ALFRED FAULKNER, a farmer residing on section 34, Centralia Township, Marion County, is one of the best known citizens of this community.
His father, William Faulkner, was born in Green County, Ky., in 1797, and when he had attained his majority went to Orange County, Ind., where he met and married Miss Ann Harnett. Previously he had joined the Jo Davis Company of Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and served for a year in the War of 1812. After his marriage he entered land in Kentucky, and there began farming in his own interest. For one term he served as Deputy Sheriff of Green County. In 1843, lie returned to Orange County, Ind., where he again purchased a farm. He served as Road Commissioner for several years, and was a member of the Regular Baptist Church. In the family were twelve children,
six of whom are now deceased.
Alfred married Amanda C., daughter of Virgil Grubb, a prosperous farmer, and died in Centralia Township. Warren married Elizabeth Sanders and is living in Wayne County, ILL.
Joseph wedded Kate Long and is living in Birdseye, Ind. The father of this family died December 18, 1859, and the mother, who was bom in 1811, passed away in 1880.
Alfred Faulkner was born in Orange County, Ind., August 2, 1833, attended the public schools through the winter months, and in the summer season worked upon the farm. At the age of twenty-one, he began working as a farm hand, and after two years went to Hardinsburg, Ind., where he followed the blacksmith's trade for a year.
Later he began clerking in a general store, and as the postofflce was in the store he was appointed Deputy Postmaster. With the desire to try his fortune in the west, he started with a wagon in October, 1854, and after four weeks of travel reached Grand Prairie Township, Jefferson County. There he learned that the Illinois Central Railroad was in process of construction, and obtained work on the same south of Centralia. Later he was engaged in the construction of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad in Knox County, Ind., and in the spring of 1856 he returned to this state, locating in Richview, where he obtained work in a woolen factory, carding wool. In the following year he went to Bond County, ILL., where he followed blacksmithing for twelve months, after which he spent one winter in making rails in Grand Prairie Township. During the summer of 1858, he was employed as a farm hand by David Copple, and in the winter taught the Copple district school.
During this time, Mr. Faulkner became acquainted with Amanda Grubb, and they were married March 20, 1859, after which our subject operated a rented farm in Centralia Township. In the autumn of 1861 we find him on a farm in Jefferson County, and in the summer of 1862 he enlisted for three years' service in Company H, Eightieth Illinois Infantry, for three years. He was always ready for duty, participated in twenty-three battles of importance, and on the 19th of June, 1865, was honorably discharged. He then returned to his family, and in the autumn removed to Orange County, Ind., where he rented a farm, which he carried on for two years. During that time he served as Constable.
In March, 1868, Mr. Faulkner returned to Illinois, and for nineteen years lived on a farm near Centralia. He then purchased a farm on section 34, Centralia Township, and is now extensively engaged in the cultivation of fruit, making a specialty of apples, strawberries and peaches.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner were born seven children, six yet living, Martha, who became the wife of William Parker, and after his death married II. Willis, who is living in Washington County, ILL.; Frank, who married Minnie Sendmore and is living near Centralia; Thomas M., who married Rosa Dobbs and. is living in Centralia Township; Joseph, John and Willie, who are at home.
Mr. Faulkner is a member of the Christian Church, and belongs to the Farmers' Mutual Protective Association. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, and be has served as School Director. He now receives a pension of 18 per month, which rewards him for his valuable services at the front. He is still the same faithful citizen that he was in time of war, and all who know him respect him for his sterling worth.
Virgil Grubb, father of Mrs. Faulkner, was born near Bowling Green, Warren County, Ky., September 7, 1811, and -his father, Jacob Grubb, was born in Washington County, Va., April 30, 1775. The family was represented in the Revolutionary War and was of German descent In 1796, Jacob Grubb removed to Pennsylvania, and there first learned the English language, attending an English school for about a year and mingling with English speaking people.
In the spring of 1804, he married Sallie Rice, daughter of John and Martha Rice, who were of English and Irish descent, respectively. Her father served in the Revolutionary War and in the Indian War.
