Biographies A-C, 1872 Jersey County Atlas

Mr. W. H. Allen received his preparatory education at New Bedford under private instruction. At the age of seventeen he entered the Freshman Class of Harvard University, and, after a course of four years, graduated in the class of 1835. After leaving college, he commenced merchandising at Philadelphia, and afterwards, at Pittsburgh, but that enterprise not proving very successful, he quit the business, sold his property, and came West, landing in St. Louis, in October, 1839. He returned soon after and spent the winter “East”, came West the following spring, and soon after located at Grafton, where he has since resided. There he commenced merchandising, and subsequently built a flouring mill; was also quite largely engaged in the real estate business.

On the twenty-third of April, 1840, he was married to Miss Martha M. Mason, daughter of James Mason, who was a prominent man of his day, and among the oldest settlers of that portion of the State. Mr. Mason laid out the town of Grafton. He was also a large real estate operator, at the time residing in Edwardsville. He was a man of superior business qualifications and left his impress on the community where he resided. He was a native of New Hampshire. For a short period he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York City. He was appointed receiver at the land office at Edwardsville, under the administration of John Quincy Adams. When Andrew Jackson became President, he was superseded by Gov. Edwards, after which Mr. Mason devoted his whole attention to speculating in real estate, in which business he was eminently successful, his investments being made with great discretion, having owned property in such cities as St. Louis, Quincy, and Bloomington. He was a gentleman who was highly respected in consequence of his purity of character and straightforward dealings.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen have had born to them eight children, three sons and three daughters yet living. Their eldest daughter, Rosalie, is the wife of Dr. Herriott, of Grafton’ and Irene the wife of E. A. Pinero, Esq., who is the bank partner of Mr. Allen. James M. Allen is proprietor of the flouring mill. The balance of the family reside at home with their parents.

In October, 1869, Mr. Allen engaged in banking, under the style of Allen & Pinero.

In early life, Mr. Allen was a Whig, and voted first for Gen. Taylor. When that party became extinct, he joined the Democrats, voting first in the interest of that party for James Buchanan. In the winter of 1861-2, he was a delegate to the constitutional convention to revise the constitution of Illinois; and in the fall of 1871 was elected Senator from the sixth district, embracing at that time Pike, Calhoun, Greene, and Jersey counties. He was also elected associate county judge, from 1865 to 1869. He is a gentleman of fine business abilities, and a man of fine scholarly attainments, and by his quiet, straightforward life has endeared himself to the people of Jersey County. He never was a political aspirant and has accepted the above positions simply to accede to the urgent requests of his fellow citizens. He is now residing at Grafton, which for many years has been the theater of his earnest endeavors

Edgar Ames was born in Oneida county, New York, October 26, 1826. He was the youngest of a family of three children of Nathan and Rectina Ames, whose ancestors were English and who were lineally connected with the Ames of Massachusetts. About the year 1830, Mr. Ames removed from New York to Cincinnati, which continued to be his residence for about ten years. He was there largely engaged in pork-packing, his business house being among the leading establishments of that kind in the city. In 1840 he removed to St. Louis and resumed the same business. In 1853 his wife died. He survived her death till 1856. Edgar Ames received his education in the schools of Ohio, and continued his studies at college several years after the family had removed to St. Louis. A few years previous to the death of his father, he became a member of the firm of Henry Ames & Co. No firm of business men in St. Louis was better known or more highly respected for their business ability and integrity than that of Henry Ames & Co. The excellent sugar-cured hams of that house have a world-renowned reputation.

On the fifth of June, 1860 Mr. Ames was married to Miss Lucy V. Semple, second daughter of Gen. James Semple, a well-known citizen of Illinois. They had two sons and two daughters.

Edgar Ames was twice elected Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis. In politics he was ever an advocate of the principles of the democratic party. He died at his residence on the ninth of December, 1867, but the many noble virtues of his character yet live, and are the richest legacy left to his wife and children.

While we would speak in the highest terms of those benevolent and large-hearted acts which characterized his life, we would not fail to notice those eminent business qualifications which enabled him, in the commercial path, to outstrip so many of his contemporaries. His success was not the sudden inflation of the purse by rapid speculation, but the result of well-laid business plans, the carrying out of which stamped him among the great business men of the West. He became opulent and respected in all circles where he was known.

