No name is more familiar in Jefferson county than that of CASEY and
no other family was earlier or more largely identified with its growth
and development. The founder was Isaac CASEY, a native of Carolina, who
came to Illinois at an early day and became identified with the government
survey of the southern part of the territory. Previously he had held official
positions in Kentucky and was in the government employ many years. He died
in 1851 after a long and useful life, at the home of his son. Thomas Mackley
CASEY, son of the foregoing, was born in Kentucky March 12, 1809, but went
with his father to Tennessee and from that state removed to the territory
of Illinois in 1817. The trip was made on horseback, the party as usual
with pioneers, carrying the frying-pans and rifles and other personal effects.
After looking the country over and staking out their claims they returned
to Tennessee but in the following spring came back with their families
and belongings, the former being more numerous than the latter. Thomas
M. CASEY'S claim included what is now known as the Pleasant Grove neighborhood,
four miles north of Mount Vernon. His brother, Abram CASEY, selected an
adjoining claim and three of the MAXEYS who afterwards assumed the relationship
of brothers-in-law, also selected claims nearby, the entire holdings being
later known as the CASEY-MAXEY settlement. Thomas M. was a farmer and became
an extensive breeder and buyer of hogs, cattle and mules. He was a devout
Christian and took much interest in church work, the Pleasant Grove neighborhood
having the first place of
worship in Jefferson county, and becoming famed all over Southern Illinois
as a religious rendezvous. Thomas M. CASEY'S home was headquarters for
the pioneer circuit riders and the wandering evangelists who carried the
Bible messages to the dangerous western wilderness. He died October 4,
1868, at the age of sixty-four, much respected beth as a man and citizen.
He married Harriet, daughter of William MAXEY, who settled on government
land three miles northwest of Mount Vernon, where his grand and great-grand-
children still reside. The MAXEYS were among the earliest arrivals in this
section and have long been one of the influential families of Jefferson county.
Mrs. Thomas (MAXEY) CASEY was born January 18, 1801, and died at the old
homestead March 15 1877, at the age of seventy-six years.
Wesley Barger CASEU, a son of this couple, was born in Jefferson county,
Illinois, June 4, 1834. He remained on his father's farm until he reached
the age of sixteen years, when he began work as apprentice to a coach-maker
at Lebanon, St. Clair county and later at Troy. He mastered this trade
completely and worked at it for many years mostly in Mount Vernon, but
eventually became a carpenter and painter. This eventuated into the business
of contracting and building which employed his time until recent years.
He has superintended the erection of some of the best buildings of Mount
Vernon, including the present court-house, and many of the substantial
residences. He has lived to see four court-houses built in Jefferson county,
the first a log cabin which stood at the present site on the public square.
The second was a brick building. with a log jail standing beside it, the
third a modern brick structure. was destroyed by the cyclone in 1888, which
practically wiped out the city. The present handsome building was begun
in 1888 and fi1iished a year later. Mr. CASEY has literary tastes and has
done some note-worthy work in that line. When still a boy he wrote and
published a serial story and later in life corresponded for Colman's Rural
World and other well known agricultural papers. He was instrumental in
organizing the Illinois State Grange during the seventies and wrote for
the press in behalf of the Patrons of Husbandry. He was the first town
Constable of Mount Vernon and later became Justice of the Peace. Reared
in the lap of the Methodist church, as he expresses it, he has affiliated
all his life with churches and church work. In 1861 Mr. CASEY organized
at Xenia a company, which subsequently became a part of General GRANT'S
old regiment. He was elected captain but fearing he would not be able to
stand infantry service, did not receive the
commission. Soon afterward, however, he assisted in organizing at Centralia
a company of cavalry known after-wards as NOLEMAN'S Cavalry. Eventually
it became Company H, First Illinois Cavalry, the first in that branch of
the service from the state with the exception of Captain BARKER'S Chicago
Dragoons. Mr. CASEU was acting lieutenant on detached duty until the command
was mustered out at Corinth, Mississippi, after a service of thirteen months.
Afterward Mr. CASEY became first lieutenant and adjutant of the Eighty-third
Illinois Infantry organized at Mon-mouth, with which he went immediately
into service, at Fort Donelson, Tennessee. He was acting assistant adjutant-
general at Fort Donelson and Clarksville, Tennessee. He served gallantly and
bravely as the record of his command will attest. At the third battle of Fort
Donelson he was shot through the arm and during the same engagement a horse fell
on him and crushed his leg. He preserved some interesting relics of the
war including a written statement of Confederate Generals WHEELER, FORREST
and WHARTON, concerning the surrender. Mr. CASEY made the official report
of the battle of Fort Donelson.
After the war Mr. CASEY returned to his native county and engaged in
building and contracting. In 1873 he embarked in the breeding of fine cattle
in partnership with George E. WARING, of Newport, Rhode Island, and established
what was known as the Grove Farm branch of the Ogden Farm herd of Jersey
cattle. This was the first importation of Jersey cattle into Jefferson
county or Southern Illinois and all the Jersey cattle in this part of the
state sprang from the herd introduced by Mr. CASEY. The Ogden Farm Herd
founded by Mr. WARING was the first Jersey herd established in the United
States. Mr. CASEYaccomplished much in raising the standard of thoroughbred
stock in Jefferson county. For a number of years he was also engaged in
raising fine poultry and hogs.
In 1855 Mr. CASEY married Lucy A. MILLS, of Mount Vernon, who died without
issue, in January, 1857. In May. 1858, Mr. CASEY contracted a second matrimonial
alliance with Mrs. Ann A. M. ALLISON, of Marion county, by whom he had
four children, Mrs. J. Eva STEPHENS, of St. Louis, Missouri; Elmer A.,
who died at the age of twenty-six; and two who died in infancy. The mother
departed this life in 1867. Mr. CASEY married Mary Isabella THOMSON, of
Albion, Edwards county) who still graces his household. She was born in
England and came with her parents to Illinois when three years old and
this family with other English immigrants who settled in Albion gave it
the name of "Little Britian." Mary A. CASEY is the only child by the last
marriage.
Source: Walls History Of Jefferson County, Il 1909 pg 500-503
Submitted by: Submitted by Misty Flannigan Dec 15, 1997
