Biography - Noah Lipe
Noah LIPE, farmer, P. O. Hillsboro. The grandparents of our subject, Godfrey and Barbara (HOUSE) LIPE, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of German descent, their parents having emigrated to America at an early date in this country's history. Godfrey LIPE and wife emigrated to Cabarrus County, N. C., and he was noted grain-grower, and withal one of the most practical farmers of the State, and it has been said of him that he drove the best team of horses from Cabarrus County to Charleston, S. C. They were parents of four boys and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, viz., John, Henry, Moses, Daniel, Sarah, Catharine and Eula, all of whom married in North Carolina, and of whom John and Daniel were the only ones that ever left their native State. John, the father of our subject, was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., in 1789. His early life was spent upon the homestead farm, and eventually he became the owner of land, married and raised a family of eleven children, which whom, in November, 1831, he emigrated to then distant wilds of Illinois, and located in Irving Township, where he entered a tract of wild prairie, which he eventually improved, and by his energy and industry accumulated a large amount of this world's goods, and at one time owned about 500 acres of choice land; although he had but a practical education, he was considered a good business man, and a practical farmer; he lived to see his youngest child married and a mother, and could say he never saw one of his family die. His death occurred in November, 1857. His wife, Rachael BLACKWELDER, was also a native of Cabarrus County, N. C., born in 1793. She was a kind parent, a true, sincere and consistent Christian woman; she died November 30, 1881, and which is something remarkable, was at the time of her death and mother of thirteen children, 131 grand-children, 243 great-grandchildren, and 21great-great-grandchildren, making a grand total of 408 descendants, of which at the time of her death, there were living 304. Her own children were, viz., Barbara, was married in North Carolina to Michael HEFLY, and moved to Illinois in company with her parents, and settled in Irving Township, died about 1872; Nelson, also married in North Carolina, and came to Illinois with his parents, and settled near the homestead, died November, 1879; Allen, married in Illinois, was the third settler in Rountree Township, died in 1856; Ella, wife of Daniel BOST, died about 1862; Noah, our subject; Delila, wife of Michael WALCHER, living in Irving; Wiley, living in Rountree; Elizabeth, resident of Irving, wife of Milton NISLER; Helena, married Moses M. SICKLES, located in Witt Township, died about 1874; John G., living in Rountree Township; Martin, died in 1879; Catharine, wife of James MORRAM, Irving Township; Crissa Diana, wife of James T. FITE, Zanesville Township. Noah was the fifth child, and was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., January 20, 1818, where his early childhood was spent in assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits upon the homestead farm. At the age of fifteen, he was removed to Montgomery County, Ill., by his parents, and remained with them until he reached the age of twenty-four, and assisted his father in improving and cultivating the farm upon which he settled. At that early day there were no schools, but eventually a subscription school was started, which he attended about one month; he has, however, obtained more than an ordinary education by close observation and close study at home. He was married in Montgomery County, May 12, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth WELLER, who was born in Ohio, April 11, 1822, and came to Illinois with her parents when she was about eighteen years of age. She has borne him eleven children, viz., Columbus J., born December 16, 1843, a prominent merchant of Vincennes, Ind.; Martha Jane, born March 18, 1845, died September 13, 1845; John W., born March 6, 1847, died August 3, 1863; Lorenzo Dow, born September 17, 1849, a prominent farmer living near the homestead; Mary M., born May 17, 1851, wife of John KERR, living in Rountree; Kittie R., born December 5, 1852, wife of Erastus SHERE, living in Rountree; Charles E., born February 3, 1855, farmer living near here; Angelia, born December 28, 1856, wife of James SIMMS, living in Rountree; Alice, born April 8, 1859, at home; Etta, born December 11, 1860, at home; Nettie, born February 14, 1863, died April 27, 1864. Mrs. LIPE was a daughter of John and Mally (LINGENFELTER) WELLER, a native of Stark County, Ohio. He died in 1843; she is still living in Rountree Township, with her son Jacob, a wealthy farmer. At the age of twenty-four years, Mr. LIPE left home, and entered upon his career in life as a farmer, locating in Rountree Township, where he began life in a small way; built a small log cabin, having a sod chimney (the largest farm in the township was surrounded by a sod fence, containing sixty acres). He has gradually added to his possessions until at one time he had the satisfaction of conducting a farm consisting of 500 acres, which represented the dollars earned by himself, the result of energy, enterprise and good management. He has a farm now under a high state of cultivation and is improved by buildings and all the necessary appliances for comfort and convenience. He has given all his children a good education, realizing from his own limited privileges how important a good education is to the rising generation. He has held the offices of School Director and Trustee, in the township. Himself and wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a member of a Christian Church about forty-two years. His uncle Dan came to Illinois and settled upon a tract of land adjoining that of our subject, in the year 1839, where he lived until 1869, and where he raised a large family; he is now located in Whiteside County. Two of his sons are Lutheran preachers; all the balance of his family held prominent positions.
Extracted 22 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 278-279.
