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OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES:
Source:
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL
RECORD ALBUM
of
VERMILION COUNTY, ILLINOIS
containing
Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of
Prominent
and Representative Citizens of the County.
together with
Portraits and Biographies of all the Governors of the
State, and
of the Presidents of the United States
Publ: Chicago
Chapman Brothers.
1889
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HIRAM MAKEMSON is the youngest of four
children born to Andrew and Hannah Makemson, natives of
Kentucky, where they were residents of Harrison County until
1828, when they emigrated to Illinois and settled in Newell
Township, about two and one-half miles from where their son,
the subject of this sketch, now resides. Mr. Andrew
Makemson
was a stalwart Republican, and always faithful to what he
considered the best interests of his country. He and his
wife were both worthy and sincerely good members of the
Methodist Church, and were highly esteemed not only by their
religious associates but also by the large circle of friends
which their many good qualities had gathered around them.
Their death was a loss to the community and they were
followed to their last resting place in Lamb’s Cemetery by a
large concourse of relatives and acquaintances. Mr. Makemson
died in 1880, and his wife in 1889.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Harrison County, KY., April 2, 1825, hence was only three
years old when his parents removed to Illinois. His youthful
days were enlivened by witnessing, and when old enough
participating in the various hunting parties which where
made up from time to time in the neighborhood, which
sometimes had for their object the providing of food for the
table, and at others the dispersing of depredatory packs of
wolves or roving bands of Indians, which served to make
things lively for the settlers, and varied the monotony of
the usual routine of farm life.
Mr. Makemson remained under the parental
roof tree until he reached his majority, getting such
education as the short term of the public school each year,
assisted by an occasional term of subscription school,
afforded, and making himself useful when out of school in
whatever capacity he could be employed. On April 29th 1852,
he took to wife Miss Prudence Campbell, a charming maiden of
Newell Township, where she was born September 18, 1834. The
was the daughter of John and Almira Campbell, natives of New
York, who came to Illinois in the early days of its
settlement and located in Newell Township, where they reared
a family of nine children, of which Mrs. Makemson was the
youngest.
Upon the return of Mr. and Mrs. Makenson
from Danville, where their marriage took place, they
immediately entered into possession of their present home,
where they have continued to reside happily and contently
ever since, rejoicing in the addition to their family of
five children, namely: Amira D., who remains at home to
comfort and cheer the parents for the absence of the other
members of the family; Mary A., wife of W. W. Current;
Bertha P., wife of Morton Bird, and lives in this county;
Sherman T. married Miss Sadie Bird, on the 4th of November,
1886, and lives on a portion of is father’s farm. Mrs.
Sherman Makemson is a daughter of Moser and Polly Bird, and
shares in the prosperity and excellent reputation which her
husband justly enjoys as a resident of the township. They
have no children. Joseph C., the youngest child, is also at
home, where he assists his elder sister to drive dull care
away from the old place.
Mr. Makemson owns, and with the
assistance of his sons operates, an estate of 816 acres of
land, all lying in Newell Township, and under good cultivation.
Politically, he votes with the Republican party, in whose
principles he is a firm believer.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of
Vermilion County, Illinois - Publ. 1889 - Page 718
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JOHN MAKEMSON,
one of the good farmers of his neighborhood, is a native of
Kentucky, born on the 22d day of February, 1821. He was
reared in Harrison, in that State, and he married Amanda
Adams, daughter of Samuel and Nancy Adams, who were
also natives of Kentucky. Their marriage occurred on
Christmas Day, 1848, after which they settled on a farm two
miles south of their present location.
This couple are the parents of five children:
William T.; Hannah wife of Lester Leonard; Nancy wife
of John Clapp; Arena P., wife of Robert Phillips;
Perry is at home. Mr. Makemson owns 900 acres
of good land, and he can justly say that every cent he has
accumulated has been through his own exertions. His
biography, could space be given for its details, would prove
truth as strange as fiction, inasmuch as it would be pregnant
with examples of courage and will-power that compel
circumstances to shape themselves to events, and would show the
ambitious youth of today that notwithstanding poverty, and the
misfortunes of a neglected education, a boy however, poor can
rise as high as his ambition can carry him. In listening
to the live story of Mr. Makemson, we would hear enough
to teach us that however discouraged we may be, there is always
hope and assurance that labor and faith will eventually conquer.
Politically Mr. Makemson votes the Republican
ticket, though he does not care for the active life of the
politician, but goes to the polls and deposits his ballot for
the candidates of his party, believing in the wisdom of the
leaders, and he is generally right. His family worships at
the Methodist Church, and are reckoned among the devout and
consistent Christians of the neighborhood. When the roll
of good citizens is made up, the person of whom this brief
biography is written, will stand in the list as one of the best.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Vermilion County,
Illinois - Publ. 1889 - Page 583 |
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