Biography - James R. Catterton
J. R. CATTERTON. He is a farmer, and son of Diler and Sarah Ann Catterton. He
was born in Kentucky on 20 Aug 1819. His only opportunity for education was in
common schools. He served an apprenticeship at the harness trade at the age of
14. He followed the trade for a time and then turned his attention to farming.
He served in the Mexican War under General Scott, and was a member of the 102nd
Regiment, IL Infantry from 1862 in the war of the rebellion. He married Sarah
Ann Organ on Feb 18, 1849 [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a James
Cattertorn marrying a Sarah Jane Organ in Lawrence County on February 18, 1849],
and they have had nine children, four of whom are now living. He joined the
Christian Church in 1844. Politically he is a Republican. P.O. Elba Center.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County,
Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.
JAMES R. CATTERTON. The gentleman whose name we give in connection with this
notice came to Knox County in 1854, from Lawrence County, Ill., and settled in
Truro Township, where he lived for something over a year, and then moved to Elba
Township. There he purchased 200 acres of land on section 8, where he has since
lived. He has erected a fine residence on his farm to take the place of one
which was destroyed by fire Dec. 6, 1882. At this writing he is the owner of 203
acres, 120 of which is under an advanced state of cultivation.
Mr. Catterton was born in Bullitt County, Ky., Aug. 19, 1819. In 1820, when he
was quite young, his parents moved to Lawrence County, Ill., and settled on the
Wabash River, where our subject lived until he came to this county. His early
life was spent in attending the common schools, and working at shoe-making and
harness-making, which he followed for a livelihood until after reaching
maturity. He then engaged in the vocation of agriculturalist. In February, 1848,
Mr. Catterton entered the regular army, enlisting in the 3d U. S. Dragoons, and
served in the Mexican War till July of the same year, when the war ceased and he
was discharged at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., nothing of importance occurring
during his enlistment.
Mr. Catterton was married in Lawrence County, Ill., Feb 18, 1849, to Sarah A.
Organ, daughter of Daniel A. and Lucinda (Rowland) Organ, natives of Virginia
and Kentucky respectively. Her father was a Captain in the Black Hawk War in
1832. Her parents settled in Lawrence County, Ill., where her father followed
farming and where both parents died. They had three children who lived to attain
the age of man and womanhood, and were named Sarah, Mary J., and John P. Sarah
A., the wife of our subject, was born in Lawrence County, Ill., Sept. 28, 1830,
and has born her husband (Mr. Catterton) seven children, of whom three survive,
namely: Aurora A., Mary F. and Lura B.; the deceased are Sylvester, Martha J.,
Sarah A., and Edward M. Aurora is the wife of Samuel McKee, a farmer who resides
in Summit, Ill., and they have three children - Adam E., Samuel G., and James
C.; Mary Catterton is the wife of John H. Johnson, a druggist, and resides in
London Mills, Fulton County; they have one child - Stella F.; Lura is the wife
of Peter Norton, a farmer of Elba Township, and their daughter's name is Meda
Rosalia, born Sept 13, 1885.
The Organ family were originally from England. Enoch Organ, the grandfather of
Mrs. Catterton, was born in Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of the
Revolution. Mr. Catterton's ancestry is Scotch, and his grandfather war was a
soldier in the War of the Revolution. Dilar F. Catterton, the father of the
subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving five years; a
portion of the time he was in the command under Gen. Harrison and was in
Jackson's army in the South, and at New Orleans when the English army was
defeated.
The parents of Mr. Catterton were Dilar F. and Anna (Robinson) Catterton,
natives of Maryland and Kentucky respectively. They were married and settled in
the latter state, from whence they removed to Lawrence County, Ill., where the
father followed the trade of shoemaker, and where both parents resided until
their demise; the mother died about 1832, and the father in 1867. Six children
were born to them, named John, Nancy, James, Mary, Martha and Isaac.
James Catterton has been Overseer of Highways and School Director in his
township, and is a respected and honored citizen of the same.
He enlisted, in July, 1862, in Co. H, of the 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served his
country faithfully and well until July 7, 1865. He enlisted as a private, and in
November, 1862, met with a serious accident near Green River, Ky., by a mule
falling upon him. This injury incapacitated him from active duty until the fall
of 1863. He was detached and assigned to the 2d Bat. of Invalids or Veteran
Reserve, and was discharged at Rock Island, Ill., at the date above mentioned,
when he returned to this county and once more entered upon the peaceful pursuits
of life. He and his wife, together with their children, are members of the
Christian Church. In politics Mr. Catterton is a stanch and active Republican.
A view of the fine residence of Mr. Catterton appears in connection with this
sketch.
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical
Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, page 426.
