John Nelson Scribner, who is living retired at Virden, having
accumulated a competence through systematic application, is a native of
Jersey county, Illinois. He was born January 22, 1864, a son of Jesse
and Ellen (Hughes) Scribner, the father being a native of Tennessee and
the mother of Illinois. Jesse Scribner came to Illinois at the age of
eighteen and began farming, a vocation to which he devoted the principal
years of his life. After the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted at
Jerseyville and served faithfully for three years in behalf of the
Union. Having received his honorable discharge he resumed farming in
Jersey county but later went with his family to California, where they
spent two years, at the close of which time they returned as far east as
Missouri. Two years later Mr. Scribner again took up his residence in
Jersey county, Illinois, where he ran a flour mill for a year. The next
two years he spent in Missouri and then rented land in Greene county,
Illinois, subsequently purchasing forty acres. At the close of a year he
sold out and went to Missouri and spent the next three years mainly in
traveling. He again took up his residence in Jersey county, and rented a
farm upon which he died at the age of forty-four years. There were two
children in his family: Lloyd, who died at the age of two years; and
John N., the subject of this review. The mother was again married, her
second husband being John Ennis, of Sangamon county, where he died in
1889, his wife passing away in May, 1906.
Mr. Scribner, whose
name introduces this sketch, began working in the hardest field before
he reached manhood and after spending two years in Morgan county took up
his residence in Sangamon county. Four years later he drove through with
a covered wagon to Wichita, Kansas. The next year he continued his
journey as far as the Indian Territory but did not remain long in that
section, as he returned the same summer to Sangamon county, Illinois.
The next fall he drove to Wellington, Kansas, and thence to Sedgwick
county, Kansas, where he rented land. After selling out he returned to
Sangamon county and three years later rented eighty acres, which he
cultivated to good advantage for five years. He then took charge of his
mother’s place and subsequently he and his mother purchased the rest of
the Ennis estate from the heirs and he now has a farm of one hundred and
eighty-four acres, known as the Ennis farm. He also acquired town
property near Lowder, which he later disposed of. At one time he moved
to Oklahoma but returned after selling the property which he owned there
and spent a year at Waverly, Illinois. He is now established at Virden
and he and his family occupy an attractive bungalow which he erected. He
has also retained his farm in Sangamon county, from which he derives a
handsome annual income.
On the 20th of December, 1888, Mr.
Scribner was married to Miss Uottie Stewart, of Jacksonville, Illinois,
a daughter of John and Louisa (Rutherford) Stewart, both of whom were
born in this state. They have become the parents of two children: Luella
May, who was born August 11, 1892; and Nola Louise, who was born January
4, 1906, and is now deceased. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were
twelve children: Lottie, now Mrs. J. N. Scribner; Charles W., deceased;
Lura M., who married Roderick Pruett, of Chicago, and is also deceased;
Alice, deceased; Estella, the wife of John M. Case, of Virden; Myrtle,
who became the wife of James Ryan, of Jacksonville, Illinois, and is now
deceased; Earl, a resident of Chicago; Ernest, who makes his home in
Denver, Colorado; Leroy, also of Chicago; Nola. deceased; Lela, who
married C. E. Lowder, of Lowder, Illinois; and Nelson, who is deceased.
Politically Mr. Scribner has since he arrived at maturity
supported the democratic party. He has taken an active interest in
political affairs and has held various township offices. Fraternally he
is identified with the Masons and the Woodmen and religiously he
affiliates with the Baptist church. He has traveled extensively in
various states and from personal observation is remarkably well informed
concerning the resources of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. He
can claim a wide circle of acquaintances and is known as an enterprising
and practical man of good business judgment. Having been
straight-forward in all his dealings he richly merits the prosperity he
and his family now enjoy.
Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 538-539.
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