Such is a brief sketch of the life of one of St. Louis’ most illustrious business men. Mr. Ames was a man of broad, liberal culture, and possessed a mind well adapted for profound research. His integrity and purity of character won for him the approbation of the best men of the city where for many years he acted so conspicuous a part.

Mrs. Ames, since the death of her husband, has built a beautiful residence on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi, at Elsah – ”Notch Cliff” – the building of which was simply the carrying out of the previous designs of her husband, in compliance with the expressed desire of Gen. Semple. At this beautiful suburban retreat, Mrs. Ames spends a portion of the summer months. It commands an extensive of the Mississippi River, and the broad expanse of the alluvial soil on the Missouri side, while far in the distance the spires and buildings of St. Charles are distinctly visible. Her winter months are passed in her elegant residence in Lucas Place, St. Louis. She will continue to carry on the complicated and extensive business left by the death of her husband, with rare ability, foresight and judgment. Her natural qualifications eminently fit her to vie with the most distinguished business men of the age.

Charles H. was educated in Troy, New York, and came to this state with his parents and followed farming till 1838 when he was elected sheriff of Jersey county, and has been since twice re-elected, and now in the fall of 1872 he is again a candidate.

Mr. Bowman has always filled the office with marked ability and his recent nomination attests the appreciation in which he is held by the Democratic party, in the ranks of which he exercises a strong influence. Till 1836 he was a member of the Whig party.

On the twenty-third of October, 1843, Mr. Bowman married Miss Mary Hooper. They had had seven children, six of whom are yet living.

For many years he has ranked among the leading politicians of Jersey county, and previous to his first election as sheriff, he was elected one of the associate judges of the county.

In the fall of 1870 he was elected sheriff of Jersey County, as the candidate of the Democratic party. He has filled the office with ability and honor to himself and the county. Declining another nomination, his father succeeds him in the office. Mr. Bowman, at the time of his nomination, was only twenty-two years of age, and is said to be the youngest man who has ever filled that office in the state. He was married December 14, 1871, to Miss Harriet B. Cockrell, daughter of Moses Cockrell of Jersey county.

The honorable position to which Mr. Bowman has attained merits the high appreciation in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

Hugh N. CROSS was born December 9, 1817, in Somerset county, New Jersey. His father, John L. Cross, was a native of the above county and State, and his ancestors have also resided there for many years. Mr. J. L. Cross was twice married; his first wife was Mary Kirkpatrick, by whom he had four children. After her death he married to Miss Mary Nesbitt, by whom he had one child, viz: Hugh N. Cross. The ancestors of Mr. Cross and wife were Scotch Irish. His occupation was that of a farmer. In 1835 he removed with his family to Jersey county, Illinois, locating on a farm about three miles south of the then thriving village of Jerseyville. Mr. Cross was over seventy years of age when he settled in this county. In 1850 he died at his residence, at the advanced age of eighty-two. Mrs. Cross died about two years previous to the death of her husband. Mr. Hugh N. Cross was educated in the common schools of his native State, attaining a good business education for those times. He came to this county with his parents in the fall of 1835, and remained on the farm with them until their death. When about twenty-five years of age he was married to Miss Ann _?_ Van Horne, daughter of Col. Elijah and Mary Van Horne, who were formerly of New York, though they were _?_ settlers in this county, having located here in 1833. Mrs. Cross was born in _?_ county, New York. Mr. Cross and wife have had five children, four of whom are yet living, one son and one daughter married and residing in Jefferson county, Illinois. When Mr. Cross _?_ life he was comparatively poor; but being a man of energy and good judgment in matters of business, he soon commenced to acquire property, and by the careful management of the same he is now in the possession of a handsome competence, the result of a life of frugality and perseverance. At one time he was about the largest farmer of Jersey county. In all his long life he has retained a purity of character and straightforward course in his business operations. Until 1865, agricultural pursuits and stock growing had engrossed most of his time and attention, and in that year he formed a partnership with Mr. George R. Swallow, and together they opened quite an extensive banking house in Jerseyville. In politics, Mr. Cross has always been a strong adherent to the principles of the Democratic party. Religiously, he and his family worship in the First Presbyterian church of Jerseyville. He is among the older citizens of the county, and stands prominent among the solid man. In him we find a genial, whole-souled gentleman. He is unquestionably a self-made man, and needs on encomium at our hands.