To Jacob Grubb and his wife were born six children.
The parents of this family removing from Tennessee, settled in Warren County, Ky., in 1806 and there secured a good farm, but the buildings upon the place were destroyed by tire. The father served as a soldier during the War of 1812 and then resumed farming, which he followed in Kentucky until the spring of 1818, when he sold out and removed to Washington County, Ind. There he continued to make his home until his death, June 16, 1861, at the age of eighty-seven. His wife, who was bom December 19, l'781, died May 9, 1840.
Virgil Grubb left Kentucky at the age of seven years. His educational privileges were limited, for the schools of that time were poor and books exceedingly scarce. He had to leave school in order to work on the farm, and was thus employed until the winter of 1830-31, when he worked in his own interest in New Albany, Ind. In the spring he purchased a small farm, for which he paid $100, but just as he was ready to move onto it, it was entered by another man.
On the 16th of February, 1832, Mr. Grubb married Delilah Sanders, who was born in Clark County, Ind., November 24, 1814. Her parents were Thomas and Hannah (Copple) Sanders. With their families they removed from North Carolina to Indiana in 1809. and were married in 1812. Mr. Sanders was of English descent, and his father, Richard Sanders, died in Orange County, Ind., in 1836. He was born in 1790, and passed away in November, 1832. His wife, who was born in 1796, departed this life in October, 1843.
From Clark County they removed to Orange County, Ind., in 1818, and became the parents of eight children, Mrs. Grubb having three sisters. Mary became the wife of John Free, by whom she had eight children, all living in Orange County.
After losing his farm in Washington County, Ind., Mr. Grubb embarked in farming in Orange County, in 1832. In that year he cast his first Presidential vote, supporting General Jackson. In April, 1834, he removed to a house belonging to Thomas Winters, and entered forty acres of land, upon which he built a cabin, stable and crib, and took up his residence on that place. In the following spring he was elected Captain of a military company, and after holding the position for six years, resigned. Sometimes his crops were good and sometimes poor, but altogether he prospered.
In October, 1835, he purchased eighty acres of land and improved his farm as he found opportunity. He also engaged in teaching school and bought more land.
Mr. Grubb and his wife had a large family of children.
In 1844, Mr. Grubb traveled through southwestern Missouri, accompanied by John Sanders and Wiley Johnson, and on the 9th of September, returned home. In 1846 he sold his farm with the intention of going to Missouri, but changed his mind and purchased another farm in Indiana. In 1847, he was elected Captain of a company raised for the Mexican War, but while they were drilling the war ended. In the spring of 1848, he was elected Justice of the Peace. While attending a wood chopping, April 5, 1851, he had his left ankle badly injured by a falling tree, and has since been a cripple. In the following winter he taught school, and in 1853 he bought an other farm of one hundred acres. In that year he was also unanimously elected Justice of the Peace. He continued farming and school teaching until 1857, when he sold out with the intention of removing to Kansas, but on account of the slavery troubles there, came to Illinois. He bought a farm of two hundred acres near Centralia, and then returned for his family. They experienced many of the hardships and trials of frontier life, but altogether prosperity attended their efforts. At the breaking out of the late war, three of the sons-in-law enlisted and two were killed in the service, and on the 21st of June, 1861, his eldest son had his right knee crushed, and the limb was amputated. Those were trying and exciting times. In the spring of 1865 his wife lost her eyesight.
In 1867, Mr. Grubb embarkad in business in Centralia, and did well along that lime until March 3, 1870, when his store and stock were destroyed by fire. When he had settled up his affairs in town, he retired to a farm in Jefferson County, where he remained for three years, but health and eyesight having become impaired, he began travelling. His eyesight, however, continued to fail, and on the 1st of February, 1877, his left eye was removed. He then sold his farm and removed to Centralia, where he made his home until after the death of his wife. He then lived with his daughter, Mrs. Faulkner, until called to the home beyond, March 26, 1885. He was an honored pioneer, and will be remembered by many friends throughout southern Illinois.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 239-241
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer