharton, Texas. He also had a brother, Joseph, of Bentonsport, Iowa, and D.M. Guthrie of Hillsboro, Iowa. He was known as “Uncle Bill” and owned one of the best farms in the county before moving to town. He was a member of the G.A.R. and had seen many hardships in army life. He is buried at Asbury Cemetery.

Hezekiah Moore died at the age of 91 on 6/29/1925. He was a son of Thomas Moore (stonemason, died in 1852 in Gasconade County, MO.) and Catharine Best Moore (born in Ohio died in 1872) born in Holmes County, Ohio on 11/7/1833. He came west as a young man was living in Missouri when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted on 8/26/1862 in Co. M, 5^th Iowa Calvary and served continuously until discharge on 6/17/1865. He was a Com/Sgt and participated in the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga and Shiloh besides scores of minor engagements and was one of the veterans of Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” After his discharge, Moore came to Montgomery County and settled on a farm near Raymond. He was twice married, first on 5/9/1860 to Rosanna Coleman (born in Missouri on 1/9/1841, died in 1888), and later to Mrs. Lucia Howard, with the following children: Lily (wife of William Dawson), Helen (wife of Harry Scherer), Mrs. Emma Kidd, Ed Moore, Howard Moore, and Paul Moore. He was road commissioner for several years, a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and a member of the United Methodist Church. He is buried at the Raymond City Cemetery.

William T. Sorrells died 6/17/1896 at his home in Raymond from the effects of a stroke. He was known as Thomas and had served as a private in Co. D 32^nd Illinois Infantry. He was a member of the G.A.R. and left a wife Louisa J. (daughter of James and Elisabeth Mansfield born 6/25/1856 in Clinton, Kentucky and died 6/16/1923) and three children: Mrs. J.H. (Mary) Striplin, Carlinville; Samuel, Raymond; and David A., Peoria. Three children preceded him in death in infancy. Another son from a previous marriage, Harvey Sorrells, Roodhouse, also survived him. He is buried at the Raymond City Cemetery.