Benjamin F. Culp, who was born July 8, 1851, in Macoupin
County, Illinois, and now occupies his fine farm of 210 acres in section 7,
Gillespie township, has always lived in this county and has always been
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a son of Henry and Martha J.
(Largent) Gulp.
The Gulp family early settled in Macoupin County.
Amos Gulp, the grandfather of our subject, brought his family here from
Tennessee, and died here aged 92 years. He followed farming and
cabinet-making and probably many of the oldest families of this region have
some of the furniture he constructed many years ago. His children were:
Henry, David, Daniel, Mrs. Emily Bullion, Mrs. Eliza Coffee, Mrs. Tennessee
Raymond, Mrs. Margaret Harris, Mrs. Jane Raymond and Mrs. Elzira Harris.
Henry Culp was born on a farm in the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, and
accompanied his parents to Illinois at the age of lo years. He followed
farming until his death, at the age of 62 years, passing away in 1891. His
industry brought him large returns and he left his family considerable
property. In religious views he was a Methodist. Until he became an advocate
of the Prohibition party, he was a Democrat. He married Martha J. Largent,
who was a daughter of Frederick Largent of Macoupin County, Illinois, and 13
children were born to them, the nine who grew to maturity being: Benjamin
F., of this sketch; William, of Dorchester township, Macoupin County, where
he is a farmer and dairyman; Mrs. Sarah Frances Woods, of Macoupin County;
Henry F., of Missouri; James C, of Taylorville, Christian County; David S.,
of East St. Louis, Illinois; Thomas, of Macoupin County; John W., of
Atwater, Macoupin County; and Mrs. Mattie McCulley, of Missouri.
Benjamin F. Culp was educated in the local schools and was a small boy when
he accompanied his father on threshing expeditions to the neigliboring
farms, driving the horses for the old horse-power thresher. The contrast is
very great between that primitive bit of machinery and the three modern
steam threshers which Mr. Culp has since owned and operated for 30 seasons.
In 1880 he removed to his present farm in section 7, Gillespie township,
starting with a tract of 20 acres of brush land, to which he added from time
to time. Not only has Mr. Culp erected all the comfortable and substantial
buildings on his property, but he has been interested in the building of
every road in the section. It was mainly due to his efforts that the fine
large bridge now spanning Dry Fork creek, was erected by the township. Mr.
Culp has engaged in general farming and stock raising, succeeding
particularly well in the latter line, having large herds of Jersey, Durham
and Red Polled cattle. He has no inferior stock of any kind, as he believes
that the best is none too good and that greater profits are shown in the
end. He raises much corn and oats and millet for feeding purposes. He has
devoted 10 acres to an orchard of peaches, apples and pears which is
producing very satisfactorily.
On February 18, 1875, Mr. Culp was
married to Angeline Woods, who was born December 25, 1853, in Macoupin
County, Illinois, and is a daughter of James and Martha (Mounts) Woods,
natives of Ohio. Nine children have been born to them: Mary M., wife of
George Sawyer, of Dorchester township, Macoupin County; Martha E., who
married Bert Fritz of Shipman, township, Macoupin County, and has one child
— Annie Lucy; Charles O.; Lucy F.; Bessie; John F.; Thomas Earl; William F.
and Ethel P. The family belong to the Methodist Church in which Mr. Culp has
served as class leader. He has been prominent in district, county and State
association Sunday-school work. He is a zealous supporter of the Prohibition
party and exerts a wide influence.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 445-447.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022