John G. Whiteside was born December 28, 1846, in Johnson
County, Ill., and his
father, David Whiteside, was born in Pope County December 17,
1820. The latter
was a son of John Whiteside, a native of Virginia, who removed
to Illinois when a lad. His father, James Whiteside, was a Virginia
farmer and was born in that State. He removed to the Territory
of Illinois about the year 1800 with his wife and a small family.
He had two sons, James and John, and, it is believed, two daughters.
He died in Illinois. His son James was one of the Legislators
of Illinois Territory when the Legislature met at Kaskaskia. He
was a prominent man in this part of the Territory and used to
distribute the laws, as was then customary. He was noted for his
wit and propensity for joking, as well as for his portly form.
John Whiteside was married to Eupha D. Shearer, who bore him thirteen
children, four sons and nine daughters. One daughter died in infancy.
James, the second child and first son, died in February, 1878,
at the age of sixty-three. He was a wealthy farmer and reared
four children, and died at his farm home, leaving an estate worth
some $25,000. Mary, the first child, died about 1859, leaving
a family of ten children. Elizabeth, wife of Henry Rose, died
in 1870, leaving eleven children. David, the father of John G.
Whiteside, is a retired farmer of Glendale and is seventy-two
years of age. His wife is
seventy. They have three children living, viz: John G.; India
E., widow of Green Waters, and who has six children; and Amanda
C., wife of Dr. Sutherland, of Creal Springs. They have buried
one infant son. Matilda, wife of Armstrong Grissom, died about
the same time as her husband died, in 1868, leaving seven children.
John S., a farmer of Johnson County, died in 1888, aged about
sixty-four years, leaving a large family. India E. is the wife
of Lewis Lavender, well known as the Sheriff of Hardin County.
William died in June, 1889, aged about sixty, leaving a wife and
five children. Sidney died in
February, 1859, leaving a husband and three children. Adeline,
a maiden lady, lives with her sister, Mrs. Lavender. Margaret
wife of Dr. McGinnis, of Hardin County. Catherine, wife of Stephen
Hobbs, of Hardin County, has three daughters and one son.
John G. Whiteside was reared a farmer boy and had but a nominal
school
education. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-ninth
Illinois Infantry, under Capt. D. N. Baker. He served as a private
soldier one year and was blown up in Mobile, August 25, 1865.
He was in the upper story of a two-story brick building with two
comrades, Reuben H. Chrisman and George F. Applin. All three escaped
death, while others around them were killed. All three were, however,
seriously injured. He was in but two engagements in Alabama, and
was discharged in June, 1865, in New Orleans. Returning from the
war, he remained at home until he was twenty-six years old, when
he was married to Margaret E. Gilbert, of Pope County. They have
all their children living, four sons and four daughters, viz:
William H., twenty-one years old, married and a school teacher;
Orela C., wife of N. B. Holloway, a teacher; Minerva E., a young
lady seventeen years old; Phillip D., a youth fourteen
years old; Essie E., twelve; Harry C., ten; India C., six; and
Elbert R., three. Mr. Whiteside has thus far given his children
the best opportunities within his reach for securing a good education,
and they are all bright and studious children. He is a Master
Mason, and is a Republican, having been Postmaster at Eddyville
four years under President Harrison. He has been a farmer ever
since the war and has served as Justice of the Peace fourteen
years.
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and
Hardin Counties,
Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co.; 1893. Evansville,
Ind.:
Reproduction by Unigraphic/Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois;
1975.
Pp. 555-556.
This biography was submitted by:
Ellen Riley
nye@fidalgo.net
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