Biography - Hiram M. Scarborough
COL HIRAM M. SCARBOROUGH. Shelby County sent many of its noble and
patriotic citizens to the front during the late Civil War and among those
who won military honors in "those times that tried men's souls" is our
subject, who as a commissioned officer of the Fifty-fourth Illinois
Regiment, was conspicuous while in the service for his readiness of
resource, his coolness, for his promptness in carrying out the orders of his
superiors, and for other merits that showed him to be a true soldier. His
services have been equally as valuable within the last quarter of a century
or more since peace was declared, in that he has taken a high place among
the foremost of the men of this county who have pushed forward the
mercantile interests of this section of the State and have materially added
to its wealth. He has a large and elegant dry-goods establishment at
Shelbyville, where he entered upon his prosperous career as a merchant
twenty-five years ago.
Col. Scarborough was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., September 4, 1834. He
is a son of Isaac Scarborough, who was a native of Bucks County, Pa. The
paternal grandfather of our subject was a skillful mechanic and for many
years carried on business as a blacksmith in Bucks County, his entire life
being passed in Pennsylvania, so far as aught is known to the contrary. He
was a stalwart Democrat, prominent in his party, and held the office of
Sheriff of Bucks County. He reared seven sons and six of them learned of him
the trade of a blacksmith.
The father of our subject followed in his father's footsteps as regards a
trade and when a young man established himself as a blacksmith in Hunterdon
County, N. J. He died there in 1845, ere yet he had passed life's meridian.
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Case, sold her home after his
death and moved across the State line into Bucks County and spent her last
years in Pennsylvania with her daughters. These are the names of the six
children that she reared: Mathias H., Hiram M., Mary E., Hannah A., Sadie E.
and Jennie. Mathias and Jennie are dead.
The subject of this biographical notice was eleven years old when he was
deprived of a father's care and at the age of twelve the sturdy,
self-reliant little lad became self-supporting. He was employed on a farm
until he was seventeen years old and he then began to learn the trade of a
carpenter, which he followed in his native county some years. In 1856, in
the prime and vigor of the opening years of his manhood, he came westward to
this county and cast his lot with those who were active in its upbuilding.
He located at Shelbyville and as he was a good carpenter he found plenty of
work at his calling, which he pursued until 1860, when he abandoned that to
accept a position as a clerk, in which capacity he was employed until he
dropped his work to shoulder his rifle that he might help to fight his
country's battles.
He enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Company H, Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry
and received the compliment of being mustered in as Second Lieutenant of his
company. In the long and weary years of sacrifice, hardship and privation
that followed he served the Government with fidelity and did not abandon his
post until our flag floated once more over an undivided country. He was with
his regiment in all its marches and campaigns, with the exception of about
six months, when he was at home working hard to secure recruits. He
veteranized in 1863 and was honorably discharged in November, 1865. From
time to time he received deserved promotion, until he became one of the
leading officers of his regiment. In the fall of 1862 he was made First
Lieutenant and as such commanded his company in various engagements with the
enemy. His next promotion to the rank of Captain soon followed, then to that
of Major, and early in 1865 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel and left
the army with a high reputation as a gallant and efficient leader, whether
in the heat of battle, on the march or in camp.
Col. Scarborough returned to Shelbyville after receiving his discharge
papers and in January, 1866, began business here as a merchant, and ever
since has conducted one of the leading stores of the city for the sale of
dry goods and furnishing goods, carpets, etc. It is neat and handsome in its
appointments, the stock, of which there is a large and well-selected
assortment, is neatly and tastefully arranged, so as to add to the
attractiveness of the establishment, and the whole is ably managed.
In 1871 our subject was married to Miss Isabella A. Middlesworth, a native
of the county and a daughter of Abram Middlesworth, who is represented
elsewhere in this volume. They have one son living, Charles M. The Colonel
and his wife understand well the art of making their dwelling a true home,
as all feel who cross the threshold and enjoy the comforts and luxuries of
its tasteful furnishings, and receive every attention from their kind and
considerate host and hostess.
Col. Scarborough is a frank, manly and straightforward man, whose business
methods are such as to commend him to the confidence of the public, and
Shelbyville holds him as one of her best citizens. His life has been guided
by Christian principles and for many years he has been a consistent church
member, first joining the Baptist Church in early manhood, while a resident
of his native State. But after he came here to dwell it seemed good to him
to unite himself with the Presbyterian Church, in 1861, and he and his wife
are to-day among its most effective working members. Socially he is a member
of Jackson Lodge, No. 53, A. F. & A. M., and also of Cyrus Hall Post, G. A.
R., his connection with that organization commemorating the days and nights
that he and his comrades passed together on the battlefields of the South.
He was born and reared by Democratic parents, but since 1863 he has been a
stalwart Republican.
Extracted 12 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 412-414.
